Drain Clog Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Bert Norman's Plumbing

Common Causes of Clogged Drains | Tip from Your Nassau County, FL Plumber

Posted on November 14, 2019 by bertnorman

A clogged drain can start out as a small problem, but can turn into a huge one very quickly that will require a plumber to come to your home. The results of a clogged drain water draining slowly, corrosion, flooding, and, in the worst of cases, sewage backup and a very costly visit from a plumber in Nassau County, FL or wherever you may reside. To prevent the expensive visit from a plumber, you need to know the signs of a clogged drain. After you read this blog post, you will know the common causes of clogged drains.

Hair: Hair is one of the main causes of clogged drains. The reason for this is that it can bind to grease and other sticky substances to create clogs. This can happen in your home or wherever you may reside. It is a good idea to have drain guards on all of your drains and clean them out on a regular basis.
Soap: You may not understand how soap can back up your drains in your Nassau County, FL home and possibly require a visit from a plumber to your home. The fat that is in soap combines with the minerals in your tap water and leaves a hard residue, which is otherwise known as soap scum. Soap scum stains bath fittings and then your pipes become clogged. It is a good idea to change to soap-free washes and then have a plumber do a pressure cleaning on your pipes to get rid of small amounts of soap build up that are left behind after your bathing and hand washing.
Dirt: You may think that your drains and pipes in your Nassau County, FL place of residence are there for washing anything down them. Even though you want to get dirt off of you and your clothing, before you wash you and your clothes off in your home, it is a good idea to shake the excess dirt off of you and them before you wash them off in your home.
Food Waste: Leftover food particles should never go down your drain, even when you have a garbage disposal in your drain in your Nassau County, FL home (or wherever you may reside). It is a much better idea to create a composting pile outside of your home. A composting pile is a proper place to get rid of food waste. It is most important that you do not put tea leaves and coffee grounds down the drain due to the fact that they do not break down. You should also be very careful about putting any foods that have grease or in them because they will become very hard and solid like in your pipes and create a blockage and then you will need a plumber to come out and clear the blockage.
Mineral Build Up: When minerals dissolve in hard water, they will build up and will cause masses that can be dissolved and they will easily block your drains, which means that you will need a plumber to come out and unblock them. To prevent this type of blockage from occurring is to install a water softener for your home in Nassau County, FL or wherever you may reside. If it is not possible for you to get a water softener in your home, you will need to de scale and remove sediment and build up in your pipes on a regular basis.
Small Objects: Small items can find their way into your drains and cause a lot of trouble. Only water, toilet paper, and bodily waste should go your toilet, drain, or sink. Any other item needs to be properly disposed of in your trash can, compost pile, or recycling can. If any foreign object has found their way into your drain and is causing problems, you will more than likely have to call a plumber so they can help you by removing the item from your drain and ensure that your plumbing works as it should.
The Build Up of Toilet Paper: Putting too much toilet paper in your toilet can clog up your drain and prevent your toilet from flushing. If water can still flow through your toilet when you flush it, a plunger will help you move the toilet paper and dissolve some of it. However, if your toilet fills without draining, you will need to contact a plumber to get rid of the blockage for you.
Tree Roots: The smallest of cracks or leaks in your underground pipes can attract the growth of tree roots. After tree roots start to grow inside of your pipes, they will grow at a very rapid pace, obstruct water flow, and cause damage to your pipes. Getting tree roots out of your pipes can be very difficult and may require a rotor service, pressure jet cleaning, a trench less repair, or even an excavation. You need to review the root structure of your trees and plants and keep an eye on the condition of your drains so you can avoid a very expensive and extensive repair.
Toothpaste Scum: It can take a great deal of toothpaste scum to clog up your bathroom sink drain, but along with everything else that goes down your drain, it is not uncommon. Toothpaste scum is very sticky and thick. If you do not rinse it down your drain all the way, it can trap other things that clog drains such as hair. Toothpaste scum is like soap scum as it produces a thick film in your drain and sink. You can avoid the buildup of toothpaste scum by properly rinsing all of your toothpaste down your drain.

With so many different causes of clogged drains, the best thing for you to do is to prevent them from getting clogged up. You should never put anything down your drains that is not meant to go down them. If you find a clog in your drain, it is a very bad idea to use commercial drain cleaners or objects to get rid of the clog. If a clogged drain becomes emergent in nature, be sure to contact Bert Norman’s Plumbing right away to help you clear the clog.

