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

What is an Earthquake Emergency Gas Shut-Off Valve?

Monday, June 17th, 2013

California is a great place to live, but sometimes we get some pretty serious earthquakes. Earthquakes can sometimes be so powerful that they actually crack the gas lines coming into your home. If this happens, then fuel may start to leak into or around your home. Downed power lines or other sources of electricity and fire can cause the fuel to ignite, which would obviously pose a huge threat to your safety. A great way to potentially protect yourself from this danger is to get an earthquake emergency shut-off valve for your home’s gas line. We know that many homeowners may not even be aware of these components so we put together a quick explanation of how they work and why they’re so important.

The Irvine plumbing professionals at Saddleback Plumbing offer complete installation, repair and maintenance services for earthquake emergency gas shut-off valves.

Earthquake Emergency Gas Shut-Off Valve Installation

The installation process for an earthquake emergency shutoff valve should always be handled by a professional Irvine plumbing contractor. The project needs to be coordinated with your local gas company because the gas will need to be turned off in order to complete the installation. The Irvine plumbing professionals at Saddleback Plumbing have years of experience installing these kinds of components.

How Earthquake Emergency Shut-Off Valves Work

When you have an earthquake emergency shutoff valve installed at your home, you can rest assured that when an earthquake hits, your home will be protected from gas leaks. When your shutoff valve senses the seismic activity of the earthquake, it quickly closes its valve and stops the flow of gas into your home. If the gas lines in your home are damaged, there won’t be any gas flowing through them that would put your home or family in danger. The Irvine plumbing experts at Saddleback Plumbing can help you find and install a good shutoff valve for your home.

For all your Irvine plumbing needs, just contact the expert plumbers at Saddleback Plumbing. 

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Plumbing FAQ 5 : Tank or Tankless Water Heater?

Friday, May 24th, 2013

Are you satisfied with how much hot water you have at your disposal? Are you in the market for a water heater for your new home build? Today, homeowners can enjoy a wide range of brands, sizes, and types of water heaters. People often want to know whether tank or tankless water heaters are superior. Answering this question depends on your hot water needs, your home, as well as your budget. The decision is not as straightforward as it may seem. In today’s post, we’d like to review this FAQ: what are the differences between tank and tankless water heaters? Above all, you need to make sure your new water heater receives professional installation by a qualified plumber. Call Saddleback Plumbing for all of your Irvine plumbing needs.

Let’s break down the question by taking into consideration three factors: energy efficiency, performance, and cost-effectiveness.

  • Energy efficiency. A tank water heater operates by heating a large tank of water to a certain temperature and keeping it there until it is used. A tankless water heater operates according to an on-demand principle. It does not keep an entire tank of hot water ready for use because it is able to quickly and efficiently heat water as you need it. Therefore, there is less standby energy loss associated with tankless systems, and they may save you energy in the long term.
  • Performance. You need your water heater to perform. As long as it’s properly sized, it should do a fairly good job of meeting your hot water needs. If you have a tank model, you can depend on a large amount of water waiting to be used, but also to be used up. At a certain point, there may not be enough hot water left to take another shower. Tankless models have a virtually endless supply of hot water, but they are often taxed when they need to supply multiple appliances constantly.
  • Cost-effectiveness. Generally speaking, tank water heaters are less expensive to purchase and to install than tankless models. While tankless models boast greater energy savings in the long term, their upfront cost is typically more than tank storage models.

We hope this brief guide helps you make a better informed descision, but remember that only consultation from a professional plumber can ultimately match a water heater to your hot water needs. Call Saddleback Plumbing today for comprehensive Irvine plumbing services!

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Air Conditioning Tip 2 : Go Ductless This Spring

Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013

Spring is the right time to begin thinking about your air conditioning system. If you have not scheduled routine Irvine, CA air conditioning maintenance yet this season, now is the time to do so. If you are thinking about scheduling a new air conditioning installation before the heat really sets in, you had better get started soon. Remember not to rush the decision making process, though. There are a number of different air conditioning systems available, and finding the right one for your home and cooling habits is important. Contact Saddleback Plumbing, Inc. today to discuss the benefits of going ductless this spring.

