Saddleback Plumbing Heating & Air Blog: Archive for May, 2014

What to Expect from Professional Drain Cleaning Services

Friday, May 30th, 2014

Plumbers can often perform professional drain cleaning services on your pipes, dealing with tough, stubborn back-ups in ways that store-bought cleansers simply can’t. Here in Irvine, drain cleaning services are readily available, and can use professional tools like mechanized snakes and hydro jetting hoses to take care of the problem properly. While every case is unique, you have a right to expect certain things from the technician who arrives to solve the problem. Here’s what to expect from professional drain cleaning services.

  • Courtesy and consideration. The service should treat your home like they would their own. While some drains can be cleaned quickly and easily, others will require more effort. Regardless, the technician will bring his equipment in carefully and deploy it with utmost concern for your kitchen or bathroom’s well-being. When the operation is finished, he or she will clean up any standing water or other bits of mess, and leave your home in the exact shape he found it.
  • Up-front estimates. There shouldn’t be any hidden surprises with a drain cleaning operation. The plumber will perform a breakdown of all the costs involved and let the homeowner sign off on it before the cleaning begins. In addition, he or she will explain specific techniques such as hydro jetting so that the homeowner knows what to expect from a possibly unfamiliar process.
  • Results. A professional drain cleaning service offers guarantees on the quality of their work. In other words, once they clean the drain, it should stay cleaned for a reasonable amount of time and the home owner shouldn’t be charged if a repeat visit in necessary.

If you know what to expect from professional drain cleaning services, the next step is to contact the experts at Saddleback Plumbing. We have the skills and know-how to do the job right the first time, every time, and our trained staff of experts is on hand to explain every step of the process in clear detail. We treat your home with the courtesy you expect and all our work is backed by a guarantee. Give us a call today and ask us about our drain cleaning and other plumbing services in Irvine, CA.

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When to Repair Rather than Replace Your AC Unit

Thursday, May 29th, 2014

If you have an old air conditioning unit and it runs into trouble, you need to seriously consider whether the time has come to replace it. Sooner or later, every air conditioner needs to be replaced and if you feel like yours has given up the ghost, you may need to accept that reality. But just because you can replace an older unit doesn’t necessarily mean you should. Specifics vary, and here in Irvine, air conditioning installation services can give you specific advice on when to repair rather than replace your AC unit. We’ve provided a few more general tips below.

In the first case, you should look at how extensive the specific repair is and how much it will cost to make it. A relatively minor repair might be worth it, which a major one could start to look like throwing good money after bad. To that, you should look at the overall frequency of repairs, and whether this is a seeming anomaly, or just one of a long line of problems experienced by your air conditioner. If it hasn’t been much trouble overall, then a repair is probably the most appropriate response.

In addition, you should take a close look at your monthly energy costs, and compare it to similar costs earlier in the air conditioner’s life. A lack of efficiency is a huge reason to consider purchasing a new unit, and if your current unit is still performing well, there’s no need to install a new one just yet. Similarly, if you haven’t had your existing unit for that long, there’s probably not a huge demand to put in a new one, not when you can still get a great deal of use out of the existing unit. In both of these cases, regular maintenance sessions from a trained technician can help improve your unit’s efficiency and ensure that it lasts a good long time.

In the end, every system is different, which is why professional consultation is usually in your best interests. Advice on air conditioning installation in Irvine, CA can be provided by the experts at Saddleback Plumbing. We can give you sound advice on when to repair rather than replace your AC unit, and can perform both repairs and installations with professionalism and pride. Give us a call today and let us show you what we can do!

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How Water Treatment Systems can Benefit My Home

Friday, May 23rd, 2014

Here in Mission Viejo, CA, water treatment systems are fairly common for many households. Our civic water systems keep tap water fairly clean, but the composition of our local soil and proximity to the ocean can make things tough. Hard water, in particular, can be a significant issue. If you’ve ever noticed a crusty white material on your faucet or show head, you have a good idea of what we mean. A water treatment system for your home can reduce those kinds of deposits, as well as clearing out any other unwanted contaminants. More specifically, here’s how water treatment systems can benefit your home:

  • Cleaner drinking water. Filtration means crisper, cleaner drinking water and water used for cooking, which makes for a healthier overall environment. You can test this with a quick experiment. Fill an ice cube tray with tap water and another one with bottled (filtered) water from a store. When they freeze, take a look at them. The ice from the tap water should be much cloudier and less clear than the ice from the filtered water. You can taste the difference in any food you prepare with them.
  • Softer clothes. Hard water or water containing harsh chemicals can wear your clothes out after multiple trips through the laundry. Colors fade and the clothes don’t feel as soft as they once did. A good water filtration system will allow your clothes to feel much softer and look better. They’ll also last longer, helping you get more value out of your clothing dollar.
  • Cleaner bathing. Unfiltered water can sometimes leave an unpleasant film on your skin after you bathe, as well as leaving your skin feeling rawer and more irritated than you might like. A water filter can fix that, making your baths and showers a much more pleasant experience.

