Drain Cleaning: Do-It-Yourself or Hire a Professional Plumber? Maui Hawaii

You try to take a shower, and end up ankle-deep in murky water. You brush your teeth, and the sink doesn't drain. We've all been there. There's nothing pleasant about a clogged drain or blocked pipe. Fortunately, there are a number of drain cleaning solutions that can have things running smoothly again in no time. How do you know whether to tackle the problem yourself or to call your local plumber in? Here are a few tips to help you make the decision.

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Taking the DIY Approach
From hair to grease and beyond, many clogs and blockages are easily resolved at home, using a number of DIY techniques. These work particularly well on soft blockages that are located relatively close to the surface of the drain. If you know what is blocking your drain, or you want to try a quick fix before calling a professional, these options may be for you.

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Corrosive Drain Cleaners
The first thing that many people do when faced with a clogged drain is reach for the drain cleaner. There are a number of drain cleaners on the market that use corrosive chemicals to power through soft clogs near the surface of the drain. These cleaners typically come in liquid form and contain highly concentrated bleach, lye, or potassium hydroxide. Some drain cleaners contain two components that are mixed when poured into the drain, creating a gas that is trapped inside the plumbing by a thick foam. The foam is designed to coat the insides of the drain pipe, removing the substance causing the clog. Chemical drain cleaners can be very convenient and easy to use. Most of them just require you to pour them into the clogged drain, wait awhile, and then rinse with warm water. The downside to chemical drain cleaners is that they are typically ineffective on more difficult clogs, or on blockages that occur further down the sewer line. The corrosive nature of these products also makes them potentially dangerous if they come into contact with your skin, eyes, or even lungs if you inadvertently breathe in their fumes. If you decide to use a chemical drain cleaner, take care to follow the manufacturer's instructions and take proper caution to prevent injury.

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The Natural Approach
A safer (but equally effective) alternative to chemical drain cleaners comes from combining ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen. Do you remember building volcanoes for the school science fair by combining vinegar with baking soda to make an "eruption?" This technique builds on that same principle. First, pour about 3/4 of a cup of dry baking soda down the drain. Then, pour about 1/2 a cup of vinegar down the drain. White vinegar and apple cider vinegar work great, but any type will do. As soon as you pour the vinegar down the drain, you'll want to cover the drain opening with a rag or some type of drain plug. The mixture of vinegar and baking soda will cause a chemical reaction, creating a foam that will rise up through the drain (just like the volcano!). Covering the drain will keep as much of the foam inside the pipe as possible, where it can unleash its cleaning power. Let the foam do its thing for about 30 minutes, then flush it thoroughly by pouring hot water down the drain. It may take multiple applications, but this method often leaves your drain clean and flowing smoothly. Using baking soda and vinegar is great when you need a drain cleaning solution on the fly, or if you are looking for a natural alternative to corrosive cleaners.

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Clearing the Trap
A third DIY solution requires a little bit more work on your part, but is well-worth it if you are faced with a large hair clog, or some foreign material caught in your sink drain. The first thing you'll want to do is clear out the area under the sink. Then, place a bucket (you can use a pot in a pinch) under the sink pipes to catch any water or other debris that might fall out of the sink trap. Use pliers to loosen the metal slip nuts, and then finish removing them by hand. If you've got a plastic trap, you can usually skip the pliers, and just turn the slip nuts manually. You can use your hands to knock any blockage from inside the "elbow" of the trap into your bucket. If the clog is higher up near the drain (as is often the case with hair clogs in bathroom sinks), you can straighten a wire hanger and use that to pull the clog down through the pipe. Once the blockage is clear, just put the elbow back on and re-tighten the slip nuts. Dispose of the water and debris in your bucket (do NOT pour it back down the drain!), and voila--as good as new!

