Month: October 2020

5 Tips On How To Snake Your Own Drain

Snaking a drain

Whether you come across a clog in your kitchen sink or a back-up in a shower drain, it can easily put a damper on your day. The last thing you’re going to want to do is spend hours getting your plumbing back in working order. However, with a few simple tools, trusty methods, and a little practice, you can become an expert at doing away with pipe-clogging debris.

Learn how to snake your own drain just by following our DIY tips and fix your clogged drain in no time! 

When Would You Need Snake Your Own Drain? 

Knowing how to snake your own drain is important for when you’re facing a plumbing emergency. A drain snake, also known as a hand auger, is a tool used to clean out clogged in smaller drains such as the bathroom or kitchen sinks. For larger pipes, such as your toilet, you may need a larger toilet auger to do the job. 

Debris, such as food, hair, or soap scum, can easily clog up your smaller drains in the drain pipe or in the u-shaped trap directly beneath the sink. These clogs are generally minor and can be solved with a simple DIY snake drain fix. If the clog appears to be solid and cannot be removed by the snake drain, or if you notice the drain trap and pipes were clear despite having a clogged drain, then you may have a more serious plumbing problem on hand that should be reserved for a professional plumber. 

Five Tips On How To Snake Your Own Drain

Follow these guidelines for how to snake your own drain and you’ll become a pro at solving your own plumbing problems with a drain snake!

Tools For the Job

To snake your own drain, the most important tool you’ll need is, obviously, a drain snake. If the clog seems insignificant enough though, you might not want to go out and spend the money on such a tool. If this is your predicament, then grabbing a coat hanger from the closet may very well do the job just fine. Simply disassemble the coat hanger so that it becomes a long, fairly straight strip. But, it’s important to keep the original hook-shape on the end – it’ll be good for catching any debris, deep down in the drain. You might want to make the hook a bit narrower though, so it can fit down the pipe properly.

If you happen to be dealing with a much more intense clog, chances are a clothes hanger just won’t do it. As already mentioned. you’re going to need a drain snake. For general usage, a 3/8 in, 20 ft-long model ought to work just fine for you. If your local hardware store seems to only have a 1/4 in, this will most likely work fine, too. While you’re at the store, pick up a plastic bucket to fit under your drain, along with a flashlight and rubber gloves.

Use The Drain Snake Properly

Many people think that since the tool is so simple, they can use it however they want and that there’s no correct way to use a drain snake. This just isn’t true. Following a specific procedure will actually yield the best results. 

First, if you have a tub screen or a hair trap covering your drain, move it out of the way. Next, slowly push the snake cable into the drain, and turn the handle in a clockwise motion as you push. If you have difficulty pushing (perhaps because the drain is so clogged), trying holding the handle with both hands. While lowering the “snake” mechanism, alter your grip until it’s about two or three inches from the mouth of the drain – this will allow you to control your motion and get a better sense of the nature of the clog. 

On your way down to the obstruction, you might hear a decent amount of scratching, or it might seem as if the cable has hit a wall. At this point, you’re just coming upon a curve in the pipe – just keep pushing past it.

When you feel a significant amount of resistance, you know you’ve reached the particular barrier that has been giving you problems in your pipe. The clog ought to give way just the slightest bit though when compared to the resistance of the pipe itself, which shouldn’t give way at all.

Next, you should try to hook the clog. While continuing to turn the cable in a clockwise manner, ever so slightly pull up to see if you’ve gotten a hold of any of the debris. You should feel a bit more weight on the auger, if done correctly. Next, continue to prod the material in order to begin to break it up. After doing this for some time, you should eventually poke through the other end. If the clog just won’t allow you to puncture through it, it very well might be a solid object that you’ve initially hooked.

Pull the snake out of the drain very carefully so you don’t lose the clog hooked on the drain snake. After that, clean the debris off the snake with a towel as it comes out of the drain. Dump this excess debris into the bucket. Continue pulling up as much of the clog as you can until the snake is free!

