Monthly Archives: May 2021

Tips for Summertime Water Conservation

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Summer is still just around the corner, but the current climate makes us feel like it’s already here. As us Hoosiers know, Indiana spring seasons and their succeeding summers can get very hot, so it is no surprise that our water consumption increases during this time of year. Outdoor summer fun, gardening, tree care, car washes, siding maintenance, laundry, dishes, and more, are just a few examples of activities that call for more water use on a daily basis.

But is there a way to still enjoy the summer and stay cool while managing your water consumption? The answer is yes!

With a few simple adjustments to everyday habits, all homes and families can save money on water and energy bills, while lowering their water consumption all at once! Continue reading for tips to saving water this summer.

Indianapolis Plumbing Service and Repair 317-784-1870
Indianapolis Plumbing Service and Repair 317-784-1870

How to Cut Back Your Water Consumption in the Summer

▷ Service Your Water Heater

First, check out the water heater. Is it time to have it serviced by a professional plumber? This should be done at least twice per year to ensure that your water heater is in optimal condition and performs up to standards without wasting energy. If you don’t want to wastewater or energy, tune-up or replace your existing water heater. Now, here are some additional summertime water conservation tips for the everyday homeowner:

▷ Inspect Your Outdoor Sprinkler System

Automatic sprinkler systems are certainly a wonderful asset for lawn and garden care. Simply adjusting an automated sprinkler system by shaving off a few minutes of each cycle can dramatically decrease your monthly water consumption, which your utility bills should reflect. For manual sprinklers, be sure they are placed in an area where they are not watering anything but flora. Do not let them waste water on driveways, sidewalks, and siding. And also turn the water off a few minutes earlier to save water.

▷ Shift Your Dishwashing Habits

It is so easy to just load and go with a dishwasher! But there are ways to reduce your dishwasher use. First, try to only run full loads. This will reduce the number of times you operate your dishwasher on a weekly basis. In fact, you can save up to 400 gallons of water each month this way! Also, try to hand clean larger items like mixing bowls and colanders. These are easy to wash and rinse and take up too much valuable space in the dishwasher.

More Water Conservation Tips and Tricks to Try:

☑ Opt for Refrigerated Water Pitchers

If you have water-drinkers in your home that like cold water on demand, a water pitcher in the refrigerator is a great alternative running the faucet for several minutes. Running the tap water and waiting for the desired temperature (hot or cold) is wasteful. By having cold, ready-to-drink water in the fridge, you can eliminate this wasteful habit!

☑ Efficiently Water Your Gardens

Aside from sprinkler adjustments, there are other ways to conserve water in the summer when it comes to lawns and gardens. For one, always water flowers and lawns in the early morning before the sun rises and temperatures peak. This reduces the rate of evaporation in the hot sun and keeps soil moist for longer. This way you don’t have to water and repeat on a daily basis, wasting water! Second, buy a rain barrel and collect rainwater to reuse and water your gardens. This saves hundreds of gallons of water each year per home! And last, adjust the lawnmower so that it cuts the grass at a higher level. This makes the roots stay moist longer, thus reducing the need to water!

Do you need some professional assistance with your water heater or home plumbing this summer? Contact Weilhammer Plumbing Company at 317-784-1870 for state licensed summertime plumbing services in Indianapolis, Indiana. We serve residential and commercial clients.

You Should Also Read:

8 Tips to Control Home Energy Costs
Summertime Plumbing Tips That Will Save You Money
Advised Maintenance for Vital Plumbing Systems in the Home

Indianapolis Indiana Master Plumbers 317-784-1870
Indianapolis Indiana Master Plumbers 317-784-1870

5 Signs of a Hard Water Problem

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This day and age, no one should have to live with hard water. There are so many innovative and affordable solutions to hard water problems, that having hard water at home is simply unacceptable. Water quality is important, and plays a major role in our health, as well as our comfort and well-being. Not sure about the quality of your water? Just look for the signs.

Continue reading to learn the top 5 signs that suggest you are living with a hard water problem, and what you can do to solve it quickly and within budget.

Indianapolis Water Quality Service
Indianapolis Water Quality Service 317-784-1870

What is Hard Water?

