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How to Fix a Leaky Faucet

Having to fix a leaky faucet can be irritating and inconvenient, but unfortunately, all faucets are prone to leaks. Leaks are actually to be expected, especially when a faucet is already a little old. Faucets and other plumbing fixtures have component that come loose or get worn down through constant use over time. Fixing a leaky faucet depends mostly on what kind of faucet it is. You can then find the right tools and materials to do the job right.

Getting Started

Before you start the process of fixing a leak, turn off the supply of water to your faucet. There is a valve below the sink that you can use to turn the water off. Afterwards, plug the sink drain. You can use a sink plug or stuff the drain with a rag. This will prevent small components like screws from slipping into the drain. Most importantly, make sure that you have all the tools and materials you need.

Compression Faucets

If you are dealing with a compression faucet, the first step is to unscrew and remove the handle. This will reveal the nut, which you need to take off with a wrench. You will then find the stem, which is located above the O-ring, which in turn is located above the seat washer. The seat washer is usually made of rubber and can be worn down. A worn seat washer is usually what causes the need to fix a leaky faucet, and therefore needs replacing.

Ball Faucets

Most hardware and home repair stores stock replacement kits for ball faucets, which has everything you'll need for repairs. Once you have the kit, unscrew and remove the faucet's handle. Using pliers, remove the cap and collar then loosen the cam below. You'll then see a mechanism that looks like a ball and socket. You can then remove the inlet seals and springs and replace the O-ring. Everything you removed should be replaced with components from the kit.

Ceramic-Disk Faucets

You basically start the same way with ceramic-disk faucets by removing the handle. You can then remove the escutcheon cap, which sits right beneath the handle and is usually made of metal. Remove the disk cylinder so you can remove the seals underneath. Soak the cylinder in vinegar to clean it, or replace it altogether. You can then put the faucet back together. Remember that when you fix a leaky faucet, handle it carefully.

If you ever need plumbing assistance, Plumbers 911 located in both Fresno and Modesto is happy to help! Checkout the Facebook page for Plumbers 911, Plumbers 911 Fresno, and Plumbers 911 Modesto for weekly posts and tips.

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Preparing Your Pipes for Winter

We all need our houses to be in the best shape all year, which is why preparing your pipes for winter is important. Adequate preparation for the cold winter months can prevent lasting damage to your pipes and spare you the great expense of having them repaired or replaced. Taking precautions early on, before the cold winter months set in, can help you avoid burst or frozen pipes. Fortunately, preparing your pipes is surprisingly simple and quite easy to do.

Drain Any Remaining Water:

Outdoor faucets or pools and sprinklers most probably won't be in use during winter. Before the weather starts getting too cold, it's best to drain all hoses and outdoor supply lines of as much water as possible. The remaining water in these supply lines can freeze and expand, causing great damage to the pipes. Filling these pipes with compressed air will effectively get rid of excess water. Remember to also store hoses indoors during the winter.

Insulate Your Pipes:

Exposed pipes and those in basements, attics, and garages are exposed to cold air and therefore prone to freezing. Preparing your pipes for winter requires insulating exposed pipes to prevent damage that can be caused by the cold. Insulating these pipes is your best bet. Insulating them can also prevent heat loss and help your house stay warmer during the winter. Hardware stores sell pipe insulation and heat tape that you can install yourself. Insulation kits that include thermostats are also available.

Inspect for Leaks:

Leaks are a problem any time of the year, but more so during the winter. Water expands when it freezes. If leaking water starts freezing, it can cause your pipes to burst and sustain a lot of damage. If you've noticed some leaks in your pipes, make sure to fix them right away before winter and see if the leaks are prone to recurring soon. Even the smallest leaks need to be dealt with before the winter.

Make a Few Small Adjustments:

During the winter itself, there are some things that you'll need to do to maintain the good condition of your pipes through the season. Keeping higher temperatures indoors, even when you are away, will keep your pipes from freezing. Keeping cupboards open to the warm air inside your home also helps. Meanwhile, keeping garage doors closed as much as possible will keep the heat from escaping. Preparing your pipes for winter requires simple adjustments to your home.

If you need additional plumbing assistance, visit Plumbers 911 website; located in both Fresno and Modesto, they are happy to answer any questions you might have and help fix any problems.

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Emergency Plumbing in Fresno

You never know when your plumbing can fail, which is why emergency plumbing in Fresno offer 24-hour services covering a variety of plumbing issues. Problems like burst pipes or uncontrollable leaks can cause damage to your floors, ceilings, and walls. You'll know that you have a plumbing emergency if stopping the supply of water and other stopgap measures won't help alleviate the problem. Fortunately, there are a lot of great emergency plumbing services in the Fresno area.

Pacific Plumbing Co.:

Pacific Plumbing Co. can send plumbing professionals to your residence at any time of the day or night. Its staff is composed of trained professionals with the right licenses, bonds, and insurance, leaving you with no worries about paperwork. It also offers online sales and coupons to their customers. Pacific Plumbing Co. is a family-run business with bilingual (English and Spanish) staff members that are skilled enough to fully analyze your plumbing problems and address them with full attention.

