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MONEY SAVING TIPS FOR HOME OWNERS

Here are some tips and tricks for saving water and keeping your plumbing systems in tip top shape all year round. Click here for money saving tips.

Money Saving Tips For Home Owners

10 Best Ways to Conserve Water 

Saving water is extremely important in San Diego County. These ten tips are designed to save you money and preserve our fresh water resources.  

1. Only run your washing machine and dishwasher when they are full. This tip alone could save you hundreds of gallons a month and cut down on your energy bill.  
   
2. Don’t let the water run while you brush your teeth. You sill save up to 4 gallons a minute or 200 gallons a week for a family of four. 
   
3. A simple dripping faucet can waste up to 140 gallons a week. Over the course of the year that really adds up on your water bill. It's always cheaper to have us stop the drip than it is to pay for the wasted water. 
   
4. When doing laundry be more conscious about matching the water level to the size of the load. Depending on what kind of material you are washing, what looks like a full load might only be a medium load, and what looks like a medium load might be a small load.  
   
5. Install low-flow showerheads in all showers and install aerated faucets on your sinks. They’re inexpensive, easy to install, and can save tens of thousands of gallons of water a year. 
   
6. Reuse your shower towel a few times. You're clean when you get out of the shower, so the towel should be free of germs. This could substantially cut down on the amount of laundry you produce. 
   
7. Make absolutely sure that your plumbing system is leak-free! Many homes have hidden water leaks. To do this, simply avoid using water for a two hour period, then read your water meter before and after to see if it shows any water usage.  
   
8. To wash your car, use a bucket of soapy water then rinse with a hose nozzle. Turn off the water when you're not rinsing or filling your bucket and you could save as much as 100 gallons at a time or even more. 
   
9. Next time you need to replace your hot water heater, consider a tankless water heater. They heat the water instantly when it's called for so you don’t have to let the water run while the hot water gets to the faucet. This will reduce both energy costs and water waste. 
   
10. Keep some drinking water in the refrigerator so you don't have to let tap water run every time you want a cool glass of water and you could save hundreds of gallons a month. 
    

About Dripping Faucets 

Hear that drip, drip drip? That's the sound of your hard earned money going down the drain! A slow but steady faucet drip can waste around 48 gallons of water every day? But if you're going to have a plumber fix the dripping faucet you should consider installing a ewer, more efficient faucets which use 1/3rd less water. You can save one gallon for every minute of use! And newer, designer faucets are not only more efficient, but far more attractive. 

If you do have a plumber fix your leaks or replace your faucets, have them do a dye test to test your toilet for leaks. Anytyme Plumbing will do it for free while we're there. 

Hot Water Heater Tips 

Applying some of the water heater tips below can not only save you hundreds of dollars in energy and water, but they make your water heater last many years longer.  

1. Drain your hot water heater tank annually to remove any sediment that may have built up inside it. Make sure you follow the manufacturer’s suggestions. The water draining could be extremely HOT. 
   
2. It's easy to turn down the thermostat on your water heater. Setting your water heater thermostat to a lower temperature will usually still provide plenty of hot water and save a lot of money on energy costs. You, your clothes and your dishes will still get clean, and you'll save money on energy. 
   
3. Buy a hot water insulation jacket for your water heater. Insulating your hot water heater will keep the water hot a lot longer and keep your house cooler. A good insulator will reduce heat lost through the walls of the tank by 25‐40%! 
   
4. Tankless Water heaters provide hot water only where you need it. They save money by not wasting energy heating and reheating water when it's not being used. Tankless water heaters can cut your water-heating bill by 10 to 20 percent!  
   
5. If you have a gas furnace or stove you should have a gas hot water heater. You'll save a lot of money if you extend the natural gas or propane line to your water heater. Electric water heaters cost around 3 times more to run. Natural gas and propane water heaters are much cheaper and more economical than electric water heaters. 
   
6. Install water-saving, low-flow shower heads in your bathrooms and aerated faucets in your sinks to reduce the amount of hot water used. This will reduce energy costs and give your water heater a longer life span. 
   
7. Energy and water are wasted waiting for the hot water to reach the tap. Insulating your hot water pipes will greatly reduce this heat loss. Even when pipes are insulated, the water in the pipes will eventually cool, but will stay warmer longer than if the pipes aren’t insulated. 
   
