My Drain Company Blog : Archive for March, 2015

What to do in Case of a Toilet Clog

Wednesday, March 25th, 2015

Of all the plumbing emergencies that homeowners may have to deal with, bathroom plumbing is probably the worst. Of those, the toilet clog is probably the most frustrating and feared bathroom plumbing issue. If your toilet does develop a clog, don’t panic! It’s actually a very simple thing to control while you wait for a plumber to arrive. You may even be able to solve it yourself. Let’s take a look at what you should do in case of a toilet clog.

Find and Close the Water Shutoff Valve

Every toilet has a water shutoff valve, located at where the toilet’s water line meets the wall. If you toilet is clogged and threatening to overflow, find the shutoff valve and turn it to the right. This should close the valve and prevent water from flowing into the toilet. If for any reason you can’t find the shutoff valve, you can also lift the back off the toilet tank and lift the float ball. This will prevent water from flowing into the tank. You’re going to have to find some way to secure the float so that it doesn’t drop again, but that’s the best solution for preventing the toilet from overflowing without shutting the water shutoff valve.

Plunge the Toilet

Grab a plunger and see if you can unclog the toilet yourself. Often, toilet clogs can be solved by plunging as long as you have a good quality plunger. If the toilet water level is too high, leave it alone for a while and see if it decreases enough for you to plunge it. You could also try skimming some of it off the top with a bucket, if you don’t want to wait. If the toilet is still clogged after repeated plunging, you’re probably going to have to call a plumber. Clear the surrounding area of any water that overflowed, and wait for a professional to arrive.

No matter what kind of plumbing emergency you have, call My Drain Company and we’ll take care of it. We provide comprehensive bathroom plumbing services throughout the Burbank area.

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The Benefits of Installing a Grease Trap

Friday, March 20th, 2015

Grease and oil are very common in kitchens across the world, and are used in the preparation of thousands of different dishes. While they’re great for serving up all sorts of tasty foodstuffs, disposing of grease and oil tends to get a bit problematic. Though both materials are liquid when being used to cook, once they cool they congeal into a viscous, semi-solid state. This can present a huge problem for your plumbing system. Let’s take a look at how grease and oil can affect your plumbing system, and how grease traps can mitigate those effects.

The Effects of Grease and Oil on Plumbing

The plumbing system in your home, including your kitchen, is really only designed to handle liquid waste running through it. There are a couple of exceptions, like your toilet or the garbage disposal. However, the garbage disposal isn’t really suited to handle grease and oil any better than a regular kitchen drain. The problem is that the garbage disposal is supposed to render solid waste into small enough pieces that they can be washed down to the sewer. When oil and grease are poured down the disposal, however, they are already viscous liquids. This allows them to stick to the blades of the garbage disposal, as well as the walls of the drain pipe. Then, they harden into a type of muck that can gum up the disposal and clog the drains. This is why you should install a grease trap.

The Grease Trap and Its Benefits

A grease trap is a device that is designed to collect grease, oil, and any other materials that may cause problems if allowed to enter the sewage disposal system. They come in a variety of sizes, from individual kitchen models to one’s large enough to serve entire restaurants. For your own home, it’s best to consult a professional to determine the right size for your needs. As oil and grease are washed down the drain, they are collected in the grease trap instead of solidifying on the walls of the pipes. Once the grease trap fills up to a certain capacity, it must be removed and cleaned.

If you don’t have a grease trap installed in your kitchen yet, call My Drain Company. We install grease traps and offer other quality plumbing services in the Glendale area.

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Signs that You Need Drain Cleaning

Wednesday, March 11th, 2015

Everyone knows that when your drain isn’t, well, draining, that you should call a plumber. Is that the only time that you should call for professional drain cleaning, though? In fact, there are a number of warning indicators that you should have your drains cleaned. Not all of them constitute a plumbing emergency. However, if you ignore these signs you may find yourself with a much bigger plumbing problem on your hands in short order. Let’s take a look at some of the signs that you need drain cleaning.

Slow Draining

Most people first notice a problem with their drains when they become completely clogged. If you pay close attention, however, you can actually identify a problem with your drain long before it gets to that point. Drain clogs form from the outside in, as the material sticks to the inside of the pipe and begins to build toward the center. This gradually restricts the flow of water through the pipe, until it finally clogs up completely. So, if you notice that your drain seems to be draining more and more slowly, you should call for a plumber to inspect it as soon as possible.

Bad Smells

Your plumbing system is designed to vent sewer gases away from your drains and out of your house. Without this ventilation system, you’d have a perpetual miasma of stink wafting out of every appliance in your house connected to the sewer system. If this system becomes blocked or otherwise compromised, it can allow sewer gases to drift up through your drains. If you only notice bad smells coming out of one of your drains, then there’s a good chance that you need that drain cleaned or repaired. If the smell is coming from every drain in your house, the problem is rooted deeper in the plumbing system. Either way, you’re going to need to call a professional plumber.

These are just a few of the signs that you need drain cleaning. If you suspect that your drains might need cleaning for any reason, call My Drain Company. We provide quality drain cleaning services throughout Chatsworth.

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Why Pinhole Leaks are a Serious Threat to Your Plumbing

Wednesday, March 4th, 2015

Decades ago, plumbers installed galvanized steel pipes throughout a plumbing system, as these were considered to be the strongest, longest-lasting material available for the job. Steel pipes corrode easily, as steel is an iron alloy and iron rusts when it is exposed to water and oxygen. Galvanizing the pipes involves coating them with a layer of zinc that helps to protect them from rust and corrosion. However, plumbers soon found out that that layer of zinc does not always last long, or that corrosion can start from the outside in.

Today, copper pipes are the norm, as these are far less likely to corrode. However, you may still run into trouble if your pipes develop pinhole leaks. Pinhole leaks are rare, but they can occur in any plumbing system without warning. Call My Drain Company today for kitchen and bathroom plumbing services in Tarzana, CA.

What Are Pinhole Leaks?

Pinhole leaks are a serious threat to both kitchen and bathroom plumbing systems. These are tiny leaks that develop from the inside out, causing water to drip out very slowly which often remains undetected for long periods of time. Unfortunately, experts are still unsure as to how pinhole leaks develop. Sometimes, an entire neighborhood is affected by this type of corrosion, and experts study the water chemistry to attempt to form an idea of how they occur so that preventive action can be taken. Unfortunately, no links have been found for certain as of yet.

Pinhole leaks can affect your plumbing and damage your home. These leaks are so minor, you may not notice them until water begins to seep through the walls. By this point, you have a major mess on your hands, as water may have already ruined structural beams and flooring, and several pipes may require replacement by this point.

If you want to make sure that the pipes in your home are in good shape, call the experts at My Drain Company. You should call us if you notice a drop in your water pressure, dark spots on the walls and ceilings, or if you simply want to make sure your kitchen and bathroom plumbing in Tarzana, CA is protected with a professional maintenance visit. Get in touch today!

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