Oxnard Plumbing Tips

No one likes the thought of plumbing repairs. Some mild plumbing issues can be solved with a plunger and a little bit of elbow grease. There comes a time, however, when do-it-yourself repairs will not address the issue and you need the services of a qualified professional to get the job done. The key word there is “Professional.”

So, let’s be honest. We don’t schedule plumbing appointments months in advance. Plumbers are the ones we frantically call at 2 a.m., with water pooling up around our ankles and towels strewed across the floor. We call a plumber at mid-melt-down, and somehow, they have to explain the inner workings of our pumps and valves in plain English and jump into action before damage is done. When looking to hire an Oxnard Plumber, (Hansen’s Plumbing) you want someone who will do the job right the first time, who will charge a reasonable rate for his or her services and who will treat your home like it was his/her own.

Tips on Hiring the Right Plumber

Appropriate Licensing and Insurance
One of the first things that you need to consider before hiring a plumber is whether or not they are licensed and certified by the state they work in.

Each person in the plumbing business should have a valid license to allow him or her to work in the field. Regardless of the size of your plumbing project, you should never trust an individual who fails to produce his or her working permit. The license proves that the professional has met the required standards set by the authorities to serve clients in the region.

A good plumber will be insured and bonded in the event of a mishap: protecting not only your home but the plumber himself as well.

Experience
Experience is a paramount factor to consider when looking for a professional plumbing service. It is advisable to check the length of time the plumbing company you are planning to hire has been in business. New professionals may fail to meet your plumbing needs.

Recommendations
If you’re in need of a plumber, you should not hesitate to ask your friends, family members, or workmates to recommend you the best plumbing company in the region. Some of your colleagues may have worked with experienced plumbers in their homes. They will share experiences, which will help in making an informed decision. Any reputable plumbing company should be able to provide references with ease, so do not hesitate to ask.

Total Cost
Always ask for an in person estimate. Just as a doctor could never diagnose a patient over the phone, an honorable plumber cannot determine the scope of work over the phone either. Keep in mind that quality comes at a price. A licensed skilled and experienced plumbing company may charge more than an unlicensed plumber, but you can almost always guarantee that they will do a better job and not cut corners.

When it comes to hiring a plumber, the experts at Hansen’s Plumbing possess all of the qualifications you need. We’ve been in business since 1987. Good plumbers that keep their customers best interest in mind are hard to find. This is the reason Hansen’s Plumbing was started. Make sure to keep the above tips in mind to ensure that the plumber you hire is not only experienced at their job, but that they can also solve your plumbing issues quickly and properly.

Oxnard Plumbing Tips

Clogged Kitchen Sinks

Oh, Boy. A stopped-up drain. Are you staring at a clogged kitchen sinks? Is the stagnating water in the sink making you feel sick? The biggest reason why kitchen sinks clog is because people aren’t mindful of what they’re throwing down the drain. Anything and everything go, from eggshells to kitchen oils. But with a such cavalier attitude, you can either jam the garbage disposal or cause a buildup along the pipe’s walls. Bottom line, treat your kitchen sink with respect. Care for it in the present to avoid having to deal with big problems in the future. While drains may be able to keep up for a while, it’s only a matter of time until all that grease and grime clogs them up for good. Here are a few things you shouldn’t pour down your kitchen sink, how to unclog your sink ideas, and garbage disposal tips.

Do not pour down your kitchen sink

Coffee Grounds
Some people seem confident that coffee grounds down the drain will not present a problem because coffee smells so delicious it may actually freshen up your dirty drain, right? Well, most plumbers disagree, saying that nothing causes more blockages than coffee grounds. Coffee grounds stick together and can easily block your pipes after time.

Grease
Including cooked/and or melted fat from meat, bacon, sausage, poultry, skin from boiled poultry, and even gravy. Grease even when run with hot water, will at some point stop and congeal. Indeed, hot water simply delays the process, pushing the future greasy clog further down into the drainage system where it will be harder to access.

