Archive for the ‘utah plumbing’ Category

Do you wince when your child calls out, “The toilet’s clogged again!”? You grumble to yourself as you head for the bathroom. Maybe you’ve wondered if there’s a better way to unclog a toilet.

Toilets and the nearest lavatory sinks almost always drain down the same stack of pipes, so if the sink drains fine, you know the clog must be inside the toilet. You have two options for clearing a clogged toilet. One option is to use a plunger; the other is to use a toilet auger.

When choosing your plunger, get one that has a fold out cup designed to fit into the opening of a toilet trap.  Put the plunger down firmly into the opening of the toilet and pump up and down in even back and forth motions, using an equal amount of force each direction.  Your goal is to break up whatever is causing the clog. If the toilet flushes normally, you’ve solved the problem.

A toilet auger can be purchased at your local hardware store and works the same way as a drain snake.  Pull the handle all the way out so that the tip of the cable is all that is showing. Insert the end of the auger in the toilet opening and slowly push the auger handle forward while cranking clockwise. When you’ve gone as far as it goes, pull it out and repeat the process, forcing it left and right to make sure the obstruction is cleared.

Now that the toilet is working again, it just might be a good time to have a family discussion about what things shouldn’t be flushed down toilets. Paper towels, feminine hygiene products, diapers, even flushable wipes can all cause clogs – as can just using a huge wad of paper.  Toys and other items can also cause perpetual clogging problems until they are removed;  we once had to pull a pair of eyeglasses out of a toilet to solve clogging issues.

Running pipes for plumbing is not always as easy as it sounds. You want the pipes to be concealed in walls, ceilings or floors, yet drainage pipes also need to have the correct slope. Installing plumbing into a new building will of course be easier than doing a retrofit, but even a remodeling job isn’t impossible for the do-it-yourself-er with some knowledge and a few skills.

The easiest way is to run the new pipes through the same places the old ones went.  Keep in mind that drainage pipes need to have an eighth of an inch drop for every foot of run. This allows gravity to pull both the water and the waste down through the pipes.

If your remodeling job calls for a new fixture arrangement, you may be able to run pipes up from a basement or crawl space. Avoid cutting into floor joists or support beams as it may weaken them. Check with your local building codes and a competent contractor for help tackling any issues involving support beams.

If you can’t get the pipes to go where they need to while still remaining in a concealed space, you can build a false wall or chase to give you the room you need. A chase could be built from floor to floor, allowing pipes to run through multiple story homes. This is especially helpful in running new vent stacks.

Another option is building a soffit along the top of a wall, and the pipes can run inside this space. An unused laundry chute could also house plumbing pipes.  With a little creativity, you can get your pipes wherever you need them.

Have you ever tried taking a shower with just a drip of water coming out? Or tried rinsing your hair in only a small trickle of water? Low water pressure isn’t any fun, but the first step towards solving the problem is identifying what the cause is.

Water valves control the water coming into your home. The first thing to check is to make sure the main water valve is turned all the way on. A valve only partially open won’t allow the water flow needed to give you full water pressure.

One thing to check is the pressure regulator, a bell shaped device usually found below the hose connection in the front of your home. A bad pressure regulator can cause low water pressure in some or all of the water fixtures inside the home. A plumbing professional can quickly fix this problem for you.

If you have a water storage tank located lower than your home, it can add to water pressure problems. Locating the tank at a higher elevation than your home will let gravity help with the water flow. This will give you greater water pressure.

Water leaks can also cause low water pressure. Having your sprinklers on at the same time you are washing clothes or running the dishwasher will also give you lower water pressure. Check for leaks, and make sure you don’t have multiple water using operations going on at the same time.

Another common cause of low water pressure is mineral deposit build-up inside the faucets and shower heads. Cleaning out the faucet heads and shower heads will solve the problem in that case. Restoring normal water pressure will make your next shower much more enjoyable.

Most of the time, we don’t even know there is a problem with our septic tanks until it has become a smelly mess. By that time the problem can be so extensive that it becomes an expensive repair project. Taking a few precautions ahead of time can save septic tank disasters and eliminate the need for expensive repairs.

