There are many areas of home plumbing where both homeowners and professional plumbers will play varying roles, and drain quality is a good example here. While it’s the responsibility of a homeowner and those living in a given home to take good care of their drains and maintain general drain quality, plumbers also regularly assist clients with long-term maintenance themes like drain cleaning, drain repair and others that may impact water flow in your important drains plus your main sewer line.

At 24 Hour Rooter Connectionz, we’re proud to serve as your one-stop shop when it comes to all drain cleaning, sewer line repairs and numerous other plumbing and HVAC services. We work directly with and in support of our clients, assisting with everything from basic tips on how to care for your drains to specific services like drain cleanout or pipe jetting. This includes assistance with certain DIY home areas for drains – but also certain themes you should not try to handle on your own, and should rather be leaving for our plumbers for both safety and quality reasons. Here’s a detailed primer on several DIY drain care areas, from daily usage to chemicals and other solutions, plus when it’s time to swallow your pride and call in a plumber for assistance.

Improper Drain Usage

First and foremost, one of the top causes of drain issues within homes is improper usage of said drains to begin with. Specifically, there are numerous products or materials put down drains, whether we’re talking sink drains, toilet drains or others, that simply should never go down them. These items may include all of the following:

Starchy items like pasta, rice, potatoes and others (these should not go down the garbage disposal, either)
Greases, fats or various forms of oil
Eggshells and various types of bones
Stringy or fibrous foods that may create blockages
Coffee grounds
Tissues, paper towels and other related products
Feminine products like sanitary napkins and others
“Flushable” wipes (this term is deceptive, at best)
Clumps of hair

Rather, drains should be heavily limited in terms of what goes down them. Most water and liquids are okay, at least in sink drains – but toilet drains should have nothing but human waste and approved toilet paper products flushed down them, period. You’d be surprised how quickly you may be dealing with major drain or main sewer line issues in your home if you’re regularly sending unapproved items down the drain.

Drain Chemical Issues

For many dealing with any kind of drain clog, the first approach is to reach for the chemical drain cleaner as a solution. And while this sort of product might indeed help with your temporary problem, it’s actually doing more harm than good in the long run.

This is because drain cleaners made from chemicals are harmful to your pipes over time. Many of their bottles claim to be “safe” for pipes or have qualities that reduce corrosion, but these are not true – all drain cleaning chemicals will wear down your drain over time, and could eventually lead to major cracking or leaks.

The only commercial liquid that you should ever use to clean your drains is an all-natural enzymatic product. These use natural enzymes to break down materials clogging up drains, enzymes that will have no impact on the actual pipes themselves over the course of a period of time. However, these solutions will only work for minor clogs, not for more significant ones.

Simple DIY Solutions

Luckily, there are two very simple DIY solutions that are generally available for standard drain clogs or even routine drain cleanouts. These are as follows:

Hot water: Heat your tap to very hot, but just before boiling point. Take a large pot of this water and pour it down the drain that’s in need of cleaning, then wait just a minute or two before pouring a similar amount of cool water down the same drain. The hot water that comes first will loosen up many clog types, including melting certain stuck-on buildups, while the cold water second will flush away any clogs you’ve just dealt with.
Baking soda and vinegar: Pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain in question, then follow that up with a half cup of vinegar. This is best done at night after the drain is done being used, and allows you to let it sit overnight. In the morning, flush the drain with hot water and notice how much clearer it is.

Other Options

If the above issues do not work for a clog you’re experiencing in a drain, you have a couple physical solutions you might consider as well:

Plunger: The type of plunger you use will depend on which drain you’re dealing with, but it will likely either be a cup or flange plunger. This item allows you to create a major seal of air around the drain, then push the clog through the drain so it’s no longer an issue.
Snake or auger: This is a tool that’s fed through the drain, with a handle that spins and hooks onto any clogging items, allowing you to pull them out.

Calling in the Pros

No matter your level of comfort or experience with any of the above DIY areas, it’s vital to have a local plumber on-hand to assist if things move beyond the point where your sills are viable. For some homeowners, this might mean assistance with certain parts of what we’ve already gone over here if you’re not comfortable; in other cases, handy homeowners will only call in our plumbers for detailed jobs like sewer line jetting or others that require specific professional training.