Hard water contains hard mineral ions, like calcium, iron, and magnesium. Although these are essential minerals for us, we do not want them in excess in the water we use to cook, clean, and consume. Aside from hard minerals, there are several other types of contaminants that contribute to water hardness, and all combined, can alter the way water looks, tastes, feels, and performs.

Hard water is measured in grains per gallon (GPG), but it can also be read in parts per million (PPM) or milligrams per liter (mg/L) of calcium carbonate. The more grains, the harder the water, which means the degree of “hardness” varies on a spectrum. Water can be anywhere between marginally hard to very hard. It depends on where you live, how you obtain your water, regional soil conditions, crops, farming, and more.

Top Five Indications of Hard Water:

❶ Limescale Buildup

The hard mineral ions found in hard water commonly leave behind a distinctive white film called limescale, which forms quickly and in abundance when water contains high mineral content. This white film is immediately evident around faucet spouts, shower heads, clean dishes, and even around plumbing pipes. The film develops and builds overtime, as hard water goes untreated.

❷ Cloudy Water (and Dishes)

Is your water cloudy? Healthy water is clear. So, if you fill a glass with your tap water, and it looks cloudy or otherwise muddles, it is a tell-tale sign of hardness. Speaking of glasses, if your glass cups and plates are cloudy or have white spots all over them, it is another common sign of hard water. As mentioned, this is a layer of film known as limescale.

❸ Greasy Water

Your water should feel crisp and clean. So, if your water feels slimy or greasy, or if your skin feels greasy after cleansing, you are probably dealing with a hard water issue in your home. When hard water buildup accumulations in your plumbing pipes, it causes water to feel slimy because it contains so many additional contaminants, like mold.

❹ Appliance Failure

If you have water-based appliances, like refrigerators with ice makers, dishwashing machines, washing machines, water heaters, and water softeners, hard water can destroy them over time. So, if any of your water-using appliances breaks down or drops in performance sooner than they should, it could be due to hard water.  Hard water buildup can clog lines, corrode heating elements, and damage many other internal components within appliances.

❺ Dingy Laundry

Hard water does not allow soap to later properly, nor does it allow water to rinse things well. As a result, a hard water problem tends to always boil over into the laundry room, and present itself in the form of dry, faded, dingy laundry. At times, it can make your laundry feel greasy, as it the soap residues were not properly, rinsed. Other times, it dries out and fades your laundry, making your textiles look old and worn before they should.

Do you suspect that you might have a hard water problem at home? Contact Weilhammer Plumbing Company at 317-784-1870 for professional home plumbing inspections and water quality services in Indianapolis, Indiana. We serve residential and commercial clients.

You Might Also Like:

The Best Way to Solve Your Hard Water Problems at Home
Can Poor Quality Plumbing Make You Sick?
Do I Need My Plumbing Inspected?

Indianapolis Indiana Master Plumbers 317-784-1870
Indianapolis Indiana Master Plumbers 317-784-1870

Why is There Sand in My Bathtub?

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Are you noticing that each time you take a bath or shower there is sand or dirt at the bottom of the tub or around the drain? As an Indiana resident, you would surely know if you’ve been to the beach lately, as there are not many around here. So, where did all this sand come from? There is a perfectly good explanation, and it happens more often than you think.

Continue reading to learn why your bathtub has sand in it after a shower or bath, and what you can do to solve the problem within your budget.

Indianapolis Hot Water Heater Service and Repair
Indianapolis Hot Water Heater Service and Repair 317-784-1870

Sand and Dirt in Your Tub

Sand in the bathtub generally signifies a problem within one of your home’s re-circulation lines. Sediment can drift inside the water line connected to your hot water heater when it reenters the tank. The result is sandy sediment getting sucked backward when you turn on the hot water, which is then drawn into your tub when you take a bath or shower. Sand and sediment can also appear in kitchen and bathroom sinks if the sediment is extensive.

How to Get Rid of Sand in Hot Water

As soon as you begin to notice sand or dirt leftover in your tubs after running the hot water, it is important to contact a local and licensed Indianapolis IN water heater company for professional assistance. They can perform an in-person inspection to examine your cold and hot water lines, and make any necessary adjustments or replacements to solve the issue. You may also need some routine water heater service, such as a flush or minor parts replacement, which should be done on a regular set schedule, year-round.

