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

Contaminants that Water Treatment Systems Remove

Wednesday, August 27th, 2014

If you’re a homeowner, you care about the quality of your water. So if your water begins to smell, look, or taste strange, it’s time to call a professional plumbing company to test your home and install the proper water treatment system for your water supply.

In fact, some contaminants may not be so obvious. While not all contaminants have a foul taste or smell, many can seriously affect the quality of your plumbing system or be hazardous to your health anyway. If you’ve never had your water tested, you may not know about the hidden contaminants that may lurk in your water supply. Here are just a few of the contaminants that can be treated with water treatment systems in Ladera Ranch.

  • Magnesium and Calcium – An excess of magnesium or calcium in the water, known as “hard water,” can cause problems for your plumbing system. While these minerals in your water usually will not negatively affect your health, deposits may build up along the insides of your pipes, leading to clogs and low water pressure. Furthermore, changes in the pressurization of the water in your plumbing system may seriously damage your pipes. This issue can be treated with a water softener.
  • Excess Salt – However, water softeners eliminate these minerals by replacing them with sodium. Because high levels of sodium may be unhealthy, a reverse osmosis system can be installed as well to remove excess salt and other minerals in your water.
  • Nitrates and Arsenic – Nitrates and arsenic can also be harmful to your health, but they often do not have any noticeable effect on the smell, taste, or color of your water. If this is found in your water during testing, a plumber can install a cartridge that can eliminate the problem.

Still not sure what contaminants may be affecting your water supply? When you call Saddleback Plumbing, we check your water supply to determine whether you need a reverse osmosis system, a water softener, a specialty cartridge, or any other water treatment system for your home. After we install your system, we’ll test it again to make sure the problem is taken care of. If you have more questions about installing water treatment systems in Ladera Ranch, call one of our experts today!

 

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How to Maintain Your Kitchen Garbage Disposal

Wednesday, August 20th, 2014

The garbage disposal is a convenience that few people think about until it runs into problems. But the garbage disposal is a useful appliance, and without it you may clog your drain more often, and cooking or cleaning may become more difficult. That’s why you should do everything in your power to keep your garbage disposal working its best.

The following tips can help you keep your garbage disposal in top shape so that it can last for years. If you do run into problems that require the services of a kitchen plumbing expert, be sure to call a professional, like the plumbers at Saddleback Plumbing in Irvine.

  • No non-food items: First and foremost, you should never put non-food items down the disposal, and this includes your hands! Non-food items can damage the disposal blades and clog your pipes. If you run into repair needs, be sure not to put any items down the drain, and call on a kitchen plumbing professional instead.
  • Small quantities only: The garbage disposal chops food into smaller pieces so that it can move down the drain easily with the rest of your home’s wastewater, but you should still break up larger food items to make the job easier for your unit and to avoid over-exhaustion.
  • Avoid these foods: There are many foods you should avoid putting into the disposal entirely. These include hard foods like popcorn, the hard shells of shellfish like crabs, and animal bones. You should also avoid fibrous foods like celery and corn husks, as well as any grease or oils.
  • Run cold water: Running cold water every time you use the garbage disposal can help break down oils so they’re easier to process.
  • Sharpen the blades: You can keep the blades of your unit sharp by throwing in a few handfuls of ice cubes occasionally.
  • Keep blades clean: You can also clean the blades by adding in some baking soda and vinegar or lemon juice.

These tips can help you get a longer lifespan out of your garbage disposal. But if the need for repairs or replacement comes up, call the professionals at Saddleback Plumbing for kitchen plumbing services in Irvine.

 

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The Cause of Bad Odors from Drains

Friday, August 15th, 2014

A plumbing system in a home that generates foul, sewer-like odors is something that you want corrected right away. There are a number of reasons that drains can start to emit bad smells, from simple problems that you can fix yourself in a few minutes, to extensive troubles with the sewer system that require major repair work from professionals. Whatever the cause and whatever the remedy, take care of those smelly drains right away.

Here at Saddleback Plumbing, we’ve provided comprehensive plumbing repair in Lake Forest, CA and the rest of Orange County since 1981. We handle drain cleaning and sewer repairs that will take care of bad smelling drains or any other trouble. Make us your first call for all your plumbing needs.

