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.

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.

Whether you’re in need of new piping, replacing old piping, or cleaning your drainage pipes in Northridge, CA, there are a few things to learn about the material your pipes are made of. Consult with your plumber on the additional differences between copper and PEX plumbing.

According to the video, the cost between the two piping materials is significant. Copper can cost almost $3 a foot; PEX costs about $1 a foot. PEX tends to be more energy-efficient, but it’s unproven when it comes to life expectancy. Copper has been proven to last up to 50 years, and PEX manufacturers give that same guarantee or better, but it’s not 100% certain yet. Your plumber should have an opinion, and sufficient experience, to back up which piping he or she would recommend.