If It Fits, It Flushes? Misconceptions About How Your Drains And Toilets Work From An Emergency Plumber | Portland, OR

If It Fits, It Flushes? Misconceptions About How Your Drains And Toilets Work From An Emergency Plumber | Portland, OR August 30, 2021 admin Even some products that say right on the label “flushable” can get stuck in your pipes on the way down. At Pilot Plumbing in Portland, OR, our emergency plumbers have a long list of items that can fit down the toilet or sink drain, but when it comes to the ride through the twists and turns of your pipes, they stand a good chance of getting stuck and causing other material to stick as well. In some cases, the problem may be not enough water to keep them moving, but in other cases what makes it down shiny new plumbing doesn’t make it down older, worn, and partially clogged drain passages. How do you avoid having to call the emergency plumber? See which of these issues are common in your home, and make a plan to find another way to send waste on its way. Toilet Cautions That Help Avoid Overflows The bottom line is, the only things that should go down your toilet are toilet tissue and human waste. If your toilet does clog, the emergency plumber will have a much easier time clearing clogs of organic material. Here is a long list of things that shouldn’t be flushed, which might fit but are likely to cause trouble further down your pipes, making clogs that are much harder to clear: Facial tissues, Napkins, Paper Towels Wipes for babies, disinfecting, makeup, etc. Toilet bowl disposable scrubs Dental floss, hair Food such as eggshells, pasta, nutshells, rice, and coffee grounds, fats Oils, and greases, food or otherwise Sanitary napkins, tampons, or condoms Cotton balls, Q-tips Vitamins and medicines Anything plastic All kinds of diapers, even “disposable” Cat litter, especially the clumping type! Remember, all plumbing is not the same. What seems to be ok in one system may clog older or poorly maintained plumbing elsewhere. To avoid emergency plumber visits, compost or trash for all of these items is the best destination, not your plumbing. Your toilet doesn’t go straight down, too — it has curves for material to negotiate and get stuck in. Sink Concerns The same concerns apply as with toilets, but even more so as the pipes tend to be narrower and the force of water pushing material down the drain is less than in toilets. It takes less to clog a sink, then, whether the material is organic or not. Jewelry, bottle caps, and other accidentally dropped items can cause big problems, but a plumber visit to open the trap access and remove them can save a bigger problem later on as the material migrates further along the pipes. In the case of jewelry, you might save an important item! Hair Clogs in Your Sink and Shower Hair makes big, stubborn clogs that tend to act as filters and trap other material that would otherwise pass by. This is one of the reasons to carefully limit what you send down the drain because it might pass through an open pipe, but not one with a hair clog forming. Grease, makeup, and similar materials can help the hair clog form and block your drain, too. In some cases, the hair may be trapped by a built-in drain plug or another mechanism, creating a clog very close to the top of the drain and easily removed. These devices can also be a blessing when toothpaste caps and other plastic is dropped in, preventing them from traveling downward. In showers, hair is an even bigger problem for most families, with clogs forming often, even weekly. A simple shower strainer placed in the drain can catch hair, shampoo caps, and other material which can then be emptied into the trash. Without such a device, the hair will gather further down, either on the drain plug mechanism in a bathtub, or further down the pipe, requiring an emergency plumber to come and reach through the deepening water when the drain gets clogged, and remove large quantities of hair or other clogs. It’s worth considering a whole-house drain cleaning service annually to help remove material that has migrated through the pipes and stuck in various locations, slowing drains and providing potential locations for future clogs. Garbage Disposals Don’t Grind Everything Equally Knowing what does and doesn’t work in a garbage disposal can save a lot of emergency plumber visits or service visits when the unit doesn’t work. Slippery material such as vegetable peels can jam the unit, while crunch material like eggshells and nut shells can damage the blades and cause a failure of the unit. In some cases, using the wrench that came with the disposal, if available, to turn the unit’s internal mechanism through a hole in the bottom, can cause jams to loosen and hopefully continue through without trouble. Water-absorbent materials such as rice and pasta are a particularly nasty source of clogs since even if they’re ground in the unit, they can still accumulate in the P-trap below and expand to form a clog. Sewer Backups Many of the materials that do pass through a fairly clean drain system may accumulate in your sewer pipe or in the city sewer. So-called flushable wipes have been notorious for causing large-scale problems in city sewers as they gather in large mounds rather than degrade. Any other materials that manage to pass through may also gather in your sewer pipe. If you’re having problems with slow drains and other signs of backup, our plumber can place a video inspection tool in the sewer cleanout port and take a look to find the problem. Drain Expert and Emergency Plumber in Portland, OR We’re Pilot Plumbing & Drain serving Portland, OR with emergency plumber services including comprehensive drain diagnosis and clearing, leak location and repair, water heater servicing, and broken fixture repair, along with other emergency plumber needs. We’ve been serving our area for over 15 years, with top customer service and thousands of five-star customers. Give us a call now and relax. Previous PostNext

​​6 Plumbing Service Projects That You Should Not Attempt Yourself | Vancouver, WA

