What Is The Importance Of Hiring Annual Drain Cleaning Services?
Your home’s drainage system is an integral section of the plumbing system. Its jobs are to direct the wastewater from your house to the sewer line or a septic tank outside your home. In other words, the drainage system makes it easier, safer, and more convenient for you to manage wastewater produced in your house. Unfortunately, your drainage system, like any other part of your plumbing system, can develop problems that could negatively affect its performance and even put your home and family in danger. The good news is that most drainage issues can be avoided by getting the drains cleaned annually with the help of a professional drain cleaning service. But why exactly is it important to get your drains cleaned regularly? Below is a rundown of the benefits you can expect from annual drain cleaning.
Keep Your Family Healthy
As a caring homeowner, keeping your family healthy is one of your most important responsibilities. Of course, there are many things you can do to this end. Keeping your drains clean with the assistance of a professional drain cleaning service provider is one of the most important of them. This is because neglecting your drains could negatively affect your family’s health. But how exactly does the condition of your drainage system influence your family’s health? Indeed, dirty drains are known to host a wide variety of pests and microbes. Unfortunately, the pests and microorganisms found in a dirty drainage system might spread gradually and expose your family to the risk of suffering serious illnesses. The good news is that this is something you can avoid by simply hiring a professional drain cleaning service to keep your drainage system in good shape. If you get your drains cleaned thoroughly regularly, you can prevent the buildup of disease-causing microorganisms and pests in the drains and consequently improve your family’s health.
Eliminate Foul Odors
Of course, you always want your home to smell nice and fresh. One way of doing this is by working with a professional plumbing service to ensure that your drains are serviced annually. This is because dirty drains can be a stubborn source of foul odors in your house. Indeed, if you do not take care of your drainage system with the help of a professional cleaning service, it will harbor microorganisms that will produce a foul smell as they break down the organic materials found in the wastewater. On the other hand, by keeping your drainage system clean, you can prevent the buildup of bacteria in the drains and consequently eliminate or prevent foul odors associated with dirty drains. In other words, keeping your drainage system clean will go a long way in ensuring that your house is always smelling nice and fresh.
Protect Your House
Your home is one of your most valuable belongings. Therefore, you need to do your best to protect it from possible damage. Cleaning your drainage system with the help of a professional cleaning service is one of the things you need to do to keep your house safe. This is because dirty drains can jeopardize your home’s structural integrity. But how exactly can the condition of your drains affect the structure of your house? Ideally, dirty drains are more exposed to corrosive elements that cause them to deteriorate quickly and start leaking. Unfortunately, the leaking water might create dampness that could weaken concrete and cause wood to start rotting. Besides, if the leaking pipe is under your home’s slab foundation, it might cause the foundation of your house to shift and crack. The good news is that you can prevent such a devastating eventuality by simply hiring a professional cleaning service to maintain your drainage system annually. In a nutshell, cleaning your drains will keep your drainage system working optimally, which should prevent leaks and consequently prevent water damage.
Prevent Plumbing Emergencies
We all hate plumbing emergencies. However, if you neglect your drainage system, you may have to face plumbing emergencies on a more frequent basis. For instance, materials such as hair, food particles, greases, and fats could settle in your drains and combine to create a substance that might block the flow of water through your drainage system. Unfortunately, this would cause the wastewater to back up towards your home and lead to flooding in your bathroom and even kitchen. In other words, clogged drains could create a nasty plumbing situation and render your entire plumbing system unusable. On the other hand, by ensuring that your drains are cleaned by a professional cleaning service provider regularly, you can ensure that any developing drain clogs are removed before they can get out of hand. This means that routine drain cleaning will go a long way in helping you avoid some plumbing emergencies.
Increase the Lifespan of the Plumbing System
As mentioned above neglected drains are more exposed to corrosive elements. Unfortunately, this means that they will quickly deteriorate, forcing you to replace your plumbing system sooner than expected. In other words, if you do not get your drains cleaned regularly by a professional cleaning service, the lifespan of your plumbing system will be reduced. On the other hand, by ensuring that your drainage system is cleaned annually by a professional drain cleaning service, you can effectively protect your plumbing system against corrosion and consequently add more years to its life.
