Every spring, people around the world feel the temperatures rise and want to open their homes to fresh air after months of winter doldrums. Spring cleaning is a time-honored tradition that includes cleaning various areas of the home, but don’t forget about your plumbing. When the urge to get your house in order takes over, listen to out plumbing advice and make sure you take care of your plumbing too.

Drain Maintenance:

It’s recommended to occasionally use an ecologically friendly drain cleaner to keep your pipes clear throughout the year. You can do this any time of the year, but it makes sense (and an easy way to remember) to do it when you do your spring cleaning. Throughout the year, items such as hair and grease may go down the drain and over time that will cause a clog. Using an organic drain cleaner can help you keep the pipes clog free.

Water Heater Check-Up:

Your water heater worked extra hard this winter to keep your water warm, so you should reward it with an inspection. Winter can be hard on water heaters as they try to keep the water warm despite the frigidly cold temperatures. By doing an inspection in spring, you can take care of any problems before they become an emergency. The last thing you want is for your heater to go out or need to be replaced because of a problem you could have already fixed with hot water plumbing.

Leaking Fixtures:

The winter can be a nightmare for pipes and fixtures. If you have any leaky pipes, fixtures or toilets, then spring cleaning is the perfect time to get them fixed. Leaky pipes and fixtures may not seem very important right now, but the leak will worsen over time and it could be doing significant damage to your flooring, cabinets or anything else the water touches. If you let a leak go, then you could end up paying for a major plumbing repair. If you have a sink linking, take care of it now when it’s only a minor inconvenience.

If you need help or advice on your plumbing problem, then let us help you today!

When you’ve been plumbing experts as long as us, you start hearing the same questions from customers. There are many common problems and issues that affect people every day and they naturally give rise to plumbing questions. Here is a list of some of the most common questions we receive.

Why Do My Drains Get Clogged?

In an ideal world, the only thing to go down your drain is water, but all too often food particles, grease, and hair go down as well. These can get stuck in the pipe and eventually cause a clog. Alternatively, if your drainage pipe breaks, dirt can fall into it and create a clog. One of the most common causes of this kind of outside-the-home clog is a tree root that has grown through the pipe.

How Can I Keep My Pipes from Leaking?

The first line of defense is vigilance. Routinely inspect your pipes and look for areas where rust or lime is forming. Leaks most often start where two pipes connect, so keep an extra close eye on these areas. If you see these deposits, then contact a plumber to take care of it. Leaky pipes can damage floors, walls, and anything else around them if they go unchecked.

Why Should I Care If My Toilet Runs?

A running toilet is a common problem that many people just ignore. Even if it’s not causing you any outward problems, it’s still costing you money. A running toilet can cost you up to an extra hundred dollars a year in water costs! Fortunately, the fix is usually pretty simple and can be done by you at home for as little as $10. Why spend an extra $100 a year when a $10 fix can stop it?

How Can I Keep My Garbage Disposal from Smelling?

When you routinely put food into the garbage disposal, some of that food can get stuck in the disposal area and begin to rot. If you smell a rotten smell coming from your sink, then cut up a lemon, lime, or other citrus fruit, and put the pieces into the disposal. They’ll help clean the disposal and leave a lemon fresh scent. The last thing you want is a disposal repair because of rotten food. Alternatively, just the peels are still helpful if you’d rather eat the meat of the fruit.

Why Do I Run Out of Hot Water?

Is there anything worse than getting shot with cold water in the middle of a shower? Many people ask us why they run out of how water so quickly. It could be you’re simply using more hot water than your current water heater tank can supply. In that case, consider a larger tank or a tankless water heater. If nothing about your daily routine has changed, and there are no additional people in the house, however, it could also be a problem with the water heater or a leak in the hot water lines in your home. In that case, you should definitely call a plumber.

If you have any more questions about plumbing, let us know and we’ll provide our best answer.

People are natural procrastinators. If we can do something tomorrow rather than today, we likely will. It’s nothing to be ashamed about, but many times it can get us into unnecessary trouble. Horrific plumbing problems rarely start out all that bad; they begin as something small and annoying, but over time grow and grow until one day you have a major issue. When you take the time to take care of a small problem, you may end up saving yourself from a major problem down the line.

