Everyone loves a good breakfast; however, your drains do not agree!
A lot of people say, “it’s okay if you use hot water.” Don’t let them fool you. After a while the grease collects in your drains and gets into the sewer lines which doesn’t just create a kitchen clog, but it can create a clog throughout your home. If this does happen, the best thing to do is pay your local plumber to come out and clear the line. If it doesn’t get resolved damage can be caused in your sewer lines which can create a larger problem.
Our best advice to dispose grease is:
Let the grease dry and dispose into a container or throw away. If there is excess grease still on the pan, you can use a paper towel to scrape it off and throw away.
Hot water is a necessity! There is nothing like waking up and realizing you have no hot water. Getting your water heater flushed is very important to keep it maintained and working properly.
Flushing your water heater will increase the longevity of the unit, get hot water quickly, improve efficiency and it will comply with warranty.
Your water heater is a huge investment, and of course, you want it to last as long as possible. Over time sediment and lime can get into your water and eventually it can settle at the bottom of your water heater tank which can cause it to stop working effectively.
It is recommended that you get your water heater flushed annually. If you have hard water, you may want to get it serviced every 6 months.
Craig Johnson Plumbing can flush your water heater and ensure proper operations.
Now that it has passed – this is the time to get your storm drains cleared before the next storm!
A storm drain is also known as a storm sewer which is a drainage system designed to drain excess rain or surface water from surfaces like roofs, sidewalks, parking lots and streets through undergrounds pipes into streams or rivers. Unlike sewer lines, storms drains drain the water without it being treated in a sewage treatment plant.
In most homes, homeowners use gutters to collect rainwater from their house and use gutter downspouts to drain out the water.
It is important to keep these drains clear and flowing especially before a storm because if they are full of debris there will be a clog and the water will not be able to drain throroughly which can cause a variety of other issues within the home.
Tis the season for freezing weather! During this time of the year frozen pipes are going to become the biggest emergency this time of year and Craig Johnson Plumbing is here to help during these emergencies or to even just examine your pipes before they freeze to make sure they’re in good condition.
What Causes Pipes to Freeze?
If there is standing water in your pipes during the times when temperatures drop the water will then expand and freeze. It could then cause pressure on the pipes causing them to burst.
If you plan on leaving for the holidays and / or go on vacation during this cold weather, we recommend you turn off your water before leaving to prevent this issue when you’re out of town.
How to Prevent Pipes From Freezing
Again, if you plan on leaving your home for a few days, remember to shut off your main water supply. This will ensure that you will not have any standing water in your pipes for them freeze while you’re gone.
INSULATION. Insulating your pipes will protect them as well helping them from freezing. If you are unsure if your pipes are insulated, please call us and we can help you!
For us plumbers Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is also a busy day for us! If you’re hosting Thanksgiving at your house this year, there are a few things to keep in mind and I have some tips for you!
Make Sure Your House Is Ready
Homeowners tend to forget some of their plumbing needs until a busy weekend at their house such as Thanksgiving. By the time you realize you need a professional plumber you might already have guests over. Our recommendation is that in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving have a plumber come out and evaluate that everything is running and working properly.
Disposing Grease Properly
Cooking often comes hand in hand with grease and grease can call for trouble especially if it gets put down you drain. If you put grease down your drain, it will eventually become solid and create a clog so, make sure you are disposing grease properly!
Your Garbage Disposal is Not a Trash Can
When preparing meals for a large gathering of people it’s often that numerous food ends up down drain such as:
Potato skin
Bones
Celery
Turkey
Make sure to stay cautious of what is going down your drain before you end up with a clogged kitchen sink!
Don’t Flush Toiletries Down The Toilet
During holidays a lot of time people are traveling from out of town to spend Thanksgiving with their families. Keep in mind that wet wipes, napkins, paper towels, feminine products, etc. go in the trash can instead of down your drain.