​​6 Plumbing Service Projects That You Should Not Attempt Yourself | Vancouver, WA August 27, 2021 admin There are many do-it-yourself videos out there on the internet that encourage homeowners to attempt repairs themselves. Some of these repairs are very basic and easy to do but others are complicated and require training and experience to do successfully. These more complicated repairs should be done by a professional. Pilot Plumbing & Drain in Vancouver, WA would like to inform you of six plumbing repairs that you should not attempt yourself. These plumbing services can cause a lot of damages to your home if they are not done properly. 1. Flooding There are a few reasons that cause your home to be flooded like a storm, a burst pipe, or a blocked drain. If your home floods due to a storm then you should rather contact water removal services to help you remove the excess water in your home. If the flooding is caused by a burst pipe or blocked drain then you should hire a professional to conduct plumbing services. People often think that a blockage can be removed by pouring drain cleaner down the drain but drain cleaner is made from harsh and harmful chemicals that can negatively influence the quality of your pipes. Sometimes the drain cleaner will be ineffective at removing the blockage because of where the clog is located. If the flooding is caused due to a burst pipe then you should contact a plumber immediately to repair the pipe. The longer you wait the more water will be lost and the higher your water bill will become. If you attempt to repair the burst pipe yourself then you run the risk of not sealing it properly which will cause it to leak. 2. Upgrading the Plumbing System Your house needs certain upgrades after a few years to make sure that the house stays modern and up to date. One of these daunting upgrades can be upgrading your plumbing system. If your house and plumbing system are old then you need to hire a professional to upgrade the system for you. This is one plumbing service that you should never attempt yourself because if the right materials or methods are not used then your new plumbing system will develop problems in the near future. There are quite a few steps that go into upgrading your plumbing system. First, you need the layout of the current pipes and drains, then you have to design a new layout that is more effective than the old one. Once that is done, materials will be bought and the excavation can start. The new pipes will be installed and connected to each other as well as the water main. Then the system needs to be tested to see that there are no defects and that everything is in working condition. Once that happens, an inspector will come to make sure that the upgrades are in line with the safety codes. This is a lot of effort for a homeowner to go through thus it is best to hire a professional. 3. Gas Leaks Gas leaks fall under the plumber’s domain when the gas line of a gas water heater is faulty. Gas leaks are dangerous and can cause health problems or fires. If you smell rotten eggs in your home and no one is cooking then that is a tell-tale sign that you have a gas leak. A gas leak is a plumbing service that should only be dealt with by professionals. Pilot Plumbing & Drain in Vancouver, WA suggests that you should evacuate your house once you smell rotten eggs. You should open windows to allow the gas to escape your house. You should call a plumber to repair the gas leak for you because they will have the required safety equipment and tools to repair the gas leak without putting anyone in danger. 4. Installations The do-it-yourself videos on the internet make installing new plumbing features look easy but in reality, it is not that easy. You should never attempt to install a water heater yourself because a water heater needs to be connected to your water supply line as well as to your electrical system. If you are not sure about what you are doing then you can cause an electrical short or a leak. Electricity and water are also a deadly combination hence why you should always hire a professional to help you with plumbing services such as installations. This will save you a lot of money in the long run because you know things will be done properly from the start. 5. Standing Water There are a few causes of standing water like leaky pipes, clogged drains, or damaged foundations. Sometimes it can be difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of standing water. Plumbers have equipment and knowledge that help them to determine what is the cause of the standing water as well as the location of the problem. If you hire a professional then you will not have to worry about researching various plumbing services to resolve the problem. You can contact a professional who will do all the hard work for you in half the time it would have taken you. These are the five plumbing services that you should not attempt yourself. If you attempt these services then you might end up causing more damage than there originally was and in the end, you will have to hire a professional to fix all your mistakes. That is why Pilot Plumbing & Drain suggests hiring a professional from the start. Pilot Plumbing & Drain in Vancouver, WA has a wide range of plumbing services that will be able to resolve any problem you might encounter. If you are in need of a professional plumber then contact Pilot Plumbing & Drain today for an appointment. Previous PostNext Post

Indications That You Need A Plumber | Vancouver, WA

Indications That You Need A Plumber | Vancouver, WA August 24, 2021 admin There are going to be times when your sink blocks in the kitchen or the water heating system breaks down. A plumbing emergency usually occurs unexpectedly at any hour of the day or night, and the people of Vancouver, WA will quickly need the services of an expert plumber. Many people will turn to Pilot Plumbing to help them. Each expert we hire has years of experience and is consistently trained to keep up to date with all the required skills to offer a competitive, modern, and professional plumbing service. We have only been in business for 15 years, but we have already built up a reputation for the highest standards of workmanship at affordable prices. If you need an expert plumber in a hurry, then look no further than Pilot Plumbing. Busted Pipes Burst pipes are the job most associated with a plumber. We all have seen a cartoon or acrobat trying to catch all the drips of water from various areas holding pots and pans on their head, with both hands, a shoulder, and a foot. But a burst pipe is no laughing matter. Water is a very destructive force and can very quickly cause thousands of dollars worth of damage. Even if you are insured water damage can cause a great deal of stress when you must replace carpets and furnishings. There can be a great emotional loss if the water has destroyed treasured family heirlooms. It is vitally important that you find and turn off the main shutoff valve as quickly as possible. If you do not know where the valve is, then find out after you have read this article. The longer the burst pipe is running the longer it will take your home to dry out and for repairs to begin. You Have a Leak Somewhere For a burst pipe, you will need emergency plumber assistance, but this is not always the case for smaller leaks. It is still important to discover if you have a leak and where it is. Most pipework is located under the floorboard or behind walls, so a leak is not always easy to detect. Often the first sign of a leak is a larger than expected water bill or a damp musty smell coming from under a sink or basin. If you suspect that you have a leak, then turn off all your water appliances and check the water meter. If the meter is still counting, then you have a leak somewhere. The leak may have been running for a while causing damage to the flooring and plasterboards, so it is important to hire a plumber to quickly locate and repair it. Unusual Smells in Your Home Musty smells usually come from damp areas near a leak. You could also identify a burning smell coming from your water heater. This might be caused by faulty wiring or a loose connection within the water heater. Overworked parts could also give off a burning smell. Any burning smell should not be ignored, there could be a potential fire risk with your water heater. Turn it off and call Pilot Plumbing immediately to be immediately inspected and to ensure your home or office is safe. Toilet Is Filling Up Every Time You Flush & Subsequently Blocked If you have been flushing items like wet wipes and Kleenex down a toilet you are increasing the risk of causing a blockage. These items are difficult to dissolve in water and cause blockages if not flushed away properly. You should only flush water, human waste, toilet tissue, and gentle cleaners down a toilet. Repeatedly flushing the toilet to clear the blockage is also a bad idea as you are likely to overflow the toilet. If your toilet has overflowed, please call Pilot plumbing to help clean the mess. This is not a job you should attempt yourself as you run the risk of illness from all the germs and bacteria. Our team wears protective clothing to reduce the risk of infection in Vancouver, WA. Sink or Shower Is Taking Longer and Longer to Drain  If you have been pouring warm grease or food down your sink you increase the chances of a clog forming. The grease and food will stick to the inside of the pipes and restrict the flow of water. If you ignore this problem the clog will grow and eventually block the pipe. You could pour chemicals down the sink to remove the clogs, but overuse will cause older pipework and joints to corrode and develop leaks. The safest way to remove clogs and not damage your pipework is to have a professional drain cleaning service from Pivot plumbing. Discolored Water Gurgling Back into Your Sink or Toilet A blocked or damaged sewer line may result in seeing discolored (gray) water backing up into your sink or toilet. Any wastewater from your home will have nowhere to exit to the main sewer network and will back up into the toilet, tubs, showers, sinks, and dish and clothes washing machines. The sewage poses a serious health hazard, and you need an emergency drain cleaning by our expert team who will first locate and determine the extent of the problem. They could find damage to your sewer line in which case our plumber will outline the options available to you. No Hot Water from Your Water Heater A skilled plumber from Pilot Plumbing will be able to quickly find and fix the problem. We do recommend that you have your water heater regularly serviced, as this will not only ensure its safe running but will improve its efficiency so saving you on energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint. But eventually, even the best-maintained water heater will break down. If you are starting to have more and more problems with your unit this may be a good time to invest in a new model. It is important to correctly determine the right-sized unit for your needs

