How to Fix a Leaky Garden Hose Yourself

The last thing you have time for in your busy schedule is a leaking hose.

Nevertheless, hoses wear out at the most inconvenient times. However, while buying a new hose seems like the easiest solution, it can be costly and may not solve your problem.

The good news is you may have to do nothing more than replace a washer or a gasket. You may even have to cut out the damaged section of hose, but the repairs are so simple you can do the job with ease. In a matter of minutes, you’ve fixed the leak, conquered the issue and gotten right back on schedule.

Locate and Fix Leaks in Your Garden Hose

A cold splash of water in the face is a sure sign your hose is leaking, but low water pressure may hint at the same issue. However, finding the leak could pose another problem.

First check the hose bib, or where the hose connects to the faucet, and at any connecting points. If you don’t find the leak, check the length of the hose until you find the troublesome spot.

Leaky Hose Bib

In many cases, a worn out washer in the faucet is the issue. Fortunately, this is an easy fix you can complete in just a few minutes.

Turn the water off at the main.

• Unscrew the packing nut.
• Remove the hose bib.
• Use a screwdriver to remove the old washer.
• Put in the new washer.
• Replace the hose bib.
• Wrap Teflon tape around the stem.
• Tighten the packing nut.

Hose Connection Leaks

I cannot count how many times I pulled out the hose to water the yard only to take an unexpected and very cold shower. The cause was a leak where two hoses connected. If only I’d known how easy it is to fix the leak.

Simply use a tool, like a screwdriver, to remove the old gasket. However, rather than replacing the old part with a new one, you should use an O-ring to create a better seal and help prevent leaks.

A Hole in the Hose

The number of ways a hose can end up with a hole are countless and range from prickly rosebushes to garden tools. Fortunately, a hose repair kit is the solution to your leaky hose problem.

• Cut off the damaged section of the hose.
• Slide a clamp provided in the kit into one end of the hose.
• Next, slide the coupler into place.
• Move the clamp over the coupler and tighten the screws.
• Repeat these steps with the other end of the hose.

Repairing your hose is an easy fix you can do yourself. However, if you uncover a more serious problem, contact Super Plumbers in Tyler, TX at 903-500-2581.

Choosing between water filtration systems for your home can be as tough as deciding what to have for dessert when all your favorites are on the menu.

The difference is that different water purification systems have different benefits, advantages, and disadvantages, whereas all desserts are tasty!

But if you’re trying to decide between one of these systems and want some more information, you’ve come to the right place.

Reverse Osmosis Versus Deionized Water

One of the main differences between RO and DI is the process the two systems use to purify water. The resulting water is similar, but the processes are quite different:

Reverse osmosis: force water through a semipermeable membrane to filter out contaminants such as salt, arsenic, and radium. RO systems also have prefilters and carbon filters that get rid of sand, chlorine, and odors. The systems typically have a storage tank to store up to four gallons of filtered water at a time.

Deionization: Uses an ion exchange process to remove minerals and harmful chemicals, such as iodine, calcium, copper, and magnesium, and replace them with hydrogen and hydroxyl molecules. DI water isn't really filtered but rather purified through a chemical process. Once purified, this type of water degrades quickly, so these systems are on-demand rather than storage-based.

Reverse Osmosis or Deionized Water?

Both reverse osmosis and deionized water have their pros and cons. In terms of negatives, both types of water are considered demineralized, and this means they aren’t necessarily fit for long-term human consumption.

While water isn’t a huge source of elements like calcium and magnesium in human diets, it is still a necessary source. However, if you are concerned about contaminants in your drinking water, both RO and DI are remarkable at removing certain substances.

Because of the different processes used, reverse osmosis tends to be purer in terms of dissolved solids, whereas the DI process is better at removing all mineral traces. DI water, however, isn't necessarily free of particulates and bacteria, since there is no purification stage in the deionizing process designed to remove those types of contaminants.

Which Should You Choose?

The reverse osmosis process was initially designed to desalinate water, and that’s still what this system excels at. So if you need to remove salt from your water, then RO is the way to go.

Similarly, DI water was designed to remove mineral contaminants from water, making it ideal for labs, manufacturing processes, and even aquarium applications.

Both types of water are great for cleaning because they don’t leave behind the types of streaks and stains left by mineral deposits in regular water.

