Sacramento Plumber | Our Plumbing Blog

Faucet Repair Guide: Compression Faucet

May 14th, 2012 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

Do you have a leaky faucet in your house? Did you know drippy faucets waste up to $20 a month in water? Add up a few faucets around the house and that is a hefty bill each month. With compression faucets being as easy as they are to fix, it is certainly worth the time and effort to get leaks taken care of. Roto-Rooter faucet repair in Sacramento will save you a lot of resources in the long run.

Supplies for repair:

• Flathead and Phillips Head Screwdrivers
• Slip-joint Pliers
• Box Cutter
• Wash Cloth
• Heat-resistant Grease
• Custom Valve-Seat Tool (See Roto-Rooter Technician For Details)

Following these steps to fix your compression faucet leak:

• First, look under the sink and turn the hot and cold water lines to the off position. This will cut off the water going up to the faucet spout.
• Second, use a flathead screwdriver or box cutter to pop off the decorative caps to reveal the handle screws underneath.
• Use a Philips head screwdriver to take out these screws. After they are undone, remove the handles. If they are still firmly attached after taking out the screws, wrap the end of a flathead screwdriver with a washcloth and use it to pry the handles free. The cloth will protect the handles from getting scratched.
• Underneath the handles, you will find the stem assembly. Both stems will be held in place with a retaining nut. Using the slip-joint wrench, loosen these retaining nuts until you can completely pull out both stem assemblies.
• On the bottoms of both assemblies there should be a rubber washer. Look at it and make sure that it and the rest of the stem assembly are in good condition.
• If things are looking good, unscrew the packing nut to reveal the O-rings. These rubber rings should be smooth. If there is any roughness or any that have broken, take a new O-ring and put some heat-resistant grease on it. Make sure it’s a pure grease without additives that will cause O-rings to swell. The grease will allow the ring to easily slip into place on the stem assembly cylinder.
• Instead of replacing the rubber washer and O-rings, you can replace the entire assembly if you’d like. Just make sure that you get the appropriate assemblies for the right and left sides. They will be mirror images of each other and assemble accordingly.
• Check the valve seats for damage. Remove them with the special wrench if necessary and replace them with new valve seats.
• Put the stem assemblies back into place and tighten the retaining nut.
• Place the handles back into place and screw them tightly and replace the decorative caps. You are finished!

For more information about faucet repair in Sacramento, give Roto-Rooter a call today!

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Plumbing Problems: Easy Preventative Maintenance

May 9th, 2012 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

Are you a proud homeowner? Do DIY projects get you excited? Are Saturday chores, yard-work, and regular cleaning a part of your weekly schedule? If you answered yes to any of these questions or feel that you should answer yes, then this article might be helpful for you. Even the most active homeowner oftentimes runs into problems he or she could not foresee. With plumbing problems in Sacramento wreaking havoc in many homes, at Roto-Rooter, we have realized that many customers didn’t see the issue coming because they didn’t pay attention to their plumbing. The fact is, most large problems that we fix are the result of little things going unnoticed for too long. Consider the following as examples of smaller problems that you can manage to prevent larger messes.

• Frozen pipes are a nightmare. We don’t see them often here in California but when that unexpected blast of cold air hits our area, the results aren’t pretty. Pipes freeze, crack, or shatter, flooding will quickly following leading to water damage and expensive cleanup bills. This winter, thousands of people will be dealing with this problem because temperatures will drop to frigid levels. As it gets cold, water in pipes starts to expand and freeze. Trapped air pockets get compressed under the pressure. When the pressure gets too high, the air is forced to escape by making cracks in the pipe. When this happens, pipes can completely shatter. To keep this from happening to your water supply lines this year, beef up the insulation in your walls. Insulation will act as a buffer between pipes and cold temperatures outside. For pipes that are exposed directly to cold temperatures outside, you can wrap them in specially made pipe insulation.
• Clogged drains cause plenty of flooding problems. Whether in the bathroom or in the kitchen, there is plenty you can do to fix clogs and get your drains back to normal again. First, take a screwdriver and reach into the drain. Pull out as much gunk and grime as you can. You can even remove the P-traps from sink drains and clean them by hand. After doing this on all the drains in your house, go around and pour Roto-Rooter pipe cleaner or Pipe Shield down them. Let this cleaner sit for a few hours, if possible, so the product can eat away at the clog and strip the drain wall clean. After this time, turn on the hot water and wash it all away.
• To keep your drains clean after a serious clog, use boiling water on them once a week. The water will act as a natural pipe cleaner and keep them super slick and clean always.

