If you notice your toilet isn’t flushing properly, it could be a tank issue. Lift the lid (if it’s accessible) of your toilet tank and take a look inside. This tank runs clean water, which helps your toilet flush. If the tank is empty, there could be a problem.

At Clean Flo Sewer and Septic we specialize in home and business plumbing across Anderson, SC. Working closely with local families, we’ve come to know a thing or two about empty toilet tanks and how to fix them.

Generally, if you notice an empty tank, it means one of three things:

• Something needs to be replaced
• The toilet needs to be updated
• It’s time to call a plumber

Here, we’ll talk a bit about why your toilet tank might be empty and how it can be fixed.

Fill Valve Issue

The fill valve in your toilet controls how much water comes into your tank after you flush and use the reserves. The fill valve gets a workout over time and can slip out of place. If your valve isn’t sitting right in the tank, you can readjust it to manage water levels.

Adjusting the fill valve is something you can do yourself or call a plumber for help. If you move the valve yourself, follow these steps:

• Open your toilet tank
• Turn water level adjustment rod screw until the float cup moves
• Moving the float cup up raises the water, and down lowers the water
• Flush the toilet to check progress
• Repeat process until your toilet fills correctly
• Replace the toilet tank lid

Never force anything that doesn’t want to move in your toilet. If you try to turn the screw and it’s stuck, it’s best to call a professional for help. Forcing the screw could damage the adjustment rod. If you break the rod, you’ll be out a part and need to have it replaced to flush your toilet properly.

Old Float Ball

If your toilet is older, it likely has an object called a float ball inside. As the name implies, this little ball floats on the top of the water in your tank. It tells your toilet tank how high the water should fill. If the float ball is too low in the tank, your water level will reflect this.

Like the fill valve, you can manually fix the position of your float ball without a professional. To do so, follow these steps:

• Open toilet tank
• Carefully slide a finger beneath float arm and lift upward slightly
• The float ball should move and the tank should fill
• Replace tank lid

Flush the toilet and watch the ball position if it resumes its low level in the tank, it might need to be replaced. An old float ball isn’t a huge problem, but it does mean a trip to the hardware store or a call to your local plumber. In Anderson, SC you shouldn’t have a problem locating a float ball, but if you do, we can help.

Toilet Trip Lever Isn’t Working

The handle you use to flush your toilet from the outside of the tank is connected to a trip lever inside. If the internal trip level isn’t working, the toilet won’t flush, and the tank won’t fill. Unfortunately, most trip lever problems require a new lever.

To see if the lever is the issue, remove the lid of your toilet tank and look inside. The lever is near the handle, inside the tank. It commonly looks like a long metal rod, bent to resemble a lever. This is connected to the flush valve.

Flush the toilet with the tank lid off and watch the trip lever. If the lever doesn’t move, isn’t connected to the valve, or moves but the toilet still doesn’t flush, it could require some fixing. Trip assembly is delicate, and if it’s not positioned properly, it could be the difference between a flushing toilet and a broken one.

At Clean Flo Sewer and Septic, we don’t recommend you try to fix a broken trip lever by yourself. The biggest issue is that the trip lever connects so many other parts of your flushing mechanism. If you damage something else in the process it could mean spending more time and money on the resolution.

Contact Clean Flo Sewer and Septic Today!

If you’re experiencing problems with your toilet tank and you live in Anderson, SC, Clean Flo Sewer and Septic is on the job. We work with homeowners and businesses across the city and are happy to help. Contact us today to be in touch to a member of our team and to learn more about how we can help.

Before the winter season arrives, it’s important to prepare your home for the cold months ahead, particularly your plumbing system. As temperatures drop and pipes begin to chill, there is a growing risk that expanding ice could burst your pipes and flood your home.

At Clean Flo Sewer and Septic we work with clients across Anderson, SC, ensuring homes are ready for the cold snap. If you want to learn more about how you can prevent leaks and plumbing damage follow along with our winter plumbing maintenance checklist.

Wrap Exposed Pipes

As you begin your winter plumbing inspection, start with exposed pipes. Locate the exposed pipes in your home, and ensure they are either in an area where they will receive adequate warm air, or you insulate them. You can purchase pipe insulation wrap from any home hardware store. You may even find pipe insulation at a dollar store or department store in the hardware section.

Wrapping the pipes doesn’t require a professional, although you can call a heating and cooling company, or a plumbing company to help you winterize your pipes. When you insulate exposed pipes, it helps retain warmth and keep the chill from freezing water, especially at night when pipes are left unused.

Disconnect Outdoor Water Systems

Everything from your garden hose to your sprinkler system is at risk of being damaged during winters in Anderson, SC. At Clean Flo Sewer and Septic we always recommend homeowners disconnect garden hoses, sprinklers, water features (fountains), and other external plumbing connected to their home.

The pipes connecting to these outdoor features will obviously take the brunt of the cold winter season. Unlike the exposed pipes in your home, it wouldn’t make sense to try and insulate garden hoses and sprinklers, especially because you’re unlikely to use them during the cold months.

Turn up the Thermostat

Even before autumn fades into frosty winter nights, it’s a good idea to start turning up the heat, even slightly. Consider resting your thermostat somewhere around 18 degrees Celsius or 64.4 degrees Fahrenheit to start. You don’t want to blast your home with heat if you don’t need it, but you also don’t want your pipes to freeze if there is unexpected snow early in the season.

Energy.gov suggests the best temperature once your home gets cold is 20 degrees Celsius, or 68 degrees Fahrenheit. This is during the day when you’re awake and need temperature control. At night you can decrease the temperature to save money.

