Tips to Protect Your Plumbing During a Remodel

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Plumbing is part of your home’s infrastructure, and a remodel requires residential plumbing services from a reputable contractor with a proven track record. They can take care of getting the appropriate permits, meeting code inspections, and performing quality work in a timely manner. Because your plumbing is an important part of the home, we suggest including residential plumbing contractors in the planning phase, and taking these simple steps to protect your plumbing against future costs.

Use Licensed Contractors

Be wary of fly-by-night contractors who promise you the moon but fail to deliver. You can do this by checking online reviews, and verifying that your residential plumbing services contractors are licensed and insured. Being licensed means that the contractor is authorized to perform plumbing services by the local and state municipalities, and insurance protects you and your property against anything that may go awry during the plumbing remodel. During the initial phases, your plumbing contractors will map out your current and planned plumbing layout and then work with you to make sure that the project goes as planned.

Locate Valves

If you do not already know where the valves and cutoffs for your home’s water are located, find them before beginning a remodel. This includes the valves for water entering the home, entering and leaving the hot water heater, and local valves for sinks and toilets. The sooner you can turn off the water to a broken line, the less potential for damage there will be, and water damage can become extensive quickly.

Inspect for Leaks

While your walls or floors are opened and the plumbing is exposed, take a few minutes to inspect for small leaks, pipes that aren’t stabilized to prevent rattling, and other plumbing problems. Your plumbing contractors can alert you to any items that may cause future problems, and solving a plumbing problem before it occurs is by far the least expensive way to go. 

Replace Old Pipes

Older homes were built using materials that are no longer used today, including galvanized pipe, cast iron, and even clay sewage pipe. These materials met the needs of their time, but were prone to corrosion, root penetration, and other blockage sources. While your plumbing is already under construction is the best time to protect against future sewage repair costs by replacing outdated pipes or segments that clog frequently.

Licensed plumbing contractors will take a lot of the headache out of helping you plan and implement plumbing remodels. From rerouting your existing pipes to helping you select the most appropriate bathroom and kitchen fixtures, selecting qualified and experienced contractors before you start is the most effective way to go,

Ehret Co. Plumbing & Heating

Ehret Co. Plumbing & Heating provides 24/7 household plumbing services for homes and multifamily buildings. We pride ourselves on our professional and quality work. Contact us through our online contact form or call us at 510-528-4292 for residential plumbing services any time, any day of the week.

What to Do When Your Toilet Overflows

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It is fairly easy for toilets to overflow, and not every instance requires the use of residential plumbing services. The key to handling most overflows is to stop the water flow immediately, remove water to prevent damage, and then try to remove the clog yourself. 

Do You Need Residential Plumbing Services?

The first thing to do is to identify the problem. If the problem is not a clogged toilet, then you should call your residential plumber for rooter service. Other sources of water flow could be:

  • Leaking where the tank connects to the bowl
  • Water seeping from beneath the toilet
  • Dripping from the fitting that connects the toilet to the water supply
  • Water leaking behind the wall and flowing onto the floor

Keep in mind all of these might not be caused by bad habits that destroy your sink, shower, and toilet pipes, but could be consequences of time.

Turn Off the Water

Turning off the water to a clogged toilet is as easy as turning off the small valve located behind and beneath the toilet tank. If there is not a valve or if the water is leaking from anywhere other than the toilet you will need to turn off the water supply to the home. There may be a valve where the main line enters the house, but you may have to locate and close the water flow at the meter. Turning off the water at the meter may require a wrench or other tools.

Remove Standing Water

With the flow of water stopped, you can use a mop or wet vac to remove water standing on the floor. It is important that you do this as soon as possible to reduce the risk of water damage to the floor. If the toilet is not on the ground floor, standing water may seep through and damage the ceiling of the room beneath.

Remove Excess Water and Debris

With a wet vac or something that can be dipped, remove the excess water from the bowl so that you can work with the clog. Remove any visible debris that may be causing the clog. Do not flush the toilet yet. Even though the water is off, your tank is still full and could cause another overflow if you flush.

