My Drain Company Blog

3 Different Ways to Clean Your Drains

May 1st, 2014

Most people think of drain cleaning as a simple task easily accomplished with a store-bought cleanser. In point of fact, however, such simple solutions usually only defer the problem instead of properly solving it. If you live in Northridge, our plumbers are nearby who can perform drain cleaning services that properly correct the problem instead of just papering it over with a one-size-fits-all solution. Drain clogs are often very different, and food particles in your kitchen plumbing can differ a great deal from hard-water build up in your bathroom. The professional Northridge plumbers at My Drain Company can tailor the solution to fit the problem, using a wide variety of options.

Here are 3 different ways to clean your drains that plumbers often make use of:

  • Video cameras. Video cameras don’t strictly clear out the drain, but they can be used to get a better idea of what’s causing the cog. The plumber can send a tiny camera down the drain on a flexible line, then monitor what it sees through a video screen on the other end. It lets him or her determine exactly what you’re up against, then find the right tool for the job.
  • Drain snakes. Drain snakes are basically flexible wires with bristle heads on the end, and like cleansers, you can buy generic models in any store. But professional plumbers often use mechanized snakes with a lot more power behind them, as well as snakes with rotating heads that can match the exact nature of the clog. They’ll use that to break up the clog into small pieces, or flat-out pull it up in the case of smaller clogs.
  • Hydro jetting. Hydro jetting uses a fitted hose that shoots concentrated bursts of water down your pipes. The water’s extreme pressure levels scour the pipes clean – dealing with all the build-up, not just the specific clog – while leaving the pipes themselves untouched. Hydro jetting is very safe, but requires a plumber’s training to use properly.

Here at My Drain Company, we are familiar with the different ways to clean your drains and we know how to use them right. If you live in Northridge, our plumbers are just a phone call away. Contact us today to make an appointment!

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Common Causes of Plumbing Repairs in Northridge

April 29th, 2014

No matter how well we maintain our home’s plumbing, eventually we will encounter a problem that needs the services of a professional plumber. Leaks, clogs, loss of water flow, dripping faucets… you’ve probably encountered all of these at one time or another. But remember: a good plumber has encountered them numerous times, and will have no trouble fixing whatever ails your pipes, drains, water heater, or faucets.

My Drain Company has 15 years of working with all types of plumbing repairs in Northridge, CA. We’ve put together a list of three common causes for the repairs we often perform. If any of these afflicts your plumbing, contact us right away (any time of the day or night) and we’ll rush out to help you.

3 Common Culprits Behind Plumbing Repairs

  • Pipe corrosion: If you live in a house built before 1970, chances are high that the plumbing consists of galvanized steel pipes. This is strong and durable material, but it has fallen out of favor among plumbing installers because it eventually corrodes. Corroded pipes will spring leaks, break, and develop blockages. If you encounter numerous problems because of older pipes, you may wish to consider a whole-house repiping to replace the outdated pipes with copper or plastic ones.
  • Fat, oil, and grease: Collectively known as F.O.G., these hot liquids often go down kitchen drains where they create numerous troubles from clogs and high water pressure. Although F.O.G. in liquid form seems innocuous enough, it changes into a waxy solid when it dries. This will start to coat the inside of pipes and choke off the space for water. Clogs will become frequent, and water pressure will spike as the room in the pipes shrinks, leading to leaks. Regular drain cleaning will help get rid of F.O.G., and you should also avoid pouring these substances down your drains and instead put them in a trash receptacle.
  • Hard water: This describes water with a high level of mineral content, principally magnesium and calcites. Hard water comes from the municipal water supply, and it is rarely unhealthy to drink. However, it can damage your plumbing. Hard water leaves calcite deposits inside pipes which will contribute to higher water pressure and clogs. It will also damage appliances like your water heater and promote corrosion.

Call for Professional Plumbers in Northridge, CA

Homeowners often try to go the DIY route with plumbing repairs, but simply owning a set of wrenches doesn’t mean you can effectively solve most plumbing issues. You might make the problems worse and end up flooding a room in your house. Let professionals take care of all your plumbing repairs in Northridge, CA. Call My Drain Company the next time you have clogs, leaks, or any other plumbing hassles.

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Dangers of Poor Plumbing Installation

April 24th, 2014

Cutting corners on almost any task can lead to poor outcomes. But for plumbing it can be especially disastrous. If you hire amateurs or an inexperienced plumbing contractor to handle your plumbing installation, you could end up with a horde of problems that will far overwhelm the meager upfront savings.

