What Is Causing the Clogs in My Drains?

March 23rd, 2020
Drain

The clogged drain is almost the definition of “household nuisance.” We’ve all dealt with one before, we know we’ll deal with more in the future. The good news is that unclogging drains isn’t difficult—as long as you know the right steps. Use a plunger or a hand-cranked drain snake. If that doesn’t fix the clog, don’t use chemical drain cleaners. Instead, call us for professional plumbing in Ladera Ranch, CA and we will remove the clog, thoroughly, quickly, and without damaging the drainpipes.

But drain clogs aren’t a singular problem—they’re the result of different problems. “What is causing the clogs in my drains?” is the right question to ask, because it goes a long way toward prevention of clogs in the future. So we’ll guide you through the most common sources of drain clogs.

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High Water Pressure in Your Home Is Bad for the Plumbing

March 10th, 2020
shower

You probably know that low water pressure is a problem in your home’s plumbing. It’s hard to shower, difficult to clean, and generally an annoyance.

But water pressure can also be too high. The water pressure in a plumbing system should be between 45 and 55 psi (pounds per square inch). If the pressure rises above 60 psi, it can create problems for the plumbing, including damage to the pipes. In most cases of high water pressure, a professional must analyze the problem and find a solution.

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Why You’re Seeing Black Specks in Your Water

February 24th, 2020
water-and-tap

The water that comes from your taps is supposed to be clear. As crystal clear as possible. Although you may still have unseen contaminants inside clear water (which is why recommend scheduling regular water testing every few years), when the water turns muddy, discolored, or cloudy, you’ll know there’s something wrong.

A common visual issue you may see in your water is black specks. What causes this, and is it a reason to call a plumber in Newport Beach, CA to fix it? We’ll answer these questions below.

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Want Your Water Heater to Last Longer? Follow This Advice

February 10th, 2020
shower

Of course, you want your home’s water heater to last longer. It’s the best way to get a high return on your original investment in it. Paying for replacement earlier than you should is a big budget drain.

But you do have to meet your water heater halfway on this. It can’t magically live its longest life without any assistance. Below are the best ways you can ensure your current water heater (or maybe your next one) reaches or exceeds its manufacturer’s estimated service life.

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What Is “Too Old” for a Furnace?

January 27th, 2020
Furnace-standard

No furnace can last indefinitely, and there’s no such thing as “the last heating system you’ll ever need to buy.” Even in warm Southern California, furnaces gradually wear down from use. In fact, homeowners often neglect to have routine service for their furnaces because they don’t rely on them often. This will speed up the furnace’s decline.

If you’ve come to this post, it’s because you suspect your furnace is past its expiration date—whatever that may be. What is considered “too old” for a furnace? We’ll take a look at this question, which has several answers.

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How a Professional Cleans Drains and Clears Drain Clogs

January 13th, 2020
drain-with-chain-plug

Drain clogs are one of the most common plumbing problems homeowners face. They’re “ordinary” in the worst way—they crop up often and can bring daily activities to a halt until resolved.

The standard way to zap a clog is with a sink plunger. A hand-cranked drain auger (a.k.a. drain snake) is another option that can work in some cases. A third choice many homeowners make is to pour a bottle of “drain cleaner” into the drain to eat away at the blockage. No matter what the labels on these bottles of drain cleaners promise, they are terrible for drains and for you. When you need a third option to clean a drain and clear a clog, call a plumbing technician in Irvine, CA.

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Clogged Air Filter: A Simple Problem With Big Consequences

December 30th, 2019
pleated-air-filter

No matter what climate you live in, the clogged air filter in the HVAC system is a major problem. Here in Orange County, our heating systems don’t put in a huge amount of work, but you’ve probably had yours running regularly over the last few weeks when night and morning temperatures dropped into the high 40s. You’ll likely have reason to turn the AC on again before the winter is over—that’s just how our climate works.

No matter if you have the air conditioner, the heater, or just the central fan of the HVAC system running, you’ll need to pay attention to the HVAC filter and have it changed routinely to avoid having it become clogged. This is a basic part of HVAC maintenance in Irvine, CA—one of the few parts of maintenance you can do on your own. We recommend checking on the filter once a month. You’ll know it’s too clogged if you hold it up to the light and the filter blocks out the light. Expect to change the filter every one to three months.

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Drain Cleaning: It’s Great for This Time of Year

December 16th, 2019
drain-cleaning-cutaway

A topic that many professional plumbing contractors bring up at this time of year is how to prevent pipes from freezing in the winter. Well, for plumbing in Orange County, CA, that’s never a problem! But that doesn’t mean there a no seasonal difficulties for your plumbing in sunny Southern California.

One common plumbing trouble during the festive season is with clogged drains. Your kitchen plumbing probably just went through a rough work-out during Thanksgiving, and now it has more celebrations and visiting relatives and feasts to deal with. This often leads to homeowners calling for help to clear out clogged drains and jammed garbage disposals when they greet the New Year.

We want you to enjoy the holidays in peace, and we recommend you schedule drain cleaning if you haven’t already. Drain cleaning is a good idea each year, so why not get into the habit now when your drains need it the most?

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Some Facts to Know About a Heat Pump Installation

December 2nd, 2019
heat-pump-backyard

A new heating installation in Irvine, CA usually isn’t a big moment—and that’s because homeowners rarely think about heating systems in the mild winter climates of Southern California. However, any HVAC installation is important, and we recommend you give some serious thought to what type of heater you have in your house. If you’ve come to the point where you’re certain it’s time to put in a new heating system, one of the best options available in our climate is a heat pump.

Heat pumps are different from most standard heaters, such as furnaces and boilers, so to help you out with a heat pump installation, we’ve listed some vital facts about what to expect from a heat pump.

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You May Need to Install a Water Softener for Your House

November 18th, 2019

The freshwater sent to homes and commercial and industrial buildings throughout Orange County is overseen by the Orange County Water Department. The OCWD makes every effort to ensure the water that reaches your house is thoroughly treated to remove harmful impurities. In many cases, the water in Orange County is better quality water than what you can get from bottled water—and it’s much better for the environment to leave those water bottles aside and go with water from your taps.

However, there is an exception with our local water, which is its hardness. Water is considered “hard” if it has higher than 10 grains per gallon of hard water minerals. These minerals include magnesium, calcium, and gypsum. In many parts of Orange County, the water has more than 10 grains per gallon unless it comes from a well. The water hardness occurs because of mineral seepage through the groundwater and into the pipes carrying water to your home.

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