Finding A Good Plumber | Battle Ground, WA

Finding A Good Plumber | Battle Ground, WA August 21, 2021 admin Even the best-maintained home in Battle Ground, WA will need a plumbing service at some point to fix any unforeseen plumbing problem. But where can you find a good one in a hurry? You could try the internet and type in ‘Plumber in Battle Ground, WA‘, but who do you select from the many results brought back? Using a trusted review website is a good idea. You can filter out a company with many five-star reviews and positive recommendations and at the top of the list will be Pilot Plumbing. Pilot plumbing has been Battle Ground’s most trusted and dependable plumbing company for many years. We have built a hard-earned reputation for quality work at affordable prices and have a knowledgeable team on hand 24/7. Whenever you need a skilled plumber, at weekends, or holidays, we are just one phone call away. Emergency Plumbing Services That We Offer We offer a full range of emergency plumbing services which include: Clogged Drains Drain Cleaning Sewer Line Repair and Replacement Toilet Blockages Water Heater Repairs and Replacements That plumbing emergency can happen at any time, for example, your water heater could break down on the coldest of days. You need to be certain that a qualified technician is available to visit your home when you want. We are very careful about who we hire as a plumber. Every plumber has many years of experience and is up to date with all the essential skills needed to provide a professional plumbing service. Whatever your plumbing problem let Pilot Plumbing take the stress out of the situation for you. Clogged Drains Is your sink taking forever for the water to drain? Is the water in your shower tray covering your feet when you have a shower? Looks like you have a clog somewhere in your pipework. If you ignore this problem eventually the clog will grow and completely block the pipework. Most people will now pour chemicals down the sink to remove the clog. This may work for small clogs but not for more stubborn ones. Repeated use of chemicals will corrode older pipework and joints and cause leaks. Only a professional drain cleaning service will safely remove clogs without damaging your pipework. Once the clogs are removed it is now best to prevent them from reoccurring. This can be achieved by following a few simple steps. First do not pour warm grease or food waste down the sink. As the warm grease cools it will stick to the insides of the pipe. Food and other materials will now stick to the grease and the clog is formed. Put the grease and food in the compost. Secondly, use hair traps to collect hair, toothpaste, and soap as they will stick to pipes’ insides. Drain Cleaning Another problem with using chemicals to remove clogs is that the clog may not be located near the drain itself. The clogs could be located yards away from the drain, in which case the chemicals may never reach the blockage. When a plumber arrives to inspect your drain, they will use a video camera on the end of a flexible tube to examine the problem. Once the clog is located and the extent of the problem determined the plumber will be in a better position to offer you an informed choice to fix the problem. Sewer Line Repair and Replacement in WA An investigation could show that the sewer line is damaged or blocked. Without a way to exit your home to the main sewer network, any wastewater will back up into your home. If you have noticed discolored water gurgling back into your sink together with the smell of sewage this has certainly happened. A blockage in the sewer line could be caused by the same items that cause clogs in sinks or flushing too much rubbish down a toilet. This can be cleared by one of our cleaning services. The sewer line could be damaged by the ground shifting or by tree roots and will need repair or replacement. A plumber from Pilot Plumbing will have the expertise and equipment available to fix almost any problem you may have in your sewer line. Toilet Blockages If you flush anything other than water, human waste, toilet paper, and gentle toilet cleaners down a toilet you may be asking for trouble. You may be surprised to learn that items like wet wipes, sanitary products, and tissue paper are the major causes of blockages. They are not designed to dissolve quickly in water and will start building up and forming a blockage, if not flushed away properly. Another mistake people make is to keep flushing the toilet to remove a blockage. All that is likely to happen is that you will cause an overflow and an unpleasant mess to clean up afterward. We strongly advise that you do not attempt this clean-up yourself, leave it to an experienced plumber from Pilot as they have the right protective clothing to protect themselves from the germs and bacteria. Water Heater Repair and Replacement in WA Having a regular service is the best thing you can do for your water heater. A regular service will ensure that the water heater is working safely and efficiently. The more energy-efficient your water heater is the lower your energy bills. It will also prolong the useful working life of the heater. It is said that nothing lasts forever and the same is true of any water heater. If your heater does need replacing, it is important to select the best unit for your needs. Buying an underpowered heater will cause you endless frustration when it cannot the volume of hot water you require. Let us help you find the right-sized unit for you. Call Pilot Plumbing for Premier Plumbing Services We take immense pride in serving our Battle Ground, WA community. We understand that a plumbing emergency can happen at any time. We will ensure that somebody will always be available to help you

