All Things Plumbing & HVAC: The Orange Coast Plumbing Blog
Need to know what’s an emergency and which problems can wait? Which problems you can solve DIY? The Orange Coast Plumbing blog helps you understand common plumbing, heating, and air conditioning issues.
You wouldn’t drink water from a dirty glass grubby straw.
Yet, who knows what’s in your water when it passes through cracked and corroded pipes?
Damaged pipes are a gateway for contaminants, including lead, sediment, and even legionella bacteria. They seep into your water supply and wind up in your drinking glass.
Home improvement stores and online retailers sell inexpensive water-testing kits that measure chemical components like heavy metals (lead and arsenic), pH levels, and chlorine or other disinfectants used by treatment facilities. Some advanced tests may check for bacteria and viruses in the water sample.
If you suspect a problem with water in your home, the next step is to bring in a certified plumber to conduct more advanced tests and to look for the source of the problem. The solution may involve a simple repair, a partial repiping, or a call to your city water department. But only a plumber can point you in the right direction.
We often think about sealing cracks, proper food storage, and regular pest control measures to maintain a pest-free home. However, many homeowners overlook the role that plumbing problems play. This blog will explore how seemingly innocent plumbing issues can become a gateway for drain flies, ants, roaches, and mice to infiltrate your living space.
Plumbing can be a dirty job.
It can be a physical job. A toilet weighs 60 lbs or more. A laptop weighs 4 or 5 lbs, yet people complain when they don’t have a lighter model.
Wouldn’t it be better to sit in air-conditioned comfort, stare at a monitor, and draw a paycheck?
First, anyone who’s spent the last five years typing and staring at a monitor will tell you it’s the modern equivalent of watching a wire pass through a wax bath.
20% of American homes with a dishwasher don’t even use it. The press claims that’s a bad thing environmentally, but is it?
We often hear about a dishwasher’s energy efficiency and reduced water use. Seldom is there a peep about a dishwasher’s limited lifespan, or a question about the validity of studies “proving” the superiority of a dishwasher to hand washing
All plumbing pipes have a limited lifespan. Well-maintained copper lines can last 80 or more years, and PVC from 20 to 50 years.
Average US homeownership runs for about 13 years. Serious plumbing issues may never arise during that ownership period. But what if they do?
A slab leak occurs in the water or sewer lines the under the concrete foundation of your home.
Slab leaks often go unnoticed until they’ve caused significant damage, including mold growth which can threaten your family’s health.
Mold grows in moist areas — and slab leaks create perfect conditions for it.
All functional households rely on a well-maintained plumbing system for everyday comfort and convenience.
Unfortunately, some homeowners never take the time to learn anything about how this critical system works or what can go wrong when trouble strikes. Sooner or later, this lack of knowledge can lead to unexpected and avoidable service disruptions and potentially major repair or replacement expenses.
Plumbing professionals use the term slab leak to refer to any pipe leak that occurs in one of two locations: beneath a concrete foundation or slab, or directly within the slab/foundation itself. These types of leaks rank high on the list of most feared plumbing malfunctions. That’s true because they can ultimately lead to severe […]
A plunger is the go-to DIY tool for minor drain clogs. No home should be without one.
Some homeowners keep a snake in the garage for tougher jobs or a stash of plastic clog removers for bathroom drains blocked by hair and soap residue.
But do they have a drain cleaning bladder on hand? Or even know what it is?
Maybe they should, because a drain bladder is easy to use, cheaper than a snake, and surprisingly effective.
This blog may convince you to invest in one and tackle the next big clog yourself.
A leaking toilet is a serious plumbing problem. A toilet leaking at the base packs an even bigger punch. That’s because it’s easy to miss, it can cause significant damage to walls and flooring if not addressed promptly, and water can seep into lower levels of a building, creating a wet, damp environment for mold.
Here’s what you need to know.
They say that one’s home says a lot about the person’s taste and style. An extravagant centerpiece in your living room may provide a glimpse of your current finances, but expensive doesn’t always translate to having refined taste. Do you know what to look for when choosing the right type of faucet for your home? […]