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PLUMBING SYSTEM INFORMATION/MAINTENANCE TIPS

The plumbing system for your new home was installed with strict adherence to local and state plumbing code and was inspected at each phase by your local municipal building department. All water supply and drainage lines were satisfactory when tested prior to your home closing. In addition, all fixtures and faucets have been quality checked for cosmetic issues and performance.

Any alterations or changes made to the plumbing system after your closing date by anyone other than Suojanen Enterprises, Inc. will not be warrantable.

GARBAGE DISPOSALS

For those new homes where Insinkerator garbage disposals have been installed, please be advised that the manufacturer will work directly with you if any repairs are needed for this product. Customer service for Insinkerator is 800-558-5700. Be prepared to provide the model number of the disposal and the closing date of your home. Insinkerator's warranty is valid for two years; please refer to literature provided by the manufacturer for complete information. A disposal wrench has been provided with your unit to repair any potential jams that may occur. This wrench can be found in a pouch on the side of the disposal or in your kitchen drawer. There is a female receptor for the wrench at the bottom of the unit. Place the wrench in the receptor and turn it counter-clockwise until it rotates freely. Press the reset button located at the bottom of the disposal and it should once again operate properly.

WATER CLOSET - TOILET

Again, a household plunger will normally do the job. Put the plunger over the hole and attempt to clear the stoppage by working the plunger slowly downward then rapidly up. The key to clearing the stoppage is to attempt to pull the obstruction back into the bowl, not to push it further down which can increase the severity of the blockage. Once the obstruction has been retrieved, you may then manually remove it from the bowl using an appropriate tool and dispose of it accordingly. After disposal you may resume plunging. Once you feel that you have the stoppage relieved, you may flush the toilet. If the toilet did not clear and the water level is rising to possibly overflow, remove the tank lid and push the flapper down. This will stop the toilet from overflowing. Repeat as necessary. If the blockage proves reluctant to clear, we recommend that you consult a professional, as the problem may be more than a simple stoppage.

If water is continually running, it usually means that the water is running over the top of the fill tube. You can repair this with a flathead screw driver. Remove the tank lid and you will notice the water measuring device (Ballcock) in the left corner of the tank. The fill tube is in the center of the tank. If the water is running over the fill tube, the ballcock can be adjusted to alleviate the problem. Simply turn the brass screw located in the top center of the ballcock. Start by turning the screw 1/2 turn clockwise. Flush the toilet and see if the water level drops to the black "fill line" located on the pipe in the center of the tank. If not, turn the screw another half turn. If it still continues to run, bend the float arm to allow the ballcock to shut off quicker. If this doesn't work, it's time to call the plumber.

Do not place any kind of long-term toilet bowl cleaner/tablets in your water closet tank. These products contain chlorine, which will damage tank components, resulting in failure of the water closet flushing system. Water closets in which these types of cleaning products have been used will not be repaired under warranty.

DISHWASHERS

The dishwasher in your new home was supplied by the builder and installed by Suojanen Enterprises. Please see your manufacturer's paperwork for care and maintenance. Dishwasher malfunctions should be reported directly to your home builder. They will then determine if the issue is a plumbing, electrical, or appliance problem and contact the proper tradesman.

ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS

The electric water heater that has been installed in your home has been pre-set at the factory to heat your water to 120 degrees. Water temperature above 125 degrees can cause severe scalding. Suojanen Enterprises cannot make any adjustments to your thermostat under warranty or otherwise. Please be advised that the farther away from the water heater a fixture is, the longer it will take for hot water to arrive. If you suddenly find yourself with no hot water, please check your electrical panel to verify that the breaker has not been tripped.

Please review the manufacturer's instructions and warranty for your water heater. This information is usually in a plastic envelope that has been attached to the side of your heater. This literature will contain warranty and maintenance information for your specific heater, as most units have a manufacturer's warranty on the electrical parts of two years. If the water heater tank should rupture between years one and five, the manufacturer will replace the tank free of charge. Please note that the manufacturer offers these warranties and any labor will be chargeable to the homeowner.

FAUCETS

The faucets in your home should be cleaned after each use with a soft, damp cloth and if necessary, a mild, non-abrasive soap to alleviate water spotting and/or lime deposits, which may be caused by water conditions in your area. Your faucets are manufactured with a clear, protective coating to provide beauty and durability for many years to come, however, improper cleaning products/methods will result in tarnishing or discoloration. Faucets found to have acid burns from cleaning fluids will not be covered under warranty.

Faucet aerators are the screened attachments that are screwed to the spout end of kitchen and bathroom faucets. Aerators, which add air to the water as it leaves the faucet, should be removed and cleared of debris frequently to preserve adequate water pressure at your faucets. Showerheads should also be regularly cleaned of debris to maintain proper water pressure.

