My Drain Company Blog

How Plumbers Use Drains Snakes to Clean Drains

September 12th, 2014

If you have a tough clog, it can inconvenience many of your daily activities. So when water pools up at the bottom of your tub or won’t budge while you do the dishes, you may look for the quickest solutions to clear the drains. For some clogs, a plunger may do the trick. But if the clog is too far down the drain pipe, you’ll need something that can reach down much further.

That’s where the idea behind liquid drain cleaners comes from. This home remedy, often found in hardware stores and even most grocery stores, claims to have the ability to rid your drain of clogs. And while some cleaners may be effective at dissolving some common sources of blockage, usually hair, they fail at removing many other clogs and may instead push them further into the pipes. Besides, the chemicals in liquid drain cleaners and can severely damage your skin and eyes.

Plumbers do not rely on toxic liquid drain cleaners for professional drain cleaning. Instead, they are armed with the right equipment to get tough clogs cleared out completely. While they may have several tools available for drain cleaning, like powerful hydrojetting technology, perhaps the most commonly used is the drain snake.

Drain snakes reach deep into the pipes to break up clogs and bring them to the surface. A drain snake is basically a long, thick wire that often has a coiled end. The wire is rolled up, and may be operated with a manual crank, but more powerful units are motorized. When the wire is released into the pipe and wound back up, the coil catches small objects, hair, food, and some of the sludge that may line the pipes. Alternatively, a plumber may attach a fixture to the end of the drain snake that can break up particularly tough clogs into smaller pieces so they can flow down the drain with the wastewater.

At My Drain Company, we use drain snakes and other tools to rid your plumbing of the toughest clogs, and we use video pipe inspection to make sure that problems are cleared from your system entirely. When you need drain cleaning in Glendale, CA, give us a call!

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Why Schedule Storm Drainage Service

September 5th, 2014

Here in Glendale, CA, we haven’t seen much heavy rain in recent years. But when you’re entirely unprepared for rain, water may pool around your property, leak into your home, or flood your entire house. Water damage can seriously harm your foundation, while standing water means a buildup of mold and mildew which may cause problems with the indoor air quality, possibly triggering respiratory problems in some family members.

To keep water from leaking into your home, you need a storm drainage system to move this water into the sewer system instead. But if your storm drain hasn’t gotten a lot of attention lately, it may be clogged with dirt and debris. Scheduling drain cleaning services for your outdoor drains is the best way to ensure rainwater does not damage your property.

If you need storm drainage installation, you’ll need to call a professional plumber to find the best location for a new drain and ensure water flows without backing up onto your property. And if you’ve never had a professional examine your storm drains, now is the best time.

The Steps of Storm Drainage Service

During storm drainage service, the most important step a plumber takes is a thorough drain cleaning. Leaves, gravel, and dirt may build up in the drains over time if your drainage system does not get a lot of use, or heavy rainfall may carry these items into the drain. That’s why it’s important to schedule drain cleaning for your storm drains before a storm is predicted or after heavy rainfall.

During drain cleaning service, technicians use hydrojetting technology to essentially blast tough clogs into the sewer with high volumes of water. Then, a professional can examine your pipes to ensure the clogs are taken care of. A professional may also check to ensure your drain was installed properly so that water can flow down into the pipes.

You can help keep your storm drains relatively clear by disposing of yard waste properly and keeping your drains free of large blockages. But when you need professional drain cleaning in Glendale, call the experts at My Drain Company today!

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The Very First Labor Day Celebration

August 29th, 2014

Labor Day as a federal holiday, held on the first Monday of September, has been with us now for 120 years. President Grover Cleveland signed the law that made Labor Day a national holiday in 1894. Ever since then, the three-day weekend has provided people in the U.S. with the opportunity for vacations, time with their families, shopping trips, and a general celebration of the conclusion of summer and the beginning of fall.

However, there were twelve years of Labor Day observations in the U.S. before it became an official holiday. The first Labor Day celebration took place in 1882 in New York City on September 5. According to the accounts from the time, it had a rough start and almost didn’t happen.

