The Unclog Blog - HELP Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Electric

Keeping Pipes Clear

A clogged pipe is inconvenient for you, and for plumbers everywhere, yet it’s what they get calls about the most. On the other hand, keeping your pipes free from clogs is actually pretty easy.

For starters, you can use a strainer over your bathroom drains. This product, usually made of plastic or rubber, has small holes that will let liquids pass, but not any debris that could cause a clog.

The strainer will keep hair, soap scum, and any other potential clogs out of the pipe. To keep the drain working smoothly, remove the strainer after each use, clean it, dispose of any debris, and replace it over the drain before using the shower or sink again.

As for the kitchen drain, utilize your garbage disposal to help prevent clogs. However, don’t put items such as grease or fibrous foods in the disposal. You can also use a strainer over this drain, too, to prevent too much from going into the pipes.

Another good preventative measure is to pour at least two gallons of boiling water down each drain about once a month. It will clear the pipe of small hair and grease particles before they build to a clog.

If you do get a clog, it’s better to use a natural solution than a commercial, chemical product that could weaken the pipes. Try pouring a cup of baking soda followed by a cup of vinegar to try and free the clog.

Using these tips, hopefully you can avoid calling a plumber for something you could have prevented.

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The Unclog Blog is written and published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling

Is Your Plumber Green?

Although the word “green”, used in reference to items and practices that are environmentally-friendly, has become a very popular term, you may not have ever thought about “green” in relation to plumbing. Nevertheless, there are various ways in which plumbing can be green, and it’s important to look for a green plumber to do your part in reducing the environmental impact of your water waste.

So what makes a plumber green?  A lot of things, ranging from the pipes they use to the vehicles they drive. An easy way to tell is checking whether they are a certified Green Plumber. The Green Plumbing licensing program was developed in Australia, and The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association of California and Omni, Inc. later brought it to the U.S.

In addition to verifying whether they have a Green Plumber certification, you can ask your plumber the following questions to further investigate their “green”-ness:

• Do they offer PVC pipe alternatives?
• Do they use low-VOC cleaners and glues?
• Do they use hybrid vehicles?
• Do they have recycling and alternative energy policies in place at their offices?
• Do they offer eco-friendly appliances such as tankless water heaters, low-flow toilets, and gray water harvesting systems?

The next time you need a plumber, minimize your impact on the planet by asking these few simple questions.

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The Unclog Blog is written and published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling

Ten Weird Facts about Toilets

If you think about it, the toilet is a pretty great invention. Although humans lived for tens of thousands of years without it, you probably can’t imagine your life without a toilet. Celebrate the fact that you live in the age of toilets with these ten weird toilet facts.

1. Great Britain’s King George II died by falling off of a toilet in 1760.
2. The average person spends three years of his/her life on the toilet.
3. American toilets are flushed more times during the Super Bowl halftime than any other time of the year.
4. British public toilets are typically ranked the worst in the world, ahead of Thailand, France, and Greece.
5. “Psycho” was the first movie to ever show a toilet flushing. Many complaints of indecency occurred as a result.
6. The first toilet stall in a row of public stalls is usually the least-used, and therefore the cleanest.
7. A man named Thomas Crapper invented the siphon flush method used in most toilets today.
8. Humankind’s first attempt at a toilet air-freshener was a clove-studded pomegranate.
9. A public restroom’s toilet handle can have up to 40,000 germs per square inch.
10. Approximately 2.6 billion people in the world do not have access to proper toilet facilities. Be grateful if you do!

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The Unclog Blog is written and published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling

What to Do About Grease Clogs

You shouldn’t ever pour oil, fat or grease down a sink. Grease – such as the leftover grease in the pan after you cook burgers – will usually only stay in a liquid state when it’s subjected to high heat. Once the grease cools, it will congeal and clog your drain. A clogged sink can create other plumbing problems, such as a flooded basement.

If your kitchen drain becomes plugged with grease, you should first check to see if you have a grease trap. If so, you should be able to fix the problem by simply removing the trap and cleaning it out. If not, try pouring a good amount of boiling water mixed with vinegar and baking soda down the drain. This may help liquefy the grease and usher it through the pipes.

Still clogged? Head to the hardware store for a degreaser. If that doesn’t work, you’ll probably need to have a plumber come out and snake your pipes. Once everything’s cleared out, prevent a future occurrence of the problem by installing a grease trap and limiting the amount of grease you put down the drain.

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The Unclog Blog is written and published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling