The Age of Your System

The life of your system is the most important factor in determining whether it needs changing or not. People think that boilers are made to be used for decades and are easily neglected, but unfortunately, this is not the case. The average lifespan of a boiler system is anywhere between 15 to 25 years. If yours is 20 years old and you are having troubles, it is a sign that you should consider replacing it.

Corrosion

If you see corrosion, it means your boiler system is not in the very best condition. Though most of the systems are designed so that they are mostly corrosion-free, any leaking valve can allow the air to enter the system and cause corrosion. If you see corrosion, consider replacement.

Rising Upkeep Costs

If you are running into a lot of repair and maintenance expenses, it means your boiler is not in the most optimal condition. Boilers in the most optimal condition will run trouble-free for years on end but if you have to get repairs done every few weeks or months, it’s time to look at replacing it.  

Reduced Efficiency

If you witness a reduced performance, this should be a warning sign and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Consider replacing your boiler with a new and more efficient one. Today’s technological advancements offer excellent efficiency and results.

Boiler Makes Noises

Though your boiler system will never be totally silent, if you witness unusual noises coming from it, you should not ignore them. Any sounds that might startle someone or loud clanging noises are not a good sign and might indicate severe damage to the boiler.

ASAP Drain Guys & Plumbing – For All Your Boiler Needs

These are some surefire ways to tell if your boiler is in trouble. Before making the final decision on whether to have it replaced, have an expert like ASAP Drain Guys & Plumbing take a look at it to make sure that the issue is serious. We specialize in replacing boilers in San Diego and have are A+ BBB rated, so give us a call if your boiling system is acting up.

Since they are the foundation of your house, how do you realize if they have taken some damage? How do you determine that there may be slab leaks under your home?

Symptoms of Slab Leaks

Look out for these signs:

• Mold on the floor (under carpet or flooring)
• Damp or warm spots on the floor
• The noise of water running (when no one is using water in the house)
• Water pressure disruption (lowers)
• High water bills that contrast with your water usage
• Soggy smudges on your house’s foundation

Causes of Slab Leaks

Corrosion

Old homes are very vulnerable to corrosion resulting from the constant flow of hot water. This hot water reacts with the copper in the slab pipes. The strong reaction between pipe metal and hot water leads to corrosion.

Abrasion

Abrasion refers to the expansion of pipes (under the house slabs). It can occur due to hot water or constant rubbing onto other materials such as slabs (concrete), other pipes, gravel, etc. The friction leads to wear and tear of the pipes causing spring leaks.

External Pressure

Water pressure is often responsible for wearing downpipes. On the contrary, other external pressure sources can greatly damage and deteriorate the condition of your house. They can also cause slab leaks.

• Soil erosion Underground drainage/ streams
• A shift in soil due to an earthquake

Repair Options for Slab Leaks

Re-Routing

It is an option that involves disconnecting the old plumbing under the house and adding new pipes external to the house slabs. Thus, there is no need to hammer the concrete and add matching flooring after fitting the new pipes.

Pipe Coating

Your plumber can apply coating or line piping to cover minor leak points onto the old copper pipes. They can do the same for the main pipelines under your house that are responsible for slab leaks.

Apart from this, other repair options include:

• Re-piping the entire house plumbing system
• Adjusting the foundation
• Plumbing repairs (trenchless)
• Spot repair

Conclusion

In case of slab leaks inside your house, contact a professional house improvement contractor. It is a preemptive decision that allows you to detect major issues early on. Along the lines of detection comes the chance of resuming your daily life in a similar yet better manner. So, give ASAP a call at (760) 744-8489.

Keep Toilet Lids Down

Toilet water is not just unsanitary; it is downright harmful to your pets due to a wide range of chemicals and cleaners used. Your cat or dog might think of the toilet bowl as a convenient source of water and drink it. It can cause all sorts of problems for your pet. Keep the lid down each time you use the toilet. 