Use Hot Water

If the drain still happens to be clogged, it’s a good idea to run hot water through it. Fill a standard sized tea kettle up with water, and put it on the stove until it reaches a point of almost boiling. Slowly pour that hot water down into the drain. It may take a few moments to rinse away the remnants of the clog, but with this method, it should begin to slow quickly. 

If the clog is in your shower drain, you may be wondering why you can’t just put hot water on through the showerhead. The problem is, besides that shower water often doesn’t get this hot,  showerheads often can’t shoot directly into the drain and at a close enough proximity to be truly effective. You will still need to pour the tea kettle water directly into the shower drain just like any other drain.  

Use A Homemade Concoction

If nearly boiling hot water still doesn’t seem to be doing the trick, you can always add a half a cup of baking soda and one cup of vinegar to hot water, pour it down the drain, and see what happens. Allow it to sit for fifteen minutes. This method is known to be extremely effective so, if you’re willing to part with a few of your essential baking elements, definitely give it a try!

Use Chemicals

As a last resort to unclogging a drain, you can always go the chemical route. Caustic soda (Sodium Hydroxide) is a harmful chemical substance that can definitely do a number on most of the debris that will end up in your drainpipe. Pour 3/4 of a gallon of cold water into a mop bucket, and then add 3 cups of caustic soda. Stir the mixture well, and it will soon begin to fizz. Next, pour it into the clogged drain and leave for 20-30 minutes, then flush it with pure hot water – repeat as necessary.

When to Call A Professional Plumber For Your Drain Clogs 

Have you followed all these tips and still have a clogged drain? If none of these options seem to yield any positive results for you, don’t be discouraged. It may be a difficult clog that a simple DIY cannot fix. At this point, it’s time to call a professional plumber to get your clogged drain back to working properly again.

Leave your difficult clogs to Express Sewer & Drain. Our expert plumbers can handle any plumbing problem you have, including stubborn clogged drains. Call Express Sewer and Drain today!

Dealing With Common Plumbing Problems

This post first appeared on https://www.expresssewer.com

Maintaining a Healthy Septic Tank

septic tank cleaning

If you live outside of a metropolitan area in Florida, you likely use a septic system to process your household’s waste water. The average American household uses around 80-100 gallons of water every day, for drinking, cooking, laundry, bathing and flushing the toilet.

While your septic system is relatively low maintenance, there are a few things you need to do to keep your system healthy and performing well for you for years to come. Maintaining a healthy septic tank means fewer repairs and expensive problems in the long run. To keep your system working well, we suggest…

1. Being smart about what you send to the tank. Think of your septic system as an independent eco-system. Putting things down the drain, such as bleach and harsh cleansers, will kill the “good” bacteria at work in your septic tank. In addition, greasy items, such as cooking oil and paint, will add a messy and unhealthy oily coating to the matter inside your system. For good suggestions on what you should and should not put down your drain with a septic system, take a look at this comprehensive list.

2. Having your tank pumped out regularly. Good septic tank maintenance includes having the sludge at the bottom of your tank pumped out periodically and hauled away. How frequently you do this depends on the size of your household, how much water your household uses and the size of your tank.

3. Saying no to the garbage disposal. A garbage disposal adds a lot of organic solids and grease to your septic system. Better to use a strainer and dispose of your food waste in your trash or your compost pile.

4. Pampering your drain field. Good septic maintenance includes never driving or parking a vehicle over the drain field, limiting landscaping in the drain field area and diverting rainwater run off from drain pipes and other systems away from the septic drain field.

To learn more about keeping your Florida septic system healthy and well-maintained, visit A to Z Statewide Plumbing’s septic tank services page or contact us at 254-981-2133.

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This post first appeared on http://www.atozstatewideplumbing.com

Do I Need a Professional Plumber to Handle Plumbing Maintenance?

plumberIf it’s time for you to schedule maintenance for your household plumbing—which we recommend you do once a year—how should you do it? There are four options:

  1. Do it yourself. It’s easy to book when you go DIY!
  2. Call a buddy who’s good with tools and knows a few things about plumbing.
  3. Look up a company with “plumber” or “plumbing” somewhere in its name. Anyone will do.
  4. Find a licensed professional plumber and schedule service with them. 

