Five Things to Know About Kitchen Plumbing Services

Asa homeowner, it’s important that you have at least a working knowledge of how your kitchen sink plumbing works. General household repairs, including kitchen sink plumbing, is not something that should overwhelm you. Knowing the basics of kitchen plumbing fixtures can help you know when you need to call a reliable plumber, like the professionals at Blue Mills Plumbing.

As a homeowner, or even home renter, knowing the basics of how to plumb a kitchen sink can come in handy. Knowing simple tasks like how to shut off your water, how to read your water meter, what your water pressure is, where your air conditioning condensation lines are, and knowing the signs of a failing water heaters will be extremely valuable. Knowing these five basics of home and kitchen plumbing can help you decide when you need to call a plumber and when you can fix something yourself.

Knowing how to shut off the water flow to your house is essential for every homeowner or renter. The water that enters your home is pressurized, allowing it to travel through pipes, around corners and upstairs. Flooding can happen rapidly in the event of a plumbing malfunction, so it is critical to locate the water shutoff valve before an incident occurs to avoid further damage. The water shutoff valve can be found in a variety of locations, sometimes within the plumbing under kitchen sink, depending on your home's specifications.

• If your home has a basement: The water shutoff valve is usually located near the front foundation wall.
  
• If your home has a basement and a crawl space: Typically the shutoff valve is located where water would enter the basement, however in some older homes it is located in the crawl space. If this is the case in your home, you may consider adding an additional shutoff valve in the actual basement for ease of access.
  
• If you home does not have a basement: If a home does not have a basement, the valve is likely located near the water heater or near the kitchen sink drain plumbing.
  

If you can’t find your water shutoff valve, call the plumbing experts at Val Gross Blue Mills Plumbing. It’s a good idea to locate your shutoff valve when you move into a new home, that way you know where it is should a plumbing disaster arise.

There are two main types of water shutoff valves: round wheel and lever handles. The round wheel handle operates like a traditional crank and you simply rotate it to the right until it stops. The lever handle requires a simple 1/4 turn of the handle so it is perpendicular to the water pipe. If the handle is flush with the pipe, the water is flowing through the pipe. Once it is perpendicular, you know the water line has been blocked.

Learning how to read your water meter is incredibly useful when dealing with kitchen sink plumbing. Once you can locate and read your water meter, you can monitor it to make sure there aren't any leaks in your home and have a better understanding of how to plumb a kitchen sink. In most homes, the water meter is located in a box outside near the curb or sidewalk. Some homes have water meters located indoors, though, and these are usually found under your kitchen sink near the water valve.

There are two main types of water meters: analog and digital. The digital meters are relatively straightforward when reading them. Simply shine a light on the meter and the screen will display the number of gallons or cubic feet (depending on how your meter measures volume). Reading an analog water meter requires a little more effort, but is not difficult. Analog water meters consist of a dial showing 0-9, similar to the face of a clock. In the middle of the dial is a row of numbers that looks like an odometer on a car. As the volume of water used increases, the numbers will roll forward. The last number will always be a stationary 0. The needle moves around the dial as water is used, and the number it is pointing to takes the place of the stationary 0 in the row of numbers. For instance: if the row of numbers reads "123450" and the needle is pointing to 9, then your water meter reading would be "123459 gallons/cubic feet".

Understanding the basics of household water pressure is especially helpful when dealing with kitchen sink drain plumbing. In general, household water pressure should be between 45-80 pounds per square inch, or psi. If your water pressure is lower than 40 psi, it usually more of an annoyance than an actual problem, however it can affect the function of some appliances, like dishwashers and washing machines. If your water pressure is higher than 85 psi, it can become a serious problem as the force of the water can cause pipes to burst and other kitchen plumbing fixtures to malfunctions. If your water pressure is higher than average, call a plumber immediately after shutting off your water supply line.

Your air conditioner has a small drain pipe called a condensation line, or sometimes referred to as a condensate drain line. This pipe is essential to the function of your air conditioner and a helpful part of household plumbing is having it cleaned regularly. Maintaining this line reduces the risk of algae and mold buildup in your air conditioning unit, which can lead to clogs and other serious malfunctions in your unit. The drain pipe is usually located near the back of the air conditioner and sometimes you can see water dripping from it or a drain pan underneath. Contact Val Gross Blue Mills Plumbing if you suspect your air conditioning condenser line needs some routine maintenance.

The most common signs of a failing water heater are:

• Lack of hot water
  
• Noisy hot water heater
  
• Cloudy, stinky, or rust-colored water
  
• Leaking tank
  

If you notice any of these symptoms in your home, call a plumber right away to have your hot water heater inspected and repaired.

While it may seem like a lot to know, the basics of household plumbing and plumbing under the kitchen sink are essential to understanding how your home functions. If you do suspect an issue with your kitchen sink plumbing, or any other household plumbing problem, having a basic working knowledge of your household plumbing can be critical. You will be able to do basic troubleshooting and better explain the issues you're experiencing to the plumbers.

When you need a local plumber, give Val Gross Blue Mills a call to resolve any of your plumbing problems.