8. Have your water heater inspected at least once every two years by a certified plumbing technician. This will keep it in optimal operating condition, and will prevent dangerous carbon monoxide problems. 
9. To make your water heater more efficient and save a little money on your electric bill, buy a water heater jacket to place around your tank. It will slow down heat loss through the tank. While you are at it, insulate any exposed hot water pipes.
   
10. Have a Certified technician replace the anode rod about every five years. This small metal device sacrifices itself for the good of the entire unit by drawing the corrosive chemicals in the water to the anode rod, instead of eating away at the inside of the tank itself. 
    

These 10 water heater maintenance tips will save you water and energy costs, and make your hot water delivery system last longer saving you even more money. 
 

Frequently Asked Plumbing Questions

These are our most frequently asked plumbing questions: 

Is there anything I can do myself to fix a clogged or slow running drain? 

Got a clogged drain? We all know the feeling of wondering how much it will cost to clear the clog. The good news is that most clogged drain problems are usually easy enough to correct on your own without having to call a plumbing drain specialist. Try some of the following do-it-yourself household clogged drain tips that anyone can use before you call a plumber. It's best to scoop out any standing water in the sink before you start for maximum effectiveness. 

1. Before attempting to use any harmful chemical products to clear a clogged drain, try this simple technique:  Pour 1/2 cup of salt down the drain followed by boiling water. Continue to flush with very hot tap water until the clog is clear. 
   
2. Try pouring a cup of yogurt (without fruit) down the drain and leave it for several hours. The enzymes in the yogurt will sometimes eat away at the sludge that's holding debris from washing through. 
   
3. To clear a hair clog, try pouring Nair hair remover into the drain. Let it sit for about a half an hour, then pour a little hot water down the drain. It will dissolve the hair and keep working on the gunk and hair further down the line as it continues to move down the pipes and drains. 
   
4. If you think it's grease causing the clog, try pouring some dish soap (such as Dawn) down your drain. Let it sit for a while then follow it with a quart of boiling water and it should do the trick to unclog your drain. Be very careful with the boiling water to make sure you don't splash it on yourself. 
   
5. For slow-running drains, try pouring a half box of baking soda down the drain, then dump in one cup of vinegar. It will bubble and foam, so you may want to cover with a towel. When it stops foaming, flush the drain with very hot water for 2-3 minutes. 
   
6. Plungers are not just for toilets. Try using one on your sink clogs. Be forceful and quickly press the plunger down over the drain obstruction. Hold it there a minute and then see if the clog is cleared. Repeat as necessary until the clog clears. 
   
7. If you've tried these simple home remedies and your drain is still clogged you can get a $30 drain clearing “snake” at your local plumbing or hardware store. Follow the manufacturers instructions carefully. 
   

If all these tips fail you, schedule an appointment for some inexpensive drain cleaning services before it turns into a real problem!

My water bill seems to be higher recently than it should be, how do I know if I have a leak? 

To see if you have a leak set aside a two hour period when you can make sure that no one in the house is using any water at all. Make sure your lawn sprinklers are off. Then check your water meter. After a couple hours check it again to see if it shows any difference. 

Ninety percent of all leaks in residential plumbing systems are found in the toilet tank. Toilet tank leaks typically result from worn parts or improper alignment of some part of the flushing mechanism. It is very important to stop the leak. Stop the leak and stop the expensive water bill from hitting you every month.  

If you suspect you have a leak in your system you should schedule service as soon as possible.

My hot water heater seems to be not working as well as it used to. Is there anything I can check? 

Most hot water issues are due to a sediment buildup in your tank. If these deposits are not removed periodically, they create a barrier between the burner and the water, greatly reducing the water heater's performance. Hot water heaters need to be drained occasionally to clear out the sediment. Be sure to follow the manufacturers instructions. 

Electric water heaters commonly have two heating elements that work in turns. First the top element heats up the top of the tank, then the lower element kicks in. If the lower element is out, only the top of the tank gets heated. If the top element isn't working, there will be no hot water at all. Try hitting the reset button.  

If you would like some help with maintenance, repairs, or replacement of your hot water heater schedule a visit right now. 

My toilet is "sweating" and dripping water on the floor. What causes it and what can I do about it? 

Toilet tank "sweating" is really condensation. It's not coming from a leak in the plumbing system but rather from the air around it. Cold water in the tank and pipes causes them to cool down which in turn causes moisture in the air to condense on the pipes and tank.  The condensation can drip on the floor and cause mold, mildew, staining, and eventually rotting if left untreated. Here are some simple solutions. 

