bay area Archives

29
Apr 16
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Sewer Line Problems – Tips To Avoid Tree Roots in the Sewer Line

Tags : bay area burlingame plumber plumbers plumbing prevent roots in sewer line roots growing in sewer line san mateo sewer line clogged sewer line emergency sewer line expert sewer line problem sewer line repair

The most common clogged sewer line repairs are the results of tree roots finding their way into the sewer line. It seems almost impossible to avoid this situation underground, but here are some tips to help you avoid costly sewer line repairs.

Although Express Plumbing specializes in sewer line problems and repairs, we believe prevention is the best policy and this is one of the reasons we are the #1 referred sewer line experts in San Mateo and all Bay Area cities.

Locate Your sewer line

It’s best practice to know exactly where the lines are in your yard and around your home, before you start digging or planting. Homeowners and business owners can easily find the exact location of underground utilities by contacting the local public works department or the national “Call Before You Dig” 811 number.

Choose Sewer Line Safe Plants

If you’re planning on planting around your home, and you’ve located your sewer lines, try to choose plants that are safe for your sewer line and do not have expanding and overgrowing roots that will reach the distance. Limit the amount of plants you place close to your sewer line location to avoid sewer line plumbing problems.

tree roots sewer line problems

Here are a few trees to avoid placing over your sewer system.

Australian acacias
Ash
Beech
Birch
Cypress
Elm
Eucalyptus
Maple
Mesquite
Mulberry
Pepper Tree
Poplar
Sycamore
Willow

If roots have already invaded your sewer line, you may have a problem that needs addressing immediately. Sometimes the roots from a neighbor’s home will encroach onto your sewer line and this will require you to work closely with the neighbor to address the problem.

Catch Sewer Line Problems Early

sewer line camera inspection Clogged drains happen all the time and for different reasons, but if you notice you’re having a continuous problem with drains clogging, it may be time to look closer and avoid a bigger plumbing problem.

Frequent Overflowing toilets are also another sign that it may be time to have a regular sewer line inspection done.

Our San Mateo plumbers perform sewer line repairs in the Bay Area frequently. We also help many homeowners avoid costly sewer line repairs by providing a sewer line inspection service.

It’s important to know what’s lurking in your sewer lines and a video camera inspection can help us catch small plumbing problems before they become a serious plumbing emergency.

26
Apr 16
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Are Tankless Water Heaters Worth The Investment?

Tags : bay area energy efficient business energy efficient home express plumbing instant hot water is tankless water heater worth the money on demand hot water san mateo tankless or regular water heater tankless water heater worth it

Installing a tankless water heater initially costs more than the traditional water heater, so before making a decision, a homeowner or business owner wants to make sure a tankless water heater investment is worth it.

Without a doubt, tankless water heaters are more efficient, and save on energy costs. According to the U.S. Department of energy a tankless water heater can be 24 to 34 percent more efficient than the traditional tank water heater, but that percentage will vary depending on your daily use.

Unlike the traditional tank style water heater, there is no tank, and water is immediately heated when you need it, so there’s no need for your gas or electric to continue running and heating water. The hot water is generated on demand and this minimizes the utility usage.

Are Tankless Water Heaters Gas or Electric?

This is very common question. These water heaters have increased in demand, and there are many options and styles to choose from. A tankless water heater comes in natural gas, propane or electric.

Whole House Tankless Water Heater

A whole house water heater can supply hot water to multiple outlets in the home; they usually run on gas or propane, and have a higher flow rate than electric water heaters.

Point Of Use Water Heater

Some homeowners with large homes will install a whole house water heater, but in addition install a point of use water heater for specific appliances that demand a lot of hot water. The point of use tankless water heaters are usually electric and only deliver to a specific outlet.

All our clients find tankless water heaters to be efficient, they are compact and do not take up much space. Yes, they do cost more than the traditional water heater, but you’ll want to balance the cost of your unit with your ongoing operating costs.

Our Bay Area plumbing company specializes in advanced plumbing repair and installation techniques to help you save money whether you need residential or commercial plumbing services.

Our tankless water heater installers are professional and experienced to help you become energy efficient and save on operating costs with a new tankless water heater installation in the San Mateo area or anywhere in the Bay area.

Get a Free Tankless Water Heater Estimate

REQUEST A QUOTE NOW

23
Apr 16
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Why is Video Inspection of Sewer Lines So Important?

Tags : bay area inspection lateral inspection san mateo sewer experts sewer installation sewer line sewer obstruction sewer repair

Unfortunately Sewer line plumbing problems tend to come up when we least expect them, but knowing how to handle the situation best can save you lots of money and time. Sewer lines are often the issue, and a video camera inspection can quickly pinpoint the area needing the most attention.

