Design Comfort Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Plumbing’

3 Tips for a Clogged Drain

Monday, September 25th, 2023

Having a clogged drain may not seem like a huge deal. It’s usually a pretty simple fix and many homeowners address drain clogs on their own without ever calling for professional help. But does that mean DIY is the best way to handle a drain clog? Sometimes yes, but other times no.

We have three tips to help you break down a tough drain clog yourself the safe way. If your efforts don’t work, you can always call us for plumbing in Salt Lake City. We can help break down even the toughest clogs and even prevent them from coming back again in the near future. You can keep reading to learn more about our top three tips for clogged drains around your home.

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Will Frozen Pipes Thaw On Their Own?

Monday, March 18th, 2019

pipe-with-icicles Yes, but you don’t necessarily want them to.

What do we mean by that? Well, frozen pipes lead to burst pipes. Most homeowners aren’t aware of this (unless they’ve experienced it already) but as the ice inside frozen pipes thaws out, the water caught between the ice and the closed faucet creates an increase in pressure within the pipe. This leads to your plumbing pipes shattering from the inside out.

Therefore, as temperatures warm in preparation for spring, right now is when you should be the most concerned about running into a plumbing problem.

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Why You Should Avoid Store Bought Drain Cleaners

Monday, October 2nd, 2017

plumber unclogging a tub drain with an electric auger.Clogged drains are, unfortunately, a pretty common occurrence. Chances are that sometime throughout your homeownership, you will deal with this problem yourself. The default solution is to rush off to a hardware store and purchase either a chemical drain cleaner or a device such as a drain snake.

In most cases, however, this can end up being a huge mistake. Store-bought drain cleaning solutions simply do not measure up to professional Salt Lake City, UT plumbing services—especially not chemical drain cleaners. There are many reasons you should choose a professional and avoid store-bought solutions, such as:

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Is Routine Water Heater Maintenance Really Necessary?

Monday, July 6th, 2015

Everyone wants to minimize their expenses, especially when they are in relation to something as decidedly unexciting as a water heater. Cutting corners with your water heater services can result in serious expenses down the road, though, especially if routine maintenance is something that you overlook. Many homeowners seem to think that the fact that their water heaters seem to be working just fine means that no service is necessary. In truth, though, your water heater is only going to work just fine for so long if you fail to schedule routine water heater maintenance in Salt Lake City, UT. Here are a few examples of how such service can benefit you. Contact Design Comfort if you are ready to schedule exceptional water heater maintenance for your system.

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3 Signs That You Need Plumbing Repair

Monday, June 29th, 2015

Chances are that you are going to encounter an operational problem with your plumbing system at some point. When you do, it is vital that you schedule your plumbing repairs in Salt Lake City, UT as soon as possible. The longer that you wait in doing so, the more likely it becomes that your system will suffer serious damages. Your plumbing system is a large collection of integrated components, and a problem with even one of those components can lead to serious trouble over time. We’ve put together a short list of warning signs to look out for which can alert you to the need for plumbing repairs. Contact Design Comfort the moment that you have reason to believe you are in need of plumbing repairs. 

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3 Tips for Avoiding Clogged Drains

Monday, June 8th, 2015

Your drains may be unsung heroes most of the time, as you likely don’t pay them much attention. This is likely to change drastically, though, when you begin to encounter problems with your drains. We rely on the drains in our homes to remove wastewater from our sinks, bathtubs, showers and plumbed appliances. The issue is, though, that drains do not always function as intended. In many instances, operational problems with drains, with drain clogs being the most common, are the result of user error. To help you avoid making any such errors when using your drains, we’ve put together 3 simple tips to help you avoid clogs in your drains. Contact Design Comfort if you notice any issues with backed up or slow moving drains in your home, and schedule professional drain cleaning in Salt Lake City, UT.

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Potential Causes of Smelly Drains

Monday, May 11th, 2015

Indoor plumbing is undoubtedly one of the greatest luxuries that we enjoy in our homes today. That being said, there are plenty of issues which may develop with modern plumbing systems which can negatively impact the operation or condition of that system. One of the most undesirable issues that homeowners often face is a foul odor coming from the drains in their homes. This may not seem like an emergency at first, but it should go without saying that any such problems ought to be resolved as soon as possible. Plumbing repairs may be necessary, and it is important that you schedule any such repairs with a trained professional. Call the professional Salt Lake City, UT plumbers at Design Comfort to ensure that this is the case.

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Why Are the Pipes Under My Sink Curved That Way?

Thursday, February 27th, 2014

Have you ever had a child stump you with a question that seems simple on the surface, but is actually difficult to answer when you have to put it into words? Most of us have; children wonder about things adults often take for granted, such as the color of the sky… or the shape of home plumbing.

“Why does the pipe under the sink have that funny curve in it?” We don’t know if a child has ever asked you this question, but we’d wager that most adults don’t have a good answer. We’ll give you one, and help you better understand your home’s plumbing at the same time and why you need that curved pipe taking up valuable storage space in your cabinet. If you need more than answers—you need repairs—then look among the plumbing services in Salt Lake City, UT to find Design Comfort.

