Our plumbers are experts in their field, and we want to share their knowledge with you. Check out these plumbing tips and video tutorials before starting your next home improvement project.
Many homeowners have gate valves as their main water shutoff. However, these valves often fail. A common design has an internal gate that moves up and down. This gate controls water flow with a metal-to-metal seal. However, this seal is often not very effective in the long term. Over time, the brass material can become brittle and break. Frequent issues with gate valves include the gate getting stuck, often in the closed position, preventing water from being turned back on. You can tell a gate valve has failed if the handle spins freely and the valve does not work. You may also notice the gate is loose inside, which can cause leaks even when the valve is supposed to be off. If you have a gate valve, it is a good idea to replace it due to these common failure points.
In contrast, the video strongly recommends switching over to a ball valve. Ball valves are more reliable because of their design and materials. Inside a ball valve, there is a stainless steel ball covered in a neoprene sleeve. Water flows through when the ball is in the right position. Turning the handle a quarter turn closes the valve. This quarter-turn operation is easy and reliable. The handle position shows the valve status clearly. It is perpendicular to the pipe when off and parallel when on. The stainless steel and neoprene parts last longer than the brass often used in gate valves. They can handle water well and stay strong for a long time.
Having a reliable main shutoff valve is crucial for homeowners, especially in emergencies like a pipe burst or flooding. The video highlights that a functioning shutoff valve is your best defense in such situations. You can turn off the water at the meter, but cities often do not recommend this. It usually needs a special key and a lot of effort. Therefore, the expert’s recommendation is clear: replace your old, unreliable gate valve with a modern, dependable ball valve. This upgrade lets you quickly turn off the water to your house when needed. This gives you peace of mind and helps prevent serious water damage.
Adjusting the temperature on your electric water heater is a task that homeowners can typically manage. The very first and most critical step is to turn off the electric power supply to the water heater. This is essential for safety to prevent electrocution. Once the power is off, you need to access the internal parts. Take off the top panel and the bottom panel of the unit. Beneath these panels, you will find insulation that needs to be lifted up to reveal the thermostats.
Located underneath the insulation, you will find the thermostat. On the bottom side of this thermostat, there is a dial that allows you to set the temperature. These dials offer different temperature settings, such as 125 or 135 degrees, and settings in between. To increase the temperature, you simply turn the dial clockwise. You need to adjust the thermostat from the top panel. Then, do the same for the thermostat from the bottom panel.
After adjusting the temperature dials to your desired setting, you can then proceed to reinstall the panels. When putting the panels back on, be careful not to overtighten the screws. The metal on the tank is thin and can be easily stripped. The screws should only be tightened until they are snug, essentially just finger tight. Once the panels are securely back in place, you can turn the power on for your water heater. The temperature will then be adjusted.