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If you have high plumbing bills, you may have a leak in your home without knowing it. Slab leaks are a common cause of unexpectedly high bills. Since the pipes are hidden from view, you may not notice a leak until you get your utility bills. If you suspect a slab leak in your home, contact a professional for slab leak detection and repairs.

Signs of a Slab Leak

While to be certain of a slab leak, you should have a plumber use detection equipment, you may notice some indications that you have a problem in your pipes. Watch out for the following signs that you need to contact a plumber:

1. You Hear Running Water Even With the Taps and Water Fixtures Turned Off

Shut off all the water taps in your home and do not use the washing machine or dishwasher. Then, listen carefully to the walls and floor of your home. If you continue to hear running water, you may have a slab leak.

2. Foundation Problems

Water leaking around the slab can saturate the soil near your foundation. Over time, the moist soil will allow for your home’s foundation to shift and crack. If your neighbors have not experienced foundation problems but you have, you likely have not had regional shifting soils but a slab leak in your home.

3. Higher Water Bills

One of the most common indications of a leak in your pipes is a higher water bill. If your water use has not changed but your bills have, you need to have a plumber conduct a leak detection.

4. Lower Water Pressure

Plumbing leaks will reduce the amount of water that reaches your taps. If your shower does not seem to spray as forcefully as it did before or if your taps do not seem to give you enough water, you could have a leak.

What to Do If You Need Leak Detection

Finding plumbing leaks inside your home’s walls or slab is not a task for a homeowner. You need a plumber who can bring equipment such as leak detection cameras to find the location of the leak. Once they know which portion of your plumbing to target, they can replace the damaged portion of your piping to restore your home’s water pressure.

Contact Best Service for Leak Detection and Repairs

Don’t let a slab leak cause even more expensive problems with your foundation or water service. Contact Best Service Plumber for leak detection and repairs. You can start off the new year with better performing plumbing that doesn’t leak. Call 951-338-8759 for an appointment now.

You know that drinking water is recommended by doctors and nutritionists as a healthier alternative to sodas or sports drinks. However, drinking enough water can be difficult, especially when the weather isn’t as hot as during the summer. Even in the winter, though, you will need to drink more water. Here are some tips for ensuring that you stay hydrated no matter what time of year or temperature it is.

Winter and Dehydration

While temperatures in southern California in the winter don’t match the frigid conditions of places located further north, if you live at a higher elevation, you may experience cold enough weather to keep your heater running. Because cold air cannot hold as much moisture as hot air, winter conditions tend to be dryer. Also, if you run your heater, you will likely dry yourself and your skin out.

Consequently, the combination of sitting in a heated space and the cold, dry air outside leads to your body becoming parched. Signs that you need to drink more water in the winter include dry skin, parched lips, and feeling thirsty.

How to Drink More Water in Winter

During the winter, you may not want to drink cold water as often because it will cool your body off. However, drinking water can help your body to regulate its temperature, making any room feel more comfortable. If cold water is too chilly, though, you can drink hot, non-caffeinated drinks. Think herbal teas or even some apple cider. You can have an herbal tea without waiting for water to boil if you have a hot water dispenser in your kitchen.

Another way to drink more water in winter is by adding some non-sugary flavor. You can stir herbal teas with a cinnamon stick. Or you may want to add slices of in-season citrus fruits to your water glass. Instead of the more common lemon slice, try a slice of grapefruit or lime.

Make Your Water Taste Better By Taking Out Contaminants

If you don’t want to add anything to your water to encourage yourself to drink more, consider taking things out of your water. For example, consider a water filtration or purification system. Reverse osmosis systems take out almost all of the impurities from your water and 96% of the dissolved solids. The resulting water from your tap is as fresh and pure as you can get.

Getting rid of contaminants can make it easier for you to drink more water all year long, not just in the winter.

