Homeowners in Yuba City, CA can benefit from the following plumbing tips!

 

When someone doesn’t know how to fix a plumbing problem it can seem difficult and daunting to even think about it. It can take a lot of time and money when it comes to hiring a professional plumber. If you know what to do, you can tackle some simple plumbing tasks yourself. Continue reading for information to help simplify your plumbing problems!

 

Liquid Drain Cleaning

Make sure you take great care in what type of drain cleaner you use. Many of these cleaners contain harsh chemicals that can corrode pipes. Try to select a brand with fewer harmful chemicals. Harsh chemicals can destroy the helpful bacteria in your system which will lead to other problems and many chemicals are very harmful to humans.

 

If your washing machine’s drain pipe backs up, the first step is to snake it with a regular pipe snake. Lint and small debris in your washing machine can accumulate and create a clogged drain.

 

Cleaning the aerator will fix low water pressure issues that are caused by sediment buildup. This is something that any homeowner should be able to do. Remove the aerator, take it apart, and clean it with a small brush dipped in vinegar. Rinse and reassemble the aerator, then reattach it to your faucet. This should help increase the water pressure because any obstacles in the aerator will have been removed.

 

Turn off the water at the main valve immediately if you notice water on the floor by your water heater. You will see that even having a small leak in the plumbing can cause a huge issue if you don’t deal with it promptly!

 

Frozen pipes can cost you a significant amount to repair. However, most of the time, you can prevent this from happening. Insulate your outside pipes. With the onset of colder weather, disconnect and drain any hoses and shut off outside faucets. You can avoid future plumbing repairs by doing this, therefore, saving you a lot of money.

 

Ensure that a septic tank is emptied approximately every 10 years or so, and make sure it is properly maintained. Having your septic pumped will keep sediments from settling to the bottom of the septic tank and causing the tank to malfunction or backup. Getting your septic tank drained occasionally may be expensive, but it’s dirt cheap compared to the cost of repairing a damaged septic system or the cleanup cost when raw sewage backs up into your home.

 

The secret to low or even no repair bills from plumbing issues is maintenance. Drain clogs can be expensive and are actually a major repair, one of the most common ones, too. Too much hair will clog a drain. Put drain covers over your bathtub and sink drains to keep loose hair from going down the drain or into your pipes. Getting the hair off the screen is much simpler than removing it from the pipe.

 

When you are figuring out problems with your toilets, your flapper might be your issue. Flappers do deteriorate over periods of time, and the majority of toilet leaks start with flapper issues. Check to see if the pressure on the flapper chain is right. If it’s tight enough, you may need to replace a worn flapper.

 

In order to prevent any pipes within your home from freezing, you should never let the home temperature get below freezing. Always insulate pipes exposed to elements. Pipes will freeze if they are exposed to temperatures below freezing. The best result you can hope for from frozen pipes is to be without water until the pipes thaw. In the worst case, the pipes would burst, and you would be stuck with costly repair bills and a very messy cleanup procedure.

 

As you can see, plumbing problems don’t have to be so difficult. If you can solve the problem yourself, you can save time waiting for a plumber, as well as save a whole lot of money. Try applying what you’ve learned from this article next time you have a plumbing problem!

 

More plumbing tips!

5 Things You Should Not Be Pouring Down the Sink

 

Are you in the habit of treating your sink as if it was a garbage disposal? While your kitchen sink may seem like an unending pit perfect for disposal, we may not realize there is a problem with this habit until we need drain cleaning services. Worse, your pipes may get damaged and you would have to call a pro to take care of your plumbing. John’s Rooter has a professional team of plumbers that you can trust. However, we still teach our customers the best practices to keep their drains clean and in good condition to last them a long time.

 

First, it is important to understand why it is wrong to pour things down the drain. First off, pouring anything besides water down the drain can harm the environment. These materials can get into the sewage system towards rivers and oceans. Pouring these items down the drain can also require costly drain repairs. If you want to save money and the environment, take note not to pour these items down the drain:

 

1- Grease, It can be tempting to pour grease down the drain but this habit can cause harm to the environment and damage your pipes. Grease tends to harden in the pipes. This leads to blockages if left for a long time. It is better to keep used grease in a container and allow it to harden. Once solid, it can be thrown in the green bin. Larger amounts of grease can be disposed of at a local grease recycling company.

