Tag: plumbing tips

Five Proven Ways to Unclog Your Shower Drain

Trying to take a relaxing shower? It’s not so easy when you have a clogged shower drain! If you think you’re dealing with a clog, check the speed at which water drains. If it has slowed or won’t drain at all, leaving you with standing water at the bottom of the bathtub, you have a clog somewhere.

We have five expert solutions for unclogging your shower without damaging the plumbing.

What causes shower clogs

There are a few possible reasons why your shower drain has clogged, but it’s likely that there is an obstruction. Hair, soap residue, dirt, and grease can accumulate and block the path water needs to take out of the tub.

Whatever the case, here are five plumber-recommended drain cleaning methods.

Unclog the drain using a snake auger (toilet jack)

One approach for unclogging a bathtub or shower drain is to use an auger, sometimes called a snake or toilet jack. These tools can be manual or electric. If the auger is electric, you will require a power drill to operate it. 

The first step to unclogging the drain is to insert the auger into it. Keep threading it into the pipe until you feel it hit the clog. If you are using a manual tool, you will turn the handle to do this. If you are using a power drill to operate the auger, you will use the trigger switch to rotate it inside the pipe. You should feel resistance during this process. That means the snake is catching debris in the pipe. 

Once the toilet jack turns more easily, the drain has likely cleared. Now you’ll slowly move the handle (or power drill) in the opposite direction to get the auger out of the drain. The materials clogging the drain will come out with the snake. 

Once you’ve removed the tool from the drain, discard the clog in the trash. Don’t try to put it back down another drain somewhere else in your house! Run hot water down the shower drain to make sure you got everything out of the pipe. If you notice the water is still draining slowly, you may have to try the process again to get the remaining bits. 

There are a few pitfalls to using an auger. If inserted into the drain incorrectly, it can scratch the inside of the pipe. That scratch will eventually corrode and impact the structure of the pipe. If you choose to use an electric snake, be careful! We’ve seen cracked pipes from incorrect usage. What was a simple clog can become something much more serious if dealt with in the wrong way. Please give us a call! Our expert plumbers are ready to help.

Remove thick particles or debris

If you’re dealing with a thick clog, you might need to give it a pre-clean before using a snake. Think of it as a head start! You may be able to see some of the debris near the top of the pipe. First, you’ll need to take off the drain cover. Then, we recommend putting on a pair of rubber gloves and fishing around for whatever you can grab. Use only your hands! Inserting a wire hanger or any other tool into the drain could damage the pipe.

If you’re able to pull materials out, dispose of them in the trash. Then, you may find you’ve cleared enough space to try the snake for the rest of the debris.

Use a drain cleaner

Not all drain cleaners are suitable for shower drains. That’s a plumbing myth! The most common drain cleaners are packed with chemicals, which may clear your pipes, but they also damage them in the long run. 

We like BioSmart, which is much kinder to your plumbing system and the environment. The Drain Unblocker uses a combination of enzymes, not chemicals, to break down organic debris. You might also consider BioDrain, which is chock-full of naturally occurring microbes that digest organic material. It can be used weekly for maintenance. You could also try a baking soda and vinegar solution to try and break up what’s blocking the flow of water.

If you’re not sure what to pour down a troublesome drain, we can help! Give us a call for expert advice on drain cleaners that maintain the health of your home’s plumbing. 

Pull out the clog by hand

You might be lucky and realize you’re not dealing with a significant clog. That’s great news! You may see hair tangled near the top of the drain. Try pulling it out with your fingers. If the water drains, then you’ve fixed the clog.

If the water doesn’t drain after your initial attempt, then you can attempt using a plumber snake, following the steps outlined above. If the snake doesn’t get the job done, or you’re concerned about proper usage of the tool, please call a plumber for assistance. 

Use shower drain plunger

A shower plunger is another option when it comes to clearing blocked drains. When you place the plunger over the drain, you’ll want enough water in the bathtub to cover the lip on the rubber cup. From there, the method is quite similar to plunging a toilet. You’ll move the handle up and down quickly, forcing the debris in the drain to loosen.

