It’s a strange phrase. How can a liquid be hard? The “hardness” of water refers to the amount of dissolved calcium and magnesium therein. Groundwater picks up such minerals on its way into your plumbing system. The more dissolved minerals therein, the “harder” the water. But is this an issue in your household? Should you be concerned for your health or the safety of your plumbing system?
Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. Blog: Archive for the ‘Plumbing’ Category
What Hard Water Is and What to Do about It
Monday, July 27th, 2015Is There a Way I Can Find Hidden Leaks on My Own?
Monday, July 20th, 2015Leaking pipes are one of the more difficult of plumbing problems to solve. The first trouble is actually locating the leak in the first place: since most pipes are disguised behind walls, floors, and under building foundations, it’s difficult to know the exact location of the leak unless water is pouring out through a crack somewhere. Usually, there are only warning signs to show that there is leak, such as elevated water bills, the water heater running at unusual times, and warping floorboards.
What You Need to Know about Backflow Prevention
Monday, July 13th, 2015Backflow prevention is a necessary part of both residential and commercial plumbing systems. The purpose of a backflow preventer is to stop the bacteria and other contaminants in the wastewater side of the plumbing system from entering into the freshwater side and polluting it. A backflow prevention device makes certain that sewage can only flow one way through the plumbing system; a valve closes to prevent wastewater from rising the wrong direction when there is a change in pressure from either the freshwater or wastewater sides.
What Kind of Water Treatment System Should I Have Installed for My Home?
Tuesday, May 5th, 2015If you are asking this question, then you probably have some reason to believe that you are not receiving the quality of water that you want from the municipal system. Are you experiencing issues with flaky deposits on the plumbing? Does the water exude an unpleasant smell or have a metallic taste? Do you think that an increase in the number of illnesses in your household are coming from the water supply? Or do you just have the suspicion that your home’s water could be better?
3 Ways to Tell That You Need Whole-House Repiping
Monday, April 27th, 2015Replacing all the pipes in a home is a major task, and probably the largest plumbing repair that an residence may require. But there are many cases where it is the best solution to numerous plumbing problems. If it is done right, it will ensure a plumbing system will work with few repair problems for many decades to come.
How Much Water Can I Save with a Low Flow Faucet Installation?
Monday, April 20th, 2015Over the past few decades, many standard residential plumbing fixtures, such as faucets and toilets, have been upgraded to use much less water. But if you are a homeowner who is interested in going beyond the standard, there are special low-flow fixtures that can help you with immense savings. How much? Well, let’s look at one example of a low-flow fixture: the low-flow faucet.
What Does a Reverse Osmosis System Do and Should I Have One Installed?
Monday, April 13th, 2015If you have ever looked into the possibility of having a water treatment system installed for your home, you will have come across something known as a reverse osmosis system. These are one of the most common kinds of residential water treatment systems to help improve water quality. For some homes, they are the ideal solution the issues with contamination in the water supply.
However, they are not the right filtration system for every household. When you are looking for water treatment for your home, make sure that you seek the assistance of professionals. They will find out what pollutants you need removed and what is the best system to remove them.
How to Spot Corroding Pipes
Thursday, April 2nd, 2015One of the biggest threats to any plumbing system is corrosion. As pipes get old and rusty, they begin to degrade, and this corrosion could lead to a major leak on your property that would do some serious damage. Eventually, any pipes will need replacement, but it’s always best to replace the pipes before they corrode than to wait for a leak to flood your yard or damage your home. But what can you do to prevent this from happening? How can you tell when corrosion is near? We’ve created this guide to answer just those questions.
When you need quality plumbing services in Winter Park, call the experts at Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. (MPI). We offer pipe inspection and quality pipe replacement services with minimal damage to your property.
Signs of Corrosion
- Water Discoloration – If your water begins to develop a yellowish color, a strange taste, or if you notice red flakes, these are all early signs of corrosion. Rusting inevitably leads to corrosion, and in general, the entire water line will need replacement in order to avoid the effects of corrosion.
- Drop in Water Pressure – If your water pressure plummets, there may be a few different causes. However, when it affects multiple faucets in the home, it’s most likely a leak in the water line. This could indicate corrosion or another issue that requires prompt repair.
- Old Age – One of the signs that your pipes are at risk of corrosion has to do with how old your pipes are. Galvanized pipes, which were common plumbing installations before the 1970s, begin to rust after a few decades, which is why today’s pipes are made of less-corrosive copper.