The Bottom Line
As you can see, the importance of ensuring that your drainage system is cleaned professionally at least once per year cannot be overemphasized. If you are looking for a dependable plumbing contractor to help you take care of your drainage system, bluefrog Home Services of New Orleans is an excellent plumbing company to consider. We have been servicing residential drainage systems for a long time, and you can trust us to do a perfect job. Call us today for more information about our services.
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Most Common Concerns About Plumbing And Responses From An Emergency Plumber
As a homeowner, we understand you may have a lot of concerns about your home’s plumbing. Why is there a need to protect the pipes or are leak detection devices offering a lot of benefits to homeowners? We’ll tackle these concerns and more in this article. We’ve also gathered some responses we got from a licensed emergency plumber. Feel free to get in touch with us if you have questions or any clarifications. Our plumbing team is more than happy to help or provide assistance.
Why Install Leak Detection Devices
Water damage can cost you a lot in repairs, restorations and replacements. One of the most effective ways to avoid flooding in your home and water damage is to take care of the pipes and install leak detection devices.
A leak detection device is a safety device usually placed near plumbing appliances. They can detect a possible leak in your plumbing and can send out notifications to your mobile phone or tablet connected to the device. If you’re always traveling or always away from home to work, we highly recommend you consider installing leak detection devices.
Talk to an emergency plumber if you want to know more about leak detection devices or when you’re ready to install one for your home. Choose a leak detection device that can also automatically shut off the water supply to prevent further damage to your home. Better yet, choose a leak detection device that can also detect unusual activities in your plumbing. Also, don’t forget to connect the device to your mobile phone or tablet so that you’ll get alerts in case it detects a possible leak in your plumbing.
Contact an emergency plumber today especially when you’re planning to sell your home in the future. You might be able to attract more potential buyers if you have these safety devices installed.
Why Switch to Tankless Water Heaters
If you’re still using a conventional water heater for your home, we suggest you consider installing tankless water heaters. Some homeowners prefer the tankless unit because they don’t have to worry about leaks when there’s no water heater tank to think about. Remember, a hot water tank can store hundreds of gallons of water and imagine when this tank starts to leak water, you’ll need to call a plumber right away to help you repair the leak. You might also need to get a new water heater when you’ve damaged the tank.
Homeowners that want to save money might consider replacing their old water heaters with compact tankless water heaters. Call a plumber today to help you install your new unit. With the tankless unit, there’s no need to keep turning on the water heater because it consumes energy only when you’re using the bathroom or the kitchen, making it one of the most energy-efficient options. You’ll have less stress and definitely no mess if you have the tankless water heater installed.
Compared to the old water heater, a tankless water heater also lasts longer. While it’s a little more costly than old water heaters, you do get to save more money on your utility cost in the long run. Just make sure you only hire a licensed plumber to install the unit to ensure it’s correctly installed. Incorrect installation can also lead to other problems including leaks but you can avoid this if you hire the right plumber for the job.
No need to also perform a lot of maintenance with the tankless water heaters. You don’t need to drain a tank to remove the sediment build-up and worry about leaks. Having a tankless water heater installed in your home can also increase your home’s value because most buyers these days prefer to invest in an energy-efficient home. Most importantly, you don’t need to look for a space to store a huge tank if you have a tankless water heater. Talk to a plumber today to determine which water heater flow rate to get for your home. We’ll take into consideration the number of people that use the water heater and how many appliances will be running simultaneously to determine the flow rate.
Why Maintain Your Plumbing
Routine plumbing inspections are necessary if you want to extend the life of your plumbing and maintain its efficiency. It’s also important to only hire a licensed plumber to perform inspections to ensure it’s properly carried out. During the service call, the plumber will check your entire plumbing and identify problems that will need to be addressed. If there are none, it means you’re doing a good job in maintaining your plumbing. If there are issues, you’ll be thankful you got the routine plumbing inspection because you can avoid a catastrophic plumbing emergency that might cost a fortune in repairs.
