Any individual seems to have their unique perception when it comes to plumbing and heating.
You can depend on KCs Plumbing and Heating to take care of any plumbing heating or drainage problem day or night with our 24hr emergency call service. Great service, fair rates.
KCs Plumbing & Heating first opened for business in 1993 and has become a household name with many of our customers since then. When it comes to plumbing, heating, gas, a plugged drain or any related problem, you can count on us to fix it quickly, at a reasonable price. With our fleet of service vehicles on the road at all times we can be at your front door very quickly if you have an emergency situation. If you have a plumbing job we can schedule, it is taken care of in a reasonable time most convenient for you.
How to Use a Plumber’s Snake
A plumber’s snake, or drain auger, is a tool that reaches down into pipes to remove clog-causing blockage. Snakes make up the middle ground between common household plungers and the really big guns. If you’re dealing with a clog too stubborn for your plunger, then a snake is your best chance to clear it out yourself.
Snakes are much more powerful drain-clearers than plungers, but they’re also slightly riskier to use. If you use your plumber’s snake improperly, then you might tear up your pipes or even create leaks. To avoid doing that, it’s important to know how your snake works and how to use it correctly. Here’s everything you should know about using a plumber’s snake.
How does a plumber’s snake work?
what is a plumber's snake?A plumber’s snake is a long, flexible metal cable with a small auger or uncoiled spring on one end and a handle on the other. The auger on the snake looks like a drill bit or a corkscrew. Home plumber’s snakes are usually around 50 feet long. The cable coils up when you’re not using it. Most home plumber’s snakes are hand-operated, and probably have a rotatable handle or even a crank.
Plumber’s snakes work by entering the drain directly to physically contact and then clear away the obstruction causing the clog. You manually insert the auger end of the snake into the drain and then begin uncoiling by rotating the handle. As the snake uncoils, the auger moves further through the drain pipe, until it breaks through the obstruction.
How do you use a plumber’s snake?
1. Put on some clothes you don’t mind getting dirty and lay some old towels beneath the pipes you’re working on. Depending on the nature of the clog, your snaking procedure could get messy. This is especially important if you end up removing the p-trap.
2. (Optional) Consider removing the p-trap. The p-trap, or p-bend, is the curving piece of pipe beneath the sink. It connects the sink to the greater drain pipe system in your home. The reason it’s curved is to prevent sewer gases from rising through the sink and into the home. P-traps are often made of PVC pipe, though they can also be metal.
You can manually remove the p-trap, either with your hands or with the help of an adjustable wrench. Once you remove the p-trap, you should thoroughly inspect and clean it out. If you find your obstruction, then you won’t have to snake at all! Even if you don’t find anything, removing the trap could make snaking easier.
3. (Optional) Consider removing the trap arm. A trap arm is the part of the pipe between the p-trap and the actual wall pipe. It holds the p-trap in place and may curve again to reach the wall. Look for a plastic or metal nut connecting the trap arm to the wall. If you can find one, loosen it to remove the trap arm. If you can’t, then it’s possible the arm is glued in place; don’t attempt to remove it in that case. Make sure you clean out the trap arm like you did the p-trap once you remove it.
Removing the trap arm gets you as close to the drain pipe as possible. Look inside the drain pipe to look for any obstructions. If you can see the obstruction, try removing it from where you are. If you can’t, you should use your snake.
4. Manually thread the auger head of the snake into the pipe. Insert the head of the snake into either the drain (if you didn’t remove the trap), or the access point on the wall. If you didn’t remove the trap, consider running cold water while you snake.
Don’t force the auger into the drain too hard, or you could damage the drain entrance or pipe. Be patient and make sure the head and cable aren’t too long for the drain you’re trying to snake.
5. Begin uncoiling the snake using the handle. Keep the handle of the snake as close to the entrance of the pipe as possible. The more slack the auger had has, the less force you’re supplying it.
Rotate the handle at a consistent pace. Don’t try to rush it or rotate too slowly. If you feel pressure at any point while the cable moves through the pipe, you may have encountered the obstruction.
6. Upon reaching the obstruction, move the rotate the head back-and-forth and up-and-down. Try to break up the obstruction as thoroughly as possible. Don’t try to jam the auger into the walls of the pipe, however. If you hear scraping noises, then you should stop snaking and re-adjust.
If you think the auger might be stuck in the obstruction, consider pulling the snake out of the pipe. In some cases, the obstruction may come out with it. Continue snaking until you no longer feel resistance and the snake uncoils to its full length.
7. Pull the snake out and re-assemble the sink components. Check the auger head for remains of the obstruction and clean it off. If you removed the trap arm and p-trap, then you should re-install them at this point.
8. Check the sink. The snake should have successfully removed the obstruction and solved the clogging problem. If you still seem to have a clog, then you could try repeating your snaking process again. Just like plunging, however, snaking too much can harm your pipes or drains. If a thorough snaking really didn’t solve your problem, then you should consider calling in the pros.
Snaking is a surprisingly easy and accessible homeowner project. As long as you understand how to use your snake, you should solve your problem without creating new ones.
Sometimes, however, you may not be able to beat that clog, no matter what you try. Don’t despair! After your snake, the next step is to call Mike Diamond. We’ve got the tools and know how to find and break up any clog, no matter how stubborn.
When You Need a New Water Heater Here is What To Do
Hot water tanks are one of the most ignored household appliances in North American houses. It is something generally overlooked until something fails. We only appreciate the benefit of this appliance in the morning when the water is too chilly to tolerate. That's when you are struck with the realization that you don't know how to fix a boiler.
Water Heater Life Extension Guidelines
Usually, a gas-driven hot water tank can last an average of ten years. Most hardware stores sell hot water tanks and their equivalent if you really know what to do with them that is. You can stretch out the predictable replacement by a couple of years, if you know how to handle of your hot water tank by cleaning it at least yearly or by making use of an insulation jacket. A prudent home owner will observe one or both suggestions to put off the inevitable upgrade.
While you could possibly recognize the need for swapping out a tank that is on it's last legs, you might question why exactly that is a obligatory step well before the unit reaching its typical life limit.
Exchanging The Water Heater Saves Money
The major benefit of investing in a new hot water tank is the cash saved on your heating costs. A new water heater would, most likely, be more efficient than any older version. You will discover several things to look into with your new purchase plumbers if you desire to make the most plumbing companies of your savings which is how much use it will likely be exposed to.
A larger hot water heater will be required if you've got a big family. All things considered, more inhabitants in the house means more hot water usage.
Various Hot Water Tanks
Commonly, they are categorized into two kinds - natural gas and electric. Gas appliances are more expensive than electric units - a standard gas heater would generally cost about $800, while electric units can cost nearly the same, but in general rather less. Lots of people are still opting for the conventional hot water tank as it's what we're most acquainted with, but on-demand water heaters are becoming more popular, so you'll like to consider both before you invest.
Whether you choose a electric or gas powered water heater, you can select instant hot water with what is referred to as the on-demand water heater system. Or maybe you are more prone to subscribe to green power you can find solar driven water heaters, that will reduce emissions other hot water tanks are notorious for. Just understand the installation complexity you'll face with a solar heating unit, so be prepared to shell out those additional installation fees.
Regardless which way you choose to go in terms of a new hot water tank, it is advisable you employ a pro for the installation. A heating replacement demands mechanical know-how and an a better understanding of of local codes for air-flow and generally risk-free functioning. If you're not trained in the art of installing a new hot water tank then find a local heating company who's able to do the work for you.
I ran across that write up about household plumbing while looking around the web. Sharing is nice. One never knows, you may very well be doing someone a favor. Thank you for taking the time to read it.