For more details on how water treatment systems can benefit your home, or to schedule an installation session, call Saddleback Plumbing for help. For residents of Mission Viejo CA, water treatment systems can make a huge difference in the quality of your life. We have the knowledge and expertise to ensure that the problem is resolved correctly!

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Ways to Detect Leaks in Underground Water Lines

Friday, May 16th, 2014

Underground water lines are a tricky proposition when it comes to plumbing repairs. You can’t usually spot signs of trouble until an actual leak has sprung up, at which time you often need to perform a full-bore excavation to get at the problem. Here in Lake Forest, CA water lines can also suffer damage from earthquakes, making excavation-based repairs more commonplace than they might be else. The good news is that technological advancements have made excavation must faster and more efficient, and there are new ways to detect leaks in underground water lines as well. We’ve broken down a few of them below.

The most obvious signs are usually the ones that will alert you to the problem. For example, if the water pressure in your home drops precipitously or puddles form in your yard without any apparent cause. Another quick way is to shut off water to the hose and then check the meter after 15 minutes or so. If water is still being used, you likely have an underground leak. In some cases, you may even be able to spot a leak if the grass in the vicinity of the leak is greener than the surrounding foliage.

Once you summon a plumber, he or she can take advantage of advanced tools to pinpoint the leak. Acoustic leak detectors can be used to spot the dripping sounds: a microphone is pointed at the ground and the plumber slowly moves along the length of the underground pipe until he pinpoints the spot where the leak is coming from. Similar tools use sonic vibrations, pressure sensors and other tricks to get to the heart of the issue.

Professional methods require professional training, which is why you should call the experts at Saddleback Plumbing the minute you realize that there’s an issue. We have ways to detect leaks in underground water lines that go above and beyond the standards, and we stand by our work from the start of the project to the end. Be sure to schedule plumbing service in Lake Forest, CA as water lines should be checked after every earthquake and any time you suspect there’s trouble. Give us a call today and let us take care of the problem for you!

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Drain Cleaning Solutions Used by Plumbers

Thursday, May 15th, 2014

Everyone is familiar with commercial chemical drain cleaners sold in any supermarket or hardware store, designed to get rid of stubborn clogs and backups. Those cleaners tend to be universal and adopt a one-size-fits-all approach, which actually doesn’t work very well for any but the mildest clogs. For plumbers here in Irvine, drain cleaning solutions can treat a wide variety of problems, and not all of those solutions involve chemical cleansers. Indeed, most plumbers prefer to use alternate methods of cleaning the drains that are less overtly caustic. Here’s a short list of the different types of drain cleaning solutions used by plumbers.

  • Snakes. Snakes are also available to the public, but as with chemical cleaners, the store-bought models tend to be one size fits all. Plumbers, on the other hand, often use mechanized snakes that bring power to the equation that hand-cranked snakes don’t. They also use snakes with rotating heads that can be adjusted to match the exact nature of the clog.
  • Hydro-jetting. Hydro-jetting is a method by which the plumber fires bursts of water under incredibly high pressure down the pipes. It’s a thorough and very efficient means of clearing up the clogs, and has the benefit of affecting the entire length of pipe, not just the spot that’s causing the back-up. Hydro-jetting requires professional training to use correctly, but it’s safe and effective.
  • Video inspection. This isn’t strictly a solution, but it definitely helps the plumber get a better sense of the problem. He or she sends a tiny video camera down the pipe, attached to a flexible rod. It allows him or her to ascertain the exact nature of the clog, and then choose the solution that fits it the best.

Here at Saddleback Plumbing, we’re well versed in drain cleaning solutions used by plumbers, and we know how to deploy them with skill and care.  If you live in Irvine, drain cleaning solutions need to do the job right, not just adopt a single tactic to what can be a surprisingly complex problem. Give us a call today to make an appointment with our plumbers in Irvine, CA and let us get rid of that clog for good!

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3 Upgrades for Your Kitchen Faucet

Friday, May 9th, 2014

Your kitchen is one of the busiest places in the house, and your plumbing needs to be ready for the task. Here in Lake Forest CA, kitchen plumbing needs to be ready for anything, from earthquakes to sudden dinner parties. But just because your faucet and other amenities have been working fine for years doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider taking advantage of new advancements and features available on the market. If you’re remodeling your kitchen or even just want a little change of pace, here are 3 upgrades for your kitchen faucet that you should consider.

  • Pullout spouts. Pullout spouts use a detachable faucet head, attached to a hose that allows you to extend it and then retract it back into the main faucet thanks to a counterweight in the mechanism. It helps lower splashing and allows you to get at every corner of the sink without difficulty.
  • Alternating streams. New faucet types offer buttons on the sides or top, allowing you to switch from a spray to a steady stream at will. The spray setting helps you washing the dishes and performing other cleaning functions, while the stream setting gives you a steady flow of water for cooking or drinking.
  • A stronger finish. Most sink finishes are fairly durable, but you may wish to change the finish for something to stand the test of time a little better. Alternately, you may wish to change the finish on your sink in order to better match other changes in your kitchen, such as remodeled cabinets or even just the purchase of a new refrigerator.

