Category: Plumbing

 

If the time has finally come to replace your traditional, storage tank water heater, you may be considering replacing it with another of a similar model. Take a moment to look into all the benefits of switching to a tankless water heater instead!

If you need a replacement anyway, now is the perfect time to make the switch, and start benefiting from instant hot water in your home. You read that right- instant hot water!

Some tankless systems can heat as much as 5 gallons of water in as little as 1 minute! Read on to learn more about the benefits of tankless water heaters over traditional water heaters.

Tankless Water Heaters Conserve Water

You may be thinking to yourself, well I’m not really too concerned about water conservation. If that’s you, you should be concerned about it for two reasons.

The first is that the world is currently facing a global water crisis, meaning that if we don’t start conserving more water, the planet could run out of fresh water in as little as two to three generations.

The second, more immediate reason you should pay attention to water conservation is that wasting less water means spending less money on utility bills! Because tankless water heaters don’t fill and heat an entire thank, just to dump out whatever isn’t used up in time, they produce less water waste.

That’s less water you have to pay for that you’re not even using! But tankless water heaters don’t just waste less water, they also waste less energy, since they are far more efficient than traditional units.

Tankless Water Heaters Save Money

Speaking of using less energy, less energy usage also saves you lots of money on your electric bill!

How much money your water heater is saving you depends on what type of tankless water heater you install.

If you choose to go with a gas-powered unit, you can save $100 or more a year on your electric bill by installing a tankless water heater. Electric tankless water heaters can still save you anywhere from $40-$50 a year.

One common argument for traditional water heaters is that tankless systems are substantially more expensive. While it is true that tankless water heaters can cost up to $2,000 to install, they save you more money the longer they’re in use. Tankless systems also last twice as long as storage tank heaters, up to 30 years.

Tankless Water Heaters Take up Less Floor Space

Finally, if you are looking to free up a little more storage space in your home, consider getting rid of that big, bulky water heater tank that is unnecessarily taking up so much floor space in your utility closet or garage.

Most tankless water heaters are so compact that they can sit virtually anywhere, mounted on your wall. Some models can even be mounted outdoors! How’s that for saving space in your home!

Still not sure if switching to a tankless water heater is the right move for you? It’s essential that you do your research to find out what water heater works best for your family. Whenever you’re ready to make the switch, call Daniel Cordova Plumbing, Drain & Sewer at (626) 962-0885 for tankless water heater installation in El Monte.

 

At Daniel Cordova Plumbing, Drain & Sewer, we always place your health and safety as our number one priority. That’s why when it comes to your plumbing pipes, we know how important the materials they are made of can be.

Not sure what different materials your pipes can be made of, or how different plumbing pipes are used for different jobs? Read on to learn more about how the materials your pipes are made of can help you keep your home and family safe!

Home Safety & PEX

PEX is an abbreviation for cross-linked polyethylene, a flexible type of fabric that has become one of the most popular materials used when repiping today. Because it is less likely to leak than other materials, and because it is thermally resistant, PEX is commonly used for hot and cold water supply pipes.

It is also very durable while remaining fairly inexpensive, so it protects your wallet as well as your home. Another advantage to PEX piping is that it is recyclable, and therefore, more environmentally friendly than other plastic pipes.

Home Safety & Stainless Steel

Stainless steel can be used in a variety of plumbing applications, due to the range of types and sizes the pipes come in. IT is decidedly more expensive than other types of steel piping, but stainless pipes resist corrosion very well, making them worth the investment. Stainless steel is also known to be unlikely to burst, which can save you thousands of dollars in a potential plumbing disaster.

Home Safety & Brass

Need safe freshwater supply lines? Brass may be a good option for pipes carrying water, as long as they are made from lead-free brass. Brass pipes that do contain lead are still safe to use in your home as drain waste lines since they resist corrosion and heat.

Home Safety & CPVC

CPVC, to put it simply, is PVC with a higher concentration of chlorine. Safe for use in freshwater supply lines, CPVC is also known for its excellent water noise cancellation, thanks to its smooth surface.

That means you don’t have to listen to water hammer or other banging or clanging noises from your pipes. CPVC has a reputation for being more durable and more versatile than most other piping materials, which is why it can cost a bit more than other plastics like PVC.

Home Safety & Cast Iron

Cast Iron is a safe and dependable material that has been used in plumbing pipes since the first cast iron pipes were installed in the gardens of the Château de Versailles in 1623. While most of the pipes there have naturally been replaced over the last three centuries, some of the original cast iron remains to this day, pointing towards the durability of the material.

It is safe for use as fresh water supply pipes, as well as waste and gas lines. Cast iron pipes, due to their density, also offer unparalleled water noise reduction. Now that you know how your home plumbing pipes can affect your home safety don’t keep it to yourself!

Share this article with all your friends! Trust Daniel Cordova Plumbing, Drain & Sewer with your new commitment to health and safety in your home. Give us a call today at (626) 962-0885 for all your residential plumbing needs in El Monte, CA.

