One of the worst experiences that you can have as a homeowner is waking up only to realize that you are dealing with a cracked sewer line. Whether this is evidencing itself in a spouting geyser of horrors in your backyard or through a slow-moving stain of sludge somewhere in your home, the consensus is that no one wants to deal with sewer line repair.
But what is a sewer line?
What is it connected to?
Can your toilet water get mixed into your toothbrush water and if so, is that such a bad thing?
When should you call a Utah sewer line service repair?
For so many homeowners, these are questions they’re asking later rather than sooner, so if you’ve come to this blog because you just need the bare necessities, here are a few quick tips you need to know before we dive into more details.
You can tell that it’s a cracked sewer line because of the way it is.
And the way it is usually follows these signs:
Flooded, disgusting, sewer-filled yard. If your yard starts to smell like an unregulated porta potty, chances are you have a burst pipe.
Training difficulties. Yes, we’re answering that question now. Your toilet and your toothpaste water are connected and if there is blockage somewhere, the two can interact in ways that will not make you happy in the long run.
Mold.If the broken pipe is actually in your home, there’s likely going to be massive mold growth near the spot because the pipe will be releasing constant moisture, which is what mold needs to grow. So if you’ve noticed an increase in humidity in your home or an increase in mold, you likely have a broken line in your home that needs to be repaired immediately.
Once you’ve identified the sewer line, you need to decide whether or not you’re going to deal with it yourself or call a Utah sewer line service.
Here are a few hard-and-fast rules.
Immediately call a sewer line service (read: a plumber) if the leak is inside your home. If you found mold and you’re relatively sure that the leak is in your walls or something of that nature, call a sewer line service right now. The water damage that will occur in your house is so much worse than any sewer line service bill you’ll have to pay, and the time it will take you to figure out how to repair it yourself is not worth it when compared to the ease with which a sewer line service professional will be able to handle the situation. Call the sewer line service if the leak is in your home.
Repairing a line yourself will always take more work. Generally, sewer line services have ways to handle broken pipes that involve excavation-less solutions. We’ll be talking about those more below, but for this quick summary, just note that you will have to dig up most of your yard to fix 99% of broken sewer pipes. A sewer line service will not have to dig up any of your yard to fix 99% of broken sewer pipes. So – choose your battles.
Most sewer line damage is caused by a natural outside force interacting with your line.
This can be anything from tree roots to water damage to extreme heat waves, but usually it takes something out of the ordinary to break your sewer line. Well some sewer lines corrode with time, most of the materials used nowadays are pretty adorable and up to snuff. The sewer lines that are unable to deal with sudden temperature changes or are corrupting at a faster rate than usual generally are on the older side of things and can’t keep up because they’re made of a weaker material.
If this is the case, while repair is probably possible, the better solution would be to replace your pipes with a better material that is from our modern era. Unfortunately, many homeowners buying older homes might not know what sort of sewer line there is since it’s not one of those questions that you were generally prompted to ask of a real estate agent. So if you’ve bought a home with older sewer repair lines, it’s probably best just to get rid of them now.
If you’re operating without a sewer line service, sewer repair can be a hassle.
And by a hassle, I mean it can be a trench. And by a trench, I mean you literally have to dig a giant trench around the league to excavate the pipe and patch or align the pipe depending on the amount of damage. Sewer line services, on the other hand, can do a painless scoping out of your sewer line with cameras that snake through the line without needing an excavation process.
These cameras will isolate the issue and, at that point, sewer line services will offer to either patch or repair the damaged area. Many homeowners use a brand called SharkBite to fix any problematic plumbing conditions that they face. SharkBite attachments, although they can be useful and are easy to apply for the homeowner, generally turn around to bite the homeowner back in a few years or even a few months. SharkBites are not very durable, and using them to fix your home is not going to last very long.
Patching the existing pipe, if the damage is minimal enough, can be done by applying epoxy and allowing it to harden over the cracked area, so the damage is contained for the moment. Although this isn’t a permanent solution, for minimal damage, it’s usually not too bad of a solution. Professional sewer line services will use inflatable tubes to apply the epoxy so that it is pressed evenly around the pipe, allowing for the same level of water flow that you had previously and allowing for a uniform application that will not affect your pipes in any way other than plugging the leak.
If the damage is too great, a sewer line service will generally choose to replace the pipe entirely.
This is where working with a sewer line service who can do trenchless replacement will really save you both big bucks in a nice or landscape because if you’re doing it yourself, you’re going to have to dig up your whole yard. But experienced sewer line services have tools to actually replace the pipe without digging it up again, destroying the existing line and replacing it instantly with new pipe. It’s a complex process that your local sewer line service will be happy to explain to you in detail if you would just call him, but if you want to do it yourself, you might as well go and invest in a good shovel.
When you’re looking for a fantastic company that provides Salt Lake City air conditioner repair, your first instinct is likely to check for the cheapest prices in your area. In general, this is how we’ve been taught to approach situations. Shop off the clearance rack at your favorite clothes store, look for deals at the grocery store, and find the cheapest air conditioner repair Salt Lake City has to offer. Right? That’s what you, as a responsible homeowner, should do.
Not really.
The Truth
Air conditioner repair in your home is one of those places where it’s okay for you to spend a little extra to get better results. Actually, it will save you money in the long run if you invest in a quality Salt Lake City air conditioner repair company right off the bat. By choosing a quality air conditioner repair company, you are ensuring that you won’t have to call twice. Too often when you choose the cheapest option for Salt Lake City air conditioner repair, you’re going to get someone who pieces together a temporary solution instead of finding a permanent fix. You want more than a temporary reprieve. You want a home that is fully functioning and a solution that will last you, hopefully, until temperature starts dropping again and it’s comfortable to live in your house without a constant air conditioner flow.
Who Should Fix My Air Conditioning?
Since air conditioning is such a crucial element to hot Utah summers, air conditioner repair in Salt Lake City is a fairly common service that plumbers and other repair services provide to homeowners. If you’re new in the area or new to honing in general, you might not know where to start. And, even though you understand that it’s important to choose someone who will fix the problem thoroughly, you might convince yourself that the cheaper options will be able to do the job. After all, they have their own websites. There’s a couple reviews on Google reviews. Surely they know their stuff.
Great Service
The cost of great service is more than what you’ve been told. Repair service providers who actually know what they’re doing charge what they’re worth so that they can continue to provide excellent service in the area. Plumbers and repair service providers who don’t fix items permanently have a constant flow of work because the people who called them will call again and again and again as the problem is not fixed. They’re able to charge less because they have more calls, since they do more harm than good for a homeowner.
If you’re looking for an honest, valuable air conditioner repair service in Salt Lake City, keep in mind that any repair or service man knows his worth. And you should know that worth, too. Poor workmanship leads to more cost for you, the homeowner, in the long run. Instead of going with the lowest bargain, you should carefully evaluate options, looking for services that are accredited, certified, and highly reviewed in their field.
How To Tell An AC Repair Service Is Worth It
Google Reviews
A great place to look is right in front of you: Google Reviews. Google Reviews allows verified customers to leave reviews for goods and services that businesses can respond to and interact with.
Social Media
Another great place to look is the business’s social media accounts. How a business presents itself will tell you a lot about their work ethic and whether or not they are trusted by other customers.
Look to these areas of engagement to gauge whether or not customers are happy and content with their service through companies like All Utah Plumbing that provide Salt Lake City air conditioner repair services.
Check Qualifications
Beyond that, you can call the company and ask them for any qualifications that they might have, as well as the number of Master Plumbers they have on their team.
By evaluating both their customer interactions and their qualifications, you can get a good gauge for how skilled they are and how customers generally react after receiving their services in order to get a feel for whether or not the price that they ask for is worth it.
