Saddleback Plumbing Heating & Air Blog: Archive for the ‘Plumbing’ Category

Contaminants that Water Treatment Systems Remove

Wednesday, August 27th, 2014

If you’re a homeowner, you care about the quality of your water. So if your water begins to smell, look, or taste strange, it’s time to call a professional plumbing company to test your home and install the proper water treatment system for your water supply.

In fact, some contaminants may not be so obvious. While not all contaminants have a foul taste or smell, many can seriously affect the quality of your plumbing system or be hazardous to your health anyway. If you’ve never had your water tested, you may not know about the hidden contaminants that may lurk in your water supply. Here are just a few of the contaminants that can be treated with water treatment systems in Ladera Ranch.

  • Magnesium and Calcium – An excess of magnesium or calcium in the water, known as “hard water,” can cause problems for your plumbing system. While these minerals in your water usually will not negatively affect your health, deposits may build up along the insides of your pipes, leading to clogs and low water pressure. Furthermore, changes in the pressurization of the water in your plumbing system may seriously damage your pipes. This issue can be treated with a water softener.
  • Excess Salt – However, water softeners eliminate these minerals by replacing them with sodium. Because high levels of sodium may be unhealthy, a reverse osmosis system can be installed as well to remove excess salt and other minerals in your water.
  • Nitrates and Arsenic – Nitrates and arsenic can also be harmful to your health, but they often do not have any noticeable effect on the smell, taste, or color of your water. If this is found in your water during testing, a plumber can install a cartridge that can eliminate the problem.

Still not sure what contaminants may be affecting your water supply? When you call Saddleback Plumbing, we check your water supply to determine whether you need a reverse osmosis system, a water softener, a specialty cartridge, or any other water treatment system for your home. After we install your system, we’ll test it again to make sure the problem is taken care of. If you have more questions about installing water treatment systems in Ladera Ranch, call one of our experts today!

 

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How to Maintain Your Kitchen Garbage Disposal

Wednesday, August 20th, 2014

The garbage disposal is a convenience that few people think about until it runs into problems. But the garbage disposal is a useful appliance, and without it you may clog your drain more often, and cooking or cleaning may become more difficult. That’s why you should do everything in your power to keep your garbage disposal working its best.

The following tips can help you keep your garbage disposal in top shape so that it can last for years. If you do run into problems that require the services of a kitchen plumbing expert, be sure to call a professional, like the plumbers at Saddleback Plumbing in Irvine.

  • No non-food items: First and foremost, you should never put non-food items down the disposal, and this includes your hands! Non-food items can damage the disposal blades and clog your pipes. If you run into repair needs, be sure not to put any items down the drain, and call on a kitchen plumbing professional instead.
  • Small quantities only: The garbage disposal chops food into smaller pieces so that it can move down the drain easily with the rest of your home’s wastewater, but you should still break up larger food items to make the job easier for your unit and to avoid over-exhaustion.
  • Avoid these foods: There are many foods you should avoid putting into the disposal entirely. These include hard foods like popcorn, the hard shells of shellfish like crabs, and animal bones. You should also avoid fibrous foods like celery and corn husks, as well as any grease or oils.
  • Run cold water: Running cold water every time you use the garbage disposal can help break down oils so they’re easier to process.
  • Sharpen the blades: You can keep the blades of your unit sharp by throwing in a few handfuls of ice cubes occasionally.
  • Keep blades clean: You can also clean the blades by adding in some baking soda and vinegar or lemon juice.

These tips can help you get a longer lifespan out of your garbage disposal. But if the need for repairs or replacement comes up, call the professionals at Saddleback Plumbing for kitchen plumbing services in Irvine.

 

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The Cause of Bad Odors from Drains

Friday, August 15th, 2014

A plumbing system in a home that generates foul, sewer-like odors is something that you want corrected right away. There are a number of reasons that drains can start to emit bad smells, from simple problems that you can fix yourself in a few minutes, to extensive troubles with the sewer system that require major repair work from professionals. Whatever the cause and whatever the remedy, take care of those smelly drains right away.

Here at Saddleback Plumbing, we’ve provided comprehensive plumbing repair in Lake Forest, CA and the rest of Orange County since 1981. We handle drain cleaning and sewer repairs that will take care of bad smelling drains or any other trouble. Make us your first call for all your plumbing needs.