Avoid the Clogged Drain:

Unless a child places something directly into the toilet such as a toy, clogs don’t usually just happen. You’ll probably notice the water draining a little slower and it gets worse and worse until you flush the toilet and suddenly you’re ankle deep in dirty water. That’s a problem no one wants to have and could have been avoided with a little short-term care. If you had the soon-to-be clog taken care of before it became fully blocked, you could have avoided ankle deep dirty water. Clear the clogged bathtub drain now and not later.

Get Your Pipes Up to Date:

Updating your pipes is a major project, but it will save you tons of money and headaches in the future. There is nothing more precarious than going through a winter with old piping. The rust and limestone that have steadily formed over the years may have made your pipes more prone breakage and leaks. When a pipe breaks, it can cause thousands of dollars in damage and you’ll still have to have the pipes repaired. Instead, get the pipes updated before the break. You’ll decrease the rinks of anything happening for many years and avoid having to fix a plumbing leak.

Get Plumbing Checkups:

You may not know that a problem is forming because you don’t have the knowledge and tools to see it. We suggest getting plumbing checkups that allow us to look at everything and find any problems before they become major. It can be as simple as saving money by stopping a running toilet to discovering a basement plumbing leak before the rots out your entire floor area. Don’t underestimate the importance of your plumbing.

Don’t wait until the problem becomes a nightmare and let us get your plumbing up to shape.

It’s a new year and people are making resolutions and predicting the biggest trends for 2018. When it comes to the best local plumber trends, we are seeing plenty of new and unique projects coming up. People are savvier to plumbing than ever, and we’re adapting to create a plumbing experience that is second to none. Check out the biggest trends we’re seeing in 2018.

Tankless Water Heaters:

People don’t like running out of hot water anymore. Many grew up with a limited amount of water and it can be frustrating for people, especially those with large families. Tankless water heaters were a novelty for many years, but advancing technology and the increasing comfort requirements of society have elevated their popularity. We’re seeing more and more people choosing tankless water heaters not only for energy savings but also the convenience.

Smart Appliances:

In today’s world, everything is connected. You can’t walk out of your house without your smartphone tuned into your favorite songs. Your house is run by Alexa and you can turn on your crockpot from your phone. It’s called the Internet of things and it’s even reached the plumbing realm. There are numerous plumbing appliances today such as hot water heaters that can be connected to your cell phone. We expect this to grow in the future and eventually become part of everyday life.

Eco-friendly Plumbing:

Regardless if you believe in global warming or not, people are attuned to nature and want to preserve the planet as best as possible. The less digging we do and less harsh chemical used is a little step toward keeping the planet green. We see the use of ecologically friendly drain cleaning growing in 2018 as well as using techniques for diagnosing and repairing pipes that don’t require digging into the yard. The plumbing industry will continue to develop ways and create services that help their customers maintain green living at current comfort levels.

If you have any plumbing problems that you need answers to, then let us help. We can discuss with you numerous ways we can modernize your home plumbing.

It’s frustrating when we go to the bathroom and discover the faucet’s leaking or there’s water all over the floor from the toilet. Lavatory faucet repair can be difficult and may end up making the problem worse if not done correctly. Your household fixtures may seem simple, but be careful of these common fixture problems.

Kitchen and Bathroom Faucets:

It doesn’t matter if you got a top of the line faucet or something off the bargain bin, eventually, problems arise. Faucets are made up of several parts and any one of them can cause a problem. You could have a leaky faucet, water coming from the hot or cold water valves, low water pressure, or many more.

Toilets:

We’ve seen nightmarish toilet problems in our years servicing the community, from toilets overflowing with sewage that fills the bathroom floor, to toilets that never stop running, not to mention clogs that refuse to clear. The list goes on and on. Some of these problems can easily be solved by you, such as plunging out a stubborn clog or replacing a ballcock to stop a running toilet. If the clog refuses to budge or it’s just too much for you to handle, then call us.

The Garbage Disposal:

The garbage disposal is one of those machines that’s scary to try and fix yourself. We’ve all seen those horror movies where someone loses a wedding ring or tries to stick their hand down to fix it and…well…we all know how that ends. It’s easy over time for garbage disposals to get clogged, smell bad, or stop working. It’s a machine, and as such it occasionally needs repair. Keep all of your fingers and contact our licensed team if something goes wrong with your garbage disposal.