 

Do you ever wonder what happens after you flush the toilet, or use the garbage disposal? Probably not, because who thinks about stuff like that?! But now that I’ve brought it up aren’t you just a little bit interested in finding out about plumbing waste?

The answer to the question does vary a bit from house to house, but staying informed, may help you better understand how to care for your sewer system and save you from wasting money down the line.

Do You Live in a House With a Septic Tank?

If you live in a rural area, it is possible that your house has a septic tank. If you do have a septic tank, the process your waste undergoes looks entirely different than homes using a public sewer system.

The septic tank collects and holds wastewater long enough for solids to sink to the bottom, and grease and oil float to the top.

The liquid wastewater then exits the tank and flows into the drain field and filters through the soil.

The soil accepts the water and begins to treat it. As the water passes through the soil, it is naturally purified of coliform bacteria, viruses, and nutrients.

Be careful not to overflood the drain field, as doing so will result in sewage rising to the surface. It can also cause backups in your sinks and toilets.

Are You Connected to a Municipal Sewer System?

A sewer system is typically found in more urban areas. Wastewater flows through drain pipes to the sewer mainline.

Sewage flows into the progressively larger pipes until it reaches a water treatment plant. At this plant, wastewater will undergo three stages of treatment.

At first, solids will sink and grease floats, just like in a septic tank. The second stage is where wastewater flows into aeration tanks where bacteria will consume all the organic materials and nutrients they can.

Water then flows out, allowing bacteria to settle out. In the third phase of treatment, chemicals are usually used to remove phosphorus and nitrogen from the water, and chlorine is added to kill any remaining bacteria, and the water is then discharged.

What Are Some Other Waste Disposal Techniques?

There are a few other options for disposing of waste. A cesspool, for example, is a different form of waste disposal that works similarly to a septic tank.

The difference is that wastewater percolates through brick or cement block walls of the cesspool directly into the soil, instead of flowing into a drain field.

In an electric sewage treatment facility, the wastewater gets aerated electrically with rotating discs and pumps which spray wastewater onto a media.

Another form of disposing of waste is through a gravity drain, where, using a downward sloping pipe, sewage is moved away from home to a sewage plant. Usually, lift stations are required to get wastewater into the treatment plant.

Now that you know of all the ways wastewater can be treated, you may be wondering how your home disposes of its wastewater. If you’re not sure how your wastewater is treated or simply have questions about determining the right fit for your home, give Daniel Cordova Plumbing, Drain & Sewer a call today!

 

Have you been hearing strange noises coming from within your home’s plumbing system? Sometimes, we can hear noises in your plumbing, but because we don’t know what the noises mean, or where they are coming from, we don’t know how to remedy the problem.

Well, fear not! Daniel Cordova Plumbing, Drain & Sewer provides El Monte’s best plumbing inspection service, and is equipped and qualified to help you find and fix the source of those annoying plumbing noises!

Whistling Sounds

Any whistling that is coming from your pipes is likely an indication that you have a faulty valve somewhere in the system, or that there is mineral buildup causing a blockage somewhere in the line.

Finding the source of the whistling should be easy enough; turn valves or faucets on and off, one at a time, until you find the one that makes the pipes whistle.

Once you’ve found the faulty valve or the general location of the blockage, you can call a plumbing inspector, like Daniel Cordova Plumbing, Drain & Sewer, to take a look and help you to correct the situation.

Knocking or Banging Pipes

Hearing a loud, sudden “BANG!” coming from behind a wall, or under a sink, can be unsettling. It can also tell you that you have a problem on your hands called “water hammer.”

Water hammer occurs when the water flow in your pipes is suddenly interrupted, causing the water to crash over itself, shaking the pipe and causing it to hit the wall or other pipes around it.

Think of it this way, if you were driving a car down a street at 100mph, and were suddenly met with a wall (a sharp turn, or a gate coming down), there would be a loud bang. It happens the same way when the rushing water in your pipes meets a pipe elbow, or when a valve is closed suddenly.

If these occurrences are common in your home, you should address the issue as soon as possible, as water hammer can lead to damaged hardware and can even, in extreme cases, cause pipe fittings to separate from one another.

Running Water And Gurgling

Phantom sounds of running water are almost always a sign that you have a broken water line somewhere that is spewing water. In this case, it is imperative that you call a trusted plumber, like Daniel Cordova Plumbing, Drain & Sewer, immediately.

Waterline leaks that go undetected or unaddressed can not only cause your water bill to increase by hundreds or even thousands of dollars, but they can also lead to larger plumbing problems like burst pipes.

A gurgling sound coming from your sink or shower drain, or even from your toilet, usually signifies a less immediate threat, but one that should be addressed nonetheless. The gurgling sound is a result of air bubbles that have become trapped in your pipes due to clogged vents.

These clogs occur when dirt, grease, hair, mineral buildup, organic waste, and even food particles accumulate in a drain vent, no longer allowing for air or water to escape. Whenever you get tired of listening to the gurgling, give Daniel Cordova Plumbing, Drain & Sewer a call and ask about plumbing inspection!