Lights! Cameras! Action! in Oklahoma City
Not all plumbers are old-school. Ask if a plumbing camera can help make your pipes’ problem easier to fix.
Today’s plumbers have a lot more in their arsenal than a standard plumbing snake and a couple of wrenches. Utilizing high-tech tools like plumbing cameras, your Oklahoma City plumber can turn to cutting-edge technology when they’re working to get your pipes clear and free-flowing once again. So if you’re experiencing what seems to be a major problem with your Oklahoma City home’s sewer drain, call in the pros with the latest tools to drain your pipes out in the most effective, least disruptive way.
Video pipe inspection utilizes a special waterproof camera connected to a long spool of wire, not all that unlike a plumbing snake. This small camera is specifically designed to be able to pass through drain pipes, withstanding the harsh conditions to provide a clear picture, even through standing water. To locate a problem, your Oklahoma City plumber will thread the camera into your pipes, usually through a sewer cleanout, uncoiling the wire as the camera passes further down the pipe. As the camera moves thorough your plumbing, the technician will be able to see the interior of your pipes on a small video screen. In this way, a pipe inspection can precisely locate all types of problems, including:
* Blockages and buildup
* Root intrusion
* Pipe damage such as cracks and breaks
In the majority of cases, once your plumber has discovered where the problem lies, he or she will be able to resolve the issue without digging up your yard or tearing up your floor. In cases of root intrusion or blockages, often scouring out the pipes with a hydro jet (pressurized water) technique will eliminate the problem, all from the inside of the pipe.
Using a plumbing camera to locate the problem doesn’t always mean that the issue can be solved without excavation. For example, in the case of a sewer drain pipe that’s actually broken in two, the line will need to be replaced. However, by using a sewer line camera to pinpoint the damaged section of pipe, your Oklahoma City plumber will be able to dig up this specific spot, rather than excavating the entire line in search of the issue. This helps streamline the whole process and minimizes the damage to your yard that will be required to get your plumbing working again.
So the next time you’re experiencing a plumbing backup or drain problem, ask your Oklahoma City plumber if a video pipe inspection might be right for your project. You may be surprised at how much faster, easier, and less invasive fixing your pipes’ problem may be when you have a sewer line camera on the job!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Penny_Q_Jones
If you are looking for a professional Oklahoma City VIdeo Pipe Line Inspection contractor, then please call us today at 405-802-7769 or complete our online request form.
A Blog About Clogs in Oklahoma City
Clogged drains are a common Oklahoma City home plumbing issue, occurring when hair, waste, or food products-depending on the use of the drain-get stuck in the pipe, stopping water or waste from draining. You can deal with some clogs on your own, but for serious issues, you may need to call in a professional Oklahoma City plumber.
One day, your shower, toilet, or kitchen sink is working just fine. The next, you take a shower, use the restroom, or wash the dishes and you’re left with dirty water that just won’t drain - or worse, is overflowing from the basin. What happened? Most likely, the drain is clogged with solid material-hair in the shower, waste and paper in the toilet, or food in the kitchen sink. Clogs start small but can get nasty fast, especially if you don’t deal with them in a timely fashion. There are a number of DIY fixes for minor drain clogs, but if you’ve exhausted your options or the problem is severe, you’ll need to call a professional Oklahoma City plumber.
DIY Fixes
You can attack a clogged drain head-on using a standard plunger. Fill the basin with enough water to cover the plunger head, and then place the plunger over the affected drain so that it creates a seal. Pump the plunger up and down rapidly, forcing water in and out of the drain, and then pop it off to break the seal. Repeat, if necessary. This should loosen and flush away minor clogs. If plunging several times fails to loosen the blockage, purchase a chemical drain opener and use it as directed on the package. Be aware, however, that the caustic agents in chemical drain openers can actually harm some fixtures. If a plunger and a full container of drain opener don’t do the trick, it might be time to bring in an expert.
What the Pros Do
Professional Oklahoma City plumbers have an array of tools in their arsenal to fight clogs. One of the most basic is the drain snake, also known as a drain auger. Plumbers spiral this long, flexible cable down into the pipe until it reaches the clog, displacing it. A more modern piece of plumbing technology is the hydro-jet, which is designed to blast through and eradicate pipe blockages. While a drain snake is generally effective on basic clogs, hydro-jetting can get rid of years of accumulated sludge inside your pipes.
Preventative Measures
Most Oklahoma City plumbing systems will need occasional maintenance and professional drain cleaning, but you can take steps to decrease the frequency of clogged drains. In the kitchen, avoid pouring cooking grease down the drain, as it can accumulate and harden inside the pipe. If you have a garbage disposal, always flush it with water to keep food from sticking to the pipe. In the bathroom sink and shower, use drain stoppers or strainers to keep hair and other materials from going down the drain. Only flush items down the toilet that are labeled “flushable.” Anything else may clog the plumbing. And finally, always address minor clogs before they become complete blockages. When you notice your water draining more slowly than usual, especially if it gets a little worse each day, it’s time to take action.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Penny_Q_Jones
If you are looking for a professional Oklahoma City plumbing company, then please call us today at 405-802-7769 or complete our online request form.
Take the Plunge
There are several different types of plungers available to clear partially or completely clogged drains, but all use basically the same principal. A plunger is used to create a positive or negative pressure inside the pipe to loosen the blockage and allow it to flow down the drain. As a first line of defense against any clog, a plunger is a safe bet. However, if you’re clog proves to be too much for this simple tool, your Oklahoma City plumber can handle any clog you’ve got.
Sink Plunger
This is the standard plunger that we all recognize and has probably been around as long as indoor plumbing. Consisting of a pliable rubber cup and handle, this plunger is capable of creating both a positive pressure (by forcing the cup down) and a negative pressure (vacuum) when pulled away from the fixture. Variations on the design are typically limited to the size of the cup and length of the handle.
The sink plunger; as it name suggests, is best used on sinks or relatively flat fixtures to which it can create a suction seal. When using the sink plunger:
- Cover the overflow hole of the sink or tub;
- Keep the fixture partially full of water, because water is not easily compressed it will place a stronger force on the blockage;
- Plunge forcefully in both directions for several minutes until the drain clears.
Toilet Plunger
The toilet plunger is very similar to the sink plunger but has a larger cup and a fold out flap that will fit into the trap of the toilet. The flap can also be left folded in for use on sinks, floor drains and other fixtures. If used correctly, this plunger will clear nearly all toilet clogs and should be your first line of defense before calling your Oklahoma City plumber. To use a toilet plunger follow these steps:
- Fold out the flap on the plunger;
- Keep the toilet about half full of water;
- Insert the plunger so that the folded out cup goes into the drain opening and try to form a suction seal with the toilet bowl;
- Being careful not to splash yourself, forcefully plunge up and down several times and remove the plunger. Repeat adding more water if necessary.
You want to test and see if the toilet will drain once you think you’ve cleared the clog, but don’t do this by flushing the toilet again until you’re sure the clog is removed. To test for drainage you have to add water. This can be done one of two ways.
The first way is to slowly pour water into the toilet as from a bucket.
The second way is to open the toilet tank lid and SLOWLY lift the flapper seal at the bottom of the tank until water begins to enter the bowl. Do not lift the flapper all the way up or else the toilet will flush.
If water goes down the toilet easily, the clog is cleared. If not, then try again by repeating the previous step and this step a time or two more.
Article Source: http://www.plumbinghelp.ca/articles_types_of_plungers.php
If you are looking for a professional Oklahoma City drain cleaning contractor, then please call us today at 405-802-7769 or complete our online request form.
Chemical Drain Cleaners, Electrons And More.
Why do drains clog? The short answer is because of the way we use them. Obviously, even though it’s not supposed to happen, water isn’t the only thing going down most drains. In fact, knowing what has clogged your drain can be an important step in knowing how to clear the clog. At the kitchen sink, grease and small particles of food can make their way into the drain. In the bathroom, hair and soap scum are the biggest offenders. Over time, these substances can build up and begin to line the drain, and then one day, another piece of food or another clump of hair is all it takes to block the drain [source: Goodway].
Foreign objects, such as jewelry, bottle tops or toys, can also fall into a drain and clog it. If that’s the case, drain cleaners won’t help unblock the drain. You’ll need to remove the object or call your Oklahoma City plumber to do it for you.
Assuming your problem isn’t a foreign object, first try to locate the clog. Start by removing, checking and cleaning the stopper or strainer at the entrance to the drain. Some strainers are easily removed by hand, but others may require a screwdriver or pliers. Remove anything you can reach and then try pouring hot water down the drain.
The next step is to try using a plunger on the drain, and if that doesn’t work, try removing and cleaning the sink’s trap. After that, you may want to try a sewer snake, or auger. If none of these efforts works, it’s time to use a drain-cleaning product [source: Harrison].