You can count on us for all your plumbing repair needs or emergency plumbing services because we’re always available to help. Our plumbing experts provide repairs and installation work, leak detection and professional drain cleaning services.
Call bluefrog Home Services of New Orleans Right Away
If you need an emergency plumber, bluefrog Home Services of New Orleans is always here to help. Our plumbing experts work extra hard to correctly diagnose a problem and resolve it on the same day. You can trust that our plumbers can always deliver what we promise to our customers, and that’s exceptional service at every appointment. One of our top priorities is to ensure all issues are resolved and our customers are happy. We’re the best plumbing company for all your repair needs.
Call us today for an appointment.
See our previous blog on this topic here.
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Common Causes Of Clogged Drains And How A Drain Cleaning Service Can Help
A clogged drain is a common and frustrating problem that can disrupt your daily routine and even cause damage to your home. Whether it’s hair, soap scum, food particles, or other debris, clogs can form for various reasons, and they can be tough to tackle on your own. But fear not because a professional drain cleaning service can help you get your plumbing back in tip-top shape. In this article, we’ll explore some of the most common causes of clogged drains and show how a drain cleaning company can save you time and money.
Nine Common Causes of Drain Clogs
Hair
Hair is one of the most common causes of drain clogs. Your hair can fall out and clog the bathroom drain when you’re using the shower or bathtub. It could even make your bathroom sink run more slowly. Worse, it mixes with grease and other sticky substances to create a blockage.
Clean drains are a byproduct of preventative measures, such as installing drain guards designed to collect hair. The drain covers need regular cleaning. Avoid commercial drain cleaners since they can wreak havoc on your plumbing system. Instead, you should hire a drain cleaning service to help you out.
Grease
Although you usually remove most of the food off your plates before washing them in the sink, even the tiniest remnants of food can accumulate over time and cause issues. However, the accumulation of fats, oils, and grease from your cooking utensils is even more hazardous. They’ll cling to the inside of your plumbing like magnets, attracting all manner of food debris until a clog forms.
Even though it can be more convenient to pour grease down the sink, make it a habit to dispose of oil and fat in a disposable container. This habit will save you a lot of time and effort down the road. And remember to call a drain cleaning service should you find a clog caused by grease.
Soap
Your drains may become clogged due to soap scum buildup over time. When water evaporates, it leaves behind skin cells, oils, soap molecules, sweat, and minerals, which make up soap scum. This mixture of chemicals and minerals can cling to the insides of the pipes, creating a slimy layer that can trap waste like hair and food scraps. Over time, soap scum can accumulate a significant amount of debris, which can eventually clog the drain.
Calling a cleaning service is often the best option for removing soap scum. They will clear your drains of soap scum and other obstructions to keep water flowing efficiently.
Toilet Paper Buildup
One of the most common reasons for blocked drainage systems is toilet paper. Even though toilet paper is biodegradable, it can clog pipes and water supply lines when flushed all at once. Because of the tendency of toilet paper to clump together when flushed, it can impede the flow of water in your plumbing. The paper might swell when it comes into contact with the water in the sewer system, leading to even more clogs. So, it is crucial to know what you flush down the toilet and use only the amount of toilet paper required. Contact a cleaning service if you have any drainage issues.
Mineral Buildup
There are a wide variety of minerals in water. In particular, hard water can be problematic because it encourages the accumulation of insoluble mineral aggregates within your plumbing system. This continuous mineral layer can slow down water drainage or stop it completely. Using a water softener is one option for fixing the problem, as is locating a local cleaning service. A plumber is the best person to descale your pipes and eliminate mineral buildup.
