Why does my garbage disposal smell and how can I fix this?
After use, food particles can accumulate in the chamber the garbage disposal and under the baffle. This can be caused by insufficient water usage while running the disposal. To remove the odor, turn off disposal, reach into the sink opening and clean baffle with scrubbing pad, insert stopper into opening, fill sink ½ way with warm water, pour one pound box of baking soda into sink, and then simultaneously turn on the disposer and remove the stopper at the same time. This will help remove and food particles that have adhered to the inside of the disposal.
Another common solution to remove odors from the garbage disposal is to: turn disposal off, place ice cubes and a citrus peels into opening, and run for 20-40 and squirt dish soap into opening. Turn off disposal and repeat as necessary.
Why does toilet keep making a noise like it is filling back up?
Toilets, for the most part, are fairly simple and function primarily the same way. Typically, it will be one of two issues; either the fill valve is going bad or that flapper is not holding water. The fill valve is comprised of tiny rubber washers and gaskets. These rubber pieces can deteriorate over time and the rate at which they do is based your water quality. If these rubber pieces fail, the float on the fill valve will not shut off or hold the valve closed as required. This results in water filling above the preset water level, and flowing into the flush valves overflow tube. If the flapper is not holding water properly, the water level in the tank will drop as water seeps past the flapper and slowly flows into the bowl of the toilet. This will slowly drop water level in the tank, which causes the fill valve to open and add more water to satisfy the tank. To determine if there is a leak, you can add a few drops of food coloring into the tank. Let the food coloring disperse throughout the tank and wait. Do not flush the toilet while you are testing to determine the cause. If the flapper is leaking, the water in the bowl will slowly change colors. We always suggest to at least have a toilet backup in case your main toilet gets damaged as it is not always easy to repair.
How long do water heaters last?
The average life expectancy of water heaters has changed a great deal over the last several years. It used to not be uncommon to go to a water heater replacement call and find the unit was 15-20 years old; however, today we are seeing that most replacements occur on water heaters that are 7-12 years old. A safe estimate is to assume that the life span is close to what the manufacture offers their warranty for, and most heaters today come with a 5-6 year warranty. The life of a water heater can be greatly affected by regular maintenance. You should have your water heater inspected annually, flushed out at each inspection to remove sediment from the tank, and the anode rod should be changed every 3 years. The anode rod will draw the corrosive elements in the water, whereas, the anode rode slow begins to deteriorate and saves the tank from corroding. This is why it is important to replace the anode rode if you are interested in prolonging the life of your water heater.
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