The p-trap

That curved J-shaped pipe is known as the p-trap, and it serves the function of preventing sewer gas backflow from your drains. When water runs down your drain, it flows through the p-trap without obstruction, but when you shut off the water, a small amount of liquid remains in the p-trap. This water forms an air-tight seal against air from further down the pipe from coming up through drain. Without this water plug, sewer gases from decomposed matter in the drain waste vent would come back up through your sink drain and create a noxious smell in your home. The sewer gases can even harm your health in large doses. That simple curve in your pipe makes home life much more pleasant.

You need to make sure that the p-trap has a water seal inside it. Usually this only requires running the water in your sink regularly, so it isn’t something you’ll need to think about often. However, if there is a sink in your home that rarely receives use, the p-trap can dry up because of water evaporation. If you notice sewage smells coming from a sink you don’t often use, run water through it to restore the plug—and try to run water through it at least once a week.

P-traps are where clogs usually develop in sinks: they catch hair, soap scum, and grease. Sometimes you’ll need a professional plumber to clean out your p-trap, wither with hydro-jetters or by removing the pipe. Make sure you let a professional handle this job: trying to work on a p-trap yourself can get messy.

We hope this has answered your question (or your child’s) about the curved pipe under the sink. It may take up space you could use for storage, but life without it would really, well, stink.

When you need any plumbing services in Salt Lake City, UT, call Design Comfort!

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4 Characteristics of a Great Plumber

Wednesday, December 18th, 2013

Your home deserves to have only the best service when it comes to your plumbing in Holladay, UT. You don’t want shoddy, amateur work creating even more problems for you. But how can you find the best service?

It’s easier than you might think: the best service comes from the best plumbers, and we’ve put together a list of qualities that you should look for when you hunt for a professional plumber to take care of repairs, installation, or any other plumbing service for your home.

Call Design Comfort when you’re ready for an excellent plumber who has all of the qualifications listed below.

Look for these 4 characteristic of a great plumber:

  1. Many years of experience: Plumbers can have excellent training and all the right licenses, but there is no substitute for years of hands-on experience in the business. Look for a plumber with at least a decade of work under his or her belt.
  2. Professional qualifications: However, you still need a plumber with the proper certifications of a professional. No matter what claims an amateur makes, and amateur is still an amateur.
  3. Offers a variety of services: Look over the plumber’s website to see what kind of work is covered. Plumbers who offer extensive services like whole house repiping, and specialty services like installing sprinkler systems and low flow toilets, are probably more experienced to handle repairs because they bring in a range of knowledge to any work they do.
  4. 24-hour emergency service: Plumbing problems don’t keep to a convenient schedule; they love to spring up at the worst times. Make certain you hire a plumber with the commitment to help you 24/7.

Turn to Design Comfort to find your ideal plumber

Design Comfort was founded in 1982, and since then we’ve served in all capacities of plumbing: installation, repiping, repairs, drain and sewer, garbage disposals, leak detection, main water lines, sprinkler systems, and more. Our highly-trained and experienced plumbers are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for any emergency that strikes your plumbing. When you are shopping for professional plumbing services in Holladay, UT, make us your first call… and we think we’ll be your only call.

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Here’s Why Your Drains are Clogging

Monday, December 2nd, 2013

Clogged drains… they happen. They shouldn’t happen often, but it’s rare for a homeowner to go a full year without experiencing this hassle at least one time. Usually, a clogged drain presents little trouble for a professional plumber to clear, although occasionally a clog may indicate a larger problem within a home’s plumbing.

The Salt Lake City plumbing experts at Design Comfort have many years of experience cleaning out blocked drains. We’ve put together a list of the common reasons that clogs happen, some of which you can avoid in the future with a few precautions.

  • Oil, fat, and grease: One of the most common mistakes people make with their drains in the kitchen is to pour hot oil, fat, or grease down them (or the disposal). Although these liquids seem harmless, they solidify into a thick waxy substance after they dry. This will start to build up on the inside of the drainpipes and eventually lead to full clogs. Pour out these liquids into a separate container and relegate them to the trash, not the drains.
  • Too much food/garbage: Your drains are not garbage disposals. They are not designed to handle heavy waste such as food and paper, so if you toss things into them that should go into the trash, it can cause horrible clogging. (And while we’re on the subject, garbage doesn’t go in the “garbage” disposal either. As a rule, if you can’t chew it, neither can the disposal. Put chicken bones, un-popped popcorn kernels, and other hard substances in the actual garbage.)
  • Hair and soap scum: This is principally a problem for showers and bathroom sinks. Hair and soap naturally go down these drains, but they can build up in the p-trap (the curved pipe beneath the drain) and eventually create a clog. To help prevent this, have a cap over the drain.
  • Damage to the sewer line: This is a serious problem that will begin affecting drains around your home. If you notice the clogs are happening in different drains, and that there is a foul, septic odor emanating from them, call plumbers immediately: you probably have damage in the sewer line that runs out to the municipal sewer.

Some of these clogs you might manage to clear on your own with a plunger. If that doesn’t work, avoid the temptation to use caustic liquid chemicals and instead call for a professional plumber to handle the work. Plumbers will use powered drain snakes and hydro-jetters to clean out your drain thoroughly and also help prevent the trouble from re-occurring. A plumber can also take care of a larger job like fixing a damaged sewer line.

When you need expert plumbing services in Salt Lake City, UT, call Design Comfort any time of the day or night.

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