Plumbing FAQs

The plumbing code controls the design and installation of plumbing systems, including sanitary and storm sewers within a building, sanitary waste and vent piping, water supply piping, and potable water heating appliances.

A plumbing permit is required prior to starting any plumbing work, with the exception of the following plumbing services. Repairs that only involve the working parts of a faucet or valve, clearance of stoppages, the repair or replacement of defective faucets or valves, provided that alterations are not made in the existing piping or fixtures. Chilled water piping for refrigeration, process and comfort cooling, hot water piping for space heating, and water piping for fire suppression systems are not considered plumbing. However, an approved backflow preventer, installed and certified by a licensed plumber, is required at the connection to the potable water supply. When in doubt, contact a professional plumber and refer to their expertise. 

A homeowner may obtain a plumbing permit for work to be done by them in their own home. The homeowner must file a homeowner’s affidavit with the application for a plumbing permit. Homeowner’s privileges extend to single family residences only and do not apply to any residence or structure from which a monetary gain (i.e. rent) is being received or is intended to be received or which is being used for commercial purposes. Plumbing permits for any work done in a commercial, multifamily residential, industrial, or other structure must be obtained by an authorized licensed master plumber.

Ask the plumber to see his/her license or for his/her license number. Any reputable plumber will be glad to give you this information. You can then check the license by calling the Plumbing Division of the Riley County Code Office 785-587-4506.

This is caused by calcium and mineral deposits in tank that reach high temperatures and pop. This is a common event in pipes, especially those that are within older homes.

Some manufacturers suggest flushing your hot water heater every month – while others say every six months. Our plumbing experts suggest two times a year.

Manufacturers suggest checking your hot water heater’s temperature/pressure relief valve once a year and replaced every three years. Contact a professional plumber to learn more. 

It only cost $38 to get a plumber from De Hart to your home. They will arrive in a truck stocked with thousands of parts. They’ll have everything they need to start your plumbing project while they’re at your home … unless the situation is unusual. Most of the time your plumbing project is finished the same day we arrive. Our professional plumber will perform a thorough evaluation of your plumbing system and explain what they’ll need to do to complete the work you called about. At De Hart Plumbing, we don’t charge you by the hour, but instead, the plumber on location will give you a total price, with options, before any of the work begins. No surprises with your plumbing bill!

Once you approve the plumbing project and price, our plumber will begin. If you don’t want to proceed with the work while we are there, all you pay is the $38. (If you call us back to complete the plumbing work you do not pay another $38.) Contact us if you’d like to schedule an appointment for a plumber to come to your home.

Contact us for more pricing questions.

In order to supply the homes in a neighborhood with sufficient water pressure, the municipality must supply water at a high pressure. This allows for the last home being supplied has enough pressure to their water pipes. If you are in a new neighborhood and the other homes have not been built, you may experience high pressure. (As more homes are built, this will pull additional water from the supply, therefore reducing the pressure on your water pipes.) If your house is at the beginning of a supply line, you may have higher water pressure.

When a home is built, a pressure regulator (PRV) should be installed on the water line where it enters the home, before it supplies any fixtures, including the water heater. The PRV is adjustable, you can change the pressure up or down. If you do not have a PRV installed, installing one would solve your high water pressure issues. If you have a PRV installed, you can try adjusting it to reduce the pressure. If adjusting it does not help, your PRV may need to be replaced. Contact a master plumber for additional help with your water pressure issues. 

There are several things that can cause low water pressure to exist in your water pipes. Here are some of the most common causes.

If you live at a higher elevation, water can have a harder time reaching your home because it is fighting gravity. If you have neighbors and they don’t seem to be affected with the same low water pressure, this may not be the case, but if everyone suffers from low pressure, this could be the cause.

Your PRV (Pressure Reducing Valve) could be old and no longer working.

If you are in an older home and you have galvanized pipes, it is common for there to be “build up” in the pipes that restrict the flow of water. A re-pipe is often the most cost-effective solution and it is not as invasive as you might think.

If the main water line feeding your home has a leak, between the city’s water meter and your home, you may not even know about it. This can be checked very easily by one of our master plumbers. With today’s technology, it’s less invasive than years past.

If the city has an underground waterworks project going on close by, this can cause a temporary drop in pressure. In most cases the City tries to notify residents in the area they may be affected. 

A common cause of water leaks is high water pressure. Your plumbing fixtures and fittings are rated to operate at a certain water pressure. Anything higher than that poses the risk of a fixture failing prematurely. Most homes are built with a Pressure Regulator Valve (PRV) where the water main enters the home to keep this from taking place. If the PRV has failed, it’s recommended to replace it as soon as possible to regulate your home’s water pressure.

When your toilet thinks the tank is low on water it will turn the water on and fill it, just like it does after you flush. If your toilet constantly runs, you probably have water seeping out of the tank into the bowl from somewhere. Look at the bowl and around the base to ensure there is not a water leak. 

One possible leak point is the toilet flapper. If you have to jiggle the handle, you may have a flapper that does no “set” properly. Your toilet flapper may have worn unevenly and no longer creates a tight seal around the flush valve. Replacing the flapper is a simple project you can do yourself. It should also keep your toilet from running any longer. 

Another possible leak point is the fill valve. This is the part that turns the water on and off to fill the tank. A fill valve can go bad over time. High water pressure, age, or water quality can affect a fill valve’s lifespan. If you consider yourself handy, replacing a fill valve may be something you can do yourself. 

