Blog Layout

Helpful DIY Plumbing Hints

admin • Oct 27, 2015

Remodeling Trick

 

Are you currently, or planning on, remodeling your bathroom or kitchen? If so, here is a helpful hint: take a picture before enclosing the walls. Many times on a long and drawn out project it is hard to remember what went where. This is a very easy and simple way to remember where the pipes and boards are. So when you do enclose the walls, you know how to find what you’re looking for, and quite simply. Make use of the modern technology and snap a picture on your phone. If you really want to get involved with it and make more plans before actually implementing them, you can print out pictures to scale with your walls and get creative. Of course, any questions on or help needed with your projects will happily be answered with us.

 

Finding a Pipe

 

If you are trying to find a pipe, but can’t remember where it is, do not give up hope. Use this old fashioned trick and locate that pipe! First, get a rare earth magnet, such as neodymium, and attach it to a long wire with electrical fish tape. You will then push this through the cleanout plug into the drain lines. Here is where it gets old school: take a compass and hover it over the suspected spot. The needle will point you in the right direction and then spin like crazy when you find the magnet, thus finding the pipe. You can move the wire and find the patch of the pipe with the same magnet and compass. This is a great way to make use of that compass you have had laying around, and could even be done with kids as a fun part of the project.

 

Turn Down the Volume on Those Noisy Sinks

 

Are you tired of trying to do dishes at night and waking everybody up? Have you ever dropped something in the sink and had the neighbors call to ask if everything is okay? Double basin sinks can be very noisy, but this problem also has a quick fix. This fix can be done before or after installation, but is usually a bit less messy before you install your new sink. Simply get your hands on some expanding foam and spray it in between the two sinks. Let the foam set and harden. Once it is in place, cut off the extra hanging foam with a knife or a sharp pair of scissors. The sink experience you will now have will be a lot better and much quieter, because the vibrations between the two sink basins will be greatly lowered. Any questions or help with problems like this, please don’t hesitate to call 4 Fast Plumber. We are a family run company that takes pride in our work, and have been for over 20 years. We focus on team work between the customer and the technicians. You can count on us to help you with tips, problems, or any other plumbing needs.  

You might also like

By Plumbing Information 25 May, 2021
Woodbridge, VA homes need sump pumps to prevent flooding. Flooding is very common in areas with heavy rainstorms like Woodbridge, VA. One of the most effective ways of preventing flooding is by installing a sump pump in your basement. A sump pump is a mechanical device used to pump floodwater away from the house. Its usually installed in a hole called a sump pit in the corner of your basement. When the basement starts to flood, the sump pump starts pumping the water automatically when it reaches a certain level. A sump pump requires electrical energy to operate. This is why the device presents serious problems during a rainstorm. Because as you very well know, power blackouts usually occur when there is a rainstorm in Woodbridge, VA. That is why you are advised to install a main electrical sump pump and a backup battery powered sump pump. The battery powered sump pump will kick in automatically when the main sump pump fails. One of the most important care and maintenance activities for a sump pump is regular cleaning. You can clean your sump pump on your own or you can request Woodbridge plumbing services for a professional wash. Company reviews are found at https://goo.gl/maps/BpfP3oystQbf4doV8. Read on to learn how to clean your sump pump properly in Woodbridge, VA. GET THE NECESSARY CLEANING SUPPLIES The first thing that you should do when preparing to clean your sump pump is to get all the necessary cleaning supplies. To clean your sump pump in Woodbridge, VA, you will need: · A bucket · A garden hose · A plastic scraper · A pair of protective gloves · A large plastic sheet Woodbridge-plumberYou will wear the protective gloves at all times to protect your hands from germs and other contaminants in the gray water where the sump pump resides. The plastic scraper will come in handy when removing all the dirt from the surface of the sump pump. And you will use the large plastic sheet to cover and protect the ground where all the cleaning will be taking place. If all of this sounds like too much, or too involved of a process for you to undertake, call 4FastPlumber. They can handle this for you with no problem. UNPLUG THE SUMP PUMP After assembling all the necessary cleaning supplies in Woodbridge, VA, you can now unplug the sump pump or turn off the power on the circuit breaker. You are now ready to remove the sump pump from the sump pit for cleaning. Before you remove the sump pump, make sure that no one is using any plumbing appliances that can drain into the sump pit. Also ensure that there is no basement water draining into the sump pit. CLEAN THE SUMP PUMP Take the sump pump outside your house in Woodbridge, VA and lay it on the large plastic sheet. Use your garden hose to clean all the dirt and sludge from the surface of the device. You will also use the plastic scraper to remove any caked debris from the surface of the sump pump. You should also drain and rinse the check valve. Leave the sump pump to dry and then reattach the discharge pipe. DRAIN AND CLEAN THE SUMP PIT Use a shop vac to drain any standing water from the sump pit in Woodbridge, VA. Clean out any other debris that might have accumulated in the sump pit before reinstalling the sump pump. REINSTALL THE SUMP PUMP Reinstall the sump pump and reconnect it to the power source. It’s now standing ready for use in the event of your basement flooding.
By Drains & Clogs 25 May, 2021
Arlington, VA does not suffer many sewer line problems. But when they do occur, the residents and business owners in the city really face the music. The drainage and sewer system is the backbone of the plumbing system. This critical section of the plumbing system is responsible for removing all liquid waste or wastewater from the house. This means that you should take all the necessary care and maintenance measures to ensure that the drainage and sewer system in your house in Arlington, AV is always in excellent condition. The drainage and sewer system starts in the kitchen and bathroom and ends in the municipal sewer system or in your private septic tank in Arlington, VA. It includes:Arlington emergency plumbing · All the drainage fixtures including the sinks, showers, toilets, faucets etc · All the drains including the sink drains, shower drains, toilet drains, bathtub drains, floor drains etc · All the drainage pipes · All the underground sewer lines · The main sewer line · The private septic tank You should put in all the effort you can to ensure that all these parts of the drainage and sewer system are always in good working condition. Here are a few important things that you should always remember about your drainage and sewer system in Arlington, VA. YOU CAN PREVENT CLOGS BY BEING RESPONSIBLE Clogs are the most common plumbing problems in every drainage and sewer system in Arlington, VA. Clogs are mainly caused by careless waste disposal habits. You can prevent clogs from occurring in your drainage and sewer system by adopting responsible waste disposal habits. Use the following tips to prevent clogs in your drainage and sewer system in Arlington, VA: · Do not flush solid waste in the toilet · Keep hair out of your shower drains · No solid food remnants in your sink drains · No soap remnants in your shower drains FREQUENT CLOGS ARE TROUBLE Although clogs are very common in every drainage and sewer system in Arlington, VA, they can indicate a more serious problem in your plumbing system. Frequent clogs are a sign of big trouble in your drainage and sewer system. Frequent clogs indicate that you might have: · A broken sewer line · A leaking sewer line · Serious tree root infiltration in your sewer system · A huge clog in your sewer lines · Imminent sewer backup in your house If you start experiencing frequent clogs in your drainage and sewer system, call an Arlington emergency plumber to come and check out your sewer system before things get worse. TREE ROOTS CAN CAUSE SERIOUS SEWER PROBLEMS All that beautiful vegetation cover in your compound in Arlington, VA is super nice and aesthetically pleasing. But those huge trees can ruin your underground sewer lines. Tree roots follow sewer lines for the promise of moisture and nutrients. They try to force their way through and if they succeed, you have a serious sewer problem on your hands. REGULAR CAMERA INSPECTIONS ARE CRUCIAL To avoid serious drainage and sewer line problems, hire 4 Fast Plumber Arlington to conduct sewer cameras inspections regularly. These inspections will reveal any existing or pending faults in your underground drainage and sewer lines, thereby enabling you to implement the necessary repairs before all hell breaks loose. The plumbing company can also be found at https://www.hotfrog.com/business/va/arlington/4-fast-plumber-arlington.
By admin 21 Sep, 2019
Plumbing Maintenance Tips For Arlington, VA Arlington, VA has some of the best plumbing systems in the country. It’s important to note that the residents of this city spend a lot of time and money to ensure that they have working plumbing systems. A working plumbing system is very important in your home in Arlington, […]
More Posts

Book a Service Today

Share by: