My Pipe Burst…Now What Happens to My Orange County Home?

A burst pipe can lead to catastrophic damage, especially if it’s not addressed as soon as possible. In Orange County, the experts at Team Rooter are always ready to handle your water-related pipe problems. There are a few things that you can do to help minimize damage and additional risks that come with the situation before the experts arrive.

Orange County Tip #1: Turn the Water Main Off Immediately

When you suspect pipe damage, the first thing to do (after calling a plumber) is to turn off the water. While it won’t stop the water already filling your home, it can prevent additional water from causing damage. The water main will likely be in an out-of-the-way place like the basement, crawl space, or near the water heater.

Tip #2: Completely Empty the Drains

Once the water main has been turned off, it’s a good idea to remove any remaining water in the fixtures. This will include running faucets and flushing toilets. Flushing the fixtures will also help to relieve any remaining pressure in the pipes that likely led to the pipe failure.

Orange County Tip #3: Clean Up Any Water Fast

The next thing to do is going to take up most of your remaining time before the plumbing team arrives: cleaning up. Begin by mopping up water sitting on your floors. Working quickly is crucial to avoid the damaging effects of mold. Mold growth can happen in as little as 24 hours. The mold remediation process will take much longer and be much more costly. Pick up a mop, some towels, and get the water up…STAT!

Tip #4: Consider Preventative Maintenance Along with Repairs

Once the experts at Team Rooter have arrived, it’s time to build a plan for repair and other improvements. Your professional plumber will want to walk through your home to review damage and help develop the next steps. Cleaning up after a burst pipe is just part of a good repair plan–anticipating weaknesses and making improvements can save time, money, and headaches if another water catastrophe happens in the future.

Now What? Call Team Rooter!

Handling a burst pipe quickly and completely makes the damage easier to contain. Team Rooter has been servicing homes and businesses throughout Orange County for over 20 years. When you need emergency pipe repair and water removal, make us your first call. We’ll be there quickly–24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Guaranteed. Contact us today!

What Is a Sewer Clean Out and How Can It Help Me?

As a homeowner, you might have seen a medium-sized vertical pipe sticking out from your yard with no idea what it was. If so, you’re not alone. It’s called a sewer clean out pipe and it can make it easier to access clogged pipes. There are other benefits of having a sewer clean out that we’ll review in today’s post.

Having a Sewer Clean Out Can Save You Money

The first benefit of having a sewer clean out pipe installed in your yard is quick access to the sewer line in the event of a clog. The quicker that a skilled plumber can address the problem outside your home, the less likely it is that the line will backup inside the house. Damage inside the house can go beyond your pipes–overflows and backups can lead to broken fixtures and flooring. According to Homeadvisor, a sewer backup into your home can cost between $1,000 and $7,500 depending on the level of damage.

Protect Your Yard with a Sewer Clean Out System

A second benefit of having a sewer clean out pipe installed involves keeping your landscaping pristine. If you experience plumbing issues and don’t have a clean out pipe available, you are at risk for a lengthy repair process. Without the pipe, a certified plumber will need to dig until they can access the lateral line under your home. Giving a plumber access to a sewer clean out line allows them to immediately check the pipe and begin repairs.

Don’t Delay If You Suspect Sewer Issues

Regardless of your pipe situation, pay attention to how your pipes are flowing throughout your home. If you notice slow running water, odd smells, or strange noises, contact a plumbing professional right away!

Ready to Learn More About Sewer Clean Out? Contact Team Rooter!

Now that you’ve seen some of the benefits of having a sewer clean out pipe in your yard, it’s time to take a closer look at your situation. Take a look around to see if you can find a lonely vertical pipe. In many cases, it will be white but it might be camouflaged to blend into the trees out back. 

If you need help or find yourself interested in adding one, find the right contractor. The team at Team Rooter have decades of experience serving pipes across the Los Angeles County area. When you need sewer services, contact our team any time, 24/7. We’ll be there and get you moving again fast.

Video Pipe Inspections Save Time and Money in Los Angeles County

Having the occasional clogged fixture in your home is not uncommon. It’s annoying, but it’s a fact of life. In a lot of cases, you can remove the clog with some elbow grease and a little extra time. But what happens if you can’t see or remove the clog yourself? In today’s blog, we’ll look at some reasons to use video pipe inspections to find and address plumbing problems throughout Los Angeles County.

Professional Plumbers Use Video Inspections Throughout Los Angeles County

Once you’ve called a plumber and asked for video inspection, the fun really begins. The professional who arrives at your home will insert a snake-like camera into your pipe system to begin diagnosing the situation. The video camera is designed to take pictures and video of all parts of your system. Video inspections are faster, cheaper, and safer than traditional digging inspections.

Video Pipe Inspections Make Los Angeles County Repairs Even Faster and Easier

Using a snake camera to enter your pipe system makes it possible to have some repair work done at the same time. After fixing issues, the same camera can be used to verify that work was done correctly. It’s important to note that a quick assessment of problems can lead to quicker repair and less money spent. The use of the camera is also ideal because it involves no speculative digging into your land, which means less mess to clean up or worry about while problems are solved.