Ductless mini splits have long been a preferred cooling option in commercial settings. In recent years, though, they have become more and more common in residences. There is very good reason for this, as ductless mini splits have a lot of benefits to offer homeowners. If your home cannot accommodate bulky air ducts, or if you do not have existing ductwork and are trying to avoid the expense of an installation, going ductless is a great solution.

Ductless mini split air conditioning systems eliminate the need for ductwork by connecting an outdoor unit to individual, wall mounted blowers with a simple conduit containing power and refrigerant lines. This design not only makes ductless mini splits a perfect option for houses without ductwork, but it also allows them to operate without risking the energy loss that is so common with ducted forced air distribution systems.

Thanks to the use of wall mounted individual blowers, it is also very easy to take advantage of zone controlled air conditioning when using a ductless system. This helps you to further conserve energy by allowing you too cool only those rooms you wish to. You no longer need to cool your entire home just to keep one or two occupied rooms comfortable.

For more information about ductless mini split installation services, contact the Irvine, CA air conditioning professionals at Saddleback Plumbing, Inc. today – (949) 333-0571. Our skilled technicians can answer any questions that you may have. Call now for the information you need to find the right air conditioning solution for your home.

 

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Plumbing Tip: The Importance of Drain and Sewer Jetting

Monday, May 6th, 2013

The professional Irvine, CA plumbers at Saddleback Plumbing, Inc. have performed a lot of plumbing services over the years. In many cases, the repair services that we found ourselves completing could have been avoided. Many homeowners fail to realize how serious seemingly minor problems, such as drain clogs, can actually wind up being. If you have any issues with clogged or slow moving drain and sewer lines, call Saddleback Plumbing, Inc. right away. You need the quality plumbing services that only a skilled professional Irvine CA plumber can provide. When it comes to plumbing in Irvine, CA, we’re the company to call.

When a drain is backed up or a sewer is moving slowly, it is the first instinct of many homeowners to reach for a bottle of chemical drain cleaner. This may work decently enough to let some water pass through the drain or sewer, but it is far from a comprehensive solution. There is simply no way for you to know for sure that the clog has been cleared completely. If even a small piece of the clog is left behind, you may find that it has built back up again before long. By using our drain and sewer jetting equipment, our Irvine, CA plumbers can ensure that your clog is resolved completely and effectively.

Clogs can cling to the sides of the pipes in your drain and sewer system. This means that you can wash away the bottom of a clog with harsh chemicals, but the parts that are left will accumulate new debris quickly, reforming the clog. By using highly pressurized water to obliterate the clog entirely, a professional Irvine, CA plumber on our team can ensure that the job is completed properly. Plus, this equipment is much easier on your pipes than harsh chemical cleaners, and better for the environment. Only water is used in the process.

If you would like to learn more about drain and sewer jetting, or if you are ready to schedule service, contact Saddleback Plumbing, Inc. today. We have the years of training and experience to handle any plumbing job you need completed. For outstanding plumbing in Irvine, CA, just give us a call.

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Plumbing Tip: How You Know You Need a New Water Heater

Tuesday, April 30th, 2013

We rely heavily upon our water heaters throughout the year. We use them every day to keep ourselves, our laundry and dishes clean. Our lives would be much less pleasant and convenient without them. Because of the amount of wear and tear they endure, water heaters require regular maintenance as well as professional repairs, when necessary. But if your water heater becomes old, or needs frequent repairs, then you may have to consider replacement as an option. But, how do you know? We’ve compiled a few ways to tell that you need a new water heater in this post. However, there’s no substitute for professional, hands-on diagnosis. For comprehensive Irvine CA plumbing services, call Saddleback Plumbing today!

  • Old age. If your water heater is old, and doesn’t heat the water as well as it once did, then it might be a good time to consider replacement. It’s best to speak to your local plumber about your options because such assessments truly need to be made in person.
  • Brown water. If your hot water looks rusty or brown, then you may have a serious rust problem in your water heater. While tank storage water heaters are equipped with a sacrificial anode rod to keep the electrolysis deterioration at bay, when this fully erodes, the water within your tank can begin to oxidize your tank lining. This often requires replacement.
  • Frequent repairs. Today’s water heaters, both tank and tankless models, are much more energy efficient than those of made just a decade before. If you spend a lot of time repairing your water heater, then you may be bolstering an obsolete inefficient system. Make sure that you’re making the right investment in the future of your home comfort. It may make more financial sense to purchase a new water heater that will operate more efficiently and effectively than your old model.

