Dishwasher Won’t Drain
What’s worse than a dishwasher that won’t get dishes completely clean? A dishwasher that won’t drain. Opening the dishwasher and finding it’s backed up can be frustrating. There are only a few reasons for this issue, so it’s pretty easy to figure out.
Clogs
If there’s one or two cups of standing water in the bottom of the dishwasher, there could be a clog. After scooping out as much water as possible, see if there’s any food remnants, papers or other items clogging the drain.
Door Latch
When the door is unlatched, it keeps the dishwasher from draining. After latching the door and waiting a bit, the water should drain.
Garbage Disposal Drain
Make sure the garbage disposal drain is clear of debris. The dishwasher can drain through the garbage disposal, so when one is clogged, the other is as well.
If re-latching the door and removing obvious debris doesn’t work, there may be something more significant clogging the drain or a problem with one of the components, which is more difficult to fix. There are a lot of operating components in a dishwasher to check. These include: drain valve, pump, motor, solenoid assembly, drain valve, belt, drain line and air gap. All Star Plumbing can assess the problem and make the necessary repairs.
Repairing and Installing Sheetrock
Often, when homeowners look at their walls, they think of paint colors and wallpaper. They forget about their interior walls. Over time, these interior walls, which are made of sheetrock, can become damaged from things like mold and water.
This durable material is used throughout homes to provide structure and even fire resistance. When it does become damaged, it can easily be fixed. It can be patched if it is damaged from fire, wind, mold or water. As part of All Star Plumbing and Restoration’s services, if sheetrock becomes damaged by these disasters, they can repair it for homeowners.
While repairing sheetrock is a fairly easy process, repairing plaster is much more difficult. Before sheetrock, homes used plaster for the interior walls. It takes much longer to set up and fix because of the drying time required. It can sometimes take weeks because of the multiple layers required. Each layer would first have to dry before another is put on.
To install sheetrock, the first process is hanging it. This is when it gets cut to fit the wall and making sure everything is stable. Next, it is taped. The cracks within the sheetrock are sealed with a substance called “mud,” before drywall tape is added to the seams. Two more layers of mud are applied on top of the tape before they are sanded down and smoothed.
For homeowners in need of sheetrock repair, give All Star Plumbing and Restoration a call. It’s just one of their many home restoration services.
What to Do with an Overflowing Toilet
One of the worst sights to see when walking into the bathroom is an overflowing toilet. It can quickly put most people in panic mode. Instead of panicking, try taking these steps to fix the problem:
1. Turn off the water
This can be done by turning off the valve on the water supply tube or reaching into the tank and lifting the float on the fill valve. Turning off the water can keep it overflowing further.
2. Plunger away
If the water has started to go down, the problem is likely to be minor. However, if it hasn’t, get some of the water out of the bowl and begin plunging to try and dislodge the clog.
3. Call a professional
If plunging didn’t work, it’s time to call someone with experience. All Star Plumbing and Restoration is available day and night for all sorts of plumbing needs. They can figure out what is causing the clog and how to best dislodge it.
4 Water Saving Tips
During the summer, water becomes a precious commodity. With many states experiencing droughts, reducing water usage could be beneficial. It can also help reduce homeowners’ water bills, which is always a plus.
- Keep cold water in the fridge
Turning on the tap and waiting for it to get cold can waste a lot of water. Instead, keep water in the fridge for drinking purposes. A great way to do this is with a pitcher that has a filter on it.
- Reduce shower time
Put those shower karaoke skills to good use. Try to reduce showers to the length of one song. And no, not the length of a 15 minute rock ballad. Aim for no longer than five minutes.
- Fill up laundry and dish loads
Running half-full loads of laundry or dishes can be wasteful. It reduces the number of run times and saves water.
- Don’t wash dishes by hand
If it can go in the dishwasher, put it in. When most people wash dishes by hand, they end up using way more water than necessary. Also, be conscious of how much water is being used when rinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.
Often, people don’t realize how much water they are using. By keeping track and cutting back, it can help decrease the water bill and the scarcity of water during summer.
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