If you’re thinking about adding upgrades to your kitchen faucet, then contact the experts at Saddleback Plumbing for help. We can help you find a new sink that matches your needs, and that stays within whatever budget you have in mind. Kitchen plumbing needs to be both functional and aesthetic: working day in and day out without problems while still making your kitchen a pleasant and enjoyable place to be. For professional plumbing service in Lake Forest, CA, our plumbing experts are on call to help make your visions a reality. Call us today and let us show you what we can do!

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How Heat Pumps Are Different from Forced Air Systems

Friday, May 2nd, 2014

The most common way to heat and cool a home is through a central forced-air system, where blowers send conditioned air through a ventilation system to distribute it throughout the rooms. Air conditioners and furnaces are both types of forced-air systems.

How do heat pumps differ from these systems? First of all, heat pumps are also forced-air systems. In fact, much of their operation is identical to that of air conditioners. They attach to ductwork and an indoor blower fan distributes the air through the ventilation shafts, the same way that other forced-air systems work.

But heat pumps have some important differences from furnaces and air conditioners, as we’ll look at. If you are considering installing a heat pump in Laguna Hills, CA for your home, you can find answers to all your questions at Saddleback Plumbing. Call us today and talk to one of our knowledgeable staff members.

The heat pump difference

The standard set-up for a home that uses an air conditioner and a furnace (either gas or electric) is to package the air conditioner above the furnace, which is above the blower fan. The blower works for both AC and furnace, sending air through the furnaces heat exchanger and through the air conditioner’s evaporator coil and into the ventilation system.

A heat pump, however, works on its own: it is both a heating system and cooling system. The indoor unit has a refrigerant coil and blower fans, and the outdoor unit contains the compressor, fan, and refrigerant coil. The heat pump works in the same fashion as the air conditioner: the compressor circulates refrigerant through the indoor and outdoor units, absorbing heat using the indoor coil and releasing it from the outdoor coil. The major difference is that, through a component called the reversing valve, the heat pump can change the direction the refrigerant flows. This means the heat pump removes heat using the outdoor coil and releases heat from the indoor coil. With only a single change on the thermostat, the heat pump switches from an air conditioner to a heater.

However, in either mode, a heat pump still uses forced-air to distribute comfort.

Choosing a heat pump

A heat pump makes an ideal choice for year-round comfort in the Southern California climate. It can deliver air conditioning the equal of a standalone system, and will not struggle with the excessively low temperatures that can cut into efficiency in heating mode. A heat pump also uses less power in heating mode than a furnace does: you will not only save money by not needing to install a furnace, you’ll also pay less to heat your home.

Saddleback Plumbing can install, repair, and maintain your heat pump in Laguna Hills, CA. Our more than 30 years of experience should make us one of your top choices for home comfort.

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How Does the SEER Rating Affect New Air Conditioners?

Thursday, May 1st, 2014

When you begin to plan for new air conditioning installation in Laguna Hills, CA to prepare for the summer heat, you will have to wade through a large number of technical specifications about the various models available. Most of these specs will only have meaning for HVAC professionals, but there are a few about which you should have some basic understanding in order to guide your decision.

Perhaps the most crucial air conditioning specification to understand is SEER, which stands for “seasonal energy efficiency rating.” It isn’t too difficult to understand, and the rating will help you understand how much it will cost you to run a new air conditioner.

SEER is important, but it is not the only factor to understand. For the help seeing the big picture, bring professionals installers into the selection process early on and let their technical knowledge guide you. Saddleback Plumbing has helped residents of Orange County since 1981 find the ideal ACs to make their homes pleasant through the long warm season. Call us today. You’ll be glad you did.

What SEER measures and why it’s important

“Seasonal energy efficiency rating” is a measure of how well an air conditioning system converts its energy source, electricity, into cooling power. It is a ratio of the cooling produced in BTUs (British Thermal Units) to the amount of energy used in kWh (kilowatt-hours) as measured over a season. The higher the number, the more efficiently the air conditioner uses electricity, and the less it will cost to run.

The standard lower end of SEER is 14, the minimum requirement for an air conditioner to receive the ENERGY STAR label from the U.S. Department of Energy. High-efficiency models can have 20–22 SEER. Higher SEER usually means a more costly unit, but with a short payback period. Check with your installer to see if the model you are interested in will give you a good return on your investment.

Make sure that SEER is not your sole guide for choosing a new AC. You want a system that matches your budget and also has sufficient power to cool your entire house to the level you want. The installers will help you balance all the considerations so that your air conditioning installation in Laguna Hills, CA goes exactly as you planned.

Saddleback Plumbing takes pride in the fast and professional service we provide. Contact us today and we will put our experience and knowledge to work for you and your family this summer.

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