Plumbing leaks are among the more problematic issues that can affect your home. They can cause a lot of water damage, reduce the efficiency of your plumbing system, and generally cost more to repair than what their small size would indicate. The best thing you can do to mitigate the effects of plumbing leaks on your home is to schedule preventive plumbing maintenance at least once every year or two. This ensures that any plumbing leaks are found and dealt with before they can cause too much damage. Between plumbing appointments, though, you should still remain vigilant for signs that your plumbing system has leaks in it. If you call for repairs quickly enough, you should still be able to prevent a lot of damage to the system.
Saddleback Plumbing Heating & Air Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Irvine’
Learn How to Spot Plumbing Leaks in Your Home
Monday, April 9th, 2018How Can I Tell if I Have a Plumbing Issue?
Monday, February 26th, 2018
Plumbing issues are obnoxious in a number of ways, not least because they’re so difficult to detect without professional services. This is why it’s so important to have professional plumbing maintenance conducted every year or two. Otherwise, you may not be able to tell if you have a plumbing issue in time to resolve it before it causes serious damage. Even between maintenance appointments, though, you should be keeping an eye out for signs that your plumbing system is in need of professional services. You may not be able to prevent all of the damage the problem has caused, but you can at least have it fixed before it gets any worse.
Tips for Keeping Your Kitchen Plumbing in Good Shape
Monday, October 23rd, 2017
The kitchen is the area in your home with the highest concentration of plumbing appliances, excepting maybe your bathroom. Those plumbing appliances all experience wear and tear over time, which means you need to take steps to counteract it if you want to get the best return on investment on your system. There are a couple of different things that you can do to make sure that your kitchen plumbing system stays in good condition for as long as possible. Let’s go over those steps in detail below.
Weird Air Conditioner Noises, and What They Mean
Monday, September 11th, 2017
Air conditioning problems are more likely to occur during the summer, when strain on the system is highest. It’s a good idea to keep an eye out for warning signs that your air conditioner is in trouble, so you can have it repaired before the problem gets any worse. One of the most obvious signs that your air conditioner is having some kind of issue is when it starts making odd noises during operation. Let’s go over some of the more common air conditioner noises that indicate a problem with the system.
What Exactly is the “Sump” in a “Sump Pump”?
Wednesday, March 11th, 2015You may know the purpose of a sump pump, which is the removal of excess water from a low part of a house, usually due to flooding or moisture gathering from a high water table. The pump part of the name is obvious enough, since these devices pump the water away and into the wastewater system. But what is the sump part of the name mean, and is it important to know?
Saddleback Plumbing has installed sump pumps in Orange County for decades now, so we can give you some details on what a sump is and why it’s important. If you want a sump pump in Irvine, CA or elsewhere in Orange County, you only have to give us a call and let us know. We have the experienced technicians capable of handling any plumbing job, no matter the size.
The Sump
The simplest definition of sump is that it’s a low space created to collect any liquid for removal. It can also refer to a place inside a cave where water naturally collects. When referring to an actual sump pump, the sump is a containment area created during the installation of the sump pump. The sump is placed at the lowest point in the basement, where the excess water flows. Depending on the type of sump pump, the pump will either sit above the sump and draw water up into it (a pedestal sump pump) or lie submerged in the sump and push the water up out of it (submersible sump pump).
The size and the location of the sump basin varies. They are usually 2 feet across and 2 to 3 feet deep, holding up to 15 to 25 gallons of water. The professional installer must determine the spot in the basement where the natural sump occurs, and then create the sump basin using a container of plastic, metal, or concrete sunk down into a hole excavated at the location.
This isn’t work an amateur can do; the excavation part alone is too difficult and requires too high a level of precision. If you have a home that is experiencing problems from water in the basement, you need to contact experienced plumbers to take care of finding the right kind of sump pump and then creating the sump basin that will do the job necessary.
Call Saddleback Plumbing today if you have issues in your house from water damage and you want future problems eliminated. We will find the right sump pump in Irvine, CA to suit your needs, and installing it correctly.
Signs That You Need Drain Cleaning Services
Monday, February 16th, 2015The average household uses approximately 400 gallons of water per day, with almost ¾ of that amount dedicated to indoor usage. Reading this statistic should give you a good idea about how much use your drains get on a daily basis and why it’s a good idea to be aware of when it may be time to schedule drain cleaning for your plumbing.
Some Signs
There are a few ways your drains will let you know that it’s time for a professional drain cleaning:
- Slow drains – having a slow drain means that a full-on clog is on its way. Why? Because it’s already there – it just hasn’t gotten big enough to fully block your drain yet. Slow drains usually indicate that there is a significant build-up inside your pipe; it’s better to remove this build-up before it becomes a full blockage, and the best way to remove the build-up is with a professional drain cleaning.
- DIY remedies aren’t working – if you’ve tried some of the usual home remedies – boiling water, baking soda and vinegar or plunging – and your clog still won’t disappear, it’s time to call for an expert.
- Gurgling sounds from the drain – a gurgling sound from a drain is actually the sound of air being released from air pockets that have been created inside your piping by build-up. The sound is an indication that there is a problem with build-up in the drain and it should be removed before it causes a bigger problem.
- Multiple drains are slow and/or clogged – many times homes have 2 or 3 different drains on a single main plumbing line. If you find that you have multiple drains with issues, it is likely that there is a problem deep within your plumbing system, which will require the help of an expert.
- A clog that won’t go away – if you have one drain that clogs repeatedly, even after being unclogged, it is likely the problem isn’t being fully resolved and requires the help of a trained professional.