The main event planned for that first Labor Day was a parade along Broadway that was to start at City Hall. However, the parade ran into a bit of a snag early on. The marchers started to line up for the procession around 9 a.m., with a police escort to make sure the event went peacefully. However, the problem of the day wasn’t rowdy members of the parade—it was that nobody had remembered to bring a band!

With people ready to march, but no music to march to, it started to look like no parade would happen at all, and the first Labor Day would have ended up a failure. But just in time, Matthew Maguire of the Central Labor Union—one of the two men who first proposed the celebration—ran across the City Hall lawn to the Grand Marshal of the parade, William McCabe, to inform him that 200 men from the Jeweler’s Union of Newark were crossing the ferry to Manhattan… and they had a band!

At 10 a.m., only an hour late, the band from Newark walked down Broadway playing a number from a popular Gilbert and Sullivan opera. They passed McCabe and the other 700 marchers, who then fell in line behind them. Soon, the spectators joined in, and an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 people marched through Lower Manhattan.

According to the New York Times, “The windows and roofs and even the lamp posts and awning frames were occupied by persons anxious to get a good view of the first parade in New York of workingmen of all trades united in one organization.”

The parade concluded two hours later when the marchers reached Reservoir Park. But the party was only getting started. Until 9 p.m., some 25,000 people celebrated with picnics and speeches and beer kegs. It was an enormous success, and all thanks to the speedy arrival of jewelers carrying band instruments.

If those musicians from Newark hadn’t shown up, perhaps we wouldn’t have the holiday opportunity that we now have every year. However you celebrate your Labor Day, our family at My Drain Company wishes your family a happy end of summer.

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Common Causes of Drain Repairs

August 22nd, 2014

The drains in your sinks and showers rid your home of thousands of gallons of wastewater every year. Although you may not think of this seemingly minor part of your home too often, the drains deserve special attention as they may run into repair needs at some point. Drain repair is no small matter; problems with your drain can cause major issues throughout your plumbing system and your home, including damaged pipes and sewage backup. You may prevent these serious issues from occurring by taking simple steps such as purchasing drain covers, avoiding pouring grease down the sink, and scheduling regular plumbing maintenance. However, if you do run into the need for repairs, My Drain Company is here to help.

Here Are Some of the Reasons Our Customers Call for Drain Repair Service

  • Clogs: If a drain is slow or stopped, it may be due to clogs from food scraps, soap scum, hair, or fats and oils that solidify as they move down the drain.
  • Leaks: Water leaks may begin to form underneath your drain, indicating either a link from the sink basin or a more serious problem in your plumbing system. A plumber is qualified to locate and repair the exact source of the leak.
  • Age: Drains may also form problems due to old age, including corrosion and rust. In this case, you may have pipes that need replacement.
  • Hard Water: If you have “hard water,” it means that an excess of magnesium and calcium affect your water, causing mineral buildups to form along the insides of pipes. Hard water is a common problem that can be solved by installing a water softener.
  • Noises: Noises from your drain such as a gurgling may indicate that the pressure levels in your pipes are not balanced.
  • Odors: Finally, many homeowners call for repair when foul odors emit from the drain. This may simply indicate a problem with the P-trap underneath the drain, or it may indicate a problem with the home’s sewer line.

Whatever the problem is, you need a professional plumber to fix your drain as soon as possible. The dependable technicians at My Drain Company have years of plumbing experience, so if you need drain repair service in Glendale, CA, give us a call!

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Water Savings from Low-Flow Fixture Installation

August 15th, 2014

Southern California is currently experiencing a severe drought, and this has placed focus on the importance of water conservation in homes. There are many ways to save water on a daily basis, but one of the best long-term solutions that will benefit both the environment and your utility bills is to arrange for the installation of low-flow fixtures in your home: toilets, faucets, showerheads.

WaterSense, a partnership with the U.S. EPA, certifies fixtures that make major reductions in water use while still maintaining high performance levels. When you arrange for a plumber to replace your old fixtures with WaterSense or other low-flow models, you can significantly lower your water use without needing to make sacrifices in comfort. Call the plumbing specialists at My Drain Company today to learn more about the benefits of these low-flow fixtures and how you can have them installed.

