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Prepare the Bathroom Plumbing for the Holidays

Is the Toilet Ready for Holiday Guests?

Since the start of 2020, people have been counting down the days until the end of 2020. It’s been a tough year for many people, but there isn’t much further to go. The holidays are right around the corner and will be a great way to welcome the new year and put 2020 in the past. 

The holiday season is filled with fun decorations, great food, and time together with family and friends. The one thing the holidays shouldn’t be filled with is a plumbing disaster. As the holidays get closer, homeowners need to make sure their home and plumbing system are ready for extra guests.

When Is It Time To Replace the Toilet?

toilet

As the holiday food and drinks are flowing, people will have to use the bathroom. And if there are more people at the house to celebrate the holidays, the bathroom will be used more frequently and needs to keep up with demand! 

Homeowners who want to avoid a toilet emergency over the holidays should pay attention to these signs of a toilet breakdown:

  • Rocking toilet: If a toilet rocks or wobbles when someone sits on it, that is not a good sign. Some bolts may have started to come loose, or the floor underneath the toilet might be rotting away!
  • Leaking toilet: A leaking toilet can be hard to spot. If there are no puddles on the floor, homeowners may notice the sound of running water or a spike in the water bill.
  • Cracks in the tank: If homeowners begin to notice puddles forming around the toilet, there likely is a crack in the tank, causing it to leak.
  • Constant clogging: Many toilets will clog now and then. However, if the toilets start to clog once a week or even more frequently, the toilet will likely need replacement.

Avoiding Clogged Toilets

Toilet clogs are a hassle to deal with on any day. However, when guests are spending the day at the house, it can be even more of a hassle. Homeowners should be aware of what’s being flushed down the toilet since this is the best way to avoid a clog in the first place. Toilet paper is the only thing that should be flushed. 

throwing toilet paper down the toilet

Other products like tissues, wipes, feminine products, cotton balls, or Q-tips should not. Homeowners may want to remind their guests of these common toilet rules. If it feels a little awkward to have this conversation directly, consider purchasing a light-hearted toilet humor sign to put up in the bathroom instead. It’s a great decor and an excellent reminder for guests.

Clogged Toilet Solutions

As mentioned, clogged toilets are a common problem and will happen now and then. 

If homeowners experience a clog, there are a few things they can try to fix it on their own:

  • Plunger: Most homeowners have one of these handy tools lying around somewhere. Using a plunger is typically an effective way to get rid of small toilet clogs.
  • Dish soap and warm water: There are several other home remedies to clear a toilet clog using materials that homeowners have around the house. Pouring a bit of dish soap into the toilet bowl along with a bucket of warm water can help to soften the clog and make it easier to flush.
  • Drain snakes: This another good option if the clog isn’t too far down. The snake can grab hold of the clog and pull it out.

If homeowners try these solutions with no luck, it’s time to bring in a professional.

About B&L Plumbing and Heating

B&L Plumbing and Heating is a local Colorado Springs, CO plumbing company dedicated to providing top-quality plumbing services for its customers for over two decades. They believe that being a great plumber means more than just having a license and the right tools. It’s also about providing exceptional service, and B&L plumbing provides both.

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Prevent Frightening Plumbing Emergencies

prevent frightening plumbing emergencies

Don't Be Haunted by a Looming Plumbing Crisis

Just because the season of frightful fun has arrived doesn't mean homeowners should suffer home nightmares. Halloween comes once a year, but plumbing problems pop up all the time. 

Preventing plumbing emergencies should be a homeowner's top priority. Homeowners should follow these spooky tips to keep the home clear of haunting plumbing problems.

Gross Gutters Spell Trouble 

Gutter system with downspout against a clear blue sky, highlighting the importance of maintaining clear gutters to prevent plumbing issues and foundation problems.

When it comes to plumbing problems, homeowners seldom expect them to arise from the gutters. Clogged or leaking gutters are often the hidden, insidious culprits of floods, leaks, and foundation problems. Overburdened, clogged gutters will eventually spill excessive groundwater near a home's foundation. While puddles near the house may not seem like a big deal, they can ultimately lead to expensive repairs.