 

2- Coffee grinds these small, seemingly harmless materials that we dispose of in the drain every day, but are one of the reasons why your drains keep getting clogged. Coffee grinds should be properly disposed of in the trash and not in your drains.

 

3- Leftover Food and Bones Overloaded food is one of the main causes of damaged or broken sink electric disposals. Instead of throwing scraps and bones down the sink, it is best to compost your leftover food and keep the sink clean with no leftover material. Food scraps and bones can cause harmful blockages in your pipes that can lead to costly plumbing repairs. If there is a bad smell coming from your sink, we can tell you that old leftover food is to blame. Keep everything out of your disposal and keep your money, save on costly plumbing repairs!

 

4- Medications, when old medications pile up in your kitchen cabinets, you may think that pouring them down the sink can be an easy way to get rid of old medications. However, it is best to recycle medicine instead. Look for a medication returns program for this purpose.

 

5- Paint Thinner, this highly toxic material should not be flushed down any sink due to environmental concerns. Neither should it be thrown in the garbage or recycled. The smell of paint thinner can be harmful to the environment and to the body. It is a better option to use environmentally-friendly products such as water-based latex paint. To dispose of paint thinners, take them to a certified disposal depot in your city.

 

Benefits of Hiring a Professional Plumber

Sometimes a plumbing problem can look so simple, you’d think not to hire a plumber for the job. However simple or complex it may seem, there may be underlying plumbing issues you may not know about. Only a plumbing expert can correctly assess underlying plumbing issues. When it’s time to call a local plumber, don’t just settle for a cheap plumbing company. Instead, make sure that you hire a licensed professional plumber with the right equipment. If you want the job done right the first time, John’s Rooter provides the plumbing services and experience that you deserve.

 

If you are hesitant about calling a licensed plumber due to the costs, you may reconsider when you know about the benefits of having a local plumber you can trust. These benefits include:

 

Peace of Mind Hiring a licensed and insured plumber means you don’t have to worry about damage DIY plumbing can do. Skip those YouTube video tutorials that are too hard to follow. Each plumbing issue can be unique. Only a licensed plumber can do the dirty work for you in a safe and efficient manner.

 

Plumbing Know-How. A licensed plumber can help you understand the plumbing of your home’s existing layout. With years of training and practice, licensed plumbers have knowledge of every plumbing system. They take their licensure seriously including the exams and up-to-date studying they have to do to follow up with, the latest in plumbing trends. Without the right knowledge or techniques and procedures, everything is just guesswork.

 

Best Plumbing Tools to Keep at Home

As a homeowner, it is wise to have a toolkit for plumbing emergencies until professional plumbers can come to your rescue. There is no limit to the number of tools you can have for plumbing. While a licensed plumber may have access to the best, state-of-the-art plumbing equipment, you can do well with a few of the essential plumbing tools, such as:

 

Plunger– This is a common tool used by plumbers. These come in various shapes and sizes depending on the purpose. It is best to have two separate plungers for your home. One you can use for toilet plumbing and another for sinks and drains.

 

Wrench– There are various types of wrenches as well and every drain-cleaning expert is sure to have them. For your home toolkit, you can do well with a simple wrench for tightening a leaking pipe and loosening tight bolts. You can buy a wrench at a local hardware store.

 

Caulk– This multi-purpose sealant can be used for that leak dripping through your windows or any crack in the edges of your tub. Take note that this is just a temporary fix to a leak. It is still best to call a professional plumber for leaking problems. In the meantime, this water-resistant filler can help you seal the crack until your local plumber arrives.

 

Caulk Gun– This tool is essential for hard-to-reach places that need precision. This awesome tool can help improve your level of control over caulk so you can apply an even amount where it is needed, including corners and cracks.

 

Flashlight– You may already have this at home for other purposes but this can be useful for plumbing as well. If you want to check on the leak in your attic or check for water damage in the wall or ceiling in the basement, a good flashlight can come in handy. Nevertheless, plumbing experts can utilize state-of-the-art equipment to see water damage that a flashlight may not detect.

