Sometimes it’s the little things that make us wonder how they came to be that way… Do you know which direction your toilet bowl swirls? Take the video quiz below to find out! You may be surprised to see what you find.
The experts at Valley Plumbing and Drain Cleaning, in the West Jordan, UT area, are always willing to share their knowledge with you. If you're interested in learning more contact us at (801) 341-4222.
Fact or fiction? Truth or lies? Myth or reality? Sometimes it's not so easy to know the difference. Some stories seem completely believable despite being completely false, while others appear so fantastic that we believe incorrectly that they could never happen. Some stories and beliefs related to the plumbing in your home fall within these categories. Here are just a few examples.
It's creepy enough to make anybody's skin crawl, but it's also possible. Snakes don't usually frequent the sewer system unless they're chasing rats or frogs that call it home. These animals are capable of crawling through the pipes to eventually reach your toilet bowl.
Of course, if you live in a place where snakes aren’t commonly found, chances are very slim that you'd ever find one in your toilet. But you could find a rat or frog.
If the mere thought of lifting the lid and finding a critter below gives you the heebie-jeebies, you can have a multi-flap installed. These devices allow waste and water to escape your toilet while preventing any wildlife from entering.
Plungers are great at eliminating a clog when too much paper has been sent down the toilet. They can also be effective for removing clogs in your sink when they're located in close proximity of the drain.
Tougher clogs or those further removed from the drain will require special tools that are at the disposal of any qualified plumbing professional. They include augers and a state-of-the-art process known as hydrojetting. This method uses a concentrated stream of pressurized water sent down the pipe to blast away even the most stubborn blockage.
A great deal of heat and pressure can build up inside a residential water heater. They are built to be able to handle extreme pressure. They also have a built-in safety mechanism that relieves excess pressure when it climbs to dangerous levels. That's why the temperature pressure relief valve on top of your water heater is a critical component to your family's safety.
If it gets stuck or malfunctions and the internal pressure of your tank can't be relieved, the tank could potentially explode.
We recommend testing your temperature pressure relief valve periodically to make sure that it functions and allows hot water to escape. It's also a good idea to have your water heater maintained every year by an experienced professional.
At Valley Plumbing, we are always looking out for our customers’ well-being and safety. So, when you need an experienced plumber for your Salt Lake City home, call us at 801-341-4222 to book your appointment.
If you are a Super Bowl fan, then you have probably heard that thousands of spectators who are watching the game at home will flush their toilets at the same time during Half Time. Some of these stories are true because several cities have noticed that water usage does increase during the Super Bowl’s halftime break.
In many homes, people are in a rush to visit the bathroom during the Super Bowl’s halftime show so that they can also scurry into the kitchen to get more snacks and beverages.
While water usage may increase during this time, it won’t cause any widespread plumbing issues for an entire city. However, if you have a home with old bathroom fixtures, sewage lines and water pipes, then having numerous guests flushing toilets at the same time can overburden a building’s plumbing system.
If you plan to have a Super Bowl party in your home, then it is important to prepare ahead of time by making sure that your home’s plumbing system is in tip-top condition. Contact a plumber to have your home’s drainage devices cleaned and repaired to avoid having overflowing toilets.
When you have a Super Bowl party, make sure that your guests understand what they can put inside your kitchen’s garbage disposal. If one of your guests decides to drop the remains of their barbecue chicken wings down the garbage disposal, then a disaster will occur.
These items will break your garbage disposal’s blades or create a clog in the drain underneath the sink. If you do have a problem with your kitchen’s garbage disposal, then call a plumber!
Instead of spending a lot of money on huge cases of bottled water for your guests, have a water filtration system installed inside your home. When you are having a lot of guests at your home for a Super Bowl party, they will need to have more drinking water than you are normally used to and you may also use more water for preparing snacks. By using a filtration system, you can remove the impurities from your home’s water so that it has a fresh flavor.
Call Valley Plumbing and Drain Cleaning in Salt Lake City, UT today at (801) 405-9334 to learn more about garbage disposal safety, drain cleaning and water filtration systems.