Have You Encountered a Drain Problem? | Tips from Your Trusted Yulee, FL Drain Cleaning Service Provider

Posted on October 28, 2019 by bertnorman

It isn’t uncommon for people in Yulee, FL and elsewhere to encounter drain problems. After all, our drains see constant use, meaning that it is more or less inevitable for drain problems to come up at some point in time. When this happens, some people will be tempted to handle their drain problem in their own, but it might be better for them to call for drain cleaning service from a reliable and reputable plumber instead.

Should You Handle Your Drain Cleaning on Your Own?

There is a wide range of drain cleaning solutions that people in Yulee, FL and elsewhere have been known to use rather than get drain cleaning service. For example, it is very common for said individuals to flush their pipes with hot water in the hope that the combination of heat, force, and water pressure will break up whatever it is that is causing the blockage. This is particularly true because flushing the pipes with hot water is the simplest solution possible, meaning that it calls for no specialized tools, no specialized supplies, and next to no effort on the user’s part. Likewise, there are some people in Yulee, FL and elsewhere who will seek to use various homemade remedies, with an excellent example being soft drinks because of their acidic content.

On top of this, there are plenty of people who will seek out their own drain cleaning tools and supplies rather than get drain cleaning service. Sometimes, this means things such as plungers, which they may or may not already have on hand. Other times, this means buying tools and supplies such as liquid drain cleaners that have been purpose-made for clearing up drain problems.

By this point, it should be clear that interested individuals in Yulee, FL and elsewhere are not helpless when it comes to drain problems. However, there is still the issue of whether handling their own drain problems is better than getting drain cleaning service. Unfortunately, there is no simple and straightforward answer to this question because different people have different circumstances, but there are nonetheless some factors that can help interested individuals make up their minds.

For starters, solving drain problems can be a laborious and time-consuming process. As a result, the issue of whether interested individuals can spare the time and effort can play an important role in determining whether they should attempt handling their drain problem on their own or not. Furthermore, if people in Yulee, FL and elsewhere have relevant expertise, experience, and equipment for their drain problem, that should cause them to lean towards solving their drain problems rather than get drain cleaning service. On top of this, some drain problems are much more stubborn than others. Due to this, if interested individuals have given their best with their particular drain problem, there is nothing stopping them from calling in drain cleaning service then.

With that said, there can also be some very nice benefits to getting drain cleaning service from a skilled and experienced plumbing professional. First, plumbing professionals have the assets needed to get the job done in an effective and efficient manner, thus minimizing the disruption to the day-to-day routine created by the drain problem in the first place. Second, plumbing professionals can minimize the chances of damage to the pipes, which is a serious concern because some drain cleaning solutions can cause a lot of damage when they are used in an improper manner. Third, plumbing professionals can handle more serious issues as well, which can be important when something that seemed like a drain blockage turns out to be much more serious in nature. Combined, these benefits enable drain cleaning service from plumbing professionals to provide their clients with not just the best results in an immediate sense but also potentially maximize the usefulness and useful lifespan of their plumbing in the long run.

How Can You Prevent a Drain Problem in the Future?

Otherwise, it is worth mentioning that prevention is always easier than repair and replacement. While it will be too late for interested individuals to put preventative measures into practice once they have encountered a drain problem, it won’t be too late for them to make some changes to prevent the next such occurrence.

First, if interested individuals want to avoid the need for draining cleaning service, altogether, they should be careful about the substances that they pour down their drains. This is because not everything is meant to go down their drains, meaning that the wrong substances can create clogs as well as other issues that will complicate matters for them. Generally speaking, interested individuals need to avoid harder substances such as bones and eggshells that are too tough to break down with ease. Furthermore, they should avoid anything that can provide the basis for a clogged drain, which means hair, fibrous foods, and a wide range of paper-based products. Putting these things in the pipes won’t always create a problem, but when that happens, it will be too late for interested individuals to have regrets.

Second, interested individuals might want to look into the use of milder drain cleaners on a routine basis as a way of cleaning their pipes. Be warned that interested individuals should avoid anything that is too strong because the properties that make them useful for eliminating the toughest clogs are also the same properties that can enable them to cause damage to the material of the piping. The idea is to keep the pipes clean for minimal chances of problems coming up, not to speed up the rate at which they will have to be repaired and replaced.

Contact Us

Thinking about drain cleaning service? Please contact us as soon as time permits to learn more about how our skilled and experienced plumbing professionals can provide our clients with the best drain cleaning service for the best results possible.

