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Frequently Asked Questions

There is a bad odor coming from my garbage disposal. Does this mean it is not working properly?
Foul odors do not necessarily indicate a problem. They can occur from a buildup of food debris in the disposal unit. Odor can be eliminated by placing ice cubes and lemon or orange peels in the disposer and running it for 30 seconds. Baking soda can also help to address odors.

What can cause a bad odor coming from an infrequently used drain?
Plumbing systems are designed to keep odors from entering the house by means of a trap inside the fixtures. These traps contain water to seal out foul odors. If the water seal evaporates, the odors can occur. Simply pouring a bucket of water in each trap, sink, shower and floor drain should alleviate the problem.

Will turning off the outside faucets in the fall before the freezing weather arrives prevent pipes leading to outside faucets from freezing and breakage?
Turning off the water is not enough. You must also disconnect the garden hose connected to the faucet to allow the water in the pipe to drain out. This will allow the piping to withstand the cold weather.

When mineral deposits build up on fixtures is there anything I can do other than replace them?
Replacement may not be necessary. Often deposits can be removed from fixtures. One method is to take a plastic bag filled with a cup of vinegar in it and securing it over the fixture with a twist tie, and leaving it in place overnight. In the morning, remove the bag and use an old toothbrush to gently scrub off the deposits. If fixtures are easily removed they can also be directly soaked in the vinegar overnight.

What might cause a rumbling sound coming from the water heater?
Rumbling sounds coming from a water heater are an indication that sediment has built up on the bottom of the water heater. What you are hearing is water that is trapped in the sediment and is boiling. This is an indication that the water heater is not operating efficiently. Sediment will not allow the heat to transfer to the water in the tank, which sends the heat up the flue.

Many newer models of water heaters have a new feature that prohibits the buildup of sediment in the tank. If your heater is an older model, it may be cost effective to replace the water heater if the buildup is severe.

What is the recommendation for toilet replacement to be sure that it flushes properly?
When the federal government mandated that new toilets use no more than 1.6 gallons per flush, manufacturers had to develop a toilet that would achieve this but that would also function effectively. Some of the early models did not do this properly, so manufacturers have since developed new ways of flushing toilets. One is with the use of a pressurized toilet tank. These look like regular toilets, but with a pressure tank inside. When flushed, it works like a commercial toilet. A large surge of water enters the bowl and clears the bowl of any waste. These toilets work well, but are not as quiet as a conventional model. C Squared Inc. can assist you with selecting the right model to suit your needs.

What can cause a sudden change in the amount of hot water available in a home?
One possible problem is a broken dip tube. This is a tube that forces incoming water to the bottom of the tank so that hot water will be drawn off of the top. When the dip tube breaks, cold water entering the tank mixes with the hot water and cools it down. This can occur in both gas and electric models. If your water heater is electric, the lower element that heats the water may not be operating properly, resulting in only the upper half of the tank will heat up. The cause of this problem could be a bad element or a thermostat malfunction. This type of problem should be evaluated by a qualified technician.

What, besides leaking faucets, could contribute to a high water bill?
A leaking toilet could be the problem. First, check the water level to make sure that water is not overflowing the tank into the overflow pipe. If water is running into the overflow, adjust the fill valve to stop the flow approximately one inch below the top of the overflow tube or to the water level mark stamped on the side of the tank. Another test is to put a few drops of food coloring into the tank to test the flush valve mechanism. If the water in the bowl changes color within 15 minutes, this is an indication that water is leaking into the toilet bowl and that the ball or flapper needs to be replaced.

What is an RPZ Valve and why do I need to be concerned with it?
A Reduced Pressure Zone (RPZ) valve is a type of backflow prevention device used to protect water supplies from contamination. It is designed to prevent containments from back flowing from a structure into the public water supply and polluting the public water.