For more on DIY methods to prevent drain clogs plus important mistakes to avoid within these, or to learn about any of our drain cleaning, other plumbing or even HVAC services, speak to the staff at 24 Hour Rooter Connectionz today.

The main sewer line of any home is one of the most important plumbing locations on that property, and it may be exposed to a few unique threats or risks due to its placement underground in your front or back yard. One such potential threat that you at least have some degree of control over: Tree roots that may infiltrate your sewer line from nearby trees on the property, causing damage, leaks and related issues.

At 24 Hour Rooter Connectionz Plumbing & Drain Cleaning, we’re happy to help with a variety of main sewer line repair services, including for issues where tree or plant roots have impacted your line. Why is this a potential issue for many homeowners depending on the location of trees or plants in your yard, and what can you do to take precautions and ensure this issue isn’t a risk for your main water line? Here are some of the key factors you should be aware of and keeping an eye on as a home or property owner, including a note on which trees tend to have the most invasive root systems.

Tree Root Growth and Main Sewer Line

First and foremost, for those who are unfamiliar with this realm altogether, a quick word on how this issue takes place. Most of us are well aware that trees and plants have root systems below the earth, but some don’t realize how extensive these can be – especially for many tree species.

Tree roots can extend dozens of feet in any direction below their hosts, and they’re capable of sensing where water is located. As such, if they’re planted close to your main sewer line, they may grow toward it in search of the water that’s inside it – and in some cases, may even grow into the pipe itself, cracking or completely damaging the pipe’s exterior in the process. If this happens, this becomes one of the most expensive plumbing repairs out there. Rather than deal with this issue, take some basic precautions involving the trees and plants in your yard and your main sewer line.

Pipe Location and Space

The first basic precaution to take here is finding out and noting where your main sewer line sits within the yard, plus the location of any other pipes or plumbing systems. In many cases, this information can be obtained simply by calling the national 811 “Call Before You Dig” number that helps you find the location of underground utilities. If this is not the case, contact our team for assistance. Our plumbers will be able to easily identify the location of your main sewer line and any other underground pipes in your yard.

Once you know this location, take some time to measure the distance from the pipe to any major trees or plants in the area. Trees should have 20 to 30 feet of space between them and the location where any major pipes are, especially if they’re known to have expansive root systems. In addition, such trees should also be placed at least this far away from the home foundation, as tree roots can also damage this expensive home element.

Water and Nutrients

Another big theme here to avoid any infiltration of your sewer or pipes from roots: Ensuring the roots have the proper water and nutrients to begin with, which will make them less likely to reach out and invade other areas.

For whichever trees or plants you have in your yard, you should be doing research on the proper nutrients and watering quantities they require – and then meeting these needs regularly. In addition, if you’re planting any new trees or shrubs, we recommend going for options that don’t have extensive root systems (in a moment we’ll go over some of the tree types that have the most extensive roots).

Maintenance and Prevention Themes

Also vita here is maintenance of the actual sewer line itself, which should be done regularly through basic inspection and any required cleaning or other services. If you leave your main sewer line without any services for several years, for instance, it may develop cracks or leaks on its own – and these, in turn, will expose more water, nutrients and oxygen to the soil, which will attract nearby tree roots.

For some, prevention of sewer line issues is important enough to take proactive action. The main tool at your disposal here is a root growth barrier, which involves slow-release chemicals that keep roots away from the sewer line area. There are also simple physical barriers that do not involve any chemicals for this purpose. We often recommend these kinds of prevention techniques to clients who have had previous root growth issues into their pipes or other parts of their system, as this signals aggressive roots that should be controlled in some manner.

Trees to Avoid

As we noted above, we strongly recommend avoiding aggressive root systems if you’re planning new trees anywhere in the vicinity of your main sewer line or other plumbing pipes. There are many tree varieties out there that have relatively limited roots, or even those whose roots primarily grow horizontally rather than vertically and will not be as great a risk to your system.

On the flip side, there are a few trees we recommend avoiding for this purpose: Willows, maple, elm and poplar trees chief among them. If you already have one of these trees on your property, we advise great care and regular inspection of your sewer line (we offer video inspections if you need one) – if not, you should look in another direction for your new trees if you’ve had sewer line issues in the past or are worried about them moving forward.

