Garbage disposals are a convenient way to dispose of food scraps and keep the trash can from stinking. As useful as this appliance is, many people don’t understand how to maintain the disposal. Knowing a few tricks keeps the appliance running longer and saves you money on plumbing repairs.

Are You Making This Mistake?

Can you guess the biggest mistake most people make when using their garbage disposals? If you said putting everything in the disposal, then you are correct. Many people erroneously believe that any type of food scrap or liquid is disposable. Not so. In fact, most food scraps should be composted.

The truth is that your garbage disposal is not a trash compactor. It’s a small appliance that doesn’t have the power to grind up large chunks of meat, fibrous vegetable scraps, and most peelings. You get the best results from your garbage disposal when you keep these items as well as grease and cooking oil far away from the unit.

It’s Time to Clear Off Your Kitchen Counters

The kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s where we gather to eat meals and cook and talk about our days. It’s also the place where mail gets tossed on the counter, food wrappers get left out, etc., etc. When counters get cluttered, it’s more likely that unintended, non-organic items fall into the sink unnoticed. Not only should these items not be placed in the disposal, but they also shouldn’t be rinsed down the drain. Clearing your counters goes a long way toward maintaining the health of your garbage disposal.

Don’t Forget to Clean the Garbage Disposal

How many times a day do you use your garbage disposal? Even if you only use it after dinner, it gets dirty. Flushing the disposal once a month gets rid of debris stuck in the blades. Flushing the system is easy. Simply make sure any large chunks of food are out the disposal. Next, plug the disposal and fill that portion of the sink with hot, soapy water. Then unplug the sink and turn the disposal on letting the soapy water move through the disposal.

If you believe there is build up in your sink, run ice cubes and rock salt through the disposal. This concoction is great for getting rid of excess build-up caused by soap or even hard water. Using ice cubes also sharpens the blades.

Try Not to Run Your Disposal Dry

It’s never a good idea to run the disposal dry. Whenever you use it, also run the tap at the same time to minimize wear and tear on the motor and blades.

If you’re experiencing problems with your garbage disposal, give us a call. Covina Speedy Plumbing and Rooter has expert, licensed plumbers in Covina, CA, available right now to assist you with garbage disposal repair and replacement service. Call us anytime day or night!

It’s not uncommon for strange noises to come from plumbing as home’s age. Hissing and banging sounds are startling and sometimes indicate problems, but not always. In this post, Covina Speedy Plumbing and Rooter helps you learn more about what causes plumbing noises and when to call for one of our plumbers in Covina.

Air in the Pipes

This is a very common problem in homes throughout Covina. Sometimes, too much air gets pushed through the pipes when the water runs. When this happens, you hear a loud whistling or hissing sound when you turn on your taps. You might even hear this noise when flushing the toilet. Don’t worry too much about these noises because they aren’t usually a big problem.

Air in the pipes can be an issue when temperatures drop suddenly. This can cause the pipes to freeze and expand. As this happens, the pressure builds up in the air pockets and causes pipes to burst or crack. Fortunately, we don’t see these extreme temperature changes in Covina. Therefore, it’s highly unlikely this would happen at your home.

Loud Noises When Using Hot Water

Do you hear loud noises that sounds like the pipes are creaking when you use hot water? Does your home have copper piping? This happens with copper piping because it expands as it heats, but then it cools offer quickly. The fast contraction action causes theses noises because the pipe rubs against joists in the walls or studs.

Although this problem isn’t serious, it’s very annoying. Fortunately, there are ways to minimize the noise. First, you need to determine where the noise is coming from. Once you determine this, cut a hole in the drywall to access the pipe. Next, remove the metal brackets securing the pipes and replace them with plastic braces. Finish up the job by using foam to create a barrier between the pipe and whatever it’s rubbing against. This should stop the loud noises every time someone uses the hot water.

Call Us When You Need Professional Plumbing Service in Covina

When you can’t figure out what’s making an awful noise, call us. Our plumbers are in the business of figuring out these mysterious problems. We inspect homes for many plumbing problems, including distracting noises.