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When to Call in the Pros
There are some times when it is just better to leave the
plumbing repair work to the professionals. Examples of professional draining cleaning jobs include when you have:

* Recurring or persistent clogs that don't respond to DIY treatment
* Thick grease blockages
* Clogged sewer pipes
* Invasive root growth

Master plumbers and other professionals have access to a number of tools made specifically for handling difficult drain clogs and blockages. Professional drain cleaners, such as those containing sulfuric acid, can be extremely dangerous when used by someone other than a licensed professional. Other professional tools, such as those used for hydrojetting, are far too expensive to be practical for anyone other than a master plumber. With the right tools and their extensive training, your plumber can effectively clear your drains of even the toughest blockages.

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If you have tried to attack a difficult clog to no avail, it is possible that the blockage is in a place beyond your reach. With a bathtub drain, you might have to go into the pipes behind a wall. Some clogs can even occur further down the water main, outside the house. A licensed plumber has the knowledge and experience to handle complicated situations, making sure that all of your pipe send up back in the right places, avoiding further issues down the line. A master plumber can clear a drain and conduct additional troubleshooting to detect invasive root growth or other issues that you may have overlooked. If you've got a leaking faucet in addition to a blocked drain, you might want to call in a professional who can take care of everything at once.

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The pros of calling in the Pros include:

* Expert knowledge and experience
* High-quality tools made to get the job done
* Convenience of having someone else do the work
* Troubleshooting knowledge to prevent other issues

When it comes to simple drain clogs, you can often resolve them on your own. For larger, more difficult jobs, don't let the cost of hiring a professional deter you. Many plumbing specialists offer reasonable rates for their services, and you can't put a price on your personal safety and peace of mind. Resolving a problem like a persistent leak can also save you on your water bill--savings that are well worth enlisting the help of a professional.

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Modern Bathrooms and Old Plumbing. Hawaii Maui

Although older homes are charming and cozy, they tend to lack modern systems and structures. As well, these systems tend to become worn, degraded, and damaged over time, and they will need maintenance and modification to bring them up to code. Homeowners will often have to do some upgrades. If your home has a bathroom with old plumbing, and you are preparing to modernize the bathroom with such plumbing fixtures as a new toilet, sink...etc., there are a number of plumbing issues you should consider in order to ensure your renovation project is a success.

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Before you start the bathroom modernization project, you need to check the condition of the old plumbing. Examine the flooring and walls around the plumbing fixtures and the fittings and stop-valves to see if there are any leaks. As well, check to see if the old plumbing has shut-off valves that allow you to turn off the water if you need to make repairs. If you don't have shut-valves, you should install them as part of your bathroom modernization. A plumber will be able to repair or replace damaged pipes and install shut-off valves.

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There are other components that are necessary which may not be part of the old plumbing. For instance, if you do not have such mechanisms as a pressure balancing valve, you should have this valve put in because this valve, which is installed in the cold and/or water supply lines to the shower, will stop blistering hot or icy cold spurts of water in the shower when a another faucet is opened or someone flushes the toilet.

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Plumbing issues that are under-slab are complex and must be dealt with by a plumber.
Under-slab plumbing issues occur in old homes where galvanized pipes were used for plumbing. As well, lead piping is another issue as it is a health hazard. Plumbing companies can remove old pipes and replace them with modern piping. Proper drainage is another concern with old plumbing. After a while, the old pipes can become damaged or clogged. Plumbing companies are able to clean the drain and sewer lines and make any repairs or replacements.

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Older homes can be at risk of basement flooding as the technology to prevent basement flooding flood when the ground becomes over-saturated with water may have not existed when the homes were built. For example, plumbers are able to install sump pumps to get rid of excess water in areas that often flood which will help prevent future flooding.

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Although old homes have a comfortable and inviting ambiance, often the bathroom plumbing is not that appealing. Old home bathroom plumbing will often have many potential problems. Fixing and upgrading old home bathroom plumbing is not that difficult now that there are new materials, technologies, and plumbing supplies available. However, plumbing is not always easy to repair without the help of a professional plumber. Fortunately, plumbing companies are knowledgeable in dealing with all issues related to plumbing and old homes, and they can provide many services to bring your plumbing up to code. Before you know it, you will have a modern bathroom with modern plumbing.

