Have Your Toilet Fixed by the Pros

Toilet plumbing problems are often ones that require immediate attention. When you need plumbing services near Northridge, CA , take some time to shop around so you can find a quote from a reputable company that suits your budget. Watch this video to learn more about hiring a plumber to repair your toilet.

If you’re wondering if you have a leaky toilet, an easy test you can perform is to add a few drops of food coloring to the tank and leave it overnight. Make sure that no one uses the toilet and in the morning, take a look in the bowl. If the color has made its way into the water filling the toilet bowl, then you should call a plumber about replacing the flapper.

The Benefits of Hydro Jetting

When your sinks, showers, or bathtubs drain more slowly than they once did, this can indicate that you have a clog in your pipes. If you’re dealing with a clogged drain near Northridge, CA, then you many benefit from hydro jet plumbing services. Hydro jetting is a type of drain cleaning method that can break up and dislodge clogs which are obstructing your pipes. This technology uses a retractable hose and pressurized water to take care of plumbing blockages and restore normal water flow.

If you suspect that your plumbing is clogged, hydro jetting can provide you with several benefits. Hydro jetting tends to be more affordable than other sewer cleaning methods, and it also offers long-term results compared to other drain clearing options. Hydro jetting gives the inside of your pipes a thorough cleaning and can even remove grease buildup, which commonly contributes to the formation of clogs. If you’re experiencing drainage problems, call your plumber about hydro jetting services as soon as possible.

Hydro Jetting

Reasons to Have a Sewer Camera Inspection

Sewer camera inspections are non-invasive and cost-efficient procedures that allow your plumber to get a look at the inside of your home’s pipes. Sewer cameras in Northridge, CA are capable of spotting a variety of problems that could be affecting your home’s plumbing, and can be used to evaluate the health of a home’s septic system.

To Look for Pipe Clogs Sewer cameras Inspection

If you hear strange gurgling sounds after using the washing machine, or bubbling sounds coming from your toilets, you may be dealing with a sewer line clog. Also, water backing up through your drains is another sign of a sewer line blockage. This issue is typically caused by buildups of grease that snag passing debris, tree root invasions, and pipe shifts or collapses. Having a plumber perform a sewer camera inspection allows him to visually evaluate the cause of your plumbing problems.

To Inspect a Septic System

Damage to your sewer line can occur long before you realize that there’s a problem, and unresolved septic issues can cause significant damage to your home and property. Septic system issues can be messy, costly, disruptive, and time-consuming to resolve, but choosing to regularly check your pipes with a sewer camera inspection can allow you to find and repair any small problems in your pipes before they turn into bigger and more expensive ones. Additionally, homeowners frequently choose this type of inspection when preparing for a home remodel or add-on.

To Evaluate a Potential Home

Just as homeowners seek sewer inspection services to prevent problems with their septic system, homebuyers should take the necessary steps to avoid inheriting plumbing problems with their purchase. Buying a home is a huge investment, and having the building and all of its systems fully inspected before you commit can save you on costly repairs in the future. Scheduling a sewer camera inspection can alert you to potential issues with a home’s plumbing before you make any decisions.

Tips for Clearing a Clogged Drain

Drain clogs are a problem that most homeowners will face at some point. Fortunately, there’s a good chance that you won’t need a plumber for your clogged drain near Northridge, CA. With the right tools and techniques, there’s a good chance that you’ll be able to get your pipes flowing again without the need for professional plumbing services.

Clearing a Clogged Sink Clogged Drain

In many cases, you’ll be able to clear your clogged sink drain with only a bell or cup plunger. First, partially fill your sink with water and, using your plunger, vigorously move it up and down over the drain. After doing this a few times, quickly pull the plunger from the drain opening. For sinks with two drains, be sure to block the second one using a damp cloth. This measure can also be used on overflow holes if you’re working on a bathroom sink. Doing this will block air flow and allow to put more pressure on the clog.

Clearing a Clogged Tub

Blocked bathtubs typically build up over a period of weeks or longer. You may notice that the water drains from your tub a little more slowly after each use. This problem usually begins once a bit of buildup occurs and gradually collects debris. If you have a blocked tub drain, take a bent wire or drain cleaning tool and insert it into the pipe to fish out any scum and hair that you can reach. If this method fails, use a damp cloth to cover the holes of the overfill plate and try using a plunger to dislodge the clog.

Clearing a Clogged Toilet

Toilet blockages typically occur within the curved trap fixture and in some cases, using a plunger alone will provide enough pressure to dislodge a clog. If the plunger method fails, try using a toilet auger. Place the end of the auger into the bowl with the tip pointing upward. Next, push down on the handle and crank the entire length of the cable up through the drain. Finally, crank backward and pull up to retract the cable.

The Best Way to Plunge a Toilet

Are you dealing with a clogged toilet in Northridge, CA ? This plumbing problem is one that most people have to deal with at some point. Before calling a plumber for toilet unblocker services, watch this video to learn the best way to plunge a toilet.

Bell or cup style plungers are used to unclog sink and shower drains. Flange style plungers are designed for use on clogged toilets. Plumbers recommend blocking off other drains in the vicinity before you begin plunging, such as shower and sink drains. By preventing the air from escaping through these drains, you’ll gain more plunging power.

Causes of a Clogged Toilet

Poorly functioning toilets can be frustrating and messy. If you’re frequently dealing with a clogged toilet in Northridge, CA, there are several potential causes. How the toilet is used, its mechanics, and your drain line can each play a role in regular clogs.

