The Sunny Plumber Blog : Posts Tagged ‘Green Valley’

Drain Clogs: User Error Is a Common Contributing Factor

Monday, October 22nd, 2018

sunny-plumbersYou cannot avoid the occasional clogged drain. If you use your drains—and we’re guessing that you do, as they’re not exactly ornamental!—then they are going to clog up from time to time. That is to be expected. However, too many homeowners fail to realize that it is the way they use their drains, rather than just the fact of frequent usage itself, that is to blame for many clogs. A little bit of care can go a long way.

The Sunny Plumber Tuscon is here to help you understand how you and other individuals in your home may inadvertently be contributing to clogged drains in Green Valley, AZ. We’ll also tell you why pouring chemical cleaners down your drains is the exact wrong way to deal with these clogs. While drain clogs are a common problem, that doesn’t mean that there’s not a lot to explore! So read on, and contact us with any questions that you may have.

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Is It Time for Repiping?

Monday, May 21st, 2018

sunny-plumberFor a lot of people, the idea of a “home improvement” project is more aesthetic than anything else. Maybe you want to revamp your deck, or paint/side your house to make it more visually appealing. Others blend both fashion and function. Putting up new shutters, repaving an ugly, cracked, or rutted driveway, for instance. But some of the most important home improvement jobs are the ones that offer no visual benefit. Repiping a home is certainly one prime example of this.

When you hire a professional plumber in Green Valley, AZ to repipe your house, it is entirely a matter of function. It is a matter of protecting the integrity of your plumbing system, so that you can count on the reliable delivery of potable water throughout your home. It is also a matter of protecting your home from serious damage caused by damage to these pipes. This all begs the question of when you are supposed to be repiping your home, of course.

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Slab Leaks Are Big Trouble

Monday, September 11th, 2017

flooded-living-roomThere are a lot of different problems that a homeowner may encounter with their plumbing. The good news is, our professional plumbers can deal with any and all issues that you may run into.

Now, there is one big complicating factor here. Before we can diagnose and resolve your plumbing problem, you must first recognize that there is a problem to begin with. This is not always as simple as it sounds. Some plumbing problems are just harder to spot than others.

Case in point: the slab leak. If you have a slab leak in Green Valley, AZ, then you are definitely going to want to have that repaired as soon as possible. If left unresolved, slab leaks can do pretty serious damage. The trouble is that spotting a slab leak is not always easy, particularly if you do not know some of the basic warning signs that you are dealing with one. In the following post, we will give you some valuable information that can help you to protect your property. 

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Is My Sewer Line Damaged?

Monday, June 19th, 2017

pipe-filled-with-rootsA lot of homeowners don’t really think too much about the many different pipes and components that make up their residential plumbing systems. When everything is working right, after all, there is not really much need to devote attention to such items. However, when something goes wrong with the plumbing system, it is much more obvious just how important it is that every component in the system is working properly. If you have trouble with your sewer line in Green Valley, AZ, you’ll want to have it resolved as soon as possible.

In order to have your sewer line repaired as promptly as possible, naturally, you will first need to learn to recognize the signs that there is something wrong to begin with. It can be tough to think about silver linings when dealing with such a problem on your property. That being said, it is fortunate that there are various warning signs to be aware of. You just need to know what it is that you are looking for.

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How to Take Proper Care of Your Garbage Disposal

Monday, February 16th, 2015

The garbage disposal is one of the most important components of your kitchen plumbing system. Without a working garbage disposal, your pipes would be more likely to clog, waste could backup into your drains, and your pipes may even need some major repairs. However, if you don’t take proper care of your garbage disposal, you may find that your garbage disposal gives out far too soon.

Make sure that your kitchen plumbing system continues to work properly for years to come by taking the right steps now to protect your plumbing and your disposal unit in the future. Follow our handy guide, and call The Sunny Plumber as soon as you encounter trouble with your kitchen plumbing in Green Valley.