Video Pipe Inspections Can Fix Little Problems Before They Grow Larger…and More Expensive

It’s also a great idea to have your pipes inspected annually. Doing it each year allows homeowners peace of mind that their home’s pipe systems are in good shape. Additionally, any small or growing issues can be addressed quickly–before they become dangerous, expensive problems. In many cases, small problems can be corrected without significant intervention.  Trained professionals can tell if unacceptable items like grease or paper towels have been flushed in your home.

Call Team Rooter For Video Pipe Inspection ASAP

Now that you’ve learned a few of the ways that video inspections can save you time and money, it’s time to contact Team Rooter. Our team has been serving garbage disposals and plumbing systems throughout the Los Angeles County area for decades. Don’t delay–contact our team anytime, 24/7/365. We’ll be there as soon as we can to get your pipes flowing again.

Three Ways to Prevent Clogged Drains Before They Happen

One of the most common nightmares that homeowners will experience is a clogged drain. While many of them can be corrected easily, some clogged drains are only made worse with time. The easiest way to avoid drain problems is to be proactive about keeping pipes free of obstructions. Let’s take a look at the top three methods of preventing a clogged drain: annual pipe inspections, regular in-home maintenance, and keeping a careful eye on what goes into the drain itself.

Annual Pipe Inspections Prevent Clogged Drains

A service that all homeowners should consider is an annual inspection. A certified plumbing expert will use a camera and other tools to take a look inside your entire drain system, inside and outside of your home. Once they have completed their assessment, they can make recommendations for additional services or give your plumbing system a clean bill of health.

Regular In-Home Maintenance Prevents Clogged Drains

On a more regular basis, homeowners should practice in-home maintenance to prevent problems before they happen. Many home remedies for a clogged drain can be used to avoid issues. One method involves pouring boiling water down the kitchen sink. This can be used to clear any remaining food particles in a disposal. Another remedy involves regularly using a snaking tool to clear bathroom sinks and shower drains to remove collections of hair, mildew, and other items.

Careful Use of Kitchen and Bathroom Drains Prevents Clogged Drains

Homeowners should keep a careful eye on the items being put in sinks, toilets, and shower drains. This can be a tricky thing to do–especially if you have a family. While garbage disposals were designed to eliminate food waste, there are some items that should never go down the kitchen sink. These include: coffee grounds, egg shells, grease, and flour-based foods. In small amounts, there will usually be no issue, but large amounts can lead to clogs in your kitchen or larger clogs that impact the whole plumbing system.

When it comes to the toilet, the number of flushable products is very small. Urine, fecal matter, and toilet paper are the only items that should be flushed. So-called “flushable wipes” should never be flushed. This is true because they do not breakdown and may result in dangerous clogs. That being said, small amounts of toilet paper should go down easily, yet small children tend to use too much–parental discretion is advised to keep toilets running smoothly.

Need Clogged Drain Service? Call Team Rooter Today!

Now that you’ve learned about the best ways of preventing clogged drains, you should also know your Los Angeles area experts. Team Rooter has been handling commercial and residential plumbing needs for over twenty years. Whether you need a clogged drain cleared, an annual pipe inspection, or something in between–make us your first call. We’ll answer 24/7/365. Contact us today!

Five Facts About Garbage Disposals For San Gabriel County Residents

One of the most frequently used appliances in your kitchen is also the most mysterious one. Chances are that you don’t often think about your garbage disposal – but there’s so much to know about it! Here are five quick facts about garbage disposals that every homeowner should know before turning it on again, especially if you live in or around San Gabriel County.

San Gabriel County Resident Fact #1: Garbage Disposals Have Many Benefits

Installing a garbage disposal is beneficial for a variety of reasons. They are designed to reduce food waste, which leads to a reduction in the methane gases that occur as food decomposes. Disposals are designed to make food removal quicker and easier. In the greater scheme of things, garbage disposals are the cheapest appliances to install and maintain.

Fact #2: Large Cities Benefit From Garbage Disposals

The more citizens that live in an area, the more food they consume. Where there’s food, there’s vermin. When garbage disposals are installed and used to remove food, there is less for rats, mice, and bugs to eat. When there’s less food thrown in the trash, vermin start to go elsewhere. To put it plainly: disposals discourage pests.

Fact #3 for San Gabriel County Residents: Not All Food Can Go Down the Sink

While garbage disposals are intended to decrease trash, there are a number of things that shouldn’t be thrown down the sink. These include grease, eggshells, starches like potatoes, and bones. These no-go foods are known to clog kitchen sinks, immobilize disposal systems, and cause bigger plumbing issues throughout your home.

Fact #4: Garbage Disposals Tend to Break During the Holidays

One last fun fact about garbage disposal usage: the day after Thanksgiving, also known as Black Friday, is the busiest day for plumbers. Why? In the midst of getting ready for and cleaned up from Turkey Day, people will try to force the wrong kinds of food items (like the ones we just discussed) down the disposal. This leads to clogged drains and headaches.

Experiencing Problems With Your San Gabriel County Disposal? Call Team Rooter!

Now that you’ve learned the top five facts about garbage disposals, you’ll know the signs that require maintenance for your system. When you see those signs, it’s time to contact Team Rooter. Our team has been serving garbage disposals and plumbing systems throughout the San Gabriel County area for decades. Don’t delay–contact our team anytime, 24/7/365.