How to Fix Burst Water Pipes

Burst water pipes are the most common plumbing emergencies for homeowners and commercial building owners alike. Aside from a broken pipe, water escape is another outcome of a split pipe emergency plumbing situation. Water leaking out of a cracked pipe must be dried quickly to prevent mold growth and expensive damage to walls, ceilings, floors and indoor belongings. Emergency plumbers report that burst pipes are more common during winters, and result usually from frozen pipes that have not be thawed in time.

Avail of the following emergency steps on how to fix burst water pipes:

1. Close main water shutoff valve to stop water supply to damaged pipe, and contact your local emergency plumber.

2. Let water pressure drop by opening a faucet at the end of the burst pipe.

3. Try to detect leak source along pipe – i.e. from where water was escaping. Place a bucket under the damaged section to collect water leaking out. If the source of the leak turns out to be a pinhead hole jump to step 5.

4. Apply a pipe clamp or make one by wrapping the damaged section of pipe with rubber and clamping with a pipe-sleeve clamp, an adjustable hose clamp or a C-clamp. Jump to step 7.

5. Pinhead holes can be temporarily sealed by inserting in a pencil and breaking off tip.

6. Dry pipe and cover pinhead hole with gapless tape. Secure rubber over the layer of tape for added pressure.

7. By now your SOS plumber should arrive to the rescue. Let the emergency plumbing service professional replace the damaged section with a new pipe.

Applying emergency plumbing repair to a burst pipe is an effective way to damage control the situation, conserve gallons of water and reduce costs significantly. If you are doubtful about conducting steps 2-6 alone, then simply close the water shutoff valve and call in the plumber. Shutting main water valves in times of water related plumbing emergencies conserves gallons of scarce water that will otherwise flood your home.

How to Use a Plumbing Snake

Almost everyone knows how frustrating a clogged drain can be. Clogged drains are one of the most common occurrences in a home. Fortunately, a plumber’s snake can be a great tool to have in the event of a plugged drain.

A plumbing snake is a flexible auger used to remove clogs in pipes that cannot be removed with a plunger. Most snakes contain a coiled metal wire with space between the coils at the end. The other end is attached to a device with a crank that rotates the wire as it moves down into the pipe.

The auger end of the wire digs into the clog much like a corkscrew, allowing recovery of the item creating the clog when the snake is pulled out. Also, a clog can be removed when the end of the snake breaks up the clog, permitting it to pass through the drain. Before using a plumbing snake, it is important to understand how to use one.

The following is a guide on how to use a plumbing snake:

1. Set Up: Before using a plumber’s snake, make sure you have towels and a bucket to collect any water that may run over on the floor. Put on gloves because the snake cable can get dirty and slimy.

2. Access the Drain: Remove the drain cover

3. Feed in the Plumbing Snake: Start with the smallest snake that you have. If it does not work, use a larger one. Feed the snake’s head into the drain. Rotate it a bit in a clockwise direction as you slide it through the pipe. Be careful not to damage sinks, toilets, and pipes.

4. Locate the Clog: Keep feeding in the snake while rotating until you hit the blockage. Keep repositioning the grip within a couple of inches of the entry way to the pipe as you feed the snake into the drain.

If you cannot locate the obstruction, run the snake in through the branch pipe. If there does not seem to be a clog in the branch pipe, the blockage may be in the main waste and vent stack, or in the sewer line. You will have to call a plumber.

5. Collect the Clog: Once you have reached the blockage, rotate the head of the snake until you can feel it latch on to the clog. Once you have a good hold, withdraw the snake out of the drain. You can also push the snake and chew away at the clump until the snake is driven through it. If it is a thick and solid clump, then use the snake to gnaw away at the clog. When you pull the blockage back, it may start to become messy. This is where a bucket and towels becomes necessary.

6. Eliminate Remaining Debris: You will have to get rid of the remaining pieces in the drain. You can do this by running hot water down the drain for a few minutes to wash away any remaining debris.

Plumbing snakes are a great tool to unclogging a drain. Used properly, it can help you avoid an expensive plumbing bill.

Ways to Empty Your Drainage

Ways to Empty Your Drainage

One of the hard things to resolve aside from stains is a clogged drain. It can’t be helped. Clogged drains in the kitchen sink are caused by bits of food while hairs clog bathroom drainage. A slow draining sink or bathroom is extremely annoying. Fixing this can create a hole in your pocket.

