Wednesday, April 2, 2014

How to Fine Tune a Sprinkler | Plumber in Leona Valley CA

How to Fine Tune a Sprinkler - Article by Antelope Valley Plumbing


Whenever the time comes when your lawn is not able to receive as much as it needs to survive, you should start opting to have water sprinklers installed on your lawn. This allows you to supplement the water needed by your lawn without the risk of over-watering or lacking the water supply needed. If you already have these sprinklers in your lawn, it is always best that you will give a fine tuning before you start using it again.
Most of the time, these sprinklers are not used during winter season allowing the irrigation system to malfunction while it is not in use. So, to start the tuning, here are some steps to follow:
  • Check for any problems with the function of each sprinkler. It is best that you check each valve and search for any wet spots indicating leaks. Once you see some leaks, repair it immediately.
  • Consider changing the batter of the controller when needed. You can check whether the sprinklers’ control battery is still working at its best when it still follows the scheduled time as well as the amount of water that should be sprayed throughout the lawn.
  • Whenever you see the sprinklers leaning on the side or is not in its original position, it is best that you straighten it or fix it immediately. This will help in preventing any dry spot in your lawn and it will also help you with conserving water.
  • As a sprinkler valve gets broken, replace it with the exact unit. This will ensure that it will fit in the valve circuit easily. Make sure that it is compatible with the circuit to make sure that it will function just like it was the original sprinkler that you have replaced.
  • To ensure that the sprinkles will spray even amount of water throughout the lawn, it is necessary that you will clean the sprinkles continuously. What you can do to clean the filter is using an old toothbrush that to remove all debris that may block the flow of water. After cleaning reinstall it and test the spray pattern. If you do not have the time to clean the sprinklers, you can always replace it to save your time and effort.
  • Adjust the sprinklers. To adjust the radius of the water sprayed as well as the mist, you just have to turn the screw to ensure that it will distribute even amount of water on your lawn. Furthermore, this will also help you with getting your sprinkles focused on the lawn and not on the sidewalks or walkways to your home.
  • Never forget to test the sprinklers after each adjustment to make sure that it has the right spray pattern you are trying to get for your lawn. As you learn to do the entire tuning process for your sprinklers, you are assured that you can always maintain these valves in its best conditions. Moreover, this will also help you with saving water since your sprinklers are distributing enough amount to cover the entire lawn area.

Toilet Installation | Plumber in Lake Los Angeles CA

Toilet Installation - Article by Antelope Valley Plumbing


Toilets are known to be important parts of homes. But when your toilet malfunctions and is showing signs of getting used too much through the years, then it is time that you start replacing it. Once you see leaks and cracks in your toilet, it is definitely the right time for you to get a replacement and have it installed immediately in your bathroom. When these times come, it is best that you are aware on how to do the installation process for your toilet to save time and money for other services.
If you want to learn the process, then follow the guidelines below:
After you have already removed your old toilet and secured the water connection, you can now scrape the old wax ring with a cardboard. Inspect the entire flange. If it is damaged, you can opt to repair it or just replace it with a new one that is exactly the same size of your old flange.
Use closet bolts that are self-adjusting to avoid the need for cutting or snapping the excess length of the bolt. Using these bolts will give you the advantage on not needing to cut and redo anything just to get the right length of the bolt.
You can choose to place the wax ring either on the underside of your toilet replacement or on its flange. For those who want to get the ease of not letting the ring fall off the toilet, they can choose to place it on the flange instead of placing it under the toilet. If you notice that the flange that you have chosen is lower, you can get a wax ring with an extended height to ensure its appropriateness.
When placing the toilet over the fixed flange, make sure that it will line up on the holed along with closet bolts. After this, press the toilet firmly against the bathroom floor. This will make sure that the wax ring will be placed steadily under the toilet.
Next, place the nylon washers and then the regular washers through the bolts. Have the nuts hand-tightened on both sides of the toilet.
Check the leveling of the toilet. If the toilet rocks showing uneven level on the floor, you can slide in some pennies or stainless steel washers underneath the toilet until you get the desired level. After getting the right level, tuck all pennies or washers underneath it and tighten again the nuts just to secure the entire toilet. Then have the bolt caps attached to hide the closet bolts.
Next is attaching the water supply line steadily. You can use a connector with rubber gaskets to save you from using Teflon tape as wrapping threads. Check the water supply on the tank and do some adjustments to let the water meet the fill line on the tank.
Caulk the entire base is you want to. There are people who choose not to caulk the base to detect leaks easily. But in case you want a polished look, you can caulk it provided that you will leave a small area where you can detect and leaks if there is any.

