Saddleback Plumbing Heating & Air Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Bathroom Plumbing’

Important Questions For Kitchen Remodels & Plumbing

Monday, April 3rd, 2023
couple-looking-at-tile-samples-in-store

So you’ve decided it’s time to remodel that outdated bathroom in your home. The planning stage is an exciting one as you start looking at fixtures, flooring, and tiles. You might have had a reality check or two as you realize that you do have a budget that you’re trying to adhere to. 

It’s important to take longevity into consideration. After all, some poor choices from the past are possibly what has led to the need for a bathroom remodel in the first place. You’ll need to plan the entire project well to make sure you’re getting the maximum return on your investment, not just in expense but in ensuring that your new bathroom will meet your needs for years to come. 

In order to get the most out of your bathroom remodel, ask yourself these important questions before starting your project.

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The Case of the Disappearing Hot Water Supply

Monday, March 6th, 2023

Having access to a steady supply of hot water in your home isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity not only for your comfort but for your health as well. Problems with your hot water supply can manifest in different ways. You may have no hot water in the shower but the sinks are fine. Your hot water might last for the first half of a shower then turn ice cold. Or perhaps the water never really gets hot and is constantly lukewarm.

It’s incredibly frustrating when the hot water keeps disappearing on you. To get to the bottom of these issues, you’ll need to call a professional plumbing technician to investigate. Let’s go over some of these strange cases of missing hot water so you’ll have an idea of what the problem could be.

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Making Bathroom Plumbing Replacements During a Remodel

Monday, February 22nd, 2021
luxury-bathroom

Everybody is looking to make some changes this year, to get a fresh start or some new energy into their lives after a not-all-that-great previous year. Doing some home remodeling is a great way to make a change to your house, and the bathroom is one of the best places to remodel. It may not be as flashy a remodel as a kitchen, but it contributes greatly to your personal comfort. 

If you are considering a bathroom remodel this year, something to focus on is making important plumbing replacements. The bathroom has more plumbing in it—from pipes to drains to fixtures—than any other room in the house. A remodel is more than new countertops and cabinets and storage; you’ll have some choices to make about plumbing replacements.

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What to Do When Your Toilet Keeps Running

Wednesday, March 25th, 2015

On average, the toilet accounts for a third of all indoor water use in a home. This is why it’s important that you make sure the toilets in your home receive attention from professional plumbers whenever they malfunction. If you let a problem like a toilet continually running go without repairs, you might end up with an enormous spike in your water bills. Worse, you might end up with a non-working toilet, which is never a pleasant situation.

At Saddleback Plumbing, we offer professional bathroom plumbing services in Mission Viejo, CA that will get any faulty toilet back in working order. Don’t try any DIY tricks beyond using a basic plunger: give us a call and we’ll see that you receive quality service, done fast and done right.

Is your toilet is running nonstop? Here’s what to do

If the toilet continues to run water into the bowl a few minutes after a flush, it could mean a variety of problems. Although the situation shouldn’t threaten your home with flooding or water damage, it will waste a great deal of water and needs to be dealt with right away.

The first thing to do is to flush the toilet again and see if the problem continues. If it does, turn off the water flow at the feed line so the toilet will not continue to waste water.

At this point, you’ll feel tempted to lift off the cover on the tank and attempt to figure out what’s causing the trouble. You should think twice about trying to tamper with the components in the tank, however, since it’s not always easy to determine the source of a malfunction. The problem could be with a tangled flapper chain, the float, a deteriorating flapper, or a defect in the fill valve. Some of these problems are easier to fix than others, but you don’t want to guess and end up trying to repair something that isn’t broken. If the problem lies inside the fill valve, repairing it is a job that requires professionals. In some cases, the whole overflow tube and flapper may need to be replaced, which is a tricky task that will require removing the entire tank to perform, and that’s something you only want a plumber to handle.

