Tag: Plumbing Maintenance

How Can I Make Sure I’m Hiring the Right Plumber?

Posted on | by Drainiacs

Questions to Ask a Plumber Before Hiring One

 

West Covina PlumberAll of us have experienced a plumbing problem in the past or will experience it in the future. Unfortunately, these situations may arise when we are at our lowest financial peak. Many of us tend to hire any company just because the rates are low, but this does not mean they are qualified, and consequently, you will find yourselves getting the work done over by a professional plumbing technician.

If you are faced with this unfortunate dilemma, it is advised to do research online for a reputable company you can hire at an affordable cost. Also, ask relatives or neighbors who have used the company in the past for reference.

After you have selected the plumber of your choice, be sure to ask if they are licensed. If they have a license, that means they have passed a test and have the knowledge and expertise to correct the problem. Licensed plumbers are also very aware of building codes.

Hiring an unlicensed plumber means they will not have a permit, and the job can be considered illegal. Therefore, you will be responsible for any fees or fines. After you have all the information about the license, find out about their insurance. If there is no insurance, the homeowner could be responsible for any damages that occurred while the work was being done.

Also, ask if they do estimates and if so, what is the fee. You should ask this question prior to their arrival because these fees are usually non-refundable. Another question to ask is if they take emergency calls and what are the hours.

Some plumbers have specialized areas of plumbing that they work in. Find out about those specialties. Don’t be hesitant to ask any questions. You want to make sure you have a well-qualified experienced person working for you.

Having a complete and accurate job done will give you peace of mind. Are you looking for a home plumber in the West Covina area? Call Daniel Cordova Plumbing, Drain & SewerDaniel Cordova Plumbing, Drain & Sewer at (626) 962-0885 and get started today!

What Should I Do Before Buying a Home?

Posted on | by Drainiacs

Reasons Why a Plumbing Inspection is Important for New Homeowners

 

West Covina PlumberA 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 | by Drainiacs

Reasons Why Your Garbage Disposal Gets Jammed

 

West Covina Garbage-Disposal-ServicesGarbage 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!

How can I unclog the pipes in my home?

Posted on | by Drainiacs

DIY Plumbing Projects That Are Best Left To Professional Plumbers

 

West Covina PlumberMany people feel as if they can handle plumbing clogs themselves. Simply use a plunger for minor clogs and move on to a manual snake for more serious clogs. While this is true and most clogs can be handled by yourself without the use of a professional plumber, there are some situations where it is essential to use a professional plumber to handle bathroom clogs.

One key factor to determine if you should leave your clog to a professional plumber is the seriousness of the situation. If a snake or plunger is ineffective at dislodging a clog then you may have to use a professional plumber. Start by viewing any noticeable section of your pipes. Sometimes this is underneath a sink that lies between the bathtub and the drainage pipes. Other times this is in a basement. View the pipes to see if there is any leaking. If there is, then you should leave the clog to a professional.

If you are unable to dislodge the clog then you should refrain from pouring chemicals down your pipes to loosen the clog. Many people dump chemicals down their drain pipes to dislodge a serious clog in order to avoid having to incur the expense of using a professional plumber, only to find that they have done irreversible damage to their pipes. This often ends up costing them more in the long run. Fight the urge to dump chemicals down your pipe drain. You are doing serious damage to your house.

Secondly, you should consider the layout of the bathroom and the pipes. If your pipes are near the edge of your house or travel below concrete outside, an underground vine or tree root may have infiltrated the pipe and may need to be dislodged by a professional plumber. Do not try to break up the pipes yourself as you may damage the foundation instead. Contact a professional plumber.

Clogged drains often seem like a basic problem that you can solve yourself. However, when initial attempts fail to dislodge a clog it is time to hire a professional plumber so that you do not end up with a flooded house or cause serious damage to your pipes.

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