Plumbing

Keep a leak from ruining your home. As soon as you move in, make sure everyone in the family can locate and operate the main water shutoff and individual shutoff valves in the kitchen and bathrooms. The main valve is located at the water meter. Other valves are located under sinks, behind each toilet and on top of the water heater.

Every plumbing fixture in your home has a U-shaped section of pipe that provides a water barrier to prevent airborne bacteria and sewer gas odors from entering your home. Remember to run all faucets once a week to replace trap water lost to evaporation.

Bathtubs, Tub and Shower Enclosures
Whether it is made from cultured marble, simulated marble, fiberglass, acrylic or porcelain-coated metal, your tub or shower should be cleaned with a nonabrasive bathroom cleanser followed by a thorough rinsing to remove residue.

Periodically check the caulking around the tub enclosure, the door, the sweep and the threshold areas and replace as needed to prevent damaging leaks.

Drains
Grease build-up is the most frequent cause of clogs. If you can't dispose of cooking oil and grease any other way, always run ample cold water down the drain at the same time. Petroleum-based products such as paint thinner will damage pipes and should never be poured down drains.

Remove hair and foreign matter from sink and tub stoppers every time you clean to ensure good drainage.

Fixtures
The plumbing fixtures in your home are plated with polished brass, chromium or a combination of the two. Abrasive cleansers, scouring pads and tools will damage their finish. Use warm soapy water and a soft sponge or cloth to clean. Rinse well and wipe dry to prevent spotting.

Allowing water to accumulate at the base of the fixture will result in corrosion and tarnishing. Hard water will spot and damage chromed fixtures. While you can't prevent this, drying the fixtures after each use will minimize the problem.

Be gentle when turning faucets on and off. Too much force will damage the seals.

Over time, mineral deposits will build up in the faucet aerators and diminish the flow of water. Every month or so, unscrew the aerator from the mouth of the faucet, remove the debris, rinse off the washers and screens and screw them back to the faucet.

Toilets
Toilets are made of vitreous china, a material that is almost impervious to staining. They may be cleaned with any commercial toilet bowl product.

Keep a plumber's plunger handy. If a clog occurs, shut off the water valve located behind the toilet. A few vigorous pumps of the plunger will usually free the clog. If not, it's time to call a plumber. Do not use harsh chemical drain cleaners. These can damage the toilet seat and cause leaks.

Water Heater
Should your water heater spring a leak, close the shutoff valve located on top of the unit and turn off the breaker. If it is a gas heater, close the gas supply valve, too. Then call a plumber or our Warranty Service Department, if your home is still under warranty.

To avoid scalding and burning, we highly recommend using the "normal" setting.

Before adding an insulating blanket, check your operating manual. If you do add one, don't cover up the warning labels, ventilation or access areas.

Accumulated silt and debris impair your water heater's efficiency, so you'll need to drain and flush the heater periodically. Consult your operating manual for instructions on this simple procedure. And remember to turn off the power supply before you drain the water. Do not turn it back on until the tank is refilled.