Taking a proactive stance with active steps to prevent your pipes from freezing could save you time, money and some serious stress. A frozen pipe will often burst, which is a plumbing emergency no one wants to endure.
Here are some pointer on how to keep your pipes from freezing and what to do if they do indeed freeze.
These preventative steps are basic but very effective. Want to avoid frozen pipes? Run the hot water regularly to flush through the system. It doesn’t get much easier than that.
Even that small amount of heat may be all you need to keep water moving and avoid freezing. Another handy trick? Leave a few faucets running at a tiny trickle all the time. The moving water will keep freezing at bay.
The pipes that are most vulnerable to freezing are those that are in contact with the coldest temperatures. Make sure that you know where exterior pipes are located in your home. Also make sure that these pipes have access to warm air.
Pay special attention to pipes in exterior walls. Leave cabinet doors open under sinks (kitchen and bathroom) so that there are no barriers to the warm air surrounding the pipes.
The more heat that you can circulate through your pipes, the better. One very effective way to make sure that your pipes retain as much heat as possible is to wrap them in special heat tape. This requires precision to be done right, so this is a good job to refer to your plumbing.
If you are looking for a quick DIY fix, you can always wrap the pipes in foam insulation.
What do you have in your home that conducts heat? The top three for this job include a heat lamp, space heater or even your hair dryer. The reasons that these are good choices is that they heat the pipe quickly, but evenly. They also pose less of a fire hazard than some other heat-generating household tools, like a blow torch.
You need as much warm air inside your home as possible to surround those pipes to keep them from freezing. Leaving your garage door open in the winter is giving cold air a free pass into your home, threatening those exterior pipes.
If you leave your windows open in the attic, you are giving hot air an escape route up and out of your home.
Plumbing emergencies can be stressful. It’s important to act quickly and calmly to get the help you need. At Valley Plumbing and Drain Cleaning in Salt Lake City, UT, we’re here to answer your questions. Call us at (801) 405-9334.
Energy costs seem to always be on the rise, and it makes sense to cut costs wherever possible. One way to reduce expenses is to cut down on your energy costs. The price you pay varies from month to month, but the fact is that less usage equals a lower bill. Implement these smart ways to cut energy costs in the New Year.
Turn off lights when not in use, utilize sensors for less populated areas and use natural daylight instead of artificial lighting during those sunny days.
Get used to unplugging almost everything. When electronics are plugged in and not turned on they still draw small amounts of electricity. If it’s a hassle to unplug everything, purchase a power strip and turn everything off at once. Keep printers, fax machines, and other office equipment turned off instead of using sleep mode for maximum electricity savings.
Using old appliances that aren’t ENERGY STAR certified use more electricity than newer models. The cost of a new appliance is better for the environment and the energy savings allow you to break even. Keep your refrigerator full for best chilling results. Consider switching to a front-loading washing machine that uses less water.
It’s useful to only run your dishwasher when it is full since the majority of its energy consumption is from heating the water and drying the dishes. Allow them to air dry or manually dry them to save on energy costs.
Install a programmable thermostat so you aren’t heating or cooling your home when you’re not there and adjust it to a lower temperature at night if you’re in a cooler climate and a higher temperature if you’re in a warmer climate. Most experts tend to recommend no more than 65 degrees at night for cooler climates.
Implement these simple but effective energy saving tips and start to see your utility bill shrink. Contact Valley Plumbing in Salt Lake City, UT at (801) 405-9334 to learn more about how to save on your costs.
Your experience matters. We make every effort to provide you with a pleasant, hassle-free experience that will leave you with the peace of mind you deserve.
Our team not only possesses the technical skills to get the job done, but they are also passionate about providing the best customer service possible to every client.
Not only do we strive to provide fast and reliable service, we do it at a fair, competitive price. You will always receive a free onsite estimate before we go ahead with any project.
You can count on Valley Plumbing and Drain Cleaning to ease the burden of plumbing and drain emergencies. Rest easy knowing you have a trusted 24-hour emergency plumber nearby to help!
