My Drain Company Blog : Archive for November, 2014

Will Thanksgiving Turkey Really Make You Sleepy?

Wednesday, November 26th, 2014

We’ve all heard it before: you feel so sleepy after a Thanksgiving meal because of the main event: the turkey. For years, people have credited extraordinary levels of tryptophan in turkey as the reason we all feel the need to nap after the annual feast. But contrary to this popular mythology, tryptophan is probably not he largest responsible party for your post-meal exhaustion.

Tryptophan is an essential amino acid, which means it’s something that our bodies need but do not produce naturally. Your body uses tryptophan to help make vitamin B3 and serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter that sends chemicals to the brain to aid in sleep. But in order to get this essential amino acid, we have to eat foods that contain it.

Turkey has somewhat high levels of tryptophan, but so do many other foods, including eggs, peanuts, chocolate, nuts, bananas, and most other meats and dairy products. In fact, ounce-for-ounce cheddar cheese contains a greater amount of tryptophan than turkey. In order for tryptophan to make you feel sleepy, you would have to consume it in excessive amounts, and serotonin is usually only produced by tryptophan on an empty stomach.

The truth is, overeating is largely responsible for the “food coma” many people describe post-Thanksgiving. It takes a lot of energy for your body to process a large meal, and the average Thanksgiving plate contains about twice as many calories as is recommended for daily consumption. If anything, high levels of fat in the turkey cause sleepiness, as they require a lot of energy for your body to digest. Lots of carbohydrates, alcohol, and probably a bit of stress may also be some of the reasons it feels so satisfying to lay down on the couch after the meal and finally get a little bit of shut-eye.

If you feel the need to indulge in a heaping dose of tryptophan this year, go ahead! Turkey also contains healthy proteins and may even provide a boost for your immune system. Here at My Drain Company, we hope your Thanksgiving is full of joy and contentment this year. Happy feasting!

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Reasons for a Leaking Toilet

Friday, November 21st, 2014

Leaking toilets can be more than irritating; they can result in serious water damage if left to leak for long periods of time. There are multiple reasons that can cause a leak to develop with your toilet, but no matter the cause, it’s important to take care of any toilet leak right away. For over 15 years, My Drain Company has offered comprehensive plumbing services in Glendale, and our expert plumbers can help with any kind of issue you may have. If your toilet has been leaking, give us a call today!

Why a Toilet Can Develop Leaks

Here are some common ways a toilet can develop a leak:

Problems with the overflow tube – the overflow tube in your toilet relocates the water in the tank should it start to overflow. However, if the overflow tube is obstructed or malfunctioning in any way, the water may not relocate as needed and instead overflow the tank.

Worn bolts/Issue with tank-bowl gasket – two large bolts and a three-inch gasket help keep the tank of your toilet attached to the bowl. Bolts can become worn or loose, creating a gap between the bowl and tank through which water can leak. Additionally, any problems with the gasket can also create a leak.

Cracked tank – any crack in the water tank of your toilet will cause water to leak. If left unattended for a long period of time, this kind of leaks can cause serious water damage. A cracked tank requires replacement of the tank.

Crack bowl – a cracked toilet bowl needs to be replaced immediately.

Corrosion – corrosion typically develops from water impurities and chemical reactions. Corrosion can occur on your toilet components or in the piping that supports your toilet. The main problem with corrosion is that it may not be seen right away, so if you are seeing any signs of corrosion, call for a plumber to review it.

Problems with the fill valve – fill valves refill your toilet tank and bowl after a flush. Fill valves can wear out or malfunction, causing issues with the water level.

A leaking toilet can result in serious water damage and gallons of wasted water that can increase your water bill. Repairing a leaky toilet as soon as possible can help prevent the development of these problems. Are you seeing the signs of a leaky toilet? Contact My Drain Company today and schedule an appointment with one of our certified plumbing experts.

