What Should I Do Before Buying a Home?

Posted on December 30, 2013 | by Drainiacs

Reasons Why a Plumbing Inspection is Important for New Homeowners

West Covina Plumber A home purchase is one of the most significant investments and commitments that one may make. It is very important that this investment be treated with due respect and awareness of all the responsibilities that go into owning a home. A home plumbing inspection is vital to know what type of home and the condition that it is in. The plumbing in a home is critically important for many reasons.

One reason is that you want to make sure that water flows properly to the bathrooms, kitchen, and laundry rooms. The flow has to be leak-free, quiet, and at sufficient pressure. A leaky plumbing supply has several drawbacks of increased cost, possible damage to the home, and possible shorting of electrical circuits. All of these problems could amount to thousands of dollars in repair or even total loss of the home. Noisy plumbing is very bothersome, even though it may not have to be repaired. It can be expensive to repair if you wished to do so. The water pressure has to be high enough to take a good shower in and fill the washer quickly.

Another reason for a plumbing inspection is to make sure that all the outdoor spigots and sprinkler systems are working, not leaking and will not freeze during the colder months. You need to make sure that the buried pipes are below the frost line in your area. In older homes, there may be some previous plumbing repairs that are not to code. This means that your home could suffer catastrophic damage because of a substandard repair or you may have to pay fines when reselling the home.

Also if you are buying a home in a colder climate in the middle of winter you have to make sure that an unoccupied home has not suffered any freeze damage. It is possible for pipes to freeze and break inside of a home that is not heated when outside temperatures dip below freezing. For the small cost of a plumbing inspection, you will have the knowledge that your new home will meet or exceed your plumbing requirements.

Are you looking for an honest plumber in the West Covina area? Call Daniel Cordova Plumbing, Drain & Sewer at (626) 962-0885 and schedule a service call today!

Why Is My Garbage Disposal Not Working?

Posted on December 20, 2013 | by Drainiacs

Reasons Why Your Garbage Disposal Gets Jammed

West Covina Garbage-Disposal-Services Garbage disposal is a very useful contraption. Designed to help cut down on the amount of garbage in the household and reduce odors in the kitchen, the garbage disposal is built into the sink and shreds waste dumped into it. Once the waste is shredded, it is able to pass through the plumbing. Unpleasant scents associated with rotting garbage do right down the tubes with the food waste.

Using a garbage disposal is simple. Small food items are dropped or pushed through the rubber flaps covering the opening in the sink. The disposal is then switched on, causing the shredder blade inside to start moving. It is best to run cold water during this process to help flush the shredded items down the pipe.

Since the disposal is connected to plumbing, it is important to be cautious of clogging the pipes. Items that cannot be shredded by the blades in the mechanism, for instance, may fall down into the pipe, causing backups and jams. Large items may sit on top of the blades or jam them. Particular food items can also get wrapped around blades or other waste, halting all flow.

To avoid such issues, be sure to think before dropping items at the disposal. If any waste is large, cut it up ahead of time. For instance, if disposing of orange peels, chop the peels up into small pieces before dropping them into the device.

Never put hard waste materials, like bones or kernels, into the disposal because it will not be able to shred the material and may even dull the blades. Fibrous materials, like corn husks, may also be too sturdy for the blades to shred. Hair and similar materials, though not strong, can tangle around blades or other shredded items.

Also, avoid putting starchy foods like bread, flour, or eggs down the disposal. These items, especially when mixed with the water that goes down the pipes as well, can form sticky, thick substances that do not move through plumbing easily. Dispose of such materials by composting or through the traditional trash.

Is the garbage disposal in your West Covina home acting up? Call Daniel Cordova Plumbing, Drain & Sewer at (626) 962-0885 and schedule a service call today!

Daniel Cordova Plumbing, Drain & Sewer Wins Truck of the Month!

Posted on December 19, 2013 | by Drainiacs

Plumbing & Mechanical awards Daniel Cordova Plumbing, Drain & Sewer the Truck of the Month

West Covina Plumber

We’re very happy to announce that Plumbing & Mechanical Magazine has chosen us as having the truck of the month and writing an amazing article on our company. It means a lot to us, to be recognized for our hard work, we truly appreciate it and hope to continue our growth and success. This community has been wonderful to us, and we hope to continue to serve you with the customer service you expect and deserve.

If you’re in need of a plumber in the West Covina area, call us at (626) 962-0885 and let our experts handle the problem for you!

Washing Machine Leaks and Water Damage

Posted on December 13, 2013 | by Drainiacs

The Leaky Truth about Your Washing Machine.