Just like with a snake or auger, you’ll need to run hot water down the drain to see if the clog has been removed. If the water is still draining slowly, you may need to try again or use another method. 

The one issue with using a plunger is that it doesn’t remove the clog, it just loosens the materials so it will move farther down the pipe. If the debris doesn’t move out of your plumbing system, you’ll find it a very short-term solution. We recommend contacting a plumber if the job is more complex. 

How to prevent shower drain clogging

There are several things to try so you don’t have to deal with a clogged shower drain. First, get a drain cover. They’re inexpensive, made of plastic or rubber, and catch hair and debris before they wind up in your pipes. 

Avoid dumping waste in the tub. This might sound like a no-brainer, but waste includes things like dirty water from a mop bucket, dustbins, or shaking out a towel after a trip to the beach. Those little bits of debris can build up over time. 

Proper drain maintenance goes a long way, too. We encourage you to pour some of a chemical-free cleaner or baking soda and vinegar mixture down the shower drain each time you clean the bathroom. If you build it into your routine, you’ll have fewer clogs in the future. 

Let the professionals unclog your shower drain

Always Plumbing technicians harness HDD Drain Vision Cameras to analyze drains from the inside. Once we locate the problem, we use BioSmart to dissolve the debris, so you have clear pipes with no threat of damage to your plumbing system. Book an appointment today!

Sewer Backup Valves: Why You Need One & Their Costs

Sewage needs to get out and stay out! When waste leaves your home, it should remain outside of the house in the municipal sewer system. But, not everything always goes according to plan. Sometimes, when flooding or heavy rainfall occurs, there’s a possibility sewage could flow back to your home. The best way to avoid waste flooding inside your house is with a sewer backup valve.

What Is a Sewer Backup Valve? 

A sewer backup valve is known by a few different names. You may see it referred to as a backwater valve, backflow valve, or a sewer backflow preventer. Whatever you decide to call it—these valves have a specific design, which forces the flow of sewage in one direction, away from your home and into the municipal sewer system.

Flashing flooding and heavy rainfall can overwhelm sewer lines, and then that smelly sludge wants to move back to where it flowed from. If that happens and you don’t have the right sewer backup valve in place, you could have a real mess. Sewage could come up through sink drains, toilets, bathtubs, or showers, leaving you with a stinky disaster. While the average cost of a sewer backup varies, depending on the extent of backflow, it’s definitely less expensive than installing a valve. 

How Do Sewer Backup Valves Work?

Sewer backup valves are pretty simple, but are an important step in protecting your home. These devices have a one-way flow with a flap on it. The flap opens and allows waste matter to leave your home. If that sewage ever starts to come back toward the house, the float ball inside senses the backflow, and automatically closes the flap. When the flap is closed, it blocks the pipe, so nothing will seep back in. Backflow preventer valve to the rescue! 

How Do I Know if I Have a Backflow Valve?

It’s more likely that a newer home will have a valve in place, but it’s a good idea to check regardless of the age of your home. Better safe than sorry, right? If you have a home built before 1989, you should definitely take a peek. Backwater valves weren’t required in homes built at that time. 

These valves are usually near your sump pump, and are often installed in the floor. Head to your basement (or garage, depending on how your home is built) and look around for the valve. It may have a cover on it, also known as a backwater valve access box. If it does, be sure to temporarily take it off and familiarize yourself with the apparatus.

How Do You Perform Backflow Valve Maintenance?

The biggest key here is to keep an eye on it, especially as we head into thunderstorm season. You may want to clean it every couple of months, so there’s no build-up on the backwater valve flapper. 

To do this, put on goggles, gloves, and old clothes you’re not worried about getting dirty. Remember, sewage flows through this! Take the cap off the top and check for debris. We recommend flushing clean water through the water backflow preventer, and scrubbing if needed. When you’re done, make sure you put the cap back on securely.

When performing regular maintenance, if you find the backflow valve leaking, it will likely need to be replaced.