Why Drains Can Develop Bad Odors

  • Dry p-trap: This is the simplest explanation, and also one that you can take care of on your own. The p-trap in a drain is the curved section of drainpipe directly beneath the sink. This shape is designed to trap water to serve as a plug against sewer gas that rises up from the wastewater system. If the sink is not used for a long period, the water in the p-trap will evaporate and allow sewer gas to escape out of the drain. If you notice the sewer odors coming from a sink in a guest room or some other sink that doesn’t receive much use, a dry p-trap is likely the source of the problem. Run water through the drain for a few minutes to restore the water plug, and that should take care of it.
  • Blocked drain vents: Your plumbing has vent pipes in the wastewater system to prevent a build-up of pressure from sewer gas. Gases from the plumbing rise up through these vent pipes and leave through vent openings on the roof. If these openings become blocked (animal nests, debris from bad weather, construction errors) it will force the sewer gas up through the p-trap and push it through the water. If you hear a gurgling sound from the bad-smelling drains, it probably means the plumbing vents are blocked. Don’t go to the roof to try to fix this: stay safe and call for professionals.
  • Sewer line damage: This is the most serious scenario. If you notice multiple drains in your home are emitting the bad smells, it may mean that the sewer line that carries the collected wastewater from your home to the municipal sewer system is damaged or blocked. This needs immediate attention, since it can lead to sewage flooding into your home’s foundations and up onto your yard. The repairs required are extensive and need the most skilled plumbers you can find to perform.

If you can’t solve the bad drain odors on your own with a little water poured down the drain pipes, call Saddleback Plumbing right away. One of our skilled plumbers will help you with the necessary plumbing repair in Lake Forest, CA that will eliminate those odors and protect your home’s plumbing.

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Is a Standard Tank Water Heater Sometimes the Better Option?

Friday, August 8th, 2014

Tankless water heaters have existed for many years now, but it was not until recently that they expanded their popularity from Europe to the U.S. Now many homeowners on this side of the Atlantic are enjoying the benefits of going tankless, which include never running out of hot water, saving space, lowering energy costs, and getting more years of service from their water heater.

But not everyone has switched from the old “tank” water heaters (storage water heaters) to the tankless models. There are some good reasons for this, and it isn’t just resistance to change. In certain situations, a storage water heater is a superior choice over a tankless one.

It will be hard to determine on your own which of these choices is best for you. You should also seek a professional opinion from a water heater installer and Laguna Hills, CA plumbing company. The team at Saddleback Plumbing is here to help answer your questions and then install the right system for you.

Why might a storage water heater work better for me?

The first consideration is cost: tankless systems cost more to install than standard tank water heaters. In some situations, the potential savings from a tankless system are insufficient to make them worth the upfront investment. How much water you use regularly and your immediate budget plans will affect how useful a tankless heater can be. If your use of water is moderate (usually because you have a small household) and your budget is currently tight, a storage water heater makes a perfectly acceptable option for hot water.

Tankless water heaters can sometimes lose efficiency if multiple taps turn on at once; if this is something that occurs regularly in your home, then you should also consider staying with a storage model.

However, in most homes there is very little to restrict you from choosing a tankless water heater. Considering their long lifespan (usually 5 years more than a storage water heater) they have a lengthy period to return your initial investment. Most owners will see the installation costs paid off in only a few years. Consult with an experienced plumber about installing a new water heater to find out which of the available models will bring you the amount of hot water you need at price that matches your budget.

Since 1981, Saddleback Plumbing has served Orange County with water heater installation. When you need expert work for you plumbing in Laguna Hills, CA, make us your first choice.

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How Often Should I Schedule Plumbing Maintenance?

Wednesday, July 30th, 2014

The plumbing of your home does a tremendous amount of work each day, bringing in fresh water to multiple taps and appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers; running hot water from the water heater; and removing wastewater from drains to the sewer system. Considering the amount of punishment that plumbing can take over weeks, months, and years, it is surprising that homeowners don’t often consider scheduling regular maintenance to check on the integrity of the plumbing system.