The pipes used to funnel water out and away from the home are easily overworked by excess groundwater. Homes with sump pumps may find the pump activating more frequently when excess groundwater is around. As water seeps into the ground, a home's foundation may suffer cracks due to the water's growing pressure. Moisture around the foundation can cause dank issues in the basement, contributing to mold and mildew trouble, or worse, cause a flood. Every homeowner fears a surprise flood, and dirtied gutters can certainly open the floodgates. 

Shivering Pipes Scream for Insulation

Exposed pipes are more than just a great decoration for haunted houses; they can also pose a major danger to the home. Weather extremes and changing seasons often lead to plumbing troubles. Many homeowners have left their house for vacation only to return to find a burst pipe and surprise flooding after a rainstorm of blizzard waiting for them at home.

Plumber holding a pipe wrench and tools, emphasizing the importance of professional plumbing services for preventing burst pipes and ensuring home safety.

As uninsulated pipes become exposed to changing temperatures, the threat of burst pipes increases. Burst pipes are expensive, requiring an emergency call to the plumber, extensive cleaning, and costly repairs. Insulating pipes helps stave off the threat of busted pipes and helps lower energy loss from hot-water pipes and prevents sweating of cold-water pipes during the warm season. While it may seem like an easy DIY project, gaps and incorrect application of insulation still runs the risk of pipe bursts and energy loss. A qualified plumbing expert can help insulate a home's pipes effectively.

Dirty Drains Are a Frightful Situation

Most homeowners consider over-the-counter drain cleaners as good as it gets for drain cleaning, but should beware that train thought! OTC solutions seldom have the power to clear large blockages or the entire pipe system of a home. 

Dirty, clogged pipes are a common cause of emergency plumbing situations. Clogged pipes and backflow can release sewage and water-waste into the home, leading to a health hazard for the residents. Poorly flowing pipes can also experience more leaks and damage around water-fixtures. Drain cleaning conducted by a plumbing professional helps prevent clogs, increase drain performance, and prevent scary sewage situations. 

About B&L Plumbing and Heating

With over 20 years of experience, B&L Plumbing and Heating has become a household name in the Colorado Springs, CO area. Their team knows the stress plumbing situations can cause, and offer 24/7 reliable service to make their customers' lives easier. Their affordable, friendly service and customer-focused values have not changed since opening in 1999. 

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How To Choose a Water Softener

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Reasons To Install a Water Softener 

There are many reasons to install a water softener in a home or business, and it’s important to grasp the symptoms and effects that hard water has on a plumbing system and appliances. Hard water has lots of hard minerals like calcium and magnesium in it. While water filtration will remove harmful bacteria and disease-causing organisms, calcium and magnesium are not harmful to drink. Still, they can be annoying and even shorten the life of appliances. 

Either city water or well water can be hard, although well water tends to have a higher mineral content than city water since it comes straight out of the ground. 

In this article, experts share helpful tips for homeowners to find their ideal unit. 

The Benefits of Water Softeners

Blue puzzle pieces with the word "BENEFITS" prominently displayed, representing the advantages of installing water softeners for addressing hard water issues in plumbing systems.

Hard water is full of minerals, and these minerals will build up in pipes, fixtures, appliances, and anywhere else that water is used. The minerals often leave a white scale on the surface of a faucet or in a sink. This can lead to serious build up over time, and if significant enough, can cause washing machines and dishwashers to break sooner than expected. Hard water will also leave spots and residue on dishes. Laundry can become stiff and not feel as clean as it should. Many people even experience dry, itchy skin or hair from hard water. 

When any of the hard water symptoms are present, it’s time to consider a water softener! Water softeners can be installed for an entire house, effectively eliminating any issues that hard water causes. There are two main types of water softeners, salt-based and not salt-based.

How Do Salt-Based Water Softeners Work?

Person pouring salt pellets from a yellow bucket into a salt-based water softener, illustrating the maintenance process essential for effective hard water treatment.

