All Things Plumbing & HVAC: The Orange Coast Plumbing Blog
Need to know what’s an emergency and which problems can wait? Which problems you can solve DIY? The Orange Coast Plumbing blog helps you understand common plumbing, heating, and air conditioning issues.
Do you know your humble water meter is a secret weapon against leaks and water waste?
Unless you’re equipped with professional leak detection technology, like the good folks at Orange Coast Plumbing, you might want to keep an eye on it — not just to lower your bills but to nip plumbing disasters in the bud.
Is your toilet leaking at the base?
You may have a cracked toilet base, loose or corroded mounting bolts, or a deteriorated wax ring. Or it could be the flange that connects the toilet to the drainpipe. When the seal between the toilet and flange breaks, water can seep out each time you flush the toilet.
Your bathroom, that high-traffic part of the house, may suffer from more than wear and tear. And your family may suffer as a result without even realizing it.
Mold thrives in dank places and, though often visible, can remain hidden in the small cracks between tiles and grout, behind shower curtains, and inside walls. Its spores can trigger allergies and breathing problems in people and pets.
Left unchecked, it ruins aesthetics, undermines your home, and poses a health risk. The best way to deal with it is never letting it gain a foothold.
Cleaning a toilet tank is an unglamorous task.
It doesn’t make for exciting TitTok videos or Instagram posts. But neglecting this often-forgotten area of home maintenance can lead to unpleasant odors, stains, and even plumbing problems.
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
For trees, that treasure is sewage.
Sounds disgusting, right? But think about it — sewage is packed with all those nutrients trees love. Your sewer pipe is like an all-you-can-eat buffet!
Dealing with a clogged drain is a frequent frustration for any homeowner with older plumbing. Or toddlers. Or teenagers who dump who knows what down the pipes.
Sometimes, a few pumps with a plumber’s friend will clear it, or even a concoction of baking soda and vinegar.
Other times, no amount of plunging or concocting will clear that stubborn clog. Even drain cleaning products may not work, and there’s always a risk of damage to your pipes.
Unlike dishwashers, refrigerators, and ovens, water heaters are usually tucked away in a closet or some dark corner. It’s easy to forget about them until something goes wrong.
By then, you may be looking at costly repairs or even replacement. In a hard water zone like Southern California, neglecting your water heater leads to mineral buildup, compromising appliance life, efficiency, and your cherished hot water supply.
Water damage is one of the most common and costly problems homeowners face. From burst pipes to leaky appliances, water damage can wreak havoc on your home and cause thousands of dollars in repairs. That’s why it’s important to invest in an inline home water detector. These devices can detect leaks and shut off your water supply before any major damage occurs. One of the best inline home water detectors on the market is Flo by Moen.
The average person uses about 17 gallons per minute in the shower alone! That might not seem like a lot, but if you multiply that by minutes in your showers or baths each day, it starts to add up fast. The good news is that there are some easy ways to save water and money that you can start doing today.
Tankless water heater, continuous water heater, or instant water heater. These terms all describe the same thing: a powerful, compact water heater delivering near-instant hot water for as long as needed. Near-instant, virtually continuous, and without a water storage tank.
Tankless heaters are the latest and greatest water heaters on the market, and they offer an easy way to save energy, water, and money while boosting convenience and comfort. While they’re relatively new to the USA, the technology is nearly a century old.
But what if we told you there’s a simple and affordable way to keep your water bill low and detect even a pinhole leak anywhere in your plumbing system — before it causes significant damage?
We’re talking about a smart water leak detector, a Wi-Fi-enabled device that attaches to your plumbing and monitors water use in your home — including tiny increases in water use or activity in your pipes due to pinhole leaks.
The best of the breed is the Moen Flo Smart Water Monitor & Shutoff.
Buying a new water heater can be overwhelming. It’s not a question of finding one — that’s easy enough on the internet — but knowing what to buy.
In the old days of black-and-white TV, there was one water heater type—the old boiler-style tank heater—and your “choice” came down to size, fuel type, brand, and dealer. Even your brand choice was vanishingly small. Life was so much simpler then.