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Plumbing Repairs - Do Not Put These In A Garbage Disposal! Hawaii Maui

The garbage disposal unit was invented almost a hundred years ago and since then it has grown into popular use. This device helps clear the drains with food scraps that we may or may not intentionally put into the sink. And because of it, there are less plumbing repairs to fix especially those in relation to the kitchen sink and the drainage system.

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However, as amazing a plumbing product a garbage disposal may be, we still cannot simply put any kind of food scrap that we want into it. It cannot grind into small pieces everything that we put in there. Just like all mechanical and electrical products, it also has its own limitations and our failure to follow its intended use might result to a clogged drain and the need to call a master plumber for help.

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The following are some of the food items or scraps we must not put into a garbage disposal unit if we want to avoid any further plumbing repairs.

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1. Bones

Specifically animal bones. This is because the garbage disposal is not strong enough to grind or chop such a very hard item. Even if the bones are already in very small pieces, the disposal can still have a hard time breaking them down and might result to some pieces of the bones getting stuck in one of the blades or crevices of the unit.

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2. Egg shells

There is an old wives' tale that says egg shells help in sharpening the blades of the garbage disposal device. However, this is completely false. Egg shells are hard enough to cause some blockage within the unit as not all of it can easily pass through the system.

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3. Rice

This goes with both cooked and uncooked rice. Cooked rice further expands when it is submerged or exposed to water and that is exactly what happens when rice goes through the skin. Uncooked rice may not fair better. Aside from it being a very hard item for the garbage disposal unit to break down, it also expands when put in water. Therefore it is still best to simply avoid putting any rice into the sink.

The same thing goes with pasta. Bits of it can get trapped in the unit and cause it to work harder with each use.

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4. Grease

One of the top causes of drain blockage is grease and the garbage disposal unit, since it is a part of the drain, can also be affected. Grease solidifies and can cause clogging and eventually, damage to the unit.

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5. Stringy vegetables

Celery, lettuce, and other related vegetables can cause some blockage in the disposal unit. Just imagine yourself chewing hard on a very stringy vegetable and you will have a good idea as to why it can harm your drain and the disposal system. In very small amounts these vegetables can be grind, but it is best to simply avoid getting any piece of it into the drain.

Plumbing repairs can be avoided if we can just get rid of our old habits, just like whenever we throw any food bits into the sink. Even if we have a garbage disposal unit, it cannot work on every type of food and in the long run, after being abused, it will eventually break down.

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Plumbing Help - Why Your Toilet Isn't That Great. Hawaii Maui

In the old days, it was somewhat of a rarity to have to drag out the plunger and unclog the toilet. Today, it seems like every third day brings a toilet clog that calls for a little amateur plumbing. Why is that? What happened to the good toilets of old. Well, if you're asking these questions, thinking there's something wrong with your toilet, you can rest easy. It's not just yours. Toilets everywhere have lost much of their suctioning power over the last decades. Today's bowls are designed to use water as efficiently as possible, which means less suctioning power and less water flow. Of course, along with the water savings has come a bit of an inconvenience for homeowners.

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Today's toilets are called gravity toilets and they are built around using-you guessed it-gravity. Gravity is used to pull the water and waste down through the bottom of the bowl and through the pipes. There is a valve on the toilet that, when activated by pressing the flushing handle, opens, letting water from the tank enter the bowl. When the water level reaches a certain point in the bowl, the water drains out the bottom. This isn't any different from the way old toilets worked. The difference is in the amount of water used. Today's toilets use much less.

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With the assistance of a qualified professional, however, it is possible that you can get your toilet to perform in a way that is consistent with how they used to flush. Though the plumbing is slightly different, even the most efficient toilets usually are the capacity to hold more water than they actually use. If you hire a professional who knows what they're doing, they can reroute the flow and get it to use some of that water. It's not the most environmentally friendly decision, but then neither is having to flush the toilet several times just to get rid of a wad of toilet paper.

