Jun
29
Tips For Clearing A Blocked Drain
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Whether its early morning before work, or in the final preparations before a dinner party, finding a blocked drain can be more than a minor inconvenience. It can be hours of work determining where the problem lies, and finding the right tools to handle the situation.
The most logical starting point is trying powders, clog removers and a number of home made remedies. If you are trying to avoid harsh chemicals in and around your home, you may even experiment with Green Approaches To Drain Cleaning.
But what do you do when that simply doesn’t solve the problem? Or if it becomes worse than just a drain that is clogged – it actually backs up and begins flooding your basement or crawl space as well?
The drain system is typically a single stack system where waste water and the soil pipe both connect to a common drain leading away from the property to the sewer line. The clog can be a simple block just a few inches from your sink, or can be several feet away, somewhere within the pipe between your drain and the sewer. Drain cleaners may affect a simple clog a few inches from the drain; but will do no good if the clog is further down the pipe.
Professional plumbers go beyond solving the issue, and go straight to the source of the problem. They have the diagnostic tools to identify the location of the block and the knowledge to eliminate the problem.
If the block is located deep within the line, a plumber can access sophisticated closed circuit systems to pinpoint the block, knowing right where to go to clear away the problem.
Older homes offer a lot of charm, but also many challenges in navigating construction details that date back to the pre-World War II era. With older homes come older trees with elaborate root systems. Or pipes and water systems that simply weren’t designed to meet today’s codes. It may take special tools and knowledge to know when to fix something, and when to replace it to avoid future problems.
Blocks in the trap can be very difficult to get to and may cause the drain line to become backed up. The trap is the point in the line where two or more pipes join and connect to a larger central line. Often a fowl odor is the first indicator that the drain may be plugged. And it can quickly escalate into a much larger problem requiring the removal of walls, floors, or ceilings.
Unless you have experience in this area, call someone who does. Call your local plumber today.
Feb
4
Want a simple tip to avoid a clogged drain?
Every day we cook three times a day. And if you’re cooking anything on the stovetop, chances are you’ve had cooking oil you drain off before you continue cookin
g your meal. What do you do with the excess cooking oil?
If you’re putting it down the drain, you could be doing more than clogging your drain. Grease actually begins to solidify fairly quickly, and will build up in a variety of ways. As you pour it down the drain, it combines with other particles in the wastewater, and begins sticking to the pipe walls that move through your home. Over time, this same buildup can attach itself to more that the pipes in your home – it can also move outside of your home and block the lines in and out of your home, resulting in a wastewater spill and potential hazard to you and the community around you.
Instead of creating a potentially expensive and chaotic situation, avoid the situation all together by keeping grease out of your drain. When cooking with grease, pour leftover oil into a jar or container and place into the trash. Wipe away any residue with a paper towel to avoid rinsing any down the drain.
image source
Aug
20
While garbage disposals are one of the most frequently used items in the kitchen, it may be easy to overlook how to keep it in top shape. Here’s a look at 10 things to avoid sending down the drain.
1. Vegetable peelings
If you are peeling a 
bunch of potatoes or carrots, place them in your garbage instead of sending them down the disposal. The peels in excess can gum up on the blades and in the pipes, backing up the system.
2. Fruit pits
Cherry pits, peach pits, nectarine pits – any type of fruit that has a hard, middle seed.
3. Celery stalks
Celery is string-fibrous and can produce the same affect as vegetable peelings. Avoid sending celery down in excess.
4. Fats and grease
Fats and grease will adhere to the pipes over time, creating backups and clogged pipes.
5. Pasta
Starchy substances will stick to both the blades and the pipes. In excess, pasta can quickly cause backups.
6. Rice
Rice is similar to pasta, and will cause backup when put down the disposal in excess.
7. Coffee grounds
Coffee grounds in excess can act in a similar manner to rice and pasta, clogging up both the blades and the pipes.
8. Paper, plastic, glass
Avoid sending down paper such as coffee filters, or bits of packaging as you are taking items out of their wrappers.
9. Egg shells
The pieces of shell can linger in the pipes and eventually cause a clog.
10. Shells from shellfish or bones
Bones from items like chicken, or shells from shellfish can break off and get caught in the blades.
Jul
10
Your garbage disposal is probably one of the heaviest worked appliances in your home, yet it’s often the easiest to take for granted – until it becomes clogged. Clogs are most often caused by the type of food and the amount of water 
used while using the disposal unit. Typically the waste line becomes clogged by one of a number of things:
· Inadequate water used for flushing food through the garbage disposal
· Too many starchy foods, such as potato peels, pastas or banana peel
· Grinding coffee grounds
· Grinding eggshells
If your disposal is having trouble draining, or won’t drain at all, the problem most likely resides in the drain trap. The drain trap is the P or S shaped plumbing line following the disposal discharge.
To get rid of the clog, start by disconnecting the drain trap, and removing the trap from the discharge drain attached to the disposal. Remove and clean out any clogs or obstructions.
