iron water filter systems

Hard and Rusty Water

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How to Deal with Rusty and/or Hard Water

Most U.S. family homes have hard water. You notice this most when washing dishes, doing laundry, or showering.  There’s excessive lime and chalk buildup in your sinks and showers. And even your skin and hair feel dry and itchy after you’ve washed.

water softener working diagram

Water softeners remove unwanted minerals and improve the quality of your water.

If you have red or brown deposits in your sinks or drains, then you most likely have a high concentration of iron in your water.  These are two common problems that can be addressed with different water conditioning solutions.

What is Hard Water?

Hard water is water that has collected a large amount of calcium, magnesium and other minerals in it. Hard water is not harmful to your health, but it is harmful to your home.  Living in a home with hard water can be a costly problem.  When dissolved minerals combine with heat, it leaves scale and buildup that damages pipes, appliances and fixtures.

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Spring Sump Pump Maintenance

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You Really Want Your Sump Pump to Work Properly

Routine maintenance on your sump pump will ensure it is ready when needed.

For those who depend on their sump pump to keep their basement dry, it is important to take some simple measures to ensure your sump pump is in proper working order before the spring rains come. 

Helpful Tips to Maintain Your Sump Pump This Spring

  1. Look for debris in your sump pump’s pit. Make sure there’s no dirt, sludge or other debris in your sump pump’s pit. These foreign objects can cause clogs in your pump’s intake or discharge pipes.
  2. Inspect the intake valve and impeller. Your sump pump consists of many moving parts that can wear down or need replacement.
  3. Read more →
cold weather sign

Winter Plumbing Tips

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How to Avoid Frozen Water Pipes this Winter Inside and Outside Your Home

cold weather signThe recent evening temperatures that have fallen below freezing remind us that winter is near and now is the time to do a few simple plumbing tasks to avoid major issues later this winter.

Frozen pipes are the #1 contributor to water damage in any home.  Ensuring that your water pipes are well insulated can avoid thousands of dollars of water damage when temperatures drop below freezing.

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clear-water-being-poured-into-a-glass

Water Softener Problems

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Signs Your Water Softener Isn’t Working Properly

clear-water-being-poured-into-a-glassFor most of us in central Indiana where hard water is prevalent, a water softener is pretty much a necessity. It’s one of those items that we depend on to work all the time and don’t fully appreciate until it stops working properly.

Mostly likely, your water softener doesn’t just break and stop working all at once, but over time it slowly stops completely softening your water.  Here are a few signs that your water softener may need to be serviced. Read more →

FOG down drain

Spring Cleaning Your Drains

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Your Drains Need Spring Cleaning Too

Spring cleaning is a ritual many of us take part in every year when the temperatures warm and the days get longer.  This often entails cleaning windows, dusting everything, and making sure our homes smell fresh. But what about your drains?

Don’t Wait for a Problem to Clean Your Drains

Cleaning your drains may not be an item on your traditional spring-cleaning list, but taking a little time to clean your drains thoroughly can avoid some major problems down the road. Read more →

backup sump pump system

Test Your Sump Pump

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Rain, Rain Go Away From My House

Heavy spring rains can lead to water problems in your basement. For homes with finished basements, significant losses due to flooding can occur.

Sump pumps work hard to move water away from the home’s foundation, ensuring that your home remains free of water damage from built-up groundwater or an abundance of rainwater.

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clogged drain

What Not to Dispose Down Your Drain

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Stop! Don’t Put That Down Your Drain

clogged drainHow often do we think about what should or shouldn’t be washed down the drain?  But not being aware of the stuff that goes down our drains can, not only impact our environment, but also lead to expensive plumbing repairs.
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Even if you have a garbage disposal, there are still certain substances that should be properly disposed of to avoid clogs and problems with your system.
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Here are some of the major culprits that we should avoid disposing of down our sink drains.

