Earlier this month, more than 17,000 Fishers and Noblesville
residents were placed on a water boil advisory issued by Indiana American Water
Works Service Company. Although the ban was lifted a day later, there is a lesson
to be learned from the entire dilemma. Continue below to learn some facts about
the recent water boil in Hamilton County, as well as, tips for monitoring and
maintaining your home or business’s water quality.
Indianapolis Water Softening Service and Repair 317-784-1870
Hamilton County Water Boil Advisory
As a result of the White River North water treatment
facility losing a nominal amount of pressure, Indiana American Water placed a
water boil advisory for its customers. During the precautionary advisory, Indiana
American Water completed a series of tests to verify that their water again meets
regulatory drinking water standards. Customers of Citizens were not affected by
the treatment facility’s equipment malfunctions, and were not included in the cross-county
advisory.
There is a standard, set and regulated by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, that mandates water treatment companies to issue a water boil advisory when water pressure levels drop to a certain, specified value. According to the IDEM, if water pressure drops below 20 pounds per square inch in any part of a municipal water distribution system, a boil advisory must be issued.
What is a Boil Advisory?
When a water treatment company issues a boil advisory, they are
suggesting boiling your tap water before ingesting it via drinking and cooking.
Although it is acceptable to use water for bathing, washing, and similar uses,
it is not recommended to drink or consume it until the ban is officially lifted.
Pay Attention to Your Water Quality
Although the ban has since been lifted, and your county may not have been affected at all, you may still be concerned about the quality and performance of your home’s water. It is important to pay attention to your water quality, and to take the proper steps to ensure it remains contaminant-free. Contact a local soft water professional to learn your options for improving your home’s drinking water quality.
Indianapolis Water Softening Service You Can Trust
Call Weilhammer Plumbing Company at 317-784-1870 if you would like to learn how to improve the quality of your home’s water on a budget. You have several options for Indianapolis water softening and filtration, and our licensed plumbers know exactly how to assess your home’s water quality and performance needs. Trust us for honest service at a fair price. Call today for a free estimate or advice.
Is your plumbing repair an emergency situation? Or can it
wait? Continue reading to find out what constitutes a plumbing emergency and
what doesn’t, including certain plumbing repairs that can be done on your own.
Indianapolis Plumbing Service and Repair 317-784-1870
Dealing With Plumbing Problems
When something in your plumbing system breaks down, you
often wonder whether or not it’s considered an emergency. Sometimes you don’t
have enough money to put towards a repair until your next paycheck, or you
simply don’t have the time to add in a plumbing appointment to your busy
schedule. The best way to determine if a plumbing repair is an emergency is to
contact a professional Indianapolis master plumber for free, over-the-phone
advice you can trust.
Plumbing Repair Emergencies
A plumbing repair emergency is a break down in your plumbing
system that will pose serious injury or health complications, such as gas
leaks, or one that will pose serious destruction to your property, such as
flooding or fires. Below is a list of standard plumbing emergencies. If your
home or building experiences any of the emergencies listed below, or ones similar,
you must contact a licensed plumber immediately, even if in the middle of the night.
Plumbing Emergencies:
⚠ Major Water Leaks that Can’t Be Stopped By Main Water Shutoff ⚠ Gas Leaks ⚠ Lingering Gas Smell ⚠ Flooding (i.e. carpets, floors, basement, lawn, etc.) ⚠ Condensation on Walls (“sweaty” or wet walls) ⚠ Large Amounts of Standing Water in Lawn ⚠ Burst Pipes ⚠ Frozen Pipes ⚠ Sump Pump Problems and Defects
Minor Plumbing Repairs
A minor plumbing repair is not an emergency situation.
Instead, it is a break down in your plumbing system that needs to be fixed, but
in the meantime, should not pose serious injury or health complications, nor
destruction to your property. However, a minor plumbing repair can evolve into
a plumbing emergency if it is neglected over a period of time. Below is a list
of non-plumbing emergency examples. If your home or building experiences any of
the breakdowns listed below, or ones similar, you must contact a licensed
plumber if you cannot repair it yourself. See our blog, “3
Household Plumbing Repairs You Should Know How to Do” for some help.
NON-Plumbing Emergencies:
✅ Moderate Leaks that Can Be Stopped with Main Water Shutoff Valve (i.e. water heater, water softener, cabinet pipes, etc.) ✅ Clogged Toilet or Drain ✅ Running Toilet ✅ No Hot Water ✅ Small Water Leaks (i.e. faucet, shower head, sink, etc.) ✅ Broken Plumbing Fixture
Contact a Trusted Indianapolis Master Plumber
Contact Weilhammer Plumbing Company at 317-784-1870 for home plumbing repairs and plumbing emergencies in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding counties. Our state-licensed Indianapolis master plumbers have been in the plumbing business for over 100 years because we have earned the trust of thousands of Hoosiers all across the city as a result of our professional service and outstanding results. Request a free estimate or advice, today.