We know that options “A”–“C” are tempting, and far too many people take them. But the correct answer is “D.” Any other choice for a plumber in Glendale, AZ isn’t really a choice for a plumber. You want a licensed professional for the job and nobody else.

The good news is that you’re already on the website for a licensed professional plumber. We have a history of experience and trust with our customers, and we also have the proper licensing (License# ROC 276768). We’re called the Trusted Plumber for good reasons!

Why a Professional Is Essential for Maintenance

There are several important reasons why you should only entrust plumbing maintenance—or any plumbing service—to a licensed plumber. 

  • Insurance: To have a license, a plumbing contractor must be able to show it has the full insurance to cover property and personal damage. This is an essential protection for a consumer. If a non-insured “plumber” suffers an injury on your property while handling maintenance (and this is more likely to occur with a non-pro), you may be liable for the injury. The same goes for damage that may occur to your house—you may have to pay for damage done if an amateur ends up breaking one of the pipes or other accidents.
  • Equipment: Professionals have access to the best equipment and the training to use it. Amateurs might be able to afford a few high-end tools, but they won’t be on the cutting edge and they won’t know how to use them properly. This can be critical when it comes to maintenance because the best drain cleaning comes from using hydro-jetters. These tools can be dangerous in the hands of amateurs! Let the people with the right tools and the skill to put them to use handle the service.
  • Speed: This is a two-bladed sword when it comes to non-professionals—they may take far too long to do a job an amateur could achieve in half the time; or they may rush just so they can charge you and then dash off to the next sloppy job on their list. Professionals know how long a job will take because they’ve done it hundreds of times before: they’ll get it done right and get it done on time.
  • Accuracy: You can’t trust a non-professional to do a job correctly. You just can’t. You don’t know their experience or credentials and you probably don’t have any references. Once the maintenance is finished, you’ll have no reassurance that anything was accomplished or that your plumbing is better off than it started. With a professional, you’ll know you got the work you wanted.

The Trusted Plumber serves Glendale, AZ and the surrounding area. Schedule service with us—we offer emergency plumbing service. 

This post first appeared on https://www.thetrustedplumber.com

This is an Emergency Plumbing Situation

swirling-drainThe tricky thing about plumbing is that you don’t always know what defines a real plumbing issue. Sometimes, something that you think is minor is really a huge problem, and other times something that you think is a major issue isn’t as pressing as you might have believed. Plumbing can be very confusing from the vantage point of the homeowner. That’s why we’re here to help you out.

If you’re looking for an emergency plumber in Orlando, FL, then you should contact one of our professionals. We’re the only ones who can ensure that you’re getting quality service that will last. You don’t want to call on just anyone for this work. We are professionals who care about our craft.

Emergency Plumbing Issues

Here are the issues that you should call our professionals for. We’re reliable emergency plumbers who can do the work right.

Clogged Toilets

There really isn’t anything worse than a toilet clog. It’s one of those problems that impact the function of your entire home. If there’s something clogging the pipes in your home, then you’re going to need to get in touch with our professionals to solve the issue. There are a number of “benign” things you’re flushing that could actually be a problem including wet wipes or feminine hygiene products. We’re going to give you the guidelines to get the right plumbing work.

Slow-Moving Drains

Have you noticed that your sink takes forever and a day to empty? This is never good. Slow-moving drains mean that your home plumbing is unhealthy. You’re going to need help getting the service you deserve and we’re going to help you get there. Come to us for exactly what you need.

A Lack of Hot Water

Do you lack hot water in your home? Maybe you hop in the shower on a cold morning hoping to lather up under warm suds and then feel freezing cold water pouring in over you. This means that you don’t have the hot water that you need for your home. A lack of hot water could be a water heater capacity issue or even an issue with the plumbing capacity throughout your home.

No Hot Water

Maybe things are a little more dire than a lack of hot water. Maybe the hot water in your home is completely nonexistent. This means that you need to come to our professionals. No hot water is a major issue and we’re going to help you get to the bottom of it.

