Many of us are programmed in such a way that if we see something disappear, we believe it is gone for good. This type of thinking is especially harmful when it comes to our plumbing. Not everything is designed to go down the drain; pouring the wrong materials into kitchen sinks and other sinks in your house will eventually mean that you have big problems with your pipes that will cost a lot of money and time in order to fix. There are a lot of materials that if poured down the drain will accumulate, clogging the pipes, and some that will even corrode the joints and cause leaks and severe damage. Here is a list of the most common things that people dump into their sinks that can cause a lot of damage.

The most common item in this case is grease. Grease is liquid and it seems like it is natural for it to go down the drain, but remember it is only liquid because it is hot. As soon as grease cools down, it will begin to form into a solid, and eventually will become very solid. It will sit in your pipe and catch other matter, and eventually it will plug up the system. In the meantime, it might also start to smell really bad. Running hot water as you pour the grease down the drain will not help. The best way to get rid of grease is to put it into a container to harden and then throw it into the trash.

Bits of food are another item that make their way into the plumbing. Food should not be put down the drain unless you have a proper garbage disposal. Invest in some food catchers to put in the drain in order to catch the bits of pasta and vegetable that slip through the colander.
Hair always seems to make its way past the plug, in kitchen sinks and in bathtubs. Hair is very difficult to get out of piping once it gets in, and even worse it will catch other items and form one big mess. Keep hair from going into the pipes by buying hair catchers for all of your bathtub and shower drains. These need to be cleaned frequently, but it is better than paying the price for new piping.

Many people pour used materials such as motor oil, pesticides, and leftover moisturizers down their sinks. All of these are highly corrosive and will cause long term damage to pipes. Dispose of them in the manner recommended on the packaging, as to ignore this advice will not only cause significant damage to your house but to the environment as well.

A stitch in time saves nine, and the simple fact is that by being aware and taking care of materials properly, you will save yourself a lot of money in terms of plumbing later on. Don’t be fooled by the disappearance of items down the drain; it never just goes away!

When a pipe bursts or some other piece of plumbing malfunctions, our first instinct is to get the problem under control as soon as possible. The longer such an issue goes on, the harder it will be to repair. Not only will the issue be harder to fix, if left unaddressed, the problem could result in hundreds to thousands of dollars in property damage and water usage fees. Because time is of the essence during a plumbing emergency, we feel pressured to make a repair decision as soon as possible, without giving ourselves time to weigh our options completely.

Stop. Take a deep breath. Relax.

The truth is you really do have time to make an informed decision about the best way to handle your plumbing problem. There are some simple, but effective preventive measures that you can take to safeguard yourself and your home against damage and loss. Knowing what to do and what to look for are key to getting the kind of service you’d expect from a repair professional.

The first and possibly most important step that you can take to minimize damage is to turn off the water supply at the source of the problem. If your problem is a busted pipe spewing water, you can turn off the water supply to the house by using the shut off valve provided by your water department. This valve is usually located somewhere in your yard, under a rectangular shaped lid that also contains your water meter. You will need a wrench to do this. If you have a more localized problem, such as a toilet or water heater that is leaking, you can turn off the water supply to these separately. A toilet shut off valve is usually an oval shaped handle, located near the base of the toilet. A water heater’s shut off valve is located next to the water pipes.

After you’ve shut off water to the problem, locating a reputable San Diego plumber is the next step. You might want to make a quick call to a few friends or family members to see if they can recommend anyone to you. An online search with review sites like Yelp.com and other local directories can help turn up more prospects. Ideally, you want to find a plumber with plenty of positive reviews. Remember that in most states, plumbers are required to serve an apprenticeship prior to getting their own license, so years of experience might be harder to ascertain based on years licensed alone. Ads you find may advertise certain specialties which will help you narrow the field. Once you have a few names, give them a call and get quotes on the repair in question. It’s a good idea to inquire about warranties on their work as well as satisfaction guarantees. If you have the time, it is also wise to investigate any professionals you may hire through the Better Business Bureau.

Be aware that most plumbers charge a hefty fee for working after hours and on holidays. Some charge mileage and other fees on top of their hourly fee. Inquiring about all this beforehand can help avoid expensive surprises when the bill comes.

Of course, in an ideal world, you’ll already have the names of a few trusted San Diego Plumbing repair professionals that you can call on before an emergency happens. A little foresight can go a long way in these matters. After all, it’s your house and you don’t want to trust it to just anyone – especially when botched repairs can cost a lot of money and cause a lot of heartache down the road.

No matter if you are renting or buying your San Diego home, everyone ends up with a clogged kitchen sink once in a while. There are several techniques you can use before you call in an expert.

It is wise to have some kind of drain cleaner on hand and to use it regularly to clean your pipes. This will prevent a completely clogged drain. Whether is a completely clogged drain or just a partial clog, your first remedy should be a plunger. These are easily found in several hardware stores and should be a part of your household tools. A plunger uses suction and pressure to loosen a clog. To make your job easier, coat the outer rim with petroleum jelly.

Start by placing the plunger over the drain, making sure the bowl or sink is filled with some water. Vigorously work the plunger up and down several times. When the clog has been removed, water should rush out of the bowl or toilet.

As talked about, having a drain cleaner on hand can be very useful. This should be your second course of action. Remove any standing water from the basin. Be sure to follow all directions on the cleaner bottle. Let the cleaner sit for several hours or even overnight before rinsing it away. If the drain is still clogged, flush the drain with very hot water and repeat.

If by chance the above methods fail, you can check the U-trap. This is part of the pipe that is shaped like a “U” is located under the sink. There will be a plug that you can unscrew with a wrench. Be sure to have a bucket to catch excess water. Take a piece of wire to scrub the inside of the trap, put new gaskets on to maintain a watertight seal.

If none of these procedures work, call your San Diego plumber. You may have a more severe problem that a plumber will be more capable of handling.

Sooner or later we all need to call a San Diego plumber. A San Diego plumber is can be expensive and there’s no way around that, considering some of the major plumbing problems you may have in your home. But there are a variety of ways to get the most value for your money.

Compare Hourly Rates

The first, and often only thing, that consumers zero in on when comparing San Diego plumbers is their hourly rate. People figure that they should hire the “reputable firm” with the lowest rate. Sounds simple and direct but it doesn’t always work.

The first concern is with the concept of “reputable.” For most people, if they have heard the name many times over the years, they feel that the firm must have an established reputation. Unfortunately, this is often untrue. In the plumbing field, in particular, several of the most highly promoted companies have the worst track records.

The second problem with the hourly rate is that it is difficult to compare rates because of the many ways plumbers count the hours. Travel time is a factor that should be considered. Plumbers spend a good part of their day driving from job to job. They must be compensated for this time.

The bottom line is that it is very difficult to make objective comparisons between two plumbers’ hourly rates. But there is an even bigger problem with focusing on hourly rates. The issue of quality should be considered.

The best way to select a San Diego plumber is on his overall ability to deliver customer satisfaction consistently. Costumer satisfaction takes into account all of these issues and constitutes an accurate indication of value received.

At Certified Plumbing & Drains customer service is our top priority!

If you are looking for a San Diego Plumber please call us today at 760-295-6252 or complete our online request form.

Welcome to Certified Plumbing & Drains new blog! Here you will find an ever increasing library of helpful tips, hints and discussions to your plumbing dilemmas for all San Diego homeowners.

Remember Do-It-Yourself can sometimes be more trouble than it’s worth always consult a professional plumber before attempting to DIY it can save you lots of time and money and your safety it also paramount.

If you are looking for a San Diego Plumber, please call us today at 760-295-6252 or complete our online service request form.