  • Avoid these Items – Garbage disposals are suited to process a wide range of food items. However, they can’t process non-food items or hard food items like meat bones and popcorn kernels. You should also avoid fibrous food items like celery that could wrap around the impeller and stop the motor. And fats, oils, and grease (F.O.G.) can coat the disposal unit so that it runs less efficiently and they can cog your drains.
  • Use Cold Water – As we mentioned before, F.O.G. should be avoided whenever possible as it solidifies in the pipes and collects debris. However, many of the foods you eat contain grease and fats that could still damage your pipes or coat the disposal unit. But if you use cold water every time you run the garbage disposal, grease gets a chance to solidify before it clogs your drains so that the disposal unit can break it up.
  • Rip Food into Smaller Pieces – While the garbage disposal should be able to handle most types of food, larger chunks of food are more difficult. Rip large pieces of food into smaller pieces, and put it into the drain a little bit at a time.
  • Schedule Regular Maintenance – You should also schedule maintenance for your plumbing system every year. During a maintenance, a technician will look at your entire plumbing system in order to let you know about any potential repairs. They may clean parts like the garbage disposal and make some adjustments to the water heater. The technician can let you know if your garbage disposal shows too many signs of wear and tear and give you tips and tricks to take care of it in the future.

Call the trained and friendly professionals at The Sunny Plumber today to schedule an appointment if you need any kitchen plumbing repairs in the Green Valley area.

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Why You Should Schedule Routine Drain Cleaning

Wednesday, January 14th, 2015

Your drains are as busy as a commuter train rail, constantly sending wastewater from various faucets and pipes from your home to the sewer or septic line. Any number of items wash down your drains regularly, including hair, soap scum and food particles. One of the best ways to maintain your drains is to schedule annual drain cleaning in Green Valley. But maintenance is just one reason – here are a few others:

  • Prevent clogs – clogs can develop quickly, and some can be deep in your plumbing system, making them hard to reach. During routine drain cleaning the plumber can snake your drains with professional-grade equipment and clear out developing clogs for good.
  • Prevents odors – no one wants to think about stinky drains, but they do happen. Sometimes smells can develop from food waste trapped in the drain, other times there may be bacteria or FOG (fats, oils or grease) in the drains. Odors stink both literally and figuratively, so get ahead of smelly drains with a drain cleaning.
  • Prevents damage – clogs and backups can weaken your plumbing, making it vulnerable to damage like cracks and broken seals; keeping your drains in good working order helps prevent the problems that can lead to damage.
  • Extends the life of your plumbing system – having a plumbing system that is healthy year-round prevents premature aging of the piping, joints and seals.

How Do I Know I Need Drain Cleaning?

There are some telltale signs that it’s time for you to schedule a drain cleaning for your home:

  • Gurgling sound – if your drain gurgles just after water drains down, this is a good indication there’s build-up in the pipes. The reason the pipes gurgle is that the build-up has trapped air in the pipe and the air releases as the water flows downward.
  • Slow draining – drains are designed to flow wastewater expediently; if you are waiting and waiting for water to make it down your drain, there is most likely a clog or significant build-up hampering the water’s flow.
  • Recurring clogs – do have a drain that you’ve cleared before, only to have it clog again? Professionals have the tools to reach deep into your system and successfully remove any clog – for good.

Your plumbing system needs maintaining just as your heating and cooling systems do. Schedule a service appointment today by calling The Sunny Plumber for professional drain cleaning service for your Green Valley home!

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Is Water Leaking From Around Your Bathtub? Here’s What to Do

Wednesday, December 10th, 2014

Bathtub leaks can be scary – after all, tubs hold a lot of water, and when even a small amount of it isn’t going down the drain as it should, you could be looking at some serious water damage. The location of the leak helps determine some steps to take before your plumber arrives, but step number one should always be: call your plumber. Once you’ve made the call for repair, your next step is to determine where the leak is coming from so that you can take some steps to minimize the water spillage:

Aging Faucet

Aging faucets are very common culprits when it comes to leaky tubs. The first step: turn off all the faucet knobs to stop the flow of water. If the water is leaking into your tub, you can allow it to go down the drain; if it is leaking outside of your tub, set up a bowl or large pot to catch the water so that it doesn’t settle in a pool on your floor.