Toilet Won’t Stop Running

Does your toilet run nonstop? This means that your toilet has some serious issues brewing right underneath the surface. You need to address these problems sooner than later. You more than likely have trouble in the tank. We’re going to help you get exactly what you need.

Leakages

You’re always springing a leak somewhere in your home and it’s starting to really impact your home’s health. Your home is prone to puddles and floods. If you’re noticing these issues, then you need to schedule an appointment with our team members. We’re here to help you out. Leaks are destructive and they’re really going to impact your home negatively.

Contact Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. today to schedule an appointment for what you need.

This post first appeared on https://www.modernpi.com

Chemical Drain Cleaners: Stay Away!

What do you know about chemical drain cleaners? Many homeowners would respond to that question with, “well, I’m not sure but they clean my drains.” How do you know they clean your drains? After all the fumes have settled, the gunk is clear from your sink, and a day has passed, does your drain really feel permanently better?

Statistically speaking, you’re more likely to harm your plumbing system by pouring those chemicals down there than you are to help it. Chemical drain cleaners are not a very good solution, if a solution at all, to your clogged drain. No chemical in the world will replace good old fashioned sink plumbing in Essex County.

Professional plumbers have the right tools and expertise to ensure they remove your drain clog without harming your plumbing system. There are clean, safe, and environmentally friendly ways to remove a clog—just ask one of our pros!

The Problem with Chemical Drain Cleaners

Hold your horses! Before you pour that liquid down your drain, wouldn’t you want to know what it does exactly? It’s not magical, it doesn’t just clean your drain through some unknown method. It’s a caustic material that seeks to dissolve the materials clogging your drain, which is both a blessing and a curse. Let us explain.

Hazardous Fumes

The first problem with these kinds of chemicals is that they release a lot of fumes when they’re used in your bathroom or kitchen. You can probably vividly remember what chemical drain cleaners smell like. That’s because they can irritate your nose, eyes, skin, and linger in your bathroom for days after they’ve been used. Wouldn’t it be nice to actually use your bathroom once your drain clog has been removed, without needing to itch your eyes incessantly? Stay away from these chemicals if you value your health.

Poor Plumbing Material

While they might actually dissolve the clog in your drain (there’s a reason why we’ve emphasized the word might), they’re still very harmful for your plumbing. In the handful of cases where chemical drain cleaners do remove the clog in your plumbing, they could also remove the lining that keeps things from leaking or breaking your pipes. Chemical drain cleaners don’t have a conscience, they dissolve whatever they come in contact with. That includes your pipe’s lining and potentially other sensitive aspects of your plumbing system.

Environmentally UNfriendly

Where do you think these chemicals go after you pour them down the drain? Food waste and other environmentally friendly materials will just be consumed by bacteria in your local water treatment plant, or contribute to the growth of the ecosystem as other waste does. Though, caustic chemicals will linger in the environment for longer than you’d probably like them to. Animals will consume them, they will endanger plant life, and start running amok in your local ecosystem. Consider this when you invest in a bottle of chemical drain cleaner and instead look towards a professional plumber that uses tools and water to get the job done.

Call the team at MarGo Plumbing Heating Cooling Inc. if you need your drain unclogged today!

This post first appeared on https://margoplumbing.com

How to Check a Toilet For Leaks

Do you think that your toilet is leaking? There are a few places in the toilet that could seep water. You might find that the rug around the toilet is wet or that the toilet seems to run endlessly. Figuring out the how and why behind the toilet leak is necessary if you want to properly fix it. Fortunately, there are several ways to get to the bottom of the issue without too much hassle. 

 

Here is how to check a toilet for leaks:

 

  • Look Out for Signs of a Leaking Toilet

Knowing when a toilet could be leaking water is the first step to figuring out whether the issue is a mere leak or something much more problematic. 

 

Some signs of a toilet leaking include: 

 

Stained floors around the toilet. Does the floor around the base of the toilet look brown, gray, or yellowed? This is a sign of a leak—an old one—because of the visible water damage. 

Noisy toilet after flushing. This is usually caused by a disruption in the tank itself, such as the flusher or the fill valve. 