For more on avoiding tree root infiltration into your main sewer line, or to learn about any of our drain cleaning, sewer line repair or emergency plumbing services, speak to the plumbers at 24 Hour Rooter Connectionz Plumbing & Drain Cleaning today.

Dishwasher maintenance might not be on the top of your to-do list, but it’s not time-consuming or difficult, and it could save you thousands when you count the cost of water damage that could result from a leaking appliance.

As a homeowner, maybe you’re not an expert in plumbing, but you do care about your kitchen appliances. We’re here for you when you need expert help, but we’re also here to let you know what you can do on your end to keep your dishwasher in good working order.

What Do I Do If My Dishwasher Is Leaking Water?

Taking care of the dishwasher maintenance tasks listed below can help you prevent water leaks:

Check the Gasket: The gasket is the seal that surrounds the dishwasher — your favorite, hard-working appliance. If this tears or peels off, you could easily have a water leak next cycle. Regularly inspect the gasket to make sure it’s fully attached and isn’t torn. You can find a replacement product at most home improvement or hardware stores, and they’re relatively easy to put on yourself.
Inspect the Spray Arm: The spray arm is the spinning part that rotates and blasts water at your food-crusted plates. In other words, it serves an important function. Make sure the spray arm isn’t stuck or clogged with food particles. Also, check that it doesn’t become warped or cracked. This will severely decrease the efficiency of your appliance.
Examine the Drain Hose: The drain hose carries away dirty water, and if it begins to leak, you have a problem. Prevention is the best medicine, so make sure you check the drain hose periodically to check for loose connections or hose damage.
Clean the Interior Regularly to Prevent Odors: Since your dishwasher deals with the dirty stuff, you need to proactively deodorize to keep your appliance fresh-smelling. Use detergent to scrub the inside and run a cleaning cycle with specially made dishwasher deodorizer. Clean the filter too — this can get clogged with food particles and contribute to bad smells.
Take Care of the Dish Racks: Always repair dish racks when they break so they don’t rust or interfere with the appliance’s function. Don’t overload it! It’s tempting to try to slip one more plate in, but it could interrupt spray patterns and leave some dishes dirty.

Call in the Professionals to Fix Your Leaking Dishwasher

Looking for more helpful dishwasher maintenance tips, or maybe a fast, affordable repair? Call Connectionz Heating, Plumbing & Air today.

Should you call for furnace repair? Maybe it’s that extra sweater you had to wear all night. Maybe it’s the strange hum you heard while walking by the basement stairs. When in doubt, check this list for the top eight signs you should call Connectionz for furnace repair.

1. Your Heating Bills Skyrocket

You used to be able to predict how much you’d spend in heating bills every winter.

Not anymore.

Now you notice that every month the heating bills get higher than the last, and not just by a few dollars. That’s a sure sign your furnace isn’t performing as efficiently as it should, and we can help diagnose the reason.

2. Some Parts of Your Home Are Hot, Others Are Cold

Your furnace might be working fine, but is the ductwork in need of repair? This could be the reason behind the high heating bills, especially if some parts of your home are cold while other areas are hot.

Either way, it’s good for us to check out the system to resolve the problem.

3. You Continually Find Yourself Setting the Temperature Higher

You can’t stop turning up the heat! No matter what you set the temperature to, you always seem to need to crank it higher. That’s a sure sign it’s time for furnace repair.

4. You Hear Strange Noises

Your furnace shouldn’t make loud noises or strange sounds. Banging, clanking and clanging are signs of a problem.

5. Your Air Quality Has Dropped

Dusty air isn’t good for your respiratory system. If changing the furnace filter doesn’t help, call a professional.

6. Your Furnace Never Stops Running

If your furnace runs nonstop, you’ll see a spike in utility bills! We can find the source of the problem quickly.

7. You Smell Fuel

This is an emergency! Turn off the heat and call us right away. We may suggest you vacate the house until we can contain any active fuel leaks and guarantee it’s safe for you to return.

8. You Can’t Remember the Last Furnace Service Appointment

As a rule, you should have your furnace serviced at least annually. If you can’t remember the last time you had this done, schedule an appointment now and avoid all these other symptoms.

Furnace repair is efficient and affordable when you trust Connectionz Plumbing, Heating & Air. Call us anytime — we can solve your heating problems.

