Common Drain Clog Causes and How to Fix Them

Clogged drains can be incredibly frustrating. They interfere with normal use of your plumbing fixtures, cause unpleasant smells, and sometimes even lead to water damage. It’s even worse if they occur repeatedly, or if you can’t figure out how to unclog them.

We’re here to help. Here are some common reasons why drains clog, ways you might be able to resolve the clogs yourself, and pointers for avoiding them in future. We’ll also cover situations where professional plumbing help is essential.

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Common Clog Causes

• Hard Water: All water contains dissolved minerals, but some water contains particularly high concentrations of things like calcium, magnesium, and iron. This doesn’t pose a health risk when you drink it, but it can pose risks to your plumbing when the minerals accumulate inside your pipes, narrowing them until they clog.

• Soap Scum: It’s inevitable that soap gets washed down the drain. Just as this substance builds up on the walls of your shower or tub, it also builds up inside your pipes. Hard water can contribute to this problem as well, making it harder for the soap to fully wash away.

• Hair: When it goes down the drain, it becomes a convenient nest where soap scum can make a home.

• Fats, Oil, and Grease: These substances might go down the kitchen sink as liquids, but they solidify when they cool, plugging up your plumbing.

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Home Remedies

Do not reach for a bottle labeled “drain cleaner” and pour it down your plumbing! These are caustic chemicals with hazardous fumes, meaning they pose risks to your skin, eyes, and respiratory system. They can also damage the inside of your pipes, and they don’t even do a good job of eliminating clogs.

Instead, reach for a plunger or a hand-cranked drain snake. These are safe options that can usually dislodge the worst of a clog, allowing water to begin flowing again. If you can’t resolve a clog with these methods, or your drains quickly clog again, it’s time for professional plumbing help. Trained, experienced plumbers have access to tools and training that make drain cleaning a straightforward job, so we can get your water draining smoothly with ease.

Prevention

A water softening system can reduce the effects of hard water, and hair traps can help collect hair before it goes down the drain. The simple step of wiping greasy dishes with a paper towel before washing can reduce the risk of grease clogs.

The best way to be sure you won’t encounter sudden or frequent clogs is to have drain cleaning in Winter Park, FL done as part of your routine home maintenance. This can save you from frustration, hassles, emergency plumbing needs, and even water damage. Just imagine the peace of mind of knowing there are no hair clumps, grease globs, or mineral deposits partially blocking your drains, and that you don’t have to worry about one little clump being the final straw that creates a total clog.

A Word of Warning

If you experience clogs throughout the house, not in isolated drains, or if you have unpleasant odors coming from multiple drains in the house, there could be a problem with your sewer vent. Sewer gas could be improperly venting inside your home, which is a major health hazard. Reach out for plumbing service immediately.

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

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When most people hear the word “fireplace,” they envision a traditional masonry hearth fireplace that burns wood. Although this setup has been keeping homes warm and toasty for centuries, there are other appealing options that provide both heat and a wonderful ambiance.

More and more homeowners are making the switch from wood-burning fireplaces to gas-burning fireplace inserts. A gas fireplace combines the benefit of heat from a fire with energy efficiency and no clean-up due to the fact that they don’t burn wood logs.

Whether you want to have a gas fireplace installed where you previously had a wood-burning fireplace, or you want a simple gas log insert, we’re the team you can rely on. If you’ve been wondering what’s the best fireplace for your Wayne, NJ home, read on to learn more about the benefits of gas fireplace inserts.

They’re Convenient To Operate

Imagine flipping a switch and having a warm, glowing fire appear before you. Now think of all the hassle that’s involved with building a wood fire. You need to chop wood and kindling. Even if you purchase logs, you still need to lug them inside and get the fire set up.

Once the fire is lit, you need to keep an eye on it and stoke the fire to keep it going with more and more wood. Then when you’ve let the fire die down, eventually you’ll need to clean up all the ashes. With a gas fireplace, a warm, comforting fire can be achieved with the press of a button–with no messy cleanup afterward.

They’re Low Maintenance

Gas fireplaces require a lot less cleaning, maintenance, and upkeep than wood-burning fireplaces. The only thing you’ll need to do is clean it and the glass doors 1-2 times a month. When it comes to maintenance, you can leave that job to the professionals. With a wood-burning fireplace, there’s a lot more daily cleaning and maintenance involved.

