My Drain Company Blog : Posts Tagged ‘Burbank’

What to do in Case of a Toilet Clog

Wednesday, March 25th, 2015

Of all the plumbing emergencies that homeowners may have to deal with, bathroom plumbing is probably the worst. Of those, the toilet clog is probably the most frustrating and feared bathroom plumbing issue. If your toilet does develop a clog, don’t panic! It’s actually a very simple thing to control while you wait for a plumber to arrive. You may even be able to solve it yourself. Let’s take a look at what you should do in case of a toilet clog.

Find and Close the Water Shutoff Valve

Every toilet has a water shutoff valve, located at where the toilet’s water line meets the wall. If you toilet is clogged and threatening to overflow, find the shutoff valve and turn it to the right. This should close the valve and prevent water from flowing into the toilet. If for any reason you can’t find the shutoff valve, you can also lift the back off the toilet tank and lift the float ball. This will prevent water from flowing into the tank. You’re going to have to find some way to secure the float so that it doesn’t drop again, but that’s the best solution for preventing the toilet from overflowing without shutting the water shutoff valve.

Plunge the Toilet

Grab a plunger and see if you can unclog the toilet yourself. Often, toilet clogs can be solved by plunging as long as you have a good quality plunger. If the toilet water level is too high, leave it alone for a while and see if it decreases enough for you to plunge it. You could also try skimming some of it off the top with a bucket, if you don’t want to wait. If the toilet is still clogged after repeated plunging, you’re probably going to have to call a plumber. Clear the surrounding area of any water that overflowed, and wait for a professional to arrive.

No matter what kind of plumbing emergency you have, call My Drain Company and we’ll take care of it. We provide comprehensive bathroom plumbing services throughout the Burbank area.

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Why You Shouldn’t Ignore a Leaky Faucet

Wednesday, February 25th, 2015

Everyone has to deal with the odd leaky faucet every now and again. It seems like such a trivial thing, though, that it’s almost a waste to call a plumber just to fix it. You may be tempted to simply tune out the dripping sound, let it keep going, and get on with your life. This is not a good idea. Leaky faucets waste a huge amount of water, and can eventually develop into bigger problems. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest reasons why you shouldn’t ignore a leaky faucet.

Leaks Waste Quite a Bit of Water

Even though a leaky faucet often leaks no more than a drop of water every few seconds, those drops really start to add up over the course of a year. The EPA has estimated that the average household’s total leaks can add up to over 10,000 gallons of water a year. Most of the leaks in a home are no larger than that of a leaky faucet, so it’s actually incredibly easy to waste a lot of water this way. Nationwide, those kinds of small leaks can waste 1 trillion gallons of water. Not only is this absurdly wasteful, it’s easily corrected by calling a plumber. Saving all of that water can have a measurable effect on your water bill, resulting in a decent bit of savings.

Leaks Can Get Worse Over Time

Leaks are usually either caused by corrosion in a pipe or a failed seal. A leaky faucet is a sign that a part somewhere in the system has begun to fail. The longer you go without fixing that part, the worse it’s going to get. As a leak progresses, you both waste more water and leave your plumbing open to more damage. A constant leak can cause corrosion in other parts of the system, as well as promoting mold growth in areas like the garbage disposal.

Ultimately, it’s just not worth leaving a leaky faucet alone. If you have a leaky faucet that needs fixing, schedule an appointment with My Drain Company. We provide quality kitchen plumbing services throughout the Burbank, CA area.

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3 Signs of a Quality Professional Plumbing Company

Friday, 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 Earthquakes Can Damage Your Plumbing System

Thursday, June 12th, 2014

Here in Burbank, plumbing companies have to deal with more than just leaky pipes and clogged drains. We’re living in earthquake country, and temblors are a regular occurrence throughout the year. Even minor quakes can shake up your property, and when it comes to plumbing, the damage can be much worse: breaches, leaks and even destroyed pipes in need of full-bore replacement.

Here’s A Quick Breakdown on How Earthquakes Can Damage Your Plumbing System

The big issue arises with the main water and sewer lines connecting your home to Burbank’s civic system. These are usually located underground, where they can’t be seen by the naked eye. Earthquake damage could cause a breach immediately, and it could also shift the ground around the pipe: avoiding an instant rupture but increasing stress at certain points along the line. That means a breach can occur days or even weeks after the quake, even though things look peaceful initially. Monitor your yard closely in the period immediately following an earthquake, and look for signs such as strange puddles of water, dripping sounds, or grass and shrubbery suddenly becoming much greener than the surrounding flora.

Inside the home, the damage is usually easier to detect. Beyond the obvious signs of a leak or a breach (i.e., water leaking out across you bathroom floor), listen for signs of leaking or dripping in your walls and pay careful attention to the water pressure in your various faucets. A good catch-all test is to check your meter, then wait two hours without using any of the water in your home. Then check the meter again. If the amount has changed, then you probably have a leak somewhere in the home.

The plumbers at My Drain Company fix all kinds of plumbing problems, and we know how earthquakes can damage your plumbing system. More importantly, our trained staff has the skills to repair the problem once it’s been detected, and can replace damaged pipes with speed and efficiency. If you detect any plumbing damage to your property after an earthquake, pick up the phone and schedule your plumbing services in Burbank with us. You’ll be glad you did!

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