FIXTURES

The surfaces of your new plumbing fixtures should be treated with the same care as your faucets. Please use a soft, damp cloth and a mild, non-abrasive soap to clean them.

Suojanen Enterprises will not warranty any fixtures for cosmetic damages after the final walk through and closing of your home have taken place. Below please find some of the more common cosmetic issues that may arise regarding the appearance of your plumbing fixtures.

Fixtures composed of a porcelain coating over a steel finish (commonly found in bathtubs, lavatories and kitchen sinks) and wooden water closet seats are susceptible to chipping and scratching if heavy items are dropped upon or dragged across the surface.

Stainless steel kitchen sinks should not be cleaned with steel wool, nor should a steel wool pad be left on or in your sink. As the pad is used, filaments tend to flake off and settle into the finish of your sink. These filaments give the appearance that your kitchen sink is rusting; when in fact, stainless steel does not rust. You may notice a stippled finish on the floor of your steel bathtub. This is merely a non-skid pad, which was applied at the factory and is not a defect in the tub finish. Similarly, most soaker and jetted tubs will have an area of protrusion midway up the tub wall. This area, which is often mistaken for a casting defect, is actually a lumbar support.

STOPPAGES

Suojanen Enterprises covers stoppages under warranty for 90 days from your date of closing. This warranty extends to construction related issues (broken sewer lines/construction debris) or installation issues only. Any other stoppages are considered normal homeowner maintenance and will be chargeable to the homeowner. Please avoid disposing of hair, grease, paper towels, wet wipes, and feminine hygiene products through your plumbing system. These items have been known to cause stoppages and will not be covered under warranty.

A simple household plunger will relieve most stoppages. If the blockage proves impossible to clear, please consult our customer service department, as the problem could be more than a simple stoppage.

In addition, it is considered normal homeowner maintenance to keep your bathtub, and lavatory drains free of hair and soap residue. To remove your tub stopper, simply turn the stopper counter-clockwise until it comes out. Turn clockwise to reinstall. To remove your lavatory pop-up, first, make certain that all water has been drained from the sink. Under the lavatory, you will see where the pop-up rod connects to the drain line tailpiece. Loosen the nut and push the rod down so the drain plug rises, enabling you to grasp it. Pull the rod out so that you can remove the plug. Remove the debris that has collected to return proper drainage to your sink.

VACUUM BREAKERS

All hose bibs (faucets to which you can connect a hose) on your home are required by plumbing code to have a vacuum breaker installed. A vacuum breaker's purpose is to prevent contamination of your water supply from an outside source. For example, if the end of a garden hose is laying in a mud puddle, the vacuum breaker would prevent the contaminated water from flowing back into your home. If a spray attachment is connected to your hose and left in the "off" position, while the hose bib itself is turned on, you may hear a loud vibration or whining noise throughout your home. These sounds indicate that the vacuum breaker is doing its job. Simply turn off the hose bib to alleviate the noise.

PRESSURE RELIEF VALVES

Please note that unless your home has a well, your local municipal water utility company controls the water supply. Some homes are required by plumbing code to have a pressure relief valve installed to regulate the pressure in your home's water piping and to protect your plumbing system. Please note that it is normal for slight leakage to occur at this valve, as this signifies that it is working properly. Do not attempt to make adjustments to this valve, as only a licensed plumber should perform this task.

SHUT-OFFS

If you plan to be away from your home for an extended period of time, or should otherwise need to close down the water supply, please do so via the main water shut off. Your shut off should be located in the garage or on the side of your home where the main water service enters the dwelling. In addition, each individual fixture in your home, with the exception of the hose bibs, has a shut off. Most homes will have "Accor" or white plastic shut offs, which you simply pull out to shut off and push in to turn back on. If you have brass shut offs in your home, just turn counter-clockwise to shut off. Water closet shut offs are located near the floor to the side of the bowl. Kitchen sink and lavatory shut offs are located in the cabinet under the fixture, and washing machine shut offs can be located either in your utility room or garage.

WATER SOFTENERS/FILTERS

Please be advised that while Suojanen Enterprises installed the plumbing system in your new home, the water being piped through the system is supplied by either your local municipal water company or in some cases, a well. Suojanen Enterprises cannot warrant water conditions related to taste, odor, hardness, or appearance. Our firm offers water filtration equipment for sale that will make your water more palatable. You may have purchased water filtration equipment from Suojanen Enterprises prior to the closing of your new home. If so, please contact our warranty department to schedule a Water Softener Orientation. During this appointment, the technician will start up and program the unit to coordinate with your needs, explain it's function, and instruct you on the maintenance of the unit. If you have not pre-purchased water filtration equipment, but are interested in how the installation of such equipment could benefit you and prolong the life of your plumbing fixtures, please telephone our office for a complimentary water test and estimate.

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