When they’re working, garbage disposals are convenient kitchen appliances. If you’ve recently had to call plumbing services near Northridge, CA to repair your garbage disposal, you may be wondering how you can avoid having to do so in the future. Use the following tips to keep your garbage disposal in good shape:

Use it often.

Even if you’ve nothing to dispose of, using your garbage disposal on a regular basis is essential for helping it run properly. When you leave the appliance out of use for too long, this can cause its components to rust, corrode, or freeze up. Additionally, any food remnants left behind can begin to rot and mold, causing a foul smell to come from your drain. Once every few days, be sure to turn on the garbage disposal while running water.

Break up food.

When well-maintained, your garbage disposal can make quick work of grinding up food scraps. However, it’s important to keep in mind that its motor is only so powerful. When you put too much strain on your garbage disposal, you may find yourself calling a plumber for repairs. To help prevent this problem, cut up large food scraps before sending them down your garbage disposal.

Use cold water.

In many cases, hot water works well for cleaning the surfaces and plumbing of your home. When it comes to your garbage disposal, however, cold water is optimal. This is because hot water can cause food in the disposal to melt and stick to its sides, resulting in buildup and smelly odors. In contrast, running cold water will help solidify the food contents, allowing your disposal to break it up more efficiently.

Avoid certain foods.

Your garbage disposal can handle a lot, but not all foods are ideal for its use. Foods like rice and pasta are expandable and can cling to the disposal’s sides and clog up your drains. Also, avoid allowing grease, bones, and non-food materials into the disposal. Putting the right foods through your garbage disposal can help you prevent the need for a plumber and having to replace your appliance prematurely.

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.

Coming home or waking up to a flooded home can incite alarm in nearly anyone. However, knowing how to handle these situations and when to call an emergency plumber near Northridge, CA is essential for managing the situation. There are a few vital points to be aware of when it comes to dealing with plumbing emergencies.

Identify plumbing emergencies.

Emergency plumbing situations come in many forms and knowing when you need to call a plumber for an emergency is critical for mitigating the damage to your property and getting your plumbing in order as soon as possible. If you are dealing with a minor leak that can be halted by turning off the water supply to the affected area only, then the situation probably isn’t urgent. Leaks that force you to disable your entire home’s water supply, however, should be addressed with emergency plumbing services right away. Because they can allow wastewater to back up into your home, sewer line backups are another example of a plumbing emergency. Finally, call a plumber as soon as possible if your water heater is malfunctioning or if you think that it may be leaking gas.

Turn off the water.

Whether it’s a minor or large problem, it’s a good idea to turn off your water supply when you realize that you have a leak. Small plumbing problems can turn into household disasters if allowed to continue, potentially causing extreme water damage and leading to mold growth. For toilets, this can simply mean turning the connected valve. If you’re dealing with flooding or a bigger leak, turn off your home’s water supply until you can identify and control the source of the problem.

Call your emergency plumber.

In the case of an emergency, it’s not uncommon for people to forget to call a plumber. Remembering to do this, however, gives you the best chance of dealing with the issue quickly and keeping the situation under control. As soon as you realize that you have a problem on your hands, turn off the water supply and contact your local plumbing company.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Pouring your grease down the drain may seem like a convenient idea at the time, but it won’t seem that way when you find yourself dealing with a clogged drain near Northridge, CA. If you want to keep your drainage systems in top shape and allow your plumbing to enjoy a long and efficient working life, make sure you keep your drains clear. In the event that you do experience a grease clog in your drain, you’ll need to locate the problem and call your plumbing service. Keep reading to find out what to do about a grease-clogged drain.

Identify the Problem

It is impossible to do anything about a clog that you don’t know about, so the first step in solving a drain problem is recognizing it. A grease clog is different from other types of clogs. Food scraps can cause a blockage as soon as you empty your dish after dinner, but these clogs tend to be easy to spot and alleviate. A grease clog, on the other hand, can build up over time and create a serious problem for your plumbing system. If you are dealing with a backup, consider whether you have introduced grease to the drain lately.

Call Your Plumber

A clogged drain may not seem like such a big deal; for this reason, many homeowners decide to try to take care of the problem on their own. Although you may have heard that running hot water through your drain can clear a grease clog, it can actually just move the grease further into the drain. If you experience a grease clog, it’s best to call your plumber as soon as you can. Your professional plumbing service can clear out the clog and help you prevent it from returning.

Use Your Drain Properly

There is no reason to deal with a grease clog on more than one occasion. A single grease clog will indicate that you should dispose of your grease in a more efficient way. Instead of washing it down the drain, put your grease waste into a garbage can and spare your plumbing systems.