how to get rid of biofilm in pipes

Health Hazard: How to Get Rid of Biofilm in Pipes

Curious about how to get rid of biofilm in pipes at home? This guide will walk you through the process. Have you seen it? That slimy goo around your shower drain might seem like nothing more than a gross annoyance. After all, sometimes drains and plumbing fixtures just get…nasty. Right? If you want to know the truth, though, if you let that slippery substance go for too long, it could end up being hazardous to your health. Why? That stuff is known as biofilm, and it’s not as innocuous as you might think. How to get rid of biofilm in pipes: What is biofilm? Biofilm is a collection of organic substances, composed of many types of bacteria and their waste products. Aside from posing a risk of clogging your pipes if you neglect the problem too long, biofilm is also known to carry the pathogens responsible for ear infections, Legionnaire’s disease, salmonella, E. coli, and so many more awful ailments. The best way to avoid getting sick from biofilm is to prevent it from happening in the first place. How to Prevent Biofilm Biofilm forms naturally anywhere there is stagnant moisture. While there are ways to remove it once it … Continue reading Health Hazard: How to Get Rid of Biofilm in Pipes

How to Clear a Drain Blocked with Fat after Cooking with oil.

How to Clear a Drain Blocked with Fat

Want to learn how to clear a drain blocked with fat? If you have been dumping oil and grease down your kitchen sink, here’s what you need to know about fixing this common problem. Everybody knows not to pour grease and oil down the kitchen sink. If you didn’t, you have probably learned a pretty valuable lesson by now—sending fat down the drain can be a pain. Why? Because now your drain is clogged and smelly. It doesn’t happen overnight, but if you have been doing it for a while, it can lead to a total blockage. Lucky for you, we know exactly how to solve this (surprisingly common) problem. Here are a few things you should know. DIY: How to Clear a Drain Blocked with Fat Hot Water and Soap If the grease buildup in your drain isn’t severe, you may be able to clear it up by simply running soapy, hot water down it. Soap breaks down the bonds that make fat and oil congeal, so allowing them to mix can slowly wash the fat buildup away. Want to try to avoid fat deposits in your plumbing in the first place? Besides disposing of grease and oil in … Continue reading How to Clear a Drain Blocked with Fat

Why a Post-Tension Slab Leak Is Such a Challenge to Repair

Why a Post-Tension Slab Leak Is Such a Challenge to Repair

Does your home sit on a post-tension slab? If so, a slab leak could be difficult for you to fix. This article explains why a post-tension slab leak is a challenging repair job. Slab leaks are one of the most involved plumbing repairs that we handle at Custom Plumbing. When your home is built on a post-tension slab foundation, though, things get even more complicated. Why? Well, we’ll get to that. First, let’s explore what this type of slab foundation is, how to tell if your home has one, and why you should never cut through it to fix a plumbing issue. Not sure if your home has this type of foundation? Here’s what you need to know. What is a post-tension slab? The purpose of a post-tension slab is to reduce building costs in areas with expansive or otherwise poor soil conditions. The idea is that this type of foundation spreads the weight of the home over a larger area. Whereas a regular slab puts most of the weight on footings, a post-tension slab puts some of the weight on the slab itself. How to Identify It If you are unsure whether your home falls into this category, there … Continue reading Why a Post-Tension Slab Leak Is Such a Challenge to Repair

Slab Leak Detection Phoenix: 3 Reasons to Hire a Professional

Slab Leak Detection Phoenix: 3 Reasons to Hire a Professional

Looking for plumbers that handle slab leak detection in Phoenix? Custom Plumbing of Arizona specializes in this essential service. Here’s why we think you should hire a professional as soon as possible. If you have ever experienced a slab leak, you know exactly how devastating it can be. If not, then you should know that not only can a slab leak under your home be financially devastating, but also it can be dangerous. Not sure whether to hire someone to look for a potential slab leak in your home? Here’s why we think you should. 3 Reasons to Hire a Pro for Slab Leak Detection in Phoenix Slab Leaks Need to Be Fixed ASAP If your home has a slab leak, it needs to be fixed as quickly as possible. The longer you wait to address the problem, the more damage it can do to your foundation. The first step is detecting the leak, and that usually requires a professional plumber. Professional Plumbers Have Access to Special Equipment It is possible to determine whether you have a slab leak under your home, but most of the time, you are going to need some special tools to help with detection. Plumbers … Continue reading Slab Leak Detection Phoenix: 3 Reasons to Hire a Professional

How to Find and Fix a Concealed Pipe Water Leak before It Costs Thousands

How to Find and Fix a Concealed Pipe Water Leak Before it Costs Thousands

Want to learn how to fix a concealed pipe water leak in your home before it damages your walls, ceilings, and floors? This article covers a few common scenarios that could arise. Do you know how much it costs to replace a carpet? How about hardwood floors? Plaster or drywall ceiling and walls? What about some of the personal property you keep in your home, like books electronics? If your plumbing has a slow leak that goes undetected for a while, you could be on the hook for all of this since many homeowners insurance policies do not cover maintenance issues. It could end up costing you thousands. Are you interested in learning how to look for and fix some common concealed water leaks? You should be. Common Concealed Pipe Water Leaks Plumbing Leaks Inside Walls Perhaps the most common type of concealed leak occurs in the pipes running behind a home’s walls. In the right conditions, pinhole leaks and small cracks form and drip water over a period of months before being detected. It is critical to watch for signs such as bulging or sagging drywall, the smell of mold, and the sound of running water. Once you locate … Continue reading How to Find and Fix a Concealed Pipe Water Leak Before it Costs Thousands