Make sure you speak with your local plumber today about whether a water heater replacement is right for you. For comprehensive plumbing services, call Saddleback Plumbing today!

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Plumbing Tip: Signs of a Broken Water Line

Monday, March 25th, 2013

Broken water lines are something that no homeowner wants to deal with. But with the near-constant use that your water lines get they will eventually need to repaired. Because your water lines are buried so far underground it can be difficult to tell when they start to leak or crack. But there are a few signs that homeowners should watch out for that could indicate that their water line is broken. Contact the plumbing experts at Saddleback Plumbing for any water line replacement or repair that you need. We wanted to help out our Orange County customers by putting together some of the most common signs to watch for.

Common Signs of Irvine CA Water Line Repair

From the time you wake up in the morning to when you go to bed your home’s water lines deliver fresh water to every faucet in your home. With all that use it should be make sense that they would eventually need to be repaired. Here are a few of the common signs that your water line is broken.

  • Watch your water bill – While you may not be able to see your water line, you can definitely see how much water is going through it. Keep a close eye on your water bill and make sure that there aren’t any sudden spikes in usage without a corresponding action on your part. This can indicate that you have water leaking under your yard.
  • Soggy or raised patches – If you notice that certain parts of your yard are soggy or if they are raised it could mean that you have a leak in your water main.
  • Low water pressure – The water that comes out of your home’s faucets is pressurized and if your water line starts to leak that pressure could escape. This would translate into lower water pressure in your home.

 

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Drain Cleaning Tip 3: Advantages of our Plumbing Value Plan

Monday, February 25th, 2013

When you work with the professional Irvine plumbers at Saddleback Plumbing you can trust that you will be taken great care of. If you have any doubts about our devotion to your total satisfaction and comfort, just consider the many advantages of our Membership Value Program. If you are not already a Saddleback MVP we bet you will become one after reading through this information. Your plumbing in Irvine, CA is far too important to take any chances with. Contact an expert Irvine plumber on our team today and get the protection that your plumbing deserves.

When you enroll in our Plumbing Value Plan you will receive a 3 year parts and labor warranty. We are more than comfortable offering this warranty because we only use parts that live up to our exacting standards. Problems do occur every now and then, though, so make sure you have the warranty to back up the condition of your plumbing.

Members enrolled in the Plumbing Value Plan also enjoy a 15% discount off standard plumbing rates. We believe that the only thing better than the quality of the plumbing services we provide is procuring those services at a discounted rate. Contact us today to make that happen.

As a member of our Plumbing Value Plan you will also not need to pay any dispatch or tip frees, even while receiving preferred priority service. Anyone can agree that faster service and waived fees are a great deal. Why not take advantage of these perks yourself?

As if all that weren’t enough, you will also receive a free annual plumbing inspection from one of our highly skilled and trained professional Irvine plumbers. Not just anyone can thoroughly inspect and rigorously maintain your plumbing system. The experts on our team have the knowledge and tools necessary to get the job done right.

For more information about our great value plans, call Saddleback Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning today. We’ll make sure that you receive exceptional service at a great value. Contact us directly with any questions you may have regarding enrollment in our Plumbing Value Plan.

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Drain Cleaning Tip 1 : How to Protect Your Drain System

Monday, February 18th, 2013

Saddleback Plumbing offers drain cleaning throughout the Irvine, CA area. Routine drain cleanings are just one way to protect your drain system. In this blog post, we’ve provided reasons that drain cleanings are beneficial, along with other preventive maintenance tips. Don’t hesitate to call us if you have any questions.

Professional Drain Cleanings

Professional drain cleanings are beneficial in many ways. They remove any clogs, build-up, or other debris in your drain pipes. They are an effective and safe way to clean your drains. Using a traditional snake or harsh drain cleaners can damage your pipes. Drain and sewer jetting uses a high-pressure water hose to clean out the pipes, which is very effective and faster.

