Category: Plumbing

It’s one of the largest appliances in your home, and also one of the most critical. Are you taking good care of your hot water heater? Flushing the water heater is a good way to help make sure your tank will keep providing hot water to your home for years to come! This is especially critical in the Odessa and Midland area, where hard water is prevalent and can wreak havoc on your appliances, especially your water heater. In this post, we’ll outline some steps you can take to protect your tank.

TURN EVERYTHING OFF

The first step in flushing your water heater tank is to turn off everything! Not just the water, but everything that’s connected to your water heater! That means you’ll need to shut off the gas and/or electricity that runs your tank as well. You can do this by shutting off the valves at the tank, and then shutting off the power at the circuit breaker.

DOWN THE DRAIN

Next, you’ll need to drain the tank. You can do this by attaching a garden hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the tank. Once the hose is fully secure to prevent leaks, open the valve and let the entire tank drain. You can probably drag the other end of the hose into the street and let the water drain there.

INSPECT THE GADGET

When draining is complete, you’ll be able to inspect the anode rods. These are the metal rods that help keep your tank’s water clean. They should typically be replaced about every three years, but take a look at them to make sure they look ok. To check them out, you’ll need to loosen the cover and disconnect the electric lines. You can pull the rod out and look for signs of corrosion or damage. If they look fine, put it right back in the tank, but if not, make sure to have replacements on hand.

UNDER PRESSURE

Water heaters are equipped with a pressure relief valve for safety. It’s a good idea to test the valve by opening and closing it to make sure it’s working properly and that it will open like it’s supposed to if there’s too much pressure in your tank.

FILL ‘ER UP

Make sure everything’s back in place (including the drain valve!), and you can turn the water valve on and let the tank refill! As it’s filling, open the gas valve to prepare for the heating process, then flip the switch to turn the power on!

WORTH THE CALL. ALWAYS.

If you are in need of a new water heater, need yours serviced, or are considering a new state-of-the-art tankless water heater, The Bosworth Company has you covered! We can help you decide what’s right for you from our wide selection of options and top-notch service. Make an appointment online, or call us today at (432) 570-5233. It’s Worth the Call. Always.

Midland, Odessa, and the surrounding areas have a wide variety of homes, some brand new, and others close to a century old! Some of the vintage classics may be in great cosmetic shape but may need work in some areas you can’t even see. Even if the original plumbing is high-quality, it still experiences wear and tear and will eventually need to be replaced – and that can be a big project! In this post, we’ll discuss a few things you should know about updating or renovating older plumbing.

NEW VS OLD PLUMBING

The Bosworth Company’s plumbers are fully trained in state-of-the-art plumbing methods and techniques. These advanced methods are great for building and maintaining efficient plumbing systems – but they’re a far cry from the same techniques that were used for plumbing that may have been installed during the 1970s or earlier! There are sometimes instances where it just isn’t feasible to maintain an older system. In these cases, the installation of a new system is often required.

CHALLENGES

Back in the day, different metals were used for piping that may not have the ability to last as long as some of our piping does now. This can be a factor when repairs are needed, as plumbers may need to take a gentler approach when working on older homes.

If your home has truly antique plumbing (say 50 years old or older), there’s also a possibility that it could be difficult to find proper replacement parts. While this can present a challenge, The Bosworth Company’s name, history, and reputation help us secure parts of all kinds as quickly as possible!

WORTH THE CALL

The good news is that the older plumbing is generally a simpler design and easy to manage, but it makes it a little trickier to incorporate into a modern design. The Bosworth Company has been serving customers in Odessa and Midland for more than 70 years! Our plumbers have seen it all and can handle your home no matter the challenge!

Are you ready to repair or replace an aging plumbing system? Make an appointment online, or call The Bosworth Company today at (432) 570-5233. It’s Worth the Call. Always.

When most people think of a new kitchen or bathroom, they’re thinking about things like sinks and countertops, appliances, and cabinets. These cosmetic upgrades are great, but don’t forget that it’s what’s on the inside that counts! Your new kitchen won’t be ready to roll if your plumbing and pipes aren’t up to snuff. And it’s critical to make sure your pipes are protected when you do decide to install your dream kitchen. In this post, we’ll take a look at some of the important steps you should take to protect your pipes and electrical lines during the remodeling process.

PROTECT THE PIPES

The plumbing lines in your kitchen are critical to your entire home. Think about all the different water lines that run throughout your kitchen: not only hot and cold lines to your main kitchen faucet, but also a steady supply to your fridge, dishwasher, and any other water appliances. And don’t forget about gas lines to your stove! That’s why it’s important to protect them during the remodeling process.

PROPER DISPOSAL

A kitchen or bath remodel can leave you with a lot of construction debris. This can include sawdust, nails, pieces of drywall, and other items. These things should be disposed of properly. Don’t try to put them down a drain (or toilet) and presume they’ll just go away. Even something like sawdust can create major backups and blockages in your pipes!

OUTLET OUTAGE

Electrical outlets in your kitchen or bath need to remain fully functional for the fridge, microwave, and other appliances. Keep this in mind if you have any new lighting incorporated into your redesigned kitchen. You may need multiple lights, including over the stove, beneath cabinets, etc. You may even want to power some appliances via electricity and others via gas. Any changes to your existing usage could affect the functionality of existing outlets and lines (and your appliances, as a result). You’ll definitely want a licensed electrician to help sort that all out.

GAS LINES

It’s also possible that gas lines will need to be adjusted. A ruptured gas line could be a major issue, and pipes going the wrong way can be dangerous.