What is a sewer video camera?

Before you get excited send your iPhone down the drain to take a video, it’s important to note that a video camera for the sewer line is a specialty camera generally used by professional plumbers and not available on the open market for the general public. We use it more, so it’s worth the investment.

Why have a sewer line video done?

Let’s just say it won’t be a YouTube hit, but it will minimize the hit on your pocket. Here are some very common reasons why we get called out to perform a video inspection of sewer lines in the Bay Area. This is just a few examples and not a inclusive list of reasons.

A real estate transaction may require an inspection on older homes
Homeowners lost something of value down the drain and want to locate it
A block or clog in the drain that’s in the sewer line and must be located

“A little rat decides to visit during a video inspection”

Sewer line video inspection cost?

Our San Mateo plumbing company always provides a free estimate, so you’ll always know the cost upfront. The exact cost will vary depending on the length of the pipe, location, difficulty in performing the task, and location of the sewer line.

Benefits of a Real-Time Sewer Line Video Inspection

A big problem can be created from a small one if you’re not dealing with an experienced plumber, trenches are dug up, pipes are cut and simply a big mess is created that you don’t want to deal with emotionally or financially.

Real time sewer line inspections save you time and money by taking the guess work out of the equation.

In fact our plumbing company has the advanced equipment needed to perform multi-directional sewer line inspections. We can reach tough places, and our advanced equipment gives your real-time inspection.

Like most home repair problems, catching issues early is very important, so the more you maintain the plumbing the less problems you have in the long run, but if ever you have a lateral line obstruction, sewer repair or installation, you can rely on our San Mateo area plumbers to get it done right the first time. We’ve been your sewer line experts since 1989.

13
Apr 16
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Bay Area Residential Plumbing Leaks and Repairs

How Proper Plumbing Maintenance Prevents Emergency Problems

Tags : bay area home value inspection pipes plumbing plumbing repair septic sewer trenchless

While we apply the principle of regular maintenance in every part of our life, we tend to dismiss it often when it comes to our home plumbing maintenance needs. We call a plumber when we need one, but a few preventative steps can avoid emergency issues from even coming up in the first place.

Bathrooms and kitchens are not the only spaces affected by plumbing issues, there are other parts of the house that are impacted.

Regular checks are the best way to avoid costly repairs. These can be done seasonally by an experienced plumber. Plumbing inspections are significant when the home is older and has dated hardware. During these visits, a plumber can pinpoint potential problems.

Our expert plumbers perform small repairs before they become a big issue or spread to other areas in the home. Here are the top 3 costly plumbing repairs you can avoid.

1 – Water Heater Repair

Water heaters can malfunction for various reasons. Age is one of the top reasons for these problems. It can cost more than $500 to have this work done. If leaks have resulted because of your water heater, other problems may arise. Depending on the location of the heater, leaks could cause flooding. When water heaters are not working, it is impossible to get hot water in the home. This affects both bathing and cooking. Our Bay Area plumbers specialize in tankless water heater installations as an option to the traditional water heater.

2 – Septic Tank Repair

Problems with a septic tank can be not only costly but complex. This type of repair requires expertise and equipment. It is important that you hire a plumbing company that can accommodate this work. Indoor plumbing is limited or interrupted with septic tank repairs. This may be a timely repair that could put your home at a standstill. You may want to consider a septic to sewer conversion.

3 – Installing Pipes

The problem with your home’s plumbing may point to its pipes. There are instances where entirely new pipes are required. If considering new piping, you’ll want to save on time and money by looking into trenchless technology which cuts the amount of time it takes and does not disrupt the surface since no digging is involved, this means less cost is spent on repairing the surface above

When you maintain your home’s plumbing, you extend its life. The function of the home is impacted by proper plumbing. It is important to address issues like leaks as soon as they occur. These are problems that can lead to bigger issues. Regular maintenance is a good way to protect your home and the belongings it stores.