The first type of water softener is salt or sodium-based. These filters use sodium to remove excess mineral content. Because they fully remove the mineral build-up, these types of filters are the most effective, but there are still some things to consider. Salt filters exchange the ions holding the minerals and replace them with sodium ions instead. This does add salt to the water, but it does not change the taste or flavor of the water. 

There is some concern over the fact that it increases the sodium level, but the amount it raises sodium is quite low and is generally not considered a health concern. Salt-based water softeners are the most common and effective treatment for hard water, but they require regular maintenance to function properly.

Understanding Salt-Free Water Softeners

Salt-free water softener label emphasizing "SALT FREE" in bold red text, relevant to non-sodium-based water treatment options discussed in plumbing articles.

There are two main types of salt-free softeners: potassium and magnetic. Magnetic softeners are not particularly effective. They remove impurities by passing the water through a magnetic field. This will temporarily remove impurities, but the minerals will work their way back into the system if the water sits for too long. 

Potassium water softeners are the more common and effective variety of non-salt based softeners. They work by passing the water through potassium pellets, which crystallizes the minerals. This type of system is more of a conditioner than a softener - the minerals are still in the water; they are just less able to stick to pipes and fixtures.

Potassium-based systems require a bit less upkeep but aren’t as effective, and may allow some scale to build-up (although significantly less than not treating it period). When they do require maintenance, it usually costs more than a salt-based softener. 

Ultimately either type of water softener will be a game-changer in the home. Deciding between salt or potassium-based softeners is up to the homeowner, but consulting with a good local plumber will often give better insight into exactly what works best in a given area. 

Trust a Local Plumber

B&L Plumbing and Heating has been serving the Colorado Springs area since 1999. This veteran-owned company provides full plumbing services, with 24 hour service across Colorado Springs. They offer competitive rates and do not charge a fee for after-hours service.

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3 Methods for Getting Rid of Blocked Drains

methods for getting rid of blocked drains
Open drain cover revealing a dark, empty drainage pipe, surrounded by gravel, illustrating common plumbing issues like blocked drains.

Blocked Drains Be Gone!

There are always surprises when it comes to owning a home. Everything is working as it should be until the pipes start leaking, the hot water stops flowing, or the drains start slowing. Slow and blocked drains can be a real hassle. They are a common problem caused by hair, dirt, mineral buildup, or other things that get caught in the drain and stop water from flowing well. Blocked drains cause dirty water to set onto the sink bowl or the shower or tub floor. 

In this article, homeowners can learn about the best methods to get rid of blocked drains when they happen.

Snaking the DrainPlumber using a drain snake to clear a blocked kitchen sink, showcasing plumbing tools and kitchen setting.

In the case of a blocked drain, one of the first products homeowners turn to is liquid drain cleaner. However, these contain harsh chemicals that can be hazardous to a person's health and can even damage the plumbing system. Therefore, it's best to avoid these types of products and use different methods like snaking to clear the drains.

A drain snake is a flexible device that can maneuver inside pipes to catch and clear out clogs that may block them. Plumbers will insert the snake into the pipes and rotate the device to grab hold of the clog and pull it out. While it's an easy tool to use, there are some potential pitfalls for homeowners that try to snake drains by themselves. If not used properly, the snake could push the clog further down the pipe, where it becomes harder to reach and remove. Therefore, it's best to let a professional plumber handle the snaking process. 

Hydrojetting the PipesIllustration of hydrojetting process in plumbing pipes, featuring high-pressure water jets clearing clogs and buildup effectively.

Hydrojetting is another popular option that is safe and effective for the plumbing system. It's a more eco-friendly cleaning option since only water is used to clear the clogs rather than chemicals or other materials. The method sprays a blast of high-pressure water into the plumbing pipes, which forcefully clears out clogs and removes any other buildup. 

Hydrojetting is commonly used to clean out sewer lines, but it can be used on any clog, whether in a sink, a shower, toilets, or other plumbing mechanisms. As mentioned, it's very safe for pipes, but only when handled by the right people. High-pressure water is more powerful than most people think; it's strong enough to cut through metal! And when it's not in the right hands, it can open holes in the pipes and plumbing system. Only trained professionals should execute hydrojetting to ensure that the plumbing system remains safe and intact.