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They’re Aesthetically Pleasing

Gas fireplaces produce realistic flames to help achieve that amazing ambiance that only the heat and light from a fireplace can provide. Thanks to advancements in technology, gas fireplaces that are being sold today have more natural-looking colors to the flame similar to the flames created by wood-burning fireplaces.

They’re Incredibly Versatile

Gas fireplaces are known for their versatility. Unlike wood-burning fireplaces which require a chimney, you can have a gas one installed just about anywhere in your home, so long as you have a natural gas connection. More and more homeowners are having natural gas fireplaces installed in rooms that traditionally don’t have a fireplace such as a bathroom or a bedroom.

Hire Professionals for a Gas Fireplace Insert

If you’re convinced that gas fireplace installation is for you, there’s only one rule that you must follow: the installation must be done by professionals. Any work in your home that involves natural gas lines should always be handled by technicians that have the proper training.

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

Who doesn’t want the gift of a warm home for the holidays? Before you start to host guests in your home, it’s a good idea to schedule a furnace maintenance. Here are the top 5 reasons why furnace maintenance is so important.

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1. Ensures Efficiency

When used extensively and for many years, parts of your furnace can begin to wear down. Let’s take your air filter for example. An air filter is designed to remove common pollutants from your air, like dust, dirt, dander, and more. When the air filter is dirty or clogged, it greatly restricts airflow and can cause your furnace to work much harder to heat your home. This can negatively impact the efficiency of your unit.

2. Extends the Lifespan of Your Unit

A furnace maintenance can help address minor, small issues before they turn into major, costly issues. A properly-maintained unit can last anywhere from 15-20 years usually. However, if you don’t maintain your furnace, you may find yourself replacing it much sooner than that.

3. Saves on Energy Costs

As briefly mentioned above, when a furnace is dirty or worn out, it’s less efficient. Not only will you notice a change in your comfort as a result, but you’ll also likely notice higher-than-usual energy bills. Neglecting maintenance can result in an inefficient unit that increases energy bills.

4. Keeps Your Family Safe

Many things can go wrong with a furnace that isn’t properly maintained. For one, it can experience electrical issues that can be a huge risk to your home and health. Not only that, but you have a crack or a leak in your heat exchanger that is causing carbon monoxide to leak out which is a serious issue. A professional can check for leaks and make sure that all carbon monoxide is exiting your home, and your family isn’t being exposed to the harmful and deadly gas.

5. Maintain Your Manufacturer’s Warranty

You should plan to double check your paperwork, as many manufacturer’s will void the warranty if you don’t have your equipment regularly maintained and inspected. It’s better to be safe than sorry, and always make sure you’re maintaining your unit so your warranty can stay intact.

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

You’ve packed your swimwear or your snow gear and you’re heading out of town for the holidays. But your return home could be less than relaxing unless you’ve taken a few precautions with your plumbing.

Here’s a checklist of six plumbing tasks you should complete before you head out of town this holiday season.

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1. Shut it Down Outside

Before you head out of town, take some time to drain your outside spigots. When the temperature dips, it can freeze your pipes and cause cracked and leaky spigots.

2. Get into Vacation Mode

Take a look at your water heater before you leave for obvious signs of any problems. If all looks clear, dial back your water heater temperature or switch your water heater to vacation mode if your unit offers that option.

3. Avoid A Stinky Return

Often we clear out our refrigerator before we head out of town for the holidays and dump a lot of food down the garbage disposal.

Take a few minutes to clean your garbage disposal to ensure there isn’t food that will stink up your home while you are away.

4. Shut Off The Main Event

One of the best ways to prevent a plumbing disaster while away is to turn off your main shut-off valve. This will stop any water from entering your home.

Make sure you open up your faucets throughout the home and drain the remaining water out of the existing lines after you shut off the main valve.

5. Tinker With Your Sprinkler

If you haven’t turned off the main water value, be sure to turn off your sprinkler system. Unobserved small leaks can add up to a big issue when you get back in town.

6. Prevent Faucet Failure

You’ve likely budgeted for your vacation, so why let a leaky faucet waste money down the drain?

Take a look at this drip calculator that shows homeowners how much that leaky faucet is actually costing in wasted water. Be proactive in addressing any leaky faucets before you head out of town.