Discovering A Professional Drain Cleaning Service | Portland, OR

Discovering A Professional Drain Cleaning Service | Portland, OR August 18, 2021 admin Your Portland, OR plumbing system is a complicated network of pipes and joints that runs all over your home and under it, an issue that occurs in one region of your home can have a knock-on effect and cause problems in others resulting in the need for a drain cleaning service. A good example is a clog that causes your sink and bathtub to drain more slowly. Many people will pour drain cleaning fluid down the sink to remove it. But what if the clog is located far from the sink, the chemicals may not even come into contact with it. Overuse of harsh chemicals is bad for old pipework and joints, by causing corrosion they can start leaks. Harsh chemicals are not good for the environment are they will eventually flow into the main sewage network. You need a professional drain cleaning service that will remove clogs without damaging your pipework and protect the environment, you need the experts from Pilot Plumbing. We are Portland’s most trusted plumbing service, don’t take our word for it, just check our many five-star reviews online. Signs You Need an Expert Drain Cleaning Service The following warning signs suggest that you need a professional drain cleaning service. Ignoring these signs will only make the problem worse. The Sink and Shower Tray Are Taking Longer to Drain Have you taken a shower and it takes forever to drain? Do you find that the water in your shower tray is lapping over your ankles? It looks like you have a clog in your plumbing. Clogs are created by grease, food, hair, and other materials sticking to the inside of the pipes. As the clog develops it will slowly restrict the water flow, eventually blocking the pipe. You need a professional drain cleaning service from Pilot plumbing. Once cleaned the best way to prevent clogs reforming is to stop pouring warm grease and food down your sink. Put these items in the compost or waste disposal. Another good idea is to place hair traps over the shower drain to prevent hair from blocking the pipes. The Clogs Keep Reforming Clogs can be difficult to remove especially if they have been in place for some time. Pouring some chemicals down the drain may remove them but repeated use is only going to cause damage to your pipework. Only a professional drain cleaning service will remove them without causing damage to your pipes. You Live in a Hard Water Area The problem of clogs is only made worse if you live in an area with hard water. Minerals that are dissolved in the water, can form layers of limescale on your pipes. Look for any formation of limescale in appliances to see if you have a problem. Limescale can also form on the heating elements in water heaters, and it is worth asking your friendly plumber from Pilot plumbing to check this for you. You Hear Gurgling Noises When the Water Drains Another sign of a clog is the sound of gurgling as the water drains. This sound is caused by air bubbles been created as the water flows over the clog. You See Discolored Water Backing Up into Your Sink and Bathtub Look for discolored water backing up into your sink you may have a serious problem. It could mean that your sewer line is blocked and potentially damaged. A blocked sewer line will mean that any wastewater is unable to escape to the main sewer network. Without anywhere for the water to go it will back up into your home. Any sewage entering your home is a serious health issue and you need an emergency drain cleaning service straight away. Sewage is a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and can cause a whole host of problems. You Can Smell Sewer Gas and Other Unpleasant Smells As well as discolored water backing up into your home, you may experience the smell of sewer gases. These gases can be hazardous to breathe as they contain ammonia, carbon monoxide, and other dangerous gases. You need a professional drain cleaning service to quickly locate and remove any blockages to your sewer line. Should there be any damage you need experts on hand to repair or replace any damage to your sewer line. Pilot Plumbing has the right equipment and specialist knowledge to deal with these problems. Your Toilet Is Blocked Just like your kitchen sink you should not pour anything unsuitable down your toilet. You should only flush water, human waste, toilet tissue, and some gentle cleaners down a toilet or you run the risk of causing a blockage. Items like wet wipes and Kleenex are not recommended as they are not designed to dissolve easily in water and will cause blockages if not flushed away properly. Pouring strong chemicals down a toilet is not a good idea as overuse can weaken the pipework and joints. Our plumbers have removed many a child’s toy from a blocked toilet, and no amount of chemicals is going to dissolve a plastic toy. Constant flushing of a toilet is also unlikely to remove a serious blockage. The most likely outcome is that you are going to cause your toilet to overflow onto your bathroom floor, along with all the hazardous germs and bacteria. Remember the chemicals you poured down earlier; well, they are going to be on your floor as well. We advise that you do not attempt the cleanup yourself, this is a job for one of our plumbers. They use special protective clothing to reduce the risk of infection. When everything is cleaned up, we can get on with the task of locating and removing the source of the blockage. The Best Plumbing Services in Portland, OR Pilot Plumbing is the drain cleaning service expert of Portland, OR. Every job must be professionally completed. We realize that cleaning up after an overflowed toilet is stressful and you just want someone to come over quickly to sort the mess out. The team at

Plumber History: The Science Of Plumbing, From The Chemistry Of Metals To The Need For Slope In Drains And Vents | Portland, OR

