Author Archives: On Call Plumbing

We’ve all experienced that nasty moment of when your shower turns into a bath because the water won’t drain. It is because the drain is clogged. But not all drains are in showers and not all clogs are from hair. So what causes clogged drains?

Grease buildup

Things like grease, cooking oil, sediment, shampoo, and soap can, over time, create a film inside pipes, making it harder for water to pass through. Clog removal options like drain cleaning, snaking, or hydro jetting can help to remove all that buildup and make pipes seem like new again.

Hair

Daily grooming, shaving, or showering is going to result in a loss of hair. If you do it over the sink or in the shower, the hair goes down the drain, eventually accumulating too much that water cannot pass through. It is usually very easy to remove by yourself, but if hair has formed a clog further down the pipes, a plumber is needed to fish it out.

Food remains

Can’t remember which foods are supposed to be thrown away and which can go down the garbage disposal? A lot of other people can’t either, resulting in clogs and backup in kitchen sinks.

Insoluble products

Diapers, feminine hygiene products, paper towels, QTips, and floss are commonly flushed down the toilet or sink when they should be thrown away in the trash. Even products that you think can be flushed like quilted toilet paper or wet wipes cannot be dissolved and clog the toilet. Read instructions on these products’ packets carefully to see what can and cannot be flushed in the toilet.

If you need clogged drain removal services in Santa Clarita, CA, contact On Call Plumbing at 661-201-6016.

Clean water is a critical part of your every day. However, contaminants can seep into your home’s water supply and endanger your home. Thankfully, most signs of contamination are easy to spot. If you’re wondering if you need water treatment, all you need to do is follow your senses.

Sight

Colorful water is not something you want from your tap or refrigerator. Brown or red stains around your sinks and tubs can indicate a buildup of iron in your water supply. Yellowed water often indicates acidic content from decayed plants or vegetation has entered your pipes. If you see any of these colors in your water, you need to reach out to a water treatment specialists immediately.

Smell

Chemicals like chlorine or detergents can leave residue in your water and eventually contaminate your system. While chlorine is commonly used as a water system cleaner, excessive amounts can be harmful. If your water reeks of chlorine or has another strong chemical smell, it may be time to have a carbon filter installed. Contact a specialist for a consultation.

Touch

Broken pipes or simple erosion can allow dirt, sand, and silt to bleed into your water system. While other minerals may be acceptable in your water, these particles are not. Talk to a treatment specialist to see if your pipes need replacement or if a simple filter install will do.

For information about water treatment options in Santa Clarita, CA, talk to one of our treatment engineers at 661-201-6016.

If you have a water line that is leaking will you even know? It is hard to say, because, your water lines run underground and when they are leaking, it can be awhile before you start to see signs of this. A water line leak can cause major damage to your home if it goes on long enough and of course it can raise your water bill much higher than it should be. There are several signs of having a water line leak, they are:

Higher Water Bill – This may be one of the first things you notice when you have a water leak. You may get your water bill and be shocked by the increase. The first thing you should do is check your whole house for any kind of water leak that may be around. If you have a dripping faucet, this could be the cause, but if you check everything and find nothing, you may need to start the investigation outside.

Wet Spot in Yard – Your investigation outside might have you find a wet spot in your yard. If you look around and see that only one spot is wet and there is no source of the water, it may be a sign that your water line is leaking.

If you find yourself with any of these signs, it may be time to call out a plumber to your home. We have excellent plumbers with years of experience at On Call Plumbing and will be more than happy to help you with all your water line leaking or plumbing needs. Just call us at 661-201-6016.

Have you noticed a rise in your water bills, or suspicious moisture in your basement? It is very possible that your home has a slab leak. Today we will go over what you need to know about slab leak repair, in order to keep your home safe.

Finding Slab Leaks

Unfortunately, slab leaks are one of the more destructive leaks because they are so hard to notice. If you wish to stay on top of water leaks, it is important that you pay close attention to your water bill every month, as well as stay alert to drastic fluctuations, as they almost always mean you have a leak. Slab leaks happen if the water line underneath your house’s concrete slab pops a leak, and in time, that leak will wreak significant damage to your slab as well as force its way up to your home. And while you can count on the slab leak to eventually make its way to the basement, it is much safer to detect it ahead of time and watch out for more extensive damages. The earlier you detect a slab leak, the quicker and more effective the repairs will be!

