FAQ's

Several things could happen.  First check the shower head volume if showers are too quick.  A new shower head puts out about 2.5 gallons a minute.  Some older heads put out 5 gallons a minute.  Working with the shower head would double shower length in this case.

In some cases, the dip tube on the cold-water inlet has broken or worn. When this happens, it creates a short loop for the water, water at the bottom half of the tank will not be used.

On electric water heaters, they commonly have two heating elements that work in turns.  First the top element heats up the top of the tank, then power goes to the lower element.  If the lower element is out, only the top of the tank gets heated.  If the top element isn’t working, there will be no hot water.

Sometimes the Reset button needs to be pushed or reset. If this doesn’t get the element working, use a continuity tester to determine if the element has shorted out.  Replacement of the element may be needed.

5 Star Engineering Ltd. does not charge by the hour, we charge by the job and you will know how much we are charging for each job before we start any work. The benefit is catered to the consumer. If the job takes longer than expected, you don’t pay a dime more.

The management at 5 Star Engineering Ltd. has spent countless man-hours creating a flat-rate price book that makes sense for both you the client and 5 Star Engineering Ltd.

Yes, we do. However, that depends on the job, the day and time. Some jobs just end up running late in which case we will not be charging overtime. Sometimes due to people’s schedules, it may be necessary to schedule a service call on a Saturday. Please understand if we get called out after hours or on the weekend, depending on the job, we may need to charge for overtime.

We have been certified by the Registrar of Companies, The Ministries of Works And Housing, The Ghana Water Company Ltd etc.

Remember, if an unlicensed or uninsured worker performs work on your property, and anything goes wrong, you may have a problem with your insurance company paying for any related damages!

5 Star Engineering Ltd. only has employees. All our employees must be drug-free and must pass a stringent criminal background check as well. Each individual hired by 5 Star Engineering Ltd. is a qualified person to properly represent our company.

5 Star Engineering Ltd. accepts Cheques And Cash

Shower-heads can get clogged with mineral deposits and sediment build-up. No need to run to the store though. The best way to clear a clog is to soak the shower-head in a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water. Soak for about one hour and then rinse clean.

Generally a scratched or torn o-ring, cartridge or grommet is the culprit for a dripping faucet. What exactly causes harm to the component is difficult to determine. However, a replacement o-ring or cartridge repair kit will often times correct the problem. Should the problem persist, contact FH Furr to determine the next steps to repair.

A pop-up drain assembly a mechanical plug used to hold water in a sink. This is most often seen in bathroom sinks.

The garbage disposal is most likely jammed. Follow the following steps:

1. Immediately turn the disposer off and unplug it from the wall socket (or at the circuit breaker).
2. Remove any foreign objects from the disposer.
3. Most garbage disposers have a port at the bottom where you can insert a ¼” Allen wrench (usually supplied with the disposer) to loosen any objects.
4. Reset the disposer by pushing the red button located near the port at the bottom of the disposer.

If your disposer does not have a port at the bottom, or if you can’t turn the wrench to alleviate the issue, call F. H. Furr today.

Make sure there’s power getting to the garbage disposer by checking for a tripped circuit breaker or a blown fuse. Try plugging something else in the wall socket or check for power by using a voltmeter.

Combine a handful of ice cubes with citrus peels such as lemons, oranges or limes. Run the disposal for 15-30 seconds using cold water.

Run hot water for 15-30 seconds while disposal is running and add a tablespoon of dishwashing liquid. Next, turn the disposal off and continue to run the hot water until the suds are gone.

Some additional tips:

• Try not to grind really fibrous foods like onion skins, celery stalks, or asparagus
• If the disposal tends to run intermittently, the switch or stopper may be defective. If so, contact F. H. Furr today for a replacement.
• A loose connection, which can simply be tightened, might be the simple cause of a leaky garbage disposal and is not necessarily a symptom of rust.

The main (shut off) valve turns off the water to the entire house and is usually located near the water meter where the service enters your home, or near the hot water heater. To close the valve, turn clockwise until it stops. In the event that you must contact the municipality to turn your water off, be advised there may be a service charge. If a registered plumber is doing any repairs they can make the request with the municipality on your behalf to either turn on or off the water.

The service line (lateral) from the property line to the house and all water pipes within the house/building are the responsibility of the homeowner. Service lines are generally ¾” to 1 ½” for private homes and up to 12″ for larger commercial buildings. Your municipality is responsible for the water service (lateral) from the water main to the property line.

Call the emergency line for your local water and sewer company, provide any additional detailed information like the location and nearest cross street, and they will send someone to investigate the problem.

Chances are likely the fill valve is set at such a tall height that the water level doesn’t completely shut off because the float doesn’t rise enough to shut it off. You need to either adjust or replace your fill valve.

If the leak is coming from where the supply line meets the toilet or where the tank bolts hold the tank to the base of the toilet. If it’s coming from the bolts, shut the water off and replace the tank bolts by removing the tank.

If you hear water running in your toilet tank for extended periods of time, then your toilet is leaking. The problem may be a corroded overflow pipe, flush valve assembly or a worn-out flapper valve. The flapper valve shuts off the flow of water and allows the tank to refill. If it’s corroded or the chain is trapped under the flapper, a tight seal can’t be created resulting in water waste up to 200 gallons of water daily.

It could be a number of reasons from your water heater being too small in which case you may need a larger capacity model, or it could be that you have low gas pressures, or you may need to increase the temperature on your thermostat. But be careful, increasing the temperature can lead to burns and scalding. Another possible cause could be the increase of lime or sediment build-up in your tank. Draining this build-up could help.

Either your valve has failed and requires replacement or your water temperature is set too high in which case you need to turn down the thermostat. Your water pressure level could also be too high. Try using a pressure-reducing valve in the supply line.

A water pressure-regulating valve reduces the incoming water pressure from the city’s main water line in order to provide your home with a lower, more functional water pressure level. This valve also regulates the pressure to ensure your home is provided with consistent water pressure (typically 50 lbs). By keeping the water pressure consistent and at lower levels, your home piping and appliances are operating under safe and reasonable pressure.

It depends. High water pressure is generally considered anything above 60 lbs. Although in some situations, such as firefighting, high water pressure is a good thing, in a home plumbing system it can cause unnecessary damage. Excessive water pressure can erode or deteriorate various plumbing components ultimately causing leaks, banging pipes, dripping faucets, or appliance breakdowns. Not only can high water pressure in the home reduce the life of your appliances, but is also wasteful and leads to higher utility bills.

Yes! Water pressure regulators do save energy. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), up to 30% of the water used in a home is heated. Since regulators reduce the amount of water consumed in a home, then the amount of hot water used is reduced which means, less energy is needed to heat water. Another way to look at this is:

• Regulators help reduce the amount of water consumed in a home
• Less water consumed means less water heated
• Less hot water needed means less energy required to heat water

If your pipes are banging or water is splashing in your sink, then most likely your water pressure is too high. For an accurate water pressure reading, it is best to use a pressure gauge.