Category: Plumbing

Avoid Outdoor Plumbing Clogs to Keep the Party Going

Spring has sprung, and that means it is time to party! With warm weather finally here, there is no better time to sit outside and enjoy that sunshine. After all, what’s not to love about the great outdoors? Well, technically, there is one thing…

Outdoor plumbing clogs can be a royal pain in the butt. Fixtures in the outdoor plumbing system can become backed up for various reasons, which may lead to big problems for homeowners.  It is important for homeowners to understand the basic features of their outdoor plumbing systems, what conditions lead to clogs, and how they can resolve these issues. This way, they can keep the party going all day and all night long!

Main Features of Outdoor Plumbing Systems

Outdoor plumbing systems function primarily around the main sewer line. The sewer line begins in the house, with various pipes that connect via branch drains. Areas like the kitchen and bathroom drain to a central line, which then collects all of the house waste and delivers it for external treatment.

The main sewer line typically leads into either a home septic tank or a city connection, where it is ultimately treated. Given the structure of pipes, the extent to which the systems rely on adequate water flow, and the various types and volumes of material sent through for treatment, these systems may clog.

Any homeowners who have ever experienced plumbing clogs know that these are extremely unpleasant, so it is vital that homeowners understand the leading causes of clogs in order to avoid them in the future. 

Primary Causes of Outdoor Pipe Clogs

• Overloaded sewage deposits – if homeowners send too much debris or grease down the drains, then this can build up and cause clogs.
• Collapsed sewer lines – the lines may collapse if there is excess overhead pressure from above ground or if the pipes are broken down.
• Sunk lines – this results from poor soil conditions
• Tree roots – these may cause backups or complete line breaks if they grow in a way such that they attach to the pipes over time

Regardless of the cause, homeowners should be on the lookout for symptoms of clogs like plumbing fixture malfunctions or backups in the in-home plumbing fixtures. One of the best ways to solve these clogs is hydro jetting.

How Hydro Jetting Can Fix Clogs

One of the best ways to fix clogs is hydro jetting, as this is both an effective and relatively non-invasive way to clear debris. Hydro jetting is essentially a process in which high-pressure water is sent at high speed through sewer lines to break apart blockages. There are absolutely no chemicals involved.

If homeowners suspect or know of a clog, they should consider hiring a professional to perform hydro jetting services for them. Professionals will know where to best send this high-pressure water and perform other inspections simultaneously to determine if there are any additional issues with the outdoor plumbing fixtures.

About Valley Plumbing and Drain Cleaning

Valley Plumbing and Drain Cleaning of West Jordan UT is a family-owned and operated company that has been in business since 2011. Known locally for “the truck with the duck,” their team offers 24/7 exceptional service, competitive pricing, and superior customer service. Give them a call for hydrojetting service in West Jordan today!

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Add Drain Cleaning to the Spring Cleaning Checklist

Spring is a time of great excitement and anticipation. But, after being cooped up inside for months, there is a high likelihood that the house needs some deep cleaning. During the spring, it is common for homeowners to undertake the process of spring cleaning. Spring cleaning is an excellent opportunity to tackle all of those little responsibilities at once, like changing AC filters and checking washing machine water lines. 

It is also a great time to call in the professionals to get drains cleaned. Hiring a drain cleaning company every spring can ensure that homeowners never have to deal with nasty clogs and backups. 

The Importance of Drain Cleaning

When drains clog, they can cause an awful and embarrassing situation. Some examples of situations caused by clogged drains are:

• Dishwasher water backing up into the kitchen sink
• Washing machines that won’t drain
• Toilets backing up
• Bath or shower water not draining
• Foul odors emanating from sinks

All of these problems are caused by normal everyday use but could be prevented with routine drain cleaning. 