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

Call Us at (877) 959-3534 for Plumbing Service

When it comes to plumbing, there are a few key differences between residential and industrial plumbing (also known as commercial plumbing). Each requires slightly different tools and skill sets based on water usage differences between homes and businesses and how their plumbing functions. But for local small businesses, it can still feel confusing to understand exactly which service is right for you.

Read More

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Many homeowners invest in a water filtration system because they want better water for drinking. While this is one of the major benefits, there are so many other advantages of having one installed in your home.

1. Better Tasting Water

Let’s start with the obvious one – a water filtration system helps provide better tasting water. It helps your water taste better because it eliminates the risks of your water being contaminated with harsh and toxic chemicals.

2. Purified Water

A water filtration system provides purified water for daily activities like drinking, cooking, washing fruits and veggies, taking showers, cleaning, laundry and more.

3. Extends Lifespan Of Appliances

Appliances like your dishwasher, washing machine, showers, toilets, faucets, fixtures, and more will get to enjoy a longer life if you use filtered water. Unfiltered water is full of sediment, heavy metals, chemicals chlorine and more which can cause pipe damage, worn faucets, and clogged drains.

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4. Keeps Out Heavy Metals

Not only can a water filtration system keep heavy metals out of your water, but it can also keep the good minerals from the water. Luckily, it doesn’t strip everything from your water – just the stuff you don’t want.

5. Filters Out Chemicals

Many homes have contaminated and polluted water that isn’t safe for consumption. A water filtration system will filter out all of these dangerous contaminants like chlorine, pesticides, and other toxic chemicals.

6. Lessens Corrosion

Does your water have discoloration? Do you notice stains around your appliances, fixtures and sinks? These could be signs of corrosion in your pipes. If not addressed, rust and corrosion in your pipes can cause a series of health problems.

7. Saves You From Water Pollution

In instances when your local water supply becomes polluted, you will be glad you have your own system. You can have peace of mind knowing that you never have to worry about water pollution.

8. Eliminates Water Problems

Unsightly stains, tastes and odors can really turn you off from drinking and using your water. Have you ever taken a sip of your water and it smells fishy or tastes like chlorine? These are signs of impurities. If you notice any stains, awful tastes and foul odors, it’s likely due to bacteria in your water.

9. Helps The Environment

Did you know we use about 40 billion plastic bottles a month in the United States? A water filtration system significantly reduces your dependence on plastic bottles, saving you money and also helping the environment.

Cool Touch Is Here For All Your Water Filtration System Needs In the Phoenix and Prescott Valley Metropolitan Areas!

We are here for all your water filtration system needs in the Phoenix and Prescott Valley Metropolitan Areas! For over 20 years, we have been your trusted home comfort specialists for all things HVAC, plumbing, and indoor air quality. Contact us today to schedule your appointment by visiting us online here.

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

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When something goes wrong with your plumbing, it can be tempting to try to fix it yourself. You might be worried about having to wait for a scheduled repair, or the cost of a professional plumber, and hey, you’ve seen the aisles of pipes and connectors at hardware stores. You can probably find what you need, right? How hard can it be?

The answer is that there are a couple of things it’s perfectly reasonable for an inexperienced person to attempt when there’s a plumbing problem. But for the most part, plumbing needs to be left to the professionals. Why are DIY plumbing repairs so risky?

Training

Have you been taught how to install, maintain, and repair pipes, fittings, and valves? Have you ever completed a course or taken a class in diagnosing and addressing plumbing emergencies? A professional plumber has spent many hours learning how to do these things and more, so they can quickly see what the source of a problem is and efficiently provide solutions.

Experience

Did you know that plumbing apprentices spend years shadowing and learning from master plumbers before they begin working on jobs alone? Not only are they gaining on-the-job experience, but they are also benefiting from the tremendous experience of someone who has spent many years, often decades, in the trade. This simply isn’t something you can gain from watching a few how-to videos.

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Certification, Licensing, and Insurance

A professional in plumbing repair in Water Park, FL can’t just claim to have training and experience. They must be certified and licensed to do specific jobs, which is especially crucial if your plumbing problem involves your gas lines. And the company must carry insurance, so if your home is damaged by their workers, you won’t be left high and dry trying to pay for it. If you attempt a plumbing repair, you can end up costing yourself much more in accidental damage than you would save by not paying for a professional plumber in the first place.

