The Importance of Water Heater Maintenance

We might not think about them often, but water heaters are an integral part of a well-functioning home. What do water heaters do? Essentially water heaters heat all of the water in your home, which includes showers, baths, kitchen and bathroom faucets, washing machines and dishwashers.
One of the last things you want to break in your home, especially during the colder months, is the water heater. This is why water heater maintenance is so important. Below are a few tips and tricks to ensure your water heater runs properly year round.

• As water heaters age they tend to not function as well as they used to due to a sediment buildup in the tank. As water heaters grow older, they accumulate sediment and lime deposits. If these deposits are not removed periodically, the sediment will create a barrier between the burner and the water, greatly reducing the water heater's performance level. At least once every three months drain water from the tank. Tip: Draining a gallon or so on a regular basis helps remove the sediment.
• Periodically inspect your water heater’s burner. The flame under the heater should be blue with yellow tips. If the flame is mostly yellow, or if there appears to be soot beneath the burner, the flue might be clogged. This could be a dangerous situation. Please call a professional to check out the water heater and make sure it’s safe.
• Every one to two years call us to inspect your water heater. We will make sure the drain valves aren’t leaking and that there isn’t any corrosion on the anode rods.

Call Shelton Plumbing at (254) 751–9655 to request a service call for your water heater. We will make sure it’s ready for the cold months ahead.

Faucet and Sinks Tips

A little drip here and there may not seem like much at the time, but in the end these little wastes of water can costs you tons. Check out some tips from us here at Shelton Plumbing in order to keep your sinks from falling apart!

• Always address the problem as soon as you find it! Check your entire sink and identify where the leak is coming from. Leaving a bowl underneath your sink will not help and could cause a bigger problem in the end.
• Figure out what type of faucet you have before trying to fix it. There are 4 types of faucets; compression, cartridge, ceramic disk, and ball type. Not all faucets need the same type of treatment or parts!
• Here are some tools you should always have handy in case of a leak: slip join pliers, flat-head screw driver, pipe thread compound, pocket knife, and short-handled pliers.
• Try to keep underneath your sink as organized as possible! If it’s too crowded it can be hard to get to the link or ruin your cleaning supplies and tools you might have stored there!
• Before trying to fix a problem with your sink, you must turn off your water supply. What looks like a small leak could easily turn into a heavy leak and ruin your floors.
• Something you should do every year, even if you haven’t encountered any problems is clean your faucet aerators. The aerator can be found at the tip of your faucet. This is what shapes the water coming out of your faucet!
• If you’ve recently remodeled your home and put a new sink in, check your warranty policy! Most of the newer sinks of a great warranty policy and will be able to send you the parts you need for your sink.
• Our last tip is to never take on a small leak if you’re not positive on how to fix it! We are always here to help and would be happy to fix whatever problem you are having.

We hope these tips help you when dealing with a problem with your sink or faucets. Call Shelton Plumbing at (254) 751-9655 if you have any questions or concerns. We look forward to working with you!

Preventing Clogged Drains

What’s the best way to avoid clogged drains? Do not rinse fats or cooking oils down the kitchen sink. We know it’s hard, but try to drain the fats and oils into a cup and throw them out. Why? Liquid fats solidify in the cold pipes and create clogs. Using filters and strainers will help, but getting drains snaked periodically is also a good idea.

We also recommend following the tips listed below.

1. Install strainers in sinks and bathtubs to catch hair and soap.
2. Pour boiling water down sinks and tubs monthly to dislodge trapped hair, food and grease.
3. Clean sink and bath stoppers regularly.
4. Run lots of cold water when running the garbage disposal.

Good to know...

Do not use caustic liquid drain openers (like Drano or Liquid Plumber) on a drain that is completely clogged. The caustic ingredients can become trapped in your pipes, and it can severely damage them. If you can't snake the drain yourself, contact us today!

Call Shelton Plumbing at (254) 751-9655 if you have any questions or concerns. We look forward to working with you!