Bottom of the tank leaks. If you spot water collecting around the base, it usually points to a leaky tank. This is caused by wear and tear, particularly with toilets that have gotten a lot of use. 

There is a bad smell coming from the toilet. While a foul odor could mean a number of things when we’re talking about plumbing and toilets, if you smell the odor all the time, it is a sure sign that the pipes are leaking. When something is wrong with the pipes, the odor rising out of the vent pipe behind the toilet, releasing gases into your home. Be sure to deal with this problem immediately. 

 

Common issues why your toilet may be leaking

 

You will notice that some of these signs are connected with one type of cause. There can be several reasons why your toilet is leaking, but there are three issues that are most common: 

 

Faulty flappers

Fill valve problems

Damaged wax seals

 

Sometimes, the leak is not obvious. You may find that you need to check a few more things before you can say for sure that the toilet is leaking. 

 

Follow these steps: 

 

  • Remove the Toilet’s Tank Lid

The first step to finding a toilet leak is to assess the condition inside the tank. Simply remove the cover. Put it somewhere safe while you conduct this test. 

 

  • Check the Water Level in the Tank

Now that you have removed the toilet’s lid, you can peer inside. Look at the water level. You should see a line that marks the optimal water level line on the side or back wall of the tank. If the water is far above or below the line, you have a problem. The best way to deal with the issue is to call in a professional plumber for assistance, since they will have the tools and knowledge to make the whole fix easier. 

 

  • Perform a Food Coloring Test

Before calling in the plumber, you can do what is called “the food coloring test.” It is simple. You will need a few food coloring bottles. Choose a dye that will be easily visible in your water or the toilet basin. Put about 15-20 drops of dye in the water in the holding tank, just enough for the color in the tank to visibly change. Wait for about 30-45 minutes. 

 

Once the set time is up, return to the bathroom and check to see if the colored water from the toilet’s tank has leaked into the bowl. If some of the dye is in the bowl, then you may have a leaky flapper, faulty valve, or a crack in the overflow tube. 

 

  • Fixing a Leaking Toilet

A minor leak can be easily fixed without the help of a professional plumber. Here are some troubleshooting tips that you can follow to repair the leak: 

 

Check the toilet flapper. Faulty flappers can be problematic. They may cause small rivulets of water to flow into the toilet’s tank. Take a look at the flapper to see if there is a tight seal to stop leaks from beginning. 

Tighten the tee bolts. Is the leak coming from the base? You can try to tighten the tee bolts on the sides of the toilet’s base. You will need to remove the plastic coverings first then use a wrench to tighten each bolt. This should help compress the toilet against the floor and create the seal. 

Check and replace the wax ring on the bottom of the toilet. If neither the flapper nor the bolts are the issue, then you should look at the wax ring. Since this can be labor intensive, it is recommended that you hire a plumber to help. You will need to uninstall the entire toilet in order to replace the wax ring then re-install again. 


  • Get a Professional Plumber to Help

Dealing with plumbing when you don’t know where to begin can be difficult. Even if you have performed the food coloring test and know that you have a leak, you may not know which tools are necessary for the repairs. Rather than struggling with the toilet leak, get some peace of mind by calling in a professional plumber for help. 

 

Certified plumbers will have the experience and the tools to find the leak and resolve it swiftly. You won’t have to worry about the leak for long! Get In touch with us by calling or sending us a message with the contact form. 

 

We will get back to you soon.

The post How to Check a Toilet For Leaks appeared first on The Irish Plumber.

5 Common Kitchen Plumbing Problems You Might Face

broken-kitchen-sinkThe kitchen has an enormous amount of plumbing and plumbing fixtures in it. The bathroom has a higher concentration of plumbing and pipes, but you need to take special care of your kitchen plumbing in Glendale, AZ or else it can turn into a serious nightmare. Below are five common kitchen plumbing troubles that may require calling our talented team to investigate.

