FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED PLUMBING QUESTIONS
When you turn to Absolute Plumbing and Drain, you get a quality company that can provide you with a wide array of plumbing services. We often get asked the same questions by many of our customers, so we wanted to provide you with some common answers to help you in any way we can.
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Questions
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Which Plumbing Issues Does Absolute Plumbing and Drain See Most Often?
There are many different types of plumbing problems we get calls for here at Absolute Plumbing and Drain. Some of the issues we commonly get calls about include:
- Clogged pipes and toilets
- Faucets dripping around the house
- A decrease in water pressure
- Pipes that leak either in the house or in the yard
- Appliances and fixtures that drain slowly
- Tree roots slowing downpipes
- Water not being able to come into the house
- Old pipes that begin to fail simply from age
These types of problems can happen to any California property. Thankfully, we understand what most properties in the Concord area need to get them back up and running again. The sooner you can call on us after discovering a plumbing problem, the easier it will be for us to fix it.
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How Can You Tell if Your Property is Having Plumbing Problems?There are several things that can signal a problem with your plumbing. Many customers see that their water bill suddenly increases. Others call us after seeing a puddle of water, either in their home or business or somewhere on the property, that cannot be explained by recent weather. You may also notice some problems with unusual scents coming from your drains or from the pipes themselves. If fixtures begin draining slowly, or a sink is not able to drain efficiently, these are all signs you need to give us a call. The earlier you can get a problem treated, the fewer long-term issues it can create.
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What Types of Things Commonly Clog Pipes?
As time goes on, your pipes are going to get some buildup on the inside of them. The reason for this is whatever goes down your drains have the ability to build-up as it passes through the pipes. This can be minerals that build-up or it can be debris that is coating the inside of the pipe. The longer that the pipes are used with the same debris going through them, the thicker that buildup is going to be. Eventually, it can become so thick that it cuts off the pipe’s ability to drain completely.
Foreign objects in your pipes can also clog them. For example, if an animal made a home inside your pipe, your pipe is not going to drain efficiently. This could happen over time or all of a sudden. Another foreign object that may cause problems with your pipes is tree roots. If you have roots growing in the vicinity of your sewer pipes, the roots may be looking around for a fresh source of water. If they come in contact with your pipe, tiny roots can make their way in and begin to grow. As the roots grow, the pipes get more clogged and eventually are no longer able to drain.
Some other scraps that make their way down your pipe can also clog your pipes. This includes specific cleaning products, some type of larger food scraps, and even paper products. The best way to ensure these objects do not have the ability to clog your pipes is to make sure no one in the house or company ever puts these items down the drain in the first place.
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How Can Tree Roots Cause Problems for My Concord Pipes?Trees love water and need a lot of it to grow. If the area is always wet, then your tree will not likely expand searching for new sources of water. However, if your area goes through dry spells as most California properties do, then the roots of your trees are going to expand, searching for their easiest source of water. This may mean making their way into small gaps, cracks, or joints of your sewer pipes. Commonly, this happens when the roots are quite small. However, as the roots find a great source of both water and nutrients, they quickly grow to become much bigger problems. In order to treat these roots, you need to call us and have us come in to, first, clean out the pipes, and second, make sure there are no cracks or damage to the pipe that needs repairs.
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Do Cast Iron Pipes Need Different Plumbing Services?
Many older properties still have cast iron pipes, as this was the material of choice for a long time. However, as time has gone on, those pipes have started to age and cause issues. In order to keep them running properly, there are a few things you may need to do in order to keep those pipes functional as long as possible. First, we recommend that you descale the pipes. As time goes on, cast iron will begin to corrode. As that corrosion builds up, along with the normal buildup of minerals in a standard pipe, the area for water and debris to pass through narrows. This can lead to easy clogs in your pipes causing repeated problems. If the pipe is not broken or cracked, we can descale the pipe to restore water flow and stop repeated drainage problems.
Another thing you can do to help keep your pipes functional for as long as possible is to make sure we regularly come in to maintain them. We can descale your pipes regularly to prevent corrosion and mineral buildup. Plus, we can inspect your pipes regularly to ensure there are no cracks or other types of issues that are beginning to show. By inspecting your pipes, we can see the current condition of the inside of your pipes with a live-feed of CCTV. If there are any issues, we can treat them right away instead of allowing them to get worse.
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What is Professional Pipe Inspection for East Bay Pipes?
When we inspect the inside of your pipes, it is a very simple process. First, we take a camera and insert it into your pipe. It moves around by remote control, so we can determine where it goes and what it looks at. As the camera moves, it sends a feed of what the pipes look like to the surface that we can see in real-time. If we see any sign of a problem, we can adjust the camera to get a good look at what is going on and figure out the best treatment. The camera is great for maintaining pipes, as well as pinpointing clogs, leaks, cracks, or ruptures in your pipes.
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Is There Anything Else We Can Determine from Camera Inspections?
When we do a camera inspection of your pipes, we can determine a lot about your pipes. Not only can we find a problem and figure out the best possible solution, but we can also learn a lot about what is going on with your specific pipes. We can find out what exactly your property’s pipes are made of, and just how large your pipes are. Plus, we can see the condition of each of the pipes on your property. If one pipe was ever replaced, but you don’t know which one, we can determine that through a camera inspection. If your pipe is clogged, we can figure out what the material is that is causing the clog, as well. On top of all that, we can also figure out where your service laterals are located, should we need to reline or replace any of your sewer pipes.
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What are the Symptoms of Leaking Pipes?
Most leaks are easy to find, as you see a puddle (or small lake) of water. However, some leaks may take a while to show. This is especially true if you have a pipe burst underground or within a wall of your home. Hearing a lot of water running, even when your fixtures and appliances are off, can also be a symptom of a water leak. If you think you may have a leak somewhere on your California property, please don’t hesitate to call us here at Absolute Plumbing and Drain. We will come out, find the area that is leaking, then figure out which repairs are necessary to fix the problem.
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What Should You Do if Your Sewer Line Starts to Back Up?
First of all, if you notice your sewer line backing up, this is a health hazard, so you need to get everyone to safety. If the problem is small, you may be able to rectify it with a simple plunger. However, if this is a common problem, you will probably need more than a DIY fix. Chemicals should not be used if you are not sure what is causing the problem, because they may back up onto your property and could make your problem, along with your cleanup, even worse. Reach out to us and let us come in and fix the problem. We can pinpoint where the problem starts and help you determine the best repair option.
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What Can Be Done to Fix Damaged Pipes?
When it comes to a damaged pipe, the type of repair correlates to the type of issue you have. If your pipe is damaged because there is a clog, we use a procedure called hydro jetting to get the clog out. This involves us using pressurized water in the pipe and cleaning out the inside of the pipe. If your pipe’s damage comes from a crack or minor break, we can reline the pipe with a new pipe liner. This is a simple, straightforward process that can be done in a matter of a few hours. Once the new liner is in place, it gives you a new inside to your pipe, basically acting like a brand-new pipe. Plus, it fills in any old cracks or damage you had on the inside of your pipe before the liner process started.
If your pipe needs to be replaced totally, we use a different procedure known as pipe bursting. Instead of having to dig a trench in your Concord property, we go through a single access point and replace the pipe slowly, a little at a time. A bursting head is attached to the end of a new pipe and pushes any collapsed material out of the way, then pulls the new pipe into place at the same time. This can all be done without having to dig a big trench in your property, and in a much shorter time than in the past.
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Do Trenchless Repairs Save You Time or Money?
Here at Absolute Plumbing and Drain, we use trenchless fixes as often as we can. However, not all repairs can be done with trenchless processes. Trenchless repairs are easier for you, and for us. Plus, they can be done in a fraction of the time that traditional repairs used to take. By being able to fix a broken or collapsed pipe without having to dig a big trench down to the pipe, we cut down the repair time to a few hours instead of days or even weeks, like it used to take. Plus, we no longer need to use big machines to get to the pipes, which helps reduce the cost of sewer pipe repairs as well. Plus, the material that makes up the replacement pipes and the new pipe liner is resistant to rust, corrosion, and decay. This gives you an option that is sure to last for many years to come.
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Why Should I Call Absolute Plumbing and Drain?
No matter what type of plumbing or drain services you need, the experienced crew here at Absolute Plumbing and Drain can help. You can call us, and we will dispatch an experienced tech to you in no time at all. You do not need to struggle with plumbing problems on your own. We are here to help you, any time you may need, and at a reasonable cost. Call us today or fill out our online form to schedule an appointment and let us help you get your plumbing issues under control right away!
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