Signs You Are in Need of a Plumbing Service | Jacksonville, FL

Posted on October 7, 2019 by bertnorman

If your household is like most, you probably have a long list of cleaning tasks that you take care of on a rotating basis. Tasks like doing the laundry or dishes are likely daily whereas tasks like vacuuming and sweeping are once a week. Then there are tasks like cleaning the windows and light fixtures which are much more spread out. If you aren’t already doing it, you should probably add drain cleaning to the list.

A lot of people are unsure what a ‘house drain’ is and are even more uncertain about why they should be cleaning it. You may even wonder if you have ever seen someone clean it. There is a chance you haven’t if your parents didn’t or if they hired plumbing services to do it and you never saw the task. Whether you hire a plumber in Jacksonville, FL or look into it yourself, you need to make sure the drain is cleaned properly.

What Is a House Drain?

If this is the first time hearing about drain cleaning, it may be helpful to learn what a house drain is before calling for plumbing services. A house drain is typically located under the ground of your home or may be a horizontal pipe that you can see across the side of the basement of cellar. They are generally made out of very heavy materials such as copper or cast iron in Jacksonville, FL and are made to last for decades.

This drain pipe is responsible for taking all of the water traveling from smaller pipes throughout the home and then carrying it out of your house. As you may guess, that makes it the most vital drain pipe in your home, which is why it’s a good idea to get assistance from professional plumbing services to clean it if you haven’t been doing so yet. Here are just a few of the many benefits associated with keeping this drain clean.

Reduce the Chance of Blockages

First and foremost, the number one reason to look at cleaning your drain is to reduce the number of blockages that occur in your major pipeline. No one wants their plumbing to back up and force them to call for emergency plumbing services on the weekend, but if your house pipe is not regularly cleaned you may find yourself in this situation. While drain cleaning does not completely prevent blockages, it reduces the chances that one will occur because it cleans out buildup before it gets a chance to form into a serious clog.

A serious clog can’t be broken up by simple methods, and at that point the plumbing services will cost you much more than a simple drain cleaning would have. Plus, if the blockage gets bad quickly, it could even cause your sewer lines to start leaking or eventually burst. At this point the situation will get costly and stinky. All this can be avoided by simply calling for plumbing services in Jacksonville, FL.

Less Odors in the Lower Floors

Speaking of unpleasant scenarios, no one wants a basement or a toilet that smells like sewer on a regular basis. It is hard to get rid of the sewer smell once it gets into your home, and it can linger for months before you stop noticing it in the rugs and the walls. The drain pipe does not have to be completely blocked for bad odors to start drifting up. As sentiment starts to build up in the drain pipe it starts to partially block your sewage as it passes through. This creates a backup that likely has your sinks and toilets draining slower.

The slow drain time means that the water starts to get stagnant, and as a result the sewer smell develops and starts wafting back up into your home. However, if you have your drains cleaned regularly as part of your plumbing services you will never find yourself in this scenario. A clean pipe will not form unhealthy build up and thus you have no reason to worry about offensive smells in Jacksonville, FL.

A Clean Drain Means a Healthy Home

Odor is not the only thing that comes back up a drain pipe when it is blocked. In addition to bad odors and sewage, the drain pipes hold bacteria, wastes, bugs, and everything associated with that lot. If anything backs up or settles in there, you know that all of these delightful guests are coming back up with it. If the image of disgusting bugs that feed on feces walking through your bathroom or kitchen makes you a bit nauseous, then it’s time to call your local plumbing services and book a drain cleaning. When you flush out your drain, you flush all of these unwelcome houseguests out with it.

Cleaner Outdoor Areas

The inside of your home should not be your only concern when it comes to sewer drain pipes. If the water backs up or a drain is blocked, the end result may be standing water in an unwelcome area of your property outdoors. At the best this can lead to slippery areas, at its worst this can lead to mold and breeding puddles for mosquitos.

Plus, the water may contain some sewage that is now leaking into the ground your children play on or the plants that you grow. Sewage is meant to be permanently disposed of, not simply relocated into your yard. Keeping current with your proactive plumber at Bert Norman’s Plumbing, Inc. is a great way to make sure this never happens. After all, if there is a backup in the house you can always scrub the floor, but you can’t clean the ground, and everything in it will be tainted for a measurable amount of time.

10 Things You Shouldn’t Flush Down the Toilet | Tips from Your Yulee, FL Plumber

Posted on September 21, 2019 by bertnorman

Your toilet can’t speak. It can’t tell you to stop flushing random things. So today, we’re not here to tell you to only flush what’s supposed to be flushed. Hopefully, you already know what is! We’re here to speak on behalf of your plumber in the Yulee, FL area. Here’s what you should never flush down your toilet.

