Author Archive | Mokher Plumbing

3 Tips for Lowering Your Water Bill


It just arrived! The water bill that tops all water bills. It’s so high! What happened? If you just received a high-water bill you are most likely feeling overwhelmed. Take a moment to focus on what caused it to skyrocket so quickly. The following tips will help you discover the cause and repair it before it does any more damage to your budget.

  1. Check for Leaks – Walk around your house and check all the faucets, toilets, rooms, ceilings and flooring for water damage. Also, take notice of any unusual odors caused by water. Pinpoint where the leak originated and contact a plumber immediately. Remember that all leaks are not noticeable. A dripping faucet or running toilet is obvious. However, a leaky pipe hidden behind a wall is another story.
  2. Take Shorter Showers – Sometimes hikes in the water bill are due to household members taking showers longer than usual. Or, due to company staying at your home for long periods of time and using more water than usual. Limit everyone in the household to a 10-minute shower maximum. This will help save water and lower your water bill.
  3. Use the Dishwasher – Homeowners are often scared to use the dishwasher because they think it uses too much water. This myth is not true. Dishwashers actually use less water than the hand washing method. The reason is that the handwashing method often causes the faucet to run constantly while rinsing the soap off dishes. You can save money by loading up the dishwasher to capacity and using it on a regular basis. You can also use the “water saver” option if your dishwasher has the option available.

If you try the tips above and your water bill is still high, you need to contact a professional plumber immediately. It’s essential to find the cause as quickly as possible and fix it. Otherwise, the issue can become worse, cause extensive damage to your property and lead to higher water bills.

Plumbing issues can lead to disaster if you don’t get the issue taken care of fast. Imagine a small leak under the kitchen faucet that you ignore grows from a few drips to filling a bucket of water every hour. Catching the water in a bucket might protect the cabinets from damage. But, what happens when the bucket overflows while you are away from home? Start lowering your water bill today by contacting me, Chip Mokher today!


Mokher Profile PicSince 1968, Chip Mokher & his team has provided South Florida with quality service with a commitment to our customers’ satisfaction. Our many years of experience has allowed us to serve thousands of homes and businesses in Miami-Dade County. We welcome the opportunity to serve you, please call us at 305-446-8266 or email us at chip@mokherplumbing.com

 

 

 

How to Prevent Limescale


Limescale is a hard-white crust that forms on faucets, sinks and various areas throughout your house. It often takes homeowners by surprise when they see white crust and don’t know where it came from. Hard water picks up minerals as it processes through limestone and chalk porous rock and develops on surfaces when standing hard water evaporates. If you notice limescale in your home consider the following tips to prevent it from reoccurring.

Why You Need to Remove Limescale

  • It causes dull or dry hair
  • Irritates sensitive skin
  • Causes the growth of bacteria in drinking water pipes
  • Increased heating costs
  • Loss of energy in hot water systems
  • Low water pressure
  • Dirty looking clothes even if you wash them twice with detergent
  • Frequent replacement or repairs on appliances throughout the house

Remove and Prevent Limescale

  • Soften Water – You can purchase water softeners online or at your local home repair store. Water softeners prevent hard water from appearing on surfaces.
  • Chemical Inhibitors – If you have a central heating system ask the plumber to add a specifically designed chemical inhibitor to prevent limescale.
  • Carbon Filters – Use carbon filters to soften water and provide clean drinking water. You can choose to use filters directly on the tap faucet or use jugs. You can purchase carbon filters at grocery stores and online.
  • Magnetic Descaler – This beneficial device clamps onto the outside of pipework and uses a magnetic field to alter the characteristics of the minerals found in hard water.
  • Softener Tablets – If your clothes look dirty after washing them you can improve the look of your clothes by using softener tablets. Non-precipitating softener tablets prevent limescale by blocking the internal workings of most washing machines.

How to Remove Limescale

Tea Kettles are known to develop limescale due to repeated use without washing. Most tea kettle owners wash it about once per week since they only boil water in it. If you have limescale build up in your tea kettle use a half a cup of white vinegar and a half a cup of water. Bring it to a boil, remove from burner and let stand during the night.

If your tiles, taps, shower heads, and other surfaces have evidence of limescale you can remove it with a DIY mildly acidic mixture. Lemon juice or white vinegar will remove limescale. Soak the surface with the lemon juice or vinegar and scrub until stains are removed.


Mokher Profile PicSince 1968, Chip Mokher & his team has provided South Florida with quality service with a commitment to our customers’ satisfaction. Our many years of experience has allowed us to serve thousands of homes and businesses in Miami-Dade County. We welcome the opportunity to serve you, please call us at 305-446-8266 or email us at chip@mokherplumbing.com

The Summer Plumbing Maintenance Checklist


Summer is almost here! This is the perfect time of year to check the plumbing in your house. Some homeowners don’t pay attention to the plumbing until something goes wrong. You can prevent a lot of issues from arising and ruining your summer vacation by following the plumbing maintenance checklist below.

  • Protect the Drains with Filters – Common items that back up your tubs and sinks are hair, soap buildup and other debris. Place a removable filter in each drain located in your house. You can purchase these affordable drain screens online or at your local home repair store. Clean them once per week or more to assure they work properly. Following this tip will help prevent your pipes from getting clogged and leading to expensive repairs.
  • Inspect Faucets for Leaks – A drippy faucet might seem like it’s just a nuisance. But it’s much more than that! It can become expensive and hike your water bill up to numbers you never want to see on your bill again. Leaky faucets are generally easy and quick to fix. You can repair it yourself as a DIY project or you can contact a plumber for assistance. The most important thing is to make sure you stop the faucet from leaking immediately.
  • Check for Leaky Toilets – Does your toilet run constantly. This is a sign of an expensive leak. Usually this type of leak is easy to fix with a few parts from the hardware store. You can even purchase the parts online and have them shipped to your home. If you aren’t familiar with DIY plumbing projects you should contact a plumber immediately. This type of leak can waste gallons of water and cause your water bill to rise rapidly.
  • Pool Maintenance – Homeowners that have a pool should inspect the equipment and look for leaks. Any sign of dripping or leaking water needs to be fixed as soon as possible.
  • Clean the Shower Heads – This task is most likely part of your cleaning routine already. But, if you have been neglecting your shower heads, it’s time to get started. You will be surprised to learn that mineral deposits can clog shower heads and lead to low water pressure. An easy cleaning tip involves removing the shower head and soak it in a bucket of white vinegar for several hours, preferably while you are at work or sleeping.

Summer is one of the most popular times of the year for vacations. The last thing you want to do is cut your vacation short to rush home and take care of an emergency plumbing issue. Get your home ready today by following the suggestions above. If you need assistance with any plumbing issues contact a plumber today for an appointment.


Mokher Profile PicSince 1968, Chip Mokher & his team has provided South Florida with quality service with a commitment to our customers’ satisfaction. Our many years of experience has allowed us to serve thousands of homes and businesses in Miami-Dade County. We welcome the opportunity to serve you, please call us at 305-446-8266 or email us at chip@mokherplumbing.com