Maintenance is something your plumbing must have in order to keep working optimally, without the risk of leaking, corrosion, breaks, and blockages. The complexity of the pipe system in a house, which consists of freshwater, wastewater, and hot water lines made from different types of material, requires that professionals handle the maintenance. Contact the experienced team at Saddleback Plumbing in Irvine, CA for plumbing maintenance that will keep your home’s vital water system in the best shape possible.

The Frequency of Plumbing Maintenance

How often is it necessary to have a maintenance inspection for your plumbing? Annually, just as you do for your heating and air conditioning system. (You are having those done annually, right?) Any major system in your home that received daily use needs to have a professional check-up once a year.

Consider all that a plumber needs to inspect during a maintenance visit, and you’ll understand why it is so important to have this work done every year:

  • Water pressure check to see if there are possible leaks or if the pressure is too high because of problems elsewhere in the system, such as mineral buildup from hard water.
  • Leak detection to spot places where hidden leaking may be occurring.
  • Garbage disposal check.
  • Backflow preventer check to make sure sewage can’t enter into the freshwater lines.
  • General drain cleaning service to clear out the buildup of residue inside frequently used drains like those in the kitchen.
  • Sewer line inspection to see that the line is in good shape and not in danger of blockages from tree roots.
  • Inspecting the water heater to see that it doesn’t have impending repair needs.

A thorough inspection will see that your plumbing is both safe and efficient. It will help you avoid repairs in the future and ensure that all parts of the system are working in peak condition.

Regardless of how well you maintain your plumbing, repair needs can crop up, so make sure that you have a reliable company in Irvine, CA for plumbing repairs that can get the work done fast and accurately. Look to the more than 30 years of experience at Saddleback Plumbing for repairs and maintenance that will keep your plumbing working for you instead of causing hassles.

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What Does the U-Bend in My Plumbing Do?

Thursday, July 17th, 2014

It is often items we see every day that escape our attention the most. For example, the U-shaped bend in the drainpipe under a sink: You’ve seen this often in the fixtures of your home and many other places. But have you ever wondered why so many drainpipes have this same specific shape? The answer is interesting, and it’s not quite what people expect.

When you need answers for all of your plumbing questions, call Saddleback Plumbing. Since 1980, we have delivered quality services for plumbing in Laguna Niguel, CA and the rest of Orange County. We’re here for your heating and cooling needs as well.

That “U-bend” is Actually the “P-Trap”

The plumber’s name for that distinctive drainpipe bend is “p-trap.” Although it may seem U-shaped when you look at it from the front, if you take a view from the side you’ll see the similarity to a capital letter “P”.

The p-trap’s function is to create a water seal between the opening of the drain in a sink and the wastewater further down the pipe. The decomposition of wastewater in the plumbing releases sewer gases with unpleasant odor, and this gas naturally rises back up the plumbing. However, gravity traps water inside the dip in the p-trap, and this water plug prevents the sewer gas from escaping up through the drain and into a house.

If you ever detect the smell of sewage coming from a sink that hasn’t been used much, the reason is probably because the p-trap has dried up and there is no water to halt the sewer gas. Turn on the taps and run water down the drain for about a minute to restore the water plug, and this should solve the problem. (If it doesn’t, call for a plumber; you may have more serious issues down in the sewer line.)

The p-trap can turn into an issue for your plumbing, since it will often catch more than water: soap scum, hair, and grease will begin to build up inside it, and this can eventually lead to serious clogging. If you cannot clear out the clog using a plunger, call a plumber instead of resorting to using toxic and acidic chemical cleaners that could damage your pipes. A plumber can use a motorized drain snake or a hydro-jetter to remove the obstructions, and in extreme cases can detach the p-trap from the other pipes and clean it.

If you have a clogged p-trap in your plumbing in Laguna Niguel, CA, call Saddleback Plumbing today and let our fast and professional plumbers take care of it.

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What Does Low Pressure in My Plumbing Mean?

Tuesday, July 15th, 2014

Although it’s possible for you to still take care of a number of basic chores in your home after you experience a drop in water pressure from your faucets, shower heads, and other fixtures, it’s not only and inconvenience, it’s also a warning that there may be a serious issue in your plumbing that needs repair—before it worsens.