How Much Water Do These Low-Flow Models Save?

The amount of water you conserve using a low-flow plumbing fixture depends on how much water your current fixtures use. For example, toilets build before 1980 wasted an enormous amount of water with each flush: 6 to 7 gallons. Current models have lowered this to 2.2 gallons, a huge improvement. But WaterSense pressure-assisted low-flow toilets use only 1.6 gallons per flush, a 20% reduction from current models and a 75% reduction from older models. Thanks to the air-pressure in these toilets, they do not lose any flushing power along with water reduction. Because toilets account for approximately a third of all indoor water use, replacing them with water-conserving models can mean around $2,000 off your yearly utility bills.

A standard bathroom sink faucets allow 2.2 gallons of water to flow through them a minute. A WaterSense faucet lowers that amount to 1.5 gallons per minute, and again there is no noticeable loss in performance. Using these low-flow faucets, and average family of 5 can conserve 700 gallons a water a year, which is equal to 40 showers. You can save water in the shower as well with WaterSense showerheads, which can save that same family of five 2,900 gallons of water a year.

There’s another way that you’ll save money with low-flow installations: less stress on your water heater. With less hot water used in showers and for washing, your hot water heater will need to work less, and you’ll receive savings on your power bills as well.

Low-flow installation costs more than standard plumbing fixtures, but as you can tell from the above information, you will soon make back the extra costs and can expect to keep saving money for many years. Call My Drain Company to talk about how we can set up your home with water-conserving and money-saving low-flow fixtures. If you need the services of a plumber in Glendale, CA, call us.

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3 Signs of a Quality Professional Plumbing Company

August 8th, 2014

Finding a professional plumbing company to handle your repairs, new installations, or maintenance is easier now than ever before. Instead of using a phone book directory, you can simply type in a few words on search engine or say a phrase into your smart phone and receive a long list of local plumbing companies. How do you choose the best plumber in Burbank, CA from these lists?

It helps to have a set list of criteria of what you most want from a plumbing company. Below, we’ve put together three points you should definitely have on your list of necessary qualities for any plumber you are thinking of hiring. Once you’ve given this list some thought, we are certain that you will place My Drain Company near the top of the companies you want to hire.

Look For These 3 Signs of Quality In A Plumbing Company

  1. 24-hour emergency service: Plumbing repair issues rarely happen at a time when it’s convenient for you. If the time is also inconvenient for your plumber, then you have a serious problem. Make sure that the plumber you choose to hire is ready whenever your plumbing breaks with round-the clock emergency service. Check to see if the company offers same-day service for standard jobs as well.
  2. Fully licensed and insured: To make sure that the plumbing company you hire is truly professional, check that it is licensed with the State Contractors Board (the company will produce proof upon request) and has insurance so that you will not be responsible for repairs should the plumbers cause any damage to your home. (You won’t need to worry much about accidental damage from a professional company, however.)
  3. Many years in the business: A plumbing company that has only been around for a few years could have experienced plumbers on its staff, but you won’t have any guarantee about this. The more years a company has been in business, the more assurance you have that it employs excellent plumbers who have delivered numerous quality jobs that have kept clients coming back. With a decade or more of experience behind it, a company shows that it has earned the community’s trust.

My Drain Company goes above and beyond these expectations. We have served homeowners with excellent service for more than 15 years, we are fully licensed and insured, and offer 24-hour emergency and same-day service. When we send a Burbank, CA plumber to your house, you can expect he or she will get right work and deliver you the best service possible.

 

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How to Tell You Need Water Line Repair

July 31st, 2014

The water line is perhaps the most important part of your home’s plumbing. It is, after all, what brings you the running water that is the foundation of all indoor plumbing. However, the water line remains hidden from your sight, running quietly under your property from the municipal water supply, doing its job unobtrusively.

A threat to your water line is a threat to all your daily routines. If you detect anything amiss with the water line into your home, you need to contact professional plumbers right away. (Note that it is not the responsibility of the utility company to repair the water line after it crosses into your property.) We will provide you with some signs to watch for that will tell you to contact professional plumbers for water line repair or replacement.