Tree Roots
It’s natural to think of tree roots as long, thick filaments that spread out from the base of a tree and hold it firmly in place. Tree roots, however, can also grow vertically; if they enter a sewer system, they can cause significant damage. The larger the roots become, the more pressure they’ll put on the pipe; eventually, it may split or burst. After penetrating the pipe, roots can quickly obstruct the water flow, resulting in sewage backups, flooding, and even the collapse of the pipe. Tree roots can cause severe problems for your sewer system, so if you notice any problems, you must immediately contact a cleaning service. With their expertise, they can examine the pipes and decide how to proceed.
Small Objects Like Toys
Little things like toys are the most prevalent cause of clogged drains in homes with young children. It’s not uncommon for youngsters to lose small objects down the toilet, sink, or drain. When these things get stuck in a pipe, they can prevent water from flowing properly, leading to serious backups. If the clog is deeper than an inch or two, it’s probably best to have a cleaning service come out and take care of it for you. If you try to remove the object yourself, you could worsen the problem.
Cotton Products
Cotton wipes, swabs, diapers, and sanitary goods should not be flushed down the toilet. These items easily clog drains since they don’t decompose. With enough fluid absorption, a tampon can swell to ten times its original size. Hence, use great caution when disposing of these, and do not flush them down the toilet. Otherwise, you’ll need to call a drain cleaning service to unclog your drains.
Poor Drain Installation
When it comes to fixing or installing pipes in your home, it’s best to leave the job to a professional plumber. Plumbing problems like clogged drains can develop from poorly installed pipes.
Most “DIYers” lack the training and expertise to install or repair pipes, raising safety concerns. It is best to delegate plumbing tasks to an experienced individual.
Say Goodbye to Clogged Drains: Get Professional Help Today!
Blockages and obstructions can be avoided if drains are maintained regularly. Slowly but surely, grease, hair, and soap scum cling to the insides of pipes, causing obstructions. A slow drain is a telltale sign that a blockage is developing in one of your drains. You should hire a plumber if your drains are moving slowly or have a foul smell.
If you’re tired of dealing with clogged drains in your home, it’s time to take action. Contact our expert team at bluefrog Home Services of New Orleans today, and let us help you say goodbye to those frustrating plumbing issues. Our experienced professionals use the latest tools and techniques to quickly and effectively clear your drains, leaving your plumbing system running smoothly.
See our most recent blog on this topic here.
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Why Delaying Water Heater Repair Is Costly
Due to regular use, your water heater is likely to encounter a few hiccups. These issues vary from minor ones like leaky connections to major ones like burst gas pipes. However, most homeowners overlook the minor problems, saving the repairs for later. This delay in addressing repairs works to their disadvantage. While it’s easy to neglect common issues like low water pressure, they can quickly escalate into more serious problems that cost a bundle to repair.
Here are a few reasons why postponing water heater repair is an expensive decision.
Increased Water and Energy Bills
A sudden spike in your utility bills indicates something is terribly wrong with your water heater. Faulty water heaters are highly inefficient, sometimes using up to double the energy or water a regular water heater uses.
Leaky pipes, for instance, waste a lot of water that you still have to pay for. Tanks with excessive sediment buildup require more energy to heat because the sediment deposits insulate the tank. The heater must work harder to heat the water, leading to astronomical energy bills.
The longer you wait to repair these issues, the higher your water and energy bills will be. Arrange for prompt water heater repairs the moment you notice your water heater acting up.
More Damage to Your Water Heater
Small faults with your water heater can quickly spiral out of control and become more severe. A single malfunctioning component in your water heater could strain other parts and affect the entire unit. This means you not only have to pay to repair the faulty part, but you might have to replace others too.
You can avoid expensive repairs and replacements by requesting water heater repair service earlier. The technician can quickly identify current and potential issues and provide an effective solution to sidestep further damage to your unit.
Repair Is Cheaper than Replace
When repairs keep dragging on, you might be forced to replace the entire unit. This is far more costly than repairs and is often unnecessary. With prompt repair services from a qualified technician, you can save yourself from pricey replacements. What’s more, early repairs extend the longevity of your water heater. You’ll have a long-lasting and efficient heater that won’t dent your budget.