13
Apr 16
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Why is Pipe Insulation so Important?

Tags : bay area energy efficient plumbing engineering home improvement pipe insulation plumbing plumbing tips san mateo

Applications of pipe insulation are often overlooked and misunderstood by homeowners. They never understand how important pipe insulation is when it comes to plumbing. However, if you knew where and how to use pipe insulation, you would not only end up increasing the face value of your house but also improve the overall energy efficiency.

energy efficient

There are a large variety of materials for pipe insulation. You can find pipe insulation in either polyethylene, rigid foam, rubber, glass or mineral wool. The purpose remains the same in every type of insulation. Take a look at the following advantages of pipe insulation, regardless of the type of materials employed:

Thermal Insulation In Cold Weather

Imagine taking a shower in extreme cold weather and you notice that there is no hot water. This is a worst case scenario that can happen during the cold winter months due to the bursting of pipes. This would then result in taking a cold freezing shower. Pipe insulation can help prevent such accidents and also save you from the crippling repair and cleaning costs that follow thereafter.

Pipe insulation allows for the smooth flow of water by slowly transferring the heat to the much colder environment outside from the pipes, preventing the liquid from freezing up. Therefore, it is also important that during installation of pipe insulation, immense care is taken to avoid any gaps that might expose the pipes to external cold air.

Providing Warmth Within The House

Pipe insulation is quite handy during the cold winter months as it brings a new option to the table for keeping each room in your house warm and cozy. This means that no matter what the temperature is outside, your house can stay as warm as you want. Insulation pipes make it quite sensible for application due to ever increasing heating and fuel prices. If you use sleeves to clad the pipe, you can insulate your cold and hot pipes quite effectively and deal with any damage caused by extreme temperatures.

Energy Conservation

Efficiency of the water heater can be greatly improved with the help of pipe insulation. The amount of heat lost within the surrounding environment is greatly reduced. The reason why it is hard to retain hot water without the insulation is because pipes can generally bleed heat out into the surrounding areas creating a drop in the temperature of hot water.

To sum it up, a good pipe insulation can help you improve the overall efficiency of your house, save energy and save hundreds of dollars spent every year on energy bills. It is important that you do not ignore the small wear and tear of the insulation pipes as they may turn out to be a big expense for you one day.

We’ve been providing quality plumbing and engineering services in the Bay Area since 1989. We take great pride in giving our clients information that will help them save time and money. If you have other home improvement ideas you’d like to share, let us know and we’ll be happy to mention you when we do.

29
Mar 16
-

Trenchless Solutions vs. Traditional

Tags : bay area plumbers san mateo trenchless plumbing trenchless repairs trenchless sewer replacement trenchless vs traditional

When you need a new sewer line or a plumbing repair it’s important to know the facts about trenchless solutions vs. the traditional methods.

Traditional Plumbing Repairs

A traditional plumbing repair may require exposing the pipes along an entire trench or line in the backyard or front yard. There are also many occasions when the pipe or sewer you’re trying to repair is under the house or an area that’s difficult to reach.

In order to reach the location, digging is required, this tends to create a big mess up top that will also require repairing after the work is done underneath. Whether it’s concrete or dirt, grass, and flowers, it has to be put back. More work means a longer period of time, and more money.

trenchless repair vs traditional repair main replacement

Trenchless Vs. Traditional Plumbing Repairs

Trenchless means exactly the way it sounds “trench less”, this means any plumbing repair or installation is done without any digging. Advanced equipment allows the contractor to get to the point of repair or installation without creating a large dug up area that will need follow up and repair.

Trenchless solutions are used at our San Mateo plumbing company for all repairs and new installations. We promote methods that not only save time, but also save our clients money.

Besides time, and money, when you choose trenchless solutions you’re protecting the environment.

We’ve been serving the Bay Area since 1989. Our company has helped thousands of home owners with trenchess sewer replacement and trenchless plumbing repairs. We’ve been labeled the “No dig” plumbers in San Mateo.

If you’re in need to a plumbing repair or a new line installation, you owe it to yourself and your budget to find out about the advanced plumbing techniques available to you in the Bay Area.

Schedule a free consultation, we’re happy to give you a quote that won’t cost you a dime, and answer all your questions about trenchless solutions vs traditional plumbing methods.

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Tag Archives: bay area

Apr 16

-

Locate Your sewer line

Choose Sewer Line Safe Plants

Catch Sewer Line Problems Early

Apr 16

-

Are Tankless Water Heaters Gas or Electric?

Whole House Tankless Water Heater

Point Of Use Water Heater

Get a Free Tankless Water Heater Estimate

Apr 16

-

What is a sewer video camera?

Why have a sewer line video done?

Sewer line video inspection cost?

Benefits of a Real-Time Sewer Line Video Inspection

Apr 16

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Apr 16

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Mar 16

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Traditional Plumbing Repairs

Trenchless Vs. Traditional Plumbing Repairs

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