Keeping Your Drains Clean

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Your Drains Need Spring Cleaning Too

Spring cleaning is a ritual many of us take part in every year when the temperatures warm and the days get longer.  This often entails cleaning windows, dusting everything, and making sure our homes smell fresh. But what about your drains?

Don’t Wait for a Problem to Clean Your Drains

Cleaning your drains may not be an item on your traditional spring-cleaning list, but taking a little time to clean your drains thoroughly can avoid some major problems down the road. Read more →

Preventing Clogged Kitchen Drains

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How to Avoid a Holiday Disaster

The holidays are fast approaching when many of us will gather together to enjoy a wide variety of festive meals with friends and family.  This may also be the time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day when more cooking is done at home than at any other time.

It can also be the time when we rinse or pour more “stuff” down our drains. If we aren’t careful several of these items can damage our drains and lead to high plumbing repair bills. Being aware of what we should and shouldn’t send down our drains, can ensure that our holiday cooking and clean up won’t contribute to future drain problems.

Here’s What is OK to Go Down Your Drain

  1. Soft foods: Your garbage disposal can handle easily chopped up foods
  2. Liquids: Non caustic liquids should flow easily
  3. Vegetables: Non-fibrous vegetable scraps
  4. Leftovers: Let the garbage disposal take care of food scraps from your plate.

FOG down drainHere are 12 Items that Should Not Go Down Your Kitchen Sink   

  1. Grease, Oils and Fats: To avoid having liquid grease harden in your drain, pour it into a container until it hardens and then toss it in the trash.
  2. Paper Towels: Absorbent paper towels will expand in your drain
  3. Pasta: Toss leftover pasta in the trash. Pasta will gum your drain.
  4. Flour: Flour mixes with the water in your sink to make a gooey paste.
  5. Coffee Grounds: Coffee grounds do not easily rinse down your drain leading to slow flowing water.
  6. Rice: Grains of rice expand and create clogs in your drain
  7. Fruit Pits: Pits from peaches or avocados, or any types of seeds including unpopped popcorn kernels.  These are too hard for your garbage disposal to chop up.
  8. Eggshells: In addition to dulling your garbage disposal blades, the shells can attach to the sides of the drain creating areas for other debris to collect.
  9. Potato Peels: The starch found in potatoes will coat your drain and lead to future clogs.
  10. Seafood shells: Crab, lobster or shrimp shells can easily get stuck in your drain.
  11. Turkey/Chicken Bones: Small turkey and chicken bones have the same impact as seafood shells. They can get caught in the drain and catch other scraps leading to bigger problems.
  12. Produce Stickers: Those little produce stickers don’t dissolve in water and can clog your pipes. Peel them off before you wash your fruit and dispose of them properly.

sink drainHow to Avoid Problems with Your Drains

Several of the items noted in this list are not thought by many as items that would cause drain problems.  Being aware of what items can and cannot be rinsed down your kitchen drain is the first step in avoiding future problems, followed by being vigilant about what cooking and food items you toss in your sink.

Use Lots of Water
One other note is to use lots of water when running your garbage disposal.  This ensures all food residue is rinsed down the drain.

How Do You Know You Have a Drain Problem?

Generally, it is easy to spot a problem with your drains.  The first indication is that water is draining slower than usual in your kitchen sink.  If you don’t address the problem, eventually it will stop draining altogether indicating that a clog has blocked a portion of the drainpipe.

At this point you can start by trying to dissolve the clog using a commercially available drain cleaner or run a “snake” down the pipe to clear the blockage.  If all this fails, then you’ll need to contact a professional plumber with the right tools and expertise to clear your drain line.

Let Us Know If We Can Help

Give Brenneco Plumbing a call at 765-448-6190 if we can be of any help.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brenneco plumping van

Brenneco Plumbing Services

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Brenneco Plumbing is Ready to Handle Your Plumbing Problems

Brenneco Plumbing logoKnowing a good plumber can come in handy when you find water collecting on your floor, a drain plugged up, or you are tired of drinking rusty or smelly water.

Brenneco Plumbing has been taking care of our community’s plumbing needs for over 40 years.  It has the experienced and trained plumbers that can help you with any of your plumbing needs. Read more →

Sewer Line Cleaning and Repair

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Roots in Your Sewer Lines Can Get Nasty

Roots in drain line

Roots are a common problem in sewer lines.

Tree roots entering your sewer line can cause major damage to pipes and septic tanks because they tend to grow into rough shapes that create clogs and slow drains that can back up sewage into your home.

