Your savings will vary depending on the number of flushes, but on average, a typical household sees savings between $50 and $100 annually.

It's possible there's nothing wrong with your water heater. The issue may be with your faucets and shower heads. Some older shower heads put out up to 5 gallons per minute. Newer shower heads are more conservative and only allow around 2.5 gallons of volume per minute. Switching to lower-volume shower heads and faucets can sometimes solve the problem. It could also be that your water heater's dip tube needs to be replaced.

Worst case scenario, the leak is caused by a rusted-out tank, which will require a full water heater replacement. If your water heater is not near the end of the manufacturer’s life estimate, however, it may be a simpler and less costly issue. The pressure relief valve, which is typically located at the top of the unit, could be leaking. The valve could be defective, worn out, or need tightening. Your owner’s manual should have detailed information about repairing or replacing the valve. Simply give Fred's Plumbing a call and we'll inspect your water heater to assess the problem.

1. The flapper could be positioned incorrectly

2. The flapper could have a thin layer of scale or slippery film on it which can cause it to fail

3. The lift chain could be kinked or tangled

4. The flush valve could be worn out

In most cases, the cause is a tripped high-temperature cutoff. This can be fixed simply by pressing “Reset.” If that doesn’t work, it could be a faulty heating element. If that’s the case, you’ll need to replace the element. To determine why your water heater isn’t heating, give Fred’s Plumbing a call.

The answer depends on several factors including:

1. The number of people in your household
2. The number of bathtubs and/or showers
3. Whether your home has a dishwasher, washing mashing, or whirlpool bathtub
4. Whether your water heater is a natural gas or electric unit

Typically, for a family of four, a 40-gallon gas water heater will meet your heating needs. If your water heater is electric, you’ll want to consider a 50-gallon unit. Give Fred’s Plumbing a call to help determine which unit is best for your home.

Hard water contains high levels of magnesium and/or calcium. Having these minerals in your water can lead to deposits called “scale” on appliances and fixtures which can adversely affect their performance over time. Hard water can also decrease the cleansing abilities of soaps and detergents used while cleaning dishes, washing clothing, and bathing by creating pasty films on surfaces instead of dissipating the soaps. Depending on the level of minerals present in your water, you may want to consider calling Fred’s Plumbing to install a water softening system in your home. 

Pipe rattling occurs when water lines are not properly isolated from the structural elements of your home. If this is the case, the motion of water moving through the pipes can transfer to beams, joists, or studs in or beneath your flooring or in the walls. If the pipes are accessible, the solution can be as simple as inserting an insulating material between the pipes and the structural elements they are touching. 

If your pipes only rattle when the water is turned on or off, it may be that you need to install a water hammer arrester, which will eliminate the jolt caused by quick-closing water valves. Because the problem can be tricky to diagnose, give Fred’s Plumbing a call so we can make a professional assessment for you.