How to Solve Your Bathroom Exhaust Fan Problems

Posted on September 29, 2022 by weilhammerplumbing

The bathroom exhaust vent fan requires annual maintenance to increase its performance value and lifespan. It is used for removing excess moisture in the air after a hot shower or bath. If never removed, this moisture can lead to mold and mildew growth, which is simultaneously dangerous to our health and destructive for our homes.

Continue reading to learn how to properly clean and maintain bathroom exhaust vent fans.

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How Bathroom Fans Work

Bathroom exhaust fans are powerful enough to exhaust nearly two million cubic feet of air per year if turned on for one hour each day! They draw air from the bathroom and vent it outside. As the vent draws air in, other airborne particles come with it, like dust, dander, and debris. These particles accumulate on the outer grid cover and fan motor, reducing performance value and efficiency. Both of these areas must be cleaned in order to maintain an operational bathroom exhaust vent. Dust and debris should be wiped clear every six months to a year, depending on the size of a bathroom and the number of occupants in a home.

How to Clean the Bathroom Exhaust Vent:

To get started, you will need a vacuum with a brush attachment, a step stool, and a towel. The first step begins at the circuit breaker box. Be sure to flip the fuse to the bathroom fan so it has no power. This will eliminate electrocution accidents and injuries.

Next, use your step stool to get in arms reach of the vent. Most are located on the ceiling, but some may be on the side of a wall, right beneath the ceiling.

Slowly pull the grid cover to the vent down until it is a few inches from the ceiling. At this point, you will be able to see metal spring clips on each side of the grid cover. Press them together simultaneously and release them from their slots in the fan housing, then remove the cover from the ceiling entirely.

Place the vent cover on the towel and vacuum it clean with your brush attachment. You may also use paper towel and mild cleaning solution to wipe it clean after vacuuming. Do this for both sides.

Next, using your brush attachment, gently vacuum the fan housing and blower motor. You can choose to use the crevice tool vacuum attachment to reach deeper, harder-to-reach spots.

Now you are ready to attach the cover back to the ceiling and exposed fan housing.

To do this, hold the vent cover while pressing together both metal spring clips. Slip the clips back into their slots inside the fan housing. Gently push the cover back onto the ceiling.

For safe and secure solutions to all your plumbing maintenance and repair needs, be sure to contact a qualified and licensed Indianapolis plumbing company that can provide comprehensive bathroom plumbing repair services and more.

Are you ready to have your bathroom plumbing inspected and repaired by a licensed plumber in your area? Contact Weilhammer Plumbing Company at 317-784-1870 for licensed and insured plumbing inspection service and plumbing repair in Indianapolis, Indiana. We provide residential and commercial service throughout Central Indiana.

Bathroom Plumbing Repair Hacks for the Handy Homeowner

Posted on December 20, 2021 by weilhammerplumbing

Your bathroom might arguably be the most important room in your house. Just think about it. If you were forced to get rid of a room in your house, the bathroom would not even be on the list of options! From the bathtub and shower to the toilet, sink, drains, and more, no one can live without a functioning bathroom. So, when plumbing problems present themselves, the frustration and inconvenience meters tend to go off the charts.

If you live in a home with fussy bathroom plumbing, you would be smart to equip yourself with some DIY knowledge. This can help you get yourself out of jam without the help of a plumber. Of course, there are times when you absolutely need a plumber.

Continue reading to learn some helpful bathroom plumbing repair hacks, plus which plumbing company to trust for emergency service in Central Indiana!

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Bathroom Hacks for Plumbing Problems

Toilets

You don’t want your toilet in the fritz, especially if it’s the only one in the house! Not only is a broken toilet inconvenient, but it can also lead to some nasty messes. Common toilet problems include slow flushing, clogged toilet, backed up toilet, running toilet, loose lever, loose toilet seat, toilet leaks, and even toilet stains.

First, do not flush things down your toilet that don’t belong! But more importantly, toilet leaks are the most serious toilet plumbing issue, so it’s important to test your toilet to ensure it is leak-free. Do this by using some household food coloring. Do not use blue if you have a toilet bowl insert that already turns your water blue. Add a few drops of food coloring into the toilet tank, not the bowl. Then flush the toilet. Wait a few minutes, then lift the lid. If you see color in the toilet bowl, you might have a leak. Call an Indy plumber right away.

Sinks

Sinks are notorious for having low water pressure. If your faucet is showing signs of low water pressure, you may need to clean the aerator. It’s easy! Just grab an old toothbrush that you can dedicate to dirty work, then simply unscrew the faucet tip. You might need a wrench if it’s on tight. Scrub the aerator clean with warm water and then reassemble. If you have hard water problems, you may need to repeat this hack on a routine basis.

