Why Mechanized Snakes Work Better Than Over-the-Counter Snakes

February 25th, 2014 by Bill Chronister

When plumbing clogs arise, people tend to turn to plumbing snakes to correct them. They’re easy to use and much safer than chemical cleaners, and they can usually fix the problem with a little elbow grease. Here in Trabuco Canyon, drain cleaning services offer mechanized snakes, which are often a superior choice to the store-bought snakes you might be used to. Here’s why mechanized snakes work better than over-the-counter snakes.

As you may expect, store-bought snakes utilize a one-size-fits-all approach, which means that it’s designed to handle a wide variety of clogs. Unfortunately, that might not be sufficient to deal with the specific nature of a given clog, and even if it is, you might end up inadvertently damaging your plumbing in the process. Mechanized snakes, in contrast, typically offer interchangeable heads, allowing the plumber to tailor the snake to the exact nature of the clog. Not only does that help the snake do its job more quickly, but it can prevent inadvertent damage to the clog in the process.

Then there’s the issue of forced. Over-the-counter snakes usually rely on cranks or plain old-fashioned elbow grease, which again may not be sufficient to handle the task at hand. A mechanized snake, deployed by a professional, can exercise just the right amount of force to break up the clog while still keep in your pipes undamaged. When you add that to a fitted head, it makes the use of a mechanized snake the clear chose over store-bought models.

That isn’t to say a store-bought model is completely useless. Indeed, in mild cases, it can function perfectly adequately, but like a lot of things, you get what you pay for, and for all but the most basic clogs, mechanical snakes work better than over-the-counter snakes. Drain cleaning services along with a host of other resourceful plumbing services are offered by the experts at Saddleback Plumbing. If you’re having problems with a tough clog or in need of other plumbing repair in Trabuco Canyon, pick up the phone and give us a call today. We’ll take care of it with the latest technological advances, used by experienced pros who know how to do the job right.

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3 Things to Consider When Replacing Bathroom Plumbing

February 20th, 2014 by Bill Chronister

You can choose to have bathroom plumbing replacement done for a variety of reasons. Some homeowners choose to have a full pipe replacement for older pipes during a bathroom remodel, when the pipes are exposed, either to make the remodel design more flexible or because the pipes are too aged. Other times, you’ll need replacement done to put in new fixtures, such as tub, sink, or toilet. Whatever the reason, here are three things for you to consider when it’s time for replacement work for your Lake Forest, CA bathroom plumbing.

For excellent plumbing services, from your bathroom to your kitchen and all other rooms in your home, you can depend on the professionals at Saddleback Plumbing—serving Orange County since 1981.

1. Replacement material

If you have a house older than thirty or forty years, you probably have galvanized steel plumbing, which was the dominant material for indoor plumbing since the close of the 19th century. For newer homes, you probably have copper pipes. When it comes to pipe replacement, you have the option to go for copper (if you have steel pipes), or plastic pipes such as CPVC and PEX. These three each have advantages and disadvantages, so check with your plumber about your options and their costs to help you choose the one that will work best for you.

2. Replacing one component will often involve replacing others

Whether you are installing a new low-flow toilet, a sink, or a whirlpool bathtub, placing upgraded components in your bathroom often means that other components must be upgraded as well. A professional plumber can survey your bathroom’s needs before replacement and determine what work needs to be done to ensure that all fixtures in the bathroom will work their best.

3. Use only licensed, professional plumbers

Bathroom plumbing replacement is neither a “do-it-yourself” task nor work for amateurs who claim to be plumbers. There are few places in a home that depend on the proper flow of fresh and waste water as much as the bathroom, and poor pipe replacement can mean substandard material, faulty connections, leaking, low water pressure, and even serious damage to the flooring. Make sure you call on experienced plumbing professionals for this job: you’ll save time, money, and disastrous future problems.