Chemical Drain Cleaners
Be they liquid, gel or powder form, most of the drain cleaners you’ll find on store shelves use strong chemicals, and they come in liquid, gel and powder forms. All chemical reactions involve moving electrons, and drain cleaners work by either taking or giving electrons to the clogging substance, generating heat in the process. There are three main types of drain cleaners:
- Caustic drain cleaners contain substances such as lye and caustic potash. They’re bases, so they give electrons to the clogging substance, and their hydroxide ions create the reaction that clears the clog. Their alkaline, or basic, chemicals release heat and turn grease into a soap-like substance that’s more easily dissolved. These drain cleaners are typically heavier than water, which enables them to reach the clog through standing water.
- Oxidizing drain cleaners contain substances such as household bleach, peroxides and nitrates. These chemicals cause the organic material of the clog to lose electrons and become oxidized. The product is heavier than water, so it can move through standing water, and it releases heat and gas to help clear the blockage.
- Acid drain cleaners aren’t commonly found in stores, and some are sold only to plumbers. These typically contain high concentrations of sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid, substances that increase hydronium ions in a solution and attract electrons from the clog. The hydronium ions react chemically with the material in the clog, and the reaction releases heat, which is necessary to melt congealed grease [source: Sheridan].
Because most of these products generate heat, they may soften the polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, pipes found in most Oklahoma City homes today. However, such damage is rare if you use the drain cleaner as directed — damage is more likely to occur when drain cleaner is used on older, metal pipes.
Aside from their effect on the pipes in your Oklahoma City home, there are other disadvantages to chemical drain cleaners. They’re extremely toxic if swallowed, and they can burn eyes, skin and mucous membranes and eat through clothing. They can release noxious fumes, and if used improperly, they can cause explosions. These products can also harm septic systems by killing beneficial bacteria, and they can mar bathroom and kitchen fixtures.
If you use chemical drain cleaners, read the directions carefully and heed all the warnings. Use the product in a well-ventilated area, wear rubber gloves, and keep children and pets away from the drain. Never mix different drain cleaners, and don’t use a plunger in conjunction with drain cleaners.
Most drain cleaners advise waiting 15 minutes or more after pouring the product into the drain before flushing it with hot water. If your drain is still clogged afterward, you may need to repeat the process. If a few tries yield no results, it may be time to give your Oklahoma City plumber a call.
Article Source: http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/plumbing/drain-cleaner1.htm
If you are looking for a professional Oklahoma City drain cleaning contractor, then please call us today at 405-802-7769 or complete our online request form.
Noah Can’t Help You With This One
The laundry room, which can be located in such areas as the basement, the main floor of your Oklahoma City home, or even up in the attic, can be a place where a flood can occur. When a laundry room flood occurs, the damage can be extensive and expensive. Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to prevent flooding of your laundry room.
To determine if you have a plumbing issue that could result in a laundry room flood, check to see if the floors and walls around the laundry room sink are damp. Check the joints in the pipe connections to see if they are loose. If they are, you can tighten them yourself. Also, check to see if there are tiny holes or cracks in a pipe. If there is a small hole that can cause a leak, you can wrap the pipe in rubber hose and attach clamps at the top, bottom, and at the source of the leak. There is also plumber’s epoxy you can purchase which is effective at sealing small holes and cracks causing leaks.
Clogs are another cause of a laundry room flood as they can cause the floor drain line or sink drain line to backup. Causes of a clog can include: hair, soap, and lint which can accumulate in the line and eventually cause it to clog. To determine if you have a clogged drain, you can turn off the water, remove the u-shaped pipe, and try to locate the clog. You will also have to examine each side of the straight ends of the pipe to see if there is a clog. Once you have located and removed the clog, put the pipes back in place, turn the water on, and run water through to see if the water flow has returned to normal.
Burst pipes are also a cause of flooding. Burst pipes are often due to old worn pipes or frozen pipes. It is important to have your Oklahoma City plumber restore old and damaged pipes. To prevent frozen pipes, you should wrap the pipes in insulation wrap. Other times, a flood can be caused by worn parts such as a worn hose connection. If you have old, cheap, or worn connections, you should get them replaced. If your water hose bursts, it will flood the room with hundreds of gallons of water. You should consider installing a shut off valve to prevent such a disaster. As well, installing a floor drain can stop flooding of the room. Hiring a Oklahoma City plumber to install a washer tray under your washing machine will help collect water if a leak develops.
When implementing measures to prevent flooding of the laundry room, it is a good idea to have a Oklahoma City plumber inspect the plumbing system, appliances that use water, and plumbing fixtures, to check for damage and old and worn components. An examination and repair of high risk parts and appliances will go a long way in preventing flooding of the laundry room. It will prevent a lot of damage and save you a lot of money. When it comes to laundry room flooding, prevention is the solution.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adriana_N.