WORTH THE CALL

At The Bosworth Company, plumbing is our first love! If you’re thinking about a kitchen or bathroom renovation, that’s always a good time to get your pipes checked out! Make an appointment online, or call us today at (432) 570-5233. We’ll make sure you stay safe and help make your dream kitchen as functional as it is beautiful! It’s Worth the Call. Always.

Having properly running plumbing is a priority for any home or business. Sinks, showers, and your toilet – they’re all important for keeping you comfortable. Many homeowners try to do as much DIY as possible but know there’s a time when we need to call a pro. In this post, we’ll take a look at what not to do on your DIY projects, despite what you may have heard.

TOILET TABLETS

Have you ever heard the phrase, “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is”? That may be a good description of those tablets for your toilet tank. Homeowners think they can just drop them in the back of the toilet and never have to clean the bowl. That’s not exactly the full story. The tablets are mainly made of bleach, which can lead to corrosion and other issues with your toilet. You’re better off cleaning occasionally than constantly relying on these.

BUILDING BRICKS

Speaking of things not to put in the toilet tank, another common myth involves putting a brick in the tank. The idea is that the brick will take up space, and thus save water with every flush. The problem is that each flush is smaller, meaning you’re more likely to have to flush twice, meaning you’re using just as much, if not more, water than you would have been. What’s worse, if you leave the brick in the tank for too long it could dissolve and damage the inside of your tank.

TO FLUSH OR NOT TO FLUSH

Just because a product is advertised as “flushable” doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a good idea to put it down the toilet. Toilets are designed to handle waste, toilet paper, and not much else. Some disinfectants or baby wipes may call themselves “flushable” but if you have another option for disposal, we would recommend it. Think about how toilet paper just falls apart in water. Since disinfectant wipes don’t do that (at least not easily) there’s always a risk of them clogging your pipes.

WORTH THE CALL

If you do get yourself into a bind, the experts at The Bosworth Company are ready to help with any of your plumbing needs. Our certified professionals have the tools and the products to keep your toilet running as it’s supposed to. Make an appointment online, or call us today at (432) 570-5233. It’s Worth the Call. Always.

Depending on the age of your home, it’s certainly possible that you’ve heard strange noises. This can be from things like a home settling, but one frequent culprit is noisy plumbing. Each noise you hear from your plumbing could indicate a different problem. Do you hear a whistle? Banging? What about hissing or even shrieking? No, your child isn’t having a scary dream – more likely the sound is coming from your plumbing. In this post, we’ll identify those sounds and see if we can pinpoint the problem.

BRING THE HEAT

Sometimes the sounds you hear will change depending on whether you’re running hot or cold water. Hot water can cause loud creaking noises, especially in copper pipes. The heat causes the copper to expand and contract. That can cause stress on the joints and braces which lead to loud noises. These aren’t particularly serious, but the noise can be annoying.

DEEP FREEZE

The air in your pipes can be a problem in cold weather. If the temperature drops below freezing (a hard freeze, and yes, this can happen in Texas) the water in your pipes will freeze. The frozen water can trap air in the pipes. It’s not the ice itself that causes pipes to burst; it’s those air pockets that build up pressure causing the pipes to eventually crack. You can fight the freeze by fitting your pipes with insulation. In extreme cold, leave your faucets dripping which will help prevent freezing.

FEEL THE FLOW

Airflow is the most common reason for noisy pipes. If the flow of air is too strong, it can cause loud whistling or hissing noises. This is especially true when the air is being forced through a pipe and mixed with water. The noises start when a faucet is turned on or a toilet is flushed. Though it can be annoying, this is not typically a serious problem.

WORTH THE CALL

There are a few things you can do to help reduce the noise. Swapping metal braces to plastic, or using foam to protect the pipes will have an immediate impact on reducing noise. These are relatively small projects, but they’re jobs that most homeowners wouldn’t want to tackle on their own. The Bosworth Company can help! Make an appointment online today by calling us at 432-570-5233. It’s Worth the Call. Always.

A small leak can lead to a bigger one, and water damage can be devastating for your home. What’s tricky is that leaky pipes can often go unnoticed – sometimes for months – because they are behind walls or other places you can’t see them. In this post, we’ll explore some ways you can identify hidden leaks before they get out of control.

TOILET TROUBLES

If you have water dripping or massive water stains on a ceiling or wall, that’s easy. You know you’ve got a leak. But what if you don’t know where the leak is coming from? For instance, sometimes the water in your toilet tank can leak into the bowl and cost you a lot of money in wasted water. To test for this, drop some food coloring in the tank and wait for 5 to 10 minutes. The coloring should NOT show up in the toilet bowl – if it does, you have a leak.

FIND THE SOURCE

Unfortunately, identifying the source of a leak isn’t always that easy. If your water bill has spiked unexpectedly, you can start by checking any exposed plumbing inside or outside your home. That includes looking underneath and kitchen sinks, the water heater, washing machine, fridge, as well as garden houses. Check your water meter, too – if everything’s turned off, the meter should not be registering.

CALL A PRO

If you suspect a leak and don’t know where it’s coming from, call a professional. The experts at The Bosworth Company have the equipment and know-how to pinpoint the location of hidden leaks with little to no intrusion of your property. A DIY project of breaking through walls is NOT recommended. A broken or damaged pipe can cost you thousands if left unchecked.

And remember that all pipes will eventually break down over time, so it’s a good idea to get them periodically checked to make sure they’re maintaining structural integrity.

WORTH THE CALL

Give The Bosworth Company a call today for a free consultation, or set an appointment for an inspection online. You can reach us at 432-570-5233. It’s Worth the Call. Always.