Plunge the Toilet

The best plungers have a tubelike opening beneath the plunger bell that fits more securely into the drain of the toilet. Carefully insert the plunger into the drain and work it up and down rapidly a few times. If the water goes down, try flushing the toilet to see if the clog is completely removed. If it is not, you may need to use a plumber’s snake or call for expert assistance.

There will be times when residential plumbing services are the only solution. If you discover leaks that are not caused by a clog or overflow, the necessary repairs may be difficult to perform without a working knowledge of household plumbing systems.

Residential Plumbing Services — Ehret Co. Plumbing & Heating

Ehret Co. Plumbing & Heating provides 24/7 residential plumbing services for homes and multifamily buildings. We pride ourselves on our professional and quality work. Contact us through our online contact form or call us at 510-528-4292 for residential plumbing services any time, any day of the week.

Common Plumbing Problems in Large Apartments

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As a landlord or property manager, you’re in charge of maintaining a large plumbing system. With main pipelines and individual pipelines running through units, there’s plenty of room for one issue to wreak havoc on a larger part of the system. 

Residential plumbing services can provide regular maintenance to keep your plumbing in tip-top shape. But when your plumbing management system isn’t set up, the following common problems could worsen without timely rooter service. 

Long service times for clogs and other minor issues

The larger your apartment building, the more likely you’ll have tenants phoning in clogged toilets, sinks and tubs. For large complexes, it can be difficult getting tenants the service they need right on time. Establishing a management system with your tenants can speed up service, such as having tenants text you or another manager about immediate plumbing issues. 

You also should use the same 24/7 residential or commercial plumbing services for quicker fixes. Overtime, your plumber will become familiar with your complex’s plumbing history and provide you with more personalized service. Jumping between various plumbing services can result in a jumble of different plumbing materials and extra time needed to explain plumbing history.

Ceiling damage from upper apartments

Commercial multifamily units have plumbing throughout the building, leading in and out of individual units. These pipes see a lot of activity and often misuse. They can also be old pipes that still have a ways to go before needing replacement or servicing. However, if you or your management company don’t have routine maintenance, chances are higher of ceiling damage caused by leaking pipes.

When units are located below multiple levels, or even just one, there’s a heightened risk of ceiling leaks. This can happen when an above-level tenant’s plumbing gets damaged. Water leaks through the ceiling and causes it to bubble downwards, pulling at the plaster until it comes loose. If the ceiling forms a bubble, call residential plumbing services as soon as your tenant reports the damage.

DIY plumbing disasters from tenants

Sometimes a tenant might get overly confident and attempt a plumbing repair only to worsen the problem or cause a second issue. Clogged toilets can overflow and damage bathroom flooring. Tubs and showers can overflow because of overlooked hair knots. Clogged sink pipes can become damaged if tenants remove them to clear them out and fumble with replacing them, either damaging the pipe or installing them incorrectly and causing leaks.

Tenants might be intimidated to reach out for help if you haven’t yet established a great relationship with them, so be sure to encourage new and current tenants to speak up when plumbing goes wrong. It will prevent simple plumbing issues from spiraling into larger issues and keep your complex running efficiently.

Residential Plumbing Services — Ehret Co. Plumbing & Heating

Ehret Co. Plumbing & Heating provides 24/7 residential plumbing services for homes and multifamily buildings. We pride ourselves on our professional and quality work. Contact us through our online contact form or call us at 510-528-4292 for residential plumbing services any time, any day of the week.

Tree Root Invasion: How to Protect Your Sewer Line From a Costly Problem

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When residential plumbing services inspect your clogged pipes, they look at the pipes extending into your yard to check for invading tree roots. Tree roots can cause long-term damage that requires intensive repair, so save yourself the cost and hassle of rooter service by following the preventative tips below.

1. Don’t plant trees near your pipe lines

The only way to guarantee your pipes won’t get invaded is by planting trees far from them, or planting nearby trees with small root systems that won’t break pipes. The safest trees for pipes are often small or have slow growth like the mediterranean fan palm and Carolina buckthorn. The worst trees to plant near pipes include the sycamore and elm. If invasive trees are already growing along your pipelines, you can install wood/metal barriers at least 6-12 inches deeper than the pipe to create a barrier.