Let’s look at some of the big dangers of a bad plumbing installation. Make sure none of this happens to you: for your plumbing installation in Northridge, CA, use My Drain Company and our experienced team of professional plumbers.

Here is what’s at risk with poor and amateur plumbing installation

Almost anything could go wrong with plumbing because of inferior work. These are three of the issues that show up the most frequently.

  1. Constant leaking problems: This is the #1 most common problem you can encounter from a shoddy job installing in pipes. With inferior workmanship, incorrect gaskets, and poor quality material will come continual leaking at various connectors. Bad caulking or using cheap caulking on toilets and sinks will also lead to leaks. If the installers put in the incorrect pipe sizes, it will also lead to high pressure in the plumbing, and this will trigger leaks (as well as many additional troubles).
  2. Insufficient hot water: Here’s trouble that comes from poorly sizing the water heater, which is a difficult job that requires balancing a number of factors in a home: average water usage, time of usage, number of taps, number of people, etc. This is an easier fix for a professional to remedy, but it is expensive since the whole heater must be replaced, and often the pipes connecting to it as well.
  3. Clogging sinks: Piping in a home must create an easy flow for wastewater that collects at the sewer line out to the street. Poor plumbing management will interrupt this flow and make it easier for sinks, toilets, and various drains around the house to clog, and may lead to serious plumbing problems.

Start off your plumbing installation right: with skilled, experienced professionals handling the job. Your home’s plumbing is too vital a system for your health and comfort to risk with amateur work that may save a little at the front, but end up costing you enormously for many years afterwards.

For your plumbing installation in Northridge, CA, contact My Drain Company. We are a full-service plumbing, drain, sewer, and water heater company with over 15 years in the business. We are fully licensed and insured for your protection.

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Why Install a Storm Drain on Your Property?

April 4th, 2014

It may sound odd to suggest that people who live in Southern California install storm drains on their property. Isn’t it too dry here and the rain too irregular for us to worry about storm drainage?

On the surface, the answer would seem to be “yes.” However, there’s more to storm drainage than the name implies, and there’s more to Southern California weather than the rest of the country knows about. A storm drain may be an ideal way to protect your home from water damage that might ruin its integrity and create safety issues.

My Drain Company offers storm drain installation from experts. We also do drain cleaning in Glendale, CA that will maintain your storm drain, no matter what disasters it may protect your home from.

The uses of a storm drain

Southern California doesn’t experience frequent rainstorm conditions, but the ones that have struck us have caused enormous amounts of damage… principally because our hills and streets do not have sufficient drainage to accommodate such a high level of water flow. Hillsides often wash away or turn into landslides because of heavy rainfall, and continuous rain—even moderate—will lead to street flooding because of poor drainage. If your property is in an area that has or could potentially have flooding issues during rainfall, the additional drainage ability of a storm drain will keep the excess water siphoned away from your home. A quality installer will know which type of storm drain installation will work best for your property: drain tile system, yard drain, or stairwell drain.

But flooding damage can come from sources other than harsh weather. A burst pipe in a water main can lead to massive amounts of water flooding onto your property that will continue until emergency repairs can shut off the water and fix the break. If you live on property that has a low water table, excess water can come up through the ground, and this will require a specific approach to storm drain installation in order to prevent it from damaging your home.

Maintenance and repair

After you have the proper storm drain put in, make sure that you keep it in good repair and well-maintained. Like any drain inside your home, a storm drain can develop clogging that will need cleaning. The extent of a storm drain requires that only professionals handle this task.

For professional drain cleaning in Glendale, CA and for all your needs for storm drain services, contact My Drain Company. If you are unsure about installing a storm drain, contact us for advice.

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Signs You Need a New Water Heater

April 1st, 2014

Your water heater performs silent, selfless duty on behalf of your household, often operating for years tucked away in a forgotten corner. When problems arise, they tend to be fairly dramatic, and depending upon the circumstances, it may indicate that you need to replace your old water heater with a new one. Water heater installation in Glendale is a fairly common service offered by any qualified plumber, but before you pull the trigger on a replacement unit, you need to spot the signs that you need a new water heater to begin with. Specifics vary, but a few general guidelines can help no matter what the situation.

We handle water heater installation in Glendale with courtesy and professionalism, and we’re dedicated to helping you make the right decision for your circumstances. Give us a call today to make an appointment and  let us show you what we can do!

