theplumbersbride

Did you know there is an emergency shut off valve under each of your home faucets?  Do you have the   ……

…..old style turn valve

…..or the new 1/4 turn valve. 

These are used for simple maintenance when repairing the toilet or faucet.  In extreme circumstances the individual faucet can be turned off to stop a flooding incident.  This could also save you an emergency plumbing call in the middle of the night by not having to shut all the water off to your entire house.  Do you know where the shut off is for your entire house?  This is where the cold water comes in from the utility line.   I had to ask where mine was.  It is in the utility room.  Behind a mountain of clothes, baskets and stuff.  If we had an emergency and needed to turn the water off from there we would be in a big mess.  I had to clean up to show you the picture of our shut off valve. 

Do you see what I see?  The same kind of rust I saw on one of the hot water heaters.  I am guessing this is a slow leak or just a leak at one time.  Another question for Bear?  HONEY??!?!?!

While I was in the utility room I noticed something else.  I thought it was electrical but found out it was plumbing.  More about that next week…..

Last week I told you about the change in the water, specifically chloramines.   Bear started talking to me last night about the filter I told you about, in last weeks post.   HOLD ON!!!  What filter I asked him.  I did not write about any filter.   Was I suppose tell everyone about a filter?  What filter? 

The filter I was supposed to tell you about is a carbon filter.  This carbon filter is similar to the filter installed in most refrigerators.  If you would like all of the water in your home to be filtered you will need to install a carbon filter.  The filter is installed generally close to where the cold water enters your house.  It can be installed either inside or outside.  The preferred method is outside or in the garage.  

This filter will remove the majority of the chloramines from the water; however it does not remove all of it.  We received a letter from the water district to not use the new water source in fish tanks.  The letter went on to say not to wash dialysis equipment with it either.  This really troubles me.  If the fish and dialysis equipment can’t handle it how, is, it ok for me to drink?

I personally would like a Big Blue carbon water filter installed in my home.  I am married to the plumber; shouldn’t I be able to get on the schedule?

The water source of the Spring area has been provided via natural wells since the community of Klein was established. Recently the water source was changed from the natural well water, to surface water (Lake Houston).  Surface water has been the primary source of water for the Houston area for decades.

How does this affect you? Well, the Houston water source has always been treated with chloramine. The Spring natural water source was treated with chlorine. Many subdivisions in the area built in the 1970s and 1980s have galvanized pipes feeding water into their homes. These pipes build up minerals and deposits over the years. Now with the new water source you may have noticed discoloration or taste differences in your water. This is caused by the chloramine breaking down these deposits in your pipes. We are servicing more and more customers who are developing pin hole leaks in their water pipes due to this change. In some cases the pipes can begin to crumble in your hands in some of the older homes. If you feel this water change has begun to affect your home you should have a plumber look into this sooner rather than later. You do not want your home flooding due to this type of preventable problem.

Some neighborhoods that can be affected by this change are Bridgestone, Bridgestone West, Candlelight Hills, Champion Forest, Champions, Colony Creek, Cypressdale, Cypresswood, Enchanted Oaks, Lakewood Forest, Memorial Northwest, North Hill Estate, Northgate Forest, Oak Creek Village, Oakwood Glen, Olde Oaks, Prestonwood Forest, Shannon Forest, Spring Creek Forest, Spring Creek Oaks, Terranova, & Terranova West.