Let Best Home Water Treatment Systems Help You to Improve Your Water

Get tastier water with reverse osmosis systems, a whole home water filtration or softening system, or an instant hot water dispenser. The professionals in water treatment at Best Home Water Treatment Systems can help. Phone us at 951.737.1500 to set up a consultation with one of our installation experts and get started in your journey to better health by drinking more water this winter.

Part of your plumbing system is the water that enters your home. This water supplies all your plumbing appliances. However, it also is the same water that you drink from your refrigerator dispenser or kitchen tap. If the thought of unfiltered tap water makes you think twice about filling your glass, consider contacting Best Service Plumber to have water treatment systems installed in your home.

What Is Water Treatment?

Water treatment includes both purification and filtration. Filtration is the simplest form of treatment and involves sending your home’s water supply through a series of filters to remove particles, minerals, and unnatural flavors. This treated water then supplies your whole house with better flavored and softer water. The filtered and softened water protects your home’s pipes and provides you with better tasting water all around your home.

Purified water goes through a reverse osmosis process to completely remove as many dissolved solids in the water as possible. The additional time required for purification versus filtration means that you can only have purified water from individual taps that each have a reverse osmosis system installed on them. This type of water is best for drinking. So, you only need to install these devices onto taps that supply drinking water.

Why Does a Plumber Need to Install Water Treatment Devices?

Because both home water filters and purification devices are complex, they require a plumber for installation. These systems are much more powerful in their filtration and purification capabilities than over-the-counter systems that screw onto a faucet or pitchers that only filter a few cups of water. Therefore, if you want more water treated in your home, you need to have a plumber provide the equipment.

Contact Best Service Plumber for Water Treatment System Installation

For high quality filtered or purified water, pick up the phone and call Best Service Plumber at 951-338-8759 to set up a visit from one of our plumbers for a water treatment system installation. You can also contact us through our website if you have questions that you want answered before making your appointment. Make this year the year that you start drinking healthier, better tasting water thanks to the plumbing experts at Best Service Plumber in southern California.

The holidays are a time when drain clogs can happen. However, you can prevent clogs before they form with good plumbing habits. Plus, you should know how to make quick repairs if you have standing water in a drain or a toilet that doesn’t flush. However, discretion is vital. Knowing when to call a plumber for drain clogs could save you in future costly repairs. Here’s what you must know about keeping your drains clear this holiday season.

The Holidays and Drain Clogs

More people spend time at home during the holidays due to time off work or school. Therefore, your home sinks, toilets, tubs, showers, and water fixtures will have more use than at other times of the year. With the increased use of your home’s plumbing appliances, your drains will also have to deliver more wastewater to the sewer system.

Not only will your plumbing have greater use but you will also likely prepare rich holiday meals that may require extra use of your garbage disposal or rinsing off greasy dishes. Grease can lead to drain clogs, especially if you pour hot grease or cooking oil down a drain. As it cools, it creates a solid block that stops the water flow.

All of these situations combine to increase the chances of clogs. Therefore, now is the time to know how to prevent and fix these problems.

Prevent Drain Clogs

To prevent clogs, never put grease or oil down the drain. Also, don’t use your garbage disposal for processing greasy foods.

In the bathroom, keep hair out of the tub and shower drains with a filter over the drain. Letting hair flow down the drain can create a clog over time, especially if it catches in a bend in the drain line.

Fix Clogs Yourself

If you have standing water in a drain or your toilet does not flush adequately, use a plunger to attempt to clear the line. If your plunger fails, the next tool to use is your phone. Call a plumber to have your drain line cleared with high-pressure jetting or another professional-grade drain clearing system.

Call Best Service Plumber for Professional Drain Cleaning of Clogs

Store our number (951-356-9746) for Best Service Plumber in your phone so you will have us at your fingers if your home has drain clogs that need clearing. You can also contact us online if you have other questions or want to schedule an evaluation of your slow-flowing drains that could have clogs developing. We’re here to help you with your drain clogs or other plumbing concerns, at any time of the day or night. Don’t let a clog ruin your holiday fun. Keep us in mind for expert help when your drains won’t run.