Having replacements done for your bathroom plumbing by a professional plumbing service in Lake Forest, CA can mean enhancing your daily routine with more advanced components and better water pressure and flow. But that success depends on having the right plumbing contractor doing the work. Make sure you call a qualified and experienced plumber when the time comes. Give Saddleback Plumbing a call today for fast and professional service.

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Can I Move My Sink During a Kitchen Plumbing Remodel?

February 19th, 2014 by Bill Chronister

One of the best ways to enhance your home is with a full kitchen remodeling. The kitchen is often located near the center of a house, and will usually become an informal gathering place for family and guests.

Although the outer appearance of your kitchen will be on your mind during remodeling, how much of the vital hidden workings, the plumbing, can you change? Specifically, can you move your sink during a remodel, or must the remodeling work around the sink’s fixed location?

The simple answer is: Yes, you can move your sink during a plumbing remodel. But you’ll need special assistance with it.

Contact Saddleback Plumbing when you want extensive work on your kitchen plumbing by an exceptional plumbing service in Laguna Hills, CA during your remodel.

Everything and the kitchen sink

An experienced plumber will know all about how to plan moving a sink during a plumbing remodel. One of the key ideas during remodeling is to retain the kitchen’s “footprint,” that is, the basic layout (L-shape, U-shape, etc.). It is still possible to retain that footprint while moving one of the major appliances. In fact, some appliances can be shifted without changing their plumbing hook-up. A good example: you can have your sink moved to the other side of the dishwasher because the hookup for both doesn’t depend on whether the sink is on the left or the right of the dishwasher.

Consult with your plumbing professional regarding how you want to renovate to relocate the sink, and he or she can discuss the options for you that will work best with the remodel and how much the changes will cost. Often the plumber will have ideas for moving the sink that hadn’t occurred to you, and which will save time and money, as well as mesh easily with the plans of the remodelers.

Saddleback Plumbing can help you

If you do wish to move your sink during your upcoming kitchen plumbing remodel, have a professional plumber involved early on to work with the remodelers and determine the most effective way to move the sink. This will make the job easier for everyone and result in lower costs and a faster job. Contact Saddleback Plumbing when you want remodeling for your kitchen plumbing in Laguna Hills, CA.

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The Original Valentine’s Day Greeting Cards

February 14th, 2014 by Bill Chronister

It’s hard to imagine Valentine’s Day without the traditional greeting cards, whether accompanying a gift of flowers and candy, or sent between children in a school room. For commercial greeting card companies, February 14th is as important to them as the December holidays, Easter, and Mother’s Day.

Valentine’s Day as a celebration of romantic love predates printed greeting cards by a few centuries. In fact, the reason that sending romantic greeting cards became popular was because of the most un-romantic thing you can imagine: a reduction in postage rates.

In 1765, Parliament authorized the creation of “Penny Posts” that used a uniform rate of one old penny per letter throughout Great Britain and Ireland. Printers took advantage of the ease with which people could send letters to each other on Valentine’s Day by crafting cards with love poems on them. Many of these verses were collected in 1797 in the book The Young Man’s Valentine Writer, which was a resource for the lover with a romantic soul but not the most confident poetry style.

By the mid-19th-century, the Valentine’s Day greeting card was flourishing across England. Although people still followed a tradition of creating handmade Valentine’s Day cards from lace, ribbons, and flowers, commercially produced cards now overtook them. In 1835, the English post office mailed 60,000 valentines. As production expenses dropped, the English card manufacturers branched out creatively with humorous and sometimes vulgar cards… many of which we would find startlingly familiar in the 21st century. One of the common jokes on these cards was to design them to look like marriage certificates or court summons.

Across the Atlantic, the United States was slower to embrace the popular British custom. It wasn’t until 1847 that a U.S. printer mass-produced greeting cards for Valentine’s Day. Only two years later, American journalists noted how rapidly people in the country had embraced the tradition, turning into a fad that has never died down. The woman who printed the first U.S. Valentine’s Day card, Esther Howland, is today recognized by the Greeting Card Association with the annual “Esther Howland Award for a Greeting Card Visionary.”