Eggshells
Even with a garbage disposal, eggshells create granular waster that loves to hook up with other waste to form clogs. When ground, they turn into a rough, abrasive, sandpaper-like substance which can actually blunt the blades.

Produce Stickers
These sticky little bits of plastic may not look very harmful, but they can get stuck in your drain and pipes. Also, they can get stuck on wastewater treatment plant pumps and hose, or get caught in screens and filters, and if they get past all that, they end up in the water. So, please do not throw down the drain these produce stickers.

Oils
Including cooking oil, olive oil, salad dressings, condiments and mayonnaise. Having you ever left a pan to cool, and noticed it turn into a thick, solid white substance? This is often what happens to the fat and grease you pour down your sink when it is allowed to cool down. It solidifies into lard! Don’t put fat and grease down your drain if you can avoid it. Make sure it cools down and use kitchen roll to wipe it away and dispose of it in the bin.

Medications
Studies have found everything from ibuprofen and antidepressants to birth control hormones in our natural waterways. Rather than flush old medicine down the toilet or sink, as once advised, it’s much better to drop it off with a medication facility near you. Also, you can mix it with something unpalatable like coffee grounds sealed in a plastic bag and place it in the trash.

Unclog Kitchen Sinks

• Use a Plunger
• Remove the Trap
• Drain Snake
• Use Vinegar and Baking Soda or drain cleaner
• Use a Cable Auger
• Coat Hanger Trick

Now that you know a few items to avoid draining down the kitchen sink and what you can do to unclog your kitchen sinks let’s talk about a garbage disposal. It’s no secret the garbage disposal is an indispensable kitchen appliance. Not only does its shred food scraps into tiny pieces to keep your drains and pipes clear, but it’s also useful for washing away crumbs and pesky sauces in the sink. Despite its benefits in reducing food waste, collecting all those food particles, bacteria, and debris comes at a dangerously smelly cost. It is important to clean your garbage disposal once a week to keep your drain working properly and your home smelling fresh.

Garbage Disposal Tips:

• Do not put the wrong objects down your disposal. Your garbage disposal is designed to grind food scraps and nothing more.

• Break up large objects before grinding them. If you have large food scraps that you want to put down your disposal, give your unit a helping hand by breaking them up into smaller pieces and grinding them separately.

• Don’t use drain cleaners on your disposal. The chemicals in drain cleaners can damage your disposal. If you have a clog, give a plumber a call at Hansen’s Plumbing, located in Ventura Ca.

• Grind ice cubes to help maintain your unit. Grinding a few ice cubes once a month will help sharpen your unit’s blades and clear away waste that stuck on the walls of your disposal.

• Use cold water when running your disposal. Always run your disposal with cold water, because it will help prevent any grease or oils that have made their way down your drain from solidifying and clogging your unit.

• Keep your disposal clean by adding a small amount of dish soap down your drain with cold running water. This will help keep your disposal clean and combat bad smells.
The garbage disposal is a big help in the kitchen and can handle just about any and everything you toss its way. But, to keep it humming along in tip-top-shape, clean it regularly and do not put the wrong scarps and liquids down the drain.

Have you had to deal with a troublesome clogged kitchen sinks and have had no success to resolve the problem? Here at Hansen’s Plumbing we are available to help with your plumbing needs. Call us at (805) 647-0113 or you can book an appointment online.

Clogged Kitchen Sinks

Drain Maintenance Tips

Drain clogs can be rather annoying when they occur. Something has created a blockage in the drain pipes and is stopping water from flowing. In some cases, the clogs can be so bad you might have to call in a professional plumber (Hansen’s Plumbing) to unclog the drains. There can be all sorts of causes for clogged drains, from soap and hair to grease and food particles. Let’s take a look at some of the different areas where clogs can occur and what you can do to prevent them!

Commercial Drain Cleaning

People often underestimate the importance of plumbing in their commercial business, but think about it; you can work hard to create the best business in the world, but something as understated as a water leak could cause thousands of pounds worth of damage. The following information will help you understand common services conducted to remove the blockage of your commercial drains:

• Drain Snaking- is the simplest method of cleaning a clogged drain and is usually the first method a plumber will use to try to clear a blockage. Plumbers have drain snakes that can reach deep into your sewer pipes. In that case, a different commercial drain cleaning method may be required.

• Flush only what’s necessary- when it comes to toilets, the only thing you should be flushing is toilet paper and human waste-anything else can cause clogging and spell disaster. For commercial business this may be difficult to enforce as you don’t have total control, but putting up signs reminding people of this far could be your best to avoid potential trouble.

• Check pressure- There’s nothing worse than a limp shower, so if you own a hotel and your shower are lacking water pressure then your guests aren’t likely to return-and could leave a bad review in the process. Using a pressure gauge can help you test the pressure in your water circulation system.

Bathroom Clogs

Bathroom clogs are not fun at all. From the toilet to the showerhead, the sink to the drains, bathroom plumbing maintenance is an important part of keeping your home running efficiently. The following information will help you better maintain your bathroom and guard against disrepair and plumbing emergencies.

Toilet Maintenace

• Keep your toilet clean- You should clean the inside and the outside of your toilet once a week. To brush the inside of a toilet, use a brush with plastic bristles and toilet bowl cleaner or bleach. Avoid using metal brushes and abrasive cleaners as these can scratch the surface making it porous and vulnerable to stains and cracks.

• Check your toilet for leaks- When cleaning your toilet, it’s a good idea to periodically make a habit of checking for leaks. If you detect a leak, call your local plumber (Hansen’s Plumbing) to come in and inspect the problem as the issue could be more than you realize.

• Toilet flushing slow- The water stored in the tank might not be filling up to the correct level. Another common issue is that the rinse holes located underneath the toilet bowl lip could be clogged. If you notice that your toilet is slow to flush, carefully remove the tank lid and inspect the water level to see if it where it should be, which is near or just underneath the overflow pipe.

• Toilet Running- If you hear your toilet running, consider it not only wasted water, but wasted money on your water bill. If this is happening, call your local plumber immediately to help remedy the issue.

Showerhead Maintenance

• Rub the Nozzels- Many shower heads have flexible rubber nozzels. You can dislodge mineral buildup by simply massaging each nozzle with your finger. You can also gently scrub the nozzle with a toothbrush.

• Soak the Shower Head in Vinegar- If you prefer to leave the shower head attached to the pipe coming out of the wall, you can fill a plastic bag with vinegar and wrap it around the shower head. Secure the bag around the head with a rubber band, tape, or a twist tie. Leave the bag around the shower head for a few hours. Remove the bag and turn on the water for a few minutes to clear the vinegar out of the shower head.

• Clean the filter screen- To clean the filter screen run the screen under water for a few minutes to flush out any buildup. You can use a toothbrush to gently brush out mineral deposits.

Faucet Maintenance

• Clean Faucet Aerators- Start by closing or covering the sink drain so that nothing falls down the drain.

• Remove the aerator from the faucet by turning it clockwise. If it doesn’t turn easily, pliers will be necessary.

• Note the order and location of the components in the aerator. You may want to snap a photo or two before you take it apart to aide with reassembly.

• Use a toothbrush to clean of the components. If the toothbrush does not fully clean the screen, try using

• When finish cleaning the aerator components, reassemble the aerator is reverse order from the way it came apart.

• Screw the aerator back on the faucet. Tighten by hand in the counterclockwise direction. Only use pliers to tighten the aerator if water leaks around the threads after hand-tightening. If using pliers, remember to wrap the aerator with the tape or use a rag to protect the faucet finish.