Oils and grease take much longer to digest in your septic tank. Don’t dispose of cooking oils or grease by pouring them down the drain; put them in the garbage instead. Excessive amounts of oils and grease in your septic system can cause blockages in the upper sedimentation tank and inlet pipes.

Adding supplements to your septic system that contain live bacteria can help digest the waste buildup. Adding yogurt with live cultures is an inexpensive way to add live bacteria to the system. Unless you use a lot of harsh chemicals that kill the bacteria, once bacteria are introduced into your septic system, they should continue to thrive there.

Never use your septic system as a means of disposing of trash. Items that don’t biodegrade should never be put down your drains, including the toilet. Flushing tampons or paper towels down your toilet are definitely a no, no. They will eventually block your sewer lines and not allow the passage of liquids.

Another way to prevent septic tank problems is by limiting the amount of water entering the system. Divert rain water so it doesn’t go to the same area where your drain field is located. An effluent filter that blocks the passage of large solid waste can be installed by a Utah plumbing professional and will keep solid sewage from passing into your drain field and clogging your lines.

Drip, drip, drip. That is a sound no one likes waking up to. Water leaks can cause great damage to a home, apartment or building. It is important to check for water leaks from time to time if you want to avoid costly repairs.

Sometimes we don’t know there is a leak until we find the tell-tale signs. Drywall bulging and then dripping water onto the floor below is a sure sign of a leak somewhere up above. When this happened at our house I was puzzled – I knew for a fact that there weren’t any water pipes in that area that could be leaking.

Of course we all know water flows downhill, After a little investigation I found the source of the leak was from a toilet valve. Due to the vinyl flooring, the water had to travel across the floor to a doorway before it could find it’s way down to the ceiling below. Once the leak was found, it was a simple matter to replace the leaking valve.

It is easier to simply fix the leak than it is to have to first fix the leak, then tear out and replace everything that has been damaged due to the leak. Sometimes water damage occurs in unseen areas and the damage isn’t noticed until it has already caused a great deal of trouble. Wood with water damage will feel soft and spongy, especially in floors.

It’s always a good idea to check for leaks under sinks, around toilets, and near bathtubs or showers. If you have a crawl space or basement, you can also check there for any signs of water damage or wetness. Keeping leaks in check is one area where the old saying “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is certainly true. If you need help locating or fixing any leaks, Utah plumbing specialists will be happy to help.

Proper caulking techniques are essential with a lot of Utah plumbing jobs. Tubs and sinks in particular need to have good caulking around them. After a while caulking will need to be repaired, simply because of cracks or it is pulling off from the plumbing item.

2 Caulking should be replaced when this happens because water can leak through the crack or opening. Water can cause damage to the fixture, the joint, or even the bathroom. Re-caulk your bathroom or kitchen fixtures with the right type of caulking as well, since not all caulk is the same.

Start the job by getting rid of all the old caulk. Remove it with a putty knife and be sure to get it all off. You will also want to clean the area to make sure there is no mold or mildew there. A good option is to use bleach when cleaning the area.

Once the area is clean you can caulk the area. Start with the smallest job and then move to the larger areas. Be careful to make sure it is all sealed up properly, and don’t spill caulk on other areas of the bathroom or kitchen. If a spill happens, clean it quickly to prevent mishaps.

Let the new caulk you put on dry for a few hours. Each caulk is different, so check with the instructions to know the correct time. It is important to not use the area, especially in showers or sinks, until it has had proper time to dry. Once the caulk is cured and dried completely you should be able to use the fixture as normal.

Toilets have to be properly sealed in order for them to work properly. Be sure that the seal that is on the bottom of the toilet is sealed around the toilet properly. The seal is typically a gasket that is made of a ring of wax.

If there is an issue with the seal you or your Utah plumbing company can replace the ring with a new one. New replacements are usually accessible at hardware stores. The seal is there to prevent any leaks from coming from your toilet.

Leakage can cause a lot of repair work for your flooring and other items in your bathroom. Replacing a leaky seal should be done as soon as possible to prevent huge expenses and heavy water damage to your home.