Safety

Not only can amateur plumbers cause damage to their own plumbing, but they can also cause damage to themselves. Professional plumbers are knowledgeable and practiced in doing their jobs safely and avoiding any potential risks.

Professional Tools

Many of the tools professional plumbers use on a daily basis are potentially dangerous to use without any training, not to mention prohibitively expensive for the average person. And of course, there’s no reason to own thousands of dollars worth of plumbing equipment, like hydro-jetting machines and motorized drain augers, just to use on one home on rare occasions.

Jobs You Can DIY

For people without extensive plumbing experience, there are still two tools you should have at your disposal and use freely when dealing with clogs: a plunger and a hand-cranked drain snake. If you can’t resolve the problem with those tools, don’t reach for a bottle of caustic chemicals that claim to clean drains. They’re hazardous to your health and your pipes and can make problems worse in the long run. Reach out to a professional plumber instead.

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

Call Us at (877) 959-3534 for Plumbing Service

The holiday season brings many merry and joyful things we’ve come to count on. Some of these are spending time with family, eating holiday foods and treats, and having a warm and cozy home. Perhaps of all these things, you’re not so certain that your furnace will see you through the holiday season. If you suspect your furnace might leave you in the cold this winter, it’s a good idea to know the signs you may need furnace repair in Montclair, NJ.

No matter what type of heating system you have, it’s better to schedule service at the first signs of trouble. Getting repairs taken care of will save you money and keep you safe. Read on to learn about the 5 signs you need furnace repairs and why it’s so important to be able to recognize them.

#1 Increased Utility Bills

Here’s a great incentive to start keeping tabs on your monthly heating bills. Increased utility bills that can’t be explained by increased usage are a sure sign that your furnace isn’t performing as well as it could be. Don’t throw away money on excessive heating of your home. Instead, put that money to better use by addressing the issues that are causing it and getting the necessary repairs done.

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#2 More Than One Repair Per Year

Needing multiple repairs in a year is a sign that a furnace is on the decline. Just like paying higher utility bills, paying for repairs that could’ve been avoided shouldn’t be necessary. Think about how many repairs you’ve had over the last couple of years and consider how much they’ve cost you. If the expense of maintaining your current furnace is only going up, perhaps it’s time to cut those losses and consider a replacement unit.

#3 Strange Noises

A furnace that’s operating smoothly and efficiently should make very little noise. The only noises it should make are when it turns on and off and the sound of air flowing through the vents. Unusual noises such as squealing, screeching, hissing, and popping are signs that something is wrong. A noisy furnace could quickly become a safety hazard or fail to heat your home properly, so it’s important to have these noises checked out by a trained professional.

#4 Strange Smells

The smell of dust is normal when you turn your heater on for the first time after not using it for a while. But any ongoing smells such as the smell of gas, rotten eggs, or burning should be checked out at once.

#5 Yellow Pilot Light

The pilot light in your furnace should be a steady blue color. If you have a pilot light that’s yellow, orange, or flickering, it could signal a potentially hazardous problem such as a carbon monoxide leak or a cracked heat exchanger. If you notice your pilot light is any color other than blue, call us immediately to schedule service.

While we encourage you to know more about your furnace, we don’t encourage you to open it up and try fixing it yourself. Furnaces should only be worked on by trained professionals—like us!

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

Keeping South Florida Drains Debris-Free

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Whether you’re operating a restaurant, cafe, a casual bar serving food, bakery, or any other type of business where grease buildup is a reality, using the services of a professional plumber is a priority. With a grease trap cleaning process applied periodically to all the drains allows each to operate efficiently.

Grease Trap Cleaning – Why and When It is Necessary

Depending on how busy your business is, it has a direct effect on how often grease trap cleaning is necessary. The more grease, oil, and fats that go down the drain, the higher the chances are of clogged drains and backups.

For busy restaurant owners, having the grease trap cleaned professionally once a month or every 4 to 6 weeks helps avoid a negative impact on your business, especially if you’re unable to operate due to a blocked grease trap.

Grease Trap Cleaning – How it Works

Think of a grease trap as a defender of the drains at your business. The device stands up against grease and fatty waste by separating them to create clean water.

