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Emergency Numbers
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Gas Leaks/Outages
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Duke Energy
(513) 651-4466
(800) 634-4300
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Sewer/Water Main Breaks
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Hamilton County
Cincinnati Water Works
513-591-7825
Metropolitan Sewer District
513-352-4900
Butler County
513-887-3066
Clermont County
Sewer 513-732-5383
Water 513-553-4113
Warren County
513-925-1377
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FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
What is a Frost Proof Faucet and how does it work?
I smell gas. What should I do?
I smell sewer gas. What should I do?
Why doesn't my old water heater make as much hot water as it used to?
My drain is clogged, should I call a plumber or fix it myself?
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Q. I smell gas. What should I do?
A. Natural gas smells like rotten eggs. Everyone in your family should learn to recognize this smell. If you smell natural gas in your home, here's what you should do:
If you smell a faint natural gas odor:
- First make sure all gas appliances and the burners on your stove are turned completely off.
- Open windows-top and bottom-and wait a few minutes to let gas escape.
- Then check the pilot lights of your gas appliances (furnace, range, water heater, etc.).
- If you find a pilot that's out, relight it if you know how to and can do so safely. Otherwise, call in an expert.
- If you can't find the source, call your local gas utility to report the gas odor.
If you smell a strong gas odor:
- Do not use any devices that might create a spark, such as light switches, phones, flashlights, or even computers. The spark could ignite the gas.
- Quickly extinguish all embers and flames including cigarettes, candles, and fires.
- Leave your home immediately and take others with you.
- Go to a nearby phone and call your local gas utility to report the odor.
- If you smell a strong odor of natural gas, leave and call your gas utility. Never try to locate a gas leak yourself.
Q. I smell sewer gas. What should I do?
A.
Sewer gas can leak into your home when water evaporates in seldom used plumbing fixtures and drains. To determine if this is the case, pour a quart of water into all drains. If the odor goes away in a short period of time, make sure you run water in these drains at east once a month.
If the odor persists, the problem may be a serious plumbing problem. The toilet seal may be broken. A hidden vent pipe may have cracked. A plumbing professional has the tools, equipment and know-how to often quickly diagnose problems like this. Call us at 513-851-5588 or use our on-line form to schedule a service call.
Q. Why doesn't my old water heater make as much hot water
as it used to?
A.
You might have sediment buildup in your tank. As water heaters age, they tend to accumulate sediment and lime deposits. If the heater is not drained periodically, the sediment may rise to a level that will act as a barrier between the burner and the water, making it harder to heat.
An article published in a national ASPE plumbing journal states: for every half inch of sediment on the bottom of a gas fired water heater, it requires 70% more fuel to heat the water.
Flushing your residential water heater is something that should be done at least once a year.
- Turn off the power at the breaker and/or place the water heater in the OFF position.
- Hook a garden hose up to the bottom drain valve. Place the garden hose in a position to allow full discharge of the water through the hose ( in the yard or flower bed or the bath tub)
- Open the drain valve wide open.
DO NOT CLOSE OFF THE INCOMING COLD WATER SUPPLY TO THE HEATER.
- Run the water out of the hose until the water runs clear.
- Once the water is clear, shut off the bottom drain valve and remove the garden hose.
Note: Raising the water temperature will not solve this problem, and can actually cause a serious safety hazard.
The factory setting on new residential water heaters is 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the highest setting considered to be safe; higher temperatures can cause severe scalding.
Q. My drain is clogged, should I call a plumber or fix it myself?
A.
Always use a plunger to clear a drain. Use drain-cleaners as a last resort, because they often don't work, and if they don't you will have to deal with a sink full of caustic liquid. Iff you have to call a plumber after using drain cleaner, be sure to let him know.
Q. What is a Frost Proof Faucet and how does it work?
A.
If a hose is attached to a standard outside faucet during freezing weather, water does not drain out of the faucet because a hose prevents the water from draining.
(If the handle is on the top part of the faucet, it is probably not a frost-proof faucet.)
This is similar to the effect of holding liquid in a straw by holding a finger over one end. The water trapped inside the faucet may cause the faucet to freeze and burst.
A frost proof faucet is designed to be frost proof when installed properly (with a slight downward pitch) and there is no restriction on the hose nozzle to prevent the faucet from draining.
When properly installed, frost- proof faucets automatically eliminate the need for one or more inside shutoff valves.
The water shut-off valve on the frost proof faucet is actually located a few inches into the house, which allows the heat inside the house to warm the pipes inside the house and prevent freezing.
When the valve is turned off on a frost proof faucet, all of the water in front of the valve drains from the faucet leaving the tube empty.
Because there is no water in the frost proof faucet, water cannot freeze in the pipe.
However, if the faucet is installed incorrectly, water will remain the faucet and could cause the faucet to freeze and rupture.
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