• Toilet Leaks  
   
• Don’t flush your money
   

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Drain Gurgling:                                                
This is a blockage of air in the drain, typically caused by a clog. Removing the clog should fix the problem.
Don't Let Food Reek Havoc:
Young children often huddle under the covers in their bedrooms, certain that a monster prowls in the closet or under the bed.
Most parents will open the closet door or peek under the bed to remind them that the coast is clear. But if your children
accused your kitchen sink of harboring a shady presence, would you be able to deny it? Something foul may be lurking in your
sink. Here are some tips for removing garbage disposal odor. Don’t Let Food Reek Havoc in the Sink Young children often
huddle under the covers in their bedrooms, certain that a monster prowls in the closet or under the bed. Most parents will
open the closet door or peek under the bed to remind them that the coast is clear. But if your children accused your kitchen
sink of harboring a shady presence, would you be able to deny it? Something foul may be lurking in your sink. Your garbage
disposal may start to smell when food debris builds up. It may be a lingering odor or an overpowering stench, but a good dose
of cleaning can clear the air.  Place a handful of ice cubes and citrus peels – lemons, oranges or limes – in the disposal. Turn
on cold water and then turn on the disposal for 15 to 30 seconds. Then turn off the disposal and continue to rinse with cold
water for 15 more seconds. If you have grease buildup, turn on hot water and then turn on the disposal. Squeeze a tablespoon
of dish washing liquid in the disposal. Run hot water for 15 to 30 seconds while the disposal is running. Finally, turn the
disposal off and continue to let hot water run until the suds are gone. Of course, the best way to ensure an odor-free kitchen
is to prevent the smell before it starts. Never put bones, celery stalks and shrimp or onion peels down the garbage disposal. If
you have large amounts of food to dispose of, scrape the scraps into the trash and just rinse the dishes off. Don’t let food
“reek” havoc in the sink, and your entire family will thank you!
How to Detect a Silent Leak:
Put several drops of dark food coloring into your toilet tank. If the dye appears in the bowl, you need to replace the valve seal
ball or flapper at the bottom of the tank.

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Water Conservation:
If every household in America and Canada had a faucet that dripped once each second, 928 million gallons of water a day
would leak away. Here are some tips for conserving water. Water Conservation, Every Drop Counts Drip. Drip. Drip. Many
people consider a leaky faucet a mere annoyance. But if every household in America and Canada had a faucet that dripped
once each second, 928 million gallons of water a day would leak away, according to the American Water Works Association.
That’s a lot, considering the AWWA predicts the average household uses approximately 146,000 gallons of water each year.
But water is wasted in more ways than through a leaky faucet. CENTRAL TRIAD SERVICES has some helpful household hints
to keep you from wasting water. For those who insist on rinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher, wash them in
a basin of cold water rather than under a running faucet of hot water. Be vigilant about turning off the water when shaving or
brushing your teeth. Only run the dishwasher and washing machine when they are full. Water can also be wasted because of
a lack of maintenance. Check all the faucets, hoses and appliances that use water in your house for leaks and drips. Finally,
examine your toilets — they account for almost 30 percent of all indoor water use, and most of the time they are the biggest
culprits of wasting water. Just by listening you can tell if your toilet is running, but to check the water level, you’ll have to open
the toilet tank. If you are willing to spend the money on a new toilet it will actually save you money each month on water and
wastewater bills. An ultra low-flow toilet requires only 1.6 gallons of water per flush compared to toilets made before 1994
that use 3.5 to 7 gallons for each flush. By replacing your toilet, you could save 7,900 to 21,700 gallons of water a year.

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Choosing a Water Heater:
Here is a handy guide to finding a water heater.
Finding a Water Heater Use this handy guide to choosing the right size water heater. Enter the answers in the boxes, then
total them up.

Number of people in household   ________                        
Number of tubs and/or showers  ________                         
Add 1 for a dishwasher                  ________                     
Add 1 for a washing machine       ________                       
Add 1 for a whirlpool tub                ________                     
Miscellaneous additions*              ________      
TOTAL                                                 ________

*Other things to consider:
If children are entering their teen years, you may want to add 1 to miscellaneous additions.
If you want a more efficient water heater, consider an upgrade to a high-efficiency heater.
If you find yourself running out of hot water, add 1 to miscellaneous additions or upgrade to a quick-recovery and/or high-
efficiency water heater.
If there is a whirlpool tub, use a 50-gal. or higher gas or electric heater as a minimum.
After totalling the boxes, use the following chart to determine the size of water heater necessary.
If Total Is...
GAS 4 or less: 30 gallon water heater  
5 to 7: 40 gallon water heater  
8 or more: 50 gallon water heater  

ELECTRIC 4 or less: 40 gallon water heater  
5 or 6: 50 gallon water heater  
7 or 8: 65 gallon water heater  
9 or more: 80 gallon water heater  

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Emergency Shutoff Valves:
Prevent plumbing headaches and even property loss. Learn about emergency shutoff valves. Emergency Shutoff Valves
You probably don’t think about your plumbing system very often. After all, it’s not a very exciting subject and as long as it is
working, there is really nothing to think about, right? Wrong! Understanding a few basic facts about how your plumbing
system works and what to do in case of a pipe break or system backup can prevent plumbing headaches and even property
loss in the future. First, the location of the main water shut-off is important to know. If a pipe breaks and is flooding your
house, the main water supply may be the fastest way to shut off the flow of water. As your plumbing system enters your
home either through a municipal water supply or private well you will find a main shut-off at the municipal water supply meter
or the pressure tank of a private well. You should also find shut-off valves inside your home. Newer homes will have
emergency shut-off valves for every fixture and appliance. However, in some cases older homes do not have these shut-offs
and owners should plan to have them installed.