Clogs are another common bathroom sink problem. Install a drain strainer to prevent unwanted constituents from clogging it all up, like hair and dental floss.

Bathtubs

Your bathtub is a sanctuary. So, when it begins to lose water mid-bath, the luxury of it all seems to go down the drain with it. A simple repair hack for a checking the sealant on your bathtub’s drain stopper is to simply fill the tub with water, mark the water line, and then wait. After an hour, see if the water level has dropped. If so, you may need to re-caulk the drain or replace the stopper.

Showers

The biggest problem with showers is reduced water pressure. And a cakey shower head is the most common culprit. To open your shower head nodules and spouts back up, disconnect your shower head and place it in a bag filled with distilled white vinegar. Allow it to soak overnight and then rinse it clean in the morning before reattaching. The vinegar will dissolve the limescale buildup and improve your shower head performance.

Drains

Clogs are by far the most frequent problems with bathroom drains. Install a drain strainer or mesh cover to prevent unwanted objects from obstructing them, like hair, cotton swabs, dental floss, soap residues, makeup, and more. Also, get yourself a good, old-fashioned drain auger, also called a snake. These can help unclog any drain.

Is your bathroom in need of emergency plumbing assistance? Or perhaps some routine plumbing service? Contact Weilhammer Plumbing Company at 317-784-1870 for a wide range of professional plumbing services in Indianapolis, Indiana. We serve residential and commercial clients and offer free advice.

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Easy Ways to Prevent Bathroom Plumbing Repair

Posted on October 18, 2017 by weilhammerplumbing

Indianapolis Plumbing Repair 317-784-1870

When comparing the cost of preventative maintenance and hiring a master plumber for bathroom plumbing repairs, the numbers do not lie. Preventative plumbing maintenance is a whole lot cheaper than plumbing repair work; it’s also much easier and a lot faster. So when faced with the task of up keeping your bathroom’s plumbing, it is wise to take the initiative and get it done! Continue reading to learn some easy bathroom plumbing tips that double as wise preventative maintenance as well.

Toilets

When it comes to the commode, regular inspections and maintenance are crucial to stop plumbing issues before they begin. Toilets are known most to clog or leak. Both are issues that are not fun to deal with, so be sure to do what’s necessary to prevent them from happening. For example, one easy way to see if the tank has a leak is to use good old-fashioned food coloring. Choose an easy-to-spot color like red or green. Steer clear of blue if you already use a blue toilet bowl dye. Squeeze two to three drops into the toilet tank (not the bowl!) and then wait thirty minutes.

After a half an hour, go ahead and check the toilet bowl for any signs of color. If you see the food coloring in the toilet bowl, you know your toilet tank is leaking. You can gauge the level of leakage by the hue of color. The darker the color, the more leakage is taking place. If you do see color you can still relax because it probably just needs a simple flapper or ball replacement. Any local plumber can do this for cheap, or you can do this on your own.

Another very important and primary rule of thumb for toilets is to be cautious of what you are flushing and how much. This means never using your toilet as a trashcan. Flush only small disintegrable items down the toilet, and use as little toilet paper possible. Avoid flushing cotton ball, ear swabs, face wipes, rubber bands, and anything else that can potentially clog the pipes. If you do get a clog, try the plunger a few times; but if that fails, it may be time to call a plumber for help.

Sinks, Showers, and Drains

As for bathroom sinks, leaks can be a common problem. Once a week, it is wise to inspect the faucet, as well as the drain pipe underneath the sink for excess moisture, leaks, or sitting water. Catching a leak in its early stages can avoid large repair bills. Another bathroom plumbing is for the drains. Whether the sink or shower, it is very wise to install a drain strainer to catch pipe-clogging materials like hair, floss, soap chips, and more. It may require a plumber for installation, but it is a worthwhile investment to prevent future costly repairs.

For bathtubs, you want to make sure your drain stoppers are sealed properly. To check this, simply fill your bathtub with 6 to 8 inches of water and mark its level. Come back in thirty minutes to see if the water level as dropped at all. If it has, you may need to have your drains resealed. And for shower heads, get rid of mineral lime-calcium build up by soaking it overnight in vinegar and rinsing clean with fresh water in the morning. This will improve water pressure and prevent plumbing issues.

Bathroom Plumbing Repair in Indianapolis

Indianapolis Plumbing Repair 317-784-1870

Call Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc. at 317-784-1870 for bathroom plumbing repair in Indianapolis, Indiana. Master plumber, Mark Weilhammer, offers all plumbing services and repairs at the most competitive prices in Indianapolis. Call Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc. today and see for yourself!