We often rely on our kitchen and bathroom sinks to dispose of unwanted food particles and other bits of garbage. Garbage disposal units are designed to grind up organic waste matter and after a time, we come to rely on them for getting rid of all kinds of organic detritus. But before you dump another piece of food down the drain, stop and consider the damage you may be causing.
My Drain Company Blog : Posts Tagged ‘Kitchen Plumbing’
Things You Should Never Pour Down the Drain
Monday, May 4th, 2015The Dangers of F.O.G. (Fat, Oil, Grease) and Your Kitchen Drains
Monday, April 6th, 2015Drain cleaning is a service that you should have done on a regular basis for your kitchen. Professionals will use a variety of high-end equipment, such as motorized drain snakes and hydro-jetters, to thoroughly cleanse the drains in the kitchen of built-up food particles. This will help keep your kitchen efficient and avoid trouble from slow drains and full clogs in the future.
For professionals drain cleaning in Glendale, CA, call My Drain Company Inc. We offer 24-hour emergency service for times when you have surprise clogs or other urgent plumbing repair needs.
Aside from arranging for routine drain cleaning from experienced plumbers, there are some important steps you can take to see that your drains stay in the best shape possible, for as long as possible. One of these is to avoid pouring F.O.G. down any of your kitchen drains.
Wait… what is F.O.G.?
The initials F.O.G. stand for “fat, oil, and grease.” These products of cooking, food preparation, and clean-up are one of the worst enemies your drains pipes and sewer lines have. Restaurants and other food service companies use special grease traps to prevent these substances from harming the plumbing and the sewer system, but residential kitchens usually aren’t equipped with these appliances, so you will have to take care that you keep F.O.G. out of your drains in the first place.
The reason that fat, oil, and grease are so problematic for a home’s plumbing is that in their hot, liquid form they appear harmless and often get poured down the drain or the garbage disposal without thought. They can infiltrate a long way down into the pipes before they cool down and start to transform from liquids into waxy solids. This is when they begin to create trouble.
Solid F.O.G. will coat the inside of drainpipes, significantly reducing the volume available for waste water. This will make it easier for clogs to up, and much harder to remove them. If F.O.G. gets into the garbage disposal, it will eventually jam up the flywheel and other mechanical components, requiring that the system receive repairs.
The best way to deal with liquid fat, oil, and grease is to pour it out into a separate receptacle that you remove to the regular trash. Clean off excess F.O.G. from plates with a paper towel and put the towel in the trash. If you do start to encounter problems due to fat, oil, and grease in your kitchen drains, call for a professional plumber to use hydro-jetting to cleanse it out.
My Drain Company Inc offers excellent drain cleaning service, and we will take care of any major clogs you may encounter. We have provided high quality kitchen plumbing services with the best equipment for over 15 years.
Why You Shouldn’t Ignore a Leaky Faucet
Wednesday, February 25th, 2015Everyone 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.
How to Prevent Kitchen Plumbing Repair
Friday, October 24th, 2014If you’ve ever had to call a contractor for unexpected repairs, you know that it can be a hassle. You need to take time out of your busy day to wait for a technician to be available. And if a plumbing problem poses a threat to your home in the late hours of the night, you may feel like there is no one you can call.
Luckily, there are plumbing companies that offer 24-hour emergency service, like the plumbers at My Drain Company. But before major leaks and clogs leave you rushing to call a plumber, try these 3 simple tips that can help prevent problems from occurring with your kitchen plumbing.
Don’t Put Extra Strain on Your Garbage Disposal
Garbage disposals can process a lot of foods, breaking them down into smaller pieces so that they may move down the drain pipes easily. However, there are several foods your garbage disposal simply cannot handle. Of course, non-food items such as cigarette butts and plastic wrappers are simply off limits. These will not break up and may get caught in the drain pipe, leading to backup in your home. However, there are some foods to avoid as well. Harder foods like meat bones and corn cobs will not break down, while fibrous food like celery can wrap around the blades until the motor becomes stuck, leading to garbage disposal repair or replacement.
Avoid F.O.G.
F.O.G. stands for fats, oils, and grease, and these can be a real hazard to your drain pipes. Fat, oil, and grease seem fairly harmless, until your pipes become clogged and require professional drain cleaning services. That’s because melted fat and oil become solid as they cool down. When it moves down the drain, it can solidify in the pipes. Always run cool water when you use your garbage disposal so that it can break up any lingering F.O.G. and be sure to dump these substances in a separate trash container.
Schedule Annual Plumbing Maintenance
Finally, scheduling annual plumbing maintenance can help prevent problems from occurring. Plumbers will check the pipes and fixtures in every room of your home for leaks and clogs. You can also schedule professional drain cleaning with your visit, which means you may not notice any drain clogs for a very long time.
If you’re looking for skilled plumbers in Glendale, look no further than My Drain Company, with over 15 years of experience in the industry. Call us today!
Join Us Online