But in general, no matter what the trouble with the toilet is, you want to have a plumber investigate it and handle the repairs to make sure that they are done right. A plumber knows the correct parts for any necessary replacements and can take care of the job in a brief time. The next time your toilet starts to run without stopping and you need bathroom plumbing in Mission Viejo, CA, give Saddleback Plumbing a call and we will send one of our skilled plumbers to the rescue.

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Reasons for a Leaky Toilet

Wednesday, November 12th, 2014

One of the most common plumbing components to cause a leak in the home is the toilet. While this installation uses a fairly simple flushing and refilling system to operate, it can fall victim to leaks just like any other device in the home that handles water. If your toilet begins to leak, it may be due to any of the following problems. Keep in mind that you should always trust a professional for any major bathroom plumbing repairs in Lake Forest, CA, like the friendly, experienced plumbers at Saddleback Plumbing.

  • Drain Clog: If water is backing up into your home from the toilet after you flush, it’s probably due to a drain clog, either near the opening of the toilet or further down in the drain pipe. For clogs close to the drain opening, a plunger will usually do the trick. However, if the clog is further along in the pipes it may affect multiple components of your plumbing system, and you’ll need a professional to use the proper drain cleaning tools for removal.
  • Problems with the Float Assembly: The float assembly is the portion inside of the tank that allows water to fill up the bowl and drain when it is flushed. If the float is improperly installed, or if components are aged and wearing away, water will run continuously, which could result in leaks from the tank or out of an overflowing bowl.
  • Seals, Washers, and Bolts: Another possible reason for an overflowing tank is if the toilet seal, washers, or bolts that hold the toilet in place and secure it to the floor are loose or worn away. This should not be a difficult fix for a trained plumber. In the meantime, you can shut off water to your toilet with the valve located near the bottom of the bowl.
  • Cracked Tank or Bowl: Unfortunately, there are a couple of instances in which a leaky toilet cannot be repaired. One of these is if the tank or bowl develops a crack. This generally requires immediate replacement to prevent water from flooding into your home and damaging your property.
  • Corrosion: Another major problem could be if the pipes in the toilet assembly fall victim to corrosion. This may mean that components in your plumbing system need replacement. Be sure to schedule plumbing maintenance every year to prevent this possibility from catching you off guard.

Call Saddleback Plumbing anytime you encounter a problem with your bathroom plumbing in Lake Forest, CA. We offer fast and professional service to get your bathroom back to normal as quickly as possible.

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Common Problems Associated with Bathroom Plumbing

Friday, June 20th, 2014

Your bathroom is one of the most frequently used parts of your household, and you need the sinks, toilets and showers to perform without a hitch day in and day out. When problems arise, you need to take care of them as quickly as possible. Here in Laguna Hills, bathroom plumbing problems are a regular occurrence and can be handled by a number of qualified bathroom plumbing services. Here are some common problems associated with bathroom plumbing that you should keep an eye out for.

  • Clogs. Clogged drains are the scourge of many homeowners, and can get particularly bad in the bathroom. Human hair is surprisingly strong, and it can collect in your faucet or shower drain. There, it mixes with soap scum, toothpaste and similar materials to make a very strong clog. Store-bought cleansers can rarely dent such clogs, but a professional plumbing service can usually make short work of them.
  • Hard water. Hard water is water with an unusually high amount of mineral content (usually calcium and magnesium). It’s harmless, but it can create a crumbly white build-up on your faucet heads, and even clog up the faucet if left untreated. Hard water can also leave you skin feeling raw and red after bathing. A water filtration system can soften your water and a plumber can deal with egregious deposits left by hard water.
  • Leaky Toilets. A leaky toilet is usually caused by a breach in the line between the toilet tank and the rest of your plumbing system. The seal, valve or the line itself can usually be replaced fairly easily. A more substantial leak may be caused by a crack in the porcelain, in which case you will probably need to get the entire toilet replaced.

Whenever you’re faced with common problems associated with bathroom plumbing, the best solution is to call the experts at Saddleback Plumbing to help. Bathroom plumbing problems of all varieties are our specialty, and we won’t rest until you are completely happy with our work. We also provide a variety of other plumbing services in Laguna Hills, CA. Pick up the phone and give us a call today. You’ll be glad you did!