2. Use carbon sulfate crystals for minor invasion

For drains that clog frequently, you can flush carbon sulfate crystals down a toilet (but not a tub or sink). Fifteen days later, any minor root invasion should be dissolved. Any remaining clogging could be caused by more severe invasion, but don’t use any more carbon sulfate. It isn’t environmentally friendly and too much can be toxic to your pets and family.

3. Contact residential plumbing services for root removal

Though you can use DIY techniques for clearing minor root invasions, the roots will grow back and you’ll have to repeat the process. Only residential plumbers, like Ehret Co. Plumbing & Heating company, can provide these long-term solutions:

Hydro Jetting

Hydro jetting blasts pipes clear with high-pressure water spray that can remove additional obstructions, such as early-stage clogs, leaving your pipes clearer than before the roots invaded. However, roots can still find their way in, as tree roots can sense nourishment through any size breech in your pipes. Your plumber might seal the openings or treat your pipes with a poison that deters future root growth.

Pipe Replacement

Sometimes your only choice is to replace the pipe. In most cases, you can use trenchless sewer replacement. This service inserts a narrower pipe into the old pipe or dismantles the old pipe with a pipe of the same size or wider. Once the new pipe is installed, you’d do well to remove the offending tree.

Ehret Co. Plumbing & Heating — Residential Plumbing Services

For assistance with tree root invasion, contact Ehret. Co Plumbing & Heating through our online contact form or call us at 510-528-4292. We provide professional and quality service for residential and commercial properties.

Bad Habits that Damage Your Sink, Shower, and Toilet Pipes

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Everybody has bad habits. They’re hard to get out of because they’re often the easy way out of a situation. You might have a few bad habits when it comes to maintaining your plumbing and keeping your pipes in shape. Maybe you’re already aware of them, but you haven’t tried changing them. If your habits are causing increased need for residential plumbing services, you could save time and money by making a change.

Here are common bad habits that cause many of the problems residential plumbers see:

Overusing chemical drain cleaners

Your go-to tool for a clogged drain should be a sink or shower plunger. If those don’t work, you should try a drain auger. Only if those methods fail should you consider a chemical drain cleaner, because overusing chemical cleaners can eat away at your pipes. While the labeling on chemical cleaners might state that they’re safe for piping, they’re still formulated with powerful chemicals. They’re safe if used once in a while, but for more frequent cleaning, use non-toxic drain cleaners like DIY mixtures or enzymatic cleaners.

Rooter service providers typically use chemical cleaners as a last resort before recommending more intensive services (e.g. hydro jetting). However, most clogs can be taken care of with manual methods or an enzymatic cleaner that breaks down organic proteins. Enzymatic cleaners are especially effective for clearing hair out of your shower drain.

Flushing foreign objects down the toilet

This might seem like common sense, but you’d be surprised at how often residential plumbing services are called in to deal with clogs caused by foriegn objects. Some items might seem like they can flush, such as paper towels and antibacterial wipes, but your plumbing is made for specific purposes. The only things that should be flushed are toilet paper and human waste. Anything else can cause buildup and then obstruction.

Abusing your food disposal

It’s tempting to put all your food waste down the food disposal, but it’s not impervious to damage. First, you should always follow the proper steps: run water, turn on the disposal, put food down the disposal, then turn off the disposal and water. Second, you should keep in the back of your mind a list of what not to put down the sink. You obviously don’t want to put non-food down the disposal, but there’s also food stuff you don’t want to wash down.

Don’t put the following food stuff through your disposal:

  • Pasta, rice, and other food that swells with water
  • Grease, oil, and fat
  • Bones 
  • Potato peels
  • Chicken skin
  • Fruit pits

Putting the above through your disposal could cause pipe buildup, damage your disposal blades, and cause general havok in your plumbing system.

Residential Plumbing Services with Ehret Co. Plumbing & Heating

Ehret Co. Plumbing & Heating provides quick and professional residential plumbing services. We’ll fix your damaged sink and shower pipes, and can advise you on the best pipe care. Contact us through our online contact form or call us at 510-528-4292 for 24/7 residential plumbing services.