In a recent survey on Thanksgiving traditions and chores, pollsters found that 49.91% of people surveyed dreaded washing the dishes after the holiday meal. This year, instead of using paper plates or going to a restaurant to avoid this chore, prepare your kitchen for the holiday season. If you have the right appliances and fixtures in place before the holidays, cleaning up the dishes becomes much easier. To start, if you have slow drains, schedule drain cleaning to avoid slowdowns during the cleanup.

Drain Cleaning and the Holidays

Washing dishes often requires you to use your garbage disposal, dishwasher, and sinks to get the dishes clean. However, if your drains are slow from the buildup of grease or soap scum, your cleaning tasks will likewise slow as you wait for the water to flow down the drain.

Don’t wait for a drain to completely clog before calling for service. And never put chemical drain cleaner down drains, especially if you have a garbage disposal. These chemicals are highly caustic and can cause skin and eye irritation to those who use them.

Since your garbage disposal and dishwasher also drain through your kitchen sink, a slow drain will affect the operation of these appliances, too.

Consider a Second Sink

If you have only one sink in your home and need to expand, consider having a second sink installed. Two sinks in your kitchen give you twice as many places to wash dishes, cutting the chore in half. (As long as you have extra hands to help.)

Replace an Old Dishwasher

If you have an old dishwasher model, it may not clean your dishes efficiently. Consider upgrading to a more water and energy-efficient model that will clean better and cost you less to use. You may even want to choose a larger model than your existing appliances to fit more dishes inside for faster cleanup after large meals. As with other appliances, your dishwasher will only work well if you don’t have slow drains.

Contact Best Service Plumber for Help with Holiday Drain Cleaning

Before the holidays start, call us at Best Service Plumber at 951-356-9746 to schedule drain cleaning. We can keep your kitchen drains moving water out fast, so you can get the cleaning done quickly. We also offer a range of other residential plumbing services. Contact us for more information or if you have additional questions about us.

One of the hardest working appliances in your kitchen often goes ignored until a problem occurs. The garbage disposal should break up food leftovers to flush down the water waste line. However, used incorrectly, this unit can have its blades dull or its motor burn out. Find out how to prevent problems, whether you can repair an existing issue, when to call a plumber, and when you need a new unit.

How to Prevent Disposal Problems

Preventing problems in a disposal unit will extend its life and let you avoid last-minute calls to a plumber. First, never put in unbreakable bones or fibrous vegetable matter into the disposal. Bones can shatter and send shards flying dangerously into the air. Fiber from vegetables, like celery, can wrap around the blades and entangle them, leading to jams.

Next, don’t attempt to continue running a jammed disposal. The unit will only burn out its motor since its blades cannot move.

Signs of a Problem and When to Call a Plumber

Most of the time, you may be able to fix a disposal problem yourself. If the unit has a jam, turn off the disposal and pull out the piece with pliers. Never put your hands or fingers into a disposal unit to avoid injury.

If your disposal does not break up food, fails to turn on, leaks, or has a jam that you cannot clear, you should call a plumber for repairs. These units may require specialty tools to remove or knowledge to fix. Therefore, a plumber will be your best option if your garbage disposal has a problem.

When You Might Need a New Garbage Disposal

You might need a new unit if the old one has its motor burned out. Ask the plumber conducting repairs if you will have better performance from getting your model repaired or by purchasing a new garbage disposal.

Call Us at Best Service Plumber for Garbage Disposal Repairs or Installation

While garbage disposals have a straightforward design, you should leave repairs and replacements to professionals. The combined use of water and electricity in these appliances and their sharp internal blades can create a danger for unwary DIYers. Contact us at Best Service Plumber at 951-356-9746 if you want to have your garbage disposal fixed before the holidays. With a new or repaired model, your home disposal will be able to handle the extra food waste from holiday feasts.