Research Pricing
On the other hand, you don’t want to be overcharged, either. If a company is overcharging you, they might be adding in extra fees or slipping in additional charges after you’ve already agreed to give them the job. You should work with a company that is very upfront about any fees or costs and gives you a legitimate estimate before visiting your home. Check and see what a legitimate estimate is by looking at the averages of your area as well as the general average for the price of the project. Keep in mind that these prices are affected by individuals who are charging for below the correct price, but these averages can still give you a pretty good idea of where an estimate should fall.
At the End of the Day
We all want a good deal. That’s how our society works and how we’ve been taught to view the world. If something is necessary for our well-being, like air conditioner repair in Salt Lake City in the summer, we are likely to look for the most efficient and cheapest way to get it done. Unfortunately, those don’t always go hand-in-hand. Just like fast fashion for low prices has its ethical downsides, fast repair work for low prices has its technical downsides that affect you as a homeowner. When you get a Salt Lake City air conditioner repair service that is the cheapest available, you are likely setting yourself up to pay much more out-of-pocket than the individual who goes against their instinct and hires the plumber with qualifications and a little bit of a higher price tag. Going with the higher-priced repair service is efficient, but it’s not always incredibly cost-effective.
No one said owning a house would be cheap. Sadly, this is just part of the bargain. But it doesn’t have to be a continual money pit. You can have a problem fixed once and for all when you hire a qualified Salt Lake City air conditioner repair service. They might cost a little bit more, but I promise it will be worth it.
Water pouring all over your floor, the inability to flush, the sneaking suspicion that a plunger isn’t going to do the trick this time…broken toilets are never fun. Often, a toilet breaks just because it’s older or worn down. You can never be certain at what point the age of the toilet will translate into a geyser of bowl-water. So, checking your toilet with the help of a white glove plumber once every two years is generally a good rule of thumb. But accidents still happen, and 24 hour plumbing can save your sanity when your toilet is trying to ruin your tile.
Running sink
A running sink is not only incredibly annoying (see this clip from a popular TV show), but it’s incredibly expensive. The water you lose when any faucet in your home is running unnecessarily runs up your bill throughout the month. You’re often left shocked at the sheer amount of wasted water from one small leak. 24 hour plumbing can stop the problem before it has time to compound on itself and get worse. With a 24 hour plumbing service like All Utah Plumbing, your running sink can resolve itself without costing you major money.
Water Heater Repair
Especially during the summer, it can be easy to forget about your water heater. You’re not using it any more, so why bother thinking about repair? Besides the fact that you are probably still taking warm showers, water heater repair can make the difference between a frigid winter night and a warm bubble bath. Because of this, you shouldn’t leave it as a problem for the winter. Instead, look for water heater repair options periodically throughout the year to make sure that everything is running smoothly. 24-hour plumbing services do still run in the winter, and they will be able to help you with your water heater repair. But it’s best to avoid the need for 24-hour plumbing services with a reliable plumber who visits periodically to make sure that your water heater doesn’t need repair.
Low Water Pressure
Similar to a running sink, low water pressure can signify a leak somewhere that is losing you excessive amounts of water. This leak, if gone undiagnosed, can cause problems in your home through water damage as well as skyrocketing your monthly water bill. And all of that doesn’t even take into account the fact that low water pressure is incredibly annoying and can affect your day-to-day life negatively. To fix low water pressure, you will need to fix the leak, and that’s not always something that you as an individual can do. There’s only so much duct tape can fix. If the leak is somewhere hidden within your walls or your plumbing, a 24-hour plumbing service is going to be the best bet to discover the leak, reach it safely, and fix it before any real damage is done. 24-hour plumbing services should be able to finish fixing your low water pressure quickly so that you can get back to everyday life.
Broken Sewer Line
If your house is full of clogged drains suddenly and you’re noticing a bad smell, there’s a good chance that you are dealing with a broken sewer line. Broken sewer lines are not fun, and they’re not something that you can wait to fix. A broken sewer line can cause massive damage and even compromise your water supply. Broken sewer lines can happen because of ordinary wear and tear or even construction in your area. If you live in a rural area and someone is digging fence posts, for example, they could hit a line on accident and cause a whole host of problems for everyone involved. A broken sewer line is an issue that needs to be fixed immediately, which is where a 24-hour plumbing service comes into play. With a plumber who is available when you need them, it doesn’t matter if your broken sewer line happens in the middle of the night or at 3 P.M. It will be solved quickly before any damage can be done.
Why You Should Find Your Plumber Now
Know Services
You need to go ahead and find your 24-hour plumbing provider now so that, when the time comes, you’ll know what services they offer and exactly what to ask for to get the best results. If you have chosen a 24-hour plumbing service ahead of time, but they don’t offer water heater repair, then you won’t be able to have that problem fixed when the need arises. Checking for different services like water heater repair, sewer line repair, and air conditioner repair can make the difference between a 24-hour plumbing service that satisfies all your needs and a home that still needs urgent repairs.
Compare Pricing
The great thing about a 24-hour plumbing service is that it’s fast. The bad thing is that when you’re acting fast, sometimes you aren’t always thinking clearly. When crisis mode has you looking for the first available team to head your way, you might not stop to take into account pricing and general cost of the process. Taking your time to find a 24-hour plumbing service that offers water heater repair and other services at a reasonable price will pay off in the long run because, by taking the time now, you’re making sure that you will make the right decision In the heat of the moment. Additionally, comparing pricing will allow you to understand what to expect from your plumbing service. If the prices are incredibly low, you might be concerned about the quality of the service that the 24-hour plumbing service will be providing. However, you also don’t want to be overcharged. Finding that happy medium involves research and comparing pricing for 24-hour plumbing. It’s much better to do that before your water heater repair is required than afterwards!
Check Licensing
Plumbers need a certain amount of licensing to work on certain projects. You want to make sure that the 24-hour plumber that you choose is following Utah codes and requirements so that you are receiving the best quality service you can find. Usually, 24-hour plumbing services will have their licensing information on their website for you to assess. If not, a simple phone call should yield all the information you need. If a 24-hour plumbing service is not willing to share their licensing information with you, consider that a red flag. As the customer, you should have all the information you need ahead of time in order to make the right decision when you reach out for 24-hour plumbing repair.
As summer grows closer, more and more people are going to experience the unpleasant reality of needing air conditioner repair. Air conditioner repair is not a fun necessity, but it’s one that’s all too common, especially during the summer months when air conditioners might be left on for long periods of time. Whether the fan gets overheated, the system runs out of Freon, or it’s simply a filter that needs replacement, air conditioner failure is not something to be taken lightly. With record high temperatures over the past few years, Salt Lake City is not a place to toy around with your air conditioner repair. We cannot trust the cold mountain air to keep us cool during the hot summer months. Because of this, many people have been looking into fixing their air conditioners themselves. Homeowners are often wary of asking for expert help, remembering the last bill they paid for a repair that bore insufficient results. Luckily, there is a simple fix to the problem of air conditioner repair in Salt Lake City. But before we get to that, let’s discuss what not to do. As usual with this question, we will turn to the cinematic world for examples of what not to do.
Do not fill up a bathtub with ice cubes and stick it in your living room to survive with no air conditioner.
The situation can only resolve itself in destroyed floorboards and a miserable mess to clean up. Although it might be tempting to slip on your bathing suit in your loft and collapse under the cool list of an ice cube bath, it’s not worth it for that temporary enjoyment when the real problem still persists.
Do not hook up a million fans and have them all blowing in your general direction.