How Much Does It Cost to Install a Backwater Valve?

If you’re looking for backwater valve installation in Edmonton, our expert technicians can take care of the job for you! And, you may be eligible for EPCOR’s Backwater Valve Subsidy Program, which could save you up to $800 on an installation.
Contact us today to talk to one of our experts and book an installation!

How to Clean a Smelly Garbage Disposal

Do you have a stench in your sink? Blech! It happens to everyone, and the good news is there are some simple steps to eliminating the stink and preventing it in the future. Here’s how to make your garbage disposal smell as fresh as a daisy once again.

Scrub What You Can See

The first step in de-stinking your garbage disposal is to clean the visible sections. We recommend squirting dish soap onto a scrub brush or dish wand, and putting some muscle into it! Small food particles can get stuck in the grooves of the rim, and tough scrubbing can loosen up a lot of crud.

Let Your Garbage Disposal Soak

Once you’ve taken care of the outside, it’s time to focus on what’s happening inside the garbage disposal. Put in the plug, and half-fill the sink basin with water. We recommend adding some dish soap, vinegar, or your favourite natural cleaner. 

When you unplug the sink, turn the garbage disposal on, so the soapy water works its way through all the little areas that may not always get cleaned.

Use Ice and Salt

The first two steps can do a lot to deodorize your garbage disposal. But, if you still need a little more oomph, the combination of ice and salt works wonders. Pour a cup of ice cubes and a half-cup of rock or kosher salt into the garbage disposal. Turn it on, and let the blades crush the ice and salt, cleaning any residue left on the metal. 

It’s not the quietest step of the process, but it does the trick!

Prevent Future Garbage Disposal Smells

Remember making volcanoes in elementary school science class? The combination of baking soda and vinegar can be a wonderful deodorizer for your sink, too! Sprinkle a cup of baking soda into the garbage disposal, followed by a half-cup of vinegar. It will fizz and get into the nooks and crannies of the machine. Let it sit for an hour, and then turn on the garbage disposal and run cool water through it for at least a minute.

The next time you eat an orange or use a lemon in the kitchen, toss the peels into the disposal, and let them grind up. The natural citrus scent releases and naturally deodorizes, while the acid breaks down anything left behind in the disposal. 

For preventative maintenance, we recommend an enzymatic drain cleaner like BioSmart. Non-corrosive and environmentally friendly, BioSmart reduces odours by breaking down lingering bacteria in your pipes. It also keeps your drains flowing smoothly and prevents clogs. BioSmart can be used once per month for optimal performance.

Ask the Experts 

If you’ve gone through all these steps and are still dealing with stubborn smells, then it’s time to call one of our top-notch plumbers. We’ll do an assessment, identify what the issue is, and then explain the process and cost of repair. If something in your garbage disposal needs to be replaced, we’ll give you a variety of options before proceeding. Let’s take your sink from stinky to sparkling clean! Contact us today.

How To Improve Your Water Pressure

Have you ever noticed sluggish water flow coming from one or more faucets in your home? If you have, this is a situation that you must investigate and tend to promptly. Low water pressure can be caused by many things. It could be something as simple as a shut-off valve that has been closed or a faucet that is plugged, to something more complex like a failing water tank or a plumbing leak. You should do a whole home plumbing inspection when you notice low water pressure, as the cause can be coming from more than one area.

Step One: Check Your Water Pressure

  •   Test all faucets inside and on the exterior of your home.
  •   Run water on each faucet to determine if one or more areas have low water pressure.
  •   Run both hot and then cold water through each faucet. Sometimes water pressure is only low when the hot water is on, indicating a problem with the water heater.

Step Two: Check the Affected Faucet

  •   If you only have low water pressure in one area, inspect the affected fixture for clogs.
  •   Remove the end of the faucet and check for clogs such as calcification and limescale buildup.
  •   If the aerator needs to be cleaned, you can soak it in vinegar, or use a limescale remover.
  •   Before you reapply the cleaned aerator, turn the faucet on, and see if there is sluggish flow even without the aerator. That would indicate the problem is of another cause.
  •   Note that you can also replace your aerator with one that has a higher flow rate.

