My Drain Company Blog : Posts Tagged ‘Glendale’

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Drain Snakes: Why Plumbers Love Them

Friday, September 19th, 2014

If you have a drain clog, you need a plumber with the right tools to clear a potentially large obstruction. While some clogs may come loose with a household plunger, other clogs may be too large or too deep within the pipes for you to reach on your own. When you call for professional drain cleaning, a plumbing professional may use a variety of tools to clean and inspect your pipes, but the most popular of these may be the drain snake.

Most plumbers caution strongly against liquid drain cleaners because of potential dangers and because they simply do not work in many cases. Liquid drain cleaning agents, sold in many grocery and hardware stores, may be effective at removing some clogs and not others. For example, while most of these chemicals can dissolve hair, they often cannot do anything about most other solid obstructions. Besides, the harsh chemicals can be toxic, potentially injuring the skin or eyes and damaging the pipes.

This is why a plumber usually will not go near a chemical drain cleaner. Instead, plumbers come to your home equipped with an array of cleaning tools, perhaps most notable of which is the drain snake. Drain snakes, also known as drain augers, are either motorized or hand operated with a crank. A long wire with a coiled end is fed into the pipes, and the coiled end takes hold of clogs so that the plumber can pull the blockage back up through the drain. Some clogs, like tree roots, cannot latch on to this tool. This is why some drain snakes have multiple attachments to choose from, which may instead allow the plumber to break up a clog so it can flow down the drain with the wastewater.

In any case, drain snakes are one of the most effective ways to completely eliminate clogs without damaging your plumbing. When you call the plumbers at My Drain Company for professional drain cleaning in Glendale, CA, we’ll use drain augers and any other necessary means to clear your plumbing system, and we will check our work using the latest in video inspection technology. Talk to one of our plumbing experts today!

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How Plumbers Use Drains Snakes to Clean Drains

Friday, 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

Friday, 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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Common Causes of Drain Repairs

Friday, 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

Friday, 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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How to Tell You Need Water Line Repair

Thursday, 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

Monday, 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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3 Signs of Leaky Pipes

Friday, 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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Advantages of Tankless Water Heaters

Friday, June 27th, 2014

Water heaters are an essential part of your plumbing system, designed to provide piping hot water for bathing and cooking on a moment’s notice. Most people are accustomed to traditional tanked models, and they often work just fine. They’re not the only option, however. Here in Glendale, CA plumbing services can install a tankless water heater system, which eschews the use of a giant tank. Instead, it passes the water through a series of superheating coils, warming it instantly as it travels to the faucet. Tankless water heaters cost more to install than tanked models, but they provide numerous advantages to offset the cost. We’ve included a breakdown of some of the larger advantages below.

  • Instant hot water. Unlike tanks, which often take time to “warm up” in getting the hot water to you, tankless models provide hot water instantly. Furthermore, they never run out of hot water the way tanked models do if you run them for long enough.
  • Cheaper costs. Furthermore, a tankless water heater ensures that you never waste water waiting for the heater to kick in. furthermore, it doesn’t rely on natural gas or similar types of fuel. All of that translates to significant savings in monthly costs over the tanked model. In addition, you can receive a tax rebate from the federal government to help further offset the cost of installation.
  • Less space. Tankless water heaters don’t take up nearly as much space as their cousins, allowing them to readily be placed anywhere that fits in your house.
  • Less damage. When tanked water heaters rupture, they can make a considerable mess, as the water spreads out all over the area. When tankless heaters encounter problem, there’s no mess. You’re simply denied hot water until a technician can get in to repair it.

For more advantages of tankless water heaters, or to schedule an installation in your home, call upon the experts at My Drain Company. Plumbing companies in Glendale don’t come more professional than us. We can assess your needs and make the right recommendation before installing a system with courtesy and care. Pick up the phone and call us today. You’ll be glad you did!

 

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What Slab Leak Repair Is and Why You May Need It

Friday, June 20th, 2014

You may have heard the term “slab leak” before and not understood exactly what it meant, except that it sounds like it would take a great deal of difficult work to fix and you don’t want one to happen in your home. You’re right on both counts (you don’t want any kind of leaks in your home) but with the right plumbers on the job, you can expect to have a slab leak fixed fast and correctly so it won’t threaten the rest of your property or plumbing.

Slab leaks, as we’ll explain, are serious business. The moment you think you have one in your home, you need to call the professionals at My Drain Company. When it comes to plumbing in Glendale, CA, we are one of the most experienced full-service contractors. Our plumbers can handle jobs large and small, from solving a household leak to handling commercial installation.

What slab leaks are

The term “slab leak” is the plumbing industry name for any pipe leak that occurs under concrete or other hardscape material in a building. Your home’s foundation is a large concrete block, and a number of important pipes, such as the water main, run through it. Although well-protected from damage because of the hard casing, these pipes can still break due to corrosion (especially for older plumbing), the house shifting, or (and this is a serious concern for Southern California) earthquakes.

A slab leak not only wastes immense amount of water, it can inflict serious damage to a home’s foundation as it increases pressure within the slab.

How will I know I have a slab leak?

The first sign of a slab leak you may notice is a sudden elevation in your water bills for which you cannot account. Other indicators are the appearance of cracks along your home’s foundation due to water pressure, the faint sound of running water, and unusual warm spots across the concrete slabs of your home. Call for plumbers the moment you encounter any of these warning signs.

How does slab leak repair work?

Not all slab leak repairs work the same way. Skilled plumbers will use leak detection equipment to pinpoint the leak location and determine the best way to repair the problem. Sometimes the plumbers will need to use jackhammers to access the leak, and then fill the hole in afterwards. Other times, the leak can be repaired through additives placed into the plumbing that will seal the leak from inside. Regardless of the method used, professional plumbers will make every effort to leave your home looking exactly as they found it.

For the fast and effective plumbing services in Glendale, CA that will take care of any leak your home may have, trust to the 24-hour service of My Drain Company.

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