Air conditioner repair usually doesn’t have anything to do with your electricity, and we want to keep it that way. If you hook up an excessive amount of fans, there’s a possibility that you will overload your electrical system and cause a power outage that takes even this small relief away from you. Although it can be incredibly tempting to go buy industrial-sized fans and aim them all at your face, this is not the solution.
Do not, for any reason, cut a hole in the wall and put a plastic soda bottle where plumbing should be.
Although this doesn’t explicitly have to do with the air conditioner, it must be said, as a certain character on a certain show has most definitely done that and led many watchers to unrealistic expectations about what they can fix as a homeowner. Fixing your toilet with a plastic bottle in the plumbing is not a viable option.
Instead of following these inadvisable guidelines left by the loft-dwelling friends who make this show so engaging, try some actual, practical steps to see if your air conditioner repair is in your wheelhouse. And if it’s not, don’t hesitate to call a qualified professional like All Utah Plumbing, who will be able to repair your air conditioner in an efficient manner that is well worth the time and money.
Check the filter.
Sometimes, if you haven’t changed out the air conditioner filter in a long time, it can cause malfunctioning in the system itself. It’s important to make sure that your air conditioner filters are changed regularly so that not only your air quality is acceptable, but your coolant system is able to function with ease. Additionally, it can also be a fire hazard to the air filter dirty in your system for long periods of time, so there are several incentives to get that replaced regularly. It’s usually a simple fix, so even the least repair-savvy homeowners should be able to handle that one.
Clear the clogged condensation drain.
Now I know this one sounds intense, but really it is not that bad. Your condensation drain keeps with little humidity Salt Lake City has out of your house, So it’s basically begging to be blocked up by mold or algae. Sometimes this can be fixed by homeowners simply by locating the end of the condensation drain, which is usually in a utility closet, and digging out the blockage with the screwdriver. Not exactly the most elegant of repair jobs, but one that gets the problem fixed.
Check the house for duct malfunctions.
Duct malfunctions are usually discoverable when one room is cooling and others are not. If some parts of your home are completely fine and others are sweltering summer nightmares, there’s a good chance there’s duct breakage along the way. If you have an unfinished room where the ductwork is exposed, you can find that break pretty easily. However, if your walls are finished and everything’s hidden behind a comforting coat of plaster, a professional is probably the safest bet. Unless you want to live like the inhabitants of Loft 4D and have pieces of the wall that come apart to show haphazard repair solutions at any given moment, a repair service is the right choice for you.
Clear the area around the compressor.
Your air compressor is located outside and sucks air in to be filtered through your system and dispensed into your home. If there are leaves or another source of debris blocking your compressor, your air conditioning will not be able to function properly. This is a pretty simple fix: just find your air compressor and rake away any leaves. Especially if lawn maintenance was not a priority through the winter months, there could be debris that’s been there for a while. It’s not going to be beneficial for your system to leave it there for long.
Turn it off and on again.
I know, I know, you’re smarter than that. But none of us really are. Far too often, the problem with an air conditioner that needs repair is simply that the heat is on. Or the fan has been turned off. And that’s nothing to be ashamed of. Just don’t tear a hole in your wall trying to fix the problem when really all you need to do is push a button. And, on a more serious note, if you leave your air conditioning on all the time instead of converting it to auto or turning it off when you’re not around, the fan might overexert itself and run the system down to the point of needing real, complex repair. So making sure that you turn your air conditioner off when you need to and turn it on when you need to is actually a pretty important part of home maintenance.
Any one of these problems can quickly become complicated enough to need an air conditioner repair service. Finding a professional air conditioner repair service in Salt Lake City may seem daunting, but when you have someone like All Utah Plumbing who has exemplary service, standing in the community, and guaranteed results, the problem doesn’t seem as difficult, after all. So if you’re tired of considering sticking your head in the freezer as a viable option to get through the day, contact All Utah Plumbing for a quick solution and a cool summer.
The HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system in your home is responsible for keeping you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. It includes your air conditioner and your furnace.
Your HVAC is one of the most important systems in your house.
It keeps you cool on hot days, warm on cold days and comfortable every day.
If you’re like most people, you probably don’t think about it too much — until it stops working in the middle of a temperature spike or drop.
That’s when you realize how important it is to have a reliable HVAC system that works when you need it to work.
The type of heating and cooling system used in your home can vary depending on what part of the country you live in and even what part of town you live in.
Some homes use forced air systems while others use radiant heaters or even geothermal heating systems.
In some parts of the United States, the climate is so mild that air conditioning isn’t even a staple in every home.
In others, it’s unlikely that you’ll ever find a furnace that could survive through a serious snow storm.
In Utah, with hot summers and chilly winters, both air conditioning and heating through a furnace are usually status quo in any given home, so that your comfort throughout the year is protected by that system.
Utah homes that find themselves higher in the mountains might invest more time and energy into their heating, while those baking in the warmer areas of the state might value air conditioning to a higher degree (pun intended).
But how exactly does it work?
What Does Heating and Cooling Mean?
Some Definitions
Heating and cooling is the process of keeping your home at a comfortable temperature.
This can be done by either heating or cooling the air inside your house.
The most popular method of heating and cooling is through a natural gas furnace and an air conditioner.
How Does a Furnace Work?
A Hot Topic
A furnace uses a heat exchanger to transfer heat from one area to another.
In other words, it takes heat from inside your house, warms up its coils with gas or electricity, then sends that warm air through ductwork throughout your home.
Types of Furnaces
Furnaces are an important component of your home’s HVAC system.
They’re responsible for heating your home and central air conditioning it, and they can be either gas or electric.
Furnaces come in several different types, including:
Gas Furnaces
Gas furnaces burn natural gas or propane to heat the air in your home.
They’re a popular choice because they’re affordable, efficient and easy to install.
Oil Furnaces
Oil furnaces use liquid fuel oil as their main energy source.
These furnaces are typically more expensive than other options, but they’re also more durable and reliable.
Electric Furnaces
Electric furnaces use electricity to heat your home’s air.
They produce less waste heat than other types of furnace, making them an ideal choice for homes with limited insulation or ventilation issues that could cause overheating problems.
Heat Pump
This is the most common type of furnace, and it provides both heating and cooling. A heat pump transfers heat from one place to another. In winter, it pulls heat out of the air inside your house and sends it outside.
In summer, a heat pump works in reverse to keep your home cool by transferring heat from your home to the outside air.
It’s more expensive to buy than other types of furnaces, but you can save on energy bills over time because it uses less electricity than air conditioners do.
Radiant Panel Heaters
Radiant panel heaters resemble wall panels and are commonly used in bathrooms, kitchens and other small spaces where floor space may be limited.
These units do not have fans, so they operate more quietly than other types of heaters do, making them ideal for smaller rooms such as bathrooms or kitchens where you want to keep noise at a minimum level.
How Does an Air Conditioner Work?
Cool as a Cucumber
An air conditioner works similarly, except it transfers heat from outside your home into the air inside your house instead of vice versa like a furnace does.
It also uses a heat exchanger to do this, which is comprised of coils that are cooled with refrigerant gas (like Freon) before being sent through the ductwork in your home.
Types of Air Conditioners
Central Air Conditioner
Central air conditioning is the most common type of cooling system installed in homes.
This type of system consists of an outdoor condenser unit and an indoor air handler or blower that pumps cool air throughout the house using gravity or a fan-powered duct system.
The compressor inside the outdoor condenser unit pumps refrigerant through coils to cool it down before it goes indoors through copper piping and returns to the outdoor condenser unit once again.
Window Air Conditioner
Window units are another popular option for cooling your home during hot summer months.
You can use them as supplemental cooling or as primary cooling systems in smaller homes where central air isn’t practical or cost effective due to space or budget requirements.