Owning a home is one of the single most expensive purchases anyone will ever make in their lifetime so taking care of it and making sure you have homeowners insurance to protect it from the elements is absolutely vital. Living in sunny southern California, most homeowners may believe that the highest threat to their home would be from a fire or even an earthquake, but they’re wrong. In the past few years, insurance claims for water related incidents have spiked and have become the number one cause for damage in a home. What is even more alarming is that out of the top 10 water-related homeowners insurance claims, 5 are for plumbing-related issues! Failure of everyday household appliances such as dishwashers, kitchen sinks, and toilets are common offenders but one of the largest, and generally most unsuspected culprits, is your very own washing machine! Yes, that’s right your handy dandy washing machine!

According to the U.S. Census, an estimated 89.3 million households across America own a washing machine. They wash, spin, and repeat an average of 300 times every year which means the likelihood of having something go horribly wrong with your washing machine is pretty high. In fact, according to the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IIBHS), water damage caused by washing machine-related failures costs approximately $5,308 per household after all deductibles are paid, not to mention the spike in your monthly or yearly premiums as well. The unfortunate part of all of this is that these washing machine failures are easily preventable with a routine check-up! If you’ve never given your washing machine a full inspection and simply don’t know where to begin, don’t worry! We’re here to guide you step by step and help you avoid a costly water disaster with these simple steps.

Preventative Maintenance

First, it’s important to know that the primary cause of washing machine failure is a leaky or busted water supply hose. These hoses provide about 40 gallons of water for every large load of laundry from your home’s plumbing system to your washing machine so when they break, burst, or leak they can cause a whole lot of damage in a short amount of time. So to get started:

Check your hot and cold washing machine supply lines. Look for worn tubing or bulging and blistering of the hose, stress cracks or loosening at the connection, fraying of the lines, and any leaks near the hose ends.

As per manufacturers’ recommendations, replace these supply lines at least once every 3-5 years regardless of their visible condition; since in some cases, deterioration may occur from the inside out, and might not even be visible until it is too late. Make sure to replace them with reinforced steel braided hoses as these will last longer and are far less likely to result in catastrophe.

Make sure there is a four-inch (11 centimeters) gap between the back of your washing machine and the wall to avoid kinks in your water supply lines.

Tighten any connections in the supply lines that may feel loose, but avoid over-tightening, which may cause stress cracks to occur.

How to Change a Washing Machine Supply Hose

If you have a hose that is cracked, blistering, or simply worn out it is time to swap it out for a new one. Replacing a washing machine supply hose is as easy as hooking up a garden hose to a water spout. Washing machine hoses can be purchased from your local hardware store, any home repair centers, or plumbing supply outlets. There a few options out there for hoses but if you want a long-lasting replacement we recommend installing a reinforced steel braided hose. Here is how to change your washing machine supply hose:

First, shut off the water supply to your washing machine. If there is not a shut-off valve near your washing machine, you will have to close the main shut-off valve to your home.
Next, unscrew the old hoses and screw in the new ones, making sure to line up the threads and screw on tightly.
Last, turn your water supply on and check for any leaks. If a leak occurs, shut off your water supply again and make sure the hoses were installed correctly. Often, the threads may have just been misaligned.

If a problem persists, it’s best to call your local plumber to make sure there is not an even bigger issue.

Other Preventative Measures

Turn off the water supply valves when not in use. This task can be a bit daunting so you may want to consider installing a lever-type valve that will make it easier to shut down the hoses in between uses and in case of an emergency.

Although it’s tempting, do not leave your washing machine running while no one is home. We can’t stress this enough! Approximately 6% of all washing machine failures occur when no one is home and the cost is nearly two-and-a-half times more severe than occurrences when someone is home (IIBHS)!

If possible, install your washing machine either outside your home or in the basement to reduce the impact and severity of damaged home goods and appliances if failure were to occur. In fact, according to the IIBHS, washing machines located on the first floor or the primary living area have been found to have 28% more loss due to damage as compared with machines located in basements.

What Happens If Water Damage Already Occurred

If you experience water damage due to a washing machine hose failure or due to another appliance it is crucial that you call your plumber to take care of the situation quickly and avoid further damage. You should also consider calling a water damage specialist who will ensure that the home is completely dry and help prevent the growth of mold which can be extremely harmful to your health and to the health of your family.

If you notice any signs of water damage, it is vital that you call a professional right away! But overall, it is best to always stay one step ahead of any and all leaks and water damage, especially those caused by something as simple as your washing machine hose. By following these preventative maintenance tips and doing a routine check-up twice a year you can protect yourself, your family, and your home and prolong the life of your washing machine!