If a clog doesn’t exist within the trap, then the clog exists in the line connecting to the wall.
Start by using a plunger to see if you can dislodge the clog with water and force.
The next step is to use a sink auger. With the sink stopper removed, extend the auger cable into the drain. Turn the crank handle of the auger until you feel the clog. Continue with gentle pressure until you’ve worked through the clog. Continue to repeat until the clog is removed. Flush the pipes with hot water once the drain is clear.
Apr
17
Green Approaches To Drain Cleaning
Filed Under Drain Cleaning, Green Plumbing | 5 Comments
There always seems to be one drain in the house that needs a little more work than the others. So every few 
weeks you find yourself trying to clear out a backed up drain.
Have you ever worried about pouring harmful chemicals down the drain? How does that impact the health of your family?
Increasingly we as homeowners are looking for green alternatives to the more traditional ways of handling things like a clogged drain. Most commercial drain cleaners contain dangerous chemicals such as lye or acid, and can ultimately affect our health, our wastewater stream, and the PVC pipes within our homes.
The next time you have a clog, consider using a gentle yet effective approach to clearing a drain. There are many options, most of which can be found in your home, or on the shelves of your local health food store.
Start with a plunger
Sometimes the best method is the simplest. Try an old fashioned plunger, and repeat several times to release the clog and free up the drain.
Create a baking soda drain cleaner
If water hasn’t backed up into your sink, you can try a backing soda cleaner. Pour 1 cup of baking soda into the drain, followed by a few cups of boiling water. The boiling water creates an alkaline composition in the baking soda, which can clear out many of the toughest clogs. Repeat as necessary.
Vinegar and Baking Soda
When baking soda isn’t enough, try a mixture of vinegar and baking soda. Pour 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain, and follow it with 1/2 cup white vinegar. Cover the drain if possible. Let set for a few minutes. Pour a few cups of boiling water down the drain to flush out the clog. The vinegar/baking soda combination breaks down fatty acids into soap and glycerin, allowing the drain to run free. NOTE: do not use this method if any commercial drain opener has been used or is present in the sink or drain.
Plumbers snake
If natural methods don’t work, it may be best to try a drain auger, or a plumbers snake. This can reach down to the clog, and pull it free for complete extraction.
Still having problems? Your problem may be even deeper than you anticipated. Look for a green plumber in your area. He can provide powerful results while still providing the green results you are looking for.
[Quality 1st Plumbing is the first green plumbing company in Colorado. Want green results? Just give us a call.]
Feb
17
As a plumber, you see a little bit of everything. High up on the scale of plumbing disasters is clogged drain pipes – you never know what you are going to find lodged into a pipe. Here are some photos of clogged drain pipes.
Quality 1st Plumbing provides you with quality plumbing services, and a green approach to plumbing within your home or commercial location. If you are in the Denver Metro region of Colorado, Quality 1st Plumbing can help you with your clogged drain pipes, repair and upgrades, or even help you go green with your plumbing.
Dec
26
Cleaning The Bathroom Sink Drain
Filed Under Drain Cleaning | Leave a Comment
Have a clogged bathroom sink drain? Here are common methods for unclogging a clogged drain.
Start by using a plunger to remove the clog. Use a plunger with a suction cup large enough to cover the drain opening. Fill the basin with enough water to cover the plunger cup. Use 15 to 20 quick, strong strokes to remove the clog. Use this method as your first attempt.
Many people automatically turn to chemicals. However, be careful if the drain is completely clogged, as the chemicals will remain in the sink basin, and be of more danger to you when attempting to clean. Chemicals can burn the skin, and can cause sickness if the room isn’t properly ventilated. Also be wary of using chemicals continuously as they can damage metal pipes.
A drain auger, or snake, reaches down to the clog and pulls it free for complete extraction. For deep clogs, your local plumber can help find and completely remove the problem from the source.
Dec
3
Sometimes your sink backs up and its an easy fix. With a quality commercial product, you can have your drain fixed in know time.
But what if it continues? When should you make the call to your local plumber, and get the problem fixed once and for all?
If you have a repetative issue – one that keeps coming back again and again – you may need more than a quick fix.
Cable Line Cleaning
The problem may be out of your reach. A professional plumber has the tools necessary to find the problem, no matter how far down in the system it is. He can find and clear the problem, and clear the pipes to ensure against future problems.
High Pressure Jetting
From small mini jetters to help clear grease and particles out of kitchen and bathroom lines, to power jetters used to clear blockages out of lines into apartment and office buildings, a professional plumber has the right tools for the job. Using high powered equipment, jetting sends blasts of water to where the problem lies, breaking up dirt and sediment and washing it away.
Sewer Inspection
Today’s technology offers you a wealth of opportunity. Know where your problems lie before they cause you pain. Using fiber optics, your professional plumber can give you detailed information on the condition of your lines, and provide guidance with the best course of action.
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- Quality 1st Plumbing website - Quality 1st Plumbing website
- Troubleshooter - Tom Martino – The Trouble Shooter
- WaterSense