Ductless Mini Split Systems
Ductless mini split systems use refrigerant-based refrigeration to cool and heat your home efficiently without ductwork connecting the indoor and outdoor units together like traditional central air conditioning systems do.
When you think about the temperature in your home or office building, you probably think about how hot or cold it feels at first glance.
But there are many factors that affect temperature in any space — especially those that have a lot of people moving through them every day.
You may not realize it, but heating and cooling systems actually do more than just keep us comfortable: they also protect us from hazardous materials like mold spores that can build up in our homes if we don’t have proper ventilation systems in place.
How Your Air Conditioner and Furnace are Connected
Not quite twins, but pretty inescapably intertwined.
Your HVAC is a crucial part of your home, but most people don’t know how it works.
Most people don’t even know that your furnace and air conditioning can be connected!
So we’re going to go over 7 ways that your air conditioning and furnace are connected through your HVAC system.
This will give you a groundwork to understand one of the most important systems maintaining your home.
Ductwork
The most obvious way your furnace and AC are connected is that they both use the ductwork of your home’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC) to distribute the temperature controlled air throughout your home.
Central air conditioning systems typically rely on a heat pump to move coolant through coils within the system.
This coolant absorbs heat from the air and then transfers it back into your home through those same cooling coils.
This process works in reverse during the summer when temperatures rise above 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
The same process is used to remove excess heat from inside your home. The only difference is that instead of transferring cold into your home, they’re removing warm air from inside.
This process with your air conditioning and furnace saves you money in the long run.
Prepare Air
Your furnace prepares the air for your AC by heating it in the winter. Your AC prepares the air for your furnace by cooling it in the summer.
Good air quality is a must for good health.
Your HVAC system plays a vital role in keeping your home’s air quality at its best.
Heating and air conditioning prepare air for each other.
Air conditioning removes humidity from the air, which makes it easier for heaters to warm up that same air. Similarly, heaters help remove moisture from indoor air before it’s cooled by an air conditioner.
This process is called dehumidification or “air drying.” It allows your HVAC system to do its job more efficiently by removing unwanted water vapor from the indoor environment.
Air Quality and Your HVAC System
When you turn on an appliance like a humidifier or dehumidifier, you’re essentially making changes to the environment within your home, which can impact how well your HVAC system operates and how much energy it uses.
Some appliances actually require more energy from your HVAC system than others — think about how much energy it takes to run an operating room compared with a bedroom.
The same applies here at home: If you run too many appliances at once, they’ll use up more of your HVAC system’s capacity, causing it to work harder and use more energy than necessary.
The difference between a good system and a bad one is how much energy they use to perform their tasks.
A poorly designed system will use more energy than necessary, while a well-designed system uses less.
A poorly designed HVAC can cost you hundreds of dollars per year in extra energy costs, while a well-designed HVAC could save you hundreds of dollars per year in reduced energy costs.
If you’re looking for an HVAC replacement company in your area, start by asking friends and family for recommendations.
You can also search online for local heating and air conditioning companies that have great reviews from past customers.
Refrigerant
The refrigerant from your air conditioner flows through pipes that may also be used to heat water for radiant flooring or hydronic baseboard heaters.
If you have an older system (one that was built before 1993), the air conditioning and heating systems are probably separate.
This is because the older version of refrigerant in your air conditioner was phased out beginning in 1993 due to its ozone depletion potential (ODP).
The newer refrigerant that replaced it is not harmful to the environment, but the old pipes don’t work with this updated refrigerant.
So if you want to replace your old system with an updated one, there’s a good chance you’ll need new ductwork as well.
That can quickly get complicated, so make sure you’ve got a repair company selected to help you with the process of replacing your pipes.
Newer systems use a single line for both heating and cooling, so if you want to upgrade, you’ll need new pipes or tubing for each part of your home’s HVAC system — including any radiant heating system.
Fans
Both of these systems use fans to move air around your home. But you can only have one fan running at a time—either for heating or cooling, not both at once.
The reason you can only have one system’s fan running at a time in your house is simple: each system is designed to take humidity out of the air, either through evaporation or convection (which moves warm air away from people).
They do this by blowing cold air over coils or other surfaces that are cooled by refrigerant flowing through them.
So when you turn on the heater and begin warming up the house, you’re actually heating up the air inside your HVAC system. That makes it harder for it to remove additional heat from inside your home.
In fact, if your indoor temperature gets too high, some heaters stop working altogether because they don’t get enough cold air from outside to cool their coils!
So, to keep everything working properly, your systems operate one at a time.
That’s why it’s best to choose to keep your air conditioning OR furnace running in your home, not both at once—especially if you need both in quick succession.
The same goes for using your air conditioner during winter months or vice versa.
Electricity
Since your HVAC system runs on electricity, both your heating and air can add to your electrical bill if there’s an issue.
And some of the tips and tricks that you might think improve your HVAC system’s efficiency are actually harmful to the system itself.
In the summer, you might be tempted to put your air conditioning unit on a timer. While this could save you some money, it’s not recommended.
While you might think that you’re saving money by turning off your AC at night and turning it back on in the morning, this actually puts undue stress on your system.
If you have a central air conditioner, it’s best to leave it running 24 hours a day during the summer.
If you need to turn off your thermostat during the day or overnight, consider using an energy-efficient model that has a programmable timer so that it can turn itself back on when needed.
You can also purchase a separate timer for your thermostat and set that to turn on and off as needed.
Air Filters
A filter cleans the air as it’s circulated throughout your home by both systems – so make sure you regularly replace this filter!
Air filters are an essential part of your furnace or air conditioning system.
They clean the air as it’s circulated throughout your home by both air conditioning and heating systems.
If you have allergies or asthma, you’re probably already familiar with the importance of keeping your air filter clean.
A dirty filter can make breathing difficult, even for people who don’t have breathing problems.
Air filters should be replaced at least once a year, but they may need to be changed more often if:
You have pets or small children who play inside the house all day
If you own cats or dogs (or other furry friends), then chances are good that they shed quite a bit.
And if you have kids, then there’s also a good chance that they do as well!
As this fur and dander build up inside your vents, they can cause problems down the road — especially if you don’t clean the mess up regularly.
This is why it’s important to check your HVAC filters if you have pets or small children who play inside the house all day; chances are good that there will be enough pet hair inside your vents to clog them up over time.
You smoke in the house
If you smoke in the house, your HVAC system is going to suffer from it.
Cigarette smoke contains tar, nicotine and other chemicals that can build up on the inside of your air filters and reduce their effectiveness.
In fact, some cigarette smokers have reported that their HVAC systems stopped working after several months of smoking inside.
If you smoke in the house, make sure you check your HVAC filters frequently so that you can clean them when they get dirty. If they’re too dirty, they won’t work properly and will need to be replaced more often than necessary.
You should also keep an eye on your air conditioner’s electrical connections. If they’re not tight enough, they could cause sparks and fires — not something you want when there are so many flammable materials around!
Dusty construction is going on nearby
If you’re experiencing dusty construction in your neighborhood, there are a few things you can do to protect yourself and your house.
The first thing is to check your HVAC filters.
If they’re dirty or clogged, they won’t be able to filter out all of the dust and debris in the air. You should also be sure that any vents are closed off to prevent dust from getting inside of your home.
Next, make sure that everyone in your family is wearing protective goggles or glasses whenever they go outside.
This will help reduce the amount of dust that gets into their eyes and lungs when they breathe in the air around them.
If you have small children, make sure that they wash their hands often and avoid playing outside for long periods of time.
That way, they don’t ingest as much dust from their hands or mouths as possible.
Finally, make sure that everyone stays indoors as much as possible during construction hours.