Bathroom Drains

For your bathroom drains, be mindful of what you flush, and use hair catchers to prevent clogs. Slow drains or backups are commonly caused by certain materials or waste products that shouldn’t be flushed or put down the drains.

Kitchen Drains

Kitchen drains are susceptible to clogs from grease, food scraps, and other solids. Installing a garbage disposal will not completely solve this issue, but it can help. If you already have a garbage disposal, make sure you know how to operate it and what you can and cannot put in your disposal. Things like bones and coffee grounds can cause clogs and damage to the garbage disposal.

Feel free to contact the Irvine CA plumbers at Saddleback Plumbing if you would like more tips on how to protect your drain system. Contact Saddleback Plumbing today!

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Drain Cleaning FAQ 1 : How Extensive is a Professional Drain Cleaning?

Monday, February 11th, 2013

Most people don’t stop to think about it, but your plumbing system is at work almost constantly. Because of all that use, your drains might start to give you problems eventually. At Saddleback Plumbing, we provide comprehensive drain cleaning in Irvine, CA. We wanted to put together a quick description of what exactly happens during our drain cleaning services. While these are some of the tasks that our plumbers in Irvine will perform, there are many other things that they will do as well.

Signs You Need Professional Drain Cleaning in Irvine CA

Before we talk about what happens during drain cleaning in Irvine, CA we wanted to let you know how you can tell if you need to get your drains cleaned. Probably the best indicator is if your drains are clogged or if they’re starting to slow down. If you notice that your toilet takes longer to flush or if your shower doesn’t drain fast enough, these are signs that you have a clog somewhere in your plumbing system. If multiple drains are clogged at your home in Irvine, CA then it could mean that the clog is further down in your sewer line.

Drain Cleaning in Irvine CA

Here are some of the things that our Irvine plumbers will do during their drain cleanings.

  • Video camera pipe inspection – A great tool that our plumbers use is our video camera pipe inspection equipment. This lets us get a good look at the pipes in your plumbing system. We can figure out exactly where the clogs are and what they’re made of.
  • Drain and sewer jetting – Once we figure out where the clogs are, our plumbers will use our water jetting equipment to blast away those clogs. Water jets are a terrific tool that uses high pressure streams of water to remove blockages from your system.

If you need drain cleaning in Irvine, CA call the professional plumbers at Saddleback Plumbing. We have years of experience working with customers throughout the entire Orange County area. Call Saddleback Plumbing today!

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Plumbing Tip : What Does Plumbing Maintenance Involve

Tuesday, January 29th, 2013

Is it time for routine maintenance for your plumbing system? Call the Irvine plumbers at Saddleback Plumbing! We can handle all your plumbing maintenance needs, including providing tips and advice on how to get the most out of your system. Remember that routine maintenance can prevent repair issues, slow drains, clogs, and other problems. Call us any time for your next service!

Here are some tasks we can do during routine maintenance.

Video Pipe Inspection

When we provide a maintenance service or respond to a repair need, our plumbers send a video camera down your plumbing system to inspect the inside of the pipes. This allows our plumbers to get a close-up look at any kind of plumbing problems that might be further down the pipe or drain line. We’ll be able to see exactly where the problem is and what specifically is causing it. For instance, if there’s a tree root causing a leak in a sewer line, we can see that and know the best solution for this issue.

Gas Piping Maintenance

When you call us for a repair or maintenance service, we also inspect your gas piping. Our plumbers are trained and certified to work with gas lines and earthquake emergency shut off valves. We test these safety devices to ensure that they will work when you need them.

Professional Drain Cleaning

With a professional drain cleaning, our Irvine plumbers will thoroughly clean your plumbing system safely and effectively. Hydro-jetting uses a powerful stream of water to clear out any clogs or blockages that are in your plumbing system.  While only one way to clean your system, hydro-jetting will not damage your plumbing system. Drain cleaners use harsh chemicals, so avoid using conventional drain cleaners.

Call Saddleback any time for your next plumbing maintenance service!

 

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