Bathtub Clogs
How to Unclog a Grease Trap
Keeping the grease out of your sewer line is imperative to avoid sewer line clogs and backups through a grease interceptor or other grease trap. Grease is not something your septic systems, sewer systems, or septic tanks are designed to handle; they are designed for wastewater, and the baffles and interior of the tank cannot handle grease, which can result in costly repairs if you have grease buildup occur in your septic tank. As grease flows, it may build up, resulting in a clogged grease trap from a line blockage. Even after a commercial grease trap disposal service has conducted a thorough cleaning, there may still be problems or backups. Fats, Oils, and grease (also known as FOG) accumulate quickly, especially in high-volume commercial kitchens that may need grease trap cleaning services performed more often to avoid clogs or backups. The only way to avoid eventual grease trap repair is
Popular Bathroom Plumbing Repairs
Bathroom plumbing is used often. It requires maintenance, but it also gives you clues when repairs are needed. Low water pressure, knocking sounds when the water is running, slow drainage, continuous dripping, or discolored water are just a few signs you need repairs. The most common types, which require a plumber in Kansas City, are: Toilet Repair Depending on the type and configuration, toilets can have any number of problems. Flush valves may have a tapered rubber float ball or flapper ball to control water flow. Damage to these will prevent the tank from filling, so replacement is necessary. The same is true with broken chains. Loose flush handles, running noises, a clogged toilet not fixed by a plunger, and water pooling at the base are signs you need bathroom plumbers to make repairs. Pipe Relining First, the pipe is inspected using a camera. The pipe is then flushed with
What Causes Septic Tank Odor in Your House?
Homeowners in Kansas City should never ignore septic tank odor or sewer smell. Odors like the smell of sewer gas, methane gas, rotten egg smell, hydrogen sulfide, or foul odors in general when it comes to your septic system shouldn’t be ignored. The problem isn’t just the stench; it’s also a health issue, especially when these gases are in high concentrations. There are loads of bacteria and viruses in home wastewater, plus nitrogen and phosphorus, that can seriously harm the environment, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. If you notice septic tank smells in your yard, contact a plumber to inspect your septic tank system for any concerns with a clogged drain or sewer line, a failed drain field or leach field, or any other reason for the bad smells. Plumbing problems like these can start small with a simple foul odor, odd house smells, an occasional gurgle, or
To Tank Or Not to Tank: How to Choose a Water Heater
Hot water. We love it, we need it, and we tend not to think about the hot water heater until it stops working, and all we have is cold water for that morning shower. THEN we are fully aware of it, and if it’s not repairable, what kind of options are there in today’s world, and what should be on the forefront of your mind as you look through the wide array of electric water heaters, tankless water heaters, heat pump water heaters, energy efficiency, and energy costs, venting options, first-hour rating and more. There are many factors to consider before you buy a new water heater, including the size of your family, climate, and the type of fuel you use for your home. Family Size / Usge Requirements What size and type of water heater homeowners need will depend on their living situation and how much hot water they
Preventing a Plumbing Emergency Over the Holidays
If you will be entertaining over the holidays the last thing you want is for a plumbing disaster to strike, and we all know that emergencies always happen at the worst times – like when we have a house full of guests! Whether the issue is a toy car clogging the toilet, turkey grease solidifying in the kitchen drain, silverware jamming the garbage disposal, or a broken water heater on Christmas Eve, plumbers are the superheroes over the holidays, that’s for sure! Many households see an increase in activity between November 23rd and January 1st, which places additional stress on the water heater, dishwasher, showers, bathtubs, toilets, kitchen sink drain, garbage disposal, and even the washing machine, which means household plumbing is put the ultimate test. While you can put in an emergency call to a plumber over the holidays, you’d prefer not to have to place a call on
Main Causes of Sewer Problems
Modern-day plumbing is arguably one of the greatest inventions of mankind, next to the Internet and the smartphone. It’s also something that we don’t think much about until we see dirty water backing up in our kitchen or bathroom sink, or our bathtub. If you have water backing up in one of your drains, you want to get down to the bottom of the problem and you want it fixed right away. What could be causing the problem? It probably comes down to one of these three common problems. 1. A Blocked Drain Perhaps the most common cause of a sewer problem is a blockage located in the drain. If your toilet is backed up, or if your bathtub or sink isn’t draining properly, you probably have a clogged drain. If all of the other drains in the house are working fine and the problem is isolated to one individual
Are Chemical Drain Cleaners Safe for Pipes?
If you’re like many people, you have childhood memories of your father or grandfather trying to unclog a sink or bathtub drain with a harsh chemical drain cleaner, hot water, baking soda, or bleach to get that blockage cleared. Should you do the same now that you are a homeowner if you encounter a clog in your plumbing system and need drain cleaning? If you experience a stubborn clog, should you run out to the nearest grocery store or superstore for a bottle of liquid drain cleaner or chemical drain cleaners like Drano or Liquid Plumber to get rid of that build-up or clear out the garbage disposal? Not so fast. According to Consumer Reports, “chemical drain cleaners are among the most dangerous household products,” which isn’t surprising since they are made out of lye and manufactured for chemical reactions to cut through grease, soap scum, hair, and other sludge
How to Unclog Your Bath Drain
Most people take one, if not two showers a day, and there’s a few things they expect when they take a shower or bath: hot water, clean towels and a tub drain that doesn’t suffer from a blockage. When it comes to addressing a slow-draining bathtub drain, there are many commercial and home remedies homeowners can try to free up a clogged drain, all of them aimed at removing the blockage causing the clog. Some may use baking soda and boiling water, or a cup of white vinegar, to drain cleaner and chemical drain cleaners to remove the buildup of gunk and soap scum, to a drain snake or even needle nose pliers to get clumps of hair out of the bathtub drain stopper and cure the standing water in their shower drain – with the last resort of course being to call a professional plumber to come