Everyone wants to save money on plumbing, and nobody likes a plumbing emergency that springs up in surprise. We understand. Even though we’re a 24 hours emergency plumbing company, and we’re happy to be of service whenever you need, we don’t like emergency plumbing service calls, either, because we’d much rather help you prevent problems, and allow you to save money.
With planning, and foresight, it’s possible to prevent many recurring water line problems, get ahead of seasonal sewer problems, and stay ahead of other emergency situations, such as: slow drains, clogged drains, gutter obstructions, poor water drainage, leaking pipes, low water pressure, and even natural gas fires after earthquakes. We figured, with the return of daylight saving time, and Spring present upon us, we’d share a few solutions and plumbing tips to common problems that pop-up with seasonal warming weather.
Plumbing Maintenance for Slow Drains & Clogged Drains
Sewer line maintenance requires regular attention. Sewer mainlines often become clogged as warm weather, and increased sunlight hours, encourages more plant growth. Kitchen drains, shower and tub drains, bathroom sink drains, toilet drains, and floor drains will all flow slower if a main line is obstructed. Main lines can become affected by root obstructions, and accumulated grease and debris after months of spending more time at home. Trees will often expand their root network, in search of nutrients and water, which sewer lines are filled with. These clogged drains can be a major inconvenience in your home or business.
Let us take care of the clog and prevent damage to pipes or fixtures. With regular maintenance, such as main line drain cleaning and hydro jetting, lines can stay clean and clear. For maximum results, we recommend hydro jetter cleaning, because this will scour the entire sewer line clean, for lasting results. Unlike conventional drain cleaning, hydro jets use 4,000 PSI of water pressure, to cut through grease, roots, and obstructions with effortless ease.
Cleaning roots out of sewer pipes is simple and effective with regular hydro jetting.
We also offer sewer line camera inspections, to make sure, with a visual inspection, your plumbing is in good working order. This helpful service not only informs a property owner of what work may be necessary, but also targets exact locations of problems, reducing the overhead of investigation.
If a line becomes damaged, we can, of course, also repair or replace damaged sewer lines. Trenchless sewer line repair is a cost effective, and convenient solution which many of our customers have happily taken advantage of. Be sure to ask us about trenchless sewer repair, and we’ll be happy to schedule an onsite visit and consultation with a free estimate.
Gutter Obstructions & Poor Water Drainage in Area Drains
Twigs, leaves, and other organic debris often obstruct gutters, with all the new plant growth in the spring. If these blockages become significant or enter the downspout, they can lead to serious water damage later on.
If gutter troughs are obstructed, the flow of rain water will be directed over the sides of your property, adding to congestion in your roof, down the side of your home. This kind of overflow may cause water damage to the insides of your walls, and ceilings, in addition to adding an unsightly stain to your home’s exterior.
Corrosion, mold growth, and even pest infestations can result because of pooling water. You’ll want to make sure your area drains are flowing smoothly to prevent these problems, as well.
Contact us and ask how we can make sure your area drains and gutter downspouts are clear, before these problems occur.
Plumbing Problems: Leaking Pipes & Low Water Pressure
Low water pressure is annoying, but more importantly, it’s sometimes a sign of another, more serious problem in your water lines. For example, water leaks in copper pipes, such as pinhole leaks, usually go unnoticed during wetter seasons, until warmer weather, and seasonal dryness in the environment reveals ambient moisture.
In cold weather, pipes will sometimes accumulate tiny fractures, cracks in the pipe, and pinhole leaks are a regular problem that arises over time as pipes wear out. As temperatures rise in spring, the pipes expand, and those tiny fissures and holes can expand, and new leaks become more obvious.
If you notice dripping or standing water, a higher amount of water usage, or musty odors and moldy smells around your home, let us know, and we’ll be happy to perform leak detection tests on your property.
We’re also able to install a new device, Flo by Moen, which automatically detects water leaks, and notifies you if it detects a problem.
Flo by Moen, smart water leak detection and smart water line shut off device.Emergencies: Natural Gas Fires & Earthquake Disaster Prevention
(Before we get into earthquake disaster prevention, we need to say: if you smell gas, please call your local gas company, immediately, then call us!)
We hate to be the bearers of bad news, and we’re not fond of doomsday messages, but it’s a simple fact that, living in the San Gabriel Valley, and areas nearby, we’re all living practically on top of a natural earthquake fault line. Earthquakes are inevitable, and with them, comes additional risks with gas lines. We’ve noticed on our website, this past week, a small uptick in interest on earthquake preparedness. In particular, a common question we receive is: Do I need an emergency earthquake gas shut off valve?
We’re not sure exactly why interest in these things sometimes go up in spring time, and intermittently during drier seasons, but we’re happy to address questions, when our customers ask. We can only assume that residents have a suspicion, as the land dries in spring, and into summer, sometimes a small uptick in earthquakes coincides. With this change in weather, perhaps folks are reminded of the potential for fire damage to properties due to damaged natural gas lines.
Living in Southern California, and around the San Gabriel Valley especially, we completely understand these anxieties about natural disasters. We’re sure you have many earthquake preparedness plans, and in our opinion, this is an essential part of that plan for natural disasters. So, let us give you some assurance, and help you manage those concerns.
If you’re like us, and you’re at all concerned, worry not, we have a solution in case of this unfortunate occurrence. If you’ve not heard of Earthquake Gas Shut Off Valves, we highly recommend you check them out. During a 5.4 or greater ground shake, these valves will close tight, stopping the flow of gas to your home or property.
We highly recommend protecting your homes and property from fire damage, as a result of these natural disasters. If disaster does strike, it will be understandable if you’re so busy tending to the needs of your family, you may forget to turn off the gas main. That’s why we highly recommend installing these life saving and property saving devices, especially if we’re already handling repair, replacement or installation of gas lines.
We’re happy to help you manage this risk, with installation of emergency gas valves. We also offer multi-unit discounts, so please feel free to ask about that, especially if you’re an Home Owner’s Association board member, a property manager, or owner of apartment buildings.
Wrap Up, Plumbing Tips to Save Money
We hope these plumbing tips intended to help you plan ahead were helpful. If you have any questions about regular or recurring problems, please do not hesitate to call us. We’re happy to be of service, any time you need, but we are also enthusiastic about help you plan ahead, and prevent problems before they occur.