Remember, with each flush, you’re using up almost three gallons of water. Make sure that you’re not wasting water by flushing the wrong things. If you do, it’s best to call a professional in the Yulee, FL area.

Do you want to make sure you’re not flushing any of these things down your toilet? Do yourself a favor and go through this list:

1. Flushable Wipes

Names can be deceiving. Sometimes people can say things they don’t mean. Similarly, some makeup and baby wipes claim to be flushable. We suggest you refrain from risking the damage caused by flushing them down the toilet. They are usually not biodegradable and can clog up your toilet. When there’s a trash can nearby, use it. It’s a much safer alternative.

2. Diapers

While, we’re on the topic of baby products, one thing you should definitely not be tossing in the toilet is a diaper. They’re big and smelly and your plumber will not be happy to see that you’ve tried to flush it away. A diaper is technically already a portable toilet for your baby anyway. The only sensible decision to make after it has been used is to throw it in the bin.

3. Floss

You should be flossing twice a day. Once when you wake up and once before sleeping. Your toilet, however, does not need to floss. So please don’t throw your floss in there. It may seem like it isn’t a big deal at first, but floss bunches up over time and will lodge itself in your bathroom plumbing. It can also get caught with more gunk and create a huge mess.

4. Cat Litter

Humans and cats are meant to use different toilets. If you find yourself flushing kitty litter down the toilet, stop before your plumber has to buy you a litter box. Cat litter often becomes blobs of solid once it touches water. If you put it in the toilet, chances are it’ll form clumps inside the pipes and clog your pipes.

5. Food

Waste food and you’ll be labeled a terrible person. Attempt to flush it down the toilet and your plumber will never see you the same way again. Not only is it disgusting to take your food to the bathroom, but trying to dispose of it this way is one of the worst ideas you could have. If there’s ever any extra or unwanted food at home, try dropping it off at the local soup kitchen.

Along these lines, you shouldn’t be getting rid of oil or grease this way either. You may think that you’re only putting liquid in the bowl, just like the majority of things that usually go in there, but you’re not. Oil and any kinds of grease will eventually solidify in your pipes and clog them.

6. Tampons

It may seem like the easiest solution when you’re in a hurry. As convenient as it may seem, it’s very harmful for your pipes, and you will have to call your plumber to save you. Be responsible when disposing of your tampons or other hygiene products. Wrap them with toilet paper and throw them in the garbage. It may seem like a handful at first, but you’ll get used to it.

7. Pets

This is as bad of an idea as it is cruel. Animals, especially your pets deserve to be disposed of with as much dignity as anyone else. People tend to throw their fishes in the toilet, but this is going to cause you trouble in the long run. Animals do not break down in the pipes and you will have to call a plumber to unclog the blockage.

This shouldn’t have to be said, but you definitely should not be getting rid of living pets this way at all. Find someone who wants to adopt your pet if you don’t want them anymore.

8. Medication

You may be wondering what the issue is when medicine also dissolves in your body? Well, although they won’t clog your pipes and be an issue for your plumber they will dissolve into the groundwater and release chemicals into your sewers. This will, over time, become a problem for you too.

The water that runs in our sewers is the same water that goes into the major water bodies around us. The last thing you want is your favorite beaches to become contaminated.

9. Hair

Hair loss is real and anyone will tell you they hate it too. Do you really want to flush your precious locks down the toilet? Any kind of hair should be thrown into the garbage. Hair can get tangled up with other things in your pipes.

If your pet is suffering from fur loss, make sure you throw their fur away properly too. When detangling your hair from your brushes, try to do it near a garbage can.

10. Cotton Swabs

You may think these little creatures aren’t going to create any issues for you, but your plumberwill tell you otherwise. Like paper towels and facial tissues, these aren’t made to be put in your toilet. They might not dissolve in the water as easily as toilet paper. Regularly flushing them down the toilet after removing your makeup will lead to a clog in your pipes.

If you are looking for a professional plumber in the Yulee, FLarea, give Bert Norman’s Plumbing of Yulee, FL a call at 904-225-5888 or fill out our online request form.