At Covina Speedy Plumbing and Rooter, we diagnose plumbing problems around the clock. Our 24-hour services are accurate and flexible. Let us help you take care of annoying plumbing issues today!

Residential water heaters don’t last forever. The average water heater has an expected longevity of 7-15 years. At Covina Speedy Plumbing and Rooter, we like to think ahead. Planning for water heater replacement before you need it gives you time to research your options such as tankless water heaters and avoid an unexpected cold shower.

Do you know the signs of water heater failure? Inconsistent heating, age, and funny noises aren’t the only warning signs that your water heater may be on the fritz. Check out these common signs that replacement or repair may be in your future:

• Leaky tanks
• Moisture around the base of the heater
• Weird smells
• Noisy operation
• Popping or clanging when in use
• Excessive corrosion
• Tank is rust through
• Tap water is rust-colored
• If any of these signs are present, call a licensed plumber in Covina, CA, for a thorough water heater inspection.

Benefits of Tankless Water Heaters

Traditional water heaters waste a lot of energy. It’s estimated that standby hot water losses add up to 10%-20% of a home’s annual heating expense. Because electric and gas tankless water heaters heat on demand, standby losses are eradicated. You won’t be wasting money on electricity or gas charges because your heating water all day long when you don’t need it.

Not only do on demand hot water systems only generate heat when needed, they also don’t require a large area. Tankless water heater installation can be done in a storage closet, wall-mounted inside or out, and in garages or utility rooms.

Tankless hot water heaters are constructed in a way that makes them seismic proof, a great feature for homes located in earthquake-prone areas. Tank water heaters can shake loose during an earthquake and become potential fire and flood hazards.

Get Professional Water Heater Installation Services

Are you considering upgrading to a tankless water heater? Give us a call today to get your new tankless water heater installed before you experience an inconvenient breakdown. Our expert water heater installers will go over the kind of tankless water heater that will work for you. We’ll also discuss any incentives or tax breaks that you may be eligible to receive. Local, state, and federal tax credit programs can make it easier financially to upgrade to energy-efficient appliances. Local utility companies may also offer incentives to help off-set the cost of installation.

Don’t wait until you need a new water heater? Call today and get ahead of the game! Covina Speedy Plumbing & Rooter is available around the clock for 24-hour emergency plumbing services and more.

Plumbing problems can happen abruptly and at any time. Covina Speedy Plumbing and Rooter is the trusted plumbing company in Covina. Whether you have problems with your floor, sink, or bathroom drainage system, call us to come and fix it so that you can have peace of mind.

Proper Drain Maintenance Goes a Long Way

There are a few tips you can use to prevent your drains from becoming clogged. Proper drain maintenance helps prevent drain clogging. Grease buildup and hard water deposits are some of the factors that cause drains to become clogged. You can solve this by running hot water through the drain after cleaning up. You can also use baking powder and vinegar to clear clogged drains. However, be sure to remove all wastes from the sink before you start cleaning up the drains. Avoid pouring coffee grounds, greasy waste, and any insoluble substance down the drain.

Hire Professional Plumbers in Covina

Hire plumbing experts after every six months to inspect your plumbing system and provide drain maintenance services. They should inspect all your drain lines for buildups that cause clogs. In addition, ask your plumbing experts to check for problems on your sewer system and main pipes. Roots often invade drainpipes and may cause blockages and other problems if they are not discovered and removed early.

Check for Clogs

Check your bathtub stopper for hair, soap residue, and any other insoluble particles. These substances can cause bio-film buildup, which clogs the drains. Be sure to check if the stopper needs replacement due to wear and tear. Fill the bathtub half way with the stopper still in the drain then pull out the stopper. The water volume and weight will fill up the pipe and flush clogged materials on the drain lines. Make this a weekly routine.

Our company has the tools, knowledge, and experience required to handle any plumbing repair job. If you still experience problems after taking all these preventive maintenance steps, call Covina Speedy Plumbing and Rooter to come and fix the problem once and for all.