A common cause of blocked toilets treated by plumbers is flushing the wrong materials. Flushed hair, floss, paper towels, plastic, and diapers can all cause your toilet to clog. In other cases, people try to flush more than a toilet is designed to handle. Older low flow toilets often clog when too much material is flushed at once.

Another cause of clogs seen by plumbers is a clogged drain line. When buildup or objects accumulate in the pipe, a clog can choke the water supply. If a clog affects the line to the septic or sewage system, it can prevent your toilet from flushing properly. Finally, make sure that your toilet is getting enough water. If the water supply line isn’t fully open, your toilet may not be filling correctly.

Clogged Toilet

Spotting a Plumbing Leak

Although you need quality plumbing services near Northridge, CA for a plethora of reasons, you don’t need to be a plumber to spot a leak. The sooner you spot a problem with your system, the sooner you can have it fixed. Take a look at this video for a few tips on spotting a plumbing leak.

When was the last time you checked out your attic or crawlspace? If it’s been a while, you might have a hidden plumbing leak that has gone unaddressed. Knowing where to look is a big part of spotting a leak, so be sure to check these spaces every now and then and follow the piping to inspect its condition. You might also spot a dripping faucet, leaking tank flapper, or other kind of plumbing leak around your home; call your plumber as soon as you can in order to minimize the damage done to your house.

What You Shouldn’t Put Down the Drain

Drainage in Northridge, CA is designed to remove wastewater from the home and keep your plumbing system working efficiently. If you want it to work the way it should, you need to know how to use it properly. Never dispose of grease by pouring it down the sink, and keep in mind that not all bathroom products can be flushed down the toilet. If you live with children, remind them not to play with their toys near drains. Continue reading for a closer look at what you shouldn’t put down the drain to help avoid emergency plumbing services.

Grease and Food Scraps Drain

If you tend to do a lot of cooking, you can end up with a great deal of grease. Many people decide to dispose of their cooking grease by dumping it down the sink or even the toilet, but this can wreak havoc on your drains. Grease will eventually build up on the interior of your drains, ultimately causing significant clogs and blockages. Instead of pouring your grease into the drain, you should dispose of it directly into a garbage can or another container. If you have a garbage disposal in your sink, it’s important to understand how to use that as well. While small food scraps can be okay to send down the disposal, larger food products can cause problems.

Diapers, Paper Towels, and Feminine Products

Just because you use something in the bathroom doesn’t mean it should end up in the toilet. While tissues and toilet paper are fine to flush down the drain, many other products should not be disposed of in this fashion. If you have just changed your baby’s diaper, make sure it ends up in a garbage. Paper towels and feminine products may be used in the bathroom, but they can cause clogs in your toilet if you try to flush them.

Children’s Toys

Although it seems obvious, toys should never end up in your drain. While you are well aware of this, your kids might not be. It’s a good idea to remind your kids not to play with their toys around toilets or sinks so you can avoid a plumbing service disaster.

Types of Common Plumbing Emergencies

Any type of plumbing issue can cause serious problems for your home and family, but there are a few that tend to be especially common. On the upside, the right plumbing services near Northridge, CA can handle any problem you might experience. Knowing what to look for is crucial when it comes to controlling damage and preventing emergencies from arising, so knowledge is key. Continue on to learn about some of the most common emergencies plumbers face.

Plumbing emergencies often occur because of the way you use your plumbing systems. Attempting to flush the wrong materials—or even too much of the right materials—down the toilet can result in a bad clog and even overflow. If you don’t have your sewer inspected on a regular basis, you could also experience a sewer backup; this can be extremely unpleasant as well as unsanitary, so you will want to stay on top of your sewer maintenance. A dripping faucet may be annoying, and it can also add up to a substantial amount of wasted water. The drain pipe under your sink may also spring a leak, and this can be even more difficult to catch. Always call your plumber as soon as you notice a problem.

Plumbing Emergencies

Tips for Avoiding Major Plumbing Problems

Some plumbing issues are unavoidable, but the good news is that most of the common “problems” homeowners will experience are more of an annoyance than a real plumbing emergency. However, that doesn’t mean a major plumbing problems isn’t on the horizon. That’s why homeowners should be diligent in preventing the plumbing emergencies they can control. Although clogged toilets and slow-draining sinks are to be expected at times, here are some things you can do to avoid an expensive plumbing emergency. Even with these tips in hand, it’s still a good idea to have the number of a plumbing services company in Northridge, CA on hand in case a sudden and unexpected emergency does arise.

Watch What You Flush Avoiding Major Plumbing Problems
Toilet back-ups are among the most disgusting and unsanitary plumbing emergencies a homeowner can experience. One of the best ways to keep your sewage flowing in the proper direction is to make sure nothing gets flushed down the toilet that belongs in the trash can instead. Floss, cotton swabs, paper towels, and feminine hygiene products are examples of everyday household items that can build up over time and cause a sewage backup.

Keep Your Drains Clear
Even if you are careful about what you flush down the toilets and pour down the drains, it’s possible that your pipes can develop clogs and buildups over time. Although drain clogs can start out as minor inconveniences, they have the potential to cause major flooding and result in expensive water damage. That’s why it’s a good idea to schedule drain cleaning on a regular basis as part of your home plumbing maintenance routine so you can prevent clogs from developing in the first place.

Replace Old Plumbing
If you live in an older home, consider having your plumbing system replaced or your pipes relined. In either case, investing in pipe replacement or restoration now can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in plumbing repair and water damage renovation costs in the long run. And if your home has galvanized pipes, new pipes can also improve your water quality and water pressure.