Plumber History: The Science Of Plumbing, From The Chemistry Of Metals To The Need For Slope In Drains And Vents | Portland, OR August 15, 2021 admin In order to do plumbing right and diagnose existing problems in your home’s pipes, the plumbers at Pilot Plumbing & Drain, serving the Portland, OR area, have to have a mind for science. They deal with water pressure and flow, the dynamics of drains, the physics of valves and flushing toilets, and other principles that often have surprising influences on how your home plumbing works. Even the issues that arise when connecting different types of pipes like copper and cast iron are part of our plumbers’ expertise, helping you to avoid problems later on from the subtler principles of plumbing. This understanding of how plumbing works serves them well when designing and installing new plumbing in your home, and also helps them look at existing plumbing and diagnose problems whose cause isn’t immediately obvious, or sometimes just look at a particular plumbing situation and say, “that isn’t right…” When Different Metals Touch, Problems Can Arise Different materials have been used in the pipes plumbers installed over the years, each with its own properties, issues, and lifetime. Cast iron, brass, copper, and galvanized steel have each been popular, along with different plastics called PVC, CPVC, and PEX. It’s a lot to remember how to connect each of these plumbing types to another when upgrading or repairing your home’s plumbing, as they require different soldering, gluing, and other connection types and the work needs to meet a variety of standards for safety and durability and other properties. One important requirement is to keep dissimilar metals away from each other, either connecting or even touching, because of a principle called galvanic corrosion. This is a chemical interaction between the metals that can result in accelerated corrosion and premature failure, clearly something to avoid. Not every pairing is big trouble, but it’s an important enough concern that mixed metals are generally avoided unless the person installing them has specific knowledge about the metals in the pipes being used. When Your Toilet Won’t Flush Right Because of Birds When the water in your sink or toilet won’t go down, that’s where you look for the problem, right? Something’s clogging the lines between the fixture and the sewer line in the basement. That’s right most of the time, but there is an exception, one that your professional will check if things just aren’t clearing up. A gurgling sound as the water goes down can also be a clue that something’s actually wrong up above, on the roof, as well as or instead of below. Up there is a vent pipe, which helps to avoid creating a vacuum problem as the water flows down the pipes due to gravity. There’s a simple way to illustrate the issue. Dip a straw into water, then put your finger over the top. Pull the straw out and notice that the water is still in the straw. Without being able to draw in air to replace the water, the water just hangs around. The same goes for your drains if the vent pipe is clogged. Birds’ nests are common reasons for the pipe to be blocked or at least limited, causing puzzling drain problems below. Other issues could be material that’s been blown in by the wind or a damaged vent pipe. A clogged vent pipe will typically cause multiple problems in your home including backups and smells and is actually an urgent reason to call a plumber. Level Drain Pipes Will Cause Issues Our natural sense of geometry will cause amateur plumbers, and sometimes others, to install drain and vent plumbing in a home so it’s nice and level. When you think about it, though, the issue might even be apparent to a non-plumber: how is the wastewater going to flow? There will be some success as more water comes from above, but standing wastewater is a bad thing, producing nasty gases and other effects. Plumbers know that there’s a right way to slope drain pipes, and they’ll install them so they meet that spec. Too little, you get standing water and waste. Too much slope, though, and the water tends to flow out faster, leaving solid waste in the lines to, you guessed it, make a nasty smell and create clogs. If you have trouble with your home’s drains, with nasty smells more common than not, you could have pipes that weren’t installed to meet these standards. This even happens in new construction, unfortunately. Vent Pipes Have the Same Slope Issue There are lots of vent pipes in your Portland, OR area home that provide relief to your drain system so material can flow downhill without creating a vacuum problem. The thing is, these pipes have water vapor in them and so they actually have to drain, too, or the condensing water vapor will accumulate as water in the vent lines. By the way, the reason that clogged vent pipes can be an emergency is that they help manage the sewer gas that develops in your drain lines, a gas that is hazardous if it accumulates in your home. This is also a good reason to keep air intakes such as for air conditioners away from your vent pipes, to avoid an odor problem that your HVAC professional might find puzzling. Finally, when vent pipes are clogged and drain systems back up, this can bring the waste matter into the vent system where it should never be. When the drains clear, this material will remain, leading to an expensive vent line cleanup. When You Call Our Plumbers, They Bring a Wealth of Knowledge Pilot Plumbing & Drain, serving the Portland, OR area, is proud of our expert team of plumbers who understand the science of plumbing as well as the practice, and know that it takes years of training and mentoring to learn how to do their job so it stands the test of time. Call us for professional plumbing services and expert plumbing advice. Previous PostNext