  • Heating bills are going up. The most obvious sign that something is wrong with your water heater is an unexpected increase in your monthly bills. If you notice a spike in costs, especially if you aren’t using hot water any more than normal, you may want to think about getting a new unit.
  • Performance is dropping. If it takes a long time for your heater to warm the water, if the water doesn’t stay warm for long, or if you detect signs of specific problems, such as strange noises or rust on the unit, it may be time to look for a new one. This is especially true if you’ve already sunk a lot of money in repairs to correct those issues.
  • The water heater is old. If you’ve kept your water heater well-maintained and it still functions properly, there’s no reason it can’t keep going for years after it should normally give up the ghost. But if your heater is more than a decade old and you’re experiencing repeated problems of the sort discussed above, that could be the step that requires a replacement.

If you spot the signs you need a new water heater, call on the experts at My Drain Company to help.

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Signs to Look for with Water Heater Repair

March 31st, 2014

Water heaters tend to be the silent heroes of the household: doing their jobs anonymously and in silence while tucked away in some forgotten corner. They’re designed to last for many years, but when problems arise, they tend to be large ones. Water heater repair in Northridge can handle most significant problems, but they can’t get to work until they know that something’s wrong. You can help if you understand the signs to look for with water heater repair, and check your unit regularly to see if you can spot them.

Did you now that My Drain Company handles water heater repair in Northridge? We’re absolutely dedicated to your complete satisfaction. Pick up the phone and call us today!

  • Strange noises. Noise can include humming, rumblings, strange gurgling noises or drips akin to leaks. The sources of the sounds can vary wildly. Gurgling noises, for instance, likely come from water moving through sediment built up in the bottom of the tank, while loud pops suggest problems with the heating components inside the tank itself.
  • Leaks. This one is a bit of a no brainer. If you spot puddles of water around the base of your heater, or along any of the lines leading to and from the tank, there’s a significant problem. A leaking tank usually means you have to replace the whole unit, though leaks around other components may only necessitating changing them out (or perhaps just adjusting their fittings). In any case, a trained technician can examine the heater and determine the best course of action.
  • The water. Water from your tap can provide some important clues on the state of your water heater. For instance, if it appears rusty or muddy, if it struggles to heat up, or if it has a strange metallic taste to it, that could indicate problems with your heater. (It could also stem from issues elsewhere in your plumbing, which is why a trained expert should be called in.)

Now that you know what signs to look for with water heater repair, you can respond by calling My Drain Company to get to the bottom of the problem.

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Understanding Your Plumbing Installation Needs

March 19th, 2014

The plumbing system in your home encompasses more than the pipes running through the walls and floors. Your plumbing consists of all the systems hooked up to water lines and waste water lines, which includes the sewer line, the fixtures in your kitchen and bathrooms, and large appliances such your hot water heater and your laundry machine. Sometimes it can be difficult understanding what new installations you’ll need to get the most from your plumbing. What updates are best? What fixtures will help you reduce water?

There’s no better way to understand your needs for plumbing installation in Glendale, CA than to seek help from professional plumbers. Call My Drain Company today and make use of our more than 15 years of experience in the plumbing industry so you’ll receive the installation that will improve your life and your budget.

What are some possibilities for plumbing installation?

We’ve listed some options to consider for your plumbing that will help you start thinking about how you want to upgrade.

  • Low-flow toilets: Let us take out your old toilet and put in a unit that will make a significant cut in your water bills each month. Low-flow toilets can work as effectively as standard models. According to the U.S. EPA, a low-flow toilet will reduce water use from 20–60%, approximately 13,000 gallons for the average family.
  • Garbage disposals: Older homes often do not contain garbage disposals, and installing one can make much easier, as well as eliminate a large amount of food waste. Installation requires professional plumbers to hook up your new disposal to a waste water line.
  • Whole house-repiping: Here’s another option to consider for an older home. The pipe material for most homes used to be galvanized steel. A durable material, but one also prone to corrosion with age. A whole house repiping job will prevent numerous repair problems as well as increase the value of your home.
  • Sump pumps: If you live in an area with a high-water table, you can experience high levels of moisture and even flooding in your basement. A sump pump will remove excess water from an area and place it into the waste water system, helping to prevent damage to your home and the growth of mold and mildew.

There are many more possibilities for upgrading your plumbing with new installation. Call our specialists at My Drain Company today and talk to them about ways to better your home and your life with new plumbing installation in Glendale, CA.

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Common Problems with Storm Drains

March 5th, 2014

Here in California, we don’t normally get a lot of rain. Unfortunately, that often means that our civic drainage systems are unprepared for any kind of serious storms, like the kind we experienced at the beginning of the month. Storm drains exist to prevent the kind of flooding that heavy rains engender, keeping your property safe and dry during even the biggest winter storm. Here in Glendale, drain cleaning services can install a storm drain for you, as well as correcting with your existing storm drain. Common problems with storm drains are usually something a trained expert can fix.