For a company that can handle all your needs for plumbing services in Glendale, CA, look to My Drain Company. We are ready to help you, any time of the day or night.

Signs of Water Line Troubles the Need Repair Work

  • Discolored water: When the water from all your taps starts to come out with reddish or brownish tint, it could indicate that there is a break in the water main, or corrosion has set in. The latter is likely for older homes. You might also notice discoloration on the clothing that comes out of the washing machine. Although it is possible that this is a municipal supply issue, you should not take a chance on it: call for professional plumbers.
  • Low water pressure: This is one of the first signs that your water line is on the way to failing completely. It could mean there are leaks along the line, or that tree roots have started to push into the pipe and block it. A drop in water pressure should always receive the attention of professionals, no matter the cause.
  • Water pools on your yard: If you lawn or yard starts to develop pools of water and soggy spots that don’t come from sprinklers or rain, it’s possible a broken water line is at fault. In extreme situations, water will start to geyser up from between the sidewalk slabs. Don’t hesitate over this kind of emergency! Bring in plumbers right away.
  • Overgrown vegetation: If plants in a certain section of your yard begin to grow faster than others, it might be due to water leaking from beneath from a damaged water line.

Only trained and fully-licensed plumbers should work on repairs or replacements to main water lines. These jobs can be extensive, so make sure that you bring in an experienced team. Call My Drain Company for your Glendale, CA plumbing needs. We can handle water line repairs and replacements to make sure that you won’t suddenly lose your vital water supply.

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Some Ideas for Bathroom Plumbing Installations

July 21st, 2014

When you want to improve an old bathroom with new installations, you have a variety of options from which to choose. Bathroom plumbing can include everything from full new plumbing installation (useful for older homes that may have aging and outdated piping) to small tasks like adding aerators onto faucets.

For bathroom plumbing services in Glendale, you can turn to My Drain Company for the assistance you need for new installation. We offer full service for bathroom plumbing, and our skilled plumbers can help you find out what new installation will improve this important room that plays a large part in your daily life.

Here Are Some Possibilities for Bathroom Plumbing Installation

  • Low-flow fixtures: If you want to save money on water bills and contribute to water conservation efforts (currently a serious issue in Southern California), you should consider installing low-flow faucets and toilets for your bathrooms. These installations will make significant cuts in the amount of water the fixtures use, but without a sacrifice in quality. According to the U.S. EPA, an effective low-flow faucet reduces water flow by 30%.
  • New style of sink: Having a new sink installed can improve on the use of space inside a bathroom. You can have an old pedestal sink taken out and replaced with a cabinet sink for more storage areas. You can remove a cabinet sink and replace it with a wall-mount sink for more floor space. There are numerous options for sinks that meld form and function to improve a bathroom.
  • New piping: If you live in an older home (pre-1970, and especially pre-World War II), your probably have galvanized steel pipes for plumbing. Although strong, this material is prone to corrosion over time, leading to leaks and blockage. If you have encountered numerous leaks and inefficient plumbing in your bathroom, you can arrange for complete replacement with newer materials, like copper, CPVC, and PEX. You might also consider repiping for the whole house.

Whether you want new plumbing installation in your bathroom for decorative and luxury purposes, or to solve serious plumbing problems, you can rely on the services of My Drain Company. We offer Glendale, CA quality plumbing work that goes beyond expectations. We’re also here whenever you need us with 24/7 emergency repair work for whatever ails your plumbing.

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The Best Way to Treat Drain Clogs

July 18th, 2014

The title of this post is a bit misleading, since there is no single “best” way to treat a clog that has blocked up a sink, shower, tub, or other drain. There is a “worst” way, as we’ll explain. However, the “best” way will depend on the kind of clog you have. If you leave this job to experienced, professional plumbers, they will discover the best way to handle the specific clog, and will have your drain cleaned out quickly and without damage to the plumbing.

For any drain clogs you have afflicting your plumbing, call up the drain experts at My Drain Company. Our experienced plumbers will bring a variety of the best tools to clear out your drain, no matter what has blocked it up.