The amount of water your drains handle is tremendous, so if you are seeing the signs that it may be time for a drain cleaning in your home, don’t wait to schedule an appointment – call Saddleback Plumbing today! We offer quality draining cleaning service in Irvine.
Plumbing FAQ: What Is Water Hammer?
Wednesday, January 14th, 2015If you notice a loud knocking noise in your pipes whenever you use a sink or after you take a shower, don’t write it off as a usual household noise. Water hammer is a plumbing term used to describe a specific circumstance that could be hazardous to the pipes. If the noises seem to occur whenever you shut off a tap in the home, you should seek an Irvine plumbing specialist immediately.
The Problem with Water Hammer
Water hammer occurs when water is forced suddenly to stop or reverse, creating pressure waves that can vibrate against the pipes. Not only is this sound somewhat obnoxious; it can also cause problems for your pipes. The pressure can cause your water line to collapse or burst, which can mean flooding in your home or a damaged foundation. Generally, plumbing systems contain air chambers that help to prevent water hammer from occurring, but there may not be enough chambers, or these may become clogged or waterlogged over time.
Correcting Water Hammer
There are a few different ways you may be able to stop water hammer from occurring, but in any case it will require the expertise of a professional. You may be able to have a plumber install a pressure-reducing valve at the water supply, but this can cause the pressure from our sink or shower to feel too low. A plumber may instead recommend additional air chambers to properly trap water using a pocket of air as a cushion, or you may only need to clear out an existing air chamber that is clogged.
Some plumbers actually recommend against air chambers as they may need to be quite large and can occasionally become waterlogged. You may be able to simply install a water hammer arrester at the source which also provides a reliable source of air cushioning. Depending on the state of your plumbing system, an expert may instead decide to install valves that shut slowly, or they may need to redesign some of the pipes that lead to that faucet only.
There may be any number of solutions for water hammer, but a plumber must assess the state of your pipes to determine the proper course of action. Call Saddleback Plumbing to let a trained professional evaluate and repair your plumbing in Irvine.
Advantages of an Electric Furnace
Wednesday, October 15th, 2014Electric furnaces have come a long way over the last few years, providing excellent heat in an energy efficient way. There are a number of benefits an electric furnace in Irving can offer your home, as we’ll out line below. It is important to note that any whole-home system requiring a large load of electricity should always be installed by a professional, so call the certified experts you can count on: Saddleback Plumbing.
How Does an Electric Furnace Work?
An electric furnace uses hot coils to generate heat. These coils are heated until they are red hot, and a fan at the bottom of the cabinet draws air into the system and over the coils. The warm air is distributed throughout your home via your ductwork.
What Are the Benefits of an Electric Furnace?
- Low initial costs – electric furnaces are some of the most inexpensive furnaces available. The average price is around $900 for purchase versus $2,000 for gas or oil furnaces.
- Very good energy efficiency – because electric furnaces do not burn fossil fuels, they can have an energy efficiency rating as high as 100%. This can be great for your home and the environment.
- No need for a gas line – some homes do not have access to a natural gas line, and some are not very accessible for fuel delivery. However, electricity is widely available, and as such, may be the best choice for a homeowner challenged with these situations.
- Safety – while no heating system is guaranteed to be 100% safe, there is no need to worry about toxic fumes with an electric furnace.
- Clean – because an electric furnace doesn’t use a burning fuel to operate, the system stays clean, which is helpful when it comes to annual maintenance.
Electric furnaces can offer homes without easy access to fossil fuels the ability to heat with energy efficiency and comfort. If you think an electric furnace may be a good fit for your home, call Saddleback Plumbing today and schedule an appointment with one of our trained experts for professional furnace installation in Irvine.
Why Have I Lost Water Pressure in My Home?
Wednesday, September 10th, 2014If you’ve lost water pressure in your home, daily tasks like rinsing the dishes or showering may seem to take too long. And while this is somewhat of an inconvenience, low water pressure can also indicate trouble for your plumbing system. Low water pressure may be attributed to many factors, including the fixtures in your sink or shower. But in today’s post, we’ll look at a couple of ways that the water lines may be to blame.
Leaks
One possible reason for lowered water pressure is a leak in your water line. The water line is the pipe that runs from the water main to your home plumbing system. But leaks can occur in this pipe for many reasons, including tree root infiltrations, corrosion, or a sudden change in pressure elsewhere in the system. As a result of leaks, water cannot reach your home at a high pressure. Also, water may leak into your yard, causing it to pool around the home, and the leak may only worsen, leading to the need for professional pipe replacement.
Mineral Deposits
Another common source of low water pressure is a buildup of mineral deposits. A majority of homes are affected by “hard water.” If your water is hard, it simply means that certain minerals are present in your water, usually because it picks up some minerals as it moves underneath the ground. If you have hard water, you may notice white or yellow-green deposits around your faucets, drains, and showerheads. Also, it may be difficult for soap to lather, so water spots or residue show up on your glasses after running the dishwasher. Mineral deposits also build up inside your pipes, and water lines are most at risk. If mineral deposits build up in your pipes, it will block the normal flow of water into your home. But it may also build up to the point that you have to replace the pipes entirely. If it’s caught early, a simple repair and the addition of a water softener might solve the problem.
The professionals at Saddleback Plumbing have years of experience locating trouble areas and repairing water lines in Irvine. If low water pressure is an inconvenience for you, call us today!
How to Maintain Your Kitchen Garbage Disposal
Wednesday, August 20th, 2014The 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.