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How to Address Leaks in Bathroom Plumbing

Friday, April 4th, 2014

Leaks are a sad inevitability in most homes. No matter how well maintained your plumbing system is, sooner or later, you’ll have to deal with a breach or a leak. This is especially true with bathroom plumbing, which sees the heaviest use and often experiences the most damaging leaks. Here in Irvine, bathroom plumbing doesn’t undergo the same pressures as it might in colder climates, but seals and connectors can still wear down, as can the pipes themselves in the most extreme cases. Here’s how to address leaks in bathroom plumbing.

Detection is key, which means you should always look out for signs of drips or water running where it shouldn’t. Check under your sink for drips and puddles on a regular basis, and look for signs such as odd noises and gurgling sounds for those pipes that aren’t readily visible. Once you spot it, shut off the water to that section of your plumbing if you can. If you can’t, simply take care not to use the fixture or appliance in question, most bathroom plumbing fixtures don’t have constantly running water, so refraining from using the sink or shower until you can get the leak addressed will prevent the water from puddling up in inappropriate locations.

In a few cases, you can treat a leak yourself with epoxy or a similar sealant. In most cases, however, you should contact a qualified plumber to deal with the leaks. He or she can replace the damaged component, tighten the loose fittings and otherwise address the leak in a substantive fashion. More importantly, most reputable plumbing repair services offer a guarantee on their work, which means you won’t need to worry about the leak returning anytime soon.

Professional plumbing repairs in Irvine is offered by the professionals at Saddleback Plumbing. We stand by our work with guaranteed services and proudly cite our affiliation with reputable groups such as the Plumbing Heating & Cooling Contractors as proof. Most importantly, we know how to address leaks in bathroom plumbing with courtesy and care. Pick up the phone today and give us a call. You’ll be glad you did!

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3 Things to Consider When Replacing Bathroom Plumbing

Thursday, February 20th, 2014

You can choose to have bathroom plumbing replacement done for a variety of reasons. Some homeowners choose to have a full pipe replacement for older pipes during a bathroom remodel, when the pipes are exposed, either to make the remodel design more flexible or because the pipes are too aged. Other times, you’ll need replacement done to put in new fixtures, such as tub, sink, or toilet. Whatever the reason, here are three things for you to consider when it’s time for replacement work for your Lake Forest, CA bathroom plumbing.

For excellent plumbing services, from your bathroom to your kitchen and all other rooms in your home, you can depend on the professionals at Saddleback Plumbing—serving Orange County since 1981.

1. Replacement material

If you have a house older than thirty or forty years, you probably have galvanized steel plumbing, which was the dominant material for indoor plumbing since the close of the 19th century. For newer homes, you probably have copper pipes. When it comes to pipe replacement, you have the option to go for copper (if you have steel pipes), or plastic pipes such as CPVC and PEX. These three each have advantages and disadvantages, so check with your plumber about your options and their costs to help you choose the one that will work best for you.

2. Replacing one component will often involve replacing others

Whether you are installing a new low-flow toilet, a sink, or a whirlpool bathtub, placing upgraded components in your bathroom often means that other components must be upgraded as well. A professional plumber can survey your bathroom’s needs before replacement and determine what work needs to be done to ensure that all fixtures in the bathroom will work their best.

3. Use only licensed, professional plumbers

Bathroom plumbing replacement is neither a “do-it-yourself” task nor work for amateurs who claim to be plumbers. There are few places in a home that depend on the proper flow of fresh and waste water as much as the bathroom, and poor pipe replacement can mean substandard material, faulty connections, leaking, low water pressure, and even serious damage to the flooring. Make sure you call on experienced plumbing professionals for this job: you’ll save time, money, and disastrous future problems.

Having replacements done for your bathroom plumbing by a professional plumbing service in Lake Forest, CA can mean enhancing your daily routine with more advanced components and better water pressure and flow. But that success depends on having the right plumbing contractor doing the work. Make sure you call a qualified and experienced plumber when the time comes. Give Saddleback Plumbing a call today for fast and professional service.