There are a number of reasons for a pressure drop in your plumbing, ranging from benign to major emergencies. When you have any doubt about the cause, call for professional plumbing repair services from Saddleback Plumbing. We have handled professional plumbing repair in Tustin, CA since 1981, and have the skill and experience to find the source of the water pressure drop and fix it fast and correctly.

Some of the Reasons for a Drop in Water Pressure

It’s possible that the low pressure comes from issues in the municipal system, such as an abrupt drain on the water supply because of firefighting. Check with your neighbors to see if they are also experiencing water pressure troubles before you proceed with any other steps. Make a call to the utility company if you want to double check.

Pipe leaks are the most common cause for water pressure drops, and are one of the important early warnings you can receive that leaking is occurring. (Pipes with leaks are often concealed behind walls and floorboards.) For this job, you will need plumbers with experience performing leak detection to find the spots that need repairs.

The most serious possible cause for water pressure decline is trouble with the water main that brings in water from the municipal system. If this line breaks or develops blockage, it will threaten your entire water supply, and it could also lead to flooding on your yard or into your home. This is one of the reasons you should always have professionals investigate water pressure problems: the cause might be minor… or it might be a water line break.

In some cases, the water line isn’t damaged; it is simply too small for the amount of water your home now uses. Replacing the smaller water line with a larger one will help your plumbing keep up with water demands.

Don’t “Tolerate” Low Water Pressure

If you shrug off low water pressure and wait for it to improve, you might place the water supply and risk and even allow damage to your home. Although it is possible for the water pressure to return if the issue is with the utility company, don’t take the chance. Once you’ve checked on the possibility of an external reason for the drop in pressure, call Saddleback Plumbing to handle the necessary plumbing repair in Tustin, CA that will get your running water back to running the way it should.

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What’s Causing Problems with My Water Treatment System?

Thursday, July 10th, 2014

When it comes to protecting our health in our homes, and protecting our plumbing systems as well, a good whole-house water treatment system is often a necessity. You can’t always trust the water from the Orange County municipal supply to be free of unhealthy contaminants and the minerals that create hard water. With the right water treatment systems in an Irvine, CA home, you can have protection from nitrates, arsenic, pesticides, calcium, magnesium, sulfurous oxide, and other chemicals and pollutants that enter the water supply.

Water treatment systems sometimes need help as well, both through regular maintenance and from repairs. If your water treatment begins to fail at its job, call for repairs from Saddleback Plumbing right away, and we’ll find what out what is plaguing your water treatment and fix it.

What Can Go Wrong with Water Treatment Systems

  • Clogged or bad filters: This is the most common reason for problems in a whole-house water treatment system. If the system uses filters to clean water, those filters will eventually become clogged, which will not only stop the filter from working properly, it will lead to a reduction in water pressure. To help avoid these problems, arrange for yearly maintenance for your water treatment system, which will make sure the filters are cleaned and/or replaced as necessary.
  • The wrong system was installed: It’s extremely important to have professionals install your water treatment system. Amateur installation often means receiving a system that either a) doesn’t treat the specific problems in your water you need, or 2) is the wrong size to properly do its job. There is a great variety of water treatment systems available, each designed to target different issues in the water, and installers need to know exactly what problems in the water need remedy before choosing a system. They then need to size it right for the level of water use in your home. If your whole-house water treatment system does not appear to be improving the water quality, call on professionals to see if the right unit was originally installed.
  • Excess salt from a water softener: An issue that homeowners sometimes encounter when they install a water softener is that it adds too much salt to the water in order to balance the calcium and magnesium ions. If you start to notice salty-tasting water, you might need to install a reverse osmosis system to balance the pH level from the water softener.

There are many other possibilities for water treatment malfunction. We recommend annual check-ups and maintenance to keep your home’s treatment system working as well as possible. Call Saddleback Plumbing today to arrange for a maintenance visit, or for plumbing repairs for your Irvine, CA home.

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Signs of Damage to Your Water Line

Friday, June 27th, 2014

When you consider the amount of water that you use in your house on a daily basis—for cooking, cleaning, bathing, drinking—it’s astonishing that the pipeline that carries the fresh water into your home can endure as long as it does. But the continuous movement of water will eventually take a toll and you will end up with clogs, breaks, or leaks in the water main. In Southern California, damage from earthquakes are a particular worry, although you may not notice issues in the pipe immediately after a temblor.

