How Can You Avoid Holiday Plumbing Emergencies?

It's the holiday season!  Many families spend more time in the kitchen with their loved ones during this time of year.  Here are a few tips to help you prevent plumbing emergencies this holiday season.

Holiday Plumbing Tips: 

• Use a Strainer - Make sure that your drains have strainers int hem to catch hair, soap, and fibers that can clog your drains. 
• Invest in a Sink Plunger - Sink plungers are smaller than toilet plungers.  Place the plunger over the sink drain hole and make sure that there's enough water to create a seal.  This can help dislodge the clog.
• Be Careful What You Flush - Remind guests to throw away paper towels, baby wipes, and other paper products.  These items can quickly block your drain line!  

If you experience any plumbing emergencies this weekend or through the holidays, give us a call!  Our plumbing professionals can help you with all of your plumbing needs.

Call 585-216-3058 or visit our website for more information on our plumbing and remodeling services.  For more tips, Like us on Facebook, FOLLOW us on Twitter, and Connect with us on Google+!

Tips to Prevent Plumbing Problems This Thanksgiving

Are you ready for Thanksgiving?  Remember to keep greasy dishes from clogging your drains!  Here are a few tips to help you prevent plumbing problems this year.

Tips to Prevent Plumbing Problems:

• Watch Your Garbage Disposal - Be careful what you are putting down your garbage disposal.  Get rid of leftovers by throwing them away in the trash.  When you do use your garbage disposal, make sure you only put very small quantities down it at a time.
• Keep Water Running - Keep your faucet running as you use your garbage disposal.  Run it for a few seconds even after you turn it off to help keep the drains clear.
• Wash Dishes By Hand - Avoid running the dishwasher if you think that there is a problem.  Dishwashers discharge into the disposal!
• Avoid Grease - Avoid pouring grease or cooking oil from your Thanksgiving meal down your kitchen sink.  Always wipe off any pans before washing them.

For more tips on how to prevent plumbing problems this Thanksgiving, check out this article.  If you do experience any plumbing problems, give us a call!  Our professional technicians can help you clear your drains.

Call 585-216-3058 or visit our website for more information on our plumbing and remodeling services.  For more tips, Like us on Facebook, FOLLOW us on Twitter, and Connect with us on Google+!

Tips to Help Keep Bathroom Drains Clear

Keeping your drains clean isn't always an easy task.  Toothpaste, shaving cream, hair and soap are just a few of the things that can keep your drains from working efficiently.  Here are a few tips to help you keep your drains clear.

Keep Drains Clear with These Tips:

• Run Hot Water - Running hot water down your drain for about thirty seconds, once a week will help clear the drain.  This will help prevent a blockage before it occurs!
• Salt and Vinegar - Pour 1 tablespoon of salt down the drain, followed by a quarter cup of plain white vinegar.  Let it sit and then run hot water down the drain to clear out the salt.
• Liquid Bleach - Pouring half a cup of liquid bleach down the drain will help keep the plumbing running smoothly.

Check out this article for more tips on how to keep your bathroom drains flowing and call our office with any questions you may have.  If you do experience any plumbing clogs, our professional technicians can help you clear your drains!

Call 585-216-3058 or visit our website for more information on our plumbing and remodeling services.  For more tips, Like us on Facebook, FOLLOW us on Twitter, and Connect with us on Google+!

Bathroom Remodeling: Before and After

Looking to upgrade your current bathroom?  Our design professionals can tailor your remodel to meet your needs, desires, and budget.  Take a look at a few pictures from one of our recent bathroom remodels!

Before:

After:

Call 585-216-3058 to contact our office or visit our website for more information on our plumbing and remodeling services.  For more tips, Like us on Facebook, FOLLOW us on Twitter, and Connect with us on Google+!

Garbage Disposal Maintenance Tips

Garbage disposals are a great way to get rid of unwanted leftovers.  However, grease, potato peels, pasta, and other foods can actually damage your blades and clog your pipes.  Here are a few tips to help prevent plumbing problems and extend the life of your garbage disposal.