Some of the signs that you need new plumbing fixtures are minor and some are more serious. What should you watch out for?

You Can’t Stay on Top of the Leaks

How many times have you fixed a plumbing leak recently? If the faucet keeps breaking, maybe it’s trying to tell you something. Multiple leaks on one fixture is a sign it’s better to replace the entire item. Save time and frustration and put repair costs toward the price of a new faucet — that’s your best bet.

Minor Cracks Can Lead to Major Problems

Check your toilets. Do you see cracks in the porcelain? Even minor cracks are cause for concern. Many parts of a toilet can be fixed, from the stopper inside the tank to the wax ring seal at the bottom. One part that can’t be repaired is the bowl. You must install a new one before those minor cracks lead to major water damage.

You Spend Too Much on Your Water Bill

If your plumbing fixtures are older, consider how much your water bill is. What if you could instantly lower how much you spend on water every quarter? You can. All it takes is a fixture upgrade.

Modern low-flow faucets, shower heads and toilets help you save water right away. You don’t have to sacrifice performance either — you still get the high-pressure flow, but you use less water. The savings add up quickly.

You Have Lower Water Pressure

Low water pressure is less than desirable. No one wants to shower in a trickle of water! Low water pressure could be a sign sediment is building up in your pipes and fixtures, especially if you have hard water.

Changing out your plumbing fixtures could rectify this issue and restore the blast you’re looking for when you need a hot shower.

You’re Ready for a Style Upgrade

Decades-old plumbing fixtures don’t function well, but they also probably look their age! Modern fixtures fit with modern style, and that’s what you’re going for: an enhanced, updated look.

You need new plumbing fixtures if you’re renovating your bathroom or kitchen, but also if you spot any problematic signs. And when you do, Connectionz Plumbing, Heating & Air can help. Give us a call for fast, affordable fixture installation when you don’t have time to handle it yourself!

Unclogging a drain can be a challenge. It’s not as easy as pouring a jug of Liquid Plumr into the pipes and waiting for the magic to happen.

Know the do’s and don’ts of unclogging a drain before you take on the challenge. You may be able to fix the problem on your own, without professional help, but you don’t want to do any damage in the process.

DO Follow These Guidelines

You can use boiling water to dislodge grease and hair, but not if your pipes are made of PVC; boiling water could weaken pipe joints and lead to leaks. If your pipes are made of PVC, just use hot water from the tap.

You can also try vinegar and baking soda to clear out blockages. This can help with bad odors as well.

Another way to dislodge a clog is with a drain snake. Thread it into the pipe to get it to catch on the debris and then pull it out or push it through. They’re designed to twist and bend with your pipes, so they can get out some stubborn clogs.

Sometimes unclogging a drain is as easy as pulling out the stopper. It’s common for hair and debris to get wrapped around this component and quickly lead to a backup. Thoroughly clean it off before putting it back in place.

Also, check the grease trap — sometimes clearing it out can remedy the problem.

DON’T Make These Mistakes

Some homeowners opt to use plungers when unclogging a drain, and that’s OK, but not if you’re plunging too hard. Excessive force can destroy the trap and damage the drain line.

Never pour a strong, hazardous chemical cleaning solution into your drains, no matter what the product’s marketing message is. Chemical drain cleaners aren’t usually biodegradable, and they can cause burns if they get on your skin.

You may rarely or never have to worry about unclogging a drain if you regulate what goes down it! Save your coffee grinds or eggshells for the compost. Keep fats, oils, and grease away. Put paper towels and feminine hygiene products in the garbage; don’t flush them.

When Should You Call a Professional?

Unclogging a drain isn’t always easy, but calling Connectionz is! Connectionz Plumbing, Heating & Air is available 24/7 to help clear the worst blockages and get water flowing smoothly and quickly through your drains again. Call for emergency service whenever you have a clogged or overflowing drain — we’re here to help.

Should you be trying harder to save water? Even though Salt Lake City residents have one of the lowest average water bills when compared to urban areas across the U.S., Utah is still the second-driest state and has the second-highest per capita water usage.

A large portion of the cost of water is related to the cost of maintenance on the public water system. So if Utah decides to update its infrastructure, you can expect your water bill to jump.