For more information about plumbing problems in Sacramento, call Roto-Rooter today.

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Plumbing Repair and Better Care with Roto-Rooter

April 30th, 2012 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

There is a lot you can do to take care of your home. With a little elbow grease, time, and planning, you can tackle most DIY projects in no time at all. In the process, you learn skills and techniques for fixing things and how to improve your property through clever additions and upgrades. While some people don’t feel motivated to take on these types of chores, they pay out in dividends in the form of sweat equity. If the time comes for you to sell your home, your efforts will have increased the value of it, paying you back for the time you put in. One aspect of your house that can always use a little love is the plumbing. No matter what you think you have done, there is always something around the corner that will need to be fixed or maintained. The fact is that plumbing repair in Sacramento is a ’round the clock responsibility that we take seriously here at Roto-Rooter. For years we have set the industry standard for plumbing repair and maintenance through excellent service, products, and people. While we are always available to help you, take these tips into consideration for better plumbing.

Slow leaks. They happen in houses all across America. Water supply lines that run to and fro, carrying and draining all day eventually may develop clogs or leaks. These usually aren’t big enough to call your attention immediately, but they can cause serious troubles as the water starts to soak into the woodwork of your house. To find out if you have any slow leaks in your home, give Roto-Rooter a call today to schedule a full and comprehensive inspection.

Inspections are a great way to get familiarized with the plumbing layout of the property. While living in place long enough naturally teaches you about a house, an inspection uncovers very specific needs and problems with the current layout. Along with uncovering slow leaks, clogs and problems of that nature, it is a good opportunity to have your water softener and water heater tuned and maintained. All of our trained technicians are well versed in all makes and models and accessories of this type of equipment.

For more information about plumbing repair in Sacramento and how Roto-Rooter can help, give us a call today!

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Plumbing Inspections from Roto-Rooter Professionals

April 16th, 2012 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

After a hard day’s work, there’s nothing like coming home to a comfortable abode. Like Dorothy said to the Wizard of Oz, “there’s no place like home.” As a homeowner, there is a feeling of pride and responsibility that comes with owning a property. Especially in the case of a house you live in, there are lots of things to take care of in order to maintain a comfortable and functional living space. One of the most important utilities that we often take for granted is plumbing. Providing fresh water on demand and carrying away waste as needed, plumbing takes a beating over time. With the help of Roto-Rooter, we can make sure that your plumbing is always working correctly and free from problems. With all of the experience we’ve had in the industry as a leader and standard to other services, take the following advice into consideration for better home plumbing care.

Whether you have lived decades in your house or only a few months, there is always something that will creep up and surprise you. In the case of plumbing, it is a great idea to have a trained Roto-Rooter technician perform a full and comprehensive inspection of your entire plumbing layout. By doing this, he or she will uncover a lot of information about problems that need attention ASAP, potential issues that could arise in the future, and suggestions for taking care of it all. With this information you can stay one step ahead of the messes and keep your plumbing working and in great condition.

One of the most common problems that our technicians discover during an inspection is a slow leak. Water supply lines that come into the house and drains that carry away sewage may start to leak slightly over time as the piping ages and moves with a settling structure. While these leaks may not have caught your attention for a long time, their affects can be felt very quickly as the seeping water creates a perfect environment for mold growth and termites. Mold spores can seriously affect your health as they start to fill your breathing space. Black mold is extremely lethal and can lead to lung disease or death in a short amount of time. It is crucial that you follow the instructions of the technician and follow an immediate course of action that you choose to get things cleaned up as soon as possible.

For information about plumbing in Sacramento and how Roto-Rooter can help you through a full and comprehensive inspection, give us a call today!

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Water Heater Repair Basics

April 6th, 2012 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

If you are going to do your own hot water heater repair in Sacramento you should understand some of the basics before attempting anything. First, it’s not a “hot water heater,” it’s just a “water heater.”

Second, it may go without saying, but if you are going to work on a water heater make sure first that you have turned off the water supply to the hot water heater. There are many times when people forget to do the basics and then they end up looking like a fool when they are trying to do the water heater repair.

Next, when repairing a water heater start with the easiest things and then move into the more difficult. It makes no sense to look for the most uncommon repair need and hardest thing to do before you have checked for the normal things. One of those common things is the pilot light. If the pilot light is out then you need to get it started again. The instructions on how to relight the pilot light are going to be right on the water heater. Follow those instructions and chances are you are going to get the water heater repaired.