Problems with Grout

When grout ages, it shrinks, and when it shrinks, water can run down behind the grouting and leak onto your floor. If you are seeing water pooling onto your floor as soon as the water begins to hit the areas where grout is, discontinue use until the tub can be re-grouted.

Bathtub Body

Leaks directly from a bathtub body are pretty rare. Cracks in tubs with enamel usually rust, so they’ll be evident by rust-colored staining. If there is a leak coming from the body of your tub, you’ll most likely see that when the tub is in use. As such, if you discover a leak in the tub body, discontinue use of that bathtub and have a plumber review the crack; in some cases you may need to replace your tub.

Overflow Pipe

The overflow pipe is a mechanism designed to stop your bathtub from overflowing. It has a metal plate, and behind the plate a washer or gasket that helps keep water out. However, with age the metal plate can loosen, which allows the gasket or washer to age and crack. If water continues to run behind the plate with a cracked, dried out washer, the water will not enter the overflow pipe and instead drip and leak.

Leaking bathtubs aren’t fun, but they also don’t call for panic.

Instead, call The Sunny Plumber and schedule an appointment to repair your bathroom plumbing in Green Valley.

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Reasons for Clogs in Your Bathroom Sink & Tub

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2014

Clogged drains are a plumbing repair that all homeowners will face at one point or another. Bathrooms can be particularly prone to clogging as they are an area of your home in which the plumbing is frequently in use. There are a few reasons why your bathroom plumbing in Green Valley will clog, and while it may be tempting to try and resolve the issue on your own, it’s always best to hire a professional for all your plumbing needs. The Sunny Plumber has expert plumbers available 24/7 for any problems you may have, so call us today!

Signs of Clogging

Here are some typical signs your bathroom plumbing may have developed a clog:

Bath or Shower:

  • Water pools up to your ankles during use
  • Water is slow to drain
  • Water is still pooled at drain hours after use
  • Water doesn’t drain at all

Sink:

  • Water is slow to drain or doesn’t drain at all
  • Sink makes a gurgling sound when water finishes draining
  • Foul odor emanates from sink drain

Why Bathroom Tubs & Sinks Can Clog

There are 3 main culprits when it comes to bathroom sink and tub clogs:

Human hair

It’s just about impossible to prevent human hair from going down your drain, even with hair traps. Hair can be stubborn, as it will eventually form a ball inside the p-trap and close off your drain, causing the water to back-up. It isn’t possible to plunge a hair clog from your drain, and it isn’t advisable to use liquid drain cleaners as the chemicals will do more damage to your piping than the clog. Instead, call for a plumber, who will remove the clog with a motorized drain snake.

Soap Scum

Soap scum may look like a thin layer in your tub, but when it constantly washes down your drain, it can form a thick layer around the inside of your piping. Eventually, this layer can restrict and potentially block the flowing water, causing a clog to develop. Like human hair, soap scum can be stubborn as it can harden, so it’s best to call a plumber who can use professional hydro-jetting equipment to remove the soap scum build-up.

Object(s) Lodged in Drain

Shampoo caps, toothpaste caps and even a small piece of jewelry can cause your tub or bathroom sink to clog. It can be tough to locate exactly where an object has lodged in your plumbing, so it’s best to let a trained expert handle the job.

Bathroom clogs can be a nuisance, but the sooner you have them repaired, the better off you and your plumbing will be. If you are experiencing bathroom clogging, call The Sunny Plumber today and schedule an appointment for bathroom plumbing repair in Green Valley.