You don’t want your family to breathe in too much dust while they’re outside working on their home or property.
Your system has been turned off for an extended period, such as during winter months when you don’t need heat
A dirty furnace filter can reduce airflow by as much as 50 percent and cause your system to work harder than it should.
And if the pleated filters behind each air handler become clogged with dust particles, they may not be able to keep dust from entering your home’s ductwork and circulating through it again after it has been cleaned.
If you’re not sure whether your air filter needs to be replaced, here are some signs that it’s time for a new one:
Your furnace takes longer than usual to heat up your home when you turn it on.
If the heating system doesn’t kick in right away, it could mean that your filter is clogged with dust and debris.
This could also be caused by an inefficient furnace motor or dirty vents.
There are visible stains on the walls or ceiling of your home.
These stains indicate that dust particles are being sucked into your home through cracks and crevices in the structure.
A clogged air filter isn’t enough to cause this problem — there must also be cracks or holes where dust can enter.
You need a professional to service both!
If you have an air conditioner or heating system installed in your home, you can expect to use it for at least 15 years.
However, if you are not careful with the maintenance of your AC and heating systems, they can break down faster than you expect.
When that happens, you will need to hire a professional repairman to fix them.
The first step to getting your air conditioner and heating system fixed is to contact a professional.
You shouldn’t attempt to repair it yourself because it can cause damage to your home and result in higher utility bills.
A trained technician will be able to locate the problem quickly, diagnose the issue, and fix it so that your system works efficiently again.
Here are some tips on how to choose an HVAC contractor:
Look for someone who has been in business for at least five years and preferably longer.
Look at their website and see if they have any testimonials or reviews from past customers.
You can also ask for references if you like. Most businesses will be willing to show you that they provide excellent services for their customers.
They should have all the proper licenses and insurance coverage, as well as workers’ compensation insurance coverage for their employees.
You should be able to trust them with your home’s heating and cooling system because it’s an expensive investment that needs to last many years without incident or issue.
Check out their website for any complaints or reviews from past customers before hiring them.
Asking friends and family is often the best way to find a good contractor.
They can provide you with an honest assessment of the company’s quality of workmanship and customer service.
Once you’ve found several reputable contractors in your area, ask them questions about their qualifications before hiring them for the job.
Ask about their experience working on various types of equipment and whether they have ever encountered similar problems with other houses like yours.
Find out how long they have been in business as well as how many years they have been servicing customers in your area.
Also ask them what type of warranties they offer on their services so that if anything happens while they are working on your house, they will take care of it.
Both a furnace and an air conditioner are both important to your home comfort during the summer and winter months.
While Utah is heating up, this is no time to avoid taking care of your furnace as well as servicing your air conditioner.
But understanding how the two work together, you can appreciate how important it is to maintain your furnace and air conditioner both, even during a time when your furnace might be the last thing on your mind.
So give us a call and have your HVAC checked out today.
What’s one of our favorite pastimes as a professional plumbing company? Reminding ourselves why our job is valuable. Here at All Utah Plumbing, we know that our white glove service in air conditioner and plumbing repair brings safety and satisfaction to customers across the Utah counties in which we operate. We take pride in our expertise and success, especially when it comes to complicated jobs that need an experienced plumber’s eye.
Since Ancient Rome, plumbing has been a part of civilization, improved health and living conditions, and comfort in the home. As time moved on, we’ve found better ways to use materials and practices to increase plumbing efficiency and benefit homeowners. Today, plumbing is a seamless part of every kitchen, bathroom, and sprinkler system – until it isn’t.
We all know the funny plumbing stories. We love the funny plumbing stories. And we’re actually having a contest on our social media to gather and celebrate YOUR funny plumbing stories, and we’re rewarding the funniest with prizes. So, to give you some inspiration, here are some of the funniest plumbing stories we could find on one of the most entertaining internet platforms out there: Reddit.
These are all curated from the thread r/plumbingfails. We’re linking all the original posts to give credit to the original creators, but if you have a question or request concerning credit, please give us a shout. Along with the original posts, we’ll explain some of the humor behind each post and why a professional plumber would be able to improve the situation. I know, I know – explaining a joke makes it less funny. But explaining THESE jokes will hopefully help you avoid these particular situations in your own home. And, if you end up with a pipe spewing water or a toilet that flushes into your sink, you’ll know what to do. If you’re in the Utah area, a good plan of action is probably: Call All Utah Plumbing.
SharkBite is a plumbing materials company that produces pipes and other materials for installation and repair. Most of the red and blue pipes you see in this photo are SharkBite or similar. While SharkBite is a popular brand and many people are familiar with it, it’s generally considered to be best in short-term situations, not as a long-term solution. The durability of the products can sometimes be brought into question, and they’re not intended to be permanent. This contraption on the floor clearly had been patched up a few too many times with products that are meant to be temporary, so there were most likely lots of leaks or potential problems within the house’s plumbing system.
When your pipes wear out or need repair, turning to a quick but impermanent fix will cause you more problems in the long run. It’s like buying your partner flowers when what you really need to do is sit down and have a long talk. For plumbing, the long talk should come in the form of a professional plumber visiting your home for plumbing maintenance. Plumbing maintenance allows you to take stock of all the issues that might be present in your home’s pipes and provides a blueprint for permanent repairs that will protect you from needing SharkBites.
Buckets of Fun
u/cinnamon_troll – Bucket fix…leaky pipe in ceiling? Just add bucket
What’s better than a bucket?
Well, actually a lot of things.
While a bucket full of water suspended over overhead wires CAN be a good thing if you don’t think about it too much, More likely you’re setting yourself up for a massive disaster. Regardless, the fix is not permanent.
Most of these plumbing problems, as you are probably coming to realize, have to do with temporary fixes instead of permanent solutions. This is because, when faced with a leaking pipe or a damaged system, it can feel overwhelming to look for a responsible plumber who will be able to fix the problem absolutely. It can feel as if you’re going to have to find somebody who is incredibly expensive and will cost you more than you can afford to fix the leaking pipe. It’s better just to use a bucket. Dumping the water everyday seems like a preferable solution. Hopefully all the wires are properly insulated.
That’s actually a large part of what All Utah Plumbing wants to do. When we work with clients, we are providing quality services that are deliberate, professional, and satisfactory. You know that whenever you call a plumber from All Utah Plumbing, you are going to get personalized care that will completely resolve your problem. There are no uncertainties when you call our plumbers. Just like you can be pretty certain that the bucket solution isn’t going to last forever.
So this one probably isn’t your fault. If you have a pipe in a ridiculous place like this one, it can actually cause a lot of problems. For one, if you’re out in the alley in the middle of the night and you happen to forget your flashlight, you could trip over the pipe and cause a whole lot of problems that way. But more importantly, having a pipe exposed like this in a vulnerable position leaves it ripe for weather damage, external damage, and just general mishaps that could cost you a lot and potentially pollute your water supply. But this isn’t your fault. Whoever planned your house did not do a great job if you have a pipe sticking out like this. To fix this problem, you have a couple options.
You could move. If you’re someone who likes avoidance, this might be the best one.
You could build a tiny little house to go over the exposed pipe. While cute, this might not necessarily be practical.
Or, you could call a professional plumbing service to rework your plumbing and set the pipes back somewhere they belong. All Utah Plumbing is able to provide this service for Utah homes. Just because the person who lived there before you made poor construction decisions doesn’t mean you have to live with them.
Can We Fix It?
The title of this picture was “Plumbers!!!! Help!!!!” to which one user replied, “Your options are dynamite or a sawzall. Stop the bleeding. Remodel.”