Why Drains Can Develop Bad Odors

  • Dry p-trap: This is the simplest explanation, and also one that you can take care of on your own. The p-trap in a drain is the curved section of drainpipe directly beneath the sink. This shape is designed to trap water to serve as a plug against sewer gas that rises up from the wastewater system. If the sink is not used for a long period, the water in the p-trap will evaporate and allow sewer gas to escape out of the drain. If you notice the sewer odors coming from a sink in a guest room or some other sink that doesn’t receive much use, a dry p-trap is likely the source of the problem. Run water through the drain for a few minutes to restore the water plug, and that should take care of it.
  • Blocked drain vents: Your plumbing has vent pipes in the wastewater system to prevent a build-up of pressure from sewer gas. Gases from the plumbing rise up through these vent pipes and leave through vent openings on the roof. If these openings become blocked (animal nests, debris from bad weather, construction errors) it will force the sewer gas up through the p-trap and push it through the water. If you hear a gurgling sound from the bad-smelling drains, it probably means the plumbing vents are blocked. Don’t go to the roof to try to fix this: stay safe and call for professionals.
  • Sewer line damage: This is the most serious scenario. If you notice multiple drains in your home are emitting the bad smells, it may mean that the sewer line that carries the collected wastewater from your home to the municipal sewer system is damaged or blocked. This needs immediate attention, since it can lead to sewage flooding into your home’s foundations and up onto your yard. The repairs required are extensive and need the most skilled plumbers you can find to perform.

If you can’t solve the bad drain odors on your own with a little water poured down the drain pipes, call Saddleback Plumbing right away. One of our skilled plumbers will help you with the necessary plumbing repair in Lake Forest, CA that will eliminate those odors and protect your home’s plumbing.

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Air Conditioning Installation Considerations for the End of Summer

Thursday, August 14th, 2014

It’s nearing the end of summer, and you’ve made the wise decision to replace your older air conditioner. Since older air conditioners run a higher risk of frequent repair needs, installing a new air conditioner at the end of summer reduces the possibilities of turning on your air conditioner next season only to find your system has broken down completely. However, the threat of a breakdown shouldn’t be the only consideration when calling for air conditioning installation.

When you install your new air conditioner this year, consider the many different money-saving options available for homeowners. Your new air conditioner may go above and beyond your older system in both performance and efficiency when you ask a professional about the following upgrades.

Energy-Efficient Systems

As parts become worn down, older air conditioners are more costly to run because the components of the system have to work harder to cool your home. This means a new air conditioner may automatically be more energy efficient than an older one. However, a new AC may even be more efficient than your older system was when it was brand new. Advancements in technology and changes in government regulations make newer systems more energy efficient than those built 10-15 years ago. Installing a system with the ENERGY STAR label can help to protect the environment and save you money.

Thermostat Upgrade

Some homeowners use unreliable, difficult-to-read manual thermostats in order to set the temperature in their homes. Even if you set your thermostat just a couple of degrees two low, you may be spending far more on cooling costs than you should. A new digital, programmable thermostat will provide greater accuracy and will allow you to set the temperature ahead of time to save you money every month.

Zone Control

Another upgrade to consider during air conditioning installation is the addition of a zone control system. Zone control allows you to set the temperature differently in multiple areas of the home so that your family members will be more comfortable wherever they choose to relax.

These upgrades may be a small cost compared to the savings you’ll see throughout the years. If you want to save money with cost-effective upgrades during your air conditioning service in Tustin, CA this summer, call the experts at Saddleback Plumbing today!

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Is a Standard Tank Water Heater Sometimes the Better Option?

Friday, August 8th, 2014

Tankless water heaters have existed for many years now, but it was not until recently that they expanded their popularity from Europe to the U.S. Now many homeowners on this side of the Atlantic are enjoying the benefits of going tankless, which include never running out of hot water, saving space, lowering energy costs, and getting more years of service from their water heater.

But not everyone has switched from the old “tank” water heaters (storage water heaters) to the tankless models. There are some good reasons for this, and it isn’t just resistance to change. In certain situations, a storage water heater is a superior choice over a tankless one.

It will be hard to determine on your own which of these choices is best for you. You should also seek a professional opinion from a water heater installer and Laguna Hills, CA plumbing company. The team at Saddleback Plumbing is here to help answer your questions and then install the right system for you.

Why might a storage water heater work better for me?

The first consideration is cost: tankless systems cost more to install than standard tank water heaters. In some situations, the potential savings from a tankless system are insufficient to make them worth the upfront investment. How much water you use regularly and your immediate budget plans will affect how useful a tankless heater can be. If your use of water is moderate (usually because you have a small household) and your budget is currently tight, a storage water heater makes a perfectly acceptable option for hot water.

Tankless water heaters can sometimes lose efficiency if multiple taps turn on at once; if this is something that occurs regularly in your home, then you should also consider staying with a storage model.

However, in most homes there is very little to restrict you from choosing a tankless water heater. Considering their long lifespan (usually 5 years more than a storage water heater) they have a lengthy period to return your initial investment. Most owners will see the installation costs paid off in only a few years. Consult with an experienced plumber about installing a new water heater to find out which of the available models will bring you the amount of hot water you need at price that matches your budget.

Since 1981, Saddleback Plumbing has served Orange County with water heater installation. When you need expert work for you plumbing in Laguna Hills, CA, make us your first choice.

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