1. There are foam insulation products which insulate the water from the tank. Most hardware stores carry these products for a reasonable price. Follow the manufacturers installation instructions carefully. This usually works but is not a guarantee. 
   
2. Another option is to install a mixer valve which mixes both hot and cold water to raise the temperature enough to stop the problem.  You'll most likely need to schedule an appointment with one of our plumbers for installation. 
   
3. A very effective but more expensive option is to replace the guts of the toilet with a "pressure assisted" unit like the Flushmate - 1 gallon per flush. This option is a great water saver and works very well. You'll have to get a qualified plumber to install it. 

 

Is there anything I can do to fix a dripping Faucet? 

Most leaks are caused by worn valve parts.  

To fix a leaky faucet you first need to figure out what kind of faucet you have. If your faucet has a single handle you are dealing with a "washerless faucet" which has either a cartridge, a ball or a disc mechanism to control the water flow. If your faucet has separate handle for hot and cold water you most likely have a compression faucet which has an internal shut off valve with a washer on the end. Some dual handle faucets have disc or cartridge mechanisms. 

You'll have to have enough skills and tools to open up the faucet and take the interior parts out for replacement. Your best bet is to take the interior parts to a plumbing supply or hardware store and have a salesperson help you find the proper replacement parts. 

First, turn off the water supply to the leaky faucet. The shutoff valve is usually located under the sink but in some older homes there may only be one main water shut off for the entire house which is usually located where the water pipe enters the home. 

Once the water is off, turn on the faucet until it stops running. Then, before you take apart the faucet plug the drain so you don't lose screws, washers, or other parts down the drain.  

Most faucet handles are attached with a screw which is hidden under a decorative cap that can be pried off with a small screwdriver. Then simply remove the valve parts inside the handle and take them to the plumbing supply store to get replacement parts. Install them according to instructions then turn the water back on and you're done. 

If you're having trouble we're glad to help. We also keep in stock a selection of modern and efficient replacement faucets that will save you money. Contact us for an appointment. 

My garbage disposal is jammed. Is there anything I can do to fix it? 

First, turn the garbage disposal on and off quickly and listen to see that it has power. If it hums, the power is on but the impeller is jammed. If it doesn't hum, it may have overheated and tripped a circuit breaker.

Most disposals have an overload switch that trips when the motor overheats. If there's no power to the motor, first look for a small red button on the bottom of the housing, and push it to reset. If there's no overload switch or the machine still won't run after you reset the switch, you might need to reset the circuit breaker that serves the disposal. 

Many disposals have a manual mechansim for clearing a jammed blade. Look for an allen wrench socket in the bottom of the housing. Use the right size allen wrench (usually 1/4") and move the motor shaft back and forth to dislodge the jam. 

If this doesn't work, try using the end of a short broomstick or plunger. Stick it down the drain and push back and forth against the impellers to clear the jam. 

Is that still doesn't work you'll have to reach down inside and clear the jam by hand. First, and most importantly, turn off the circuit breaker that controls the garbage disposal to be sure that you don't injure yourself. Then reach inside feel around to see what you can do to clear the jam by hand. You might need a pair of needle nose pliers to firmly grab whatever is lodged in the impeller.  

If hitting the reset button doesn't help, and you can't clear a jam or can't find what's jamming it you might need to replace the unit. Give us a call to come and take a look at it. We'll give you a low, up front price to fix or replace it. 

There's a foul odor coming from my sink (or tub) drain. What causes that and what can I do to fix it? 

Foul odors in sink drains are usually caused by rotting food, hair, grease, and slime which build up over time in the drain. There are chemical drain cleaners that dissolve the crud and kill the germs that cause the odor, and there are also more environmentally friendly biological drain cleaners that basically "eat" the slime and sludge that are causing the odor. The biological method puts "good bacteria" into your system that continue to multiply and eat away at the problem. Anytyme Plumbing offers a bio-clear product. Give us a call at 1-800-656-FLOW to order a bottle. 

This is another more serious problem that can cause odors to come from your drain. All drains have a "trap" which is an "S" shaped pipe that serves a few purpose one of which is to keep some water in the pipe thus isolating it from the sewer system and preventing sewer gasses from entering your home. If you suspect the odors are coming from the sewer you should contact us immediately.