Plumber Alamo - Garbage Disposer Answers to Common Questions - Guaranteed Plumbing Co Danville

Garbage Disposer Answers to Common Questions

What can I put into my disposer?

Most disposers can handle the following--regardless of whether you have a city sewer or a septic tank:

Soft food particles

Ice cubes, most softer bones, fruit pits, etc.--which help to clean the inside of the disposer

Citrus fruit peel--which freshens drain smells

Coffee grounds

Disposer cleaner, degreaser, or deodorizer

 

What shouldn't I put into my disposer?

Don't put these in your disposer:

Hot water, while you're grinding food waste (it's fine when the disposer is turned off)

Extremely fibrous material like corn husks, artichokes, celery stalks, onion peels, and so on

 

Do I have to run the water while using the disposer?

Yes. Run a full stream of cold water through the disposer while it grinds. Then let the water run for another 30 seconds after you turn off the disposer.

 

The most important thing to remember about a garbage disposal is that it is designed to work with your plumbing to dispose of food scraps through your drain pipes. If you don't run enough water before and after you turn the garbage disposal on, you will not send the food particles completely through the disks that cut up the food and you will also not send the food all the way out of your drainage pipes.

How long should I let the disposer run?

Just until the food has been ground up--which is usually less than 30 seconds.

Do coffee grounds/ice cubes clean a disposer?

Perhaps. They won't harm your disposer, though.

My disposer smells. How do I clean it?

Grinding a lemon rind helps reduce odors. You may also want to try one of the disposer cleaners, degreasers, or deodorizers that you can buy at the grocery or hardware store or see our parts section for the ones we offer.

source: http://www.repairclinic.com/Garbage-Disposer-Answers-to-Common-Questions

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Alamo Plumber - Water Heater Safety - Guaranteed Plumbing Co. Danville

Water heaters are often taken for granted. They sit in our garage or utility closet and perform their assigned duty day in and day out. If installed correctly they will operate with little fuss for many years. Most of us rarely give the water heater a second thought, but they have a life cycle just like every other component or appliance in your house.
At the very minimum you should take a careful look at your water heater at least once a year. One of the most common points of failure is at the top of your water heater where it connects to the house plumbing. If the water heater was not installed with proper dielectric connectors, you will get corrosion where the copper plumbing meets the steel tank. Corrosino at water heaterThis area is often difficult to see. A tank can be five feet tall and when properly installed on an 18 inch platform, the top of the tank is 6-1/2 feet off the ground. This area can easily be over looked.
If you see heavy rust in this area, your tank is ready to leak. remember that your plumbing system is under pressure 24 hours a day. It doesn’t take much corrosion to eat through the plumbing. Even a small leak can flood your house. Even if your water heater is in your garage, a leak can find it’s way to the interior of your house. Water often sprays out of a small breach in the plumbing with such force that it quickly destroys the drywall, and get’s inside the walls, and into your house. Just a small amount of water can destroy wood flooring, baseboards, carpeting, furninture, or personal items that are sitting on the floor.

Rusty water heater piping can cause leaks

In addition to looking for corrosion, look for evidence of soot at the exterior of the tank. This can be found around the burner compartment cover at the bottom of your water heater. If you are comfortable doing so, open the cover and look inside the compartment. Be careful of hot parts. If the water heater is on the inner cover will be hot. Once you remove the inner cover look for scale and rust inside the burner compartment. Old, damaged parts in the burner compartment can cause the water heater to remain on and over heat. This is a major cause of house fires.
Proper venting is critical to the safe operation of a water heater. Check the flue. It should be properly aligned with the top of the tank. And the sections of the flue should be well seated. Do not use duct tape on the flue. It can catch fire. An improperly installed flue can allow Carbon Monoxide to leak into your living space.
A general rule of thumb is to proactively replace your water heater when it has reached the end of its warranty period. That usually means that if your water heater is more than 7 years old, it should be replaced before you have problems with it. The price ofa water heater is usually less than your insurance deductable. When in doubt, have your water heater inspected by a licensed plumber. It does not cost much and could save your family from injury, and you home from damage.

source: http://sdinspections.com/tag/water-heater-safety

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Danville Plumber - What is Water Heater Strapping - Guaranteed Plumbing Co. Danville

Water Heater Strapping

Unsecured water heaters often fall over, rupturing rigid water and gas connections. If your water heater does not have two straps that wrap completely around it and are screwed into the studs or masonry of the wall, then it is not properly braced. This illustration shows one method of bracing a water heater.