 

Earthquakes and Your Plumbing System

Are you living in a high-risk area? In any case, you should always be prepared for when an emergency strikes. It is best to make sure that your home is safe when natural calamities arise. This includes preparing your home plumbing system with the help of a company that offers emergency service.

 

First, assess your risks of getting affected by an earthquake. This includes the age of your appliances and the support of your housing structure. John’s Rooter plumbers can help assess your home for risks and recommend repairs and updates that may be necessary to keep your home safe.

How an Earthquake Affects Your Plumbing. An earthquake can affect your home, especially your plumbing system. Your plumbing can be damaged by a natural disaster. This includes flooding and ruptured pipes.

 

John’s Rooter & Plumbing can help you in cases of an emergency. Take note that even a minor earthquake can disrupt the plumbing system in your home. It is highly recommended that you get seismic straps installed on larger appliances like the washer or water heater. This can help keep your larger appliances secure and in place.

 

How to Avoid Gas Leaks, take note that gas leaks can be lethal and put your family at risk of very serious problems. You should be familiar with how to turn your gas line on and off. In an emergency scenario, don’t forget to turn off your gas to prevent leaks during an earthquake. In modern homes, you will find a simple shut-off valve for the gas line or tank. Other models may require a manual way using a wrench.

 

How to Prepare Your Home for an Earthquake

● Prepare an emergency kit with water and non-perishable food.

● Have a stable point in your house ready such as under reinforced door frames. You should also have safe zones in your house.

● Shelves and artwork should be bolted in place.

● Outfit your pipes properly for an earthquake

● Hire a licensed professional plumber to assess your home for risk

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How Often Should Drain Cleaning Be Done?

Do you find a pool of water at your feet when you go take a shower? Does the sink drain slowly when you’re washing the dishes? Clogged drains may be your problem. In this case, you need a drain cleaning expert to unclog your drains so that water flows smoothly through your pipes. This is a simple and essential home maintenance tip that new and especially old homes should get, but how often? We should go into that question further in this post. In any case, frequent drain cleaning is the only solution to avoid unexpected clogs.

 

Are You More At Risk of Getting Clogged Drains?

If you have just installed brand-new plumbing, your drains are still working well for a long time. However, if the drainage system in your house is already old, the buildup can lead to clogging at any time. Rental homes and older homes are more at risk of getting clogged drains. You may have outdated pipes and gutters that are narrow and collect debris quickly. This can lead to faster clogs.

 

Your habits and lifestyle may also make you more at risk of getting clogged drains. If you wash your dishes by hand in the kitchen sink or throw food scraps, bones, coffee grinds, and grease in the sink, it won’t be too long before you suffer from clogged drains.

 

How Long will it take for a Clog to Build-up? There are various causes that affect the speed at which drains get clogged. This includes how often you use the drain and how much debris collects in the drain. If you throw excess food in the sink on a regular basis or you remove the filter on the sink, you may suffer from frequent clogs. In the bath, having long or thick hair can clog the bathroom drain faster.

 

Why is Frequent Drain Maintenance Important?

If you want your drains to be efficient, it is important that you hire experts for the proper upkeep of your drains. It is best if you just avoid clogging your drains by employing better habits like kitchen composting and keeping a grease container. In worst-case scenarios, you can call John’s Rooter for drain repairs. Other regular upkeep of your drains includes getting a drain filter and getting your drains checked once a year or every 2 years.

 

How to Prepare Your Home for a Plumbing Inspection Before Selling

Are you planning to sell your home? Getting ready for a full property inspection? If you want to add to the value of your home, it is essential that you call a licensed plumber to get your plumbing ready for sale. It would be good to get the market value of your property and know about the repair and maintenance work that your plumbing requires.

 

There are a lot of things that may go wrong with a plumbing system. When problems arise, a good local plumber from John’s Rooter can come in handy. Plumbing problems often build up and lead to emergency problem issues. These are time-sensitive emergencies that make an on-hand plumber essential. Before the home inspector checks the efficiency of your plumbing, it is wise to get a plumbing expert to put your plumbing system in order, and ready for a home inspection.

