Does Your Plumber Recommend an Electric Water Heater?

Anthony's Plumbing

January 31, 2020 - Friday

Does Your Plumber Recommend an Electric Water Heater?

When considering the best choices in plumbing, modern Electric Water Heaters can easily save you thousands of dollars over a 10-year period with their energy efficient designs. Many water heaters, like the Rheem Performance Platinum 65 gal. 10-Year Hybrid High Efficiency Smart Tank Electric Water Heater shown here, include an integrated Wi-Fi connection for mobile alerts if there is a potential leak. In fact, units like this one can pay for itself in 2-3 years thanks to an amazing 3.70 energy factor and features that deliver long-term savings. This unit also features additional smart features like High Demand mode to allow your hybrid to provide more hot water or Vacation Mode to save energy and costs when you're away. The model shown here provides more hot water than many standard residential electric models providing ample hot water for households with 3-5 people or homes with 3+ bathrooms.

 There are many models and options of water heaters available, so if you’re considering replacing or upgrading your gas water heater with an electric water heater, ask your plumbing professional at Anthony’s Plumbing for our recommendations. There’s no charge for a consultation, of course. As a family-owned and operated local plumbing business, we have been establishing long-term relationships with our customers for over 20 years, and our goal is to provide the best information and service to you and your home.

 Many homeowners believe that the days of the gas water heater are all but over, given the efficiency, energy and cost savings and ease of maintenance of modern electric water heaters. Water heater repair is believed to be very costly, and many people put it off as long as possible. Some people ask themselves how long they can take cold showers until they absolutely have to call for help? In a matter so routine as taking a bath or shower, it shouldn’t be that way. To help you in your decision, we now offer financing [on approved credit]. The only real choices now are whether to choose tankless water heaters or traditional water heater? When it comes to making a wise choice, electric tankless water heaters are much easier to install, and easier generally means less expensive as well.  Correct installation is key to getting the most from your new tankless water heater. Regardless of the type of water heater you choose, a qualified professional will help you determine the best type of heater to purchase, correctly size the unit, and ensure that the gas pipes or electrical requirements and venting match the units needs. While it is true that Home Depot and Lowe’s offer many options, the current configuration in your home should be factored in, and a qualified professional can help you consider your options before making a final decision. 

If your hot water heater is working, you can continue as you are, and hope for the best, or you can call us for a free consultation. Changing your current hot water heater can save you money over time. Let us show you how. When it comes to hotwater heater installation and repair, call Anthony’s Plumbing at 909-823-3807 and let’s talk about your options.  

How To Find The Best 24 Hour Plumber

Anthony's Plumbing

January 26, 2020 - Sunday

Finding The Best Local 24 Hour Plumber:

I had a friend who was asking me recently about finding a plumber, specifically an emergency plumber, in the Fontana area. When it comes to plumbing services and choosing between local plumbers, there are quite a few plumbing companies to choose from. 

As a test, I went to Google and did a quick search. I typed in "the best local 24 hour plumber Fontana" and the results were interesting. The first actual company that came up was Anthony's Plumbing. I tried this in several cities, Rialto, Loma Linda, Rancho Cucamonga, and Anthony's Plumbing was in the top five every time. In the listings, though, there was one site that was at the top sometimes that was actually not a plumbing company but an agency. At the bottom of their site in smaller print was a disclaimer that said: We are a marketing agency that refers you to the best local plumbers in your area. Then, in even smaller print near the bottom it says: they are "not a licensed contractor, we are a lead generation site and all leads generated are sold directly to licensed local plumber(s) in the Inland Empire."

We mention this for a reason. If you want to get the runaround when you get on the phone, or when you do a search on your computer, especially during a plumbing emergency, or when you are searching frantically for a local 24 hour plumber, please be advised that there are companies out their trying to bait you with false listings. 

At Anthony's Plumbing we have been serving our clients with honesty and integrity for over twenty years. There is no reason to play games or try to mislead people if you are the real deal. People are smart and they will know the truth when they see it. It is just sad that there are companies out there that are wasting your time. When you need a plumber, you don't deserve to be misled. What you need is the fastest, most professional service you can find. You need someone with a consistent track record of exceptional customer satisfaction. The good news, if you're reading this, is that you've found a company that will take care of you with the best, most professional customer support in the area. Anthony's Plumbing is a local family-owned and operated business that truly cares that the job gets done right. Our goal is to do the job right the first time and every time and to establish a trusted relationship so that we can become your plumbers for life. If you are looking for someone like that, give us a call at 909-823-3807 and let's talk about how we can serve you.Thank you for checking us out and we look forward to exceeding your expectations.