Water Heater Repair Experts | Vancouver, WA

Water Heater Repair Experts | Vancouver, WA August 12, 2021 admin Water heaters are used many times a day and are very rarely switched off. They are normally very reliable and to ensure that they stay that way, it is important that are regularly serviced and problems are fixed quickly with a water heater repair. This will guarantee their safe use and allow them to operate at their highest efficiency. This is essential as water heater use accounts for between 15 to 20 percent of your energy bills. A regular service will reduce the need for a water heater repair. If your water heater breaks down on a cold winter’s day you do not want to wait long for somebody to repair, it. You want a water heater company with technicians who have many years of experience, carry many spare parts in their vans, and have a reputation for the very highest standards of work at reasonable prices. You need the water heater repair experts from Pilot Plumbing. There Are Many Types of Water Heaters, but These Are the Most Common. Conventional storage-tank water heater – these are the most common type of water heater in Vancouver, WA homes. They are popular because they are a simple design comprising a single, large, insulated tank holding between 20 to 80 gallons. The tank is continually heated so there is always a large amount of hot water available. They are cheaper to buy and install but require a large amount of space. Another problem is that if the unit is too small and you use up all the hot water, you will have to wait for the new water to be heated up. Tankless (On-Demand) water heater – These types of units do not need a large external tank so are more compact. As they only produce hot water on demand, they are more energy-efficient than tank heaters. They are more expensive to buy and install but will return that investment by lowering your energy bills. A disadvantage of the tankless water heater is that there is not an instant supply of hot water. This is overcome in a hybrid model, which contains a small tank with hot water for instant use. This is ideal if you use hot water in small quantities, like washing your hand a lot during the day, something we have all had to do in recent times. Heat pump water heater – these use a compressor to move the heat from the surrounding air and then transfer it to the water storage tank. These units are more expensive than the tankless models but are even more energy-efficient. They have a longer working life of around 13 to 15 years compared to the 8 to 10 years of the others. As you can see there are advantages and disadvantages to each type of water heater. You Can Save Money with a Regular Service Pilot Plumbing of Vancouver advises that you have your water heater regularly serviced. You will be invalidating the warranty if you do not. As the average cost of a water heater repair is estimated at several hundreds of dollars, a service makes good financial sense, as well as giving you peace of mind. Common Problems with Water Heaters If you need a water heater repair, then call Pilot plumbing for a fast repair. But what are the causes of breakdowns? Overloading your water heater – You probably have not replaced your water heater since you moved into your home. In that time your family may have grown, and you have most likely brought more water appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers. Your water heater may not be able to cope with the extra demand, especially if you have too many appliances on at once. An overworked water heater may shut down, if this happens too often then it may break down and need a water heater repair. A short-term solution would be to stagger the use of your appliances, but a better long-term solution is to upgrade your water heater to cope with the extra demand. Is your water heater starting to make funny noises? – Have you heard strange crackling, and hissing noises from your electric water heater. A lot of homes experience mineral buildup on the bottom of the tank which can also cover the electrical heating element. This is especially a problem in areas with hard water. We at Pilot Plumbing suggest that you have your water heater regularly descaled. If this isn’t done, you increase the risk of needing a water heater repair or even the complete replacement of the water heater. Checking your air vents – If you have a gas-powered water heater you must check your air vents frequently to see if they are blocked. The vents supply fresh air for combustion also remove any dangerous by-products like carbon monoxide. Regular cleaning will prevent any blocking and make the water heater more efficient. How old is your water heater? If your heater is over ten years old, it is probably coming to the end of its useful working life. If you find yourself paying for more water heater repairs, it may be time to consider having it replaced. If you do have it replaced, then it is important to pick the right-sized water heater for you and your family. Let one of Pilot plumbing’s highly trained technicians help you decide which model is best for your needs. The Water Heater Repair Experts of Vancouver, WA Pilot plumbing takes great pride in providing quality plumbing services to the Vancouver area. We are trusted by the people of Vancouver, WA because we are experts at repairing most types of water heaters. We have many satisfied customers who have given us five-star ratings, for the high quality of work we provide. We will respond quickly to any emergency call. The work will be completed safely and to your total satisfaction. We will never advise you to have repairs that you do not need. Our prices are fair and transparent, so everyone gets

Top Signs You Need Drain Or Sewer Plumbing Service | Vancouver, WA

Top Signs You Need Drain Or Sewer Plumbing Service | Vancouver, WA August 9, 2021 admin Your plumbing is one of the most important parts of your home. Your drains and sewer system see heavy use each and every day, so it’s no wonder that so many Vancouver, WA homes run into drain clogs and sewer problems, needing Plumbing Service to fix the issue. Yet with so much of your plumbing system out of sight, such as underground, behind walls, or running under your floorboards, it can be difficult for many homeowners to tell when they need to call for a plumbing professional. Due to the fact that most plumbing is out of sight or in hard-to-reach places we have compiled a handy checklist of warning signs that you might be dealing with a drain or sewer problem that requires Plumbing Service. Slow Drainage Your receptacles, which would be your sinks, tub and shower drain, and toilets should all drain with ease. This is one plumbing problem that can sneak up on you. At first, the drains or receptacles might just seem a tad slow to drain, but over time the problem gets worse, till one day the drains cease draining altogether. While your drain might not be fully clogged, the water doesn’t recede quick enough, to the point you find yourself showering in ankle-deep water or brushing your teeth with a sink full of toothpaste foam. If you ignore a slow-moving drain the issue will simply become worse, eventually becoming a full clog where the drains will no longer drain any water. If you are trying to figure out why your drains are draining slowly in your home, you need to first ask yourself if it is just one drain that is slowly draining or many drains with the same problem. If you are dealing with just one drain, which is draining slowly you are likely just dealing with a single partial clog somewhere in your drain. This is a rather easy fix for your local plumbing company to fix. If your bathroom sink drains or shower drains have clogged you’re likely dealing with a clog in your P-trap, the curved section of pipe under your sink, and beneath your tubs. Hair, soap, beard trimmings, and shaving cream can form an almost cement-like substance in your P-trap, constricting the flow of water and hence hamper your drainage. Your plumbing company will need to remove this cement-like gunk from your P-trap in order for your drain to once again function. As far as toilets go, people tend to flush things down the toilet that they shouldn’t flush. The only things that should ever go down the toilet are human waste, toilet paper, and water, or you risk clogging your toilet drain. If your sink drains have clogged you are likely dealing with either food debris, oil, grease, or fats clogging up your kitchen sinks P-trap. You should call for a Vancouver, WA Plumbing Service rather than trying DIY remedies such as liquid clog removers. These products can actually harm your pipes, not to mention that they oftentimes fail to remove the entire clog. Water Backups You should never have water backing up into your home through any of your drains. If you find water backing up into your home make that call today to your Plumbing Service so you can avoid further plumbing damage as well as to avoid any potential for water damage to your home. There are two types of backups to worry about as a homeowner, both are equally disastrous to experience. The first type of backup is when your drain or drains are backing up water into your home. If you only have water backing up in one drain, you are likely just dealing with a clog in the line which is causing water to back up into your home. However, if you have multiple drains all backing up water into your home you are likely dealing with a sewer backup. Sewer backups are one of the most disgusting things that can happen to your home, as a sewer backup by its very nature is backing up sewage into your home. No one wants to deal with raw sewage in their home, so if you have a sewage backup you should make that call to your Plumbing Service as soon as possible. If it is not during normal business hours, you should consider using an emergency plumber. Your better plumbing services, such as ours Pilot Plumbing offer 24/7 emergency service. Sewer line backups are a health hazard that should be addressed immediately. Sewer backups can be caused by flushing things down the toilet that should not be flushed, and they can be caused by tree roots that have grown into your sewer line, creating holes in the sewer line pipe or crushing the pipe if the roots have grown around the pipe. If you have an older home you may be dealing with a collapsed or cracked sewer line, which would lead to immediate drain backups. If you are dealing with any type of drain backup it is a serious issue that needs the attention of a plumbing company. Foul Odors If you start to smell foul odors around your drains it is not your imagination, it is stemming from an issue with your drains. You are likely dealing with an issue that will require a Plumbing Service for your home. When you have foul odors coming from your drains there are two possible and likely causes to the foul odors. The first and most likely culprit is waste that has accumulated in your drain’s P-trap. If this is the case the fix is rather simple for your local Plumbing Service. The second cause of foul odors coming from your drains is much more serious, it can be because you are dealing with sewer gases. If sewer gases are escaping into your home, you and your family’s health is at stake so you should have this issue addressed right away as sewer gases are toxic. Gurgling

