plumbers Archives

08
Dec 17
-

Most Common Holiday Plumbing Problems We’ve Seen in the Bay Area

Tags : bay area holiday plumbing problems plumber plumbers plumbing plumbing disaster plumbing emergency plumbing problems san bruno san mateo

You’re right, plumbing problems aren’t specific to geographic locations, but we can only speak about our plumbing emergency experiences in the San Francisco Bay Area.

This time of year, everyone is in a festive mood as they should be, but there’s nothing worse than a plumbing disaster striking right in the midst of a holiday event, but our plumbing crew will tell you it happens all the time.

As a Bay Area plumber since 1989, we’ve been called night and day to deal with plumbing emergencies for businesses, homeowners, even municipality plumbing issues , the number of residential plumbing problem calls always increase around the holidays, why? The plumbing does take a large beating with the above average use during this season. Here are the most common residential plumbing problem calls we’ve received.

Common Plumbing Problems and Prevention

Garbage Disposal Stops Working

With so many tasty dinners around the holidays, of course their are many broken garbage disposals. There are however a few things you can do to prevent this from happening or at least delay it so you can remain in a festive mood. Your garbage disposal is not a dumpster. Keep things out of it, it’s that simple.

Sure, many will tell you to cut things into smaller pieces, or to only put certain types of foods down the garbage disposal. As your trusted Bay Area plumber, we say to avoid it all together around the holidays because we want you to enjoy the holiday season free from any unexpected plumbing issues.

Broken Water Heaters

We get called for this all the time, and it’s always fun when the water heater is not broken at all, the igniter goes off and no more hot water. This is usually a quick fix and we all get back to our holiday festive moods.

One year a San Francisco resident was so excited after finding out her water heater was not broken at all, it had just shut off, she had our tech Joe stay for dinner and celebrate Christmas eve with her family. It’s moments like these that we enjoy and help us love what we do even more.

We serve our community with dedication and a rapid response 24 hour a day, 7 days a week including the weekends and holidays. We do it with a smile. If you have a plumbing problem in San Francisco, call us and you’ll get a live person whenever you call.

Here are a few things you can do if you have a traditional water heater when you’re expecting a few overnight holiday guests.

Turn up the temperature, but never go over 120 degrees, it can be dangerous, this will help you stretch your hot water and insure everyone gets a nice comfy shower. Remember to turn it down right after they’re gone so you don’t waste too much and save energy.

If you have an on-demand water heater (tankless water heater), you don’t have to worry about hot water at all. When you want it, it’s there.

Last but not least, we hate to talk about a pesky, stinky plumbing matter, but we simply can’t avoid it because it’s one of the most common plumbing problems during the holidays.

Clogged Toilets or Sewer

With so many guests in and out of the bathroom, that’s bound to happen. Not to mention, after a few drinks, who knows what’s being flushed down the toilet. If you don’t normally keep a waste basket close, get one!

Remind your guests not to flush sanitary napkins, baby wipes, facial tissues, etc.

We’re always available to help including holidays and weekends, but it’s not a bad idea to keep a plumber near just in case. Leak detection, Sewer repair or replacement is our specialty.

These are just a few of the calls we’ve received in the past, we hope these tips will help you and from our entire plumbing and engineering team at EPS Express Plumbing, we wish you and your family a festive, holiday season filled with love, laughter and free of plumbing problems.

Rapid Response:

The Holidays seasons is one of our busiest months, we serve the entire Bay Area, but call us when you need a trusted, fast response:

TRUSTED IN THE BAY AREA SINCE 1989

Atherton Plumber

Belmont Plumber

Burlingame Plumber

Half Moon Bay Plumber

Los Altos Hills Plumber

Portola Valley Plumber

Redwood City Plumber

San Carlos Plumber

San Francisco Plumber

Mountain View Plumber

06
Sep 17
-

Join our Bay Area Water Conservation Efforts – Tips for the Family

Tags : back to school fun bay area conserve water environment express plumbing good hygiene home kids plumbers plumbing san francisco san mateo save water tips for saving water

By now, parents throughout the country are relieved from the “back-to-school” rush. Our Bay Area water conservation efforts have been implemented since we started in 1989.

As the #1 referred and preferred Bay Area plumbing contractor. Our company is family owned and operated, we love the community we serve and always want to educate on preventative measures and tips to save our environment and save money for our clients.

Probably, the the last thing on your mind right now is water conservation, but we must remember the importance of saving water for our environment, and if that doesn’t interest you, how about saving money for yourself along the way?

Use these tips to make water conservation a fun learning experience for the kids, and something that will teach them good habits that last them a lifetime.

Water Conservation at Home

Must the faucet stay on the entire time while their brushing their teeth? Once the brush and toothpaste is in their mouth, the average brushing time is two minutes. Teach kids to shut off the faucet while brushing their teeth, this will save water and a hefty penny on your water bill

Conserve Water at School

Hygiene is a very important part of not spreading infectious diseases at school, remind kids to wash their hands before and after recess or anytime they eat, but also remind them to shut off the faucet while they’re scrubbing their hands.