Routine water heater maintenance is the most important priority for hot water heater. Not only will regular upkeep ensure your water heater is performing at maximum efficiency, which in turn saves you money on water and energy bills, it also ensures that you will not have to pay for costly repairs, or worse, premature replacement.

Water Heater Flushes

Hot water heaters must be drained on a regular basis to eliminate the buildup of sediments and hard mineral solids. By eliminating these hard solids, you can better protect the interior workings of your water heater, as well as prolong its life and enhance its performance. Less scale buildup also reduces the likelihood of frequent breakdowns and costly repairs. Have your water heater flushed at least once every year.

Are you dealing with a sandy bathtub or hot water problems? Contact Weilhammer Plumbing Company at 317-784-1870 for hot water heater service in Indianapolis, Indiana you can afford. We serve residential and commercial clients within the inner and outer city areas.

You Should Also Read:

What You Need to Know About Water Heater Sediment Buildup
How to Quickly Unclog a Bathtub Drain
Why Does My Bathtub Drain Smell Bad?

Indianapolis Indiana Master Plumbers 317-784-1870
Indianapolis Indiana Master Plumbers 317-784-1870

Top 5 Things That Will Destroy Your Plumbing Pipes

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As a homeowner, you want your house to be safe, secure, and well protected all year long. With this resolve, it is your responsibility to ensure that all systems are operating at their most efficient capacity. Your plumbing is one of the most vital systems that should be maintenance and inspected on a regular basis to ensure nothing has gone wrong, or will go wrong in the foreseeable future. Not sure if you are taking good care of your plumbing?

Continue reading to learn the top 5 things that can and will destroy your plumbing pipes if you are not careful, as well as where to get superior plumbing service in Indianapolis.

Indianapolis Plumbing Service and Repair 317-784-1870
Indianapolis Plumbing Service and Repair 317-784-1870

Don’t Let These 5 Things Damage Your Plumbing:

❶ Trash

It is very important that you do not allow trash to get inside your pipes, drains, and other exposed plumbing areas. Things like metal, plastic, glass, and even paper can cause a blockage, burst pipe, flood, and more. This means that you need to take good care when using your garbage disposal, drains, and toilets, and do not use them as a trashcan.

❷ Grease

Whether you are cooking bacon or frying chicken, you should not throw away any kind of grease into a drain, toilet, garbage disposal, or other plumbing entrance. Instead, pour the grease into a large glass jar, such as an old pickle or marinara jar, and throw it away in the trash can. When it comes disposing of unsafe oils, such as motor oil, you must take it to a local hazardous waste recycling facility so they can dispose of it safely for you.

❸ Tree Roots

Tree roots have a very specific and invasive agenda that will be stopped by nothing. They grow at a force of nature you could not imagine, and in their maturity, can reach lengths and widths of incredible amounts. But even on smaller scales, tree roots can easily, and quickly, grow into your home’s underground piping system, which can cause extreme amounts of damage. Have your trees and landscape inspected to identify any potential invasive root problems.

❹ Hair

Hair falls out in the shower and bath without us even realizing it happens. Overtime, this subtle accumulation of hair can mix with other constituents, like grease and garbage, and obstruct drains, plumbing, piping, and more. It is recommended to snake your bathroom sink, tub, and shower drains on a regular basis to avoid such blockages. Avoid using chemical drain cleaners, and opt for a drain auger tool instead.

❺ Chemical Drain Cleaners

Chemical, over-the-counter, drain cleaners may seem like a great option because they work fast, but they are actually quite damaging to your plumbing system, as well as the surrounding environment. Instead, opt for a natural drain cleaner solution made from water, white vinegar, and baking soda.

Do you think your plumbing system could use some TLC? Contact Weilhammer Plumbing Company at 317-784-1870 for professional plumbing services in Indianapolis, Indiana. We serve residential and commercial clients, and are state-licensed master plumbers.

You Should Also Read:

Never Put This Stuff in a Garbage Disposal!
How to Make Homemade Drain Dissolving Cleaner
Tips for DIY Home Plumbing Inspections

Indianapolis Indiana Master Plumbers 317-784-1870
Indianapolis Indiana Master Plumbers 317-784-1870