The Emergency Plumber You Can Trust | Portland, OR

The Emergency Plumber You Can Trust | Portland, OR August 6, 2021 admin Pilot Plumbing is proud of its team members and how much they care for the community with a dedication by furthering their education in the plumbing industry, learning about developing technologies, and how to do their part to protect your home, family, and pets, and our precious planet. Sometimes emergencies don’t strike during regular banking hours. A plumbing emergency can happen at the worst times during the holidays, special events held at home, or during a weather emergency. Unfortunately, lots of emergency plumbers use this inconvenience to fleece their customers. Pilot Plumbing is proud to serve Portland, OR. When you have a plumbing emergency, they will be there to help! Having emergency plumbers will cost a bit more than an ordinary call out. Our team deserves a living wage and we recognize their sacrifice during holidays and during their downtime and must compensate them for it just to be fair to our experts-who we are proud of and don’t want to lose to a competitor! Routine Maintenance Nothing lasts forever, not even rocks when water starts to carve them up. It is the same with the plumbing in your home or office. If the pipes are old, have not been properly cared for, and if they are not big enough to suit the needs of your space, there is a high probability that you will need to hire an emergency plumber at some point in the future. Pilot Plumbing offers a semi and semi-annual subscription service that inspects and evaluates the condition of your plumbing system. To some this may seem like a waste, but emergency plumbers cost you significantly more to fix a big plumbing problem, rather than a prepaid service that catches the problem quickly and may even include the repair in the service. Some repairs may require additional costs depending on the issue, intensity, and time frame. Pilot Plumbing only hires honest, well-skilled plumbers who we consider chosen family. We trust our team to uphold our values of working hard, honesty, affordability, and transparency when it comes to price and works timelines. Routine care can save your home from major plumbing problems that can raid your bank account in a second. Emergency plumbers may still be necessary every now and then but let Pilot Plumbing reduce the odds of that happening to you during your next big get-together. Emergency Plumber Protocols in Portland, OR During Pilot Plumbing’s 14 years of experience as an emergency technician in Portland, OR. We have learned a few things about responding to emergency calls. We do not judge whether the emergency is the dishwasher and clothes washer won’t drain. We take it as seriously as if you have a slab leak gushing out water. Both calls are our priority and rally the entire Pilot Plumbing as a team of experts and they quickly solve both problems as quickly as humanly possible. We are committed to our community and do not want any of our neighbors to stress about finding emergency services, Safety Measures Our team of emergency plumbers prioritizes safety. Our team members can wear masks inside your home and when necessary, plastic coverings over their footwear. The emergency plumbers will clean up the area after the work has been completed. If you are unsatisfied with the work done by any of the team members at Pilot Plumbing, please give us a call and the opportunity to make it right. Before we hire a new team member or any emergency plumbers – we ask them to submit to a full background check, proof of skill qualifications, and a drug and alcohol test. We would not send anyone to your home who we would not invite over for Thanksgiving dinner. Customer Testimonials “I moved out of my parent’s house in June. The pandemic proved to me it was time to stretch my wings. I rented a house without a lease (which my father begged me not to do) but it was sublet and if I did not like the area I could move in December. Well, after moving in and living in my new apartment brown water began to gurgle up from the sinks and the tub. We called the landlord but because he had not authorized the sublet, that I’d have to pay for the repair out of pocket and he would repay me when the lease expired. My dad was so frustrated with me, but he knew the people at Pilot Plumbing because we’ve been using them since I was nine years old. I knew they would do a good job and the team was kind enough to donate their labor. I only had to pay for parts. Relying on Pilot Plumbing of Portland is a family tradition I will be keeping!” Kyle McCulloch “My wife and I bought an older home to renovate as a couple’s project. We knew we would need an expert plumbing team to revamp our soon-to-be dream home. I’m friends with the manager at Pilot and we get together and watch a game and have a few beers to catch up since the world seems to have improved on the pandemic front. We’re both vaccinated. We decided to have the team look over the house with a fine-tooth comb and figure out the very best way to renovate the plumbing system and really provide the luxury my wife and I have worked 25 years to be able to afford. There was never a choice. I always knew Pilot Plumbing would do the job and a spectacular and quick job they did! I even got a small discount! Call them now! Fred Whittend For any of your plumbing needs, call Pilot Plumbing today! Previous PostNext Post