The greeting card industry certainly has reason to thank Ms. Howland. Her idea of going into business printing romantic greeting cards, which came to her after she received a traditional English valentine when she was 19 years old, now sells 190 million cards in the U.S. every year. That number doesn’t include the smaller exchange cards used in elementary school classrooms, which would swell the number to 1 billion. (Who receives the most Valentine’s Day cards each year? Teachers!)

Whether you send out Valentine’s Day cards—handmade, store-bought, digital—or not, we at Saddleback Plumbing hope you have a happy February 14th.

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Can Zone Controls Be Installed with an Existing Furnace System?

February 5th, 2014 by Bill Chronister

You may have heard of zone control systems, which divide your home up into individual sections which can be heated and cooled one at a time. It’s an incredibly versatile tool – allowing you to set one temperature in the kitchen and another in the bedroom, for instance – and by letting you shut off the heat in rooms you aren’t using, it can save you a great deal on energy costs. On a more abstract level, it can improve the resale value of your house, which may offset some of the cost of installation. Here in Irvine, furnace technology reigns supreme, which may appear to present a problem for installing a system such as this. Most people associate zone controls with ductless HVAC systems: multiple small units scattered throughout the home. Can zone controls be installed with an existing furnace system? In point of fact, they can.

The key to zone control is compartmentalization, which allows you to adjust the temperature in one area without affecting any other areas.  That wouldn’t seem possible with a traditional central furnace, which distributes heated are via a system of ducts. The solution is to install valves and shutters within the system itself. The valves can be placed at key locations in the ductwork, with multiple thermostats installed to let you control each one. The air handler and a few other components need to be modified as well, but the duct system itself remains intact, giving you an efficient zone control system without having to uproot your existing system.

In most cases, the installation process takes less than one day, provided it’s performed by experience professionals. In Irvine, furnace installation services like Saddleback Plumbing can install zone controls with an existing furnace system. We’ll thoroughly inspect your home and draw up a plan for installing the system, then explain every step to you before performing the operation with professionalism and care. We’ll treat your home like it was ours and are completely dedicated to your satisfaction at every stage. Give us a call today to set up an appointment for your next heating service in Irvine.

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Some Options to Consider for Your Bathroom Plumbing Project

January 31st, 2014 by Bill Chronister

A bathroom plumbing project is a serious investment in your home, and you should take extra care to consider all the options before moving forward. A bathroom plumbing renovation needs to enhance the value of your home, not turn into a money pit. Consultation with a trained and professional plumbing service in Mission Viejo, CA, is the best option for getting what you want out of your new bathroom without breaking the bank. Here are some options to consider for your bathroom plumbing project.

  • Think about a wet wall
    That’s a plumbing term for a wall in which all the plumbing and fixtures – sinks, toilets, showers, etc. – are against one wall. That includes drain pipes and waste pipes as well as pipes bringing water into the bathroom. That keeps the plumbing simple and eliminates the need to run piping into awkward locations, which raises the price of the operation considerably. (It also makes it easier to fix any problems that crop up down the line.)
  • Practicality predominates
    You may have your heart set on a sink island, a claw-foot tub or other items that add to the aesthetics of the bathroom. But you also need to consider the practicality of such fixtures. You’ll likely be using them every day, day in and day out, for years on end. Fixtures like these can take up a lot of spare space, as well as leading to water dripping onto the floors more often. If you have the space and the luxury, you can think about them, but you need to consider long-haul implications, not just initial novelty.
  • Consider maintenance
    Similarly, when choosing materials, think about durable materials that will stand up to years of use. The better your tiling, grouting, porcelain surfaces and the like, the more your bathroom will stay trouble free. Again, think about allocating your budget into long-range uses rather than short-term novelty.