As soon as you notice a leak you should turn off the valve to the water supply. Sometimes there is a valve right on the toilet, but other times the valve is located in another area. Be familiar with where your water valve is in case of any plumbing emergencies, such as broken pipes or flooding.

You want to get the toilet as empty as you can, so flush the toilet a few times to empty it.  The caps should then be removed, followed by the nuts. The toilet seal and caulking will then need to be removed and replaced with the new seal and new caulking.

As with any plumbing fixes, it is always best to consult a professional before doing a repair yourself. This is especially true if you have no prior experience with the repair.

Drain traps in Utah plumbing systems have an important function. Most traps are located beneath the drain outlet of sinks of the house, whether that is in the kitchen or the bathroom. The trap is essential to make sure the drainage system works properly, and it is also important for health and safety reasons.

Drain traps help with overall health because every drain trap works as a plug to seal off any harmful sewer gases. When there is a problem within the curved section of the pipe, this can cause issues with gases that can get through. That is why it is important to check the drain trap to make sure that it isn’t leaking or blocked.

A good sign of a problem with the drain trap is to see how the sink drains. When the drain takes a while to drain or it doesn’t drain quickly. It is easy to find the problem with this by taking out the drain trap and seeing if there is blockage there.

A leaking trap, on the other hand, is not as noticeable as a blocked trap. Check the traps routinely to make sure that everything is in working order. If you do notice a leakage it can usually be repaired relatively quickly, and is not an expensive fix.

You can locate the drainpipe underneath the sink by looking at the pipe that extends down from the sink. The curved section of the pipe is the actual drain trap. Place a large bowl underneath the trap to catch any water or blockage in the sink trap, and unscrew the pipe pieces to take the trap off.

When checking the trap make sure that there is no damage on the trap. Any trap that is not plastic, but made of metal, is more prone to corrosion or seal damage.

Clogged drains always seem to occur at the most inopportune times. Naturally we look for the easiest solution to the problem. If the cause of the blockage isn’t visible, it usually means the blockage is in the pipes.

We’ve all seen advertisements for drain cleaners, but how do they work? Most drain cleaners on store shelves use chemicals to move electrons, either taking or giving electrons to the clogging substance and generating heat. There are three main types of commercial drain cleaners.

Caustic drain cleaners use lye or caustic potash, which are bases and give off electrons to the clogging substance. The hydroxide ions create a reaction that turns grease into a soap-like substance that can be readily dissolved. Since the drain cleaner is heavier than water, it is able to get down to reach the clog.

Oxidizing drain cleaners use bleach, peroxides and nitrates that cause organic material to lose electrons and become oxidized. These products are also heavier than water, so it can move through the standing water to reach the clog. It also releases heat and gas which helps clear the pipe.

Acid drain cleaners are less readily available, but are used by Utah plumbing contractors. They have high concentrations of sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid, which increase hydronium ions and attract electrons from the clog. This reaction also releases heat, necessary to melt grease buildup.

Care must be taken when using any drain cleaner, as some may damage old metal pipes or soften PVC pipes. They are also very caustic if swallowed, and can even cause explosions if used incorrectly.

Recent years have brought about quite a few changes with Utah plumbing. These changes have been for the better. In the past lead pipes were used, but now there are much better options for plumbing needs. A great alternative that has been considered is plastic.

Plastic plumbing pipes have some good advantages. For one thing they are inexpensive and won’t cost an arm and a leg to install. Compared to other types of piping, plastic is one of the less expensive pipes to use.

Plastic pipes are also dependable. They are durable and have a great performance rate. Plastic is supposed to last more than thirty years, and certain types more than a hundred. Those are pretty great odds.

Plastic piping is great for those who are environmentally minded. Plastic can be recycled and used again. This is a great option for those who want to go ‘green’.

Plastic pipes are also designed to be versatile and flexible. They work well for plumbing because they can be designed to be joint-free, making leaks look like a thing of the past. They are also easy to install and you don’t have to do a lot of maintenance work on plastic to make sure it is working correctly.