FAQ

The most common cause of sump pump failure is a power outage. Sump pumps depend on your house for power. Unfortunately, the storms that cause excess water and flooding are also responsible for blackouts. To prepare for a blackout during a flood, you may want to install a backup generator in your home or purchase a sump pump battery backup that operates when your power is out. Your sump pump may also fail due to improper installation. Make sure your pump is not too big or small for your house, which makes your pump more prone to failure. Maintenance is also key to preventing sump pump failure. If you haven’t heard your pump run recently, test it by pouring in about five gallons of water with a bucket or a hose. When the water reaches a predetermined level, the pump should turn itself on, pump out most of the water then turn itself off again.

Insulate all pipes in unheated areas or against uninsulated outside walls, in garages or in crawl spaces. Apply heat tape or thermostat-controlled heat cables around pipes that are exposed and prone to freezing. When temperatures fall, make sure the heat is turned on and is set no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Consider keeping the thermostat set to the same temperature throughout the day and at night. Protect your outdoor hoses by removing, draining, and storing hoses properly. If you have valves that supply outdoor hose lines, make sure they are closed during low. Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage. Consider relocating exposed pipes to provide increased protection from freezing, pipes can easily be relocated by our plumbing experts at NRH.

An unused bathroom drain can begin to smell when it isn’t used frequently. This smell may come from tubs and sinks and is due to an unused plumbing trap (also known as a P-trap.) Plumbing traps are found underneath bathroom drains and are designed to prevent your bathroom and home from being filled with sewer odors. With normal use of a bathroom, these traps remained filled with water which provides a seal that prevents sewer smells from coming up through the drain. However, when a bathroom isn’t used as frequently, the water in the traps gradually evaporate and the water levels that were keeping the sewer odors out are no longer sufficient and odors slowly seep through. Run the water in these bathroom drains for a few minutes, weekly or monthly, depending on the severity of the smell and give the odor time to dissipate. If that doesn’t solve the issue, call the experts at NRH to address any unpleasant drain odors.

Before attempting to disassemble any part of your dishwasher, make sure you have unplugged or removed power to it. Manually remove as much standing water as you can. First, check to see if your dishwasher filter is blocked. Most modern dishwashers have built-in grinders, but things like food and paper can still block the filter in the tub. Remove the bottom sprayer arm so that you can access the filter screen. If the screen has food debris on it, clean it thoroughly with a brush. Next, remove the screen by the pressure lock in the middle of the dishwasher where the sprayer arm attaches. Look inside the screen to check for any additional food or debris. If this doesn’t work, check the hose that runs from your dishwasher to the garbage disposal or drain line to make sure it isn’t blocked or kinked. Check your sink to make sure it is draining properly. Also check the garbage disposal by turning it on (with running water) for a few seconds. Many times, your dishwasher is set up to drain through your garbage disposal. If you have a problem in your disposal – it will prevent your dishwasher from draining. If none of these steps solve the problem, leave it to the experts at NRH Plumbing to address your dishwasher issue.

While it may be fun to test the capacity of your garbage disposal, not all kitchen scraps are meant to be disposed of using your sink. The first thing you need to remember when you unclog a garbage disposal is to never use chemical drain cleaners. The chemicals can damage the machine and its plastic and rubber parts. Similar to the technique for unclogging a drain, use a plunger to push the clog out of the disposal then flush it through the drain line with plenty of water. If your unit is still jammed, shut off the electricity to the disposal. After the power is off, unplug the disposal or turn off the breaker switch. Even with the power off, always avoid sticking your hand into the disposal. Shine a light into the garbage disposal to see if you can spot an object. If so, remove it with pliers, then turn the power back on and press the reset button. If the disposal is still clogged, consult your user manual for next steps. Every disposal is different and safety is very important when dealing with jammed units. If these steps don’t help, call the experts at NRH to repair or replace any garbage disposal.

As always, prevention is key. Almost all-biodegradable food waste can be fed into disposers. However, disposers should not be used to grind shells from fish, cornhusks, or other material with high fiber content. Never put glass, plastic, metal, or any non-food materials through a disposal. Avoid feeding items such as chicken bones, avocado, corn on the cob, or peach pits to your garbage disposal. These objects can clog or permanently damage your unit. Grease and oils can cake up in the drain lines over time causing the drain and disposal to clog. Coffee grounds may become heavy when mixed with water, and can also lead to a clogged pipe. Place them into the trash or compost. Starches such as pasta, rice, potatoes, and beans form a paste-like substance when mixed with water which can coat the inside of the pipes, harden, and clog up the system. Finally, remember to always use sufficient water when running your garbage disposal. Many people don’t run their disposals long enough and if you turn your disposal off too quickly, sludge and particles can be left behind. Make sure that you have the sink water running into the disposal drain the entire time you are using it.