Coffee Grounds
Most people assume that coffee grounds are small enough that they won’t stick around in your pipes, but that’s not the case. In fact, most plumbers say that coffee grounds are one of the most likely sources of a clog in your kitchen pipes.

coffee grounds

Butter, Margarine and Cooking Oils
Even when melted, butter and margarine can congeal and build up over time creating water-resistant barriers. Oils are a major contributor to clogs and mix with other debris to create sludge. This also includes items such as, salad dressing, sauces and mayonnaise.

Grease and Other Fats
Like oils, leftover fats and grease from cooking can congeal, blocking drains and allowing other debris to cling onto the inside of pipes.

Eggshells
Not only are the shells hard on disposal blades, the egg shell membranes can wrap around the grinding device. Once ground, the tiny bits of the shell can compound other blockages.

Pasta, Rice and Flour
Pasta, noodles, rice and flour all absorb water and will swell or create a glue-like substance that can create clogs in your pipes.

Produce Stickers
These plastic and adhesive stickers are not water-soluble and when washed down a drain they can easily stick to other items leading to clogged pipes.

Medications
While there’s no real danger to your drain or pipes, the addition of pharmaceuticals into the water presents an environmental risk. It’s best to dispose of old medication in a sealed container in the trash can, or as dictated by local ordinances.

paint in sinkHousehold Fluids
Household cleaners and car fluids may not cause clogs in your pipes, but these chemicals can be very harmful when mixed into the water supply. Car fluids (oil, coolant, transmission and brake fluids) should be disposed according to local municipal guidelines. Avoid allowing toxic household cleaners into the water system by switching to all-natural cleaners.

Paint
Washing paint, both water- and oil-based, down the drain is not permitted in most areas because of the number of toxins and chemicals from the paint that can end up in the water supply. Depending on your area, you may have to dispose of paint at a hazardous waste facility.Brenneco Plumbing logo

Need Assistance
Have a clogged drain you can’t clear yourself?  Give Brenneco a call at 765-448-6190 and we’ll be happy to help.

Water Shut Off tag

Finding Your Water Shut-Off Valve

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Finding Your Water Shut-Off Valve Before An Emergency Occurs

Water Shut Off tagDo you know where your main water shut-off valve is located in your home? 

This is not a rhetorical question? When the water is pouring into your home from a broken pipe or valve, this is not the time to be asking yourself this question.  Taking the time now to locate your main shut-off valve can save you from significant water damage in case of an emergency.

Many types of plumbing emergencies call for turning off the main water supply to your home.  So knowing where this valve is located and being able to get to it quickly is very important.

Where To Look

If your home has a basement or crawlspace, the shut off valve is probably located on a wall near the front of your house. If your home is built on a slab, check in the garage or near the water heater for the shut off valve.  If you are on a well, the shut-off valve is often near the pressurized water tank.

water shut off valves

Shut-off valves come in a couple of different configurations.

If the water main shut off valve is located outside, it will be buried underground near the street. Look for a round or rectangular metal cover flush with the grass or sidewalk. It might be labeled “water meter” to help you identify it. Under this cover is the water shut off valve. Removing these metal covers often requires special tools. You’ll need to obtain these tools in order to get to your shut-off valve quickly.

Exercise These Valves

It is not a good time to find out that you can’t turn off your main water valve because it is corroded and won’t turn. Shut-off valves can come in a couple of different configurations. One looks like a handle you pull down on, the other is a knob you turn. Take the time now to go operate the valve so you know it is in good working order.

How to Shut Off Other Water Valves

When minor plumbing problems strike, you don’t need to shut off the water to the whole house –simply turn the valve behind the appliance or fixture that needs repair. These are located ….

  • home shut off valves

    Shut-off valves are located in different areas of your home for sinks, toilets and washers.

    Behind the washing machine: If the washer hose starts leaking or the appliance overflows, limit water damage by pulling the unit away from the wall and turning the shut off valve behind it clockwise.