Rapid Rooter Drain Master & Plumbing Experts:

Rapid Rooter is a family-owned business founded and operated by a licensed technician with over thirty years of experience in emergency plumbing in Fresno. It is staffed by skilled and licensed professionals equipped with the best tools and technologies for addressing plumbing issues. Customers can also call in and speak with actual staff, not an automated system or a call center. Rapid Rooter offers services such as plumbing installation and repair, leak detection, and video camera inspection.

All Star Plumbing:

What sets All Star Plumbing apart from other plumbing services is that its repairs come with a two-year warranty. The company has been in business for over fifteen years. Its staff is composed of polite, licensed, and experienced professionals guaranteed to be drug-free. Customers also get the actual price of the work needed right away, doing away with hidden fees and surprise expenses. There is a flat rate on all repairs and customers are not charged hourly.

Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Drain Services:

Roto-Rooter covers the entire Fresno area as well as the surrounding communities. Its staff is fully qualified to take on any kind of plumbing issue, no matter how simple or complex. Roto-Rooter also offers videos and online assistance to help customers maintain their plumbing systems and keep repairs at a bare minimum. The company has been around since 1935, and has proven to be reliable and professional. It has long been dependable for emergency plumbing in Fresno.

Plumbers 911 offers emergency plumbing services. There website offers informational videos and blogs that can help solve everyday plumbing problems. Plumbers 911 Fresno is a referral service to carefully-selected contractors that employ highly-skilled plumbing technicians who have over 10,000 hours of training. Plumbers 911 always make sure that customer satisfaction is the number one priority.

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Septic Tank Maintenance

Are you having trouble with your septic tank maintenance? Do you even know where to begin when it comes to the right Septic Tank Maintenance Modesto you can rely on to help maintain your septic tank?

If a septic tank has served a home for more than 20 years, it requires regular maintenance. No one likes being inconvenienced with blockages and leakages which can contaminate the surrounding water and soil. And if your septic tank is not properly designed and installed by experts, it can bring about a whole slew of challenges to any home owner. Failing systems will not just reduce the value of your home but it can also endanger the health of your children. They can also contaminate underground water including streams and lakes.

Taking Care of Your Septic Tank System:

If you contact the Septic Tank Maintenance Modesto experts, the first thing they will want to know is whether you have copies of the plans or the drawing of your system. Also, they may want to look at the available service records. Don’t use unnecessary additives because your septic tank has enough enzymes and the bacteria that allows it to fully digest its content as a result, adding unnecessary additives and chemicals may not benefit your septic tank.

• Use white toilet paper because some colors and dyes cannot be broken down by bacteria. Also, avoid flushing out wipes, napkins and thick paper material.

• Do not drive over the top of your sewer tank, protect it instead. This can be done by putting a fence on the sections where the septic tank is located. Also, avoid planting trees on top of or near the system.

• Do not build carports, patios, and structures on any part of the septic system.  This may damage the system and necessitate that you contact septic tank maintenance modesto expert so that they can have a look at it.

• Ensure that you pump out any sludge as soon as it surpass the recommended level.

• Avoid pouring items down the drain.  

• Even though you may dispose garbage in your sewer system, it is recommended that large quantities must be disposed of in the garbage.

• Fats grease, oil are not good for your septic tank since they may prevent the bacteria from breaking down the waste.

• When you choose to disinfect, ensure that you use recommended but biodegradable products. Avoid using products that contain quaternary ammonia and pine oil based oils since they contribute to the clogging your pipes.

• Do not flush medicine down the drain because antibiotic medicines can harm the treatment of the system.

For more information, go to their website, and for fun tips and informational articles, visit their Facebook pages: Plumbers 911 Fresno, Plumbers 911 Modesto, and their main page Plumbers 911.

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How to Drain Your Hot Water Heater

Hot water heater draining is an exercise that must be performed once per year if you want the heater to continue serving you. This can prove to be a very elaborate process that you should make sure to follow each time you clean your hot water heater.

First, start by turning the gas or power source off. Next you need to check and ensure that the cold water valve is turned off so that no water is allowed to get into the heater. Hook a hose to the drain valve, which will normally be found at the bottom of the tank. Open the drain and let the hose pipe drain off the contents of the tank. This is important since it removes the sediments that have settled at the bottom of your hot water heater.

Once water has been drained out, close the relief valve on the water heater and open the inlet valve so that the tank can be refilled. After sometime, check the pressure relief valve and ensure that there is no leakage.  Turn on the power to the water heater. If your water heater is old it is mandatory that you have it drained thoroughly to remove any and all accumulated sediments. These sediments refer to any solid material that did not dissolve in the water. It could be sand, grit or silt.  Normally, the municipal water is not filtered enough to prevent this from happening. The depth of sediments accumulated in your water tank can also interfere with the efficiency and functionality of your water tank. It may affect the heating element if it reaches a certain level within the holding compartment.