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Some problems, however, aren't to be blamed on the use of less water. Some of them have more to do with the inner workings of the plumbing. Old pipes may become partially blocked, preventing the efficient flushing of the toilet. Using products like Liquid Plumr might help to some degree, but hiring a professional will help with more chronic problems. It might also be in your interest to purchase a power-assist toilet. These are designed to use compressed air to aid in the flushing process. This is the kind you see in many commercial bathrooms and is the reason those toilets are usually so much better at getting rid of the waste.


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Plumbing Contractors Versus Do-It-Yourself! Hawaii Maui

We've all heard the old adage, "if you want something done right, do it yourself." On the surface, this seems like the wisest of sayings -after all, when you do something yourself, you KNOW that is has been done to your level of expectation with the materials you have selected and the proper procedures you know how to do well. But do you, really?

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DIY ethics and integrity only go so far. For instance, would you want to operate on yourself or a loved one in an emergency, or trust a trained doctor to perform the procedure? Would you want to install new struts and brakes on your car, or trust a certified mechanic to do it for you? Would you even want to repair your technical devices such as computers or television monitors, or trust an electronics expert to handle these tasks?

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Although plumbing seems a far simpler business than the above scenarios, there ARE reasons why professional plumbers exist. Below, submitted for your consideration, are a number of reasons why trusting a plumbing contractor to handle your plumbing problems may be a better decision than doing it for yourself.

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1. Plumbers have years of experience underneath their belts. Whenever a home owner undertakes a plumbing repair, he or she does not know what complications may develop. One loosened pipe may cause another pipe to loosen, which in turn causes another to detach, until a simple leak repair has turned into a plumbing nightmare. What looked like a simple drain replacement for the guest sink has turned into a 2-day full-time job! Plumbers, experienced at all manner of plumbing repairs, know what to expect from the systems they work with, and thus know how to prevent complications from happening in the first place. What might take an amateur plumbing home-owner half a day to repair or replace can be addressed in an hour by a plumbing professional!

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2. The tools of the trade. Whether you're installing a new hot water heater, replacing the O-rings in a faucet valve, replacing the wax ring for a toilet, or repairing the leak in a sink trap, there are certain tools of the plumbing industry that make the job easier. Do you have those tools? Do you even know what tools you'll be needing? Are you prepared to go out and buy these tools, often times in the middle of the job you're working on? Without them, your job will be much more difficult, which is why plumbers have trucks filled with the various tools and equipment they may need for any plumbing emergency.

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3. Time to do the job right. Especially today, with so many men and women commuting great distances for work, and working extra hours, and juggling multiple commitments after work, Time is a precious and valuable commodity. Having the money to hire and pay a professional just might be worth the expenditure of financial resources, compared to the additional time it will take you as an amateur to execute the same repairs and that time taken away from other duties or tasks you need to get done. Do you really want to spend your Saturday replacing that garbage disposal instead of playing ball with your kids, going to the park for the afternoon with a date, or relaxing outside with a book?

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In the end, as you decide between professional plumbing contractors or doing it yourself, keep in mind the fact that professional plumbers exist and there are reasons why they are called "professionals!"

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Kitchen Plumbing Fixtures and Counter Height. Hawaii Maui

When renovating or building a kitchen, many people do not realize that there is an association called the National Kitchen & Bath Association that offers homeowners, room designers, and the building industry guidelines that can help them with ideas regarding the design of a kitchen. When designing a kitchen one issue that needs to be resolved, which the National Kitchen & Bath Association provides guidelines, is the kitchen plumbing fixtures and counter height.

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The National Kitchen & Bath Association offers important recommendations involving counter height. They offer two options that include: 28 inches to 36 inches above the finished floor and the second option 36 inches - 45 inches. For ergonomic reasons, it is essential to have kitchen plumbing fixtures and kitchen countertops set at the correct height. If a kitchen countertop is too high, you can have difficult time performing repetitive asks such as preparing food or washing the dishes. You may find yourself straining to do such activities. As well, if you have kitchen plumbing fixtures that are too low, you will find yourself constantly bending over, and over time it can cause back pain. When setting the plumbing fixture and counter height, it is highly recommended that you enlist the services of a plumber to help you determine the appropriate height.