How To Check For Any Leaks In Your System: Turn off all of the water appliances in the home from time to time, and check the water meter. Any activity on the water meter when all of the water in your home is shut off, is a clear indication of a leak in the plumbing. 

Contact The Experts

Some amateurs may try to tear up your yard or start breaking into concrete to find slab leaks. Experienced plumbers have ways to find leaks before digging anywhere! So make sure you rely on the experts to assist you, and don’t let anyone start digging until the exact location of the leak has been found.

To get started, call our team of experts at (661) 347-4478 today!

Have you checked your sewer lines for winter?

 

People tend to look past checking their sewer lines, especially when they don’t live somewhere that it freezes often. The truth is that it doesn’t matter where you live, your sewer lines need to be checked, especially before winter. The older your home is, the higher chance there will be damage to your sewer lines. Over time plants grow around them and weather can corrode the pipes no matter how strong they are. Repairing them in certain spots before you end up having to replace everything can save you large amounts of money and peace of mind.

 

Here are 2 big reasons why you should consider having your sewer lines checked regularly

1. When it gets cold outside, plants have a bad habit of making their way through sewer lines in a search for water. When they do this, it causes serious damage and leaks in your lines. This will end up costing you a lot of money in the end, especially if you don’t know it is happening. If you have these areas checked beforehand, you can get a good feel if you need to trim your plants back during the colder times of the year.
2. Fixing leaks: Many of us don’t worry about a leak until it is happening to us. The problem with that is the “out of sight, out of mind” thinking that can get us in trouble. Pipes expand in the summer months from the heat and then shrink down again when the weather gets colder. This makes them very susceptible to getting a leak in them. If you find yourself with a leak in the middle of winter, it can be very difficult to fix.

We want you to be as prepared as possible going into the colder months and save your hard-earned money. Sewer lines are not a fun thing to think about, but in order to prevent something major from happening, it is important that you pay attention to these few small things in order for you to have peace of mind year after year. Call us at 661-201-6016 to schedule an appointment with one of our trained professionals. 

Freezing winter weather can leave a home afflicted with frozen pipes. In order to avoid this annoyance and the costly repairs it brings, practice a few preventative strategies. First, you should know where exactly the problems lie. Any exposed pipes in unheated areas have the potential to freeze. This includes pipes in a crawl space, those located in exterior walls, and any plumbing that appears outside of your home.

Drain and Disconnect Your Hose

Frozen water hoses can create a problem, as they will contribute to the freezing of water further up the pipes. Since most yards do not require watering throughout the winter, simply disconnect your hose and ensure it has been emptied of water.

Insulate and Drip Spigots

Outdoor spigots represent another easy area for the cold to affect. If your spigots lack insulation, wrap them in protective material for the winter. In anticipation of particularly hard freezes, you can set your outdoor spigots to drip. The simple passage of water through your pipes will often prevent a freeze.

Install More Insulation

Perhaps the most damaging results of frozen pipes occur when those in your walls burst. This can create extensive damage, and creates the conditions necessary for the growth of mold. If you have problems with frozen pipes in your walls, you probably have inadequate insulation. The installation of more will not only protect your pipes, it will also lower your monthly energy bills.

On Call Plumbing provides all the services you need for the prevention and repair of frozen pipes in Santa Clarita, CA. To learn more or schedule work, give us a call today at 661-201-6016.

Hard water can cause serious problems with your plumbing system, as well as any appliances that use water on a regular basis. If you think your home is suffering from a bad case of hard water, contact On Call Plumbing at 661-201-6016. We offer a variety of options to install a water softener in your home.

Is the Water in Your Home Hard?

Oftentimes homeowners are unaware of the hard water problem in their house. Here are some simple signs that the water coming out of your pipes contains extra minerals.

Calcium Build Up
Calcium or limescale build up is the number one sign that there is a hard water problem. This build up occurs where there is constant water flow. Places that commonly experience this problem are faucets, coffee pots, and the ice dispenser in the door of the refrigerator.

Soap Scum Build Up
Another significant indicator of hard water is a buildup of soap scum in your shower or bathtub. The minerals in the water bond with the soap molecules and allow them to stick to the tiles and glass around your shower.

