Author Archives: On Call Plumbing

Are you interested in investing in a new water heater for your home? One of the most popular water heaters on the market is a tankless water heater and with good reason. A tankless water heater installation has so many benefits that you and your family will love! Find out about the five benefits of a tankless water heater installation for your home.

They Save Energy

Traditional water heaters take a lot of time to heat up, which can waste a lot of energy. With a tankless water heater, they use 30 to 50 percent less energy than water heaters that have tanks.

Tankless Is More Eco-Friendly

Because a tankless water heater is able to save more energy, they are a more eco-friendly water heater option for homeowners who are looking to reduce their carbon footprint.

They Are More Long-Lasting

Unlike traditional water heaters that usually only last an upwards of 10 years, a tankless water heater can last up to 20 years with the proper maintenance!

Tankless Water Heaters Save Space

Typical water heaters are usually large and bulky, taking up a lot of space. A tankless water heater can be installed in a variety of places due to its size.

Gives You Hot Water On Demand

One of the biggest benefits that everyone will enjoy is that a tankless water heater gives you hot water whenever you want it. Instead of having stored water in a tank, it heats up water when you need it.

If you want to install a tankless water heater in your Santa Clarita, CA home, call On Call Plumbing today at 661-201-6016!

Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever and that includes the piping in your home. Over many years of wear and tear, your home’s piping will get worn out just like with anything that is used daily. The key is to know how long it has been since things like sewer lines and piping systems were first put in so that you will know if it is even remotely time to think about getting them repiped. You should also know what kind of pipes were used under your home because that will make a difference in how long they last as well. If you live in a new home this is probably not something you will have to deal with, but if you have moved into an older home that has been around since the 20’s or 30’s, you will need to pay attention and ask questions about the last time the piping system was replaced. If you don’t ask questions, no one will tell you and then you will be the one that it stuck with a $10-20 thousand dollar bill to get it repiped.

Time Limits On Your Pipes

Drain Lines are commonly made of cast iron or PVC. It will make a big difference in what is used on your home because cast iron drain lines can and will last between 80-100 years, where PVC drain lines will last between 25-40 years.

Supply Lines are what your water flows through constantly. These lines are made of brass, copper, and galvanized steel. All lasting around 70-100 years.

If you have questions or need your home repiped, call On Call Plumbing at 661-201-6016 and let us help you.

Sewer line damage is a hazardous situation for you and your family. When your sewer line is damaged it can harm your landscape while allowing sewage to pool in your yard and pipes. When this happens you need immediate service for your needs. One of the best ways to get your system back to its best is to have trenchless piper repair. This service offers you and your loved ones quality repair and restores your plumbing. But what advantages does it really bring as a service choice?

The Advantages of Trenchless Repair

Plumbing Repair Without The Property Damage

Your sewer line travels away from your home, under the ground, carrying sewage. When this breaks, it can damage your landscape. With traditional plumbing methods, this damage is compounded as plumbers would have to dig a literal trench into your yard to find the damaged pipe and replace it. However, with trenchless plumbing repair, your yard stays intact as the technology allows us to find the issue and cure a new pipe in the place of the old one, restoring function to your home. And because there is no digging up, there is very little clean up needed!

Affordable, Fast Service

Because of the intensive labor needed for traditional pipe repair, it can be a costly and lengthy experience. However, trenchless cuts down on both of these. There is very little labor needed as trenchless means we will not need to dig to find your pipe. The actual repair is very quick, as we can place and fit a new pipe within minutes to have your plumbing back to its best. In the long run, you save money, time, and your home from a plumbing crisis.

Lasting Repairs

You may think that because this service is so fast and convenient that it may be of low quality. On the contrary, trenchless plumbing repair uses polyethylene pipes that can cure in place. These are much sturdier than some of the older materials, which means you can anticipate years of service from your sewer line and home plumbing. On top of that, these pipes function better because they are seamless, meaning there are fewer areas where invasive roots and damage could occur!

On Call Plumbing is your source for quality plumbing services in Santa Clarita, CA. Call us at 661-201-6016 today for your trenchless plumbing repair needs!

We’ve all experienced that nasty moment of when your shower turns into a bath because the water won’t drain. It is because the drain is clogged. But not all drains are in showers and not all clogs are from hair. So what causes clogged drains?