For more options to consider for your bathroom plumbing project in Mission Viejo, CA, call on the plumbing experts at Saddleback Plumbing for help. Not only can we help you plan the bathroom of your dreams, but we’ll take steps to help protect it from things like the salty sea air and the occasional earthquake. Give us a call today and let us show you what we can do!

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What Is the Difference Between a Hydronic Baseboard and Radiant Floor Heating?

January 31st, 2014 by Bill Chronister

In matters of heating repair, Mission Viejo CA residents often need more specialized attention than a general HVAC technician can provide. In particular, a house with a radiant heating system needs someone experienced to make the proper diagnosis and repairs. Radiant heating systems utilize more than one type of format, most notably hydronic baseboard heating. What’s the difference between a hydronic baseboard and radiant floor heating? The answers can show you why the right service technician is key.

When we talk about radiant floor heating, we usually mean heating where the system is built directly into the floors. The technician removes your floorboards and installs the radiant heating system beneath them, usually coils or tubes full of liquid held in place with heat-conducting tiles. He or she then re-installs the floorboards, returning your room to its previous appearance. The radiant system sends heat up directly through the floorboards into your furnishings (or feet), warming the room evenly without any breezes or drafts.

Hydronic baseboard heating systems use a similar principle but different execution. They run a series of baseboards along the walls by the floor. A boiler heats up water and sends it through pipes located in the baseboards, which pull cool air in from your room and heat it by passing it over the hot pipes. The hot air then moves back into your room to heat the area. Like radiant floor heating, they don’t rely on forced air, which means that cold spots and the like are kept to a minimum. They don’t require ductwork and they don’t circulate dust through your home. They also take less to install than radiant floor systems, and aren’t as disruptive since you don’t need to tear up the whole floor.

Knowing the difference between a hydronic baseboard and radiant floor heating is the first step. The next is determining a knowledgeable source for installation and repairs. When it comes to heating repair services in Mission Viejo, CA, residents can turn to Saddleback Plumbing for help. We understand these kinds of heating systems, and our experts can handle both installing and maintaining the right system for you. Call us today to set up an appointment!

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Why Heat Pumps Make Sense in Trabuco Canyon

January 28th, 2014 by Bill Chronister

Here in Trabuco Canyon, heat pump technology is an effective alternative to both gas furnaces and traditional air conditioning systems. They combine the features of both heating and air conditioning: circulating refrigerant throughout their system and using it to warm or cool the air around them.  During the heating portion of cycle, coils revert the gas to a liquid state, bleeding the heat into the nearby air. During the cooling part of the cycle, the liquid enters an evaporator, cooling the surrounding air as it reverts back into a gas. That air can then be blown into your household. With heat pumps, the process can fulfill either function, with an indoor coil and an outdoor coil to “switch roles” depending on what you need. How does that system benefit us here? Here’s why heat pumps make sense in Trabuco Canyon.

For starters, it’s an extremely efficient system. Heat pumps use less energy than traditional gas furnaces, which means you can save a great deal on your monthly bills if you have them installed. Many types of heat pumps also use ductless systems, which means planting multiple units throughout your home. Each unit can tailor the nearby temperature individually, allowing you to set one temperature in a given room and a separate temperature in another room.  (You can even turn off the heat in parts of the home you aren’t using, saving you further money.)

All of those are fairly universal benefits to heat pumps. What makes them especially suited to Trabuco Canyon is the fact that they are at their most efficient in warm weather. When temperatures drop to freezing levels, so too does the heat pump’s efficiency drop off. But here in sunny Southern California, things rarely get that cold, meaning that your heat pump will function at its best all year.

For more on why heat pumps make sense in Trabuco Canyon, the experts at Saddleback Plumbing are here to help. We can perform installation and repair functions with equal efficiency. If you’re having problems with your system or want to see about installing a new one, give us a call today!

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What are Earthquake Emergency Shut-Off Valves?

