Keep Smiling Plumbing, Gwinnett County, Georgia -- FAQs

No job too small…cause we bring the shop to y’all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I schedule an annual inspection of the plumbing in my home?

Yes. Keep Smiling Plumbing has trained our technicians to spot weaknesses in your plumbing system that homeowners might not notice. Our observations could possibly prevent major repair problems in the future.

Should I replace the water heater before it leaks?

Yes. We always suggest you replace the water heater before it leaks, so as not to cause catastrophic damage to your house contents. It is cheaper to replace your water heater in the long run, than to have your homeowners’ policy pay for damage and cleanup. Insurance companies do not pay for the burst water heater, only for the damage that it caused. The amount you have to pay for
your deductible depreciation of your belongings costs more then replacing the water heater before it breaks. Average life expectancy of a water heater is approximately 10 years, give or take its use or abuse.

Should I turn my washing machine spigots off when I go away?

Burst washing machine hoses are the Number 1 insurance claim in the United States. Rubber washing machine hoses should be changed approximately every 4 to 5 years. Keep Smiling Plumbing can install no-burst hoses, so you do not have to worry about broken hoses or turning off the water to the washing machine. It provides peace of mind: another item you can take off of your To Do List.

Should I add drain cleaner or any other septic additive to my septic system?

Most products out on the market are only 15-30% effective. Call Keep Smiling Plumbing for additional information about Bio-Clean (92% effective), an all natural, safe effective septic and drain additive to keep your system maintained. It can potentially increase the life expectancy of your septic system field lines.

Should I drain my water heater?

If your water heater is less than a couple years old, you should be OK. Any older, and you take the chance that you will stir up so much sediment and/or rust that it might discolor the water in your heater. The rust is iron-oxide and can cause white wash to discolor permanently. Keep Smiling Plumbing installs self-cleaning Rheem water heaters or Rinnai tankless water heaters, so you can take draining the heater off your To Do List.

How do I know if my toilet is running?

Take ordinary food coloring and put a few drops in the back of the toilet tank. Let it sit for one hour. Lift the toilet seat up; if the water in the bowl is the same color as the tank that you put the food dye in, your toilet is wasting water. Call Keep Smiling Plumbing to have your toilet checked before your water bill gets too high.

Should I shut my outside faucets off in the winter?

Yes, turn off your outside faucets at the cutoffs inside the house, disconnect all hoses for the winter, and then open your outside faucet to see if it is turned off. If no water is coming out, leave the outside faucet open for freeze expansion to occur. If water keeps coming out of the outside faucet when open, call Keep Smiling Plumbing to have us repair or replace your cutoffs.

How can I shut off the water to my house?

If your house is on a basement or crawlspace, it will be located where the main water line comes into the house, usually near the front outside faucet. If your house is on a slab, it’s usually located by the water heater or behind a closet or stairwell (not the valve on top of the water heater because that turns off your water heater).