Most storm drain problems all stem from the same source: clogged or overloaded pipes.  Clogs can occur via build-up in your system, damage to the pipe itself, and saturation of the ground, as well as more direct causes like tree roots or even animals lodging debris at the grates. When rain storms hit like they did at the beginning of the month, those clogs can quickly turn disastrous, leading to all manner of serious problems. What kinds of problems? The most troubling is flooding, which can severely your yard and basement, and lead to a great deal of costs to repair. Yard erosion can be a particularly big problem, especially if your home is on a hill or somewhere else with higher elevation (very common in Glendale)

In some cases, storm drains that are too small can also cause flooding problems. This is actually fairly common in California, where we consistently underestimate the severity of our rains. In any event, the result is much the same as it is with clogged storm drains: flooding, backing up and wreaking havoc on your property in the process.

A reliable professional service can come to the rescue when you’re dealing with common problems with storm drains. Drain cleaning and repair services in Glendale, CA can be performed by the experts at My Drain Company. As our name implies, drain cleaning is our specialty and we have years of experience treating problems with storm drains. We also offer 24-hour emergency service for those times when the flood waters are rising. California’s rainy season can be a lot more destructive than people give credit for. Call us today and let us help you cut the damage off at the pass.

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Why You Should Get an Estimate Before Plumbing Installation Begins

February 27th, 2014

Plumbing installation is a big job, and requires a lot of planning and foresight on the part of the homeowner. A proper installation can enhance your home for years or even decades to come, while a poor installation means leaks, burst pipes or worse coming far sooner than you would like.  Here in Glendale, plumbing installation also needs to account for earthquakes and shifts in the ground. These are only a few of the reasons why you should get an estimate before plumbing installation begins.

The most important ones involve money. A proper estimate will itemize all of the expenses and explain them to you before you sign anything. That way, there’s no surprises along the way and if additional, unexpected work required, the service can’t simply tack it onto your bill without your knowledge. And just as an estimate protects you, so too does it protect the installing technician by ensuring that all work is okayed beforehand.

Beyond that, however, it also buys you peace of mind. With an estimate, you can see how the project is going to come together and understand all of the pieces involved. If something seems out of place, you can speak to the plumber about it, but otherwise, you’re left relying on whoever you’ve hired to do the job properly. An estimate acts as a piece of insurance against that, allowing you to relax while the plumber sets about his task.

Good plumbing services know why you should get an estimate before plumbing installation begins, and work with the homeowner to provide that. Plumbing installation services of all sorts are provided by the expert Glendale, CA plumbers at My Drain Company. We’re fully insured, our plumbers are all trained and licensed, and you can request an estimate from us anytime on our website. Beyond that, our staff works with only your complete satisfaction in mind, and we will go the extra mile to make sure you leave the experience happy. Give us a call today to set up and appointment and discuss your options. You’ll be glad you did!

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How Does a Drain Snake Clear the Clogs?

February 17th, 2014

You may have seen drain snakes for sale in the local hardware store for use in unsticking clogged pipes, and you might own a dilettante’s model yourself for those times when your plumbing backs up. You might also have seen mechanized models used by plumbers and/or drain snakes with fitted heads for use in clearing up very specific drain issues. Generally speaking, you should leave the use of drain snakes to the professionals; for homeowners, our in Glendale plumbing repair experts are on call to do the job right. But how does a drain snake clear the clogs exactly? The answers can help explain why it’s best to use a professional in all but the mildest drain clogs.

Clogs can be created by any number of materials, from soap and hair to vegetable peelings and cooking grease to scale build-up in the pipes themselves. Snakes serve two basic functions in dealing with them: breaking them up so they can be washed safely down the drain and pulling them out so that they are out of the plumbing system entirely. In both cases, a snake requires the force to wedge itself safely into the clog and a properly shaped head to both hold the clog and remove it (or break it up) properly. The plumber sends the snake down the pie until it reaches the clog and then either pulls it loose by slowly retracting the snake or twisting and turning the snake in an effort to break the cog into smaller chunks which can then be washed safely down the pipe.

In the case of professional plumbers, that’s fairly easy. They can use motor-driven snakes to apply the proper force and fitted heats tailored to the precise nature of the clog to make sure the process doesn’t damage the pipe along the way. In Glendale, plumbing repair services like My Drain Company can clear the clogs with a drain snake specially fitted to do the job. Don’t trust a one-size-fits all snake bought over the counter. Give us a call today and leave it to the professionals to do the job right!

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