Garbage Disposal Tips:

• Run Cold Water - Cold water is a great way to keep your garbage disposal clean by allowing the blades to grind up food and push it out the drain pipe.
• Use it Often - Running your garbage disposal on a regular basis will help keep leftover food from hardening inside.  Even if you don't have anything to grind up, run the disposal every few days to prevent odors, clogs and rust.
• Flush it Out - Run your disposal for about a minute after it has finished grinding up the waste.  This ensures that all the food has been flushed out and helps prevent clogs.
• Reduce Waste Size - Your garbage disposal is not designed to handle large chucks of food.  Cut waste into smaller chunks and only put a few pieces in at a time to avoid clogs and damage.
• Grind Citrus Fruits - Orange, lemon and lime peels can help keep your disposal clean.  Toss a citrus peel in to help clear excess waste and eliminated any unpleasant smells.  Ice cubes work well too!

If you do experience any problems with your garbage disposal, give us a call.  Our experienced plumbing technicians can clear your clogged drains and give advice on how to keep your disposal running smoothly year-round.  Call 585-216-3058 to contact our office or visit our website for more information on our plumbing services.

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photo credit: Chris Winters via photopin cc

How Do You Know If Your Sewer Drain Is Clogged?

Do you suspect your sewer drain is clogged?  Knowing the early warning signs can help you address your plumbing problem early on.  Here are a few common of the signs to look out for.

Signs Your Sewer Drain is Clogged:

• Flushing the Toilet - Look to see if your toilet water backs up or it coming out of the tub after you flush.  When flushed water can't go down the sewer drain, it usually flows back up the pipes.
• Running Faucet - Look for trapped air when running your bathroom sink.  If your toilet bubbles or the water is rising when you are running the faucet, you likely have a sewer line clog.
• Using the Washing Machine - Your sewer drain may be clogged if the water draining out of your washing machine causes your toilet to overflow or backup into the shower.

For more information on how to know if your sewer drains are clogged, check out this article.  You can also give our plumbing technicians a call.  Our plumbing technicians can determine whether or not you have a sewer drain clog and help you clear the line.  Call 585-216-3058 to contact our office today.

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What Causes Your Drains to Smell?

Are your sink drains smelly?  This kitchen or bathroom plumbing problem can be frustrating.  Fortunately, it's usually simple to fix! 

Common Causes:

• Garbage Disposal - Garbage disposals are designed to get rid of food particles in the drain.  However, sometimes grease can stick to the grinder.  Try using ice cubes to clear the drain.
• P-Trap - The u-shaped section of the pipe below your sink is called a p-trap.  When your plumbing is working efficiently, a little bit of water stays int he bend to keep gases from drifting out of the sewage system and into your home.  If you notice a smell, these gases might be coming up into your home.

If you notice your drains smell, read more here and give us a call.  Our plumbing technicians can help you pinpoint the reason and determine whether or not drain cleaning will be the best solution for you.  Call 585-216-3058 to contact our office today.

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What Shouldn't Go Down Your Disposal?

Photo Source: Flickr/David Winer

Your kitchen garbage disposal is a great way to get rid of food scraps. However, some foods can clog your pipes and harm your disposal blades.  Avoid putting these foods down your disposal to keep it running smoothly.

Foods to Avoid:

• Fibrous Foods - Celery, artichokes, asparagus, lettuce, corn husks, carrots, onion skins and potato peels can clog your disposal.  The fibrous foods wrap around the blades and keep your motor from operating well.  Dispose of these foods in the garbage instead.
• Bones - Keep those turkey bones out of your garbage disposal.  Bones and other hard foods can dull and even break your garbage disposal blades.
• Grease - Greasey foods will create a film over your garbage disposal blades.  Eventually, this grease will begin to decay and cause your disposal to smell.  Grease can clog your drains, too!
• Egg Shells - Egg shells can wrap around the shredder ring and can clog your pipes.
• Starches - Pasta, rice and other foods that swell with water can clog your garbage disposal trap.

For more information on what you should and shouldn't put down your garbage disposal, check out this Angies List article.  You can also contact our professional technicians if you experience any problems with your garbage disposal.  Call 585-216-3058 to contact our office today.

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