Unfortunately, sometimes that’s the way it is in life. You can’t really fix the problems. You just have to start over. For a major issue like this one, where pipes aren’t where they’re supposed to be at all and you’re facing a lot of wear and tear because of inefficient plumbing, it’s probably better just to start all over and recreate a better plumbing system.
More often than not, when something like this occurs in a home, it’s due to a homeowner trying to implement a new feature without taking into account the plumbing. This tub probably wasn’t originally there, but when someone decided they wanted one, they chose an innovative approach.
While innovation can be great, it can also lead to disaster when it ignores the tradition and experience a professional plumber would have brought to a project like this. So, if you’re looking to expand your bathroom amenities and improve your home, calling a plumber would be the best first move. Calling All Utah Plumbing will help you realize the best way to achieve that dream so that down the line, you won’t end up on a Reddit chain about plumbing fails. And I think, overall, that’s what we all want to avoid.
It’s summer in Utah and your air conditioner decided to call it quits: the first thing you should do is check your thermostat. Your thermostat should be set at a temperature that is lower than the current room temperature. If it does not say “cooling” on the thermostat display and it isn’t blowing any air at all, turn the thermostat to cool and wait three to five minutes, then see if it kicks in. Sometimes, it’s just that simple!
If the thermostat shows that it’s on, but your system isn’t cooling, try checking any fuses or circuit breakers. Any issues with these more complex functions could be related to an electrical overload and would need prompt attention from a professional. In addition, you can try turning off your system for about 10 minutes to see if this allows for a reset of sorts. Either way, it’s best to contact a Utah air conditioner expert.
It smells like there’s something wrong.
If you notice an unexpected smell coming from your unit, you may have a problem with the electrical wiring. Is there a burning plastic odor? This could indicate that your air conditioning system is malfunctioning, and this is dangerous because it could lead to a fire.
Other foul odors indicate different problems. For example, does it smell like a musty basement? If so, then you probably need to clean the ducts of your air conditioner. A dirty air filter can also create strange smells; get into the habit of changing the filter at least once every three months (or more often if there are pets in your home). Strange smells may also occur when there’s a clog in the condensation drain line, which serves to remove water (and any unpleasant odors trapped within) from inside the unit. If you notice anything amiss in this regard, give us a call right away—we’d be glad to inspect your unit and provide an estimate for repairs!
Moist air is leaking from ducts.
If you’ve just noticed that water is leaking from the ducts of your air conditioning unit, it’s likely caused by a clogged drain line. This can cause water to leak through and onto the floor.
If you’re not comfortable with fixing this on your own, call an air conditioner repair service to handle it for you.
The system keeps running but doesn’t cool the home.
High humidity and a lack of cool air is a sign of poor airflow. If you feel like your home’s air conditioner doesn’t cool like it used to, there are several potential causes. The most common problem involves the thermostat being set incorrectly. Be sure that your thermostat has been correctly programmed for the season. You can check this by setting the AC for cooling and lowering the temperature about five degrees below the ambient room temperature. Wait several minutes, then return to see if it feels cooler in your home.
If you suspect that your thermostat is not accurately reflecting the temperature in your home, it may be time to replace or upgrade your thermostat entirely.
If, however, you have confirmed that your thermostat settings are correct but still feel like you aren’t receiving adequate cooling, there could be an issue with either a part or multiple parts of your AC system itself. A service professional will inspect all parts of your unit — including refrigerant levels — and make any necessary repairs and improvements to get your air conditioner back on track before temperatures soar!
Your energy bills are higher than normal.
When your air conditioner starts running a lot, but not cooling effectively, it might be because of a leak in the ducts or an AC unit that needs repair. Call an AC technician to check for leaks and fix them before they lower your energy efficiency.
You see signs of damage on the outside of your air conditioner
Check for blocked air filters and clear them or replace them if necessary. Clean blockages from around the outside unit with a hose or broom so it doesn’t overheat during use.
Your thermostat isn’t working properly
Check for problems with the thermostat and call a technician to fix it if needed. The first thing they’ll do is look at whether there are any signs of corrosion on the wires inside—if there aren’t then they can start looking into why it’s not working correctly (or perhaps just replace some settings).
There are loud or unusual noises when the system is running.
If you hear banging, clanking, or scraping sounds while the system is running, these could be signs of a broken belt. These belts are incredibly vital to the proper functioning of your AC unit. If the compressor or fan motor has begun to wear out, it can cause a rattle that may get worse over time. Rattling noises could also indicate that you have a refrigerant leak. If you hear high-pitched squealing when the system is running, there could be an issue with the condenser fan motor. If this is the case, it’s important to contact an AC repair technician immediately.
Still other unusual noises could indicate that there’s a loose component in your unit — such as a screw or bolt that needs tightened down. Seeking help from an air conditioner repair pro will ensure that all parts are in working order and properly attached to each other and their respective components before they’re fixed into place permanently by accident with caulk or glue.
If you’re concerned about your AC, have a professional check it out to avoid permanent damage and reduce long-term costs.
If you have any worries about your air conditioner unit, have a professional check it out. Hiring an air conditioning repair service will help you avoid permanent damage and reduce long-term costs. It’s also important to perform regular maintenance checks on your unit to make sure it’s working properly.
Finding the right repair service can be tricky, but there are many online resources that can help you find AC services in your area. You’ll need to determine what kind of repair services you need before contacting a technician so they can give you an accurate estimate of cost. Many companies offer free estimates for their repairs or provide flat-rate pricing for common issues like leaking water or not running at full capacity.
Knowing when to replace the system is another important consideration as well; if your unit isn’t working as efficiently as it should, then perhaps it’s time for a new one! The best way to get the most out of your unit is by doing regular maintenance checks and calling an expert when something goes wrong with it so they can fix whatever problem may arise quickly before anything else happens down the road (and more money gets spent unnecessarily).
Just hear me out. We all love to see a comparison list of characters we love dearly. And, since Bridgerton is taking the world by storm, there are dozens of comparisons and lists ranking these regency rascals.
But we’re pretty sure this list trumps them all. Because, if you’re a homeowner looking for a white glove Utah plumbing contractor, you might not really know your way around the plumbing industry. But you most definitely know about Bridgerton. And correlating the two might help clarify some of the mysteries about plumbing – while being incredibly entertaining. Therefore, I would like to invite you to a non-exhaustive list of common household plumbing problems as Bridgerton characters.
If you’ve been living under a rock and haven’t heard of Bridgerton, it’s a series on Netflix (based on the books) that centers around regency-era romance with a diverse cast of characters who all wear very pretty clothes. Season Two just came out, and it’s all anyone is talking about. We all have opinions about the characters, so if you disagree with me, let us know on our social media post. But here are plumbing problems as Bridgerton characters.
Dripping faucet – Simon Basset
An easy fix, a dripping faucet can still be an incredibly impactful plumbing problem to have. Fixing it really depends on your type of faucet, which is why having an expert come by and give their opinion is probably better than trying to do it on your own. But if you have a relatively simple faucet, then it could be as easy as replacing an O-ring. Just like it’s incredibly easy to, you know, not swear off marriage in a regency-era romance. I mean, read the room. Simon should have known better than to show up with that face and expect to stay single – even if he did have his reasons. It’s an easy fix, but it can also be incredibly complicated. And, just like Simon disappeared from Season Two because actor Regé-Jean Page had a contract that was up, so too can a dripping faucet easily disappear from your life with the right repairs.
Running toilet – Lord Featherington
It’s like the worst version of a leaky faucet. Still, it’s easy enough to fix, if the problem is a leaky flapper. But if the problem is that the inner workings are worn out and all need to be replaced, then a plumber is going to be your best bet. And, if your simple but incredibly complicated issue is a gambling vice that leads to all sorts of drama, you should probably go with the easy fix and learn to be a little bit more selfless instead of committing to the role of the gambler and reaping the inevitable rewards. Just saying.