Early Repairs Save Time
Minor water heater problems are easy to repair and only take a few hours at most. Larger ones, on the other hand, might take days to fix, and you’ll have to endure cold baths during this time.
Moreover, the repair process might disrupt some of your day-to-day activities. You may have to take time off work to supervise the repairs, meaning fewer work hours. This means a lot of money down the drain.
Unexpected Medical Expenses
Leaky pipes in your water heater system mean damp spots and excess moisture in the house. This dampness creates the ideal conditions for mold and other fungi growth. The mold spores might enter your home’s air circulation, causing respiratory complications.
For people with asthma and allergies, mold spores in the air might mean a trip to the hospital. This translates into unexpected medical expenses you could have avoided with early repair.
Increased Propensity for DIY Repairs
You can only ignore your water heater issues for so long before they become too severe to neglect. The temptation to pick up the toolbox and get to work when this happens is hard to resist. But doing so usually does more harm than good.
Heater repair is an intricate job requiring high expertise. DIY repairs could worsen the problem and lead to more problems with your unit. This means you’ll have to pay to repair the initial problem and the damage you caused.
What’s more, damage caused by DIY repairs can void your warranty. This means you’ll have to pay for future repairs out of pocket, even if they relate to the initial problem. Calling a licensed technician early on saves you from this mess.
Signs Your Water Heater Heater Needs Immediate Repair
The wear and tear from regularly using your heating system could lead to various issues. Here are a few signs your water heater needs repair:
Astronomical Energy and Water Bills
As mentioned earlier, faulty parts within your water heater can cause it to use more energy and water than necessary. This translates into astronomical energy and water bills every month. If you notice a sudden spike in your energy bills, it might be time to call a water heater professional.
Rusty Water
Rusty water from your faucets could indicate rust in your tank or piping system. Either way, it’s important to call for repairs immediately. That way, you can avoid further damage and widespread rust contamination.
A Lack of Hot Water
A lack of hot water in your faucets and shower heads means your water heater isn’t functioning as it should. This indicates that you should call for repairs to get your water heater back up and running.
Strange Sounds from the Heater
Your water heater should only produce a subtle hum; anything else is a cause for concern. A rumbling sound is a sign that you have excess calcium and dirt deposits at the bottom of the tank. The water heats up and jostles the calcium deposits around the tank. A repair service will flush the tank to eliminate debris.
Your Water Smells Weird
Weird-smelling water could indicate a bacterial infection within the tank. This is especially true if the water smells like rotten eggs. You could have a proliferation of sulfur-producing bacteria inside the tank. A water repair professional will flush the tank and use disinfectant to eliminate the bacteria.
Arrange for a Repair Service Today
Delaying your heating system repair only translates to money down the drain. Contact a licensed plumber the moment you notice signs of a faulty water heater. Don’t wait until it’s too late, or you might have to replace your entire heating system.
Book an appointment with bluefrog Home Services of New Orleans for all your water heater repair needs. Their team of certified technicians will help you get to the bottom of your water heater issues and recommend solutions for restoring its functionality.
See our most recent blog on this topic here.
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Benefits Of Having A Plumber Use Smoke Testing Method To Diagnose Leaks In Your Sewer
Imagine all the waste produced in your kitchen, laundry, and toilet having nowhere to go. The smell emanating from your home, those drain flies, and the germs would almost certainly result in hospitalizations. Unfortunately, this could happen if a professional plumber doesn’t regularly clean the drains. A clog in the sewer line is like there are no drains. This is because it only will be a matter of time until you start noticing the sinks aren’t draining. Instead, the wastewater is backing up your home, causing all manner of sanitation-related issues. Unfortunately, this is not the only issue that can befall your sewer system. Leaks can also spell doom to the hygiene of your home unless quickly addressed, and that is where plumbing smoke testing comes in.
What Is Smoke Testing?