Water Filtration Systems: Reverse Osmosis Problems In Homes | Vancouver, WA

Water Filtration Systems: Reverse Osmosis Problems In Homes | Vancouver, WA August 3, 2021 admin Every household in Vancouver, WA, requires clean treated water for drinking, cooking, and other indoor chores. Water filtration systems are placed at entry points and use, including distillers, reverse osmosis, and water filters. They are responsible for removing all the contaminants in the water, including Giardia lamblia, bacteria, and viruses. Reverse osmosis units are the best water filtration systems because they force water through semi-permeable membranes to filter out all disease-causing impurities and chemicals. However, problems are inevitable in plumbing systems, and filtration systems are not an exception. In this blog, we’ll highlight some of the issues you could encounter while using reverse osmosis systems. Noisy Drains and Faucets After installing the reverse osmosis unit in your home, you might start hearing irritating sounds. Noise could emerge from the drains or faucets due to low water pressure and a poor membrane. The sounds from the filtration equipment might also be due to the clogging of filters, empty storage tanks, and bent tubing. A plumbing technician with the proper tools and experience can identify the root cause of the problem in your water filtration systems. The contractor will start by checking the pressure of the water, tubing, and membrane. This is followed by inspection for possible clogs and removing the dirt to fix the problem. Having the issue repaired promptly will curb the possibilities of other emerging issues in your water filtration system. Slow Water Flow After months or years of using the reserve osmosis and enjoying the clean and pure water, you might encounter a problem with the slow flow of water from the unit. It is a devastating problem that might even persist by producing no water at all, hence it’s wise to check the water level in the tank before concluding that it is an issue that needs repairs. If the tank is full, weighing around 20 pounds, you should call a water filter contractor. After ascertaining that the water volume is not the cause of the slow water flowing from the osmosis tank, the plumber will also check the water pressure to determine its actual level. The possible cause of the slow water flow might be due to a faulty storage tank with a malfunctioned air bladder that lowers the water pressure. After diagnosing the actual problem, the water filtration systems expert will have to pressurize the osmosis tank. Using plumbing tools, including compressors and pumps, the plumbing contractor will empty the osmosis tank and check the pressure level inside. If the pressure is optimal and the slow water flow continues, the contractor will replace the osmosis tank because the malfunctioned air bladder is beyond repair. Faulty Osmosis Membrane The reverse osmosis water filtration systems have semi-permeable membranes responsible for removing large particles and chemicals, including chlorine, calcium, and magnesium minerals, during the water purification process. The membrane can malfunction due to clogged water filters, causing slow water flow. An expert in water filtration systems in Vancouver, WA, can skillfully and professionally replace the osmosis membrane to ensure constant filtration of hard water minerals. Alternatively, the plumbing technician can install ion exchangers at the point of entry of the water filtration unit to soften the hard water and remove barium and radium. The water softeners utilize ion exchange resins made of sodium and potassium ions to soften the calcium and magnesium minerals in the water. Therefore, installing the water softeners in the water filtration system is appropriate in preserving the osmosis membrane. Dripping Faucets Another problem in reverse osmosis water filtration systems homes is a leaking faucet. The dripping faucet might be due to loose connections that have to be tightened by a professional plumber. Such problems can also result from a damaged faucet stem or a shifted drain saddle. The plumbing technician will assess the osmosis tank to determine the actual leaking component, including an air gap faucet. The air gap prevents water from getting back into the reverse osmosis unit. It can leak due to clogged drain lines and drain saddles that create a back pressure forcing water through the air gap faucet. The water filtration system professional will ensure the drain lines are clean to fix the problem. The plumber can also recommend regular maintenance of the reverse osmosis drain saddles and lines to avert leakages. Additionally, you can request the expert to check if the drain saddles have shifted, restricting the free flow of water and realign it with the drain line hole. Bad Taste and Odors in Water EPA has set drinking water regulations that ensure all households in the US, including having access to safe drinking water free of microbial and chemical contaminants. The water filtration system is responsible for removing all impurities, and reverse osmosis is best known for eliminating more contaminants. However, the reverse osmosis filtration systems can malfunction, causing hard minerals and dirt to pass through to the osmosis tanks and faucets. The membrane that eliminates hard water minerals and other tiny microbial is prone to degrade in the long run. The degraded membrane allows chlorine and calcium as well as magnesium salts to pass through the filters making your drinking water smell like chlorine and have a strange metallic taste. Foul odor and taste in your water of a problem with your system, and it would be best to reach out to a plumbing contractor with extensive experience in reverse osmosis water filtration systems to identify and fix the problem. If you have used the reverse osmosis unit for many years, the plumbing technician might recommend installing a new and more advanced osmosis system. Call us for Professional Help! Reverse osmosis is one of the best water filtration systems that filter out the tiniest water contaminants, including viruses. If you are experiencing any issues with your filtration units, you should not hesitate to contact Pilot Plumbing. We are a top-rated licensed company in Vancouver, WA, with reliable technicians. Our plumbers have more than 15 years of experience, providing prompt, detailed, and reliable installation, repairs, and replacement services. Previous