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Some Options to Consider for Your Bathroom Plumbing Project

Friday, January 31st, 2014

A bathroom plumbing project is a serious investment in your home, and you should take extra care to consider all the options before moving forward. A bathroom plumbing renovation needs to enhance the value of your home, not turn into a money pit. Consultation with a trained and professional plumbing service in Mission Viejo, CA, is the best option for getting what you want out of your new bathroom without breaking the bank. Here are some options to consider for your bathroom plumbing project.

  • Think about a wet wall
    That’s a plumbing term for a wall in which all the plumbing and fixtures – sinks, toilets, showers, etc. – are against one wall. That includes drain pipes and waste pipes as well as pipes bringing water into the bathroom. That keeps the plumbing simple and eliminates the need to run piping into awkward locations, which raises the price of the operation considerably. (It also makes it easier to fix any problems that crop up down the line.)
  • Practicality predominates
    You may have your heart set on a sink island, a claw-foot tub or other items that add to the aesthetics of the bathroom. But you also need to consider the practicality of such fixtures. You’ll likely be using them every day, day in and day out, for years on end. Fixtures like these can take up a lot of spare space, as well as leading to water dripping onto the floors more often. If you have the space and the luxury, you can think about them, but you need to consider long-haul implications, not just initial novelty.
  • Consider maintenance
    Similarly, when choosing materials, think about durable materials that will stand up to years of use. The better your tiling, grouting, porcelain surfaces and the like, the more your bathroom will stay trouble free. Again, think about allocating your budget into long-range uses rather than short-term novelty.

For more options to consider for your bathroom plumbing project in Mission Viejo, CA, call on the plumbing experts at Saddleback Plumbing for help. Not only can we help you plan the bathroom of your dreams, but we’ll take steps to help protect it from things like the salty sea air and the occasional earthquake. Give us a call today and let us show you what we can do!

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How to Reduce Water Usage in Your Bathrooms

Thursday, November 7th, 2013

Question: Where’s the best place in your house to save water?

Answer: The bathroom!

Although you might have felt tempted to answer “the kitchen,” the bathroom is the spot in your home that has the most water fixtures and drains, and all of them see use during the day, often multiple times. Because the bathroom gets so much use, you’ve probably developed a number of water-wasting habits that you can change. There are also spots in your bathroom that will use less water after they receive attention from a professional plumber.

Saddleback Plumbing is ready to help you get the most efficient use from your Irvine, CA bathroom plumbing system. We’ve helped many people save water with our quality plumbing services since 1981, and we can help you too.

Below we’ve listed a few of the best ways to reduce your water usage in the bathroom.

Stop running water during other activities: Do you keep the faucet running while you brush your teeth? While shaving? There’s no reason to do this, but unfortunately it’s a habit many of us fall into. Make a conscious effort to shut off the bathroom faucet the moment you don’t need water, and soon that will be a habit—a positive one.

Fix leaky faucets: A small leak from a faucet may seem like a minor annoyance you can drown out by just shutting the bathroom door. However, this sort of leak can waste up to 20 gallons per day or more. Get a plumber to stop the leak.

Reduce your shower time: Showers take up less water than baths, but are still wasteful if you spend too much time under the running showerhead. Try to reduce the length of your showers by a few minutes. You can also try shutting off the water while you soap your body or lather shampoo in your hair, and only turn the water back on when you absolutely need it.

Get running toilets fixed immediately: If a toilet continues to run after it was last used, it’s more than an inconvenience—it wastes a tremendous amount of water. A running toilet will use 2 gallons of water a minute, which will add up to enormous waste in the space of only an hour. Call a plumber for repairs as soon as possible.

You’ll soon discover that saving water while in the bathroom doesn’t take much extra effort—and it will repay you on your monthly bills. Seek the advice of a professional Irvine plumber for problems with leaks and running toilets. Professional plumbers can also advise you about getting installations that will help reduce your water usage.

Contact Saddleback Plumbing today for help with your bathroom plumbing in Irvine, CA.

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