As roots continue to grow, they expand and exert considerable pressure at the crack or joint where they entered the pipe. The force exerted by the root growth will break the pipe and may result in total collapse of the pipe requiring it to be replaced.

How do roots get into the main drainpipe?

Roots grow towards sewer pipes because they hold water, nutrients and oxygen—things roots crave.  And if the root finds a crack or leak in the pipe, they’ll grow into the pipe, blocking off the flow of waste into the sewer. Read more →

corroded drain pipes

Old Drainpipes in Your Home

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How Old are the Drainpipes in Your Home?

The drainage pipes in your home are not something many of us ever give much thought to. For the most part they do their job every day, year after year.  But like any product, drainage pipes do have a lifespan.  Depending on the type of material they are made of these pipes can last from 25 to almost 100 years.

corroded drain pipes

Once pipes begin to corrode, it’s only a matter of time before problems develop.

When to Take a Look

When remodeling an older home knowing the age of the structure can be helpful. This might give you an indication of what you’ll find behind the walls when you redo a bathroom or kitchen.

What you want to avoid is updating a room with new fixtures, tile flooring and walls, shower heads, and toilets, and neglecting to determine the condition of your drainpipes.

This is a little like “putting lipstick on a pig”. The outward appearance might be better, but the overall benefits are not realized because what’s going on behind the walls needs to be addressed. Read more →

clogged drain

What Not to Dispose Down Your Drain

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Stop! Don’t Put That Down Your Drain

clogged drainHow often do we think about what should or shouldn’t be washed down the drain?  But not being aware of the stuff that goes down our drains can, not only impact our environment, but also lead to expensive plumbing repairs.
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Even if you have a garbage disposal, there are still certain substances that should be properly disposed of to avoid clogs and problems with your system.
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Here are some of the major culprits that we should avoid disposing of down our sink drains.

Coffee Grounds
Most people assume that coffee grounds are small enough that they won’t stick around in your pipes, but that’s not the case. In fact, most plumbers say that coffee grounds are one of the most likely sources of a clog in your kitchen pipes.

coffee grounds

Butter, Margarine and Cooking Oils
Even when melted, butter and margarine can congeal and build up over time creating water-resistant barriers. Oils are a major contributor to clogs and mix with other debris to create sludge. This also includes items such as, salad dressing, sauces and mayonnaise.

Grease and Other Fats
Like oils, leftover fats and grease from cooking can congeal, blocking drains and allowing other debris to cling onto the inside of pipes.

Eggshells
Not only are the shells hard on disposal blades, the egg shell membranes can wrap around the grinding device. Once ground, the tiny bits of the shell can compound other blockages.

Pasta, Rice and Flour
Pasta, noodles, rice and flour all absorb water and will swell or create a glue-like substance that can create clogs in your pipes.

Produce Stickers
These plastic and adhesive stickers are not water-soluble and when washed down a drain they can easily stick to other items leading to clogged pipes.

Medications
While there’s no real danger to your drain or pipes, the addition of pharmaceuticals into the water presents an environmental risk. It’s best to dispose of old medication in a sealed container in the trash can, or as dictated by local ordinances.

paint in sinkHousehold Fluids
Household cleaners and car fluids may not cause clogs in your pipes, but these chemicals can be very harmful when mixed into the water supply. Car fluids (oil, coolant, transmission and brake fluids) should be disposed according to local municipal guidelines. Avoid allowing toxic household cleaners into the water system by switching to all-natural cleaners.

Paint
Washing paint, both water- and oil-based, down the drain is not permitted in most areas because of the number of toxins and chemicals from the paint that can end up in the water supply. Depending on your area, you may have to dispose of paint at a hazardous waste facility.Brenneco Plumbing logo

Need Assistance
Have a clogged drain you can’t clear yourself?  Give Brenneco a call at 765-448-6190 and we’ll be happy to help.

Roots in Your Sewer Line

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Roots In Your Sewer Line, A Common Problem

Do you have these early signs that your main drain/sewer line could be partially blocked?  These include . . .

  • Gurgling sounds coming from the toilet when you flush.
  • Slow drains – including your toilet – that tend to backup.
  • Clogs that keep returning after you’ve cleared them. This is because you haven’t taken care of the real problem: holes or cracks in your pipe. The roots just keep coming back.
  • Obnoxious odors.
Roots in drain line

Tree roots will find their way through cracks and holes into your drainpipe.

