Author: Vince Vince

A clogged drain can happen for many reasons. It can start as a minor annoyance, but in a little time, it can balloon into a serious problem that causes major damage and requires costly repairs. That’s probably the last thing that you need right now, right?

So why not learn more about why clogged drains happen and how to prevent them?

If that sounds good to you, keep reading below about six possible reasons for your clogged drain.

Toilet Paper

Let’s start in the bathroom. We all use the toilet pretty much every day, so it should come as no surprise that one of the most common reasons clogs happen is because of a blockage in the toilet. And it’s not always the fault of No. 2. In fact, clogged toilets usually occur because we use too much toilet paper. One way to prevent that from happening is to limit the amount of TP that goes into the toilet in the first place.

Soap

Isn’t soap supposed to clean things and not make them dirty? It turns out, when it comes to your pipes, soap can actually make things less clean. That’s because many soaps are made from fat, which can turn into soap scum when combined with minerals in hard water. Not only does soap scum stain bathroom fixtures, but also it can build up in pipes, causing a clogged drain. To prevent soap scum from building up in your drain, be sure to clear out any deposits with hot water regularly.

Hair

In the shower, one of the primary reasons that drains get clogged is because of hair buildup. While hair clogs can be difficult to remove if they are left for too long, the prevention is pretty simple: get a catch guard for your shower drain and make sure that they are clear.

Mineral Deposits

In areas that rely on hard water, mineral deposits can get so bad that they completely block the pipes. If you don’t want a clogged drain to get in your way, you might want to consider installing a water softener.

Dirt

Whether in the shower, in the kitchen sink, or in the pipes that drain the washing machine, dirt buildup is another common reason people experience a clogged drain. Don’t want a drain clog from excess dirt? Prevention is as simple as shaking as much off outside as possible before washing.

Food

Some people think that food waste is okay to put down the sink if you have a garbage disposal. These people are wrong. While it is perfectly fine to allow a small piece or two to go down, you shouldn’t ever put chunks of food down the sink, even with a disposal. Put your food waste in the garbage, or better yet, start composting.

Got a Clogged Drain? Contact the Experts at Custom Plumbing

Need help with a particularly tricky clog? Get in touch with us today! We’ll get your pipes running smoothly again.

Posted on Author Vince VinceCategories Residential Plumbing Services, Commercial Plumbing Service, Emergency PlumberTags

It doesn’t take a lot of water to cause a lot of damage to your home or belongings. That’s why you need to fix any leaky pipes as soon as possible. If you can’t do it on your own, you need to find an emergency plumber in Phoenix fast.

The first thing you need to know is how to spot the signs of a leaky pipe. If your leaky pipe runs horizontally across the ceiling it will be pretty easy to spot—either the water will drip through the ceiling material or will form a bulge that is difficult to miss. For pipes running vertically and horizontally in the walls, it can be a little trickier to notice. Be on the lookout for discoloration or bubbling where the wall meets the floor as well as damp carpeting and mold.

Once you realize that you have a leaky pipe, it’s time to take action.

Emergency Plumber Phoenix: Find the Leak

The first thing that you’ll have to do is find where the leak is coming from in your wall or ceiling. To do so, you’ll unfortunately have to remove a portion of the wall or ceiling so that you can locate the pipe in question. Once you find where the water is dripping, trace the flow of water back to its source—you’ll be able to see where the leak is by following the water until the pipe becomes dry.

Emergency Plumber Phoenix: Turn off the Water

Now that you know which pipe is leaking you can start to make repairs. Before doing any work, you need to turn off the main water supply. You can imagine what might happen if you fail to shut off the water—your leak could turn into a flood. If you don’t know where the water shut-off valve is located in your home, you can usually find it in close proximity to your water meter. If the leak is severe and you can’t find the shut-off valve, call an emergency plumber in phoenix.

Emergency Plumber Phoenix: Fix the Leak

After shutting off the water, it’s time for the tricky part. Now you can start repairing the leak. When repairing a leaky pipe, the first thing you need to check is whether any threaded fittings are tightened. You’ll need to be careful, however, because as you tighten one end, the other end might loosen. If you have no experience with these types of fittings, it might be best to contact a plumber.

The leak could also be coming from a hole in the pipe itself. When this happens, you have a few options. First, you might try using epoxy to plug the leak. Be sure to dry the area where you are applying the epoxy so it can set correctly. You could also try replacing the section of pipe that has the leak, but without the proper training, you are better off fixing a piece of rubber in place with hose clamps until you can get a professional plumber to take a look.

Emergency Plumber Phoenix: Get the Professional Help You Need

If you have a leak, don’t wait. Contact an emergency plumber in Phoenix today at Custom Plumbing of Arizona.

Posted on Author Vince VinceCategories Blog, Emergency Plumber, Plumbing Service & Repair Phoenix AZTags

How to Unclog a Shower Drain: 3 Simple Things to Try

When it comes to your bathroom, is there anything more annoying than showering with a clogged drain? You’re supposed to be getting clean, yet there you are standing in three inches of dirty, disgusting water. Lucky for you, you can get rid of that clog pretty easily. If you want to learn how to unclog your shower, you’ve come to the right place.

Here are three simple ways to get your shower in working order again.

How to Unclog a Shower Drain Method 1: Plunger

Depending on what is causing your clogged shower, you might be able to simply use a plunger to dislodge it. This is a good place to start because it takes minimal effort. Use your plunger as you would when unclogging your toilet. It often helps to add water to the shower before plunging. Once you have an inch or so of water, place the plunger over the drain and start plunging. Try this method two or three times before moving on to the next one.

How to Unclog a Shower Drain Method 2: Remove the Clog Manually

If plunging your clog doesn’t work, then it might be time to try to remove the clog with your hands. First, remove the metal cover from your drain. You may need to remove a screw or pry the cover off. Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions before trying to remove your drain cover to prevent damage. Because you will have to use your hands, you might want to wear rubber gloves. Once you locate the clog, try to reach it with your fingers. If you can’t reach it, try bending a coat hanger so that it has a small hook on one end, then insert it into the drain and pull it out once it feels like you’ve hooked the clog.

For clogs that are deeper, method three below should be your next step.

How to Unclog a Shower Drain Method 3: Specialty Chemicals

If you can’t plunge or manually remove the blockage in your shower drain, you might need to resort to chemicals that are designed to loosen clogs. You can find these at most hardware and grocery stores. Before beginning, it’s important to know that drain cleaners can damage your house’s plumbing. Use this method sparingly.

To unclog your shower using a chemical drain cleaner, follow the instructions on the bottle.

Don’t Know How to Unclog a Shower Drain? Let the Professionals Help

If you don’t want to get your hands dirty or don’t want to risk damaging your pipes, get in touch with the professionals at Custom Plumbing of Arizona. We have the practical knowledge that you need to get your water flowing again. Contact us today to learn more about our services.

Posted on Author Vince VinceCategories Blog, Emergency Plumber, Plumbing Service & Repair Phoenix AZ, Residential Plumbing ServicesTags

24-Hour Plumber: 5 Warm-Weather Plumbing Problems to Watch for this Summer

As we breeze through the summer months, you’ve probably got nothing but good thoughts of barbecue and vacation on your mind. What could go wrong? Well, as plumbers, we can tell you there’s actually a lot that could douse your summer fun in seconds.

When warmer temperatures hit, people tend to spend time doing activities that they don’t normally do when cooler weather prevails. The weather is hotter. People go outside more and more dirt gets into the plumbing.

Here’s what can happen if you’re not careful:

#1: Pipe Breakdowns

If you have older metal pipes, the sun’s intense heat and UV rays can cause them to expand, causing leaks or pipe breaks. Some leaks are more visible than others. With leaks you cannot easily see, you may instead want to check your water bill and see if it is much higher than normal. During hot and dry summer months, you are also likely to use more water—not only to cool yourself off but to water your plants. Using hoses or sprinklers more often can place stress on your pipes, increasing the risk for irrigation system breakdowns.

#2: Clogged Toilets

During the summer, the toilets seem to get extra use. Why? During the spring and fall months, your kids are at school. But in the summer, that’s seven to ten hours of extra time that the toilets in your home could be used. Multiplied by the number of children you have, that’s a lot of extra time spent on the throne, which means more potential for clogs.

Most clogged toilets are easy to clear with a plunger, but sometimes you need to call in a 24-hour plumber.

#3: Washing Machine Wear and Tear

Your washing machine may take on extra loads during the summer, too. The kids are more likely to be outside playing. There’s a lot of yard work to do in the summer, as well, which means the kids aren’t the only ones playing in the dirt. You’ve got to wash away all the sweat and dust somehow! If your washing machine is acting up, stop the cycle immediately until you can call someone in for repairs.

#4: Blocked Garbage Disposals

Nothing says summer like a nice backyard cookout. Unfortunately, not everyone understands that you can’t just stuff those watermelon rinds down the garbage disposal. In fact, did you know that even though fruits and vegetables are organic, they might not be good for your disposal? The hard texture of things like apple cores can actually damage the blades of your disposal, which can cause clogs. Be sure to tell your family about proper disposal use so that you don’t have to call a 24-hour plumber in to fix it for you.

#5: Clogged Shower Drains

When people go out in nature more often during the hot days of summer, they are more likely to shower more often, too. The things that we track into the shower, like dirt, sand, and pebbles, can leave you standing in a pool of water the next time you need to get clean. It’s best to make sure that your feet and legs are rinsed off outside prior to hopping into the shower if you get extra dirty at the beach or on a hike.

Are You Experiencing Any of These Plumbing Problems This Summer? Call a 24-Hour Plumber

If you need help resolving problems with your plumbing like those we mentioned above this summer, don’t hesitate to contact us today. We will help keep your pipes working and your floors dry. Get in touch with us today and tell us about the plumbing problems you’re experiencing so that we can send someone to you.

Posted on Author Vince VinceCategories Blog, Emergency Plumber, Plumbing Service & Repair Phoenix AZ, Residential Plumbing ServicesTags