24-HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICES AVAILABLE
J.S. Mintz Plumbing
Schedule Your Appointment Today
 License #04756
Find Us On:
24-HOUR EMERGENCY 
SERVICES AVAILABLE
Schedule Your Appointment Today
 License #04756
Find Us On:

105 Switchyard Road, WILMINGTON, NC 28403


24-HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICES AVAILABLE

frequently asked questions
Click on the Plus + Symbol to see the answers!

WATER HEATER VALVES

  • What is the brass valve on my water heater?

    That is the Temperature and Pressure (T&P) relief safety device that keeps the heater from exploding. 

CAPPING THE T&P

  • Can I cap the T&P?

    No, if you see it leaking, call a service technician. 

TOILET LEAKS

  • I see water around my toilet. Is the seal leaking?

    Most of the time it’s the tank bolts that bolt the toilet to the floor that leak. Feel around the tank and see if you can feel or see water at the bolts. 

TOILET BASE STAINS

  • I have a brownish/yellowish stain around the base of my toilet. What is it?

    It’s urine. A seal leak will not show that color.

HOT WATER

  • Why does my hot water run out so fast?

    It could be one of three things: thermostat, element or the flow restrictor in the showerhead has been removed. All shower heads come with a pressure of 2 gallons per minute, which means that a 40 gallon water heater will run out of hot water in 17 minutes, using 34 gallons. As the hot water runs out, cold is coming in and mixing with the hot at the bottom of the heater. That’s why you don’t get the full 40 gallons of purely hot water.

GENERAL PLUMBING AND PIPES

  • Where does all my plumbing run?

    Honestly, I can’t tell you because without searching, there is no way to know. Every house can be plumbed differently so your house’s sewer and water can be totally different from your neighbor’s. 

CLOGS AND BACK-UPS

  • The water is backing up in my tub. What does this mean?

    Most of the time there is excess hair caught in the drain. You should clean out the drain once a month by removing the plug and using needle nose pliers to pull all the hair and debris out of it. 

CLOG IN A LINE

  • When I flush my toilet, the water comes up in my tub. What does this mean?

    You have a clog in the line. If you are on a septic tank, the tank could be full. 

LOW WATER PRESSURE

  • I have low water pressure. What does this mean?

     It usually it means that you have trash in the aerator. This is on the end of your faucet, which you can remove and clean. 

WATER HEATER VALVES

  • What is the brass valve on my water heater?

    That is the Temperature and Pressure (T&P) relief safety device that keeps the heater from exploding. 

CAPPING THE T&P

  • Can I cap the T&P?

    No, if you see it leaking, call a service technician. 

TOILET LEAKS

  • I see water around my toilet. Is the seal leaking?

    Most of the time it’s the tank bolts that bolt the toilet to the floor that leak. Feel around the tank and see if you can feel or see water at the bolts. 

TOILET BASE STAINS

  • I have a brownish/yellowish stain around the base of my toilet. What is it?

    It’s urine. A seal leak will not show that color.

HOT WATER

  • Why does my hot water run out so fast?

    It could be one of three things: the Thermostat, Element or the Flow Restrictor in the shower head that has been removed. 

    All shower heads come with a pressure of 2 gallons per minute, which means that a 40 gallon water heater will run out of hot water in 17 minutes, using 34 gallons. 

    As the hot water runs out, the cold water is coming in and mixing with the hot at the bottom of the heater. That’s why you are not getting the full 40 gallons of purely hot water.

GENERAL PLUMBING AND PIPES

  • Where does all my plumbing run?

    This cannot be determined without locating the lines. Every house can be plumbed differently so your house’s sewer and water can be totally different from your neighbor’s. 

CLOGS AND BACK-UPS

  • The water is backing up in my tub. What does this mean?

    Most of the time there is excess hair caught in the drain. You should clean out the drain once a month by removing the plug and using needle nose pliers to pull all the hair and debris out of it. 

CLOG IN A LINE

  • When I flush my toilet, the water comes up in my tub. What does this mean?

    You have a clog in the line. If you are on a septic tank, the tank could be full. 

LOW WATER PRESSURE

  • I have low water pressure. What does this mean?

     Usually this means that you have trash in the aerator. This is on the end of your faucet, which you can remove and clean. 

FREE TIP

Drain-O vs. Home Remedies
Drain-o really doesn’t work that well. By flushing your drains with hot water and dishwashing liquid once a week for 5 minutes, you will have less chance of a clog. Mix two good squirts in a gallon bucket of water and pour down all drains. Then let hot water run for 5 minutes. Of course, you still have to be careful about what goes down the drain besides water!

FREE TIP

Drain-O vs. Home Remedies
Drain-O really doesn’t work that well and can build up in the drain line and crystallize casing even more issues. By flushing your drains with hot water and liquid dish detergent once a week for 5 minutes, you will have less chance of a clog. Mix two good squirts in a gallon bucket of water and pour down the drains. Then let hot water run for 5 minutes. Of course, you still have to be careful about what goes down the drain besides water!
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