A Master Plumber, TJ has been in the business for 12 years and the owner of TJK plumbing since 2008. He specializes in any and all residential plumbing needs but water heaters and sump pumps make up the majority of TJ’s service calls.
Water Heaters
The quality of the water has a major impact on the life of a water heater. Maple Grove has very hard water so softening is key to getting longer life out of your water heater (see water softener section below).
TJ doesn’t recommend periodic draining of water from the water heater or lifting of the relief valve as these actions can often lead to a continual small leak when those valves fail to re-seat completely.
How do you know when it’s time to replace your water heater? TJ says water heaters tend to last 10-15 years with good, soft water.
Other indicators that it's time to replace your water heater:
- Leaks
- Rusting of water heater
- Failure to maintain temperature (having to continually raise the thermostat setting)
If your water heater develops a leak, shut the shut-off valve at the top of the water heater to prevent the water heater from continuing to refill from the home water supply.
When you replace your water heater, replacing with a high efficiency, tankless or power vent model isn’t necessarily the way to go. Depending on your existing set-up, the costs may be too high meaning it will take too long to see a return on your investment. It’s best to talk with TJ and he will recommend the best water heater for your application.
Sump Pumps
Most homes in our area due to the clay and the lay of the land require sump pumps. It’s a good idea to add water to the sump basket periodically to ensure the float works and that the pump (or both pumps if you also have a battery back-up sump pump) turn on and pump the water outside.
If your sump pump runs a lot, a battery back-up is a good investment to ensure water removal in the event of a power outage. The batteries typically last around eight years and can be maintained by not setting the battery directly on the concrete but rather on a board that is set on the concrete and by adding distilled water to maintain battery cell levels (if the battery isn’t a sealed maintenance-free battery).
A common occurrence TJ sees is the swing float (that turns the sump pump on) interfering with the side of the basket. Check your sump basket to ensure the float mechanisms move freely.
Lastly, it’s a good idea to disconnect the corrugated plastic hose in the fall and winter to prevent a frozen discharge the first time the sump pump turns on in the spring. Instead, during these cold months when there's a risk of freezing, install a PVC pipe with a good amount of slope or pitch away from the home and when the risk of freezing has passed, replace the PVC pipe with a flexible corrugated hose which allows you to direct the sump discharge further from the house and also allows for easier re-positioning when mowing.
Water Softeners
A water softener is almost an absolute requirement in Maple Grove due to our very hard water. TJ installs water softeners and recommends pellets over rock salt. He says it’s best to fill the brine/salt tank only halfway to assist in correcting salt bridging or a solid mass of salt that can form at the top of the salt level in the brine tank. If your water softener is older than 8 years old, it isn’t requiring salt additions like it used to or you notice your water being increasingly hard, it’s probably time for a new water softener.
A final recommendation from TJ is to annually temporarily shut your home's water shut-off valves which are often located in the lower level near the water meter. Shut these temporarily to ensure they stop the flow of water into the home, completely isolating the home from the city water supply so you know you can stop a leak in your home if one were to develop.
For all your plumbing needs and questions, call our local neighborhood Master Plumber, TJ at 763-425-9461.
Mention that you saw this article and TJ is offering a $20 discount on any service!
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