Broken or leaking garbage disposal

The disposal is a hard-working device that runs on a powerful motor. This makes it more likely to wear down first of any appliance in your kitchen, and when that happens it can result in a slew of different problems. If your disposal stops running, you can press the reset button on the bottom of the unit to get it started again. However, if you’re doing this often, it means the disposal either needs professional repairs or a replacement. Also watch out for leaks coming from the bottom of the disposal, which means a cracked casing, or leaks from around its edges, which means it’s coming loose from the sink and need professional care.

Continually clogging drains

Clogged drains are a problem anywhere in a home, but they pose a specific trouble in kitchens because organic buildup from food, fats, oils, and grease are common. When your kitchen drains are clogging often, it means you’ve got a bigger problem that needs to be addressed. This can be as basic as calling our plumbers for drain cleaning, but in some cases, you may need to make upgrades to the plumbing. A failing disposal can also be behind this trouble since it isn’t grinding up food waste finely enough.

Leaking kitchen faucet

The drip-drip-drip of a leaky faucet is both an annoyance and a big waste of water. Those tiny drips add up! You can sometimes fix a leaky faucet on your own by replacing the washers. However, you may have a faucet that’s so worn down that it’s better to replace it. Another leak to watch out for is when water is leaking from the base of the faucet, which usually calls for help from a plumber.

Low water pressure

When the water pressure from the faucet starts to drop, but you aren’t noticing this elsewhere in your home, the faucet needs to have its aerator cleaned of debris. How this is done is different from faucet to faucet, so you may wish to call a plumber for assistance. If water pressure is low elsewhere, then you have a problem that’s bigger than the kitchen plumbing and it needs a licensed plumber to look into it.

Leaking dishwasher

Water leaking onto the floor when the dishwasher is running? Yes, that’s a problem, and there are several different possibilities behind it—you don’t necessarily need to get a new dishwasher. A plumber can locate why the dishwasher is sending water where it shouldn’t.

No matter your kitchen plumbing concern, you can trust us to have it solved. You can reach us when you have a kitchen plumbing emergency and we’ll take care of it.

Trust The Trusted Plumber for your plumbing services in Glendale, AZ and the surrounding areas. We have emergency service available.

This post first appeared on https://www.thetrustedplumber.com

Pex Pipes vs Copper Pipes

Pex piper vs copper pipes

If you are looking for strong types to use for your home plumbing system, then you need to make sure you go with the right material. Traditionally, copper has been seen as the top choice for home plumbing systems. On the other hand, during the past few years, copper has been much to the side and just a bit by cross-linked polyethylene pipes, which are commonly called PEX pipes. Even though copper is still a popular choice in numerous new construction jobs, Pex is quickly becoming a popular choice for renovation and remodeling projects. Both copper and PEX come with several advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, it is important to keep a few key points in mind.

Copper Lasts Longer than PEX Pipes

Overall, copper pipes last longer than PEX pipes. Copper pipes can last up to 70 years while the average lifespan of PEX pipes is between 30 and 50 years. Furthermore, households that use extremely hot water (which is more than 180 degrees Fahrenheit close parentheses, or water that contains high levels of chlorine, can shorten the lifespan of PEX pipes. On the other hand, copper pipes can have their life spans damaged by acidic water. In general, copper will outlast PEX pipes by about 20 years.

PEX Pipes Are Less Expensive Than Copper Pipes

Overall, PEX pipes are cheaper to install than copper pipes. During the past few years, the cost of copper has risen dramatically due to its increasing value as a recyclable. Therefore, sources of copper are becoming harder to find. On average, copper pipes are going to cost 60% more than PEX pipes.

Pex Pipes Require Fewer Connections

In many cases, text types are going to be easier to install. This is because they require fewer connections. Copper is a rigid metal. This means that it needs to be cut to exact specifications and have elbow fittings installed every time it goes around a corner. On the other hand, text types tend to run continuously. Pex pipes bend easily around corners, meaning that additional connections are not necessary. This also means that text pipes are less likely to leak. Fewer connections make them more durable.

Contact A to Z Plumbing Today!

If you would like to learn more about pipes for your home, contact the experts at A to Z Statewide Plumbing Today at 954-981-2133. We will help you choose the right pipe for your home!

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This post first appeared on http://www.atozstatewideplumbing.com

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