Appliances | Aztec Plumbing & Drains

Is there anything better than having an ice cold drink to cool you down on a hot summer day? Just think about taking that first sip of cold water or that carefully crafted cocktail — ahhh, how refreshing! Well, we all know too well how quickly beverages can go from cold to lukewarm when temperatures are on the rise and whether you’re alone after a workout, relaxing with your spouse after a long day or hosting a party with friends and family members, an ice maker is the answer you’ve been looking for.

So, what are some of the benefits of having an ice maker installed in your home or yard? Find out below!

1 - They Make Ice Fast

Sure, your ice cube trays make ice cubes but let’s face it, you probably cruise through them rather quickly, especially when you’re entertaining guests. Instead of having to resort to warm drinks, or running out to the store to get a few more bags, an ice maker will have plenty of back-up ready to go before you know it!

2 - They Store Lots Of Ice

Ice makers produce and store a seemingly infinite amount more than your ice trays and don’t require refilling as frequently. They also have large holding buckets or bins where lots of ice can sit, without melting, for long periods of time.

If you’ve got a freezer filled with lots of food and don’t have much room to store bags of ice or ice cube trays, an ice machine is the perfect solution. You will always have ice, and lots of it, whenever you need it.

3 - You Won’t Have To Miss A Beat

When the ice runs out, or you need to constantly go inside to refill your guests’ drinks, you can miss valuable party time. Having a free-standing ice machine installed in the yard will provide you with the convenience of not having to travel far or miss out on friend or family time when drinks need to be topped off.

Can you already start seeing yourself filling glasses with ice from the machine on your patio or deck while still remaining the life of the party? We sure can!

At Aztec, we’re here for all your plumbing fixture installation needs. We can hook up the ice maker that came with your refrigerator, set up a free-standing ice maker inside your house or out in the yard, or install a commercial ice maker in your restaurant or place of business. Just give us a call today at (239) 932-2959.

Learn More in Our Appliances Series:

6 Common Problems that Make Your Well Pump Run Non-Stop

Wondering why your well pump is running non-stop? We’ll help you troubleshoot this plumbing problem on your own before reaching out to us for well pump repair services.

If your well pump keeps running, it’s usually because of one of the following issues:

You have a running appliance
The well pump may have lost prime
The pump pressure control switch is faulty
The water level may have dropped
The well piping has leaks
Your well pump is damaged

Let’s go into more detail about each of these 6 common well pump problems and how to solve them.

#1: You have a running appliance

If you have an appliance like a toilet or sink that’s always running, your pump may also run non-stop. That’s because a running appliance demands a constant flow of water, which forces your pump to run constantly.

Note: Two common home plumbing fixtures that are prone to run constantly are a toilet and a kitchen sink. For more information on how to fix them, read these articles:

Why Is My Toilet Running Constantly/Randomly?
My Kitchen Faucet Won’t Turn Off

Solution: Follow these steps to find out if a running appliance is causing your well pump to run constantly:

Turn off the main water supply to your home. If your pump stops running after you shut off the main water supply, then it could mean one of your plumbing fixtures is demanding too much water.
Turn the main water supply back on, then check plumbing fixtures like sinks, showers and toilets as well as outside garden hoses and lawn sprinklers to make sure they’re not running constantly or leaking.

If you have any leaks or a constantly running appliance make sure you repair them (you may need a plumber’s help to do so). See if your well pump functions normally again after you fix any leaks.

If your well pump is still running, you may have another issue. In that case, read on…

#2: The well pump may have lost prime

You can have 2 different types of pump systems: an above-ground jet pump system, or an underground submersible pump system.

Loss of prime at the well pump is typically only an issue with a jet pump system. “Priming the pump” means that the intake pipe on a jet system must always be filled with water (primed) in order to generate enough suction to pull water out of the well and into the household water line.

If your well pump loses prime, then it will run constantly. Generally, jet pumps lose prime when there’s a leak in the suction line.

Solution: First, turn off the pump immediately in order to avoid damage to your pump. Running a pump that has lost prime can cause severe damage to the system.

You can try to prime your jet well pump yourself, however, we recommend contacting a plumber because the suction line could have a leak, which a professional should replace.

#3: The pump pressure control switch is faulty or set incorrectly

The pressure control switch regulates the pressure in your well pump. More specifically, the switch controls the water pressures that cause your pump to cut-in (turn on) and cut-out (turn off).

If your pressure control switch is faulty (usually a result of clogged tubing or burned contact points), or if someone adjusted the cut-out pressure to be above the pump’s capacity, your pump will run non-stop.

Solution: Contact a plumber to adjust the settings on your pressure control switch or replace it if it’s faulty.

Adjusting your pump’s pressure settings often involves removing the cover from the switch, which is an electrical hazard (exposed live wires near water), so only a trained professional should handle this job.

#4: The water level may have dropped

In order to function properly, your well pump needs a certain amount of water entering the pump at a regular pace. We call this the flow rate. If the water level has fallen too low, or the flow rate is off, then your well pump will continue to run without stopping.

Some common causes of reduced water level include:

A drop in the water table in your area
Local droughts
Increased water demand

Solution: Contact a plumber to make sure your well pump system has proper water levels and the right flow rate.

#5: The well piping has leaks

Your well pump is designed to shut off once it reaches a certain pressure. A significant leak anywhere in the well piping lowers the water pressure in the system. So if the pressure is too low, your pump won’t shut off and instead will continue running all the time.

Solution: Contact a plumber to inspect your well pump system for leaks. A plumber will have the right tools to find and repair any leaks.

#6: Your pump is damaged

As will all mechanical equipment, well pumps can give out over time. If a well pump has internal mechanical damage, it won’t raise water pressure to the control switch cut-off point which will make the pump run non-stop.

Solution: Contact a plumber to repair (or likely replace) your well pump.

Need a reliable plumber to fix your well pump?

Contact Aztec Plumbing & Drains to schedule a well pump repair. We’ll send one of our trusted plumbers to fix whatever is causing the problem so your well pump will turn off and run properly.