Bracing kits are available that make this process simple. Also, have a plumber install flexible (corrugated) copper water connectors, if not already done.

Protected source of water – or a puddle

Fresh water after a disaster may be as close as your water heater – provided, of course, that it remains standing upright. A typical water heater holds 30 to 50 gallons of water.

However, this supply of water is extremely vulnerable to the ground undulation (swells and rolls) and ground acceleration of earthquakes, causing them to tip over.

You can protect this valuable resource by securing your water heater to the wall studs.

Changes to strapping recommendations

Your tank may be strapped, but incorrectly, as old methods are no longer recommended. Experts have modified the recommended procedure for strapping water heaters because many tanks broke through their strapping in both the 1989 Loma Prieta (San Francisco) and the 1994 Northridge (Los Angeles) earthquakes. Experts recommend these two important changes:

Larger imageDo NOT use this - this is plumber's tape. Use heavy gauge steele strapping instead.

Source: SPAN Disaster Services, Inc.

1. Secure both the top and the bottom, rather than just the top or just the middle, of the hot water tank.
2. Use heavy-gauge metal strapping rather than plumber's tape. Many water heaters in both the 1989 and the 1994 earthquakes broke through the plumber's tape that was intended to keep them secure. The thin metal in plumber's tape has been found to be too brittle to be effective.

Larger imageCommercially available kits like this one come complete with the strapping, lag screws, washers, spacers, and tension bolts. These kits can be purchased at many local hardware stores, and are recommended.

Source: SPAN Disaster Services, Inc.

Securing your hot water tank

Larger imageMake sure the strap wraps around the water heater 1 1/2 times! Water heaters are an excellent supply of emergency water. Water can be accessed from the drain spout - this is made easier by connecting a garden hose to the drain spout. Open a faucet somewhere in the house to allow the water to drain easier. Make sure the electricity or natural gas is shut off before opening the drain.

Source: SPAN Disaster Services, Inc.

Secure your water heater.

• There should be very little space between the water heater and the wall. If there is more than 1 or 2 inches, attach a wooden block to the wall studs with long lag screws (see illustration on page 20). The purpose is to prevent the heater from tipping backwards.
• Wrap the heavy-gauge metal strapping 1½ times around the tank. Start by placing the strapping at the back of the tank. Bring it to the front and then take it back to the wall (see illustration below).
• Secure this strapping to the wall studs or the wood block using several 1/4" x 3" or longer lag screws with oversized washers. If you are securing it directly into concrete, use 1/4" expansion bolts in place of the screws.
• Replace all copper and metal piping with flexible natural gas and water line connectors.

Another Solution for Water Heaters

The Problem

If water heaters are not properly braced, they can topple over during an earthquake causing:

Larger imageThe unbraced water heater in this home fell during an earthquake; the resulting fire destroyed the home.

Source: California Seismic Safety Commission

• Broken gas lines and gas leaks
• Fires causing major damage to homes
• Broken water lines and flooding

How to Identify

Larger imageThis unstrapped water heater tipped over during the 1984 Morgan Hill Earthquake. Fortunately gas and water lines were not ruptured.

Source: California Seismic Safety Commission

• Is the water heater free-standing?
• Are there straps or other types of restraints securing the water heater?
• Are there straps or restraints bolted to the studs?
• If the water heater is secured, was it completed properly using updated recommendations?
• Are there flexible pipes for water and gas connected to the water heater?

Remember

• Replacing a water heater after an earthquake can cost more than $500.
• Repairing fire damage and flooding damage can cost several thousand dollars, including the entire cost of your home!
• Check with your local Building Department for details of local requirements.
• Know where your main water valve is so that you can shut it off if you have a water leak.
• Know where your main gas valve is so that you can shut it off if you hear or smell a gas leak.

Water heaters must be braced (securely attached) to the studs in a wall. California law requires water heaters to be braced at the time of sale, or when a new water heater is installed.

The Solution

There are recommended solutions – all relatively inexpensive.

• Purchase and install a strap kit or bracing kit from your local hardware store. Be sure the kit is certified by the State Architect.

Other options include:

• Have a licensed plumber strap your water heater according to code.
• Use metal tubing or heavy metal strapping and lag screws and washers to secure the water heater to the wall studs.

Larger imageOne Method of Water Heater Bracing. Straps and screws visible with water heater in a garage installation. You may need to add wood blocking.

Source: California Seismic Safety Commission

The gas and water lines should also have flexible pipes. These are safer than rigid pipes during an earthquake.