You likely spent quite a bit of money on your fixtures, so let us help fix the problem and make sure they come through the process unscathed.

You wake up one morning, eyes bleary and tired, but ready to make that first pot of coffee. You head to the sink with the pot and turn the faucet only to be met with nothing. You hear rushing water and head to the basement to see Old Faithful rushing out of your pipes. Whether it’s a leaking sink or a burst pipe, you’re experiencing a plumbing emergency. It’s important to handle it correctly.

Stay Calm During Plumbing Issues

When you’ve got an inch or two of water in your basement or a leak dripping onto your bathroom floor, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Before you do anything else, take a breath and calm down. You won’t help anyone if you’re hysterical and the next hour is very important because your actions can end up saving you money in damages and more. Once you’ve taken a few seconds to calm down, call a plumber and let them know what happened. They’ll be there as soon as possible.

House Plumbing Problems Required Water Shut Off

The water rushing into your basement or other area is costing you money and damaging electronics, carpeting and more. It needs to be shut off as soon as possible. Locate the main valve and turn off the water going into the house. You may have to call the city to turn off the water at the source. If the water is near any electrical outlets or appliances, then shut off the breakers until the plumber arrives. Also, turn off the water heater to prevent damage.

Open Drains and Spigots for Water Leaks

When you turn the water off, it keeps more water from entering the house, but it doesn’t do anything for the water that’s already in the pipes. Any leaks will continue until the water runs out. Open the drains and spigots to let the water out. Once the water is out of the pipes, the leaks will stop, and you can wait patiently for the plumber to arrive.

When an emergency happens, Call us and we’ll be there soon as possible.

There are many signs that you may have a water leak from the obvious, such as a puddle, to the less visible, like a damp smell or even a slight constant whistle. Before you can attempt a DIY home leak repair, you need to know if you have a leak and where it’s at. Even if the leak isn’t visible, there are ways to determine if you have one and where it’s located.

Check the Water Meter:

If you suspect a leak, but can’t find any visible signs, then you can use your water meter to see if water is being used. First, go to the water meter and check the numbers. This is your water baseline. Turn off all the faucets and don’t flush the toilet for an hour or two. Go back to the water meter and see if the number changed. If it has, that means water entered the home and is being used, thus you have a water leak. Now, you need to find it.

Finding that Pesky Leak:

Now that you know for sure that there is a leak, it’s time to track it down so you can fix the leaking pipe. You need to be a water leak detective and find some clues. Check the obvious first: Go into the basement or crawl space (slab houses will not have access) and see if there are any leaking pipes. Look at the piping connected to the faucets, behind the washer and dryer, etc. Is your bathroom sink leaking? If it isn’t, then start looking at the walls and the floors. See if there is any warping in the floor caused by water damage. Do you see discoloration in the walls, mold, or bubbling that may reveal a water leak? When checking out the pipes, see if there is any rusting of the pipes or nearby metals.

Dangers of Water Leaks:

Small water leaks may not seem like a big deal, but over time they do substantial damage to the home. The floors and walls can be severely damaged by water, leading to warping and rotting. Rotten wood in floors can cause injury if it breaks. Mold can be dangerous for your health, depending on the type. It can be a mild respiratory irritant, or it can lead to major health problems.

Importance of Saving Water:

As a California resident, it is important to remain cognizant of our water intake. With the ongoing drought, let’s re-evaluate our water usage in order to stabilize the current water deficit. We can all do our due diligence by saving water and taking control to better the community and the entirety of the state.

Let us help you with any water leak services you may need. Call us today and set up an appointment.

Most homes get their water from a single water line, and then it’s sent throughout the house via a series of pipes. Water line replacement is something no homeowner wants to hear. They fear days of giant machines in their yard, digging up grass and a giant bill that gives them the shivers just thinking about it. You don’t have to fear water line replacement with us.

Signs Your Water Line Needs a Service Call:

When the primary water line to your home needs repair, there are signs. You may notice a decrease in water pressure because the water is leaking out of the line. There can be discoloration caused by rust in the pipe. Perhaps the most obvious sign is a puddle in your yard that will not go away. This means the water is exiting the pipe and coming to the surface. If you have any of these signs, then it’s time to call Hansen’s.