This will help in the effort of conserving H2O and will quickly become a habit they follow at home.

Make the learning experience fun and rewarding. It’s not a matter of you “have to do this” but “you should because”.

Discuss the details with the children and allow them to participate in these efforts that will help our environment and their future.

Debora Bekins, a Bay Area residential plumbing client said to one of our plumbers in San Francisco “I took my kids to the aquarium, and explained to them how important it is to keep our environment clean and healthy so we can enjoy things like this. We wouldn’t want all these fish not to have water anymore, would we?”

That might be a little drastic, but not far off. Whatever works for you and your family, do it. Get the kids involved in your efforts and they’ll be so excited to share with their friends and teachers at school.

Water Conservation Tips for Mom and Dad

Set a good example by following the same instructions given to the kids

Fix leaks quickly and don’t let them get worse. We are a 24 hour plumber!

Water your lawn early morning or late evening

Remember to turn off the sprinklers on rainy day

Go to a car wash that recycles water instead of washing it in the driveway

Don’t run the washing machine and dishwasher until they’re completely full

According to the EPA, the average American family uses more than 300 gallons of water per day per home.

If you implement these small water saving tips at home, you will not only be helping the environment but will also see a drastic change in your water bill.

“Maybe you could use the savings to take a trip with the kids to the aquarium or somewhere to enjoy the beautiful nature we so well need to protect and preserve.”

Let’s share and keep this conversation going. Do you use any other methods of conservation? We would love to hear from you and share it with others in our Bay Area community.

18
Jan 17
-

Average Cost of Hydro Jetting in San Francisco Area

Tags : bay area clogged drains cost of hydro jetting cost of hydrojetting high pressure drain cleaning hydrojetting services plumbers plumbing san francisco

Slow sewage lines or clogged drains? Hydro jetting commonly referred to as high pressure jetting is used by our San Francisco professional plumbers to quickly remove the blockage and build up. It’s effective and efficient.

About the Hydro Jetting Process

We begin by determining the location of the problem first using a video camera inspection, this will quickly pinpoint the location. A combination of a snake and Hydro jetting may be used if tree roots are involved in the blockage.

The snake will break up the particles in the blockage, while the high-pressure water jetting clears the drains completely and removed any remaining particles on the interior walls of the pipes.

Average Prices of Hydro Jetting Plumbing Services in the San Francisco Area courtesy of HomeAdvisor.

Clean a Sewer Line Project Cost

View more Plumbing cost guides or View all home projects

High Pressure Drain Cleaning Vs Snake

Hydro jetting is very common with commercial plumbing projects, especially restaurants.

In a residential home, the process works great for removing sand, silt, and build up in clogs such as hair and other grease and food particles.

Using a snake to unclog a drain only breaks up the particles and leaves the buildup on the interior walls. The high-pressure process of hydrojetting can completely clean the pipes which a snake cannot compare to.

Benefits of Hydro Jetting to Clear Drains

Time is money. The quicker a project a completed, the less costly it is. The high pressure drain clean process is environmentally friendly and avoids the use of chemicals to clear the drains.

The hydro jetting machine can release high pressure of 7000 lbs per square inch to clean your clogged drains or sewer lines quickly and without and problems.

Our expert Bay Area plumbing technicians provide drain cleaning services in the San Francisco area to both commercial and residential clients.

We’re equipped and experienced to handle your plumbing needs no matter how big or small. Rely on our experience to help you the next time you need a hydro jetting contractor in the Bay Area.

18
Jul 16
-

Plumbing Tips For Summer

Tags : bay area Contractor energy saving tips plumbers plumbing plumbing ideas for summer plumbing tips summer plumbing

This Summer’s Quick and Easy Plumbing Tips By Your Bay Area Trusted Plumber.

Increased water usage is a given during the hot days of summer, whether it’s indoor or outdoor, homeowners generally use 25% to 40% more water during the summer months. Our plumbing company always provides Bay Area homeowners and business owners with tips to improve their plumbing and reduce cost. So here are a few you may want to consider.

san francisco contractor

Away on Vacation?

If you’re going away for a week or so during the summer, turn down the water heater before you leave, this will help you save on energy during the time it is not in use.

Traditional water heaters generally have a life span of 8 to 11 years, know how old your water heater is before you leave to avoid any disasters while you’re far from home.

Tip: If you’re unsure of the age of your water heater, look at the last four digits of the serial number, they generally represent the month and year the water heater was manufactured.

For the future, you may want to consider a tankless water heater to avoid issues, and enjoy long term savings.

summer plumbing tips

Entertaining at Home?

Whether you have a pool or not, laundry loads tend to increase during the summer months. The heat is on! So it’s no surprise we change our clothes more often. Enjoy special summer promotions and replace old appliances around the house to energy efficient appliances, or conduct a quick visual inspection of all the hoses on your appliances to insure no leaks are occurring from the increased usage.