Simply put, a grease trap is just that; a trap to capture grease before it makes its way to the sewer system.

A standard grease trap consists of two chambers. As the wastewater makes its way into the first chamber, the grease is captured, where it is then allowed to become solid. Once solidification occurs, the grease will float upward to the top of the chamber.

With the grease sitting at the top, it is out of the way, which allows the clean water to move onward and into the second chamber.

Read also: How grease trap cleaning works

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Benefits of Grease Trap Cleaning

One of the main benefits of grease trap cleaning is your business won’t suffer from inconvenience and possible shutdowns due to backed-up drains.

There are several types of grease traps – hydromechanical grease traps, gravity grease traps, and automatic grease traps. The type of grease trap you use depends on business size and how much grease is going into the system on a daily basis.

Since grease traps tend to fill up quickly, if not cleaned regularly, it won’t function efficiently and it becomes less effective at preventing grease from entering the pipes. This is easily avoided by maintaining an ongoing cleaning schedule with a local plumbing company.

Also, with professional cleaning, you’re assured of expert and experienced plumbers using the correct tools and the safest techniques to keep the grease trap in good running order.

Regular grease trap cleaning also keeps your business in good standing with city or state regulations.

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

West Park, FL, November 23, 2022 – A to Z Statewide Plumbing is proud to announce that it has earned the home service industry’s coveted Angi Super Service Award (SSA). This award, first released in 1999, recognizes the best home professionals and businesses in the Angi network for their hard work, dedication, and commitment to providing Angi customers a great experience.

“Through changing microeconomic factors like inflation, rising interest rates, material shortages and supply chain issues, Angi Super Service Award Winners delivered best in class customer service. These businesses are putting customers front and center and going above and beyond, providing great value, service and quality work,” said Angie Hicks, Chief Customer Officer, Angi. “Our homeowners’ consistent positive reviews make it clear: these are the best pros in our network. Congratulations to all of our Super Service Award Winners.”

Angi Super Service Award 2022 winners have met stringent eligibility requirements, across ratings and reviews during the eligibility window of November 1st, 2021 – October 31st, 2022. Pros on Angi qualify for the award by obtaining 3 or more services-performed reviews during the review period, maintaining a current and lifetime rating of at least 4.5 stars. The SSA winners must be in good standing with Angi and have undergone our verification/screening.

“In our trade arena, it is the greatest honor to be recognized by Angi for the 2022 Super Service Award. Year over year, A to Z Statewide Plumbing strives to be the best 24 hour full service plumbing, septic, sewer and drainage company serving the South Florida region. Excellence in customer service is engrained in our can-do attitude and no job or customer is too small” – Aaron Atkins, Office Manager

A to Z Statewide Plumbing has been on Angi since March 2006. This is the 9th year A to Z Statewide Plumbing has received this honor – with 2022 being its 7^th consecutive award.

Service company ratings are updated continually on Angi as new, verified consumer reviews are submitted. Companies are rated in multiple fields ranging from price to professionalism to punctuality.

For over two decades Angi has been a trusted name for connecting consumers to top-rated service professionals. Angi provides unique tools and support designed to improve the local service experience for both consumers and service professionals.

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A to Z Statewide Plumbing, Inc. is a Full-service plumbing contractor servicing all of South Florida including Hollywood, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, Weston, Pompano Beach, and many more cities throughout Dade, Broward and South Palm Beach Counties. We specialize in the ability to service and perform emergency and routine plumbing repairs. In addition, we perform preventive maintenance checks, service of existing equipment, and installation of new plumbing fixtures. We also maintain and clean septic tanks, grease traps, and storm drains. Environmental remediation is also available. A to Z Statewide Plumbing has an extensive history of repair and service on all kinds of plumbing systems. We provide quality workmanship with professional, dependable, and courteous service every time!!! We offer 24-hour emergency service so that you can count on A to Z Statewide Plumbing to be there when you need us the most. Our trained technicians use state-of-the-art technology to diagnose and repair existing systems and always use the finest equipment in the industry for installations.

A to Z Statewide Plumbing |2215 S.W. 58^th Terrace West Park, Florida 33023 | 954.981.2133 – Fax (954) 963-7680

www.atozstatewideplumbing.com | [email protected]

Licensed and Insured: CFC 1426354 & CFC 1426229

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