Finding the Water Line Leak:

Before any work can be done, we need to find the exact location of the leak. We blend ultrasonic listening devices along with line locating equipment to verify where the leak is happening. It could be that the pipe is old and broken or tree roots have grown considerablely; pushing it and causing significant failure. It’s the modern method of plumbing leak detection.

There are many reasons why a water line can break and leak, but once it does, it has to be fixed. Water is lost before entering the home, but you’re still paying for it. Fixing the problem will end up saving you money in the long run. The problem is only going to get worse, and the small puddle that developed in your yard will get bigger and bigger as time goes on.

May Not Require Digging:

The one thing homeowners fear above all else when it comes to water line repairs is digging up the yard. The leak could be located over landscaping, decks, or gardens. Trenchless repair techniques allow us to take care of the problem without causing a backyard catastrophe. You get the repair you need and none of the digging.

Let us get your life back to normal and facilitate your water line repair.

If there is one room in the house that’s likely to have plumbing problems, it’s the bathroom. Bathroom plumbing includes the toilet, bath and/or shower, and the sink. That’s a lot of plumbing in a small area, and occasional problems are inevitable. We’ll outline some of the most common problems found in the bathroom.

Slow Drains:

Whether it’s the sink, bathtub, or toilet, one of most common problems is a slow drain. While this may be more of an annoyance, it can eventually turn into a clog if the problem isn’t taken care of quickly. Slow drains are usually caused by a small blockage preventing the water from draining properly. DIYers can remove the pop-up and clean out the pipe; when it comes to the bathroom sinks and bathtubs, the most common problem is hair. For the toilet, the best thing is a good plunging to clear out any debris. If it still drains slowly, then it might be time to call a professional.

Dripping Faucet:

It may not seem like a big deal if your sink or bathtub faucet drips. It’s just going into the drain, so it’s not a big deal, right? Over time, you’re wasting a considerable amount of water down the drain. It’s environmentally wasteful, plus you’re paying for the water. Also, a leaking faucet could be the beginning of a larger problem, so it’s better to take care of it early before it becomes a major expense.

Low Water Pressure:

There is nothing more frustrating than low water pressure. First, check to see if the pressure is low for both the hot and cold water settings. If they are, then the problem is likely with the aerator. Over time, debris and deposits can adhere to it and cause a resistance to water flow. If only one of the settings is impacted, then it could be a leak or other issue.

If your bathroom has these or other issues, let us help you get them fixed, so life can get back to normal.

Tips For Keeping Your Residential Plumbing Safe:

We’ve been called to many homes through the years where we see how a major residential plumbing disaster could have been averted with a little vigilance by the homeowner. There are pipes running throughout your home that bring clean water into your home and usher contaminated water out. They’re important and there are ways you can keep them safe.

Vigilance Creates Reliable Plumbing:

For the most part, plumbing is out of sight and out of mind for many homeowners. The vast majority of the time, It just works. With a little vigilance, it can stay that way. Do you notice your toilet not flushing as fast? You might have a clog starting. Do you have a clogged toilet that needs a plunger regularly? You might have a blockage in the pipes. Keep an eye out for water under the sink or small puddles on the floor; that could mean you have a leak. Pay attention to changes in your plumbing and solve the problem before it becomes a major expense.

Only Flush Toilet Paper Down the Toilet:

We’ve been called out to many clogged bathrooms to find a ball or children’s toy lodged in the bowl. Kids are wonderful, but they love to watch the water swirl and if Sailor Jack goes with… well, bon voyage. It’s also tempting to just throw away “flushable” wipes or paper towels down the toilets just because it’s easier than throwing them away, but those don’t degrade like toilet paper (even those “flushable” wipes.) We’ll come out to fix your plumbing regardless, but just know that a clogged toilet caused by poor flushing choices can be avoided.

Keep Quality Plumbing with an Inspection:

You’re not an expert on plumbing or water heaters, and you don’t have to be. Even with the most eagle eyes, you may not realize there’s a plumbing problem until it’s too late. Our licensed plumbers can catch these problems possibly even before they happen with an annual plumbing inspection. We’ll come out and give everything a good once over and warn you of any potential issues. We want you to have the best plumbing possible, so follow these tips and set your fears to rest. Contact us today and schedule an inspection or get those pesky plumbing problems fixed.