Be sure to check the straps once a year. They may come loose due to vibrations, or other causes.

How-to Resources

• Your local home improvement store
• How to Brace Your Water Heater, City of Los Angeles, Department of Building &Safety, Information Bulletin #P/PC 2002-003, June 14, 1999.
• Guidelines for Earthquake Bracing of Residential Water Heaters, Department of General Services, Division of State Architect, August 11, 2004.
• How to Secure Your Water Heater, Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, 2003.

source: http://www.earthquakecountry.info/daretoprepare/stuff/waterheater.html

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Common Plumbing Problems In Your Home

Yes, the plumbing solutions are within reach. You need not be a victim to common plumbing problems that rear their ugly head. Sometimes is just applying some good common sense. Sometimes it involves doing a bit of research to help you with troubleshooting plumbing problems which is a critical first step in arriving at a solution. Knowing when to apply a do it yourself….diy plumbing problem solution…is also part of the process. Often, it is a judgement call. Depending on your background and familiarity with the plumbing issue, you might very well be able to resolve the issue yourself by applying some handy dandy plumbing fixes. Then again, sometimes it is also important to recognize when you are over your head and in such cases it is best to acknowledge your shortcomings and call in an expert either through an online consulting service or actual home visit. Your time is valuable, so take that into account when you decide whether you wish to dig into trying to fix the plumbing problem yourself. Basically, sometimes the least expensive route you can take is just simply reaching out to get plumbing help.

Toilet plumbing problems provide a good illustration of how you might approach some of these dastardly plumbing gremlins that seek to complicate your life. If its in the toilet, you can fix it. There are a variety of DIY toilet kits you can purchase to help you rebuild in broken down or worn out parts. Just follow the directions and take a good look at what you already have before you start removing anything. Now if the plumbing issue is around the base of your toilet such as a seal is leaking, then these fixes can be a bit more challenging and in such situations you might wish to reach out for some professional help. Websites such as our own are also good resources to help you with specific plumbing problems you may encounter. Whatever your plumbing issue, do not get frustrated and throw in the towel too soon if you are trying to fix the problem yourself. Remember, plumbing help is all around you and the solution can be as easy as a phone call or some due diligence.

Two Common Home Plumbing Problems - Solutions

Vibrating or banging pipes – caused by “air hammer” or “water ramming”. This occurs when there are air bubbles bouncing around the water line, due to air being drawn into the line from a small leak. Call a plumber to find the leak and fix it.

Air bubbles back-flowing in toilet and drains gurgling – main sewer line is plugged or near plugged. You need to have a rooter service snake the main line.

Source http://www.plumbingqa.com/plumbing-problems/

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Pleasanton Plumbing - Guaranteed Plumbing - Understanding How Your Toilet Works

Understanding How Your Toilet Works



One of man’s greatest and most useful inventions is the humble toilet. It has allowed us to modernize the old ways by bringing the old outdoor privy into the house minus all the drawbacks of an outhouse. There are basically six major components to a toilet as well as a mechanism called the siphon action. Knowing how your toilet works will not only help you to appreciate it, but it will also help guide you when there’s a problem with it.
These six major parts are the toilet bowl, the toilet tank, the toilet fill valve, the toilet flush valve, the float, the overflow tube and lastly, the handle.
The toilet bowl is especially designed to hold water in its base. It also has the ability to take in water from the tank via the rim and a siphon jet hole situated at the base of the toilet bowl. Finally, found at the heart of the toilet is the siphon tube. The siphon tube is a tube shaped unit that is integrated into the back of the porcelain toilet bowl and serves two main purposes. First, it acts as a trap so that no sewage gasses can leak up into the home. The second is the more important purpose of the siphon tube. It acts as the mechanism for drawing water and waste products out of the toilet bowl base.
The siphon tube is quite an interesting contraption. If you’ll try to notice, even when you repeatedly pour individual cups of water into the toilet tank, the water level does not rise. If you try pouring a whole bucket of water into the toilet bowl really fast, you will see that the water level in the bowl will initially rise but will then be drawn down very dramatically and up to a point where there is practically no water left in the toilet bowl. This happens because of the siphon action. When you pour a large volume of water into the toilet bowl it causes the water in the siphon tube to rise and spill over into the sewage pipe and then because of the principles of a siphon, the water is automatically drained very quickly from the toilet bowl and into the sewage pipe.
The toilet tank is the one responsible for holding the water supply required for the flushing action. Once you push the toilet handle down, a rubber flapper installed inside the tank is lifted and allows the water to rapidly pour into the toilet bowl. As soon as the water pours into the toilet bowl, the siphon effect instantly occurs which causes the toilet to flush and empty the waste from the bowl. The toilet bowl is designed to have the water flow from the rim and one large hole at the base of the toilet bowl into the toilet. This design basically creates a swirling function to assist in flushing the waste from the toilet. Once this is over, the flapper gets back into position and the water in the tank starts to fill up again and will only stop when the float reaches its predetermined height.
The next time you use your toilet bowl, appreciate the little things that work together to make your life more convenient and healthy.

