Answers to Common Plumbing Questions in Wichita, KS

When looking for new faucets or fixtures, I recommend visiting our plumbing supply showrooms as they will be able to help you with any questions as well as provide a better quality product. Any item purchased from our showroom will be backed by our warranty. Many faucets and fixtures from box stores are not of decent quality, nor will they be backed by our warranty.

• Wichita Winnsupply – 1005 S West. St.
• Ferguson Supply – 1210 E Douglas
• Hajoca Supply – 711 N Hydraulic
• Phoenix Supply – 2635 S Pattie

We offer a full line of toilets from several top brands. In the past, toilets required a larger volume of water to give a stronger flush. Today, however, toilets use less water to provide the same, or stronger, flush. Usually, the larger the flapper, the stronger the flush, regardless of how much water is used to flush the toilet. A good flushing toilet has a flush power of between 800 – 1000 grams per flush.

We first need to check for any toilets that may be running, faucets that may be dripping, or pipes that may be leaking. If we cannot find anything in the house, we will check your water service to verify if it is leaking. If it is, in fact, your water service, we need to either repair or replace it.

We offer garbage disposers ranging from 1/3 horsepower up to 1 horsepower, with warranties from 1 year up to 10 years. Our standard garbage disposer is the In Sink Erator Badger 5 garbage disposer. This unit is a ½ horsepower unit that has a 2-year manufacturer's warranty.

If we find a drain line dripping, we will not need to replace it. However, if water is coming from the bottom of the disposer, the unit has rusted and will need to be replaced.

Regarding backup sump pumps, there are two options. Option 1 is the water-powered option. The Liberty SJ-10 water-powered backup pump can pump approximately 13 gallons of effluent water per minute with 50 PSI water pressure. The City of Wichita requires backflow protection for all water-powered backup pumps. Backflow preventers require testing and certification yearly and a mandatory rebuild every five years. A water-powered pump uses approximately 2 gallons of city water to pump out 1 gallon of effluent water. In times of heavy rain, it can affect your water bill. However, a water-powered backup pump can operate without electricity, as long as it has water pressure to it.

The second option is a battery-powered backup sump pump. The PHCC 1730 battery backup can pump 28 gallons of effluent water per minute. A battery can last between 30 – 60 hours, depending on the inflow of water, in the event of power failure. An alarm is included with the system that sounds for any of the following: the battery needs power, the battery needs to be replaced or is defective, a cable is loose, power to the unit has been lost, or the pump has been activated. WARRANTY: The battery lasts between 2-5 years, depending on maintenance and use.

Our standard sump pump is a Zoeller M-53. The Zoeller M-53 has a three-year manufacturer's warranty and can pump approximately 35 gallons per minute. If you need a pump that can pump a greater volume, I recommend the Zoeller M-98. The Zoeller M-98 also has a 3-year manufacturer's warranty. However, it can pump approximately 60 gallons per minute.

When brown/orange water is evident, there are several options. If you have a tank-type water heater, it may be full of sediment. We can flush the water heater and clean it of sediment, and the water should clear up. In the event the water does not clear, it is possible the iron vessel of the water heater has begun rusting, and your water heater will eventually begin leaking from the outside.

When a water heater leaks from the tank itself, we have no choice but to replace it. Most water heaters have an iron vessel that you cannot see, lined by glass. When this glass lining breaks or ruptures, water comes into contact with the tank, eventually causing the iron vessel to rust and begin leaking. If the water heater is within its warranty period, we can get a warranty replacement, but labor and material used to hook up the new heater will be charged for.

For any water heater installation, we offer a one year labor warranty. Tank-type water heaters have a 6-year warranty on the tanks and parts. We can add an extended warranty to those units, increasing them to 10-year warranties on the tanks and parts. Water heaters with 12-year warranties are available. However, we would need to order one.

David Lies Plumbing Inc. specializes in both residential and commercial plumbing. We offer services for plumbing repairs, plumbing remodels, and new construction projects.