If you suspect your sewer line has some level of blockage, now is the time to address this problem before your line is completely blocked or your sewer line breaks due to the pressure of the roots. This can lead to an expensive repair.

It’s Best to Catch the Problem Early

Over time cracks and small holes form in your drain line. Roots are naturally attracted to these openings because they are searching for water and nutrients.  As the root mass expands in your sewer line it will cause a blockage.

Two Options to Eliminate Tree Roots

Option 1:
One approach to cleaning out your sewer line is to use a variety of products including rock salt, sodium chloride, copper sulphate or commercial products like Root X to kill the roots and prevent them from continuing to grow.  This fix is fairly simple in that you just flush these compounds down your toilet and wait 6- 8 hours. This process does not remove the root mass.

Products like RootX can kill roots in your pipes but can’t remove them.

One word of caution. It is possible for salt to kill not only the roots but the tree as well, and any other vegetation growing in the area. Salt also has the potential to corrode and weaken your pipes.   Because copper sulfate can harm animals, it has been banned in certain areas. So, before you use it, check with the local authorities.

Option 2:
Secondly you can run a power auger or water jet down your sewer line to cut out the roots and open up your drainpipe.  This is very effective in eliminating the blockage but does not prevent the roots from growing back.

What’s the Most Effective Approach?

Both of these options work on their own and can eliminate the problem temporarily for smaller blockages due to roots.  Depending on the size of the root blockage, which can be determined by a plumber using a sewer line camera, using chemical products may work and be less expensive.  If the blockage is large, then using the power auger or water jet will be necessary.

The most effective approach for larger root problems is to first cut out the roots with the auger or water jet and then apply a product like Root X to kill the ends of the roots and prevent them from growing back.

Think You May Have a Problem?

Give Brenneco a call if you suspect you have drain line problems.  We can be reached 24/7 by calling 765-448-6190.  Let us know if we can help.

PVC pipe plumbing repair

Drain Blockages and Leaks

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What Lies Beneath Your Home Might Surprise You

Plumbing repair

A home’s plumbing, while often unseen, keeps everything flowing smoothly.

Under every home is a network of drainage pipes that keep everything in our home flowing smoothly.  But like anything else, out of sight also means out of mind for most of us.  Plumbing is something we don’t often give much thought to until we have a sink, shower or toilet back up on us.

Like anything else that has been around awhile all plumbing pipes have a life span.  Over time clay tiles, galvanized pipe, copper pipe and even plastic pipe will deteriorate.  When it does breakdown, because of corrosion or roots growing into it, that’s when we have to deal with back upped drains or leaks. Read more →

Does my sump pump need replaced?

Does My Sump Pump Need Replaced?

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Whether your basement contains a carpeted home theatre or is nothing more than cinder blocks and a dirt floor, nobody wants water in their basement or crawlspace. Having water in your basement is  inconvenient if it is part of your living space, but you should be even more worried about the bigger issues — mold and serious structure damage. To avoid an indoor body of water and the problems that come with it, you need a sump pump. However, a sump pump is only helpful if it’s in tip-top shape and working properly. So, how do you know when it’s time to replace your sump pump?

What is a sump pump?

Put simply, a sump pump prevents water from entering your basement. To install one, a plumber will dig a hole in the lowest part of your basement or crawl space. When it rains or the ground gets wet, the hole will fill with water. Then, the sump pump will turn on and move the water out of the hole through pipes that run away from the foundation of your home or building and into a municipal storm drain or well. This may sound bizarre, but without a sump pump, water can seep through the walls and floors of your crawl space or basement. Read more →

Brenneco Plumbing helps unclog drains!

Simple drain cleaning tips!

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A clogged drain is a nuisance, no doubt. A toilet that won’t flush or a sink or tub that won’t drain can certainly put a damper on your day. Before we look at home remedies to clear a clog, let’s discuss ways to prevent a clog in the first place:

1. Place a strainer over each drain. This will catch food, hair, and other items before they enter the drain.

2. Keep drains and pipes clear of buildup by running hot water after every use. This will help wash away any residue and keep water flowing freely!

3. Baking soda and vinegar are great natural cleaners. Add these to your drain, followed by hot water, to keep it free of clogs.

Sometimes, though, despite our best efforts, we find ourselves standing ankle-deep in water when we step into the shower, or scrambling to shut off the water when the toilet is about to overflow. Here are some simple ways you can try to clear a clog without using potentially harmful chemicals or hiring a professional: Read more →