Clogged toilet – Daphne Bridgerton
It’s a classic. Show me a home, and I’ll show you a place that’s had a clogged toilet before. It’s inevitable, part of the system, and usually leads to a few laughs. Just like Daphne Bridgerton. A clogged toilet fake-dating a dripping faucet leads to plumbing problems extraordinaire that most certainly require a plumber. Or at least a few more seasons. Please bring him back.
Slow or clogged drains – Anthony Bridgerton
His need for control in the first season is draining, and the way he toys with Siena is nothing short of despicable. Although Anthony’s development is slow, by Season Two we have a little bit of a reason to sympathize with him. Just like slow or clogged drains can be difficult to understand. Even for experienced plumbers, the way that pipes twist and turn in the walls of your house can make it difficult to combat a seriously clogged sink drain. Honestly, I still don’t know if I like Anthony. Just like I don’t really know if I can sympathize with a clogged drain being difficult. It can be incredibly unsanitary for homeowners, and a lot of the time you’re not really sure what the problem actually is. It’s best to call an expert for this one. Someone should pay for Anthony to go to therapy.
Leaky pipes – Lady Danbury
A pretty easy fix, unless the whole system is corrupt. Which…yeah, feels like it could relate to the regency era. But I digress. Leaky pipes are usually a sign of wear and tear from everyday use, since humanity has yet to design a material that is truly infallible. Since leaky pipes are pretty unproblematic and usually just need a little understanding, I think they’re a lot like Lady Danbury. Lady Danbury provides the advice everyone needs she doesn’t in a way that doesn’t completely destroy an individual. Leaky pipes let you know other repairs might be coming your way soon, since your plumbing system might need to be replaced. But it doesn’t bring your house crashing down just yet. A leaky pipe will give you time to hire a cleaning company to perform a full house maintenance check, so you can see where a deeper problem might be rooted.
Low water pressure – Eloise Bridgerton
There are about a million reasons why you could have low water pressure, from a blocked pipe to simply overuse. Low water pressure sends you running all over your house, looking for the solution in the water valve and a utility bill, while really the problem might be that you have a sprinkler head that’s a little too loose. Eloise Bridgerton runs all around regency era London, looking for a way to make things right for the women around her while not seeing the sometimes obvious answer that other people are going to live their lives differently than she is, and that’s okay. While maybe one day she will wake up to this reality, for now, Eloise Bridgerton remains naïve.
Main water line break or leak – Colin Bridgerton
I’m not saying that friendzoning is just as devastating as the main water line break… but I kind of am. It’s definitely similar in that a main water line break or leak might not be your fault. Colin Bridgerton can’t help the fact that he doesn’t feel the same way as Penelope. If the main water line breaks and it’s coming from the public supply, it’s the city’s fault, so it’s a municipal problem to fix. For Colin, this equates to waiting for the stars to align until he can fall for Penelope. It takes the blame out of his hands. But sometimes a main water line break happens on your property. And, if Colin is just denying his feelings for Penelope, he needs to call a plumber as soon as possible before further damage is done. Because I’m pretty sure she could destroy him.
Unexpected water bill – Penelope Featherington
It comes out of nowhere. It’s highly controversial. And, a lot of times, it just takes a moment and a keen eye to unravel. Unexpected water bills can be caused by the weather, a leak you might have overlooked, or some other issue that’s wasting water in your home. Just like Penelope Featherington, an unexpected water bill is usually more than what it seems to be on the surface. It points to a larger problem. Penelope’s need to be seen leads her to assume the identity of Lady Whistledown. And we all know how that’s been working out.
Overflowing gutters – Kate Sharma
Gutters mean well, but sometimes they just can’t handle the overflowing responsibility put on their shoulders. Or they can’t handle the responsibility that they put on themselves, when their little sister enters society after decades of their family being undesired. Okay, that might not be about gutters. But Kate Sharma is definitely doing what she thinks is right. The amount of responsibility she puts on herself, though, quickly snowballs out of control, just like clogged gutters can overflow with debris and falling leaves that cause damage. Even though gutters do their best, sometimes they can’t fix everything.
Like I said, this is most definitely not an exhaustive list. And plenty of people might disagree or see other aspects of the characters that they feel should have been highlighted. Bridgerton is a complex show. And plumbing is a complex business. Regardless, I hope this list helped you understand the common plumbing problems that you as a homeowner might have to face in the coming years. And when you do face them, I sincerely hope you will face them with grace, poise, and a local plumber on speed dial.
Which Bridgerton character is your favorite? Do you think we got anyone wrong? Let us know on our social media!
Who likes dealing with clogged drains? Nobody. Well, plumbers, but nobody else is really making a hobby out of it.
So, when you have a clogged drain, you react.
First, it’s confusion about why the toilet isn’t flushing or the sink isn’t draining.
Second, it’s disgust in seeing… you know, gross stuff.
Third, it’s frustration over how you are going to fix the problem.
From here, if you decided to take matters into your own hands, you have two options:
Chemical drain cleaners
Drain cleaning appliances
Best chemical drain cleaners for your home
Let’s talk about chemicals first. Depending on the drain (ie not a toilet), this is likely your first option, they are relatively cheap, easy to use, and don’t leave you pulling disgusting gunk out of your drain.
But did you know there are three different types of chemical cleaners?
Each type has different strengths and should be applied to different drains depending on what the drain is used for.
Acid drain cleaners
Best for Bathroom drains
Acid drain cleaners are probably the most common type of chemical drain cleaners. These cleaners work by using strong acids, usually sulfuric or muriatic, to partially dissolve the blockage in your drain. These chemicals also release heat that can be used to dislodge grease-based clogs.
The downside of using strong acids is that they are dangerous, cause acid burns when contacted with skin, and can erode your pipes.
Oxidizing drain cleaners
Best for Kitchen sinks
Still, on the side of acids, we have the less potent oxidizing drain chemicals. Contrary to their counterpart acid drain cleaner, this chemical is typically less acidic and is primarily used to break up organic clogs such as clogs resulting from food.
These cleaners are typically made from bleach, nitrates, and peroxide. Being less acidic, they are safer to handle and will be less corrosive than stronger acids. Regardless, they should be handled with great care!
Caustic cleaners
Best for grease clogs
The last class of chemical cleaners is not an acid. Caustic cleaners are made from bases, on the opposite end of the PH scale from acids. These chemicals are made from substances such as potash and lye.
These chemicals are good for getting rid of grease clogs. But their highly specialized use means that they aren’t commonly used in household cleaners. Although they are not acidic, caustic cleaners can be hazardous if direct contact is made.
Best Drain Cleaning Tools
If chemical cleaners don’t end up working, there are a few tools you can use to unstop a drain.
These tools range in price and can be difficult to use. Not every tool on this list is practical for your average homeowner to need and use. We include them on here because we think it is helpful to see the full range of tools available to use in unstopping your drain.
DIY Homemade tools
DIY homemade tools are not ones that are available on the market. They are cheap, crude tools made from everyday objects in case you are in a pinch. Homemade tools can get caught in your drain causing more problems. We do not guarantee their effectiveness and caution that they may cause minor damage, but they are useful if you have nothing else.
Wire Coat hanger
This is an object found in almost every home. A wire coat hanger is a nifty tool in a pinch. All you need to do is carefully untwist the wires and straighten the coat hanger out. Using pliers or a similar tool, fashion a very small hook at the end of the wire.
Use this contraption to remove hair and other items from your drain.
Baling wire
Baling wire is a less commonly found resource but can be used in a very similar fashion to the coat hanger above.