If you attempt either of these projects and you need help or you’d rather have a master plumber make the repairs for you, please let us know.,

Most of the time hot water issues in the house can be traced back to the water heater itself. But before we just jump to that conclusion, we need to figure out if you are only running out of hot water at that location or if it is throughout the house.

If you run out quickly throughout the whole house, and it is happening faster than you remember, it is possible you have an issue with your water heater. That doesn’t mean you need to replace it, but it might. You may need to flush your water heater, or you may have a cold water dip tube that has broken off. A master plumber should be able to inspect the water heater and make recommendations of what your options are.

If you are running out of hot water at a shower or tub and you’re not experiencing that in other areas of the home it is possible you have a mixing valve that has gone bad. The cold water side of the valve may not be closing all the way and diluting the hot water making it tepid. 

Over time soap scum, hair, toothpaste, and gunk build up on the walls of the drain pipes, restricting how much water can drain. You have a couple of options to try and fix this, most of which you can try without calling a professional plumber.

We don’t recommend reaching for a bottle of chemical drain cleaners. A safer chemical reaction to try is baking soda and vinegar. You can put a cup of baking soda down the drain followed by a cup of vinegar. Let that sit for 15 minutes and then rinse it down the drain with some hot water. You may need to repeat this a couple of times.

You can try treating your bathroom or kitchen drains. Safe products with enzymes are available and very effective. The enzymes eat the organic waste that could be clogging your pipes. These treatments could help open your drains and help them flow better.

You can take the drain pipes apart, under the sink and clean them. Just make sure you pay attention to how they go back together and check for any potential water leaks when you’re done.

If you try any of these and feel you’ve gotten in over your head, or you’d rather have a plumber handle it, give us a call and let us know how we can help.

If you notice that your water pressure is lower than normal, first make sure that it is not a neighborhood-wide issue. If it is, try installing a water pressure booster. If the problem is solely in your home, determine if the water pressure is low throughout the house or only with one fixture. If it is throughout the house, check that your water pressure reducing valve (if your home has one) is set at a high flow rate. If this does not work or you do not have one, check your water meter to make sure the valves are all the way open. If you find the issue is focused to a single fixture, check for a clogged aerator, flow blockage, or a problem with the stop valve.

If you are still experiencing water pressure problems, contact a professional plumber such as De Hart Plumbing.

When this happens, it usually means that the rubber washer on your shower valve stem has been worn down and needs to be replaced. You can do this yourself or you can call one of our plumbing specialists.

It certainly is. Our plumbers are more than happy to help look at your plumbing system and alert you to any potential problems that are forming under the surface. 

Most cities/municipalities provide residential areas with a minimum of 40 psi. The average is about 60 psi to 70 psi. If you are somewhere in that range with your water pressure, you should be ok.

If you are higher than 75 psi, you should have your PRV (pressure reducing valve) inspected. A plumber can let you know if it needs to be adjusted or replaced.

Higher water pressures can lead to many issues throughout your home, some serious and some not so serious, which is why it’s important to keep an eye on your water pressure. Inspecting your PRV should be part of an annual plumbing inspection.

Vents overhang from every roof through which sewer gases evaporate out of the building. Indeed each drain must be properly vented to raise sewer gasses out through the roof, and prevent sewer odors from permeating the house. It’s also important to keep a drain or mesh of some kind over the vent to keep wildlife, leaves, or other items from getting into or clogging the vent. 

1. Fill the sink with just enough water to cover the plunger’s cup positioned over the drain’s opening.
2. Move the plunger up and down and repeat action until water drains easily out, indicating that you have lifted the obstruction.
3. If plunger fails to unclog the drain then place an empty bucket under the sink’s trap. Unscrew the trap and see if you can take out the source of the obstruction.
4. Employ a plumber’s snake if you cannot reach the clog yourself. Drain augers extending to different lengths will enable you to hit and break the clog.

An aerator is attached at the tip of the faucet to spread water flow into many small streams, and help save on water and reduce extensive splashing.

As a rule of thumb make sure to turn off power to the garbage disposal before cleaning this kitchen appliance.

• Method 1 – Pour 1.5 cups of baking soda down the kitchen drain along with a cup of white vinegar. Allow the mixture to sit for several minutes before carefully pouring a medium size pot of boiling water to flush clean the drain.
• Method 2 – Mix a gallon of water with one tablespoon of liquid chlorine bleach and pour the solution down the drain. After a couple of minutes flush the drain with cold water.
• Fresh Scent – Place several ice cubes together with citrus fruit’s rinds in the drain and grind clean the disposal’s cutting blades while adding a pinch of fresh sent to the kitchen.

A trap is a U, S, or J-shaped pipe located below or within a plumbing fixture. Each drain trap retains a water seal to prevent sewer gases from penetrating buildings.

1. Leave the faucet drip slightly as a trickle. The dripping water will keep the water in the pipe from freezing.
2. Open kitchen base cabinet and let room air circulate.
3. Open kitchen base cabinet and place a small portable heater near or in it to heat the pipes.
4. Wrap the problem pipe with electrical heat tape.
5. Insulate the problem pipes with foam insulation wrap, especially those that run through unheated spaces.
6. Place a heater in the crawlspace. You just need to elevate the crawlspace temperature to just above freezing(shoot for more than 40°F).