Another thing to be aware of is the size of the water heater. Although it may have worked just fine in the past, if it is not keeping up now it may well be because your family has adjusted schedules in the morning or at night and now there is too much demand on one end or the other. You may need to evaluate your recent schedule change and make some adjustments to spread things out.

When doing hot water heater repair in Sacramento it is a good idea to check the power to the unit first. Make sure that all power sources to the unit are off. Also, it is important that you take the time to clean up in the area so that you are working in a clean space and can think.

There are going to be times when you are unable to fix a water heater with some of the most common and basic fixes. There are times when it goes beyond the most common. At these times it is a good idea to call Roto-Rooter and let us come in and make the necessary repairs. We understand that you wanted to do the repair yourself, but there are times when a professional is needed and when that happens, we are happy to be take care of the problem, answer questions or finish things up for you.

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The Typical Things Among Plumbers

March 30th, 2012 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

There are many common things that you can look for among plumbers in Sacramento that would actually suggest to you that they are in fact a plumber. They are not that hard to spot when you know what you are looking for. Here are some of them for you. After learning this list you should be able to start spotting plumbers in public, even when they are not in a uniform.

First, they will tend to have the Leatherman tool knife on their belt. Plumbers by nature tend to be prepared to do anything on the spot and this is one way that they are always prepared. Second, they will also likely have a small flashlight on their belt. This is also another way of being prepared. It is just who they are. Lastly, they will tend to have a strange interest in sinks, toilets and other plumbing things. This is the dead giveaway.

If you get a group of plumbers together they will talk all day and all night about the different experiences they’ve had. There will undoubtedly be a story about how clogged a toilet was and how it finally became unclogged. There will be stories about the different things they have found in the lines clogging things up. They will also have some horror stories to share about the worst working conditions that they have ever faced. Plumbers can relate to each other and they like to talk because they are usually surrounded at home by people who do not understand. It is nice for plumbers to talk to those in the same industry who can relate.

Another typical thing that you will see among plumbers is the astute desire to help others. Plumbers by nature tend to be very giving people. They will help anyone in need, even if this means their own plans are messed up. Plumbers are usually very kind, generous people who are not hard to get along with.

Lastly, when you see plumbers you are going to notice that they all tend to carry a bucket with all of their tools and parts. This is because they find it easier to carry things this way rather than on a tool belt. A lot of this has to do with them bending over all of the time. That bending makes it hard to function as plumbers in Sacramento when you are wearing a tool belt; hence plumbers often prefer a bucket.

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Why Faucet Repair Can Be Frustrating

March 23rd, 2012 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

When you are going to do faucet repair on your own you need to know and understand what you are getting yourself into. Roto-Rooter has been completing faucet repair in Sacramento for many years now and we know what something like this can be very frustrating.

One of the major factors that makes faucet repair even more frustrating is a lack of knowledge on how to do it. If you are trying to make the repair and do not know what you are doing, you are probably going to become very frustrated in a hurry.

Another factor that makes faucet repair frustrating is that most people lack the proper tools needed to get the job done right and in a timely fashion. When you are trying to make this repair without the proper tools you will find it very frustrating because it will take much longer than it should. In addition, you may break something because you were using the wrong tools.

If you know what you are doing and you have the proper tools then some faucet repairs may go smoothly for you. However, it is important to know that it can still get frustrating if you do not follow directions or if you have the wrong parts and have to go and track down the right parts to make the repair. Three or four trips to the hardware store represent time wasted.

Because we are a professional plumbing company that has been doing all types of plumbing repairs for many years, we tend to have the necessary parts on our trucks and can make repairs very quickly. Of course, we also have all of the right tools for the job as well.

One small thing that gets overlooked when doing a faucet repair is the stem grease. It is important that as you are putting the faucet back together that you take the time to make sure you grease the proper places with white grease (some types of grease and oil will cause O-rings and rubber parts to swell) so that they will move freely and be like new. Generally, this includes the O-rings, the body of the faucet where it will be in contact with the O rings and then also on the stem, of course. It does not need to be a lot, but it is needed.

We understand everything about faucet repair because we have done many a faucet repair in Sacramento over the years. It is this level of experience that has taught us how to streamline our repair procedures and get the job done quickly and properly.

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Solving Your Plumbing Problems

March 16th, 2012 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

If you are having plumbing problems and you would like to try to fix it yourself, the first thing that you are going to need to do is figure out how what the problem is. In some cases, this is going to be very easy and in other circumstances this may be a bit more difficult. There are many different and sometimes unique plumbing problems in Sacramento and there is no way that you can know how to diagnose each one, so learning some of the basics is a good place to start.