Rain water is naturally soft water. But once it enters the
ground and permeates through all the layers of soil and rock, it accumulates mineral
content. Hard water is tap water that contain hard mineral ions, such as iron,
calcium, and magnesium. These minerals change the composition of water, thus
reducing its quality. When heated, these minerals precipitate out of the water
in the form of limescale. Limescale is very damaging to everything in your
home, from plumbing and appliances, to dishes, hair, nails, and more.
Fortunately, a water softening system can combat the negative effects of hard
water.
Continue reading to review some of the most frequently asked
questions about water softeners and hard water for help determining the best
water quality solutions for your property.
Water Softener Installation and Repair 317-784-1870
How Can I Tell if I Have Hard Water?
The signs of hard water are very easy to see. In fact, if
you are displeased with your water, it is probably because it is hard. If you
do not think much about your tap water, nor have problems with the things that
hard water damages, you might have softer water in your municipality. But that
does not mean it is as soft as it can be. To test if you have hard water,
simply do an inspection of your house, clothes, dishes, and hair. If you see
limescale buildup around faucets and plumbing fixtures, or you always have
cloudy spots on your dishes, you have some degree of hard water. Furthermore,
if your clothes do not seem to clean well, your soap doesn’t lather well, or
your hair seems dingy and dull, you could have hard water.
What Does a Water Softener Do?
Water softeners use ion-exchange technology, which basically
trades soft minerals for hard ones. Inside a tank-style water softener, which
are the most common among residential properties, there are resin beads. These
beads are positively charged, and as water passes through them, they attract
and absorb the negatively-charged hard minerals, and swapping them for softener
ones; usually potassium chloride (salt pellets). The resin beads then flush the
hard minerals out, recharge, and get ready for another cycle.
Do I Need a Water Softener?
Everyone can use a water softener, especially when property has any water-using appliances or plumbing. There are various reasons to purchase and install a water softening system at home or in the office, but it call comes down to hard water abatement. Hard water can be harmful to skin, hair, nails, clothes, plumbing, appliances, dishware, and much more.
How Much Does a Water Softener Cost?
Water softeners are incredibly important and highly
effective appliances that actually save properties money, overtime. For this
reason, you can expect them to cost more than the average appliance in your
home, upfront. Furthermore, you have to also pay for installation, and down the
line, routine maintenance and service. On average, you can expect a standard
tank-style water softener to cost between $1000 and $3000, depending on the
make, model, and size.
How Much is Water Softener Installation?
You will require the services of a licensed plumber who
specializes in water softeners for installation. Costs vary among businesses,
but on average, you can expect to pay anywhere from $250 to $600 or more for
water softener installation. Request free estimates from various plumbers to
gain an idea of what a fair cost looks like.
Where Can I Get Trusted Advice About Water Softening in Indianapolis?
Call Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc. at 317-784-1870 for free estimates, advice, and information regarding water softeners, anytime. Not only are we state-licensed master plumbers who specialize in water softener service and repair, we gladly provide recommendations and advice, including hard water testing. Whether residential or commercial, we can provide all the water heater services you need. Call 317-784-1870 to get started.
With dampness and darkness, you are bound to have some form of mold growth at some point in time. When it comes to your home’s plumbing system, mold is an ongoing threat that must be controlled with routine cleaning and similar maintenance. If you have mold around your home’s plumbing fixtures or pipes, it is wise to understand the cause of the mold growth, and then combat the root of the problem with adequate methods of abatement.
The first step to understanding where your mold is coming from is to determine which kind of mold species you are dealing with. Did you know that simply looking at the color of mold can tell you this?
Continue reading to learn what the color of your mold is
telling you.
Indianapolis Plumbing Service 317-784-1870
Common Mold Colors and Potential Dangers
☣ Black or Gray – Mold that is black or gray might be Alternaria, which is one of the most common types of outdoor mold. It mostly grows near damp, dusty areas, as well as, soil and plants. It is often found in household dust, so be sure you keep up with your routine cleaning.
☣ Blue, Green, or White – Molds of these colors generally point to the Penicillium genus. Several years ago, this species of mold was used to make penicillin. At the present time, it is usually found growing on food or on walls. It can cause allergic reactions, allergies, and other respiratory problems.
☣ Green – Green mold is very vague since it can be any kind of unpleasant fungus. There are literally thousands of species of green mold, so green mold doesn’t tell you much, expect that it needs to be removed.
☣ Greenish-Black – Mold that appears greenish-black in color could be Stachbotrys genus, which is also known as “black mold.” Exposure to such mold has been linked to serious health conditions. It commonly grows on high-cellulose, low-nitrogen surfaces, such as drywall, gypsum board, paper, dust and lint that is constantly exposed to moisture.
☣ Olive Green, Gray, Brown, or Black – Molds that appear in these color formations likely belong to the Cladosporium genus. You can find this mold growing indoors and outdoors, on plant leaves, soil, walls, insulation, and damp carpeting. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), they are most commonly linked to minor health complications like skin, eye, and sinus infections; but they have also been known to brain infections like fungal meningitis.