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Signs You Need to Replace Your Garbage Disposal

Wednesday, August 27th, 2014

The garbage disposal in your kitchen is tasked with breaking up food into smaller pieces so that it can safely travel into the sewer system with the rest of your home’s wastewater. This is vital for several reasons. For one, this process helps to eliminate unwanted food odors from your sink. Using the garbage disposal for certain foods also lightens the load on your trash bag. Furthermore, the garbage disposal actually protects your pipes from dangerous clogs that may harm your plumbing.

So when your garbage disposal in Green Valley isn’t working quite as well as it should, you may wonder whether you need to call for replacement. Garbage disposals are meant to last for several years. While the lifespan depends on the quality of your system and the level of maintenance it receives, most last about 10-12 years. If your garbage disposal is not working but it has not reached this lifespan, the solution may be simple. Check the reset button at the bottom of the disposal unit underneath the sink. If this is popped out, pressing the button may do the trick. Or, if you hear a humming noise after pressing this button, it means the flywheel is stuck and you should call for repairs.

However, if your older unit will not work, or if it has surpassed its life expectancy, it may mean that replacement is the best option. It’s important to have a working disposal to protect your plumbing, and a new system will give you that peace of mind. One other reason you may choose to replace your garbage disposal is if you simply want a new one. If you do a lot of cooking in your home and feel as though your current garbage disposal just doesn’t do the job as quickly as you’d like, you may be able to find a model with a greater horsepower.

If you’re still unsure whether it’s time to replace your unit, talk to the experts at The Sunny Plumber. Our technicians have many years of experience, so we can help you make the right choice as to whether repair or replacement is right for your garbage disposal in Green Valley. Give us a call today!

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There’s No Such Thing as a “Small” Plumbing Leak

Friday, July 25th, 2014

Although some leaks in plumbing are larger than others, when it comes to whether you should call for a professional plumber to seal the leak or not, then all leaks are equal: they require repair as soon as possible, no matter how “minor” they may seem. A leak of any size in your home’s plumbing presents you with significant issues that will not go away until you’ve had the proper repair work done.

When you notice signs that leaks are occurring in your home’s plumbing (increases in water bills, discoloration appearing on the walls, warped floorboards, a rise in indoor humidity) contact The Sunny Plumber. We offer 24/7 emergency services so you can have that leak, “large” or “small,” taken care of before it can lead to worse repair problems or damage to your home.

Why “small” leaks matter

Let’s look at the smallest leak that can affect your plumbing as an example of why there isn’t such thing a small leak… or at least no such thing as a “minor” leak.

Pinhole leaks are a frequent problem that occurs with copper pipes, the material found in most home plumbing since the 1970s. For reasons not well understood, the normally corrosion-resistant copper can develop a localized corrosion called pitting corrosion that results in a weakened gray patch across the copper. In turn, this creates the tiny pinhole leaks that release small amounts of water and are hard to detect initially.

However, the effect of these small leaks can become devastating and expensive. The water from these leaks will begin to pool and turn stagnant, leading to the development of mildew. Mildew will eat right through drywall. The pooling water can also cause wood rot that will warp boards a seriously weaken floors. Since they may continue for a long period without a homeowner realizing it, the amount of water that can build up and the damage it can cause to walls, floors, and building material in general will add up to enormous repair costs. It will also cause an uncomfortable rise in humidity and a cumulatively large waste of water.

At the first suspicion that you have pinhole leaks, you need to call for plumbers to perform leak detection to find where the water loss is occurring. Evidence has shown that if you have pitting corrosion in one location, it has probably appeared elsewhere as well. Plumbers will help you find all the places where you have “minor” leaks threatening to become major trouble.

We will bring the best leak detection equipment and our extensive training to the job of restoring the integrity of your home’s pipes.

Contact The Sunny Plumber when you have leaks in your plumbing in Green Valley, AZ, or when signs of damage and high water bills make you suspect that you do.

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