Ehrhardt Brothers Quality Plumbing, Inc.

Try these free tips or call today at 410-997-8414 or 301-596-5456

Toilets:

(Tank Fills, Water Still Runs)
Remove the tank cover & check the float arm. The float arm & ball may be connected by an L-shaped collar which lets you raise or lower the float ball more easily.

Only about half the float ball should be below water. When there's water in the float ball it won't rise high enough to close the valve. Unscrew the float ball & replace w/ a new one.

If lifting up on the float arm doesn't stop the water, the washers on the intake valve may be worn.
Before you attempt to remove the intake valve, turn off the water supply & flush the tank.

To open the valve, remove the two thumbscrews or pivot screws & slide the float ball, arm & float arm linkage out of the valve. Remove the cap if there is one covering the valve. Pull the plunger upward from the valve, or slide a screwdriver blade through the slot at the top of the plunger & lift out. Replace the seat washer at the base of the plunger, as well as the split washer that fits into a groove in the valve. If the intake valve is a diaphragm-type (washerless) assembly, you will need to obtain a replacement kit from a plumbing supply store & follow installation instructions.

Newer intake valve assemblies made of plastic operate w/out a float ball & arm & simplify the flushing action. On one type, sliding a float cup up or down on a rod allows you to adjust the tank water level.
Installing a replacement valve assembly requires unscrewing the slip nut on the underside of the tank to remove the old assembly. It you plan to do this yourself, first make certain that the water supply is turned off & then flush the tank. Sponge out any remaining water from the tank or it will leak onto the floor when you remove the valve assembly. Be careful not to crack the flush tank w/ tools as you work.

The intake valve & connecting supply pipe are called the ballcock assembly & sold as one unit. Follow the manufacturer's directions to install the new assembly & tighten the slip nut carefully, so as not to crack the tank.

Kitchen sinks:

(Usual cause: grease, food particles)
If the sink is a double-bowl model, plug one side with a cloth and hold it firmly in place. If a disposer is mounted in one side, plug the opposite side.

Run hot water into the sink, the hotter the better, even boiling. If the sink has a disposer, turn it on. If this doesn't clear the obstruction, try using a plunger, making sure the plug on the drain on the other side of the double bowl doesn't pop loose. It's good practice to apply a thick layer of petroleum jelly to the rim of the plunger before using it to ensure a tight seal, thus greater suction.

If this doesn't work, you may need to run a snake through the pipe under the sink. First check to see if the trap has a clean-out plug. If it does, remove it (be careful; water will drain out), and push a straightened coat hanger or bottle brush around the bends of the trap to remove debris.

If that fails, you will have to disassemble the trap; (be aware that all the water in the sink will pour out when you do this). The trap is held in place by a large nut on either end. They may come loose by hand, but you may need a pipe wrench; be careful not to damage them.

Once the trap is removed, check to see if it's clear. If it is, feed the snake into the drainpipe going into the wall. You should eventually detect resistance, but this could be as far as ten to fifteen feet into the drainpipe. As you turn the snake, feed another foot or two into the pipe, and then remove it. You should see some debris on the tip of the snake.

Re-assemble the trap and try running hot water through the pipe again. If it's still clogged, try using the plunger again. You may have to repeat the whole process once or twice more.

Garbage disposals:

insert garbage loosely. If you pack in too much at once, you can jam the disposal.

use a strong flow of cold water & keep the garbage disposer running at least 30 seconds after noise of grinding has stopped to flush all food particles through the drain line.

always use cold water when operating the disposer to solidify fatty & greasy waste so they will be chopped up & flushed down the drain.

it's safe to run hot water from the sink through the garbage disposer. However, use cold water when you are operating the disposer.

if you wash dishes in a sink w/ a disposer, make sure all small objects are removed from the sudsy water before you drain the sink.

if you have a continuous-feed disposer, move silverware & other small items away from the edge of the sink counter to avoid accidentally knocking them in while the garbage disposer is running.

do put small bones through; they help to scour the sides of the grinding chamber.

5552 Cedar Lane Columbia, MD 21044

Call 410-997-8414 / 301-596-5456

MD#20060 ~ DC #1198