First, when you are dealing with a clogged drain, understand that there are different types of clogs and they will need to be treated differently. However, the best way to determine what kind of a clog you have is to try the over the counter drain cleaners first. This will give you some idea of what type of a clog it is. If the drain cleaner clears out the clog, then the clog was made from things like buildup and hair that has gone down the drain. If the clog is not cleared using this stuff, then this is a tougher clog and might requires a stronger remedy. In this case, it is a good idea to talk to your local professional plumber.

Second, when you are dealing with a clogged toilet, you can first try to use a plunger. This will work in most cases. If you have tried it and it has not worked, I would recommend calling the professional plumber in the area to come and use a mechanical drain cleaning snake to clear out the clog.

Third, if the plumbing issue is a result of something like a toy being tossed down a drain, then in that case you will need to call for help. It may be frustrating to have Johnny’s toy be the cause of a needed repair, but you are better off handling that up front sooner rather than later so that you get your home’s plumbing back to normal much quicker.

Roto-Rooter has been dealing with the plumbing problems of Sacramento for many years and we know what all of these things feel like. We also know how tough it can be to have a plumbing issue come along at exactly the wrong time. However, we also know the benefits of taking care of things as they happen and doing it right from the beginning because with plumbing, one problem can often lead to another problem.

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Plumbing Repair Joys

March 16th, 2012 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

There is the joy in life when you have a steady girlfriend, get married or even when you have your first and any subsequent child… and then there is the joy of plumbing repair. Okay, maybe plumbing repair does not bring that same kind of joy, but for some it does bring a sense of accomplishment and joy that they have helped someone with something that was a major inconvenience. Our team thoroughly enjoys doing plumbing repair in Sacramento.

It seems that the larger the project the more they enjoy their work. One of the main reasons may have to do with the concept that they are helping others. Of course they are getting paid for the work they are doing, but they know they are helping someone and they enjoy the feeling that they get from helping them.

Do you have the same sense of joy from your work? It may seem strange that we can still have that joy of helping others but it’s a pride thing among plumbers who like to see a job through and do it right. If you are having a hard time visualizing this, consider doctors, police, firemen and members of the military. They all get paid for the work that they do, but the reality is they still experience a sense of joy from their work and some of that joy is the sense of helping others.

Our plumbers often talk about the help that they have provide our customers. They enjoy sharing stories with one another about how they helped someone with a large plumbing issue. Sometimes the help may not only be that they fixed a plumbing issue, but because they also knew that they would be saving a customer a lot of money in future costs. This provides a real sense of satisfaction for a true professional.

Our plumbing repair in Sacramento is second to none. While many posts that we make are about different plumbing issues and challenges faced, this time I wanted to brag a bit about our plumbing technicians and let you know that when you hire us, you not only get a plumber, you get a concerned man or women who is looking out for your best interests and who sincerely wants to help you. This is something that deserves a little bragging because our team works hard and they are the best in the business, as evidenced by their concern for you and your needs. If you have a plumbing issue, give Roto-Rooter a call.

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The Secret Plumbing in Sacramento

March 9th, 2012 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

Have you ever wondered about that secret plumbing in Sacramento that you have heard about? You know the plumbing underneath the streets and buildings of downtown Sacramento? Oh wait, you have never heard about it? Okay, maybe it does not really exist and there is no secret, but there is plumbing under the streets and buildings of Sacramento, even if they are not a big secret.

The real secret is that the plumbing that lies under the streets and buildings of Sacramento is part of something called the infrastructure. It may not seem like a big deal, but the truth is it is a big deal – because if there are problems with the infrastructure, it can cause problems for a lot of people.

When a city is built or expanded, the first thing to be planned out is how the infrastructure will be laid out. That is, the piping that will be under the streets and buildings. This includes sewer lines, water lines and electrical lines. All of these things must run everywhere in the city. People’s homes must connect to the sewer line so that when they flush their toilets the stuff in that toilet goes to a water treatment facility or a septic tank. We rarely stop to think about the fascinating thing that is called the infrastructure, but it is truly amazing if you think about it.

When a new subdivision is going to be built in the town, the first thing that is done is to run these lines under the area where the street will be. This is then connected to the existing lines. Then, as homes are built in the area, they must tie-in the sewer line from that home to the one that is running down their street, which is in turn tied into the city line. It is amazing that our waste will travel so far. It finally ends up at a waste water plant where it is processed and dealt with.

So, it may not be a big secret, but the plumbing in Sacramento is fascinating to say the least. Our plumbers take great pride in making sure that your plumbing is properly installed and maintained. They understand how it all works and they are the best in the business.

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