Water Stained Dishes
If you pull your glasses out of the dishwasher and notice water spots on the glass, it could mean you’re washing your dishes with water hard water.  You might also notice water spots on your flatware and will sometimes even leave behind a sandy residue on your clean dishes.

Contact Our Office

If you notice any of these symptoms in your home, call our office and schedule a consultation to find out if a home water softener is the best solution for you and your family.

Because our toilet is such a fundamental plumbing system, it is important to get repairs when needed. Unfortunately, it can be hard to tell when repairs are needed when you don’t know what signs to look for. When you need toilet repairs, there are a few tell-tale signs to look out for. Below are four signs you need your toilet repaired.

The Toilet is Always Running

If your toilet is running constantly, it will need to be looked out. After you flush your toilet, it shouldn’t need to run after about a minute. There could be something wrong with the flapper, but a professional plumber will be able to diagnose the problem.

Your Toilet Frequently Clogs

Toilet clogs are pretty common and can usually be fixed with plunging the toilet. However, if you are experiencing clogs every week or even every day, there is a problem with your toilet that needs to be addressed ASAP. A homeowner who tries to plunge the problem away could actually make things worse.

There is Standing Water Around the Toilet

Standing water around your toilet means that there is a leak someone. Either it could be sealing or there is a crack in your toilet that you can’t see. Regardless of where the standing water is coming from, a plumber can identify where the leak is coming from and put a stop to it at once.

The Toilet is Having a Hard Time Flushing

Is the handle preventing you from flushing the toilet or is it not filling with water? When you are having trouble flushing your toilet, call a local plumber to take a look at your toilet right away.

These are the most signs you need your toilet repaired, and if you need toilet repairs or installation in Santa Clarita, CA, please call On Call Plumbing today at 661-201-6016.

Sewer line issues can create major trouble for your plumbing. In fact, when you consider the messiest and most disruptive type of plumbing repairs, a sewer line problem lands near the top. You always want to take care of sewer line problems before they get out of hand. Pay attention to the following symptoms, and do not hesitate to call for service.

Slow Drains

All of a home’s drains empty into the sewer line. A clog or obstruction in this line will therefore create repercussions around the house. If you have multiple drains that run slowly, you may have identified a sewer line problem. Clogs in the sewer line will always require professional repair. Do not let them worsen, and call for assistance today.

Bad Smells

If waste begins to back up within your sewer line, you may experience bad smells around your house and yard. Sewage and methane simply have no escape in the event of a totally clogged sewer line. A significant problem, this level of obstruction should receive attention immediately.

Yard Patches

Odd patches within your yard can indicate sewer problems beneath the surface. A leaking sewer line will act as fertilizer for your grass and surrounding vegetation. If you notice inordinately green patches in your lawn, then you probably have a sewer line issue. A sudden appearance of pests, including rodents and insects, can indicate a similar problem.

At On Call Plumbing, we exist to serve any plumbing-related issues. If you have a sewer line problem in Santa Clarita, CA or surrounding areas, give us a call today at 661-201-6016.

Welcome to summer in the west: bright, hot and dry. It can be hard to escape the heat and even

harder to cool off once a hiding place is found. Why not install an evap cooler in Santa Clarita, CA? In the midst of the hot summer, family households and residential homes across the United States have their air conditioning units on full blast most of the day. Energy prices skyrocket while poor a/c units struggle to get the job done.

The worst thing is that the overworking of these a/c units normally causes annoying breakages in the middle of a hot summer. It’s definitely something to avoid, especially when repairs can be costly, tedious and laborious. The best way to tackle this problem is to look alternative cooling options. Don’t rely on central air to cool your apartment or living space.

Save Money With An Evap Cooler in Santa Clarita, CA

Swamp coolers are great because they’re portable, easy to fix and install and cheap to operate. Not to mention, evap coolers can be repaired by On Call Plumbers in Santa Clarita, CA and surrounding areas.

Pull the evap cooler out of storage and use it to save money on your electric bill.

One thing to know about swamp coolers: The drier the air is the better they work.

This means our Californian citizens can enjoy the best of summer cooling with evap coolers in Santa Clarita, CA from brands such as Tradewinds, Aerocool and Champion.

If household members have wondered about having wall units installed, they should call On Call Plumbing in Santa Clarita, CA today. We offer repairs and installation to get residents out of the hot, dry air quick! For installation, call 661-201-6016.