Ask a Sacramento Plumber: How to Reduce the Risk of Serious Flood Damage

Your water heater’s shut off valve is very important. If a problem develops and you can’t turn off the water supply, the area where your water heater is located could be seriously damaged due to flooding. If you are handy with tools you should be able to take care of this job yourself.

1. Turn off your water heater. If you have a gas model, shut the gas supply. If it is electric, turn it off at both the unit and the circuit breaker. Then, turn off the water to your home. Use a pump or a hose to drain the tank, but be careful because the water could be hot.
2. Use a wrench to remove the old valve, making sure not to twist the connecting pipe. To be on the safe side, use another wrench to hold the pipe while you twist off the valve. Connect the new valve (making sure it’s in the “off” position) after cleaning the pipe threads and applying pipe joint compound to make sure the valve stays in place.
3. Put some soapy water around the new valve. If you don’t see any bubbles, the connection is secure. After you double-check the valve to make sure it is in the “off” position, turn the water supply back on. Then, as long as everything is working correctly, turn on your gas or electricity.

Call Boyd Plumbing today if you want us to take care of your water heater shut off valve replacement.

Ask a Sacramento Plumber:  How Do I Access a Sewer Line in Case of Blockage?

Many older homes don’t have sewer clean outs. A clean out is a part of a sewer line that juts out of the ground and has a removable cap. It attaches to the main portion of a sewer line and provides access should any sort of blockage be present. If you don’t have a clean out, the only way to access the sewer line would be to remove your toilet and go through your bathroom.

If you have cast iron lines but no cleanout, we can install one for you. In most cases, this involves digging into your sewer line and clearing out all of the dirt. Then, a two-foot section of the old line is removed and a PVC cleanout is attached. The PVC section comes with fittings so that it will be adaptable to the cast iron line. Afterward, the excavated area will be filled and smoothed over.

In many cities, plumbing codes require new homes to have two cleanouts, one close to the house and the other close to the curb.

If you want a sewer line clean out installed for your home, call Boyd Plumbing today.

Sink Replacement Today, Remodel Tomorrow

A customer called us to report that her kitchen sink had cracked. A few days before calling, she said her son had placed a hot plate in the sink without first cooling it off with water. She didn’t notice anything more than some discoloration at first, but then the crack developed. It progressed to the point where she wanted the sink replaced, so we installed a new one for her.

Kitchen sinks are extremely durable in most instances, but can crack if something heavy is dropped inside or, as in the example above, something extremely hot is placed inside by mistake. If this happens to you, call us and we’ll send someone out to let you know if your sink can be repaired or needs to be replaced.

Don't worry if your sink does need to be replaced, though. A change like that can make a nice addition to your kitchen, and might even spark an interest in an entire room remodel. Change can be good, sometimes!

For any remodeling or kitchen sink installation needs, call Boyd Plumbing today!

Ask a Sacramento Plumber:  How to Avoid Drain Clogs

We received a call from a customer who said his shower was draining slowly and he was unable to find the reason for the clog. He said he didn't want to work on the drain himself because he didn't want to take the risk of making the problem worse. That is a smart thing to do because you don't want to accidentally turn a small problem into a larger one.

A shower drain will usually be clogged due to soap scum, hair and other debris. If you remove the drain plug, you may be able to take out debris that collects on the drain flange with your fingers.

If this still doesn't work, you could try a drain cleaner and see if that removes the clog. If you’re still unsuccessful, call one of our professionals at Boyd Plumbing!

Clean Out Important for Servicing the Sewer Lateral

The previous repairman stated that the customer did not have a clean out, so he cleared out a clog by tapping into the line. However, four years later, the man had another backup, did some digging in his yard and found that he actually did have a clean out. The clean out was worn, however, and the man wanted it replaced. We provided the replacement and it worked normally.

A clean out is a point of access, so the sewer lateral - the area between the property line and the main sewer line - can be serviced. It is typically about four inches in diameter covered by a steel or plastic cap. If you can’t find yours, it will probably be buried deep under concrete or dirt. However, if some instances a home will not have one.

Call Boyd Plumbing today and we’ll send someone out to locate yours. If you don't have one, we will install one for you!

Water Around Sprinkler Head a Good Indication You Have a Leak

A customer called our office because she needed a new sprinkler system valve installed in her irrigation system. We were able to perform a quick replacement and her system was once again working properly.

If this component isn't working, then your entire system will not be able to work. Valves are somewhat similar to a water faucet; if the valves are leaking, then you will be wasting water and have a higher bill as a result.

The difference is that you can normally see a faucet leak, while you can’t really tell if you have a sprinkler valve leak. Because leaks can be so damaging to your property, it is a good idea to try and determine the cause if at all possible.

If you think you might have a sprinkler system valve leak, check to see if there is any water around your sprinkler head. If you notice that, or you see a wet spot on your sidewalk that never seems to dry, then you may need to call a Boyd Plumbing professional.

Whether it's inside your home or outside, don't let a leak linger for too long. Call us today!