My Drain Company Blog : Archive for January, 2014

Signs of Earthquake Damage to Your Plumbing

Monday, January 27th, 2014

We get our share of earthquakes in Southern California, and sometimes the damage can extend well beyond the temblor itself. The ground can shift beneath your home and formerly stable elements can become dangerously unbalanced. The especially applies to components of your home such as the electricity and plumbing. Here in Glendale, plumbing repair services can fix many problems associated with plumbing, but you need to know what to look for before you can call them in. Here are some signs of earthquake damage to your plumbing.

Of paramount concern is the main line from your home to Glendale’s public sewer system. If it ruptures or breaches, you’re likely to notice. The grass could suddenly become greener in the patch of ground above it, as the leaking sewage serves as a de facto fertilizer for your lawn. You may also notice puddles of liquid forming in your yard and/or unpleasant odors coming from your pipe. Water mains will result in puddles as well, in addition to a severe drop in the water pressure in your home.

Damage inside the home is likely to be more localized, and may affect only one single room or unit. You may turn on a sink or shower and find no water coming out. You may also see signs of backup in toilets and sinks, or discolored water emerging from your pipes. If you detect any such signs, shut off the main water valve to you home and call a plumber to fix the problem immediately. Under no circumstances should you drink or cook from water delivered by pipes that have been damaged in an earthquake. Use bottled water until a plumber has had a chance to take a look at it.

If you spot signs of earthquake damage to your plumbing, the Glendale plumbing repair experts at My Drain Company can help. We offer plumbing repair services, from earthquake damage falls under our purveyance, and we can even install additional safety features to help your system better endure the next quake. Give us a call today and let us show you what we can do!

The Best Ways to Prevent the Need for Plumbing Repairs

Monday, January 20th, 2014

Here in Glendale, CA plumbing repair services are used to handling all kinds of issues. But better than waiting for plumbing problems to crop up, homeowners can save themselves a lot of time and heartache by taking preemptive measures with their plumbing. An ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure as they say, and you can often stop a significant problem before it starts. Here are some of the best ways to prevent then need for plumbing repairs:

For starters, watch what you pour down the drain. Certain materials such as grease or fibrous vegetables will increase the chances of clogs. If you throw them in the trash instead of letting them wash down the sink, you’ll keep them out of the pipes and thus prevent damage. The same principle applies to hair and shampoo in your bathroom drains. Use a screen or strainer on the drains, and clean it out every time you shower or bathe. It will keep the pipes free of detritus and reduce the risk of clogs and drains.

In addition, it pays to know where the main shutoff valve in your home is: the one that controls the entire water supply in the household. If a leak springs up or some kind of plumbing disaster looms, get to the valve and shut it off. It could prevent a huge amount of water damage to your home and cut down on repair bills accordingly. The shutoff valve is usually on the bottom floor of your house (or your basement if you have one) near an outside wall or the street.

Finally, it always pays to have a reputable plumber ready to go; someone who can perform basic maintenance services as well as big repairs. Good plumbers would rather help you prevent big problems instead of ripping you off, and once you find one, he or she can be worth their weight in gold. Plumbing repairs in Glendale, CA can be performed by the experts at My Drain Company. We know the best ways to prevent the need for plumbing repairs and can help you keep your pipes clean and free of detritus. Pick up the phone and give us a call today!

Common Water Heater Problems

Tuesday, January 14th, 2014

From hot showers, and laundry, to cooking and dishes, your water heater is one of the most-used appliances in your home. All the use that it gets can cause you to develop a number of common problems. My Drain Company Inc provides total water heater repair services in Glendale, CA and we wanted to share some of the most common issues that homeowners face with their water heater. Call us today if you’re having any of the issues below.

Water Heater Repair in Glendale, CA

  • Leaks – Make sure that you check the area around your water heater for dried water spots, puddles, or dripping water. If you see any of these, call for water heater repair immediately. Water heater leaks can waste a lot of water and, if they get too severe, they can actually damage your home. Common leaks could happen from the valves and gaskets leading into and out of your water heater.
  • Noises – Rumbling water heaters are a pretty common occurrence and they often are the result of mineral deposits and sediment collecting on the bottom of the tank. The layer of minerals or sediment causes the formation of bubbles from the heat from the burner which causes the rumbling noise. In order to fix this, your plumber will drain the tank and clean it out.
  • Rust – If you start to get rust-colored hot water in your home it likely means that your water heater is rusted on the inside. There is a metal rod inside your tank water heater that absorbs all of the small electrical currents in the water that cause rust. If this sacrificial rod deteriorates completely and it isn’t replaced, it can allow the inside of your tank to rust quickly. This issue usually can’t be fixed and often requires the replacement of the water heater.

Call My Drain Company Inc for professional water heater repair services in Glendale, CA. We’re available 24/7 for water heater problems so call us anytime.

What Causes Low Water Pressure

Friday, January 10th, 2014

The water that comes into your home from your utility is under pressure so that it can reach throughout your home to all your appliances and fixtures. If you have low water pressure in your home it could be the fault of your utility but it could also be caused by a leak in your home. The expert plumbers at My Drain Company Inc offer total plumbing repair services in Glendale, CA and we wanted to share a few of the common problems that cause low water pressure. Read on below and then give us a call if you need any kind of service.

Low Water Pressure in Glendale, CA

Having insufficient water pressure can be a huge inconvenience and it could also prevent you from carrying out many important tasks. It’s hard to shower when you only have a trickle of water coming out your shower. Also, other appliances like your dish washer or laundry machine may also not work as effectively. Here are some of the common causes of low water pressure.

  • Water line leaks – Probably the most common cause of low water pressure is a leak in your water line. The water line to your home comes in from the street, under your property and then into your house. This makes it difficult to detect water line leaks but low water pressure is a good indication that you need plumbing repair in Glendale, CA.
  • Debris build-up – Over time, sand, dirt and other sediment can build up in your water line and restrict the flow of water. Sometimes this problem is accompanied by noises from your plumbing system when you run certain fixtures or appliances. This whining noise is caused by the water rushing past the debris.
  • Corrosion – Finally, corrosion is a big problem that can cause leaks and low water pressure. Corrosion happens because of small electrical exchanges between your pipes, the water, and the soil on your property.

Call My Drain Company Inc if you have low water pressure and you’re tired of it. We offer 24/7 plumbing repair services in Glendale, CA for all types of issues so contact us any time.