Plumbing Emergency Tips | Plumber in Rosamond CA

Plumbing Emergency Tips - Article by Antelope Valley Plumbing


It is given that plumbing emergencies can happen anytime, and being able to learn how to deal with these emergency cases will give you the advantage on handling such cases with ease. There is a great advantage when you are aware of how you can fix things about sudden plumbing problems. This will save your property from any risk of severe water damage and make sure that the problem will not worsen ahead of time.
To start fixing any plumbing problems, the following are tips are the ones that you should always keep in mind during plumbing emergencies:
  • Know where you should shut off the main water connection. Once you notice leaks from your pipeline, it is necessary that you would turn off the main water source to get the repairs done quickly.
  • If the leaks came from your water heater, then learn how to turn it off. If your heater is powered by gas, have the switched turned to “pilot” position.
  • Make sure that there is isolation valves located in each fixture of your pipeline to ensure that the water will stop flowing on the area where you are repairing. This will let the remainder of the entire house get continuous water source while the leaking area is under repair. See to it that you will regularly turn the isolation valves on and off at least once or twice a year to keep it working in good condition.
  • Learn how to do the “backing off”. This is the process wherein you would use 2 wrenches in turning the valve or pipe in opposite directions. Through this process the wrench will prevent the plumbing from absorbing the stress of the repair being done.
  • Collar nuts found on the drain line can be loosened up with the use of slip-joint pliers.
  • Whenever the supply tube breaks off that is causing the leakage, get the blind cap screwed on the area for sealing the leak off. This will give you time to fix the tube without causing the leak to delay the repair.
  • Teflon and duct tapes can be used in sealing leaks temporarily until the entire repair can be done by professionals. This will hold the leaks in place and give enough time for the repairs to be done.
  • Whenever your kitchen sink is clogged, it is advisable that you will be using a second plunger for covering the other drain. This will provide the first plunger more force for removing the clog.
  • For unclogging the toilet, it is best that a forced cup plunger will be used.
  • When unclogging bath tubs, have the chrome cap unscrewed to expose the drain and make you see the clog. Put your first plunger on the drain while the second is on the tub’s overflow. To remove the clog completely plunge the drain continuously.
As you learn these tips that you can do during plumbing emergencies, you are assured that you are aware of what you can do to make sure that you can stop leaks before it gets worst.

Tips on Plumbing and Water Damage | Plumber in Quartz Hill CA

Tips on Plumbing and Water Damage - Article by Antelope Valley Plumbing


Are you experiencing problems with your water pipe lines and had noticed some leaks in your connection? Then it is just right that you learn some tips about plumbing especially when it comes to any water damage. As you learn plumbing tips, you are assured that you are going to have an easy time dealing with any possible problem with your pipelines. It is best that you, as a homeowner, are aware of the different plumbing works in your home to save time, effort and money with calling other people to do it for you.
Being able to learn some tips will also secure your home from any water damage that may be caused by any broken pipes. So, to start things off, here are the following maintenance and repair tips that you can do:
  • When tightening the supply lines, it is advised that you should be using a hold-back wrench for securing the valves. This will help you in preventing stressing and turning fragile joints within the line.
  • Once you see that the water pipes used are those polybutylene made pipes, the flexible gray ones, it is best that you call for professional assistance to replace it. Take note that these pipes are prone to failure and may be the source of the water damage in your home.
  • For fixing any faucet stream that seems uneven, you can start by cleaning the aerator. Using slip-joint pliers, loosen your aerator after it is softened by several winds of your electrical tape. Running hot water on your faucet, hold the aerator under it, scrub it clear using an old toothbrush and screw it back the faucet.
  • When you notice that the ceiling is appearing to be sagging or wet because of the retained water, make sure that you always turn off the main electric connection before doing any examination as well as repairs.
  • Make sure that before leaving for a long vacation or just going to your work, you have inspected the faucets and hoses. This is an inspection routine that you should do regularly and not just when you are leaving. As you inspect regularly, you will have an idea of the changes that may possibly come out of your pipelines.
  • Securing your tubs and showers is also an added tip that you should do. See to it that the entire caulking in your tubs and showers are always watertight. This will help you secure that water will not seep through the floor after every use.
  • One of the panicking things that you may encounter with water damage is when your pipelines suddenly burst out large amount of water. Make sure that you are aware with the place where the main control of the pipeline is located and how you can shut it off.
These are just some of the tips that you should know when doing complete maintenance and repair activities with your pipelines. It is necessary that you are aware on how you can deal with checking on your pipelines to protect your property from any forms of water damage.