source http://www.plumbingqa.com/understanding-how-your-toilet-works/

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Alamo Plumbing - Guaranteed Plumbing - Plumber’s Snake Buying Guide

Plumber’s Snake Buying Guide

There will be days when something gets our drain clogged and using a plunger just doesn’t seem to cut it. The next best thing to use is a plumber’s snake. There’s quite a few of these on the market and choosing one can be a daunting task. This article will give you insights on the different features that these different plumber’s snakes have in order to help you choose the right one for you. A few of the better brands will also be featured for your convenience.

Manual Or Automatic?
A manual, hand-powered plumber’s snake may be good enough for most clogs and it is also easier to push through the pipe. A drawback of the hand-powered is that it is short and is more appropriate for smaller bore pipes.
A powered plumber’s snake on the other hand is quite convenient to use because it takes the tiring job of cracking out of the equation. It is advised though that you take extra care when using this to avoid damaging the pipe by cranking too fast because one can sometimes forget when he is having fun. This can also help clean the sides of the pipe along its length as it is cranked. It is also ideal for any size of pipe making it more versatile.
Type Of Head
There are a few types of heads with some being more effective than the others. A plumber’s snake with a simple piston type head may not always be as effective as other types because it only pushes the blockage to wider parts of the pipe which would be useless if the pipe is consistently of the same size and is long. It will only drive the blockage deeper but to no avail.
A screw or coil head can try to screw itself to whatever it is that is blocking your pipe so you can pull it out after. Usually effective when the blockage is made up of accumulated paper towels or similar products.
A cutting head will try to cut the blockage away. If the blockage is cause by a tree root, it is advised that special care should be taken to avoid damaging the pipe. This kind of head is usually left to the professionals to use as it can cause serious damage to the pipes if used in the wrong manner.
When buying a plumber’s snake, make sure that it fits the size of your pipe correctly because a smaller plumbers snake can move around and cause damage to the pipe. Below are a few of the better kinds of plumber’s snakes in the market.
Cobra Products 83250 1/4-Inch-by-25-Foot Metal Drain Clearing Drum Auger
Great for small and medium household drains, it has an effective 25ft carbon spring wire. It also has a self-storing metal canister where the spring wire can be stored safely and conveniently.
Pro-Grade Electric Drain Snake Auger
Professional quality electric snake drain with an amateur friendly price. It has a powerful ½ horsepower motor with a variable 0-500RPM speed as well as a reverse option. It’s 26ft spring-steel flex cable makes it easy to get to the source of the clog easily. The mess won’t be bothering you as well, thanks to its built-in self-storing drum.
Yellow Drain Snake
This product is ideal for small drains. It can go as deep as 48 inches deep and is quite easy to use. All you have to do is put the snake in the drain and squeeze the trigger.

source: http://www.plumbingqa.com/plumbers-snake-buying-guide/

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Plumbing Danville - Is my toilet leaking without me knowing? Guaranteed Plumbing Co Danville

Is my toilet leaking without me knowing?

        

Toilets are notorious for leaking. However, a leaking toilet often goes unnoticed. Many toilets still leak without any obvious signs of trouble.

This is what makes a leaking toilet problematic for homeowners. Most homeowners will notice if there is water around the base of the toilet, but here are some signs to look for:

Toilets are notorious for leaking. However, a leaking toilet often goes unnoticed. Many toilets still leak without any obvious signs of trouble. This is what makes a leaking toilet problematic for homeowners. Most homeowners will notice if there is water around the base of the toilet, but here are some signs to look for:

• 1. If you have to jiggle the handle to make a toilet stop running.
• 2. If you have any sounds coming from a toilet that is not being used.
• 3. If you have to hold down the handle to allow the tank to empty.
• 4. If you can see water trickling down the sides of the toilet bowl long after it has been flushed.
• 5. If a toilet turns the water on for 15 seconds or so without you touching the handle, you may have what is known as a phantom flusher.

Posted   by SuperUser Account

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