A Temporary Solution with Baking Soda & VinegarBaking soda and vinegar in labeled containers, commonly used as a temporary DIY solution for clogged drains in plumbing.

When homeowners are looking for a plumbing solution, they often turn to the DIY options. In the case of blocked drains, baking soda and vinegar are commonly used as a solution. When these ingredients get mixed, they create a chemical reaction to help remove clogs and buildup that exist in the drain. However, homeowners should know that this solution is only temporary and won't work against larger, tougher clogs that may be at play. Plumbing professionals would only recommend this method to give some initial relief until a long-term solution can be implemented.

About B&L Plumbing and Heating

B&L Plumbing and Heating is a local Colorado Springs, CO plumbing company dedicated to providing top-quality service for its customers for over two decades. They believe that being a great plumber means more than just having a license and the right tools. It's also about providing exceptional service, and B&L plumbing offers both.

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What Is a Sewer Main?

what is a sewer main?

Tips for Protecting Your Sewer Main

While most homeowners are very familiar with their pipes, some aren’t aware of what the home’s plumbing system is versus the sewer main line. Unfortunately, there is a significant difference between a clog in the pipes and one further down in the sewer main.

Knowing more about how they differ and what can be done to prevent and maintain them is essential information for any homeowner, especially when in need of plumbing services much like drain cleaning.

What Is the Home’s Sewer Main?

The home’s sewer main is what connects the drains in the home to the drain attached to the sewer main. It is located under the ground in the yard and is likely the responsibility of the homeowner to maintain instead of the city.

Sewer main line access point in a trench, illustrating plumbing infrastructure essential for connecting home drains to the municipal sewer system.

Most sewer main lines are less than 6 inches in diameter and should be on a downward slope so that sewer material doesn’t flow back into the home. Unfortunately, due to their small size, sewer main lines have a tendency to clog more easily than other pipes in the home. 

Are There Any Sewer Main Services Needed?

Plumber carrying a toolbox while entering a home, symbolizing professional plumbing services for sewer main maintenance and repairs.While routine maintenance of the sewer main is recommended, most homeowners don’t seek services until after they have noticed a problem. 

Sewer main clogs should always be managed and addressed by a trained, professional plumbing company. With these clogs, there is a larger risk of a burst pipe which can end up causing substantial damage and expense if not noticed quickly.

There are more options available for sewer main clogs if they are found and treated early. Signs that the home may be dealing with a sewer main clog include:

  • Bad Odors - Many homeowners describe the smell as sewage, as it is often the result of the sewer main backing up into the home.
  • Water Bubbles - This happens when air gets caught between the clog and the drain. 
  • Strange Gurgling Noises - These are often noticed coming from the toilet or bathtub.
  • Continuing/Recurring Issues - If the toilets in the home have recurring issues with slow water flow or frequent clogs, there might be a problem lower down in the sewer main.

What Happens If the Home Develops a Sewer Main Clog?

Sewer main clogs can happen for a few different reasons. The most common of those reasons are tree roots and debris, although there are other reasons they may occur as well.

Tree roots are the most common cause of a sewer main clog, though, because they are so prevalent in the yard. Over time, and especially with older trees, the roots seek out the moisture in the pipes. If there is even a small leak, the tree roots can sense them and will grow towards them.

Laptop displaying "APP MAINTENANCE" message with a wrench icon, symbolizing technical updates or repairs relevant to plumbing service management.

The other cause of sewer main clogs, debris, is more likely to come from inside the home. When inappropriate objects are flushed (like baby wipes, feminine hygiene products, etc.), they may end up clogging the pipes under the home. Over time, this may go from just slowing down the home’s water pressure to stopping the flow of water entirely. 

Both of these are reasons why regular plumbing maintenance is important. Having regular inspections, especially with video, can find clogs before they can become a larger problem.

About B&L Plumbing and Heating

Located in Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, B&L Plumbing and Heating has been in business since 1999. They offer a range of services all focused on providing you a seamless and convenient experience. B&L Plumbing and Heating is veteran-owned and always puts customer satisfaction first. 

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