  • By the toilet: Whether your toilet is overflowing or you need to replace a leaky flapper, stop the flow of water by turning the shut off valve (located on the wall behind the toilet) clockwise.
  • Under the sink: Before you repair or replace a faucet, turn off the water supply found underneath the sink, both hot and cold water lines.

Don’t Be the Only One Who Knows

Now that you have located your shut-off valves, make sure others in your household know as well where to find them.  Not knowing when a plumbing emergency may occur, you’ll want other family members to be able to react quickly to prevent significant water damage to your home.

frozen faucet

Winter Plumbing Prep

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An Ounce of Prevention … Can Keep the Plumber Away

frozen faucet

Take a few easy steps in the fall to prevent cold temperatures from causing plumbing problems this winter.

There’s starting to be a little nip in the air which means colder winter temperatures are not far off.  Now’s the time, before it gets too cold to make the rounds around your home, to check for potential plumbing problems that could occur later.

  1. Make sure you do not leave any hoses connected to your outdoor faucets. This can lead to your faucet freezing and breaking causing significant water damage.
  1. You will also want to check your faucets for any leaks and drips, and fix these prior to cold weather setting in.
  1. Drain all hoses of any remaining water and store them in your garage or shed. This will keep them from freezing and the plastic hose from splitting.
  1. Close and insulate crawl space vents. Check for any air leaks where cold air can enter a crawl space and lead to pipes freezing.  Add insulation where needed.
  1. frozen hose

    Don’t forget to disconnect, drain and store your hoses this fall.

    Check the insulation of pipes in your crawl spaces and attic. Insulate exposed water pipes with spray insulation, heat tape, or wrap insulation around the pipes.

  1. For those with water heaters and softeners in their garages, make sure the seal around your garage door is tight, and put insulation blankets around your appliances.
  1. Clean out your gutters of leaves and other debris. This ensures that water flows away from your home and prevents water from causing mold and foundation issues.

Brenneco Plumbing Can Help

For those repairs that you can’t handle yourself, Brenneco Plumbing is happy to visit your home or commercial property to make any necessary repairs. Please give us a call at 765-448-6190.

Don’t get caught in the middle of the winter with frozen or broken water pipes.  Water damage from broken pipes can be extensive.  Check now to avoid bigger issues when the temperatures drop.

Iron Filters for Outdoor Water Supply

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How to Keep Rust Stains Off Your Home, Driveway and Sidewalks

Eliminate unsightly rust stains on your driveway by installing an inline iron filter.

There is nothing worse than having the curb appeal of your home ruined by the unsightly iron stains on your driveway, home, sidewalk and patio caused by your sprinklers or irrigation system.  These stains are the result of using water directly from your well to water your lawn and plants.

The red discoloration caused by your unfiltered water is common where the iron content is high in the water supply.  Adding an iron filter between your water supply and your irrigation pump and outdoor faucets will help mitigate this problem.

Filters are Very Effective

Filters are extremely effective in removing high levels of sulfur and iron commonly found in well water. The systems use air-injection to oxidize sulfur or iron into precipitates that can be readily filtered and removed.

Filters use different media to remove various contaminants.

The filter’s media bed works in combination with an air charge chamber within the tank to oxidize and filter the elements that cause sulfur and iron. At the programmed time, the system will regenerate using ordinary water to backwash the system clean of sulfur, iron and other well water contaminants.

A control valve handles high flow rates without dropping household water pressures — like when showers, toilets and faucets are all in use at the same time.

Air filtration is environmentally safe — no toxic chemicals are used. The result is water that will not discolor any surfaces that it comes in contact with.  To learn more about filtration process go to How Iron Filters Work.

Adding an Iron Filter

Installing an iron filter between your water supply and irrigation system may require some additional plumbing to get it set up correctly.  Let Brenneco Plumbing walk you through the process and answer your questions.  In the long run your home’s appearance will improve greatly and those unsightly iron stains will be a thing of the past.