Step Three: Check Other Potential Sources

  •   Check the shutoff valve in your home. If it is even turned a small amount, it can drastically reduce your water pressure.
  •   Look for water leaks. A running toilet is a common cause of an ongoing plumbing leak. This wastes a ton of water but also can cause water pressure issues to other fixtures in your home.
  •   Check your water heater. If you have low water pressure when running hot water only, check to see if the hot water shutoff valve been turned off.
  •   Make sure the sprinkler outside your home has been turned off. If you have a built-in irrigation system, consider having it tested. A small leak in this system can cause continual water loss and water pressure issues.

Step Four: Contact a Plumbing Company

  •   If you still haven’t been able to locate and correct the cause of low water pressure, consider contacting a professional plumbing company. They will conduct a thorough analysis of all water lines in your home to determine the source of the problem.
  •   One serious cause of low water pressure would be if your home has polybutylene (poly-B) pipes. They can become corroded over time and cause many disastrous plumbing leaks. The replacement of this type of plumbing is best left to the professionals. Read more about determining if you have poly-B piping.

Step Five: Get a Water Softener

  •   If you noticed a lot of mineral buildup inside your faucet aerators, it may be time to consider having a water softener added to your home.
  •   While we have excellent drinking water, Edmonton is known to have moderately hard water. Mineral deposits can build up and cause plumbing problems, as well as shorten the lifespan of your hot water tank and humidifier. It is also hard on your clothes and skin.
  •   Learn more about how a water softener can eliminate your hard water problems.

When you experience water pressure issues that you cannot fix yourself, contact the professional plumbers at Always Plumbing & Heating to take this daunting task off your hands. We would be happy to conduct a thorough whole-home plumbing inspection to locate any existing problems, as well as recommendations to prevent issues in the future. At Always Plumbing our customers come first which is why all of our work is backed up with the “Always Plumbing & Heating Fixed Right or It’s Free” Guarantee. We do Upfront StraightForward Pricing® which means you will never get a surprise bill or extra costs tacked on to your final invoice. All pricing is discussed and agreed upon before work even begins.

All of our technicians are certified and receive the best training available in the industry. You can trust us to be there on time, there when you need us 24/7 with the right tools for the job – Always! Call us 780-489-8118 or book online today.

Getting Your Hose Bibs Ready for Spring

As Spring has begun, and warm weather is just around the corner, you may find yourself spending more time outdoors these days. If you’re doing some spring cleaning, you will likely need to turn on your garden hose at some point.

Harsh Alberta winters with extremely low temperatures can sometimes cause hairline fractures in your hose bibs. If you fail to notice the leak right away, when you turn on your tap you could end up with a flooded basement if you aren’t taking the right precautions before using it.

Steps For Testing If You Have A Fracture In Your Hose Bib

Before turning your water on, follow these steps:

1. Place your thumb over the spigot to cover the whole opening.

2. Turn on the water.

3. If you can hold the water in with your thumb, that means there is a fracture somewhere that the water is going. If this happens, turn the water off immediately.

4. Have a family member go into your basement near where the hose bib is located, and repeat step 3. If there are removable ceiling panels, move them from that area, so you can clearly see the extent of the leak without causing too much damage.

5. Repeat all of these steps to each of your hose bibs.

6. If a leak is located, call a plumber for a repair, including the installation of frost-free hose bibs to prevent this from happening in the future.

How to Prevent Hose Bib Leaks In The Future

Each fall ensure that you remove your garden hoses from each hose bib, and if possible, turn the water off to the hose bib and drain the line. Not all hose bibs are outfitted with shutoff valves.

If you suspect broken hose bibs or want to prevent them entirely, give us a call to diagnose the problem and provide you with the best solution to repair or prevent frozen hose bibs. Failing to repair this issue promptly can lead to disastrous flooding in your basement if someone inadvertently turns on your garden hose. 