Water Heater Maintenance

Water heater maintenance is an appliance you rely on every day. By performing key maintenance tasks, you can not only save money on costly repairs, but also make sure that your water heater continues to run well for years to come. Here are a few ways to maintain your heater…

• Lower the temperature setting on your water heater. Many water heaters’ default setting is over 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Most professional plumbers recommend a temperature setting of about 115-120 degrees. This lower setting will help reduce the chances of your water hetaer overheating as well as save you up to 5% on your energy bill.

• Inspect the temperature and pressure relief valve (T&P valve). The T&P valve is the safety valve on your water heater. If the water heater was to continue to heat water, even after reaching the set temperature, it could lead to an explosion from the build up pressure. To prevent this, excess pressure and temperature is expelled through this valve to keep your water heater running safely.

• Perform a mini flush on your water heater. Over time, sediments builds up in your water heater tank. This sediment can both corrode you tank and decrease your water heater’s efficieny. To prevent these problems, you need to regularly flush your water heart. How often you need to flush it will depend on the hardness and acidity of water in your area.

• Wrap your water heater tank in an insulating blanket. An insulating blanket around the tank of your water heater, as well as insulating any exposed pipes, helps reduce energy consumption by dereasing the amount of standby heat loss. This can also extend the life of your water heater by lowering the deman on it.

• Get an annual professional water heater inspection/tune up. Much like your car, your water heater needs regular maintenance from certified, trained professionals. Professional plumbers are trained and know what to look for. They will inspect parts of your water heater that you do not safely have access to.

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, clogs still happen. When they do, it is best to call a professional before the problem gets worse. The technicians at Hansen’s Plumbing will provide both you and your home with quality care and attention for all your plumbing needs. For more information, contact us today.

Drain Maintenance Tips

Selecting Residential Plumber

How to select a Residential Plumber

Selecting Residential Plumber? When your home’s plumbing systems are in need of repair, you may feel overwhelmed in just how many options you have for getting the work done. In the area of selecting residential plumber, it is especially important to choose the best residential plumber from the beginning, providing you with the highest quality work. The following elements must be considered in your search for a residential plumber to guarantee your satisfaction.

Experience: The most important factor in a plumber’s ability to handle a variety of tasks is their experience in the field. An experienced residential plumber mush have a thorough knowledge of hydraulic system. They are patient individuals with a practical mind and manual dexterity, able to work efficiently with great attention to detailed assigned.

Make sure they have a License:
This is probably the most basic rule for selecitng residential plumber. While licensing and bonding requirements vary state to state, all plumbers should have the right credentials and carry full insurance to cover accidents that may happen while on your property.

Look at their history:
Ask how long they have been in business? Years of experience they have as residential plumbers? Are they well established in the community? Is it a name you recognize and have heard of? Perhaps you have seen them working in your area. This means they have a reputation and will work to provide you with great services and keep their customers happy! A company that has been in business for a long time, show that they are known in the community for doing quality work.

Location of company:
Does the company you’re hiring have a physical address? If so, this is helpful, should something go wrong and you are trying to contact the company that is close by.

Ask for References:
Many plumbing companies do their entire business solely from word of mouth referrals. Because of this, it has become a pretty common practice selecting residential plumbing companies to keep references on file for customers that received exceptional service form them. If references are good, it’s a good indicator that you’ll have a great experience with that company. Here at Hansen’s Plumbing we are like family, it is important to check as many resources as possible to make sure that your getting the most trustworthy plumbing company possible. After all, they are working on the structural integrity of your home.

24/7 Response:
Emergencies are unpredictable and occur at the worst of times. Be sure to seek a company which offers 24/7 response to its customers selecting residential plumbing. This round the clock service demonstrates the dedication and resources needed to handle any problem. Hansen’s Plumbing 24/7 Emergency contact number is (805) 647-0013.

The above are just a few of the things to look for when selecting residential plumber. If you reside in Ventura County and are in need of plumbing assistance, give Hansen’s Plumbing a call at (805) 647-0113 or visit us on the web, www.hansensplumbing.com We are experienced, licensed, Master Plumbers available 24/7 to serve you.

Selecting Residential Plumber