 

What will a Home Inspector Check? A home inspector is there to make sure that your house is safe and fully functional for the next family who will be living in your house. They are going to test the efficiency of all your appliances and look for recent upgrades as well as check for signs of wear and tear in your home. Before selling it to prospective buyers, a home inspector will give the nod that the home is safe, functional, and ready for occupancy.

 

Your home inspector will also check for signs of decay and deterioration in the exteriors of your home. This includes discoloration and cracks that may be signs of aging and water damage. You need to have these repaired before the inspector comes to your home. You may also do the repairs after it is recommended. Here are some things you need to prepare for a plumbing inspection: ● Make sure that all of the drains are functional ● Check for leaks and water damage

●Check water levels

● Check if shower drains are working

● Check for blockage and cracks

● Look for signs of mold growth and dampness

Finally, don’t forget to clean your home before an inspection.

Repair water damage

 

Simple Tips on How You Can Save On Water Costs

“There goes your money down the drain.” This saying is true if you have high water expenses and you’re not sure how it happened. Our plumbers can help educate you on water-saving tips that will not only reduce your water costs and save you money but also help save the environment. In this post, we will share a couple of efficient ways to save water in your house and yard.

 

Saving Water Costs through Your Toilet It is great if you can install a toilet with an efficient flushing system. However, if you have problems with a running toilet, you may need the services of a local plumber from John’s Rooter. You can check the ball cock to see if this mechanism is still able to control the flushing system. If not you can have one reinstalled. A professional plumber can do this for you. However, you can also buy one from the local hardware store for around $15 and install it yourself. If your problem is with leaking toilets, you can purchase a couple of dye tablets from a home improvement store. You can drop these in the toilet tank. Check if the dye seeps into the bowl which could mean you have a leak. A leaky toilet wastes as much as 500 gallons of water a day. It is best to catch this problem early and call your local plumber.

 

Don’t Let Money Go Down the Drain Using a dishwasher is an excellent option to getting those dishes cleaned. It can also help you avoid getting your drains clogged. Don’t forget to scrape off food before putting the dishes in the dishwasher.

 

What to do with Clogged Pipes? A drain cleaning specialist like John’s Rooter can help you with clogged pipes. Check if the water is backing up and overflowing. If so, you need to call in an expert drain cleaner to remove excess dirt and debris. If you smell a foul odor from your drains, leftover food may be clogging your drains. It’s time to call a plumbing expert.

 

The Best Way to Prevent Clogged Drains

Are your drains suffering from clogs over and over again? Kitchen composting may be the solution to your problems. It only takes some effort to compost your biodegradable products. In fact, composting remains to be the most environmentally-friendly option to just throwing your kitchen waste along with the garbage. This option is sustainable as it is widely practiced. In fact, it is a bylaw in many places on the lower mainland. Instead of washing large amounts of food down the drain, think about the many benefits of composting.

 

Leftovers Cause Clogged Drains Composting is a great option if you want to avoid clogged drains. Leftover materials can create clogs and larger leftovers can fill up your disposal with too much debris. Overloaded disposal is one of the main causes of broken kitchen drains. Furthermore, if it has been a long time since you’ve had your drain cleaned, debris can collect in the pipes and cause slow or blocked drainage. Even smaller items like coffee grinds can cause your drainage system to block.

 

What You Should Do Before Washing the Dishes It is common to wash dishes by hand in the kitchen sink. Even if you have a dishwasher, the plates should be free of organic materials before you place them in the machine. Make it a habit to gather leftovers and compost them before placing the plates in the sink.

 

Don’t Take off the Filter from Your Sink Keep the cover in the drain to help strain any debris that may gather at the bottom of the sink. This will minimize if not eliminate the amount of food that gets into your pipes. Also, don’t forget to remove the food collected in the filter after washing the dishes.

 

Compost Bin + Grease Container = No Clogged Drains Buying and using a compost bin can save you lots of money used to pay for unclogging drains. You may opt for biodegradable garbage bags for composting to avoid creating a mess in your compost bin. As for grease, you can store excess oil in a container. It is not good to pour the grease in the sink as it can restrict water flow in the drainage system.

 

And if you don’t want to deal with any plumbing the experts at John’s Rooter & Plumbing are always happy to help. We are just a call away 530-433-5773.