☣ Pink – Pink mold is often seen in the bathroom or kitchen, but it is not actually mold at all. It is a bacteria called Serratia marcescens. Although not a mold, it still presents hygiene and health issues, like urinary tract and respiratory infections.
☣ Yellow, Green or Black – Mold that appears yellow, green, or black could possibly be Aspergillus mold. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we breathe these molds in almost every day without getting sick. However, concentrated exposure can be hazardous, especially for those with existing lung problems or suppressed immune systems. In individuals like these, it can cause aspergillosis, which presents itself as coughing, wheezing, and sinus inflammation.
How to Clean Mold
It is strongly encouraged to wear a face mask or respirator,
as well as rubber gloves, when cleaning mold. As a quick guide, start by generously
spritzing the affected area with water to reduce the amount of airborne spores that
have the potential of moving around when you disturb them.
Then dip a bristled brush or sponge into a soapy warm water solution,
and scrub the mold off with. You can use standard dish detergent for your soapy
solution. You cannot visibly see all mold, so be sure to scrub the entire area,
as well as, all surrounding areas to make sure it is all gone.
When you are finished, repeat this process using bleach in
place of soapy solution. If you do not have bleach or do not want to use it, distilled
white vinegar works too. You can also choose to purchase a mold cleaning
solution at your local department store.
Black Mold Clean Up
When it comes to black mold, you can possibly remediate on your own, however, large-scale black mold remediation require professional service. You should hire a mold remediation contractor to determine the size and scope of your mold outbreak. Aside from black mold, most mold problems can be resolved on your own with the right products and supplies, a little elbow grease, and patience.
How to Manage Mold Growth
When it comes to your plumbing, the best way to prevent or
control mold growth is through routine cleaning and maintenance. Be sure to
have your plumbing systems inspected and serviced professionally at least once
per year. This includes all water-using appliances, such as water heaters,
water softeners, washing machines, dishwashers, sump pumps, septic systems,
toilets, baths, and more.
The Indianapolis Plumbing Service to Trust
Call Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc. at 317-784-1870 when you need a licensed plumbing service in Indianapolis at an affordable price. We offer a wide range of standard and master plumber services for both residential and commercial properties. We also offer free estimates, free plumbing advice, and even free haul-away for old plumbing appliances like water heaters, water softeners, sump pumps, and more. Request a free estimate, today.
When it comes time to purchase a new water softener, you
will be faced with an endless selection of sizes, features, upgrades, and
additions. Before diving into the market, it helps to review some common water
conditioning terminology for help understanding the difference between the water
softener systems you wish to compare. A good starting point is water softener
size and capacity. Basically, you will need to decide whether or not your
property requires a single or twin-tank system.
Continue reading to learn the difference between each type
of water softening system, and use your new-found knowledge to make an educated
decision for your water conditioning needs.
Water Softener Repair and Service 317-784-1870
Water Softener Size
The most important part of choosing a water softener for your home or building is to match the proper size to the property’s hard water removal needs. In order to do this accurately, it helps to discuss hard water management with a licensed, Indianapolis master plumber who specializes in soft water services. Otherwise, you will need to teach yourself how to calculate the proper size water softener.
Water softener capacity is measured in “grain removal” and in the United States, the average gallon of water has 10 grains of hardness in it. To calculate how much “grains” your establishment uses, you need to know that the average person uses around 80 gallons of water each day. You can get a more detailed explanation of estimating water softener capacity by reading, “How to Calculate Water Softener Size.”
The basic formula is as follows:
(Gallons Per Day x Number of Occupants) x Grains Per Gallon
= Total Grains Used Each Day
Single-Tank Water Softening System
A single tank water softener system consists of a single cabinet
that holds both the brine tank and the resin tank. This compact design allows it
to fit into small spaces, making them perfect for apartments and single-family
homes. These water softeners are also referred to as, “on-demand” systems,
which monitors your water consumption by the gallon. Once capacity is achieved,
the system will regenerate during off-times, such as the middle of the night or
early morning. This process provides soft water at all times. For properties
with fewer than five occupants, single-tank systems are an efficient choice.
Twin-Tank Water Softening System
A twin-tank water softener system is better suited for properties
with more occupants. It consists of two resin tanks, rather than just one found
in single-tank systems, as well as a brine tank. One resin tank provides soft
water all day long, while the other tank regenerates. Although the duel-tank
design takes up more floor space, it is an efficient choice for large families.
They are generally more expensive than single-tank systems since they are
larger and come with a backup tank.
Where to Get Water Softener Help
Call Weilhammer Plumbing Company at 317-784-1870 for affordable water softener service in Indianapolis, Indiana. We offer a wide range of standard and master plumber services for residential and commercial properties, and specialize in water softener installation and repair for all make and model units. We also carry a full line of quality Clack™ water softeners for sale at contractor prices! Request a free estimate, today.