Plan Your Getaways

Going away for the holidays? It’s always helpful to have a plan ahead of time regarding plumbing and thermostats. If you won’t be around for a significant amount of time, asking a friend or relative to check in on the place can save you the hassle of coming home to a busted pipe.

House-sitters should regulate heat, and run the taps in the home a few times a day to keep them from freezing up. If you are lucky enough to have a smart thermostat, you can program your home to warm when necessary, or even control the temperature remotely from wherever you are in the world via an online connection.

Inspect Your Water Heater

As you prep for the winter, be sure to give your water heater a once-over. Even if it’s running smoothly, it should be inspected once a year for damage, leaks, cracks, or odd smells or sounds. If everything appears to be working, you can relax knowing your hot showers will be hot all winter.

If the heater needs repairs or maintenance, be sure to call a plumber in Anderson, SC right away. It’s important to fix these issues early before they become larger irreparable problems that lead to water heater replacements.

Check Your Water Pressure

Water pressure tells you a lot about how your plumbing is running. If your pressure seems lower than normal, it could be due to a leak or blockage. It’s important to report these issues to your plumber early.

We always urge our clients to call at the smallest sign of trouble. In the world of plumbing, something small almost always turns into something big if left unattended. Water pressure could be a symptom of a much bigger problem, and you don’t want to wait until the ground is frozen and snow is falling to figure it out.

Clean the Gutters

While not necessarily related to your home plumbing system, your gutters deal with drainage away from your roof. Many plumbing companies help homeowners inspect and clear gutters twice annually. The best time to clear your gutters is after spring when the pollen, sap, and blossoms have finished blowing around, and just after fall when fallen leaves, twigs and other debris fill most gutters.

Clearing your gutters and downspouts ensures a clear flow of water away from your roof and your home. This prevents unwanted leaks and flooding as shingle damage, rot, mold, and pests are attracted to the debris and blocked water.

Check Faucets and Taps

From your shower head to your bathroom sink to your kitchen sink, leaking faucets are a sign something isn’t quite right. Before winter approaches, check your home for dripping faucets, and be sure all your taps are tightened and performing as they should.

Leaking faucets allow water to flow in small quantities, and at night while you’re sleeping and temperatures are low, this water could freeze. Unfreezing your pipes is a daunting task and one which almost always requires the help of a professional.

If you notice any faucets which you can’t fix on your own, or you find yourself overwhelmed with the winter plumbing checklist, call a professional. Experienced plumbers are used to dealing with these types of issues, and are always happy to lend a hand, even on small jobs.

Contact Clean Flo Sewer and Septic Today

Interested in learning more about protecting your home during the winter season, and which plumbing services would benefit you? We can help. If you live in or around Anderson, SC, contact us at Clean Flo Sewer and Septic today.

There are many hidden issues that can pop up when owning a home, and unfortunately, some of the most dangerous go overlooked. Slab leaks are a good example.

If you’re a first-time homeowner, chances are you’ve never heard about a slab leak. But even longtime homeowners can take years to notice this issue.

At Clean Flo Sewer and Septic, we understand that if left untreated, slab leaks can be one of the most serious and expensive issues a homeowner could face. Keep reading to learn more about slab leaks, along with their signs and dangers!

What Are Slab Leaks?

Beneath most modern homes is a foundation made of concrete slabs. These slabs are used to prevent pressure from shifting and expanding soil, which can cause foundational damage. Beneath these concrete slabs, however, is a network of pipes. If one of them cracks or bursts over time, then you’re dealing with a slab leak.

Unfortunately, most of the time, slab leaks are unavoidable. They can be caused by earthquakes, chemical reactions between the soil and metal in the pipes, or even faulty installation. These issues are beyond your control, so the best thing you can do as a homeowner (or even a future homeowner) is to be aware of the most common signs.

Signs of Slab Leaks

For the average person, slab leaks can be hard to detect. Before you decided to call in a specialist, though, here are a few signs to look out for:

• A steady increase in water bills
• Warm spots on the floor
• Moldy carpet
• Cracks on walls or ceilings
• Sound of constant running water
• Sudden pest infestation
• Dangers

The fact of the matter is that slab leaks will cause damage to your home. The dangers usually develop over time, but they are still a risk to you and your family.

Health Dangers

When water is trapped beneath your foundation, it can become a breeding ground for mold. If you’ve noticed musty smells, waterlogged floors, or moist drywall in your home, it should be addressed immediately. In 2004 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) linked indoor exposure to mold with upper respiratory tract symptoms such as cough and wheeze in otherwise healthy people. Mold is also known to worsen asthma symptoms in asthma sufferers.

Foundational Dangers

The foundation of your home is what gives it its structure. Water leaks can cause your foundation to weaken, and after enough time, it can shift, crack or even collapse. Not only does this damage the structure of your home, but it can also lower the value of your home overall.

Financial Dangers

If you suspect you have a slab leak and wait too long, then repairs can easily cost you thousands of dollars. Your homeowners insurance may be able to cover some of it, but it often does not cover general wear and tear. If a slab leak is caused by old lines, for example, homeowners insurance will typically not cover this.

Not only is there a chance your policy may not cover much, but there’s also a high chance it won’t cover any damaged furniture, which is another added cost.

Contact Your Local Slab Leak Professionals

For the average person, slab leaks can be hard to detect. If you suspect you have a slab leak in your home, try not to take it lightly! Our experts at Clean Flo Sewer and Septic will help you determine the exact location of a leak or even a potential leak. Contact us today if you think you may have a slab leak and need the professionals!