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The most common height chosen for a kitchen counter top is 36 inches (3-feet).You can buy pre-made base cabinets that have been designed for a 36 inch height because kitchen tasks can be performed with ease and comfort at this height. When shopping for plumbing fixtures, make sure you consider not only the height of the counters, but also the overall decor of the kitchen. Plumbing fixtures can vary widely among retailers so it is wise to comparison shop to find the plumbing fixtures that you truly want and also fit the decor of the kitchen.

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Most kitchens have an easy to understand plumbing setup that will consist of hot and cold water lines, a waste line, and a gas supply line for kitchens that have a gas range. As well, there will be hook ups for the garbage disposal system, dishwasher, and ice maker that will all be linked to the kitchen plumbing system. Also, when considering plumbing pipes running through the kitchen, you may have to deal with pipes in the floor and walls. In this type of situation, it is highly recommended that you enlist the services of a professional plumber who will understand planning, installing, and caring for the kitchen plumbing system.

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Due to plumbing system complexities and its intricate components and other related plumbing fixture mechanisms, the idea of working with the kitchen plumbing can cause most homeowners to feel anxious and hesitant about engaging in such an activity. It is understandable that one would feel such worry because making a mistake can end up resulting in an expensive repair bill. Plumbers have the training, education, and experience to handle all types of plumbing issues related to the kitchen plumbing fixtures and plumbing lines. It is always a good decision to enlist the help of a plumber when dealing with kitchen plumbing fixtures and counter height issues.

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Discover Why Plumbing Services Are Expensive. Hawaii Maui

Homeowners dread the money when they need to face plumbing problems and call the help of professional plumbers. This is because of the hefty cost that these services have. Some homeowners might think that these professional people and companies are juts over charging their services. The truth is that getting into this kind of business and offer help to homeowners like you require huge capital. Imagine your life without this kind of services and without a professional company that can help you find solution to smaller and bigger plumbing issues at home. The money that these companies have spent in buying right equipment and hiring competent and expert plumbers will all be re-cooped by charging these fees to consumers. If you opt for the best quality of service for your plumbing needs, then you need to accept this reality.

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Plumbing supplies, equipment, and tools are not cheap. If you are not convince about that, the try to take a quick drive to your local home improvement shop and ask for the prices if their large plumbing tools and equipment. You will surely be overwhelmed at the hefty tag price each supply has. A basic kitchen faucet will cost a hundred dollar and all the simplest jobs that requires specific materials such as glues, tapes, seals and connection pieces will also cost a lot.

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Professional plumbing companies will shoulder all of this cost into their account. Along with their experience, time and all of these tools and equipment, they will surely charge according to what is right. If you want high qualified and professional plumbing company to do all the services that you need, you are going to end up paying little higher per hour. Some that is new and have lesser experience will charge lesser because they lack he expertise and right equipment to do the work right. Paying a little money by hiring incompetent company will just cost you more than you think. All kinds of plumbing services whether small or large require expertise and experience.

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If someone has started this kind of business, then all the costs of starting up a business like this must be shouldered by the owner. Business owner wants their money back as soon as possible so they can start making real profit from their business. Many of the business owners can only see the profit from their business after five to six years in the business. This is a very long time to wait. This is the main reason why many plumbing contractors are putting expensive price for their services. Who would want to run a business that will profit after four to five years? Definitely no one would want that kind of business.

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You need to give some appreciation and regard to these businessmen who started plumbing business because without them no one will help you in times of need. Plumbing requires a very complicated work and process such as boiler installations. You cannot perform this kind of work and only a professional plumber from plumbing company can help you. Thinking about this problem, you will surely appreciate the work of plumber and companies offering this kind of services.

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Right after knowing all of this information and the truth behind expensive plumbing, you will continue to call the help of these companies. You will also have better understanding why these companies are charging so much money from you. Now you know that they are nit over charging their services. You already realize that these companies are just charging what was worthy for their service and the money that they have invested in their business.

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