The holidays are one of the worst times to experience a plumbing emergency. You don’t want to have a toilet overflowing in the middle of the night if you have holiday guests staying with you. However, we understand that these things can happen. Therefore, here’s what you should do if you have a plumbing emergency at any time during the holidays.

Evaluate the Situation

First, look over the problem. Do you have an uncontrolled leak or overflowing drain that spills onto the floor? These are true emergencies that you must have a plumber fix regardless of the time or date. However, if you have an issue such as a dripping faucet or a slow-flowing tub drain, these issues can wait until business hours to have a plumber address them.

Mitigate the Damage

Next, you want to reduce the damage to your home as much as possible. Go outside and shut off the main water supply to your home. If you cannot find it, turn off the water supply to the fixtures that has an uncontrolled leak. For instance, a toilet that continues to fill and overflow, shut off the supply line under the tank. If you have a broken faucet in your kitchen, the supply cut-off valves are located under the sink.

Clean up as much as you can. When you call our plumbing emergency services number, we will also guide you to other things that you can do while waiting for our plumbers to arrive.

Call Our Plumbing Emergency Services Number

Phone us at Best Service Plumber at 951-356-9746. Our phone number takes calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week, even on holidays. The prompts will guide you to helping us determine the type of problem that you have and if we need to dispatch an on-call plumber to your home to fix the issue.

Store the Number for Best Service Plumber’s Emergency Service in Your Phone

Don’t wait for an emergency to happen to know who to call. Save our number (951-356-9746) for Best Service Plumber’s plumbing emergency services in your phone’s contact list now. If you have questions about our emergency services, our policy for dispatching off-hours plumbers, or anything else about our services, feel free to call us or send us a message online. We’re here to help you with all your plumbing repairs, including emergencies every day, even throughout the holiday season. 

Garbage disposals provide a convenient way to keep food out of landfills and reduce waste. However, if you misuse these appliances, you can cause more problems such as burned motors and clogs. Before you use your in-sink disposal unit next, make sure that you know the dos and don’ts of garbage disposals.

Do Run Cold Water During Use

When using garbage disposals, you should start running cold water into the sink first. Then turn on the disposal unit. Lastly, add the food waste while the water continues to run.

Cold water is important because it will not melt fats that could later solidify. Also, a steady stream of water ensures that the waste flows down the pipes without stopping and causing a blockage.

Do Keep Water Running After Turning Off the Disposal

Garbage disposals connect to the plumbing system. Therefore, you must ensure that the waste flows as far down the pipes as possible. Running cold water through the sink after you turn off the disposal ensures that the waste gets pushed along the pipes toward the sewer system with the force of the water.

Do Not Put Large Amounts of Food into Garbage Disposals

Your garbage disposal can only handle so much food waste. Try to cut waste into smaller pieces and feed a few at a time into the disposal unit. Putting too much food into the garbage disposal could put excess stress on the motor or clog the system.

Do Not Put Fat, Bones, or Grease into Garbage Disposals

Though garbage disposals have a design that makes them useful for breaking up food waste, there are some foods that you should not put into them. Never put fat, grease, or bones into your disposal. Fat and grease can solidify later in the plumbing system and stop other waste from reaching the sewer. Bones can wear out the blades or motor of the garbage disposal. They can also break into small, sharp pieces that could harm someone standing over the sink.

Do Contact a Plumber for Garbage Disposal Problems

If you have problems with your garbage disposal, don’t try to fix them yourself. These units use a combination of water and electricity and have sharp blades inside. Therefore, anyone not qualified should avoid making repairs or installations of these units.

Contact Best Service Plumber for Problems with Garbage Disposals and More

If you have garbage disposal problems or any other concerns with your home’s plumbing, let us at Best Service Plumber know. We can find the cause of the issue and make the necessary repairs to restore your plumbing’s operation. To make an appointment or request service, call us at 951-356-9631.