5 Signs You Should Call for Drain Cleaning Service | Jacksonville, FL

Posted on September 7, 2019 by bertnorman

None of us normally think about the drains of our house until we run into a problem. We don’t mean to scare you but let’s be honest; there are many, many things that can go wrong with your drains. Whether it’s due to a rusty pipe, hard water resulting in mineral deposits in the plug of the drain or food waste, or hair or soap blocking the drain pipes, there are a number of common plumbing problems that can occur any time.

We’ve listed down five instances when you should call a professional drain cleaning service in the Jacksonville, FL area.

When You’re Facing Slow Drainage Problems

All of us are aware of slow drainage issues and have at least once in our lives dealt with little sink clogs. Slow drainage often indicates that the drain will clear our eventually but is unable to keep pace with the flow of water. When the water tends to build up like it does when it’s clogged and then gradually goes downs the drain, this is called slow drainage. This indicates that there might be a partial blockage in the pipeline and that you need to call a plumber for drain cleaning. If the drain is left unattended, it would eventually get blocked completely. A partially blocked pipe won’t get treated on its own. It’s a good idea to call a plumbing service and take quick action as it would be easier to cure and cost you much less now that it will later.

When You Hear Gurgling Sounds From the Drain

It’s common to hear sounds of water running down the drain. However, you’re not supposed to hear gurgling sounds when the water drains or after the water has run down the sink. In case you notice distant gurgling noises, especially when it comes along with slow drainage issues when the water pressure is high, you should contact a plumbing service immediately.

This might be the result of air in the drains, which means that a drain cleaningis due. Like in the case of a partially blocked pipe, it’s always good to act early on, than wait for it to develop into a bigger problem.

When Your Drain Keeps Clogging Constantly

Usually homes go through around one to five drain clogs each year. Most of the times, they occur due to normal usage and doesn’t indicate a serious issue. But if you’ve to face a clogged drain multiple times in a week, then raising concerns regarding it is justified. You might be facing a deeper systemic issue, and maybe dealing with structural pipe defects.

It’s possible that there’s one big clog deep in the drains that you’re unable to reach, that’s resulting in multiple smaller clogs. Usually old homes tend to have old rusting pipes that are prone to clogging. Multiple or recurrent clogs at your place is something you should pay close attention to, as they might suggest a main sewage clog, or a serious problem with broken pipes in the sewage system. A drain cleaning service can help you out of this situation, as they’re trained and better equipped to handle these issues.

When You Notice Sewage Smells from the Drain

Sewer smells coming up out from the drains is a red flag for you. The sewage smells filling your place is usually due to three main reasons

Dormant Sewage Water Accumulation in the Pipes

It can happen that the dirty water that was meant to get washed away might be backing up instead. Stagnant sewer water lying in the pipeline would result in sewage smells. In general, the drainage system makes sure that the smells are taken away when the waste water and its contents flow down the drain. When the drains start backing up and holds stagnant waste water, the sewer smell indicates that you should call for a drain cleaning plumberand let them handle the situation for you.

Loose or Missing Caps or Plugs of the Drain Pipe

In case the caps or plugs of the drain line are not tightened up properly, it could cause the sewer to smell. Loosely fitted caps or plugs on a trap or clean-out would let out sewage gasses in the air. These sewage trap caps and plugs won’t cost you a hefty amount, so let a drain cleaning plumberhelp you get rid of that filthy smell.

Dried Out Sewage Trap or Drain Trap

The most unlikely reason for a sewage smell is when there’s a lightly used plumbing fixture anywhere in the building. The dried out trap might lose its water barrier, which allows sewage gasses to get through. Luckily, this problem can be solved easily on your own. Just pour a little water in the dried out drain or trap so that the water barrier falls back in its place. If that doesn’t work, call a plumber to sort it out.

When the Drains Start Backing Up

The worst thing that you’d have to face when it comes to plumbing is backed up drains. Unfortunately, it isn’t always clean slightly-used water that backs up the drains. When the drains start to back up, you might see a pool of water forming around the drain. As a result of a bad clog it would gradually try to push water back up in the drain.

Running your taps won’t be of any help as that water wouldn’t drain either. Keep in mind that water seeks its own level. That means that low lying drains might not be actually clogged but would have water back out of them first. The only way to deal with this situation is to let a professional plumber for drain cleaning in the Jacksonville, FL area handle it.

Conclusion

When you’re faced with any of these situations, you contact Bert Norman’s Plumbing in the Jacksonville, FL area tohelp fix the problem. Bert Norman’s Plumbing is one of the best drain cleaning services in the Jacksonville, FL area. We’ve trained professionals who are available for services 24/7. Contact us at (904) 225-5888.

Category: Drain Clog