Grease buildup

Things like grease, cooking oil, sediment, shampoo, and soap can, over time, create a film inside pipes, making it harder for water to pass through. Clog removal options like drain cleaning, snaking, or hydro jetting can help to remove all that buildup and make pipes seem like new again.

Hair

Daily grooming, shaving, or showering is going to result in a loss of hair. If you do it over the sink or in the shower, the hair goes down the drain, eventually accumulating too much that water cannot pass through. It is usually very easy to remove by yourself, but if hair has formed a clog further down the pipes, a plumber is needed to fish it out.

Food remains

Can’t remember which foods are supposed to be thrown away and which can go down the garbage disposal? A lot of other people can’t either, resulting in clogs and backup in kitchen sinks.

Insoluble products

Diapers, feminine hygiene products, paper towels, QTips, and floss are commonly flushed down the toilet or sink when they should be thrown away in the trash. Even products that you think can be flushed like quilted toilet paper or wet wipes cannot be dissolved and clog the toilet. Read instructions on these products’ packets carefully to see what can and cannot be flushed in the toilet.

If you need clogged drain removal services in Santa Clarita, CA, contact On Call Plumbing at 661-201-6016.

Clean water is a critical part of your every day. However, contaminants can seep into your home’s water supply and endanger your home. Thankfully, most signs of contamination are easy to spot. If you’re wondering if you need water treatment, all you need to do is follow your senses.

Sight

Colorful water is not something you want from your tap or refrigerator. Brown or red stains around your sinks and tubs can indicate a buildup of iron in your water supply. Yellowed water often indicates acidic content from decayed plants or vegetation has entered your pipes. If you see any of these colors in your water, you need to reach out to a water treatment specialists immediately.

Smell

Chemicals like chlorine or detergents can leave residue in your water and eventually contaminate your system. While chlorine is commonly used as a water system cleaner, excessive amounts can be harmful. If your water reeks of chlorine or has another strong chemical smell, it may be time to have a carbon filter installed. Contact a specialist for a consultation.

Touch

Broken pipes or simple erosion can allow dirt, sand, and silt to bleed into your water system. While other minerals may be acceptable in your water, these particles are not. Talk to a treatment specialist to see if your pipes need replacement or if a simple filter install will do.

For information about water treatment options in Santa Clarita, CA, talk to one of our treatment engineers at 661-201-6016.

If you have a water line that is leaking will you even know? It is hard to say, because, your water lines run underground and when they are leaking, it can be awhile before you start to see signs of this. A water line leak can cause major damage to your home if it goes on long enough and of course it can raise your water bill much higher than it should be. There are several signs of having a water line leak, they are:

Higher Water Bill – This may be one of the first things you notice when you have a water leak. You may get your water bill and be shocked by the increase. The first thing you should do is check your whole house for any kind of water leak that may be around. If you have a dripping faucet, this could be the cause, but if you check everything and find nothing, you may need to start the investigation outside.

Wet Spot in Yard – Your investigation outside might have you find a wet spot in your yard. If you look around and see that only one spot is wet and there is no source of the water, it may be a sign that your water line is leaking.

If you find yourself with any of these signs, it may be time to call out a plumber to your home. We have excellent plumbers with years of experience at On Call Plumbing and will be more than happy to help you with all your water line leaking or plumbing needs. Just call us at 661-201-6016.

Have you noticed a rise in your water bills, or suspicious moisture in your basement? It is very possible that your home has a slab leak. Today we will go over what you need to know about slab leak repair, in order to keep your home safe.

Finding Slab Leaks

Unfortunately, slab leaks are one of the more destructive leaks because they are so hard to notice. If you wish to stay on top of water leaks, it is important that you pay close attention to your water bill every month, as well as stay alert to drastic fluctuations, as they almost always mean you have a leak. Slab leaks happen if the water line underneath your house’s concrete slab pops a leak, and in time, that leak will wreak significant damage to your slab as well as force its way up to your home. And while you can count on the slab leak to eventually make its way to the basement, it is much safer to detect it ahead of time and watch out for more extensive damages. The earlier you detect a slab leak, the quicker and more effective the repairs will be!

How To Check For Any Leaks In Your System: Turn off all of the water appliances in the home from time to time, and check the water meter. Any activity on the water meter when all of the water in your home is shut off, is a clear indication of a leak in the plumbing. 

