Cleaning your garberator

07/01/10 by jj | Blog, Tips & Tutorials | No Comments »

A quick and easy method is the baking soda and vinegar trick followed by placing ice cubes in the garberator, turning on water and turning on the garberator.

Another option is to make ice cubes with vinegar instead of water and pour a bit of baking soda in the garberator, drop in the vinegar cubes, turn on hot water and the garberator.

The ice cubes will help to clean off the blades of the garberator, while the baking soda and vinegar will help to avoid any smells or fruit fly’s to come from the garberator.

Kitchen/Bathroom sink clogs

06/09/10 by jj | Blog, Tips & Tutorials | No Comments »

Please note: While we have done our best to offer useful information, these tips are only suggestions. We recommend you ensure you’ve contacted a licensed plumber.

Preventing Kitchen Drain Clogs

No plumbing problem is more common or more frustrating for our customers, than a clogged drain.

•Kitchen sink drains most often clog because of a buildup of grease or soap scum that traps food particles.
•Soap and hair are often the culprits in bathroom drains.
•Drains can usually be cleared easily and inexpensively, but taking some simple precautions will help you avoid blockages. Proper disposal of kitchen waste will keep sink drain clogs to a minimum.
•Never pour grease down the kitchen sink.
•Never wash coffee grounds down the sink. Instead throw them out.
•Avoid using chemical cleaners, particularly if you have brass, steel, or cast-iron p-traps and/or drain pipes; some caustic chemicals can corrode metal pipes.
•Clean floor drain strainers. (Some tubs, showers, and basement floor drains have strainers that are screwed into the drain opening.) You can easily remove these strainers and reach down into the drain with a bent wire to clear out accumulated debris. And be sure to clean the strainer.
•Clean pop-up stoppers in the bathroom sink and the tub/shower regularly. Lift out sink pop-ups once a month and rinse them off.
•Keep the sewer pipes from the house free of tree roots that may invade them. If roots are a particular problem in your yard, you may need to call in professionals once a year or so to clear the pipes. We will use an electric power auger to cut out the roots.
•Flush the drain-waste and vent systems whenever you go up onto your house roof to clean out downspouts or gutters. Run water from a garden hose into all vents, giving them a minute or two of full flow. Remember to have your vents cleaned properly with a jetter every 5 years to completely clear all build-up and debris in order to avoid blockages and sewage back-up.