How Professionals Do Drain Cleaning

Professional drain cleaning companies have a variety of tools at their disposal. For routine drain cleaning, often their first go-to is a chemical cleaner. Chemical cleaners should only be used by professionals since many of the chemicals are dangerous and can destroy certain types of piping. However, in the hands of a qualified professional, drain cleaners are very handy for cleaning out drains. 

If clogs are too severe for chemical cleaners, drain cleaning professionals will opt for another method like snaking or hydrojetting. Both of these processes require special equipment and training to operate safely. After snaking pipes or hydrojetting sewer mains, the interior of drain pipes will be just like new. 

Keeping Drains Clean Between Professional Drain Cleaning Visits

To prevent clogged drain emergencies between cleaning visits, it helps to change some habits. Often with good habits, there will be little need for emergency drain cleaning. Some good ideas to keep drains clean all year long are:

• Install hair catchers in bathtubs and showers to prevent hair from clumping in the drain
• Keep hair out of bathroom sinks
• Run the garbage disposal often and flush the sink with hot water
• Discard food scraps and especially cooking grease in the garbage
• Keep toilet lids closed to prevent foreign objects from finding their way into the toilet

Adopting these simple habits can keep drains flowing freely all year long. 

About Valley Plumbing and Drain Cleaning

Valley Plumbing and Drain Cleaning has been serving West Jordan for over a decade. They offer honest and competitive pricing and their phones are always answered by a live person. Call today for water heater repairs or spring drain cleaning in West Jordan.

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Why Routine Drain Cleaning is Important

People don't usually think twice about what they throw down their drains and pipes. The kitchen sink is responsible for leftover food and cooking grease clogging up drains. Hair, soap, and dirt from the shower drain can create buildup too. Scheduling a routine drain cleaning will aid in minimizing any future problems and damage to a home.

Benefits of Regular Drain Cleaning

Drain cleaning can be bothersome to homeowners, and they may even neglect this chore, but the benefits of regular drain cleaning can have significant outcomes. Below are a few benefits to consider.

• Improves the Lifespan of Drain's: Cleaning drains could improve their lifespan by eliminating rust or breaks. How often drains need to be cleaned depends on the size of the household and how often the drains are used.
• Gets Rid of Foul Odors: Regular draining gets rid of food that stays in pipes and the unwanted smells from decaying food. Regular drain cleaning is essential to prevent bad smells in a drain.
• Makes For Faster Drainage: Drains are inclined to blocking over time, causing them to drain slower. This can happen even if the drains are professionally cleaned. Homeowners will have to maintain their cleanings.
• Helps Reduce Expensive Repairs: Having professional drain cleanings can often catch any issue at hand that will build up into a larger issue than just a clog. A plumber will be able to detect any problems such as aging pipes, overflowing pipes, or pipe-damaging.

How Often Should Drains Be Cleaned?

For more frequently cleaned areas, such as sewer or basement drains, the drains and pipes should be professionally cleaned every few years. Professional cleanings should be performed more often if the plumbing system in the home is very old or if there is an extensive root system near the main sewer line.

How to Prevent Drain Clogs

1. Always be mindful of what goes down the drains. In the kitchen, don't throw coffee grounds, cooking grease in the sink, and if the sink does not have a garbage disposal, keep any food out of the drain as well.
2. Some people live by drain gates or screens, and they are relatively easy to find and purchase.
3. Regularly remove hair, soap, food, or other kinds of build-up from drain stoppers.
4. Running boiling water will help clear any buildup, be sure to do this every week.
5. If the kitchen sink does have a garbage disposal, run cold water whenever it is used.
6. Avoid putting any over-the-counter chemical cleaners down the drain, as they can cause severe issues in pipes.

Why Chemical Drain Cleaners Are Not Suitable To Use

Most chemical drain cleaners include toxic and skin-damaging chemicals. However, the level of chemicals inside this product is necessary to appropriately clean pipes and drains. This is often the “trade-off” from DIY or having a professional come in. 

