Category: Plumbing Tips

When it comes to fixing your home’s clogged pipes, sometimes the problem is deeper beneath the surface than it appears! Know the difference between whether your clogged drain requires a simple fix or whether your blocked drain is a symptom of a larger plumbing issue.

Does my clogged drain require a drain clearing or a drain cleaning?

A clogged drain is easy to spot. Your sink is backing up and you panic! Your toilet or kitchen sink seems to drain slowly. Sometimes that clog is fairly easy to get to and a simple plumbing snake or auger can do the trick to clearing that clog. But, there are other times when a clog is the symptom of a larger problem.

Put simply, drain clearing removes the immediate offender causing a clog in your home’s drain. Drain cleaning works on the greater symptomatic issues of your plumbing system including gunk, hair, and other materials that can accumulate over time in your home’s pipes causing poor performance and eventually habitual clogging.

How are drains cleared?

In the case of your plumbing, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Limiting what you put down your drains including household waste, hair, grease and other items can help keep your drains functioning properly.

But, if you find yourself with a clogged drain, clearing it is a short-term solution to getting it up and running again. Some clogs can be cleared with a simple mix of hot water and a 1:1 solution of baking soda and vinegar. Other clogs close to the surface of the drain, can be removed using a plumber’s snake or auger. It’s best to leave deeper clogs in the hands of a professional plumber who has the expertise and the tools to clear your home’s clogged pipes without risking damage to your plumbing infrastructure.

Multiple clogged drains in your home or drains that back up in one part of your home when you run water in another, point to a larger issue. A clogged sewer line can affect the entire plumbing system of your home. Plumbing professionals using sewer line cameras can identify the cause of the blocked sewer line and either repair or, in some cases, recommend replacement. Know the signs of a broken sewer pipe and contact an expert immediately to avoid further costly damage.

How are drains cleaned?

If your plumbing snake has a permanent spot next to your toothbrush, then you are experiencing too many clogged drains and it may be time to have your drains cleaned. The process begins with a history of your home’s drain issues to get a better idea of the root of the problem. Your professional plumber should then test each drain to discover the location of any backups. Experts using a camera, inspect the system to assess any major clogs in your drains that are the cause of your home’s drain issues. After the clog is removed with professional-grade motorized augers, the drains are treated with pressurized water to clean the pipe walls. The work should include a final camera inspection to assess the status of the pipes post-cleaning. The camera inspection is an important component to assess whether broken or damaged plumbing pipes or a compromised sewer line is to blame.

If you’re concerned your home’s clogged drains may be part of a larger issue or if you need help clearing a stubborn clog, call the experts at Len The Plumber. Our professionals have the innovative tools and techniques to get rid of your clog in its entirety, remove the gunk and dirt building up in your pipes and provide the preventative maintenance to extend the service of life of your home’s plumbing system.

Contact our team to schedule your drain clearing or drain cleaning today!

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.davieplumbingandsupplyfl.com/?p=113

The world’s most common fears include heights, clowns, enclosed spaces, and needing to unclog a toilet when there isn’t a plunger nearby. It always happens at the most inconvenient time — at your in-laws’ house, during a work meeting, during a holiday, on a date…

We wouldn’t wish the panic of rising water with no solution on anyone. That’s why we’ve detailed the best ways to unclog a toilet without a plunger below.

Water That’s Hot, but Not Boiling

It’s really important to differentiate between the two here. Hot water will unclog the toilet by melting away the blockage. Boiling water can cause toilet bowl ceramic to crack, which is a much more irritating issue to deal with.

Get as big a bucket you can handle and fill it with not-quite-boiling water. The movement of the water combined with the heat will help remove and flush the clog.

Dish Soap

Dish soap is designed to break down grease and other food waste it comes into contact with. Because of this, it’s almost just as effective at breaking down toilet clogs. If you have the time to let it sit and wait, dish soap can help to unclog a toilet.

Squeeze at least a cup of dish soap into the toilet bowl and let it sit for 30 to 40 minutes. After that, check to see if the water has started to lower in the bowl, which is a sign that the soap is working. If the water is lowering, then you can feel comfortable trying to flush!

Epsom Salt

Epsom salt isn’t something that everyone has on hand, but if you do have it lying around, it can work in a pinch. When poured into a bowl, it creates a fizzy chemical reaction that can help unclog and clear drains. Give it about 15 minutes to do its thing before you attempt to flush again.

A Toilet Brush

This is for desperate, last-ditch efforts only. Hold the handle, push the brush into the drain hole, and start to pull your arm back and forth. Don’t get too over-exuberant to the point of harming the toilet, but do get vigorous. This can be kind of gross, so we recommend wearing gloves or old clothes in case of splashing.

Call the Pros at Len The Plumber

If nothing else works, it might just be time to call on the plumbing professionals employed at Len The Plumber. We’re always standing by to answer your call!

Do you know where the main water shut-off valve is in your home? If you can’t answer that within five seconds, then you need to locate it and remember where in case there’s ever a serious leak. Otherwise, you could end up with a plumbing nightmare on your hands…

Where to Find Your Main Water Shut-Off Valve

• The shut-off valve is almost always located near the perimeter of your home. There’s no need to check the central portions of the house.
• Forget the upstairs, too, as shut-off valves are going to be located on the ground floor. For those with basements, it will usually be located here.

• 

  Water lines usually run from the water main to the shut-off valve with no extra piping or detours. Therefore, if you know where your water main is, see where the shortest path to your home would be. The valve is more than likely located here.