How to Install Irrigation: Pipes and Fittings | Plumber in Palmdale CA

How to Install Irrigation: Pipes and Fittings - Article by Antelope Valley Plumbing


If you think that irrigation systems are difficult to install, then think about it again. You can always have other alternative ways on getting the right installation of the pipes and fitting to make sure that your entire lawn will be covered by the entire system as soon as it is installed completely. The process is definitely easy, all you have to do is to follows some procedures and you are all set to start installing your irrigation.
Here are the things that you should do:
  • Lay out the plan for your irrigation system: As you lay out the plan, it is necessary that you will have all potential obstacles included in the plan. This way, you will be aware of the things that may block the patterns of your sprinklers and the landscape that may require attention. Create a plan where you will draw everything that can be found in your entire lawn. It is necessary that you include all elements that may affect the pattern of the sprinklers to ensure a smooth flow of the water throughout your lawn.
  • Choose the appropriate irrigation system: After all plans are laid out on paper, it is best that you start evaluating the different systems as well as its components that can be used in your irrigation system. Polyethylene pipe is the best option for most homeowners because of its flexibility. This pipe will allow you to do necessary curves to supply water on the sprinklers. Furthermore, this material is also durable and lightweight.
  • The installation: Make sure that you have complete materials needed for installation. Get a straight coupler that can be used in fitting 2 pipes, a poly plug that you can place at a particular end to stop the water. Do not forget the elbow coupler to join pipes while providing a 90 degrees angle and for changing the flow of water from one direction to another. You should also have a T coupler for joining 3 pipes for continuous flow in different directions and act as an intersection. For controlling the release of water, electronic valves should also be integrated in the system.
  • Do a mock system: To lay out the entire plan that you have you can choose to do a mock system, and check the entire functionality before you get to install it. Do forget getting the programmed clock installed with the mock system to ensure that it can open the valves in time that will make the sprinklers pop out and spray water. Check whether water is distributed evenly or not and make sure that every sprinkler is following the pattern that you want. Once everything is clear, you can dig ditches where you can place the entire system and cover it after.
As you learn these simple tips on how to install an irrigation system, you can be sure that your lawn can also have the number of sprinklers that would supply water to the entire area whenever needed. You can choose to do this alone or with someone who can give you some suggestions on the planning as well as the installation stage.

Water Filter Basics | Plumber in Lancaster CA

Water Filter Basics - Article by Antelope Valley Plumbing


If you are one of those homeowners who are suffering from undesirable taste and odor of water from your faucet, then it is time that you get a water filter installed in your pipeline. It is an important part of the purification process of your water to make sure that the taste and odor of your water supply will change easily. Keep in mind that these unusual taste and odor may be a form of the growing impurities in your water and the continuous growth of microscopic enzymes that may harm the health of your entire family.
The process done by water filter is straining all impurities found in your water and make sure that you will be saved from ingesting it. There are many people who are sensitive with such things, and being able to install a water filter will help them get rid of these impurities completely without worries.
How Water Filters Do the Job
Before the entire process, you should first deal with installing the water filter in your lines. It is necessary that you will place it in the line that is directly connected with faucet where you always get water for drinking. Once the filter is installed, the purification process will start and will give you ample amount of clean water to drink or to use for cooking. The tool acts as the strainer that keeps the water flowing through it free from any microorganisms that may harm anyone’s health.
Whenever water supply is flowing on the filter, the filter will be straining all harmful enzymes, larvae, protozoa and other harmful organisms that may affect the function of the entire body. After the filtration process is done, the clean would pass through the filter tube to your faucet where you can get clean drinking water.
There are many kinds of water filtration systems that you can find in the market nowadays. Being able to get the right one suited for your needs will give you the ease of getting rid of all the impurities that can be found in the water supplied throughout your home. It is necessary that you are aware of the suited filter system for your home to make sure that the quality of filtration process will meet your standards. This will also help you with ensuring that the water running in your faucet is clean and is free from any bacteria that can cause any serious illnesses.
Take Care of your Water Filter
To enjoy your filter a little longer, it is necessary that you will be providing extra care with it. You should make sure that you will regularly clean it to remove all particular strained and prevent it from contaminating even the water that has passed through it. Take time to read the entire instructions printed on the manual of your filter to make sure that the water that you are always drinking is clean and safe. As you maintain the cleanliness of your water filter, the water running through your home is sure to be clean and does not contain any impurities that may risk one’s health.