When to Get a Video Sewer Inspection
It’s not often the first thing you think about when you start your day. However, it’s under your feet, inside of your walls, and if something went wrong, you’d want to deal with it. The plumbing of your home is an integral part of your home ecosystem, and it’s important to keep it in good shape. Video sewer inspection is a great tool for understanding and maintaining the plumbing of your home. Here are some reasons to get a video sewer inspection.
Precision Plumbing
When our technicians take a look at your sewer with the video camera, it’s more than just a look at the inside of the pipes. The depth of the camera is recorded, so when a clog or a crack appears on screen, our plumbers know exactly where the problem area is. With a precise location and an accurate view of the issue, our plumbers can remediate the issue with internal tools like a drain auger or a water jet cleaner. If the problem requires replacement of pipes or fittings, our plumbers will know exactly where to start, saving time and demolition. Our video sewer inspection camera helps us to eliminate clogs and eliminate guesswork when it comes to your plumbing.
Preventative Maintenance
For homeowners, nothing is worse than an unexpected sewer problem. Instead of waiting for an issue to present itself, get eyes on the health of your sewer system. Video inspection offers a complete view of the pipes in your home, showing you the state of your sewer system. Any potential problems will be documented, and if necessary, a plan to take care of any anticipated issues will be formulated.
If you’re getting a home inspected prior to purchase, a video sewer inspection is a valuable helping hand. Even though all of the visible plumbing checks out and there’s no issues at the moment, it’s no guarantee that there won’t be problems in the future. Video inspection can show points where a pipeline has shifted and created a catch point for debris. You’ll also get to know the condition of the pipes so you can know how much useful life is left in them.
Emergency Response
Often, when we receive an emergency service call, we start with a video inspection. When time is of the essence, a video sewer inspection helps us to rapidly determine the source of the problem. Our video sewer line inspection camera can pinpoint the source of the problem within your sewer or septic system. That way, we’ll be able to save time in addressing the problem and return your plumbing to its functional state more quickly.
Next Steps
Video sewer inspection is a great start for understanding your plumbing. If you’ve got a project in mind or need inspection or servicing for existing plumbing, contact us for further information and help with all of your plumbing needs.
Serving the communities of Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Burien, Everett, Woodinville, Redmond, Federal Way, Kent, Issaquah, Renton, SeaTac, Bothell, and Lynnwood.
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What to Do in Case of a Plumbing Emergency
Plumbing emergencies can be a nightmare situation for anybody. Not every emergency is a Hollywood-level disaster, but knowing the steps to stop and mitigate a problem is key to limiting damage to your Seattle home. Here are 5 steps to take when looking at and solving a plumbing emergency:
Assess the Situation
With an unexpected problem, it can be easy to panic. The best thing to do though is to stay calm and try to understand what went wrong and where the problem is. Gauging the severity of the plumbing issue will help you solve it and reduce potential damage.
Cut the Water
The first actionable step is to stop the water from the problem source. If the issue is less severe and localized, like a single toilet or sink, then turning the valve behind the toilet or under the sink will do the trick. For more serious issues, you will want to cut the main water valve. Whenever you move into a new home or apartment, knowing the location of the main water valve is key. You can see a guide to finding it here. This will immediately stop the flow of water throughout your home and prevent flooding and more serious damage
Shut off the Water Heater
Your next step should be to turn off your water heater. Leaving the water heater on can seriously damage the unit due to a build-up of heat. If left unchecked, this could result in overheating, and in extreme cases, bursting. If you have a gas heater, always make sure to turn the gas off first.
Open Drains and Clean Up
Even though your valve may be shut off, there will still be water left in the pipes. Opening your homes drains and spigots will help clear this excess water out and avoid additional damage. Utilize your hose in order to get the last water out of there too. Also start using towels and buckets to clean up the affected area. This will help minimize damage to your home until a plumber arrives.
Contact a Licensed Plumber
Calling a plumber as soon as possible can only speed up the time it takes for them to be dispatched to your home. Given that emergencies always seem to happen at the most inconvenient times, you will want plumbing available at any time. Here at Best Plumbing in Seattle, our experienced teams are available 24/7 to handle any of your general and emergency plumbing needs. Our dispatcher can also advise you on how to handle many situations until help arrives to prevent injury or potential home damage.
If you’re looking for a trusted local plumber, contact Best Plumbing in Seattle 24/7. We’ve been serving the greater Puget Sound area for over 50 years!
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5 Common Sink Drain Clogging Mistakes
Whether we realize it or not, the sink is one of the most commonly used appliances in any house or apartment. We use it when cooking, washing our hands, and doing dishes. This makes sink maintenance and care very important, as you do not want to be without your sink for any period of time. Other than routine maintenance, the best way to take care of your sink and avoid clogs is to be mindful of what you are putting down it. Here are 5 common items that you should avoid putting down your sink:
Grease
Starting off with a more commonly known problem substance, grease is still a common mistake people make when using their sink drain. While grease may be a common byproduct of cooking in your kitchen, it will solidify when poured down your drain and leave potential for clogging. Even worse, other foods often will get attached to it and get stuck, forming a much worse clog. Always pour the grease in a left-over jar or can and throw it away once it has solidified
Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds are typically a small, fine mixture, but they can spell trouble for your sink. While they may go down the drain without any issues, they can quickly turn into a sludge that will clog your pipes and prevent any other food from going down. Coffee grounds should always be thrown away in your garbage
Pasta and Rice
Pasta and rice make up a large part of many cuisines, so proper disposal is great to keep in mind when making these dishes. These foods are trouble for two reasons: they expand when exposed to water, and they can easily be turned into mush to create a drain blocking mixture
Eggshells
You may be able to get away with putting egg shells down the sink every once in a while, but they often get stuck in drains and lead to bigger clogs. When garbage disposals grind them into small bits they mix with other items (like grease) and become problematic. The membrane can also get stuck to the sides of your pipes for further issues
Fats and Oils
Fats and oils are similar to grease in concept, but are less known as a problem item. They can just as easily coat the walls of your pipes and create much larger problems down the road. Items to watch out for include dressings, cooking oil, meat grease, shortening, and more.
These are just 5 examples of items to watch out for when using your home’s sink. If you are ever unsure of what you are about to put down, always check beforehand. If you do make a mistake or have any other sink-related issues though, give us a call. Our licensed plumbers can help solve any sink problem and get your Seattle home back on its feet. Contact Best Plumbing at (206) 800-7822 today!
Serving the communities of Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Burien, Everett, Woodinville, Redmond, Federal Way, Kent, Issaquah, Renton, SeaTac, Bothell, and Lynnwood.
Photo credit: © Glen McCallum
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