Outdoor cookouts and indoor get-togethers are a blast during the summer months, but avoid shoving left overs down the garbage disposal and the drains.

Landscaping Around the House?

Keep an eye out for the trees around the house, no one wants to deal with a sewage backup or tree roots finding their way into the sewer line instead of having summer fun. If you suspect anything, give our Bay Area sewer experts a call, we’ll quickly inspect and help you avoid or fix any clogged sewer line quickly so you can get back to enjoying summer.

Water your lawns early morning or late evening when the sun is not around. If you water your lawn while the sun is out, the water is evaporating and you’re wasting energy.

There are hundreds of ways to avoid plumbing disasters, and many more tips to save on energy in your home or business. Plumbing challenges do come up no matter what the season is, but we want you to know our professional plumbers at Express Plumbing are here to assist you any time you need us.

We’ve been serving the Bay Area’s trusted contractor since 1989, and we hope you’ll have a fun filled summer free from plumbing problems.

29
Apr 16
-

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.

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.

13
Mar 16
-

Tips to Prevent a Home Plumbing Disaster

Tags : 94401 burlingame disaster emergency plumbers plumbing prevention response san mateo

When homeowners decide to do plumbing themselves, sometimes a small issue can quickly become a plumbing nightmare. Here are some tips to avoid a plumbing disaster.

Plumbing Disaster San Mateo

Know Where Your Home Pipes Are

When you’re doing work around the house, driving screws, and hammering nails in, or working in the yard digging for plants, you’ll want to know exactly where your pipes are in order to avoid damage and leak from occurring.

Familiarize yourself with your home simply by walking around and closely look for exposed pipes and where they lead.

Know Where Your Gas Shut Off Valves Are

During an emergency, you’ll want to shut off the gas valves quickly. If you see a spark, vacate the property, go across the street and wait for emergency help to arrive. Knowing where your gas shut off valves are if you smell gas can avoid a big disaster from happening.

Know Where Your Water Shut off Valves Are

There are various locations when you can quickly shut off the water to a troubled area. For example, if your toilet or sink continues to drip water and the problem is isolated to that location, you can shut off the water directly under the sink or toilet.

But if you have a major leak, and you cannot pinpoint the source, you’ll want to know where the shut off valve is to your main. Most are located near the sidewalk of your home, but a quick phone call to your water company, and they’ll be able to give you the exact location.

How to contact the water company in San Mateo CA

Don’t Over Tighten Faucets and Fixtures

Sometimes, a simple leak can turn into a major one because we quickly think if we tighten the faucet, the leak will stop. Over tightening fixtures the joints will fail and a bigger plumbing disaster occurs. So, do not over tighten anything to remedy the problem.

When our emergency plumbers in San Mateo are called out to a home, we repair the plumbing problem, but we educate our clients on best plumbing practices that will help them prevent plumbing emergencies from happening or becoming bigger than what they are.

If you’re looking for a plumber in Burlingame, or anywhere in the San Mateo area, we ask you to give us a call, we’re family owned and operated and have been serving the community since 1987.

We guarantee our work, provide free plumbing estimates, and we are the local plumber you can depend on to fix and avoid plumbing disasters from happening.

Tag Archives: plumbers

Dec 17

-

Common Plumbing Problems and Prevention

Garbage Disposal Stops Working

Broken Water Heaters

Clogged Toilets or Sewer

TRUSTED IN THE BAY AREA SINCE 1989

Sep 17

-

Water Conservation at Home

Conserve Water at School

Water Conservation Tips for Mom and Dad

Set a good example by following the same instructions given to the kids

Fix leaks quickly and don’t let them get worse. We are a 24 hour plumber!

Water your lawn early morning or late evening

Remember to turn off the sprinklers on rainy day

Go to a car wash that recycles water instead of washing it in the driveway

Don’t run the washing machine and dishwasher until they’re completely full

Jan 17

-

About the Hydro Jetting Process

High Pressure Drain Cleaning Vs Snake

Benefits of Hydro Jetting to Clear Drains

Jul 16

-

Away on Vacation?

Entertaining at Home?

Landscaping Around the House?

Apr 16

-

Locate Your sewer line

Choose Sewer Line Safe Plants

Catch Sewer Line Problems Early

Mar 16

-

Traditional Plumbing Repairs

Trenchless Vs. Traditional Plumbing Repairs

Mar 16

-

Know Where Your Home Pipes Are

Know Where Your Gas Shut Off Valves Are

Know Where Your Water Shut off Valves Are

Don’t Over Tighten Faucets and Fixtures

Search Site

24 Hour Emergency Response

Get a Free Estimate

Recent News & Tips

DRILLING SERVICES

SIGN UP FOR SAVINGS

Plumbing Service Areas

Contact Info

Recent Posts

Glad To Help You

Folllow Us!