• During the purchase of a house, an inspection report is supplied. The location of your main water shut-off valve is labeled in this report (hopefully, you’re organized so you have easy access to this report).
• Do you know where the big panel is in your home (not the electrical panel)? This panel houses the shut-off valve since it’s illegal to cover it behind the wall.

Shut-Off Valves on Plumbing Fixtures

When a leak springs, it’s not always a slow drip. Sometimes, the water will begin to rush out and start pooling on the floor of your home. Before you run to the main water shut-off valve, see if the fixture has its own personal shut-off valve.

• Toilet – On the wall your toilet sits against, there will be a small valve. It is usually located below the bowl and should be turned gently clockwise to stop the flow of water.
• Sink – Underneath the sink in the cabinet, there will be a small shut-off valve (similar to the toilet). During a pipe or faucet leak, turn the handle clockwise to suspend any water from leaking.
• Washing machine – Behind every washing machine should be two valves and sometimes a lever. Both of these valves should be turned clockwise (or the lever should be switched the other way) in order to cease water from flowing. If you don’t see these valves or lever, you may have to pull out the washer from the wall a bit.

Knowing how to stop the flow of water coming into your home can help prevent extensive water damage if there’s ever a serious leak. Whenever you need a leak repaired or a plumbing fixture fixed, contact Len The Plumber. If you’re looking for a reliable plumber, check to see if you live in one of our many service areas!

Sometimes, there are things that you’re missing in your home. You can get by with missing certain things in other areas of your home, but your bathroom is one of those areas that you should treat with care.

Today, we want to help you take the necessary steps to safeguard your plumbing system in your bathroom. Your bathroom definitely isn’t the most fun place in the home, but it’s definitely one of the most vital. Imagine having to go even a day without it—it’s an unpleasant thought. We want to help you breathe life into your appliances and keep your space in pristine shape. Here’s how…

Tips to Try

Here are a few things to try to help your bathroom plumbing in Glendale, AZ.

1. Watch Those Leaks

Are you noticing your bathroom is springing leaks? Don’t try to tough out this problem. Even small leaks that just create a consistent dripping noise in your bathroom are bad. They lead to reduced water pressure, higher energy bills, and excess stress on the plumbing system for no good reason. It’s always best to contact a professional no matter how mild the problem seems.

2. Prevent Clogs

Know what you can flush down your drains. If you want to prevent clogs in the bathroom, your first step is investing in a drain strainer. This will keep fallen hair out of the drain so you can avoid a clog.

The next step is to pay attention to the toilet. Those wet wipes that companies promise are “flushable” are actually a clog magnet. Flushing these is self-sabotage.

3. Conserve Water Where You Can

The harder you are on your plumbing system, the more repair work it’s going to need. Conserving water is great for the environment, but it’s also great for you. It’s great for you because it will reduce your monthly bills and help your plumbing system avoid repairs.

Turn off the faucet when you brush your teeth, wash your face, and install low-flow shower heads.

4. Get Professional Help When You Need It

If you’re thinking about contacting a professional for plumbing service, do it. Professional care is always the answer for your plumbing needs because plumbing systems are complicated. Only let a trained pro like one of ours work on your plumbing.

5. Consider a Water Softener

Hard water is a slow and silent killer of plumbing. When we talk about hard water, we notice that many people tend to focus on the effects of this in their kitchen and sometimes in their laundry room. Although you might see more of the effects in these spaces, they’re just as bad in your bathroom.

As the mineral deposits from hard water settle and layer up, they reduce the flow of water in your bathroom. This means that your showers are going to feel less satisfying because you’re going to have weakened water flow. You’ll start paying more as this goes on too. Don’t let this become a problem in your home.

Contact The Trusted Plumber for your bathroom plumbing services. We’re here to help.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.davieplumbingandsupplyfl.com/?p=57

You are probably pretty familiar with the pipes under your sink or the drain in your shower, but you’ve likely never given a second thought to the pipes that connect your home to the public water and sewer system. Those pipes pull heavy duty for your home. Check out these five signs you have a problem with your home’s main water line.

1. Your water bill increased significantly.

Summer water bills are often higher than normal because of watering the lawn, filling the pool, and even showering more frequently. But, if your water bill seems out of the ordinary, you may have a leak in your main water line.

2. You are hearing strange sounds coming from several of the pipes in your home.

Are your pipes talking to you? If you are hearing gurgling from your sink when you flush the toilet or the reverse, that’s a sign of a more systemic plumbing issue.

3. You’re finding sinkholes or cracks in your foundation?

A leaking main water line can be the cause of major damage to your home’s structure and a source of erosion of your landscape.

4. Your home has low water pressure at all the faucets.

Low water pressure can be a sign that your main water line is clogged. Clogs can happen from household waste and also from tree root infiltration. Both a clog and tree roots can put pressure on these pipes and create cracks. If not addressed these cracks can evolve into a full break of the line. Did you know the repair of a water line break outside your home is the homeowners’ responsibility?

5. Your water is cloudy.

While there are a few different causes of cloudy water which can include a problem with that particular fixture or issues with your water heater tank, cloudy water can also be caused by disintegrating or damaged pipes.

If your home is experiencing any of these issues, you might have a problem with your home’s main water line. At Len The Plumber, our experts can get to the root of the problem using diagnostic cameras and the most advanced plumbing tools. And, we have the experience to make sure we repair or replace your main water line quickly to minimize the damage and restore your confidence.

Contact us to schedule a main water line service today. From D.C. to Baltimore, Northern Virginia, Delaware and the Philadelphia area, just call Len The Plumber, your local plumber with same-day service, 7 days a week!

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