Giving your hose bib the attention it deserves is invaluable. Ensuring that your home’s plumbing is properly maintained and up to code with a professional inspection, including installation of frost-free taps, will provide you with total peace-of-mind when the job is handled by a professional. 

Always Plumbing & Heating is here to help you along the way. Our licensed plumbers will take care of this job for you, from start to finish, and we fully guarantee our work and equipment. So give us a call, and go ahead and kick your feet up and relax, in no time you will be safely running your sprinklers and filling up the kiddie-pool for your little ones!

How to Prevent Frozen Pipes

In chilly Alberta winters, water lines can freeze if frost is pushed below the waterline. The pipes in your home can also freeze due to extreme temperatures, wind chills, or furnace failures which result in no heat in your home. You should be familiar with how to prevent your pipes from freezing, and what to do in the unfortunate event that they do freeze.

5 Easy Steps To Prevent Your Pipes From Freezing

  • Never turn your furnace off! You should keep your home heated consistently throughout winter, even if you aren’t going to be home. You can get a smart thermostat that will notify you on your mobile device if the temperature in your home gets below a safe level, in the event that your furnace malfunctions while you are away. The majority of furnace failures happen during extreme cold snaps, which incidentally can result in frozen pipes if not dealt with right away.
  • Insulate your outdoor water lines. Wrap water lines near outdoor walls and hose bibs with insulation.
  • Turn off your outdoor hoses. In the fall you should ensure that your hoses are disconnected and the tap is turned completely off. Failure to do so can result in cracked hose bibs as the temperatures freeze and thaw, which can result in flooding in your basement.
  • Check your hot water tank. Ensure that it is in a room that is adequately heated. You should have your hot water tank inspected annually by a professional.
  • If you go away for vacation, turn your water off before you leave. Go into your utility room and find the main water line shut off and ensure it is off. Then open all the taps in your house to run the residual water out. This way, you will be better protected should the unfortunate event that your pipes freeze while you are away. But remember to leave your furnace on.

How to Check if Your Pipes are Frozen

  • If you have only a trickle of water, or no running water, coming from any of your faucets, you may have a frozen pipe.
  • If you see any frost on exposed pipes, it is quite possibly frozen.
  • If you see a bulge in any pipes, it may be frozen.
  • If your toilets don’t refill after flushing, you may have frozen pipes.

How to Fix Frozen Pipes

  • If you suspect your pipes are frozen, turn off the water line to that part of the house, or turn the main water line off.
  • Locate the frozen area. If you cannot locate it, call a plumber as soon as possible.
  • If you determine where the pipes are frozen, you can attempt to thaw it with a space heater or hairdryer, provided it is a narrow pipe. Once it is adequately thawed, you can turn your water back on and check for any leaks. If you notice any leaks or still have no water flow, turn your water line back off immediately, and call a professional plumbing company for assistance.

Most frozen pipes can be thawed, damage-free if caught in time. If you think a frozen pipe may have burst in your Edmonton home, call Always Plumbing and Heating. We provide emergency service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

How to Keep Your Drains Clear of Hair and other Buildup

Clogged drains are a common household problem. Knowing how to keep your drains clear will keep your pipes healthy and reduce your need to call a plumber for sluggish drains or water backup.

Follow these tips to limit what you put in your drains

  • Do not put food, coffee grounds, or grease down your kitchen drains.
  • Pour grease into a container and dispose of it in the trash.
  • Cover your tub and shower drains with a mesh screen or perforated hair catcher. This will collect hair and let the water run through.
  • Brush your hair before you shower, to remove loose hair and reduce the amount going down the drain.
  • Don’t flush anything down your toilet other than toilet paper and human waste. Paper towels, feminine products, dental floss, and disposable wipes should go in your trash bin.
  • Read our guide on 15 things you should never put in your garbage disposal.