5 Tips For When Your Toilet Keeps Running

Anthony's Plumbing

January 17, 2020 - Friday

5 TIPS FOR WHEN YOUR TOILET KEEPS RUNNING:

Have you ever noticed that when you flush your toilet, the water filling up in the tank just seems to run and run forever? Generally, at that point, someone in the house takes the cover off the tank and looks around inside to see what the problem could be. 

If your toilet keeps running after you flush, you probably have a lot of concerns. Will the toilet overflow? Is it costing me more money? What’s wrong with the toilet?

A running toilet usually doesn’t mean a serious plumbing problem, but it can be very annoying. Not to mention, a continuously running toilet can cost the average homeowner $1,000 more a year in water costs (on top of wasting 5,000+ gallons of water each month).

1. Check the Toilet Flapper
Is water leaking through the toilet flapper inside the toilet tank? The most common reason for a running toilet is the toilet flapper not closing properly.

Over time, the flapper may become worn down or the rubber plug inside of the toilet tank loses its seal as it’s used. When this happens, it will no longer seal off the tank properly. You may need to get a new flapper from your local Home Depot or Lowe’s. If you have Amazon Prime, you can usually get one the next day, but unless you know how to measure your existing flapper, it’s probably better to take the old one with you to your local hardware store. 

Remove the toilet flapper by unhooking the sides from the pins at the bottom of the overflow tube. What’s the overflow tube? It’s the open PVC pipe-looking tube in the center of the tank.
Inspect the flapper for mineral deposits, warping, discoloration, and other signs of damage. The bottom of the flapper should be smooth. If it’s not, or if there are signs of damage, you’ll need to replace the flapper.

You should be able to pull the flapper right off and you can take your old flapper with you to make sure you get the right replacement. Flappers are fairly inexpensive. Pick the closest looking match of a “universal” replacement flapper, unless your toilet originally had an “adjustable” flapper installed.

To replace the flapper, fit in into place and attach the hooks on the side to the pins on the overflow tube. Then flush the toilet and see if it still runs after you flush. 

2. Check the Water Level in the Tank
If the flapper isn’t the problem with your running toilet, the second most common cause is the water level inside of the tank.

In your tank, there is a water line and if the water is not filled up to this line, then the tank can cause your toilet to run.

Alternatively, when the water level is too high, water will constantly fill into the overflow tube and cause a constant running sound.

Open the back of your toilet tank and see if water is going into the overflow tube when the tank is full. The overflow tube is an open tube in the middle of the tank that connects the tank and the toilet bowl. If water keeps draining into the tube, you can adjust the water level by lowering the float ball.
A float ball fill valve will have a long arm attached to the fill valve. At the end of the arm, there’s a rubber ball-shaped float that rises or lowers with the water level.
The float height tells the fill valve to shut off when the tank is full. Shake the float ball to determine if there’s water inside it. If there is, replace the float ball.

You can lower the water level in the tank by adjusting the height of the float ball.
On top of the fill valve, there will be a screw attaching the float arm to the fill valve. You can adjust the height of the float by using a screwdriver or pliers to turn the screw.
Turn the screw counterclockwise to lower the water level or turn the screw clockwise to raise the water level.

Then, flush the toilet to let the water in the tank refill. You want the water to be around 1-1.5 inches below the top of the overflow tube. If it’s too high or too low, keep turning the screw in quarter turns.
This should address the water level issue.

3. Check the Fill Valve
Is your toilet still running even after trying the previous steps? The next thing to do would be to replace the fill valve.

This is something that most non-plumbers can do themselves, but it can be very time-consuming, especially if you haven’t done it before.
To replace the fill valve, first, turn off the water and empty the tank.
Next, disconnect the water supply line by unscrewing the lock nut on the outside of the toilet. Then, remove the old fill valve. Take the old fill valve with you to the hardware store so you can make sure you get the right replacement.
Fit the new fill valve in the old place and screw it in. Then, connect the water supply line.
Attach the fill tube to the water output nozzle at the top of the fill valve, adjust the float, and test.

