5 Ways to Fix a Slow Sink Drain

The certified plumbers at Galaxy Plumbing, one of leading plumbing contractors that offer extensive drain cleaning Vancouver services, have come up with a list of ways to fix a slow sink drain efficiently.

1.    You can put a Zip-it tool to use. It can conveniently catch all the hair and debris that might have been collected in the sink, which can be then pulled out with ease.

2.    You can also remove the pop-up that is placed right under the sink in order to clean it thoroughly. More often than not, the pop-up is attached through a nut to drain and can be easily taken off.

3.    Cleaning the sink overflow is another great option when you want to fix a slow sink drain. All you need to do is to allow some air into the drain when the sink is filled with water.

4.    You can always use a homemade drain cleaner to drain the pipes. Such cleaners are more efficient than the normally used chemically infused cleaners, and they help you save on a lot of money, as well.

5.    As old a trick as it may be, plunging has always been helpful in making a slow draining sink functional. To make it more efficient, you can cover the sink overflow with a duct tape, which helps in creating a vacuum and augments the convenience with which a blocked pipe can be cleared off. 

The certified plumbers at Galaxy Plumbing, one of leading plumbing services in Vancouver, have come up with a list of ways of avoiding home plumbing problems to a large extent. Take a look.

1.    In case you are planning to drive a screw on the wall, make sure you avoid hitting the nail on a pipe that might be running beneath. If you aren’t sure of where these pipes are located, you can buy a stud sensor that detects pipes so that you avoid puncturing a pipe that may lead to a serious damage. 

2.    Do ensure that excess food and leftovers dump into the garbage bin and are not forced down the kitchen sink. This simple activity might save you from consistently clogged drains and a lot of trouble that usually follows.

3.    You must take care of the fact that no trash goes down the toilets, other than the toilet paper. The litter can lead to clogged toilets that can prove to be rather unhygienic for the members of the household, and a problem for the drainage system.

4.    You can keep a plunger in your toilet as it can come really handy in case of a sudden blockage. You can always call for professional help at a later point in time, as per your convenience, to take care of the issue.

5.    Always be careful of the water pressure. If it lowers down without any visible reason, it might be due to an existing leakage.  Your alertness can help avert a serious plumbing crisis.

5 Ways to Find Hidden Plumbing Leaks in Your Home

Do you find your water utility bill is higher than normal? Sometimes simple plumbing leaks can be overlooked resulting in extra household maintenance costs. Galaxy Plumbing, one of the local plumbing companies in Vancouver, brings forth to you the 5 ways to detect plumbing leaks in your house.

1. Exorbitant water bills
   

An exorbitant water bill, in spite of no significant change in the water consumption, definitely indicates a discreet leak in the plumbing system.

2. Water Pressure

If the water pressure falls in one or more taps within the house, a probable reason for the same might be an internal leakage within the pipes.

3. Discrepancy in the water meter readings

If there has been no or negligible water consumption in the past 2-3 hours or so and yet notice a change in the reading of your water meter, there exists a high possibility of a hidden leak in the piping system of your home.

4. Water Build-Up

If you observe an unusual accumulation of water in the vicinity of the plumbing fixtures in your house, or even if there is a slight discoloration of water, you can be sure that there is a leakage in one or more valves of the plumbing system.

5. Unusual Sounds

If there is any hissing audible, you must try and identify the source of the sound. More often than not, it might be due to an internal leakage, and hence calling in for a proficient plumber, is highly advisable. This will not only help in fixing the problem rather early, but will also help in preventing any substantial issues that may arise at a later stage.

Five Plumbing Myths That Cost You More Money

With so much do it yourself home plumbing remedies, there are bound to be a couple that are a little more myth than fact. It’s great when we can save a few dollars by tackling a project ourselves but sometimes these solutions can cause more harm than good. We spoke to the certified plumbers at Galaxy Plumbing, a plumbing company in Vancouver to clear the air once and for all on these plumbing myths.

1.    Adding lemons to your garburator.  Makes sense right?  Who wouldn’t want a nice lemon smell coming from their garbage disposal however, the rind of a citrus fruit can actually corrode the metal inside the unit, causing the performance to deteriate. Instead, a high pressure flush or using ice cubes to polish the disposal unit is a better trick.

2.    Running water while the garbage disposal is on. It’s happen to us all, grab the wooden spoon or worringly reach your hand into the garburator to remove the blockage. The best thing to do is to actually fill the sink up with water first, so the food has a chance to break down and separate before running the garbage disposal. 

3.    Rubbing soap and water on Bathroom fixtures to keep it clean. Overtime this will lead to corrosion of your fixture and cost you money to replace it. Instead, use a dry paper towel or damp cloth and wipe down the area to remove any soap and water. 

4.    El Cheap-o Plumber from Craigslist. Sure they maybe able to tackle some of the smaller projects, but not all plumbers have the training and education necessary to get the job done right, or to recognize a bigger problem may exist.  For example, a slow running drain maybe easily fixed with a drain snake, but the real water flow problem could exist further in your drainage system and may need the use of a drain camera to disover.  A basic plumber may fix the problem temporarily, but the issue will come back costing you more money. A Certified local plumber will have the advanced know how and tools available to recognize and solve a problem on the spot. 

5.    Toilet pucks and in tank toiler cleaners will reduce the need to clean the toilet.  Who doesn’t like the fresh blue water in their bowl, however these cleaners do not remove buildup, instead just bleaching it white. This can ruin your toilet overtime if the buildup is not scrubbed off. Try pouring vinegar down the overflow tube to take away build up and smell as well as using the good ole toilet brush.

Choosing an Excellent Plumbing and Drain Service in Vancouver

While choosing a proficient plumbing and drain cleaning service provider in Vancouver for your home or corporate unit, you might like to ponder upon some of the points listed below, in order to zero in on none but the best that is available –

1.      You should opt for a plumbing and drain Service Company that has the technical know-how and capacity to install, maintain and service various fixtures offered by the most know and reputed brands of the market.

2.      With respect to drain services, it is quintessential that the company offers services like repair, unclog, video drain inspection, Sewer Jetting, replacement, and new installations. This shows they have a professional level of knowledge and tools.

3.      Look for offers of various rebates on employing various energy efficient measures in your home, workplace, or housing development.

4.      Ensure that the service provider, you call for, has a definite response system in place, so that you do not have to face any trouble in fixing a service appointment and caring for the follow up.

5.      A company that has a 24/7 emergency service response should always be preferred in order for you to stay in a relaxed manner, with complete peace of mind at all times.