When water drains slowly out of your sink, shower or bathtub, there’s a problem. It’s likely a clogged drain. It always happens at the most inconvenient time and leaves you wondering what could have caused it. Lance Smith, owner of L.D. Smith Plumbing, joined us Wednesday on “Life.Style.Live!” to share some of the common culprits that lead to a clogged drain.
Grease:
This is the most common reason for kitchen drain clogs. Once grease is poured down the drain, it hardens. Keep dumping grease down the drain day after day and blockage happens. The best way to dispose of grease is to let it cool and toss in the garbage.
Hair:
Even with a stopper, hair often finds its way down the drain. Eventually, those strands clump together to cause a clog.
Disposable wipes/hygiene products:
Unlike toilet tissue, disposable wipes and hygiene products do not break down when flushed and easily clog your pipes and even sewer line.
Tree roots:
If you live in an older home, more than likely tree roots will create problems in your pipes. Trees need moisture and water to survive, and they are close enough to your property, they will seek those nutrients in your pipes and sewer system. Roots will wrap around whatever is in its path, including your pipes.
Best solutions for clogged drains:
Sometimes a plunger or home remedies aren’t enough to clear a drain permanently. A good plumber is needed to resolve the issue. One treatment is drain clearing, which quickly breaks up the clog. Often particles remain and, for many homeowners, the clogs return. Hydro jetting is one of the best ways to remove all those left-over particles to clear the drain completely, if a conventional drain cleaning doesn’t do the trick or if the line is full of sludge/grease.
The camera inspection also enables plumbers to determine the best solution to clear your pipes once and for all. All of our main line clearings and/or $83/free deals include a free camera inspection.
DEAL:
Clear your drain line for $83 or it’s free!
For more information, click here.
Do you have a drain that needs to be unclogged?
Lance Smith, owner of LD Smith Plumbing, joined us Tuesday to discuss what causes clogged drains and solutions for clogs in the main drain line. Here’s more from him:
What causes a clogged main drain line to clog?
Tree roots, grease, oil, and objects such as disposable wipes (these should never be flushed down the toilet).
What are the signs you need a drain clearing?
Gurgling sounds coming from the drain or toilet, water rising into your floor drain when you flush the toilet, and water is slow to drain out of the shower or bathtub.
Some people may confuse a drain clearing with a drain cleaning. Here’s the difference:
A drain clearing involves the plumber usually “poking a hole” in the blockage instead of cleaning it. The problem doesn’t go away, but it gets the job done temporarily, so other options such as drain cleaning, drain repair or jetting can be discussed.
A drain cleaning is when the plumber completely removes the source of the blockage. As long as there isn’t a broken pipe, offset, or a structural problem with the line, this should be an easy job as well.
L.D. Smith Plumbing is currently running a deal for drain clearing through June 30, 2022. It’s $83 to clear your main drain or it’s free (if their plumber can’t get the drain open and you choose their recommended repair). Click here for details.
For more information, visit ldsmithplumbing.com.
THIS SEGMENT IS SPONSORED BY L.D. SMITH PLUMBING.
You can find more from all of today’s “Life.Style.Live!” guests at the links below:
Cardinal Spirits – Bloomington
Nathan Lowe – The Indy Dog Whisperer
facebook.com/theindydogwhisperer
LD Smith Plumbing
Indianapolis Indians
Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month
Sherri French – Easter Ideas
Winter has arrived, and Lance Smith, owner of L.D. Smith Plumbing, has tips to not only keep your home protected during the cold months but also essential items to have on hand for plumbing problems throughout the year.
When outside temperatures hit below 20 degrees, pipes become vulnerable to freezing. Left unprotected, pipes can burst as they thaw and cause significant damage to your property such as flooding.
1. Insulate your pipes
Exposed pipes in basements, crawl spaces and attics are susceptible to freezing if there’s no heat source in those areas. Items to use are pipe insulation and to make sure that area has a heat source. It’s also a good idea to check these pipes periodically to ensure pipes are still covered.
2. Seal cracks
Seal cracks near pipes where there are openings to allow cold air can also reduce the possibility of freezing pipes. Most of these openings can be found near dryer vents and electrical wiring, and crawl space vents. Caulk or insulation works to seal these openings, as well as expandable spray foam.
3. Let faucets drip
When freezing temperatures are expected, turn on your water faucet to a drip. Constantly keeping a small flow in the line will greatly reduce the chances of the line freezing.
4. IMPORTANT: Know the location of your water shutoff.
If pipes are frozen, you want to know the location of your main shutoff to turn the water off right away. Also, I would recommend turning off the main shutoff when away from the home for long periods of time.
Homeowners often ask what are the essential plumbing tools to have on hand for everyday plumbing problems.
Here is Smith’s must-have list:
- Tool to unclog a slow-draining sink, tub, or shower
- Plunger
- Extra hose washer
- Channel lock
THIS SEGMENT IS SPONSORED BY L.D. SMITH PLUMBING.
Is your home ready to handle the cold weather ahead? Lance Smith, owner of LD Smith Plumbing joined us today to share a few fall plumbing tips you can do while temperatures are mild.
Fall is a great time to check your pipes, faucets and other plumbing fixtures to ensure your home is ready to handle cold weather ahead. Now is the time to get outside and get a good view of outdoor plumbing while the weather is sunny and temperatures are mild.
Five plumbing tips for fall:
1. Check your water heater
If it’s older than 10 years old, now is the time to consider a replacement to guarantee warm water. For energy savings, set thermostat on your water heater to 120 degrees.
2. Disconnect outdoor water hose
This prevents freezing pipes and damage to your plumbing in winter months.
3. Schedule major sewer line or drain repairs
No one wants to replace sewer pipes in winter. It’s no fun. Temperatures affect your sewer pipes. Even if you have a small crack in your pipe right now, freezing temperatures can create a bigger problem if not treated such as a flooded home or blockage. If there are any concerns about sewer line, schedule an inspection to find leaks or cracks and treat those issues to ensure your pipes are winter ready.
4. Make it easy to access your shut off valve
This is very important for homeowners, especially if you have winter vacation plans. The shut off valve turns off water flow to your home preventing significant damage to your home in case there is a hard freeze or flooding while you are away. Make sure you know the exact location of your shut off valve and have a plan how to access it if there is heavy snow.
5. Check all pipes
Inspect all pipes in your home to make sure they are in a conditioned area and crawl space vents are closed. Also make sure no siding or insulation has been removed or damaged that would allow cold air in.
NOTE: L.D. Smith Plumbing offers an annual Plumbing Protection Plan for $89 to be sure pipes and all plumbing fixtures are working properly.
For more information visit:
https://www.facebook.com/lance.d.smith.9
THIS SEGMENT IS SPONSORED BY L.D. SMITH PLUMBING.