Plungers
Plungers are mainly used to unclog toilets but can also be used for sinks and other drains. The purpose of a plunger is to force water or air down a drain, temporarily increasing the pressure behind the blog.
This process, when repeated over and over again, effectually pushes on the clog until it gives and flows down the drain regularly.
Standard Toilet Plunger
Your standard plunger can be found in almost every store that sells home appliances. These bell-shaped rubber contraptions are made to gently and repeatedly push on clogged debris in your drain.
This tool is great for toilets and sinks.
Pro Toilet Plunger
Straying now from the conventional tools used to clear drains, we have the Pro Toilet Plunger, a tool for those with a little more ambition for a quick fix to their clogged drains.
This tool is specially designed to be used on your toilet. Instead of using the gentle surge of water or air that conventional plungers use, the Pro Toilet Plunger uses a contraption to manually force or compress air down your toilet drain.
This tool makes quick work of even the most stubborn toilet clogs.
Toilet Saber
If you are disgusted by the thought of water splashing back on you, consider using another non-conventional tool: the Toilet Saber.
Like the Pro Toilet Plunger, the Toilet Saber was made specifically for your toilet. Instead of using air or water pressure to clean your drain, a Toilet Saber is a tool that can be manually used to clear out clogs.
This has its own limitations. The fixed length and rigidity of this tool make it difficult to use if your clog is lodged further along in the plumbing of your toilet. However, it is a great tool for shallow clogs and for those who prefer to avoid the gurgles and splashes caused by conventional plungers.
Drain Augers
Toilet Auger
If you want to make quick work of a clogged toilet, get a toilet auger. This tool uses a flexible and sturdy cable that can snake its way through your bathroom pipes and completely unblock your toilet.
The Toilet Auger doesn’t need air or water to clean out your toilet, its long, flexible cable does all the pushing. Our plumbers will use this tool to quickly unclog even the worst toilets.
This tool is a professional-grade instrument used by plumbing professionals across the country. It may be too bulky for the average homeowner to justify storing it next to their toilet, but it sure gets the job done!
Drain Snakes
Small Drain snakes
Hand-held drain snakes are a step up from using coat hangers and baling wire. The size and shape of handheld drain snakes can vary. Typically, though, they are made from materials that have a lower risk of damaging your plumbing than the previously mentioned DIY fixes have the potential to do.
Drum Machines
If you have a stopped hidden in the deep recesses of your plumbing, even a ten-foot drain snake might not be able to touch it. This is why professionals are trained to use drum machines with lots of extra cable length.
The process is commonly known as rodding. The tools used with this method are expensive and can be dangerous to use which is why you should have a professional handle them.
They are very effective though.
Drum machines constantly spin a long cable with special attachments to its head. As it progresses down the drain, the cable and attachment effectively drill through clogs and clears your pipes for unrestricted water flow.
If you have a mainline clog that is preventing all the drains in your house from emptying into the sewers, a quick clean with a 100-foot drum machine is typically all that is needed to resolve the issue.
Hydro Jetting
It’s hard to imagine any clogged drain requiring more attention than any of the other methods we have already described, yet, there are some clogs that need more than any of these methods can provide.
Hydro jetting is the preferred way to clean out pipes that you find clog frequently. Rodding can effectively punch a hole through a clog, but might not be able to clear away all the debris that keeps catching larger particles as they make their way through your pipes.
Hydro jetting uses a high-pressure water jet that can cut through and clear away almost any buildup in your pipes. The intense jet of water cuts through the grease and grime clouting your pipes, preventing further blockage.
Get Professional Plumbing Care
There is a lot this list doesn’t cover, such as situations that require pipe replacements, or details about the many different ways a plumber may handle a clog. It’s our hope that this provides you with the details you need to take care of your drains on your own.
In the event you can’t or don’t want to take matters further into your own hands, we here at All Utah Plumbing, heating & air are ready to clean your pipes and get your plumbing back in order.
Call us to see which of our professional services is best for your needs!
A completely fictional Salt Lake City family woke up one morning, and it was terribly cold. Not just “someone left the furnace-powered heater off” cold; this was “one of the kids snuck out at midnight and left their window open and somehow the other windows ended up broken and they left the garage door open, too, for good measure” cold.
The mother of this fictional family immediately blamed the father, assuming the cold was caused by a theft of sheets in the middle of the night, to which the father pleaded innocent, as the incident happened while he was fast asleep. The mother then decided she was just cold because it was winter, and maybe some more snow had fallen, and there wasn’t really anything out of the ordinary about the bedside water glass frosting over in the night. She bundled up in a robe and slippers and went to take her shower.
The shriek that followed sent the father of this fictional family bolting up from his fictional bed to go and fight whatever monsters his wife had found in their recently remodeled bathtub. The shock of cold air hit his adrenaline like a bowling ball, and he and his shivering self only made it safely to the bathroom with the help of a blanket bundled around his fictional frame. The mother was standing on the edge of the bathroom mat, shivering and wrapped in a towel that was growing icicles. “Something’s wrong,” she decided, and her breath came out as fog. The fictional father nodded, and, as it usually did when things went wrong, his mind went straight to the children.
There were three children in this fictional family, because that’s about how many children the average Salt Lake City home has, and less than half a child (since the statistics maintain that it’s really 2.33 children) can’t get out of a bed, shivering, and demand to know what’s going on and why they can’t feel their toes.
The oldest child, a boy, was too manly to say he was cold. He stood there in his pajamas, crossed his arms, and said through chattering teeth, “I can’t even feel it!” He was twelve, and tough talk is a middle schooler’s greatest tool to protect themselves. Tough talk doesn’t do much against the elements of nature, though. Nevertheless, this oldest fictional child decided to stick to his usual tactics. It didn’t matter that he couldn’t feel his nose and his glasses had fogged-up almost beyond repair; he was tough.
The middle child was a girl, and she had figured it out. “Something’s broken,” she announced to the family at large as they all gathered miserably in the living room that had somehow turned into a winter wonderland. Half of the pipes were frozen or burst, and somehow there was frost covering all the poor house plants, who probably wouldn’t make it out of this ordeal intact. The middle child was smart. She had almost won an elementary school science competition that semester – and would have for sure, if it hadn’t been for her arch-nemesis, Julia.
The youngest child was a toddler, and she pretty much just cried. She was the one who discovered that the floors had iced over, but whether this was intentional or an accident was difficult to ascertain with the language barrier between Toddler and Older People. She went skidding across the floor, wailing and holding her baby blanket tight, and the other children realized this was probably why their toes were turning blue.
“This is ridiculous,” the fictional father said in this fictional situation, staring at a house filled with ice and a shivering family with icicles in their hair.
And it was. It was ridiculous. Because the moment this fictional Salt Lake City family felt an unnatural chill in the air and determined that all the windows were closed/unbroken, they should have immediately looked at their furnace to see if it was broken. Of course, in this fictional scenario – and in dangerously-cold (though probably not to this fictional extent) Utah homes every winter – it was.
At that point, the middle child would suggest a home remedy that would likely involve duct tape and a fair amount of luck. The mother would veto this option, and wisely so, because furnaces are not for the faint of heart. The fictional father would sigh and say that they would just have to tough it out until the snow thawed and they could get a furnace repair service, but the mother would refuse to accept this. “There has to be someone,” she would insist.
And she would be right. All Utah Plumbing, Heating, and Air provides emergency furnace repair for broken furnaces in the Salt Lake City area. With licensed professionals and a history of helping actual, nonfiction families who feel like they’re frozen and all out of options, All Utah Plumbing is prepared to solve even the most fantastical of unfortunate situations. Give us a call today to solve your broken furnace needs.