If you need more help choosing between these purification systems, or want more information about other water filtration options in Tyler, TX, the Super Plumbers are here to help.  So call today at 903-630-6153 to schedule your fall appointment.

Although municipal sewer systems are becoming more and more common, there are many homes that still employ a septic tank. Septic tanks are a great way to achieve independence and live “off the grid”, but there are some things you should avoid putting down your drains in order to preserve the anaerobic environment that bacteria need to thrive and safely remove waste from your septic system.

Avoid Garbage Disposals

Garbage disposals can increase the amount of solids in your septic tank significantly. If your home has its own sewage system, the setbacks of a garbage disposal greatly outweigh their benefits. If you use a garbage disposal, a trash tank can be installed before your septic tank which can help eliminate this problem.

Don’t USeptic Tanks are placed under the ground and must be pumped regularly in order to continue working properly.se Excessive Amounts of Chemicals

Chlorine or other chemicals in excess can cause the chemistry in your septic tank to reach an ideal state, killing the necessary microbes that live in the septic tank and prevent an excessive accumulation of waste. Be sure not to use excessive chemicals, and avoid using large amounts of soap or other products (such as for laundry or dishes) at once.

Prevent Backflow from Water Conditioners

If you experience backflow from your water softener, sanitizer, or conditioner, this can also affect the chemistry of your septic tank, meaning you will have to pump and treat your tank.

Avoid Dirt and Foreign Objects

Any dirt can prevent your tank from draining and will increase the accumulation of solids in your tank. Muddy clothes should be dusted off before being placed in the wash in order to preserve the septic system.

If you’re having problems with your septic tank, give Super Plumbers a call and let us help! 903-372-4972

It seems that many people disagree about what can and cannot go down a garbage disposal. Some claim that eggshells will sharpen the blades, while others recommend ice cubes for that job. Here are four items that are generally considered to be bad for your garbage disposal and the pipes it connects to.

Avoid Clogging Drain with Egg Shells

As it turns out, eggshells can be pulverized into a consistency that’s small enough to pass into the pipes, but large enough to clog them up when they gather in clumps. So don’t toss those eggshells down the drain; grind up ice cubes to sharpen your blades if necessary.

A photo of greasy bacon in a frying banGrease

Grease should never go down the drain. As it cools and congeals, it forms a sticky, solid mass that even hot water won’t control. Any oil or grease that’s solid at room temperature should be put into a container and thrown away. Too much grease can cause real plumbing issues, especially if other food particles get caught in it and cause a clog.

Fibrous Foods

Some people say that foods containing long fibers, like celery, can get caught in the garbage disposal and cause problems as they wrap around the blades. Others claim onion skins and potato peelings do the same thing. Still, others say they have no problem putting these foods through their disposals, but you might want to err on the side of caution.

Trash

Non-food items shouldn’t go to disposal. Never put anything like rubber bands, wrappers, or other garbage down the drain. They belong in the trash can, not the pipes!

If you need plumbing services in East Texas, give us a call today!

There are many scary things in life, but your toilet shouldn’t be one of them. For some unlucky folks, their toilets became portals for frightening things to emerge from. Let’s take a light-hearted look at three times when people found things in their toilets that should NOT have been there.

Discovering a Colossal Constrictor: The 9-Foot Python

Eric Rantzau of Australia got quite a scare when he went to use the bathroom, only to find a 9 foot carpet python curled up inside the bowl! Things only got creepier from there. After a snake handler was called, the pair deduced that the snake had entered the house through the drainpipe, and had been slithering around for days. It went undetected until it decided to make the toilet into its new habitat. Scary stuff!

A Bomb From World War II

an illustration of a bombNobody expects to find a live WWII-era bomb in their toilet, but police were called to an outhouse in Stockport, England, when someone reported a suspicious device. It turns out that the device was a bomb left over from the second World War! Police evacuated the neighborhood and detonated the bomb in a nearby park.

A Human Being

An unnamed man from Cape Town, South Africa, somehow managed to get himself stuck in a portable outdoor toilet. The man was folded up, with his backside wedged into the bowl, and his arms, legs, and head sticking out. Nobody knows exactly how he ended up that way, but it took police and good samaritans 40 minutes to free him!

Hopefully, you’ll never have bathroom woes of this magnitude. For any job, big or small, call us so that we can get it fixed ASAP!