Frequently Asked Plumbing Questions

What do I do if my sewer line is blocked?

Call your plumber.  The typical culprits are tree roots, and once they’ve blocked the line, there is little you can do. Haucke’s professional plumbers will snake the line to get it as clear as possible; then use copper sulfide products to kill the remaining vegetation.  However, if this is an ongoing issue, there’s a good chance the sewer line may need to be replaced at some point.

Why do I hear a vibrating noise in my pipes, washer, faucet or other components?

Water hammer can occur when you turn off the water at a faucet or an appliance quickly. When water flows through pipes and the valve is quickly shut off, it will cause the water to stop abruptly in the pipes. If the pipe is near wood, it will bang against it. Following are some possible reasons you may hearing water hammer noises:

• If you have loose pipes in your walls, anchor them with metal or plastic clips to limit movement of the pipes.
• Damaged air chambers – these are lengths of pipe installed behind fixtures like your faucet, which hold air that cushions the shock when flowing water is shut off quickly. Sometimes these air chambers get filled with water and will not work properly.
• Another possibility is that your water pressure is too high. Water pressure over 80 psi can cause problems. Water pressure test gauges are available to test the pressure yourself, or you can hire Haucke Plumbing to test the pressure and make any necessary adjustments to reduce the water pressure in your home to a more appropriate level.
• Occasionally you will hear faucets making whistling or squealing sounds. Your noisy faucet is due to a washer that is either an incorrect size or is not held securely to the stem. Adjusting or replacing the washer should eliminate the noise. If doing this repair yourself, remember to turn off the water supply to the sink before you start the job.
• If you live in an older home that has iron or galvanized water supply pipes, scale may build up in your pipes. The only way to handle severe buildup is to replace old water supply pipes. Extensive plumbing repairs of this type should only be done by a licensed professional plumber such as Haucke Plumbing & Heating.

Call us to discuss if you hear noises in your plumbing system.

What happens if my water heater is leaking?

Leaking water heaters are usually a sign that the bottom of the tank has rusted. Call Haucke Plumbing & Heating. Typically, repairs can’t be made and you will likely need your water heater replaced.

What is the difference between hard water and soft water?

Hard water contains a high concentration of dissolved minerals, like calcium and magnesium. In its pure form, water does not contain these minerals and is naturally soft. But as water passes through the ground and rocks such as limestone, it picks up the hard water minerals.  Soft water contains little to no extra elements. This can occur naturally, or soft water can be produced with water treatment equipment that removes the hard elements.