Aside from outright losing your water supply, there are a number of specific signs to look for that can warn it’s time to call a plumber to investigate potential damages that may require the water line repair. For Mission Viejo, CA water lines, you can trust the job to Saddleback Plumbing; we’ve served Orange County with quality plumbing for over three decades.

Watch for These Indications of a Damaged Water Line

  • Drop in water pressure: One of the earliest warnings that there is a leak or block in the water line is when the water pressure suddenly plunges. If you notice that faucets and showerheads throughout your home have lost pressure and the flow of water is weak, the problem might lie with a damaged water line. (It’s also possible that there is an issue in the municipal system, so you should check with neighbors to see if they are experiencing similar troubles.)
  • Contamination in the water: Breaks in the water main will allow dirt and soil to enter into the pipes. Should your water take on a sudden reddish-brown discoloration, or an unpleasant taste, the issue is likely because of a breach in the water main. Call for repairs immediately.
  • Water flow in your yard: Should the water line spring a leak, the escaping water will flow up into your yard, and sometimes come through cracks in the sidewalk. The problem could come from unrelated pipes, but you nonetheless need to contact a plumber to determine the source of the leak.
  • Hissing and rumbling noises: The point where the water main enters your house will make hissing and rumbling sounds when water is flowing from a tap in your home; this is normal. But if you hear this sound when there is no water flowing inside the house, it indicates that water is running out of the line somewhere between where it exits the municipal supply and where it enters your home. Call right away for plumbers to look into the situation.

You don’t want to have your water supply abruptly vanish because of a damaged water line, so pay attention to any of these warning signs and call for a team of plumbers that knows how to handle plumbing repairs in Mission Viejo, CA that include water line damage. Trust the work to Saddleback Plumbing for fast and professional service. Contact us today to schedule a plumber at the first sign of damage to your water line.

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Why Should I Contact a Pumber for Drain Cleaning?

Thursday, June 26th, 2014

Clogged drains are a hassle that homeowners expect to happen now and then—there’s just no avoiding them. But although accidents will occur when an object tumbles down a drain and blocks it, you don’t have to deal with clogs afflicting your plumbing on a regular basis because of buildups of soap scum, grease, hair, and food. With the help of professional drain cleaning, you can eliminate current clogs and help prevent future ones.

If you’re wondering why you need professional plumbers to handle this job, we’ll explain what trained and licensed plumbers can bring to the task and how it will help you. To get started, call our staff at Saddleback Plumbing. We will arrange for drain cleaning service in Lake Forest, CA that will clear out clogs and give you healthy plumbing.

Why You Need Professionals Plumbers to Clean Your Drains

  • Because liquid drain cleaners are terrible for drains: Yes, in spite of their name, chemical drain cleaners you can purchase next to the mops and laundry detergent in aisle #3 at the grocery store are absolute “no-nos” for drains. They are harshly caustic, which makes them damaging to the interior of drainpipes, and they are potentially hazardous for you and your family. If you cannot clear out a clog using a plunger, don’t reach for these “cleaners.” And don’t rely on them for regular “cleaning” either.
  • Professionals have comprehensive cleaning methods: A skilled plumber won’t just get rid of a clog. He or she will use methods that will clear out thick levels of contamination so that your plumbing will have far fewer problem from clogs and high water pressure in the future. Using non-invasive procedures such a hydro-jetting will wipe away all the build-up of grease, soap-scum, and other deposits from the inside of pipes.
  • Professionals have the best equipment: Plumbers have access to expensive plumbing tools unavailable to the consumer (and too difficult to use without training). Hydro-jetters, mechanical drain snakes, and video pipe inspection equipment are all part of the arsenal that plumbers bring to the job of targeted cleaning in a home’s drains.
  • Professionals can handle the job fast: Finally, it is worth it to have plumbers handle drain cleaning because they can take care of the work quickly, causing minimal inconvenience to you. You will have both a thorough and rapid drain cleaning job with the right plumbers on the task.

At Saddleback Plumbing, we recommend that you schedule regular drain cleaning and not just when you have a clogging issue. Make this a part of your annual checkup for your plumbing system, and you should have an (almost) clog-free home life. We also offer comprehensive plumbing services in Lake Forest, CA. To schedule your next service appointment with us, give us a call today.

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