4. Check the Toilet Chain
Your toilet chain’s job is to raise and lower the flapper at the bottom of the toilet tank, which controls whether the water in your toilet tank is flushing or not.
Open the back of the toilet tank and locate the chain. This chain should come off a metal arm in the toilet tank.

Toilet chain unhooked: At the bottom of the chain, there is a small metal hook. This hook can sometimes come undone. Normally, the hook should attach the chain to the flapper at the bottom. If it can’t form a seal, you’ll have a constantly running toilet on your hands!

Toilet chain too long: If your toilet chain is too long, it may be getting stuck under the edge of the flapper and prevent it from closing or making a seal. Trim the chain to lessen its slack.

Toilet chain too short: If your toilet chain is too short, the bottom flapper won’t lay flat even when the chain is fully extended. Sometimes the chain can become wrapped, this can be due to kinks in the chain. See if the chain on the flap at the bottom is caught or wrapped around the metal arm. Smooth them out, or you may need to buy a new chain altogether.

5. Check the Toilet Handle
If for some reason all the other fixes you’ve tried don’t work, give your handle a once-over. Does it stick when you press it? If so, it may be old and you need to replace it.

If all else fails, call Anthony’s Plumbing and we can help you resolve the problem. This is just one of the plumbing services we offer in your local area. Most people wouldn’t classify this as a plumbing emergency, but it may feel like it when the tank won’t fill and allow you to get a proper flush. Remember, if you need help with anything to do with plumbing, just give us a call.

How To Protect Your Plumbing From the Cold

Anthony's Plumbing

January 3, 2020 - Friday

PROTECTING YOUR PLUMBING FROM THE COLD WEATHER:

Winter can create lots of problems with your home plumbing system. With the temperature here in southern California going up and down nearly every day, there are a few times between now and March when we will see freezing temperatures locally. Frozen water in your pipes can destroy your plumbing from the inside out. Prepare for upcoming temperature drops with these preventative measures:

1. Fix all pipe leaks.

Check all exposed indoor and outdoor pipes for leaks. If you need help with leak detection, just call us and we can help. This includes slab leak detection. If you see water coming through the bottom of a wall or the floor or pad are always wet, you may need professional leak detection to find the issue. 

2.Insulate your pipes.

Locate any exposed pipes in your attic, garage or crawl spaces and wrap them with plumbing insulation foam. This will protect your pipes and will help keep your home and water warmer in the winter.

3.Drain your evaporative cooler or swamp cooler.

Turn off the cooler’s water and power, then drain the water supply line and water out of the cooler.

4.Insulate and heat your pump house.

If you have a well, make sure that your pump house piping is well insulated. Also, make sure that your pump house has a properly working heater to keep its temperature above freezing.

5.Protect your hose bibs.

Remove any garden hoses from the bibs, as this can trap water and damage your plumbing when it freezes. Then, drain the collected water from the bibs and insulate them.

6.Winterize your sprinkler system.

Turn off the water and drain any collected water from your sprinklers. You can do this by turning on each individual valve connected to the sprinkler system.

7.Locate your water main.

This is the most important tip. Know where your water main in case of an emergency, like a burst pipe. You want to know where your water main so that you can shut off your water quickly and minimize your plumbing’s damage. Make sure you know where your water shutoff valve is and that you have direct and easy access to it.

Burst Pipe Repair

Burst pipes frequently happen in the winter due to freezing water and temperatures. If one of your plumbing pipes burst, you will need to call a plumber as soon as possible. Burst pipes can cause tons of damage to not only your plumbing, but also to your home and property. Turn off your water to prevent further damage and have a plumber come out to repair it quickly.

Plumbers Near Me

Anthony’s Plumbing is your local plumber and has the best plumbers in the Inland Empire, Los Angeles County and Riverside County. If you are looking for a 24 hour plumber or need emergency plumbing services, now you know who to call.

We can repair, service, maintenance or install any plumbing appliance or fixture. Our plumbers aim to provide you with the best service and quality. Call us today at (909) 823-3807 or visit us online at: https://www.anthonyplumber.com/.