In the meantime, your water costs are rising because it’s summer in the desert: You’re using more water for landscaping, for fun and for drinking. It’s normal, but it’s not necessarily good for your budget.

Over the course of the next year, you can learn to save water and lower costs, so when the next dry season comes around, you’re prepared to keep bills lower and avoid breaking the bank.

Here are the top six ways to save water at home:

1. Add Insulation to Your Pipes

When you add insulation to your pipes, it takes less time for your water to heat up. This means you’re running your shower or tap less, since you don’t have to wait for it to get warm. Try to focus on pipes that are installed adjacent to an exterior wall — these are the pipes that need insulation the most.

2. Only Run Appliances When They’re Full

Don’t run your washing machine or dishwasher when it’s only half full; it wastes water and energy. Unless your appliance specifically has a setting for half-full loads, wait until the dishes and laundry pile up to run a cycle.

3. Adjust Your Sprinkler System

Are your sprinkler heads watering your lawn or the driveway? Adjust the heads so most of the water lands on the grass. Also, make sure you’re only using your system as much as is needed to keep grass alive, not wasting resources over-soaking the ground.

4. Install Low-Flow Shower Heads and Faucet Aerators

You’ll be surprised what a change you’ll see when you switch out your aging shower head for a low-flow version! You’ll see a faster stream of water that cleans more effectively, but you won’t use as much water. The same goes for your faucets when you install faucet aerators.

5. Transition to Energy-Efficient Appliances

If your appliances are over 10 years old, it might be time to upgrade. Newer appliances are more energy-efficient, and they save you thousands of gallons of water over the course of a year. Make sure your new appliances are Energy Star-approved.

6. Hire a Plumber to Check for Silent Leaks

Silent toilet leaks can waste gallons every day. It’s not easy to detect the source of water leaks in your home, but a plumber can help assess your entire system to make sure it’s functioning at maximum efficiency, making the necessary repairs to any issues discovered along the way.

Connectionz Can Help

Connectionz Plumbing, Heating & Air specializes in affordable, effective plumbing solutions for Utah homeowners. When you need help locating leaks, replacing an outdated dishwasher or fixing any plumbing issue, we are here for you. Call today and get the fast, efficient plumbing assistance you need.

Drain cleaning rids your plumbing of all the built-up grease, minerals, food and any other substances inhibiting the flow of water out of your home.

You could try to clear clogs on your own, or you could trust a professional — someone who has the training and experience to address plumbing issues correctly and safely.

Signs of a Drain Clog

Do you hear gurgling in your pipes? Are your drains sluggish? Do your drains give off a bad odor?

These are all signs you could have a drain clog. They show your drains aren’t operating normally, and unless you do something to remedy the problem, it’s only going to get worse.

How Do You Normally Deal with Clogged Drains?

What is your usual approach to handling a clogged drain?

For many homeowners, the first step is to visit the hardware store. You may buy a drain cleaning product made of strong chemicals. Even though it’s marketed to make you think it’s a cure-all for clogged drains, beware: Many of these products do more harm than good.

Unexpected Consequences

The chemicals in the cleaning solution may generate heat as their main method of cleaning the pipe. This chemical reaction could help dislodge a clog, but it also can ruin a PVC pipe. It softens the inside of the pipe as well as the connecting seal, increasing the likelihood of a leak.

Instead of preventing a drain backup and overflow, chemical cleaners can drastically raise the risk of water damage!

In addition, chemical drain cleaners are toxic and can be dangerous to inhale. And they rarely work! Dumping chemicals down your drain isn’t the answer for a plumbing issue. In most cases, a plumber’s skill can easily dislodge clogs — with no damage to your pipes and no harmful fumes released into your home.

Professional Drain Cleaning Is Your Best Option

Do you want fast-moving, highly efficient drains? Do you want to eliminate foul odors from your drains? Do you want to increase your plumbing’s life span? Professional drain cleaning helps.

Water damage isn’t just unsanitary and inconvenient. It’s also expensive to fix. From flooring replacement to mold remediation, the cost of water damage rises quickly, just like the backup from your drain. Instead of putting your home at risk by ignoring these problems, why not invest in an effective repair?

