Archive | Kitchen

Spring Plumbing Tips


Spring has arrived in South Florida. This means you need to do some spring cleaning. While you and your family are busy cleaning the house and organizing the closets, your plumbing is screaming for attention too. Cleaning pipes and checking for leaks might be the last thing you want to do, but it could help prevent plumbing issues. Follow the quick and easy plumbing tips below to help prevent expensive plumbing issues this spring.

  • Start Outside – Clean gutters, yard drains, and down spouts. You will be surprised to find a large amount of debris stuck in the gutters.
  • Check for Leaks – Inspect under sinks and faucets for leaks.
  • Replace the Water Heater – If your water heater has leaks or is more than 15 years old you should replace it immediately. If you are not sure of the age you check the serial number. Most water heaters have the date included in the first four numbers of the serial number. The month is listed first, then the year.
  • Check the Water Heater Temperature – Cooler weather might have caused you to higher the temperature of the water heater. Since spring has arrived you should set the water heater no higher than 120 F. This helps reduce energy use and saves money.
  • Check the Toilets – All toilets in the house should flush properly. This means if you need to do any tricks such as jiggle the handle to get the toilet to flush properly there might be an issue. Remove the toilet tank and check the parts in the tank. If any are rusted or broken you need to replace them as soon as possible.
  • Check Water Valves – The water supply valves are often located under the sink or on the side of the toilet. Most homeowners don’t pay any attention to these valves until there is a problem. This often causes the valves to freeze and stick in the “on” position which makes it difficult to turn them off in emergency situations. Turn the water supply valves on and off briefly once per month to assure they are in good working order.
  • Inspect Toilets – Closely inspect toilet bowls and tanks for cracks. Using a flashlight helps see small cracks easier. If you notice any cracks you should replace the toilet as soon as possible.

These quick and easy spring plumbing tips will help prevent issues from arising throughout the season. Conducting a plumbing inspection on a regular basis, preferably every season, will save you money in the long run. If you found any leaks or plumbing issues contact me, Chip Mokher, your professional plumber 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

Top 3 Water Saving Tips


What!?! Did your water bill just arrive and it’s higher than you expected? Homeowners often wonder the cause of the problem. The obvious thought is a water leak. But what happens if you don’t have a water leak? This means your family is simply using too much water. The following tips will help you keep control of your water bill and avoid those expensive bills.

  1. Upgrade Appliances – The new model of washing machines is capable of saving up to 50% more water than an older model. If your family does a lot of laundry this might be the cause of your expensive water bill. Homeowners often try to cut back on using water by washing their dishes by hand. This can be a big mistake because you can use more water compared to using a dishwasher. Dishwashers are designed with water saving features that can benefit your water usage highly. If your current dishwasher doesn’t have this feature you should consider purchasing a new model. Especially since a water saving feature on a dishwasher can be about 80% more efficient compared to washing dishes by hand.
  2. Improve Lawncare Maintenance – If you have a lawn chances are you have a sprinkler system too. There’s no secret that sprinkler systems use plenty of water during every use. But, it is also highly essential for keeping your lawn in good condition. You don’t have to give up on your sprinkler system. But, you can cut down a number of times per week your lawn gets watered. For example, during the rainy season, you can cut down sprinkler sessions significantly. If you use a hose to water your garden you can cut back on the water by using a hose attachment that prevents the water from spilling out in between uses. This is beneficial for homeowners that use a hose and set it on the floor while they tend to some gardening and allow the hose to run.
  3. Upgraded Bathroom Fixtures – Your current bathroom fixtures might be in excellent condition. But, did you know they could also be causing your high water bill? Depending on the situation they can actually be causing your family to use more than 40 gallons per person daily. Water-saving faucets and low-flush toilets are recommended as upgrades.

If you haven’t upgraded your water meter in years, it might be time to make an improvement. Modern water meters can work in your favor by detecting leaks and pinpointing usage in various areas of the house. Contact Chip Mokher today to learn more information regarding upgrading your water meter and saving money.


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

Keep Clogs Away with Preventative Drain Care


Clogged drains are something all homeowners experience eventually. They seem like they pop up out of nowhere, but the truth is they usually build up and show signs of trouble. The obvious sign is a backed-up sink. Most homeowners will agree clogs happen at the wrong time and tend to interfere with daily life. The good news is you can prevent drain clogs by following the tips below.

  • Start Fresh – Contact a plumber to conduct a professional cleaning on your drain and pipes. This will allow you to begin your prevention plan fresh.
  • Shower Drains – Clogged shower drains are often caused by hair. You can easily prevent hair from going down the drain by using a mesh filter. They are affordable and can be purchased online or at your local home repair store.
  • Garbage Disposal – Your garbage disposal is capable of destroying a wide range of food. However, coffee grinds and grease tend to be an enemy to most garbage disposals. Avoid flushing coffee grinds, oil and grease through your garbage disposal. To prevent clogs in garbage disposals you need to use plenty of water to flush the particles as the garbage disposal is being used. An excellent rule is, if the garbage disposal is on the water should be too. Never use the disposal without water.
  • White Vinegar – You will be surprised to learn that white vinegar is a great tool to use in the prevention of clogged drains. It’s easy to use too. Pour about 2 cups of white vinegar down the sink in the morning before you go to work. When you come home flush the sink with warm water for 1 minute. Using vinegar once a week will help keep your drain clean, disinfected and clear of debris.
  • Educate Your Family – Everyone in your household should know the basics of the plumbing rules. In this case, you will want to inform everyone to avoid putting coffee grinds and grease down the sink. They should never put large chunks of food or objects in the disposal. If you have young children that enjoy playing with toys while taking a bath, they should choose large toys that can’t go down the drain.

There are plenty of plumbers that will tell you horror stories of what they found in clogged drains. Large amounts of hair, small toys, animals, wigs, paper and more. Always be careful about your drains otherwise you can be facing expensive repairs due to large objects clogging and ruining your pipes. The prevention tips listed above will help keep the plumber away for a while. However, as soon as you notice drain problems you should contact me Chip Mokher immediately.


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