Any plumbing at your home can suffer a leak. After all, they all hold certain volumes of water. Smoke testing is a common method that plumbers use to test the pipes for cracks and holes before effecting a repair. It involves pumping non-toxic smoke into your sewer or drain pipes or water lines and looking for plumes of the smoke leaving through holes, cracks, and other pipe defects. But why is smoke testing so handy? It allows the professionals to locate the faults even in underground plumbing where reaching would require pulling up your lawn.
By pumping the smoke and watching its plumes on the surface, a trenchless sewer line repair method can follow. However, the plumber has to conduct smoke testing on one line at a time, looking for any present defects and marking them. They can move to the next only after the professional is done with that line. Since smoke testing is non-invasive, it can be completed without you having to move your family members. This is often carried out in blocks or buildings experiencing common problems.
How Is Smoke Testing Done?
Although smoke testing may be used in many ways, this article will consider its applications in sewer systems. The sanitary sewers are complex and aren’t easy to diagnose. Therefore, testing a single sewer line simplifies finding cracks or leaking points. Plumbing experts can finish checking the sewer lines in your block in about a day. The professional blocks the other lines using sandbags and backflow preventers. Then the technician sets up a fan at the end of the sewer line under test. These fans create a positive pressure inside the sewer pipes, just above the atmospheric pressure. As a result, the smoke from strategically placed liquid smoke or smoke bombs is forced into the system.
You need not worry about children or pets inhaling the smoke because it is non-toxic and safe. The only thing in the smoke is water vapor and a few visible particles; both will disappear shortly, leaving nothing behind. The professional then will look for smoke plumes escaping from the sewer line. Each plume is marked for further checkup. This is because these plumes mean the sewer line might have cracks where the smoke is escaping. Closing the areas near the plumes will likely have greener vegetation than the others.
Why Is Smoke Testing Important?
It might seem like all smoke testing does is detect leaks, but this method also has a lifesaving benefit. Sewer wastes are toxic or dangerous. However, that doesn’t mean the sewer pipes cannot be problematic. The sewer itself is toxic, and where the leaks from the sewer system mix with the groundwater, that can be a particularly nasty safety hazard. This is where smoke testing’s life saving benefit arises. When a plumbing expert uses smoke testing, they can detect these leakages before they result in more protracted issues.
Despite how bad raw sewage may seem, it can release several deadly byproducts. However, the two main byproducts are hydrogen sulfide and methane. Methane is extremely flammable so that a large leakage could pose a fire hazard. Inhaling hydrogen sulfide can be deadly as it is a highly toxic gas. Because of the gaseous nature of the two, they don’t need a large crack to leak from and cause the issues above. A pinhole caused by corrosion of the sewer line is enough. Fortunately, smoke is also gas and uses the same mechanism to detect where such gases would escape the sewer line.
Benefits of Using This Method for Sewer Leak Detection
Eliminate the Foul Smells
The smoke tests help the plumbing experts note where the sewer gas might leak from the surface and patch them. Thus, patching the leaks means those foul sewer gas smells lingering around and in your home will be eliminated. Fixing any damages on the sewer line means restoring your home’s air quality.
Fast Results
Compared to other traditional leakage detection practices, this method is fast. Since the vapors direct clouds into the air with holes in the sewer line, they better detect sewer gas leaks. When the plumbing service pros do the smoke test, leakages near the manhole will be detected first.
Smoke Testing is Convenient
You never have to move any fixtures to prepare for an upcoming smoke test. The smoke vapors will still find the leaks as they travel via the sewer lines buried beneath the sinks, tubs, and cabinets. Whether small or large leaks, you can rest assured that the plumbing expert will find them with this method.
No Destruction
Leak detection using this method doesn’t cause any damage. The plumbers move their tools and equipment only in one utility hole. They don’t need to tear down your slab or walls, as even the repairs can be trenchless.
Have you noticed a foul smell in your compound? That could mean toxic sewer gases are leaking onto the surface. Contact us at bluefrog Home Services of New Orleans for a smoke test to determine the right repair method.
See our most recent blog on this topic here.
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