• Dangerous to Children - Because of the levels of chemicals in the fumes of over-the-counter drain products, children should never be near these products. Before any children come near the area, the homeowner or parent should flush thoroughly to remove all drain cleaner residue.
• Environmental Impacts - Some drain cleaners can be more environmentally friendly. These will use an enzymatic action to "digest" organic materials, but they will act slower than the other “less eco-friendly” options and take longer to perform the task.

About Valley Plumbing & Drain Cleaning

Proudly serving Salt Lake and Utah Counties, West Jordan, and the surrounding areas, Valley Plumbing and Drain Cleaning is family-owned and dedicated to solving all residential and commercial plumbing problems. Valley Plumbing and Drain Cleaning are experts in their industry and provide fast, reliable service on anything from large home plumbing projects to quick clogged drain fixes. Give them a call today to schedule drain cleaning in West Jordan, UT.

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Raise a Toast in Honor of White House Plumbing This Presidents Day!

The White House is seen as the pinnacle of elegance and dignity. Everyone has seen stunning pictures of the oval office, beautiful floors and woodwork, winding staircases, and photographs hanging on the walls. However, we do not often get behind the scenes knowledge of its inner workings or of the fascinating history of the work that goes into helping it run so smoothly- including its plumbing. 

Read further to find out exactly when plumbing arrived at the White House, why President Taft needed a specially made bathtub, and who the “Plumbers of Watergate” were. 

Indoor Plumbing Comes To 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

The present-day White House is full of all the modern conveniences, and the latest tech-most people consider that a given as one of the perks given to the leader of the free world. However, for a large part of its existence, it lagged behind buildings surrounding it in plumbing updates, including running water. 

While the James Madison administration explored the idea of running water into the White House during his administration from 1809-1817, the White House was burned down during the War of 1812, putting off those plans indefinitely while it was rebuilt. Indeed, running water still did not become a reality until halfway through Andrew Jackson’s presidential term in 1833. This plumbing took the form of pipes, leading from bubbling fountains with sand to keep the water from stagnating. 

The water was then cranked by servants to get the water up to certain areas of the higher floors, though baths taken on the third floor were still taken with water brought up in buckets by servants. Nearly five decades later, during Chester A. Arthur’s administration in 1882, those original water pipes were replaced, and septic fields were finally built, bringing indoor toilets to the White House. Over the next 20 years, the indoor plumbing would expand to include multiple toilet and bath areas, and eventually a swimming pool built on the third floor. 

The Tailored Bathtub of President Taft

William Howard Taft was the 27th president of the United States. Taft had a long and productive political career, including being the only President to also serve as a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. During his time as POTUS, he was in charge of many important works, including being in charge of creating income tax and promoting free-market competition through 80 competition lawsuits. He was known as a quiet and polite man. 

Additionally, he also holds the title of being the heaviest man to ever hold office as President of the United States. Standing just shy of 6 feet and weighing around 350 lbs by the end of his term, some stories speculate that he sometimes had difficulty getting out of his bathtub and would need assistance. 

To handle this problem, Taft had a bathtub custom made. This unique bathtub was 7 feet long, 3 feet 5 inches wide, and weighed 2,000 lbs, large enough to comfortably hold President Taft... or four average-sized men. 

Richard Nixon’s Plumbers

It all started out as proper and important work- making sure classified information stayed safe and wasn’t leaked to anyone who had nefarious intentions. When one of the five central Nixon employees charged with this work explained this to his grandmother, she excitedly said,  “Oh, you’re a plumber.” 

Thus the fun nickname was born, later to be sullied as their “duties” expanded to spying and planting microphones in the workplace of Nixon’s political rival-now infamously known as the Watergate Scandal. 

About Valley Plumbing and Drain Cleaning

Valley Plumbing and Drain Cleaning is a Lehi, UT plumbing company serving the greater Salt Lake City area. They provide fair and competitive prices and 24-hour service for those plumbing emergencies that just won’t wait till morning. Call now for plumbing service!