- Visit from a Plumber – Not sure whether your pipes are at risk? Call a plumber for an inspection and maintenance visit today. With a plumbing maintenance visit, your plumber will inspect all of the most important components of your system, from the drain pipes to the water heater to the showerhead, make a few adjustments, and inform you of any trouble that needs repair.
Call Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. (MPI) for more information about pipe replacement and corrosion or to find out if your plumbing system in Winter Park is at risk.
When Is the Right Time for Pipe Replacement?
Wednesday, March 11th, 2015You probably don’t consider the condition of the pipes that make up your plumbing system until you encounter problems. This is true of most homeowners, but it can be problematic as there may be some existing issues of which you are unaware. When the pipes begin to leak, the damage may not be immediately apparent. You might not notice that water is slowly leaking onto your property until it’s too late and you have to renovate large portions of your home’s foundation.
Pay attention to the signs that your pipes are in trouble, such as water spots on the walls or ceilings and low water pressure, and call a technician for regular maintenance. During a maintenance visit, a technician will thoroughly inspect the plumbing system and let you know whether it is time for pipe replacement in Altamonte Springs.
- Rust: One of the most pressing reasons for pipe replacement is rust. Rust leads to corrosion, which means that water will slowly leak from the pipes. It may ruin walls, beams, and carpeting, which is why replacement is necessary at the very earliest signs of rusting.
- Old Age: Galvanized steel pipes are prone to corrosion. This was the material used for plumbing pipes before the 1970s, as the galvanization of the pipes—adding a layer of zinc for protection—was meant to guard against rust. Unfortunately, this layer can wear away within a few decades, which is why many plumbers recommend replacement even if you’re not currently experiencing problems with your galvanized steel pipes.
- Tree Root Infiltration: If your pipes become too damaged, replacement becomes necessary. One of the reasons this may happen is if tree roots begin to infiltrate your sewer pipes. By nature, roots grow toward sources of water. They can wrap around the sewer pipes and crush them, causing sewage to leak into your yard and onto your property. In some cases, plumbers decide that the solution is to reroute the replacement pipes so that the problem does not present itself once more months or years later.
Call the professional plumbers at Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. (MPI) when you are in need of a quality pipe replacement service in the Altamonte Springs area.
How Backflow Prevention Protects You
Wednesday, February 25th, 2015Most homeowners take for granted the fact that there is always reliable clean drinking water available in the home. You probably assume that clean water will flow from the faucet every time you turn it on, as your water supply goes through a very thorough municipal water supply treatment process before it reaches your home. But a plumbing system is so complex that the potential for backflow is unfortunately often present.
Protect your water supply by installing a backflow preventer at any potential cross connections, which we’ll go over in today’s guide, and keeping it maintained and tested by professionals. Call the experts at Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. (MPI) for quality service from a certified plumber.
What Is Backflow Prevention?
Backflow prevention devices keep backflow from contaminating your water supply. Backflow occurs when there is a pressure imbalance somewhere in your plumbing system, which allows for the possibility of backsiphonage or back pressure. In either case, a source of cross contamination is introduced into the plumbing system, and there is a possibility that chemicals or wastewater may enter your plumbing system if the pressure in the water supply were to change.
A sudden drop in water pressure can occur for many reasons. Perhaps there was a break in the water main, or firefighters had to access a hydrant that drew from the supply. Other liquids may become drawn into the pipes, especially if a cross connection exists. And sometimes this backflow is hazardous.
Let’s say you put a hose into a bucket of soapy water. If the pressure in the water supply dropped, the soapy water could become sucked back into the water supply. This becomes far more dangerous when the cross contamination is a chemical or if dirty wastewater enters the potable supply. One example is if you have a boiler in the home. Boiler feedwater may contain chemicals unsafe for human consumption, which is why connections between boilers and the water supply are usually fitted with a backflow prevention device.
A backflow prevention device contains a one way valve in which water can only flow in one direction. Federal, state, and local codes require that you have a backflow prevention device installed at any potential source of a cross connection. While your municipality mandates the use of backflow preventers in many cases, it’s up to you to make sure it’s in good shape.
Call the technicians at Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. (MPI) for regular testing and maintenance of your backflow prevention device in Longwood to help keep your family safe from contamination.