Try these tips to remove clogs before you call a plumber

  • Remove the drain stopper, clean it, then reassemble it.
  • Use a plunger to form a seal, push in and pull out, forcing water to move in the pipes. If the clog is in a sink, run a couple of inches of water before using the plunger.
  • Clean your P-trap. This is the U-shaped pipe under your kitchen and bathroom sinks. Place a bucket under it to catch water and debris before opening your P-trap.
  • Do not use chemical drain cleaners! These will just loosen up the debris and push it further down in your home’s plumbing and may cause more problems including burst pipes and sewer backup. They are also highly corrosive and can seriously damage your pipes.

Maintain your homes plumbing by manually cleaning your drain stopper once per week to remove hair and debris. Use a biodegradable and non-corrosive drain cleaner once per month to keep your drains clean. We recommend using Bio-Smart, which you can purchase from Always Plumbing & Heating and use yourself for preventive maintenance. Preventing clogs before they occur is the best way to keep your drains clear year-round.

Game Day Plumbing Tips for Your Edmonton Home

Are you planning a big Super Bowl® party this weekend? Lots of Edmonton homes will be filled with fans gathering to cheer on their favorite team – and eat their favorite party foods. While the talk around this year’s game seems to be focused more on the American ads that will play during the telecast, it hasn’t diminished the enthusiasm for the game itself. The most watched broadcast in the country (18 million Canadians watched at least part of Super Bowl 50) seems to be more popular than ever. Last year twice as many fans tuned in to watch the Super Bowl than they did for the Grey Cup.*

More than likely you or someone you know will be throwing a big party for game day. But is your plumbing system prepared? While the Patriots and the Falcons get ready for their big showdown, the Always Plumbing & Heating technicians prepare for the Monday after the game – a busy one for the plumbing industry. All-day parties filled with favorite snacks and comfort foods contribute to blockages while a large guest list can exacerbate small fixture problems. This year, while you prepare for the big game, take some time to ensure your plumbing system isn’t compromised by the revelry.

Follow these tips for a clog-free Super Bowl Weekend:

  • Check all the drains in the sinks and tubs for signs of slow drainage. If you are hosting guests for the weekend, you will want to fix any drainage issues before they arrive.
  • Attend to any fixture leaks that might be worsened by continuous use throughout the weekend.
  • Keep your guests from using the toilet as a trash can. Add an additional waste basket to the bathroom and remove any paper products that aren’t flushable.
  • Learn how to use the shut-off valve to your toilet in case there is an emergency.
  • Make sure that you keep a plunger close to the toilet. If you experience a clog that you can’t fix, our plumbers are available 24/7.

Shutting off the Water

  • Add a cup of vinegar to the bottom of your dishwasher and run it while it is empty. This will ensure the unit and the drain lines are clean.
  • Be aware of the organic material that you put down the garbage disposal. All fibrous food, fatty food, scraps and grease should be disposed of in a trash can – or compost pile. And never put anything in the sink that is non-organic.

What Not to Put in Your Garbage Disposal

  • Always wipe down plates and dishes that contain excessive grease before washing them in the sink.
  • Add an additional trash can in the kitchen, next the sink, to encourage guests to keep most of their food waste out of the sink.
  • Consider making dishes that won’t require a lot of post clean-up. Fun finger foods, vegetable plates, sandwiches and soups are simple and easy-to-manage favorites.
  • Need some inspiration for Super Bowl party food? Our friends at All Recipes have some crowd-pleasing recipes for new and old favorites.

Always Plumbing & Heating hopes that your Super Bowl gathering is a raucous and clog-free one. But if you happen to experience any problems with your plumbing system on game day, or immediately after, don’t hesitate to call our emergency plumbers! We are on the job 24 hours a day and can help with any plumbing repair or service need. Call us any time at 780-489-8118 to schedule a repair or report an emergency.

Related Blogs:

Holiday Plumbing Tips

Winter Plumbing Maintenance in Edmonton

To request a service appointment, give us a call at 780-489-8118 or contact us online.

*Super Bowl Stats

Photo Source

Request Service

Close x

Fill out the service request form below and an Always Plumbing team member will be in touch to confirm your request.

Exit mobile version