In a restaurant, there are different types of drains. While some don’t even have a proper drainage system which can cause a headache to kitchen staff. It is very important that a kitchen has decent working drainage especially if it is a very large and busy kitchen like those in restaurants and hotels. Cooking activities and preparation at these places are done at large every single day.

Filters’ role in a household is very essential. They can cover water system, ventilation equipment, drains and sink. Through these filters, the kitchen can be made safe and comfortable for food preparation. Each day may go on swiftly without any hassle. That also depends on how well kept your house is.

There are natural products and items at home like vinegar, baking soda, lemon and of course, plunger which you can use to resolve your drainage and other kitchen cleaning problems.

1. Vinegar – All you have to do is mix one third part of vinegar with one third part of water and three drops of dish washing liquid in a spray bottle. This has same function as to a floor cleaner. Simply spray and mop. This is also a good concoction for deodorizing a room especially on tile floors. The drain can sometimes grow plants. If you happen to see roots growing from the kitchen sink’s drainage, pour vinegar over it to destroy.
2. Baking soda – Works almost the same way like your commercial abrasives for scrubbing surfaces. It can also act as a great deodorizer. The smell of meat and leftover foods in freezer and refrigerator can be absorbed simply by a box of baking soda.For kitchen sink or bathroom drain, mix vinegar and borax or baking soda. Pour it down the drain and leave for about twenty minutes at least. Foams coming from the drain mean that the solution is taking effect. Pour boiling water afterward. You can use plunger to help agitate the impacted material. Pour boiling water again until there is no more clog.
3. Lemon – For soap scum, use lemons. A lemon is a good cleaner of brass and copper too. Combination of lemon and baking soda can be a good cleaning aid. How? Here’s what you should do:
   • Cut lemon in half.
   • On the sliced part sprinkle baking soda.
   • Scrub lemon on surfaces and stains.

   To make a polishing a solution, combine one cup of olive oil with one half cup lemon juice. Use this to keep your wood furniture shiny and spotless.

   As deodorizer, use lemon or orange peeling. Place them in the kitchen or near the drain.

4. Salt – Pour salt down into the clogged drain to unfreeze drain pipes. This can be done to flush water during the winter season.

Those items above may be good cleaners, but they can do nothing with rust. For rusty pipes, use natural cleaning products that are meant to remove rust in no time.

For your information, vinegar can cause skin, throat, eyes and nose irritations. There are also other commercially made products that have allergens. You can avoid its contact with your skin and clothing by wearing protective gear. Or buy organic cleaning products that are safe to use with or without gloves.

Clean your drain and the whole house with ease and efficiency with green cleaning products. Because they are safe and environment friendly, you just can’t go wrong.

Your Drain Health

Your Drain Health

How’s Your Plumbing?

When people go to see a doctor, many times they will use a phrase like, “Hows the plumbing?” That’s very important information to know, both physically and domestically.

How Often Do You Think About Your Drains?

You probably don’t think about your drains until they disappoint you. If you think a clog is as bad as it can get, you’re mistaken.

Clogged Drains Can Lead To:

• Toilets not flushing
• Toilets overflowing
• Sinks backed up
• Poor dishwasher function
• Washing machine flooding

A worse case scenario is that your sewer line can completely back up and cause significant damage to your home interior.

What Can You Do To Prevent a Clogged Drain?

It may seem like common sense to most folk, but a surprising amount of homeowners and renters don’t understand the importance of basic drain health. To save money down the line, here are a few things to remember NOT to do.

• Never pour any type of grease down your drain. Even with the hot water running, and your sink still draining after doing so; you will end up with solidified grease farther down your line. Remember that you endanger your entire neighborhood’s sewer line if it accumulates off your property.
• Never continue to flush an upstairs toilet when the downstairs toilet is clogged. Call your plumber immediately if a simple plunger won’t do the trick. Water will naturally evacuate at its lowest point in the home, and if that’s your downstairs toilet, you can be in for some serious sewer damage when the contents erupt through the downstairs toilet.
• Don’t allow hair to visibly block your shower and bath drains. If you can see it, pull it out with a screwdriver or your fingers. Left ignored, it won’t go away, just accumulate farther down the line.

Good drain health is just good home maintenance. Call your trusted plumber with any concerns you may have about your drains. Putting off that call can have unpleasant results.