Note that the accumulated minerals and salts may dissolve eventually due to constant exposure to hot water. But these trace amounts could be dangerous if consumed by people. In fact, this is why it is always recommended that you drink hot water from the tap because such water will dissolve these substances including chemicals and compounds which may be harmful. Hot water heater draining, and keeping the sediment levels of your tank low, reduces chances of accumulating such compounds which may pose health risk to your family. Thus hot water heater draining is important in that it increases efficiency of your water heating system and protects you from the harmful effect of chemical and compounds found in the water that flows into our homes.

For more information, go to their website, and for fun tips and informational articles, visit their Facebook pages: Plumbers 911 Fresno, Plumbers 911 Modesto, and their main page Plumbers 911.

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How to Prevent Clogged Drains

No one likes it when there are clogged drains in the house. Not only is this every homeowner's’ nightmare but it can be terribly inconvenient for all inhabitants in the house. Unfortunately, clogged drains are bound to happen sooner or later. Even more so, if you have a big family. It can really be a source of headaches especially if we think about the smell that’s going to emanate from the drain.

After noticing you’ve got clogged drains there’s really not much to do except to call a plumber to help unclog it. Depending on the extent of the obstruction, and the damage that the clog may have caused, you may be required to spend a lot of money. The cost of fixing the problem may skyrocket depending on how the backup has been prolonged. Large clogs are not good because they can result into backups and put unnecessary strain on the municipal wastewater system. This could damage the environment. To avoid this, it is recommended that you have a proper drainage system and ensure that it is properly maintained. Also, extra care should be taken to ensure that there is little to no obstructions that could cause clogging.

To prevent clogged drains, it is mandatory that you clean the drain regularly. Normally, the drain is something that is forgotten when thinking about cleaning the home. Ensure that the sinks are kept clear of debris and that they are cleaned regularly.  Being mindful of what you actually put down your drain is important because it saves you from the need of calling a plumber to attend to a clogged drain unfortunately, there are some systems that need to be checked and cleaned regularly.

The bathroom sinks, bath tub, and sink drains must be checked regularly because they trap hair which when allowed to accumulate, can cause a bigger problem. Washing your hair and shampooing in a sink not to mention shaving are among the things we cannot do without. Unfortunately, these are activities that contributes to the blocking of the drain. When toothpaste and soap is added to the accumulated hair, it can cause a serious clog which can result in a terrible backup. As a result, it is recommended that you perform the following activity once per week:

• Lift the stoppers in the sinks and remove the debris.

• Remove the drain cover from the bathtub or shower and use a wire or a brush to ensure that all the debris that accumulates is removed.

• Call a plumber as soon as you notice a serious clog that you cannot manage.

And if you continually maintain your drains properly, you should not have any issues in the near future!

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How Often Should You Clean Your Grease Traps?

How often one must clean grease traps depends on how it is being used. Calling an expert to do it may be costly. This is the reason why many people often decide to just do it by themselves. If you are running a commercial establishment such as a restaurant, how clean it is determines whether you move your business to the next level or not. As a basic rule of thumb, all food places should be thoroughly cleaned from top to bottom. There’s no way around that. And if you miss out on cleaning your place, you could end up in trouble with the local authorities.  

Cleaning grease traps may be a problem because the contraptions are always out of sight and that the stench that comes out of it may not be pleasing.  However, having grease traps in an eatery is important since they play a role in preventing oils and grease from entering the drainage system. Any single trap will retain about 50- 90 % of any fog that gets into the trap. If the traps are not cleaned often, it can compromise your workplace and become a health hazard to your patrons. When you leave your traps full of grease, fat and oil, it welcomes unwanted guests such as cockroaches, flies and rodents.

Cleaning your traps often is therefore mandatory if you want to make sure you don’t get these pests in your establishment. Other than becoming a source of food for pests, grease traps loaded with fats have an unpleasant odor. Too much of this and you can be sure that your patrons are going to choose another place to dine in. Lastly, allowing a lot of oil and fats to accumulate in your traps will make them even more difficult to clean and could render your traps useless.

Grease trap manufacturers recommend that the traps should be cleaned by scraping and removing all the grease at least once per day. However, this is not feasible hence most municipalities recommend that grease traps be cleaned once per month.

Ideally, the grease traps needs to be cleaned as soon as you notice that the grease level has reached 25% of the traps volume. Any grease fraction exceeding 25 % means that you run a risk of having grease overflow into the drain pipes.  If more grease flows into the trap, it will force your traps to backup.  Calling for an emergency drain cleaning is not just expensive but will disrupt your services and lead to a loss of revenue. It may also lead to dissatisfied customers.

As a result, it is recommended that you clean your traps as often as you can afford. Make it a part of the daily cleaning routine and you shouldn’t have any issues in the near future. If you end up needing plumbing assistance, Plumbers 911 located in both Fresno and Modesto are happy to help. For more information, go to their website, and for fun tips and informational articles, visit their Facebook pages: Plumbers 911 Fresno, Plumbers 911 Modesto, and their main page Plumbers 911.