By Steve, on December 22nd, 2009
As a service plumber, one of the most common plumbing problems that I have been asked to diagnose is low “water pressure”. The reason that I put “water pressure” in quotes is because what a customer thinks is low water pressure is quite often actually low flow. There is a difference, and that difference is very important when trying to figure out the best remedy for the problem.
So what’s the difference? Pressure is the amount of force behind the water, pushing it through your pipes. It is measured in pounds per square inch (psi). Flow is the amount of water that “flows” out of an open outlet, like an open hose bib or faucet. Flow is usually measured (in the US) in gallons per minute (gpm). The symptoms for low pressure and low flow can sometimes look similar, but it is usually pretty easy to diagnose.
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By Steve, on November 23rd, 2009
Quite often a home owner’s first experience with a plumbing problem is when a drain in their home backs up. Knowing how your drainage system works and the most common causes of back-up problems with different drain lines can really help you when it comes time to get your drains serviced. This information will make it easier for you to get the right solution to your problem, and make life easier for the plumber who is trying to explain it all to you.
Let’s begin with a little plumbing theory. Please keep in mind, that depending on your area, your lay-out may be different. I will give you a simple layout to give you an idea of how drains tie together. Your plumbing may be a bit different, but the theory will be the same.
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By Steve, on November 21st, 2009
An interesting thing happened today. I joined a plumbing forum. The forum rules said that I could have a link to my website in my signature, so I put the link to the PlumbingInfo.org home page. I went to the part of the forum where new members can introduce themselves and created a post that basically said, “Hello! Steve from California here. I am dropping in to say hello”. After several people from that site went to view this website, I was banned from the forum!
Just proof that most plumbers do NOT want you to be an informed consumer! They are afraid of you knowing what this site is telling you. My girlfriend assures me, however, that I am doing the right thing. Now, on to the topic at hand…
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By Steve, on November 19th, 2009
So you have a plumbing issue that you need taken care of, or maybe you just want to get some plumbing remodeling done. What do you do first? You look for a plumber, right? Wrong! The first thing you do is read this article and the articles that it points to.
You need to be prepared, before you ever even think of picking up the phone and calling a plumber. Believe me when I say that it can prevent all kinds of bad things from happening. I know this first hand.
In this article, I am going to outline some of the things that you should do to be prepared for your visit from the plumber. Many of these points will link out to additional articles, as I write them.
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As a service plumber, one of the most common plumbing problems that I have been asked to diagnose is low “water pressure”. The reason that I put “water pressure” in quotes is because what a customer thinks is low water pressure is quite often actually low flow. There is a difference, and that difference is very important when trying to figure out the best remedy for the problem.
Plumbing Information for Everyone
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Emergency Plumbing Part 2
What is an Emergency Plumbing Repair?
Diagnosing an Upstairs Plumbing Leak
Plumbing 101a | Flow vs Pressure