Quick Tips
One of the most common causes of water damage to a home is a broken washing machine hose. Most rubber supply hoses
are not meant to withstand constant water pressure and can burst, so the emergency shut off valves to your washing
machine should be shut off when the washing machine is not in use—and especially when you will not be home for an
extended period.
Also, it is our suggestion that you throw out those rubber supply hoses and replace them with braided stainless steel "no-
burst" washing machine fill hoses. You can find these at your local hardware store, or simply call CENTRAL TRIAD SERVICES  
and we’ll do it for you.

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Shower Drain Clogs:
Most shower clogs can be corrected easily with a minimum of hassle and mess. Here are some things you can do with a
clogged drain before you call the plumber Unclogging Shower Drains  The Drain Strain: Tips to Unclogging Shower Drains
Nothing stops a command performance of singing in the shower faster than a clogged drain. But the following tips from
CENTRAL TRIAD SERVICES could be music to your ears when it comes to tackling the problem. Most shower clogs can be
corrected easily with a minimum of hassle and mess. All you need are a few simple tools and a little common sense. Hair is
usually the culprit when a shower fails to drain properly. In fact, checking the strainer cover that fits over the drain in your
shower enclosure may be all it takes to solve the problem. If the perforations are stopped up, clean them out and test the flow
of water. If the perforations in the strainer cover are not blocked, don’t panic. All you have to do is follow a few simple steps to
remove the clog. First, determine how the strainer cover is attached. Some covers simply snap into place and can be
removed from the drain by lifting them with a screwdriver. Other covers are held in place by a couple of screws, which can be
easily removed. Once the strainer cover is removed, shine a flashlight into the drain and visually check for a clog. You should
see water a few inches below in the drain, but if you spot an obstruction, use a piece of stiff wire – a metal coat hanger
crimped to make a hook on the end works fine – to clear the pipe. Gently snag the clog with the wire, being careful not to push
the obstruction deeper into the drain. If you do not see a hair clog blocking the pipe, try using a plunger to clear the drain.
Commonly known as the “plumber’s friend,” a plunger works best when there is a firm seal around the drain opening. It might
help to coat the rim of the rubber force cup with petroleum jelly. Next, pour enough water into the shower enclosure to cover
the lip of the rubber cup on the plunger, and make sure the cup is securely fitted over the drain opening. Then, move the
handle of the plunger up and down rapidly.
If the plunger fails to force the clog free, the next step is to try a hand snake. This device features a flexible coil of spring steel
with a crank at one end for rotating it. Carefully feed the metal cable into the drain pipe until you hit the obstruction. When you
feel the cable stop, crank the handle clockwise. The tip of the metal cable will snag the clog as it turns. Keep up the cranking
motion as you slowly pull the cable out of the drain line and the clog should pull free. If all these steps fail to clear the drain,
call a professional plumber.
Drain cleaners can be poured into drains to remove clogs, but these cleaners contain caustic chemicals and should be used
only as directed by the manufacturer. Drains should always be flushed thoroughly after a chemical application. Never use a
plunger immediately after pouring a chemical into the drain. And remember, if you choose to use a chemical drain cleaner
and then summon a plumber, tell him immediately so he can take the proper precautions.

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Whistling Noise :
It could be a broken faucet washer or extremely high water pressure. The Root of the Problem: It’s surprising, but true – roots
from a tree or bush several hundred yards and several houses away can damage your home’s plumbing system if they break
into your pipes. It’s called root intrusion, and it can create major blockage in your line. The Root of the Problem It’s surprising,
but true – roots from a tree or bush several hundred yards and several houses away can damage your home’s plumbing
system if they break into your pipes. It’s called root intrusion, and it can create major blockage in your line. “Trees and shrubs
seek water to grow, and pipes provide the perfect environment,” says Don Peters, president of the CENTRAL TRIAD
SERVICES. “Roots are even drawn to unbroken pipes because of condensation and will grow alongside and around the pipe
to lap up the moisture.” There is a misconception that roots are the problem, but Thompson says the problem is actually the
pipe because the roots cannot get in the pipe unless there is a crack or bad joint. The older the pipe, the more susceptible it
is to cracks, breaks and deformations. A possible sign of root intrusion is a sudden back up or flooding of the lowest
plumbing fixture in the house. When you fill a bathtub or shower with water and let it drain, look for this warning signal:
 

• If you don’t see the water exiting in a swirling, cyclonic action, it might be a good time to call a qualified, licensed
  plumber.