Professional drain cleaning is affordable and one of the best preventive services you can schedule for your home’s plumbing — call Connectionz Plumbing, Heating & Air to make your appointment today.

Is sewer line damage one of your worst nightmares? Homeowners cringe at the thought of spending thousands to repair a sewer line that one of their beloved trees ruined, but it happens more often than you’d think.

The good news is you can stay proactive and prevent this problem. It may take the help of a professional plumber, but with the right team backing you up, you can keep your money in the bank and not worry about major sewer line damage.

Tree Roots Love Plumbing Lines

Tree roots are attracted to moisture, nutrients and oxygen, so naturally they’re drawn to your sewer pipes. They grow toward the sewer line and when they find a crack in the pipe, they slowly creep inside, blocking the flow of waste, causing expensive backups into your home and sometimes cracking the pipe. You will need cleanup and a pipe replacement — two extensive jobs with high bills.

Map Out Your Sewer System

To prevent this issue, you first must know where your sewer line is. If you can’t find the clean-out caps, call your local water and sewer department and ask them to point out the location for you.

Then, check to see if any trees are in close proximity. If not, you’re in luck. If any trees are within a 10-foot radius, it’s time to move on to the next step.

Schedule a Professional Inspection

Call your local plumber and schedule an inspection. This is the fastest and most effective way to tell if your tree roots are already causing damage. Using a camera, your plumber will check the sewer line from the inside, looking for blockages and ingrown roots.

Remove Roots and Repair the Pipe if Needed

Depending on their findings, your plumber may suggest cutting intruding roots using a hydro-cutting technique or a mechanical auger. You can also use chemical solutions to kill the root system and prevent regrowth.

Once roots are removed, repairing the pipe is easily handled by expert plumbers who can give you pricing estimates on your options.

Avoid Planting Fast-Growing Trees

Going forward, consult with a landscaper to determine the best trees to plant in your yard. Try to avoid planting trees with fast-growing roots anywhere near your sewer system. Some trees to avoid include the aspen, sycamore and cottonwood. Slow-growing trees that are safer include the paperbark maple, flowering dogwood and cypress.

Trust Our Team

Connectionz Plumbing, Heating & Air is here when you’re experiencing sewer line damage or you’d like to prevent it. We will assess the your sewer system and offer affordable, free quotes on all work — call today.

Are noisy pipes normal, or is something is wrong with your plumbing? What’s the cause of the rattling, banging and clanging, and what can you do to fix it?

Noisy pipes have three common causes.

The “Water Hammer” Effect

The “water hammer” noise is caused when water is rushing along at high speed, then all of a sudden, the valve closes and blocks the current. The hydraulic shock wave reverberates through the pipe, and causes a loud banging sound.

It’s not just a bother in terms of noise. The sudden pressure can damage the pipe’s joints and connections over time. It may loosen the hardware that holds the pipe in place, and this will only make the banging louder, since the pipe will slam against metal or wood.

Heat Causing Expansion and Contraction

Maybe the sound isn’t so much of a bang as it is a ticking. These noisy pipes are likely made of copper, and you probably hear the ticking when you start using your hot water.

As the hot water hits the cold metal, it starts to expand — that’s where the ticking sound comes from. Once the heat is gone, the pipes start contracting, which produces more of a creaking sound.

Mineral Buildup Could Be the Cause

If you have significant mineral buildup, you’re likely to have noisy pipes. The minerals create a coating on the inside of the pipes, allowing air pockets to form. Once the water gets hot, the air bubbles burst and produce the popping or rattling sounds you hear.

Possible Solutions

For noisy pipes that make a loud banging noise, plumbers can install air chambers that absorb the shock and eliminate the water hammer effect. It’s also possible to install water hammer arrestors — small, spring-loaded devices that absorb the water’s momentum and significantly reduce noise. Or you could try lowering your home’s water pressure.

For pipes that tick or creak, consider lowering the temperature of your water heater so that the hot water doesn’t prove as much of a shock to the cold metal. You can also wrap insulation around the pipes to muffle the sound.

Sounds from mineral buildup can be cured by flushing your water heater on a regular basis or installing a water softener to decrease the hardness of the water supply.

Talk to Your Plumber

Connectionz Plumbing, Heating & Air is here for you — call us today. We have fast, affordable solutions for homeowners with noisy pipes.