The Worst Way to Treat Drain Clogs

The one way you do not want to treat drain clogs—and a way that professional plumbers will never use either—is with chemical drain cleaners. Found in plastic bottles on the shelves of grocery and convenience stores, these acidic chemicals are too harsh to use on drainpipes. They may eat through blockages (although they are ineffective against many types of clogs), but the caustic action can cause damage to the pipe interior. They also leave toxic residue and dangerous fumes behind. Avoid using them at all costs.

Some of the Best Ways Professional Plumbers Will Treat Clogs

  • Video pipe inspection equipment: This won’t eliminate a clog, but it is the best way to find out what method will. Using miniaturized cameras mounted on the end on long fiber-optic cables, plumbers can observe the interior of your plumbing on a video monitor and learn exactly where blockages are located and what they consist of. This allows them to determine the speediest and most effective way of clearing the clog.
  • Drain augers: Also known by the more evocative name drain snakes, motorized drain augers are one of the essential tools of any professional plumber. These coils of metal can reach down far into drains and drill into clogs like corkscrews, then pull out the clog or break it up to clear out the pipe. Manual augers are available in many stores, but you should only entrust the work to a plumber who uses a motorized drain auger.
  • Hydro-jetting: This is one of the most thorough and comprehensive ways of clearing out drain clogs and cleaning the inside of plumbing in general. Hydro-jetters are devices that put water under high pressure and then blast it out at scalding temperatures through a line inserted down into the pipes. The scouring action of the pressurized water stream can blast through almost any clog and remove build-up from the interior of the drainpipe to help prevent more clogs in the future.

The Northridge plumbing team at My Drain Company is ready 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to assist you with clogged and slow drains. We will find the true “best” way to clean your drainpipe and keep the clogs away.

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3 Signs of Leaky Pipes

July 11th, 2014

After drainage clogs, leaking pipes are the most common problem that home plumbing can encounter. And unlike clogs, which are almost immediately obvious when they happen, leaks often remain hidden from sight. The majority of residential pipes are concealed in flooring, walls, and seldom-visited sections of the house. Often a leak—even a large one—can go without detection until it has already caused serious, expensive damage.

Professional plumbers have special training and equipment to assist them in locating leaks, even through heavy concrete flooring (“slab leaks”). However, you need to know to call the plumbers in the first place, so pay attention to the signs below that will warn you that you may have pipes leaking in hidden spots of the house.

In Glendale, CA, call My Drain Company for 24-hour emergency service that can handle any size leak in your home. With more the 15 years of experience, we can solve your plumbing issues fast and right the first time.

Watch For These 3 Signs That You May Have Plumbing Leaks

  • Elevated water bills: Even the smallest leak in pipes can cause a tremendous waste of water that will show up on your monthly water bills. It only takes a single leak letting out three drips of water per minute to waste 70 gallons of water in a month—and that’s a difference you will recognize on your bills. Unexplained price increases require that you call a plumber to search for leaks… or whatever has caused the loss of water.
  • Decrease in water pressure: If you have a large number of smaller leaks, or one large leak, it will affect the pressure of the water throughout the plumbing. Although a change in water pressure can indicate a problem in the municipal system, it often points toward a serious issue inside your home’s plumbing that needs investigation.
  • Warped floorboards and other building material damage: A small leak will build up a pool of standing water, which will cause tremendous damage to building material over time. Wood rot will start to destroy floorboards, warping and weakening them. Mildew will begin to eat through drywall. If you notice lumps in the floor, spot discoloration on the walls, or notice the growth of mold and mildew inside your home, call for plumbers right away to perform leak detection and repairs.

Keep this in mind: there is no such thing as a “small” leak. No matter the size of the damage in the pipe, whether pinhole leaking or a major breach, water damage will accumulate that can endanger your home, waste water, and threaten your plumbing. At the first warning sign that you may have leaks in your plumbing, make the call to My Drain Company to schedule plumbing service in Glendale, CA. We can handle all your concerns for your home’s plumbing.

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