Tags: Bathroom Plumbing, Glendale
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Reasons for Low Water Pressure in Your Bathroom

Friday, November 14th, 2014

When you take a shower, you expect a certain amount of water pressure to make showering easier and more comfortable. A slow stream of water or a low trickle is off-putting and unpleasant, and simply will not do the trick in your bathroom. Your water supply is kept pressurized so that it can easily flow from the sink faucet or the showerhead. So when you notice low pressure, not only is it an inconvenience, but it also most likely indicates a serious problem.

Low water pressure is not an issue you can continue to ignore. It likely indicates a serious issue with your plumbing, and it may even result in damage to the structure of your home. Always rely on trained plumbers for any type of plumbing problem, like the professionals at My Drain Company in Glendale. These are just a few of the reasons your water pressure may dwindle.

Leaky Pipe: If the low pressure is localized in your bathroom, it could have to do with a leaky pipe in the walls behind the shower. If you let this go on for too long, water will begin to drip onto the walls and support beams. Mold can start to form, which poses a health risk for your family, and the damage can ruin the structure of your home, resulting in costly renovations.
Tree Root Infiltration: If the problem is in multiple areas of the home, your reduced water pressure may be caused by blockage in the water line. Tree roots grow naturally toward sources of water, and the water line underneath your property may be the perfect target. Tree roots can wrap around the pipe and force their way through at a weak spot in the pipes, causing blockage that won’t allow enough water to reach your home.
Scale Buildup: Scale is a problem that occurs when an excess of minerals collects inside of a pipe. If this occurs in your bathroom, a plumber will have to descale the pipes and may recommend further solutions to prevent the problem from occurring again.

Call My Drain Company at the first sign of plumbing problems to speak with friendly professional plumbers in Glendale today!

Tags: Glendale, Plumbing
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Two Different Types of Sump Pumps

Friday, November 7th, 2014

Are you prepared for a potential flood in your home? Here in Southern California, many homeowners don’t take the time to think about the effect of flooding on their home. In other areas of the country where storms and high water tables are common, people take the right steps to prevent flooding from damaging their property, ruining their belongings, and allowing the growth of mold and mildew. In our part of the country, we tend to neglect this possibility, which could easily prove to be a preventable mistake.

Even in our part of the country, flooding is a very real possibility. You read about it in the newspapers and hear about it from friends and neighbors: flooding does occur when a home is poorly suited to handle harsh whether and when pipes burst. And even a small amount of water can be a big issue. Water damages irreplaceable relics and eats away at the foundation of a home. A pool of water can be a breeding ground for bacteria or produce mold spores which your family members then breathe in, spurring illness and aggravating respiratory problems.

You can protect your home with a plumbing installation known as a sump pump. Sump pumps drain water outside before it becomes a problem in your home. We’ll go over the two types of sump pumps here: pedestal pumps and submersible pumps. Call My Drain Company to find quality plumber in Glendale for all of your plumbing installation needs.

Submersible and Pedestal Pumps: Similar Operation but Different Configuration

Both a pedestal pump and a submersible pump rely on the same principles to operate. First, a technician digs a pit, or “sump,” in the ground at the lowest point in your home. This may be in your basement, or at the lowest point of a crawlspace. In any case, a sump pump is placed in the sump and contains a motor. When water fills up the pit, the motor turns on and impels water out through a drain pipe that leads outside.

The only real visual and operational difference is the configuration of the pump. A submersible pump has a waterproof encasement so that it can be submerged inside of the basin. A pedestal pump is perched on a pedestal above the pit instead. In general, you’ll probably purchase whichever type of pump is best for the size of the pit; a smaller pit may only fit a pedestal pump. However, there are a couple of other considerations. A submersible pump may be safer around children and pets, while a pedestal pump is less likely to need repairs.

Do you want to protect your home from damage, increase the property value, and have peace of mind with a new submersible or pedestal sump pump? Call My Drain Company to speak with skilled plumbers in Glendale today!