Store Chemicals Responsibly

Store detergents and other cleaning products responsibly. Make sure your pets can not access them because ingesting them can prove fatal for your pets. Always store chemicals on a shelf above your pet’s reach and ensure that the lid is closed correctly. 

Cover Exposed Pipes

Dogs are infamous for chewing everything. If your dog chews down on a pipe, you not only have to take your dog to a vet but might also need to pay a lot in terms of costly plumbing costs. Ensure all your pipes are properly covered, as any rust can be harmful to your dog’s mouth and stomach. 

Don’t Flush Litter

Many cat owners make the mistake of dumping the cat litter in the toilet bowl. This is a huge mistake as this can cause serious blockages in the draining pipe. Cat litter is made of clumping material that hardens when it meets the water. Avoid this mistake, and you might be able to save a lot of money in terms of plumbing costs.  

Rinse Dirty Pets Outside

Dogs like to play around in the mud, and you can’t stop them. What you can do is rinse them outside and not in your bathroom. All the mud dragged in by your furry friend can cause a serious clog which can ruin your plumbing. Always rinse your dog in the backyard.

These are some of the quality tips that we have gathered through our vast experience in the plumbing industry. Make sure you follow them to ensure the better health of both your pets and your plumbing. 

If you need a plumber, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We will be more than happy to help!

Why Trenchless?

Many home and business owners groan when they hear their sewer line needs replacing or a major repair.  Others may be shocked by the cost estimate.  But if you can avoid the disruption and costs of digging, followed by pavement and landscaping repairs, sewer repair becomes less of a headache.

Sewer repair techniques have improved tremendously over the last few decades yet many plumbers can still only provide the “old fashioned” method of digging a long, deep trench from the building to the city sewer connection main at the street.  Trenchless technologies avoid the time and costs of trenching, using only one or two relatively small holes for access.  And if repairs are necessary underneath the building they avoid the major expense and near-impossibility of matching replacement terrazzo, marble, or tile.

Epoxy Pipe Lining

Pipe lining goes in as a liquid then “cures” (hardens) into a long-lasting solid.  You may be surprised to know that it’s been in use since the 1940s, but didn’t really catch on until the 1970s with the introduction of structural pipe lining from Europe.  Yet in a recent survey 3/4 of respondents had never heard of it.

Several trenchless technologies have been used over the decades.

• Slip lining inserts a smaller diameter pipe into the old line and pumps grout between the old and new pipes.  It’s no longer used due to weaknesses of the grout.
• A cured in place pipe (CIPP, structural pipelining) inserts an epoxy-soaked liner inside the old pipe, presses it against the existing pipe, and lets it cure for a few hours.
• Spray or brush lining is quicker, easier, and less expensive.  It’s viable only if there’s a small number of cracksbut many local codes don’t allow its use.
• As an alternative, pipe bursting pushes the existing line apart and pulls through a flexible HDPE plastic line.  It’s most suitable for large diameter and badly damaged pipes.

In most situations, CIPP is the best choice.  It can be used to fix cracks, minor sag, misaligned joints, and tree root damage.  It can even correct pipes with large cracks up to an inch wide and a few feet long.  It can be used on clay, ABS, PVC, concrete, copper, and cast iron lines.  But it’s not suitable if the existing line is extensively damaged, severely sags, or is improperly sloped.

Pipelining does reduce the diameter a small fraction of an inch, but its smooth surfaces more than make up for that in maintaining good flow and drainage.

Proper installation is critical for a successful completion and a long lifetime so we first perform a thorough cleaning and video inspection of the entire line.  We then follow industry best-practices using top-quality materials and never take shortcuts.  Our expert installers are well-trained and always up to date on the latest products and techniques.

Better Than a Replacement?

• Avoids the cost, time, and disruption of digging along with re-establishing landscaping and replacing pavement and flooring.
• With seamless epoxy the full length of the line it actively prevents future problems, including resisting tree roots.
• It has the potential of saving thousands of dollars, even tens of thousands, over conventional methods.  The lining itself costs more than standard sewer pipes but considering the cost of digging and other expenses associated with replacing a sewer line, trenchless lining typically costs 20% less.
• All work can be done in a day or less.  As opposed to several days, possibly spread out over even more calendar days, for trenching.
• Long lasting and durable.  It’s physically stronger than many traditional sewer pipe materials.
• Resists mineral scale as well as most chemicals, including alkali and acidic compounds.

All of this makes pipelining an excellent preventive measure when purchasing an older home or business.

So, yes, it’s better than a replacement.

ASAP Drain Guys & Plumbing – Experts Trenchless Sewer Repair, Epoxy Lining

ASAP Drain Guys & Plumbing has the expertise and experience to properly guide you through your sewer line replacement or repair.
We are  A+ BBB rated and have been serving San Diego since 2001. Learn more or contact us any time.

     Listen to our podcast about Halo Water Filters

Municipal water treatment does indeed meet or exceed health and safety requirements, but many families want to be extra safe by setting even higher standards of purity.  Furthermore, the municipal treatment process that uses chlorine and/or ammonia to kill bacteria also produces chloramines.  While chloramines are considered “perfectly safe,” homeowners are warned that it’s not safe for fish in an aquarium.  And chlorine by itself can impart an off-taste and in the shower can lead to dry, itchy skin.  Whole-house water filters remove all this and also reduce or eliminate the mineral scaling that comes from hard water — protecting shower heads, clothes washers, dishwashers, ice makers, and water heaters.

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Did You Know?  Most bottled water is actually filtered municipal water.

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Halo-Technology:  Better Water 5 Ways

The Halo water filtration system treats all the water you use, both hot and cold.  And it goes way beyond an ordinary water softener.

5 Steps

The technology purifies your water in 5 steps.

1. A Halo Ion inline water conditioner softens water by modifying sodium and magnesium ions.
2. A high-density garnet filter removes particles as small as 10-20 microns (1/4 to 1/2 the diameter of a human hair).
3. AG Plus filters out even smaller particles, down to 5 microns, removing any turbidity (cloudiness)
4. Centaur® High Activity Carbon filter removes chlorine, balances pH
5. Granular activated carbon removes organic compounds such as (pesticides, herbicides, fuels, solvents) and odors as well as heavy metals (such as chromium, cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc).

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Top 10 Benefits of Halo Water Filters

In business since 1964, Halo is the water filtration expert known for the refined design and high-quality of their products.  Multi-stage Halo water filters offer the benefits of other activated-carbon filters, plus a lot more.

• Magnesium and calcium are crystallized so there’s little or no hard water effects such as lime scale.  Yet healthy nutrients are retained.
• There’s no salt-water flush that can harm the environment.  And uses up to 30% less water to back-flush.
• There’s no heavy bags of salt to lug.
• Uses coconut shell carbon rather than carbon made from coal.  Not only is it a reusable resource it’s more effective at removing trihalomethane, hydrogen sulfide, and chloramine.
• With no chloramine, your water is safe even for aquariums.
• With chlorine removed you’re likely to have healthier skin and hair.  Clothing fades less with washing, and the rubber gaskets on many water-using appliances last longer.
• Performance is certified and guaranteed.
• It’s maintenance free — just a filter change about once every 10 years (after about 1 million gallons).
• No BPA or Xenoestrogens as sometimes found in bottled water.
• Clean, great-tasting water is always available at every tap in your home.  It’s 1/1,000 the cost of bottled water with no plastic waste.

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Did You Know?  Most top restaurants and coffee houses use water filters for the best-tasting pasta, tea, and coffee.

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ASAP Drain Guys & Plumbing – Experts in Halo Water Filters

ASAP Drain Guys & Plumbing has the expertise and experience to properly guide you when choosing a whole house water filter system.
We are  A+ BBB rated and have been serving San Diego since 2001. Learn more or contact us any time.

About Tankless Water Heaters

But first, let’s quickly review how they differ from the standard tank models you’re used to.

Traditional water heaters keep a big tank (typically around 40 gallons) hot.  That tank continuously loses heat no matter how well it’s insulated, so the gas burner or electric resistance element heats turns on and off via a thermostat to maintain the temperature.  But the burner or electric element can’t keep up with demand — that’s the whole point of having a tank. Because of this, you can run out of hot water and must wait until it heats back up.

Tankless water heaters get rid of the tank and its inefficiency.  High-performance elements heat the water as it flows through.  That is, as you use it.  Most models can supply 2 to 5 gallons per minute indefinitely (showers and most other single uses are on the order of 2 1/2 gallons per minute).  They’re so compact they can be located right where you use hot water so there’s no waiting for water to make it down a long pipe.

The 5 Benefits of Going Tankless

1. Tired of Waiting?  Also called on-demand water heaters, these units deliver essentially instantly.  That can be especially important for a bathroom distant from a garage as well as for quick kitchen clean-ups.
2. Tired of Running Out?  One or more units mean you’ll never run out again.  They’re great for bathroom additions and any changes that increase demand.
3. Have Limited Space?  Tankless water heaters can be wall mounted indoors, outdoors near the demand, even inside a bathroom or kitchen cabinet.  New energy efficiency standards make replacement tank models noticeably bigger, and may even require you to switch to a high-tech heat pump model.  That could make adding a small tankless unit a big money saver.
4. Save Energy, Save Water  The US Department of Energy notes that switching to tankless saves the typical household $108 per year for gas models, $44 for electric. And when you’re not running the tap waiting for hot water to arrive you’re saving water.
5. Longer Lifespan  Tank models last around 10 years but tankless technology lasts roughly twice that long.

Tankless heaters and their installation can cost more initially.  With typical savings the payback on the added costs is on the order of the lifespan.  But rebates are usually available that can make your switch a smart move for economics as well as comfort and convenience.

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Tankless Water Heater Experts

ASAP Drain Guys & Plumbing has the expertise and experience to properly guide you when choosing a tankless water heater.  We’ll match your hot water use to the right model and identify issues concerning venting for gas models and circuit capacity for electric models to give you the best solution.
If you’d like to read more, check out: https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/heat-and-cool/water-heating

SEE OUR RECENT PROJECTS – TANKLESS WATER HEATER INSTALLATIONS

Tankless Water Heater Installation in Carlsbad, CA

Tankless Water Heater Installation in Vista, CA

ASAP Drain Guys & Plumbing is  A+ BBB rated and have been serving San Diego since 2001. Learn more or contact us any time.

Preventive Maintenance

Experiencing backups, odors, gurgling sounds, slow draining?  You already have a problem that will get progressively worse.  Don’t just fix issues after they’ve disrupted your daily schedule.  Be proactive and prevent them from happening in the first place.  Experts recommend drain and sewer cleaning every 18 to 24 months as part of a preventive maintenance schedule.  If you have clogs in between those service calls then there’s something that needs correcting.

Why Maintenance Hydrojetting?

Regular cabling (drain snaking) clears the current blockage, but often leaves quite a bit behind.
What remains is not only a head start on the next clog, but the lingering grease and scale catches debris and accumulates gunk faster than a clean pipe.  If you’ve been having recurring drain or sewer problems, maintenance hydrojetting is the only real and complete solution.

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The process combines special pumps, hoses, and nozzles to create jets of high-pressure water.  Those jets scour away grease and grime, food debris, hair, and scum.  It goes so far as to remove mineral scale and cut through obstructions such as “flushables,” even tree roots.  That leaves the insides of pipes smooth and clean so that future deposits take much longer to get started.  Also called “water jetting,” it covers the complete sewer line (even if it’s hundreds of feet long) and can also be used to clean smaller drain lines as needed.
This advanced form of drain and sewer cleaning is usually combined with in-pipe video inspections, both before and after cleaning.  Pre-inspection assures that there’s no pre-existing problem hydro-jetting might make worse and post-inspection assures that everything is as clean as it can possibly be.  So you’ll also know if there’s anything in the line that needs fixing now or might cause problems in the future.

See our recent Hydrojetting Projects:

Hydrojetted Mainline in Ramona, CA

Hydrojetting Maintenance in San Diego, CA

ASAP Drain Guys & Plumbing is  A+ BBB rated and have been serving San Diego since 2001. Learn more or contact us any time.

These days most residential and small commercial buildings use this sort of slab-on-grade foundation.  It’s more stable, less expensive, and faster to build.  But when pipes are run underneath (a common practice) leaks are hard to detect, and often expensive and disruptive to repair.  Until they’re found and fixed the resulting dampness can cause mold and other water damage.  Larger leaks can even lead to erosion that undermines the foundation and result in structural damage to floors… even walls and ceilings.

We are underground slab leak detection specialists.

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Causes

So what causes those leaks?  In addition to the issues faced by above-ground pipes, essentially underground pipes face additional challenges.

The Usual

All plumbing, regardless of where it’s located, can potentially suffer from leaks for a variety reasons.

• Corrosion from oxygen, alkali, or acidic traces in the water chemistry.  This is especially true for the galvanized iron pipes used up through the 1950s.
• Faulty installation (such as poorly soldered or otherwise weak joints) or accidental damage during building construction.
• Poor quality materials.
• Excessive water pressure, particularly water hammer (the physical shock and vibration from flow suddenly stopping).

The 5 Special Causes

Being underground as well as near or within concrete presents special conditions that can lead to slab leaks.

1. Settlement.  As the soil shifts and settles it can displace pipes, putting them under mechanical strain.  That goes double (or more!) for earthquakes.
2. Expansive soil shift.  Many types of soil expand with water, bending pipes and weakening connections.
3. Abrasion.  The surrounding soil can have particularly abrasive particles such as a large amount of sand or gravel.  As hot water pipes heat up and cool off they expand and contract, rubbing against those abrasives.  Vibration from appliances and water usage shutting on and off can affect both hot and cold water pipes.
4. Alkali corrosion.  Alkalis from concrete can pose a direct risk, so that certain types of pipes shouldn’t be run within or immediately adjacent to concrete.  Some types of soil also have high alkali content.
5. Frost heave.  In colder climates freezing soil expands and can exert tremendous pressure.

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Did You Know?  The American Society of Civil Engineers reports that 1/4 of US homes suffer at least some damage to plumbing or directly to the structure itself from expansive soil shift.  That’s more than earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes combined!  That’s why understanding soil conditions and proper foundation design and construction are so important.

All Together

All these causes have one thing in common — time.  As time passes the various mechanisms create more and more damage, and the likelihood of a leak becomes greater and greater.  No plumbing material, metal or plastic, has an expected lifetime of more than 50 years.  Plumbing in a particular building may last far longer, but the risk of a leak and serious water damage is high enough that re-piping is often a wise move.

SEE OUR RECENT SLAB LEAK REPAIR PROJECT IN CARLSBAD CA

https://www.asapdrainandplumbing.com/recent-projects/slab-leak-in-carlsbad-california/

ASAP Drain Guys & Plumbing is  A+ BBB rated and have been serving San Diego since 2001. Learn more or contact us any time.

Many decades ago the battle cry for water conservation was “Stop the 5-Gallon Flush.”  Using 4 to 7 gallons of water to flush a pint or less or urine was really wasteful.  Standards now require reducing that to at most 1.6 gallons per flush for any new or replacement installation.  A few gallons difference may not seem like much, but it saves millions of gallons per year in a single large city.

Low-Flow Toilets Benefits

1. Save water, save money.  Updating toilet fixtures can cut their water use in half.  For a typical household that can mean over 20,000 gallons saved per year for a roughly $100 annual savings in water bills.
2. You might also be able to save some money through utility rebates.
3. It will be easier to meet requirements to cut back on usage during droughts.
4. Besides helping the environment directly, reducing water consumption reduces the amount of sewage to be processed.  That may allow more thorough processing or avoid construction of a new expensive treatment plant.
5. A smaller tank size means a bit more space, and a bit more flexibility in your bathroom decor.

Different Types

Even with reduced water usage regulations you still have choices even in the basic type of low-flow toilets, plus the  many designs, colors, and styles now available.

• “Gravity” designs work essentially the same way as designs from a century ago, just better.  Water from the storage tank flows by gravity into the bowl when a large flapper valve is opened.
• Pressure designs use pressurized water for more efficient flushing.  But that doesn’t mean any sort of compressor or complicated machinery.  A simple “balloon” fills from the pressure in the supply main, then forces water out of the tank.  Some models can be a little noisy though.
• Dual flush models give you the option of a regular 1.6 gallon flush when you need it or 0.8 gallons when you don’t, for even more conservation.

Reducing Problems

Today’s options include many material and design innovations to make them work better, resolving past issues and operating more reliably.  They are also more durable, and can last up to 30 years.

But there can be problems retrofitting older homes that have smaller diameter sewer lines or lines with lower slopes.  Homes less than 20 years old should be OK, but it’s always a good to have a plumber check out the system before making any major upgrades.

Tip #1:  Needing a second or third flush?  Check that your water pressure is high enough.

Tip #2:  Toilet clogging more easily?  That can happen with some models.  Try avoiding extra-fluffy ultra-style toilet paper.

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ASAP Drain Guys & Plumbing is  A+ BBB rated and have been serving San Diego since 2001. Learn more or contact us any time.

The increased use of wipes has been causing problems with plumbing and even damage to sewer systems for years.  Despite inaccurate labels of “flushable” these should never be flushed down toilets.  The same goes for everything other than toilet paper — feminine hygiene products, paper towels, napkins….

Reasons To Not Flush Wipes

Why shouldn’t you flush wipes?  We’ve known for along time that baby wipes cause problems because they don’t break down, and that leads to blockages.  Toilet paper, on the other hand, is made so that it disintegrates soon after it becomes wet.  Ever try using TP as a paper towel?  It’s soon reduced to muck. Not so with other products you might be tempted to flush.

The experience of the last several years has included backed-up home sewer lines, clogged sewer mains, and even problems at waste-water treatment plants.  An improper material may make it out of the toilet bowl and out of site, only to cause slow draining or worse anywhere in you home.  Not only toilet overflows, but also sink and shower backups with water contaminated with bacteria and viruses.

Over the years one of the main culprits have been disinfecting baby wipes, even those labeled “flushable.”  What that really means is that they make it past the toilet.  These and similar products include synthetic materials that combine with grease to form “fatbergs” that can clog even sewer mains several feet across. In one case a single fatberg filled an entire dumpster, so it’s certainly not a small problem

It’s been enough of a problem that the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) issued a warning, noting that beyond creating public health hazards it can damage pipes, pumps, and wastewater treatment plants.

With the increase use of disinfecting wipes against coronavirus, and perhaps the occasional use of toilet paper “substitutes,” these problems are happening more frequently.

An increase in major problems caused by flushable wipes has been noted in Northern California at several locations.  The Novato Sanitary District reported a literal geyser inside one of their facilities.  Another report involved sewage backing up and overflowing through a manhole cover.  And England is already reporting sewer main backups caused by toilet paper substitutes.

So avoid a plumbing bill and an additional health hazard.  As you use wipes for coronavirus cleaning (as well as for ordinary use) don’t ever flush them, no matter how tempting the convenience might be.

Note:  If you suspect or know that someone in the household is infected with coronavirus or any contagion, dispose of wipes by sealing them in a small bag, placing it in the trash and tightly closing the trash bag.

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