January 20th, 2014 by Bill Chronister

If you live in Southern California, earthquakes are a constant concern. Safety and preparedness need to involve all aspects of your home. From the perspective of experts on gas and plumbing in Irvine needs to include earthquake emergency shut off-valves to help keep your home safe in the event of a shocker. But what are earthquake emergency shut-off valves? More importantly, how do they do their job? A quick primer can be found below.

The valves have sensors on them calibrated to detect quakes of a sufficient magnitude to cause problems with your gas lines.  When those sensors are triggered, they immediately cut off the flow of gas. Some valves merely redirect the gas to unaffected piping. Others turn off the gas completely. This safety feature often goes beyond the initial damage cause by the quake itself. The ground can shift in an earthquake, destabilizing underground pipelines and setting the groundwork for a future problem long after you’ve thought the danger had passed.  That’s the sort of assurance you have with an earthquake emergency shut-off valve: protection for your home until all the repairs can be made.

If you don’t have such a valve, they’re pretty easy to install, provided you have the right professional service to do so. With a skilled technician on the job, the task should take only a few hours. The same technician can also reset the shut-off valve after it’s been triggered (after determining that every aspect of your gas system is safe) and inspect it every 1-2 years to ensure that it’s operating as it should.

In those cases, it’s imperative that you have the right kind of professional to help you out. For issues with gas and plumbing in Irvine, you can count on Saddleback Plumbing to help. We’ve had plenty of experience installing and maintaining earthquake emergency shut-off valves, and can put one in your home with safety and professionalism foremost in our minds. We never know when the next big quake will hit, and when it does, you want the assurance that an earthquake emergency shut-off valve can bring. Call us today to set up an appointment!

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How Mother Nature Can Damage Your Plumbing

January 18th, 2014 by Bill Chronister

It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature… but Mother Nature can turn vindictive and damaging even if you do nothing to anger her. Sometimes, Mother Nature can inflict major injury to your home’s plumbing—even in a place like Southern California where we don’t have to worry about the plumbing plague much of the rest of the nation faces: frozen pipes.

Whatever problems bother your plumbing in Laguna Nigel this season, whether caused by nature or human error, you can rely on Saddleback Plumbing. We’ve taken care of home plumbing in Orange County since 1981.

Natural damage to your plumbing

  • Root infiltration: Damage to your sewer line is one of the most potentially catastrophic issues that might develop in your plumbing. It can lead to flooding in your basement and foundations and can stop all your drains from working. One of the most common reasons for the sewer line to become blocked or broken is the growth of tree roots. Roots naturally move toward damp areas, and they can start to grow into the sewer line, blocking it. Worse, the pressure from the roots can lead to it breaking. Sewer line repair needs immediate professional attention.
  • Landslides and earthquakes: California has trouble with both of these. Earthquakes are a frequent occurrence; even a small temblor can break older pipes. Landslides often occur during our rare rains because the loose upper soil is unused to heavy rainfall. Landslides are another reason for breaks in sewer lines, since they can cause underground shifting. If you notice water flow problems or sink clogs in the aftermath of a quake or a slide, call for plumbers immediately.
  • Corrosion: Corrosion is a natural occurrence when water and metal meet in the presence of oxygen. If you have predominantly copper or plastic (usually PEX) piping in your home, corrosion will usually not be a major concern. However, older galvanized steel pipes are prone to serious corrosion over time, and will eventually start to leak from pitted corrosion (“pinhole leaks,” which are serious despite the name) and break. If you have steel piping in your home, it may be wise to arrange for replacement pipes with corrosion-resistant material.

You can’t fool Mother Nature, but professionals can fix her damage

Don’t allow any plumbing damage to go without repairs, even if you don’t notice a problem at first. And if anything occurs with your fixtures that might indicate damage (reduced water flow, persistent clogs, odors from the drains), call for expert plumbers right away. Our Saddleback Plumbing staff can remedy the damage Mother Nature dishes out, so give us a call at the first sign of trouble.

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