Contact The Experts

Some amateurs may try to tear up your yard or start breaking into concrete to find slab leaks. Experienced plumbers have ways to find leaks before digging anywhere! So make sure you rely on the experts to assist you, and don’t let anyone start digging until the exact location of the leak has been found.

To get started, call our team of experts at (661) 347-4478 today!

Have you checked your sewer lines for winter?

 

People tend to look past checking their sewer lines, especially when they don’t live somewhere that it freezes often. The truth is that it doesn’t matter where you live, your sewer lines need to be checked, especially before winter. The older your home is, the higher chance there will be damage to your sewer lines. Over time plants grow around them and weather can corrode the pipes no matter how strong they are. Repairing them in certain spots before you end up having to replace everything can save you large amounts of money and peace of mind.

 

Here are 2 big reasons why you should consider having your sewer lines checked regularly

1. When it gets cold outside, plants have a bad habit of making their way through sewer lines in a search for water. When they do this, it causes serious damage and leaks in your lines. This will end up costing you a lot of money in the end, especially if you don’t know it is happening. If you have these areas checked beforehand, you can get a good feel if you need to trim your plants back during the colder times of the year.
2. Fixing leaks: Many of us don’t worry about a leak until it is happening to us. The problem with that is the “out of sight, out of mind” thinking that can get us in trouble. Pipes expand in the summer months from the heat and then shrink down again when the weather gets colder. This makes them very susceptible to getting a leak in them. If you find yourself with a leak in the middle of winter, it can be very difficult to fix.

We want you to be as prepared as possible going into the colder months and save your hard-earned money. Sewer lines are not a fun thing to think about, but in order to prevent something major from happening, it is important that you pay attention to these few small things in order for you to have peace of mind year after year. Call us at 661-201-6016 to schedule an appointment with one of our trained professionals. 

Freezing winter weather can leave a home afflicted with frozen pipes. In order to avoid this annoyance and the costly repairs it brings, practice a few preventative strategies. First, you should know where exactly the problems lie. Any exposed pipes in unheated areas have the potential to freeze. This includes pipes in a crawl space, those located in exterior walls, and any plumbing that appears outside of your home.

Drain and Disconnect Your Hose

Frozen water hoses can create a problem, as they will contribute to the freezing of water further up the pipes. Since most yards do not require watering throughout the winter, simply disconnect your hose and ensure it has been emptied of water.

Insulate and Drip Spigots

Outdoor spigots represent another easy area for the cold to affect. If your spigots lack insulation, wrap them in protective material for the winter. In anticipation of particularly hard freezes, you can set your outdoor spigots to drip. The simple passage of water through your pipes will often prevent a freeze.

Install More Insulation

Perhaps the most damaging results of frozen pipes occur when those in your walls burst. This can create extensive damage, and creates the conditions necessary for the growth of mold. If you have problems with frozen pipes in your walls, you probably have inadequate insulation. The installation of more will not only protect your pipes, it will also lower your monthly energy bills.

On Call Plumbing provides all the services you need for the prevention and repair of frozen pipes in Santa Clarita, CA. To learn more or schedule work, give us a call today at 661-201-6016.

Hard water can cause serious problems with your plumbing system, as well as any appliances that use water on a regular basis. If you think your home is suffering from a bad case of hard water, contact On Call Plumbing at 661-201-6016. We offer a variety of options to install a water softener in your home.

Is the Water in Your Home Hard?

Oftentimes homeowners are unaware of the hard water problem in their house. Here are some simple signs that the water coming out of your pipes contains extra minerals.

Calcium Build Up
Calcium or limescale build up is the number one sign that there is a hard water problem. This build up occurs where there is constant water flow. Places that commonly experience this problem are faucets, coffee pots, and the ice dispenser in the door of the refrigerator.

Soap Scum Build Up
Another significant indicator of hard water is a buildup of soap scum in your shower or bathtub. The minerals in the water bond with the soap molecules and allow them to stick to the tiles and glass around your shower.

Water Stained Dishes
If you pull your glasses out of the dishwasher and notice water spots on the glass, it could mean you’re washing your dishes with water hard water.  You might also notice water spots on your flatware and will sometimes even leave behind a sandy residue on your clean dishes.

Contact Our Office

If you notice any of these symptoms in your home, call our office and schedule a consultation to find out if a home water softener is the best solution for you and your family.