Craig Johnson Plumbing wishes everyone a great Thanksgiving filled with lots of love and delicious food!
Hydro Jetting is a plumbing solution that is noninvasive and clears pipes by effectively removing blockages. Clogged drains can sometimes take a lot of work to clear and sometimes even require excavation but using this Jetter can help solves those complicated clogs with this solution.
We strongly recommend using this equipment before the winter to make sure your drains are clear and flowing. When it’s sweater weather.. it’s time for the Jetter!
Our Hydro Jetter can clear your drains and pipes of several things:
Grease
Roots
Scum
Mineral Deposits
Food Waste
Debris
There are many benefits to using the Hydro Jetter. While using a snake to unclog your drains works for most clogs, however, it doesn’t clear everything. The Hydro Jetter’s most importance is how effective it is. It completely clears your drains, and you can even use it on a Culvert.
Are you concerned about the environment? The only things necessary to use the Jetter is a power outlet and water which means it’s eco-friendly! You don’t need to put all the chemicals down your drain if you choose to get the Hydro Jetter service!
We’ve been doing work in Auburn for years, but we are coming in full force. We will even be extending all the way to Granite Bay. We provide a variety of services with the most popular:
-Toilet Repairs/Installs
-Faucet Repairs/Installs
-Water Heaters
-Tankless Water Heaters
-Clogged / Slow Drains
-Sewer Repairs
-Leaks Repairs
-Sink Installs
If you have a service that you need taken care of please reach out to Craig Johnson Plumbing for help!
Now that school is back in session, the mornings can become hectic. In a school aged home with working adults, the competition to use the restroom can get a little crazy. During this adjustment of getting back into the school routine, we have some plumbing tips for you!
Shower Times:
Staggering shower times can be helpful in reserving hot water. The last thing you want is to hop in the shower and the water be cold. Assigning morning and night shower times can help prevent you from running out of hot water.
Tub/Shower Drains:
Speaking of increased showers / baths – the drains are also more likely to get clogged with soap and scum as well as hair. If you notice your shower/tub drain is draining slower than normal. Give us a call and we would be happy to get the drains clear and flowing for best results.
Laundry:
With kids back in school, you already know that you’ll at least have an extra load of laundry per week! Routine maintenance on your laundry machines is always a great idea. Some helpful tips would be to always clean the lint trap in the dryer and checking the hoses for any cracks and confirming connections. The laundry hoses should be replaced every couple of years to ensure proper operations. Laundry drains also can get clogged with soap and debris and using an auger would be the best way to clear those drains.
Having water gushing into your home is unsafe and could cause flooding/damage in the interior of your home. Knowing where your whole house water shut-off valve can be very helpful in case of an emergency.
When you might need to find your shut-off valve
If your pipes froze and burst (especially if they thawed and are gushing water)
If you have a new or ongoing leak
If you need to leave your house for an extended time (vacation, etc.)
Where to find your water shut-off valve if you have city water
Typically, if you are not on a well, the shut-off valve will be located at the perimeter of the house, since that is where the water enters the house. Your water starts at the street and heads to your house so stay on the side that faces the road.
Where to find your water shut-off valve if you have a well
If you have a well, your main water shut-off valve will be near the pressure tank. This might be in your basement, or in a well pump shed in your yard or next to your house.
Preparing to shut off your house water
If you have water gushing out of control in your basement or elsewhere, then there’s no need for prep–just shut it off ASAP!
If you’re getting ready to leave for vacation, or winterizing a summer home before you leave for the season, there’s a bit more to do…
Here is a video on how to winterize your house:
When you find the valve, turn the handle. (If it’s already on, it should only turn one way. Probably counter-clockwise.)
If you still cannot locate the valve, your local plumber certainly can. If you’re in the Nevada County/Grass Valley area, that’s us! Please give us a call at 530-274-7275 and we can certainly turn it off, or at least help you find it. 🙂
