6 Valuable HVAC Tips For Winter

Posted on January 22, 2021 by Derek

furnace services

If you are looking for HVAC tips for winter, you should know you don’t have to do anything magical to keep your heating system in top shape. You only need to remain consistent with the usual furnace maintenance tips.

Have the appliance tuned up

It goes without saying that winter is the most demanding season for furnaces and other heating appliances, so this is the time to give your appliance more attention than any other time.

Before the season begins, have a heating system contractor look at your appliance and fix any issues it might be having. The key to getting great services is to hire the right contractor, so take your time when hiring.

Many homeowners hire the first person that shows up in the search results. This is wrong as showing up first doesn’t mean they are good.

The right thing to do is to contact at least 3 HVAC companies and schedule an interview with them. Of course, you should work with the company that shows the most potential. The company should be experienced, professional, and affordable.

Replace an old appliance

How long have you had your heating unit? If it has been more than 10 years, it’s most likely operating inefficiently. If the appliance has also been developing problems every now and then, you should think about getting a new unit as you will keep pouring money down the drain fixing it.

When buying a new furnace, buy a high-quality one with a high energy star rating. Such an appliance will function optimally for a long time, saving you a lot of money.

One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make when buying heating appliances is buying the wrong size. You don’t want this as a wrongly sized unit not only functions inefficiently, it also has a short lifespan.

Clean or replace the air filters

If you are like other homeowners, you ignored the furnace the moment the sun shone, right? This means the air filters are clogged with dirt and other debris. There is no way your furnace will function optimally if the air filters are dirty, so you need to clean them.

Open up the filter door and if it’s cleanable, go ahead and clean the furnace filter but if too dirty, simply replace it.

When getting a new filter, go for a quality one with a high HEPA rating. This way you are sure that the filter will last for long and give you a great service while at it.

Set the registers correctly

To ensure you don’t waste any heat produced by your heating system, properly set the registers. Set the registers so they open and close as needed so they heat only the parts of your house you want to heat.

When doing the opening and closing of the registers, be cautious that you don’t close too many registers that you create an imbalance of air pressure in the system.

Reprogram the thermostat

As it’s getting cooler, now it’s time to reprogram your thermostat. If you have a programmable thermostat, use it to your advantage and lower the temperatures when there is no one in the house, so you save money and energy.

If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, consider investing in one as it makes it easy to control your furnace, which sees you saving a lot of money and time.

Regularly check the vents

Furnace services Fall’s Church advice you make it a habit to check your HVAC vents as dirty or blocked vents make it hard for the furnace to work, hence increasing your heating costs. A good way to remember to inspect them is to always check them when cleaning the filters.

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Can I Sweep My Own Chimney?

Posted on December 17, 2020 by Derek

chimney cleaning services

As a homeowner, you know the benefits of cleaning your chimney. The chimney functions better, there is little risk of chimney fires, among many other things. The big question you are probably asking yourself is, can I sweep my own chimney if I don’t have money to hire a chimney cleaning services provider?

The good news is that yes you can do it but you have to follow the right chimney cleaning procedure.

Protect your surroundings

Chimney cleaning is messy and you don’t want to mess up your furniture. To protect your valuables, spread out a plastic tarp on them, including the floor. After ensuring everything is safe and secure, remove ash and wood bits out of the firebox.

You should then open the damper while isolating the fireplace from the rest of the living room using thick plastic sheeting and quality tape.

When doing the sealing, be cautious so you leave no gaps that would lead to fine dust landing on your furniture.

Wear protective gear

To reiterate, chimney cleaning is messy, and to avoid messing your clothes, don’t use your good clothes for the work. Instead, wear your worn-out clothes you aren’t going to wear in the future. You can also don an apron.

To ensure the dirt from the chimney doesn’t get into your eyes, wear a good set of goggles with a dependable seal around your eyes. You will also need a dust mask to protect your nose and mouth from the dust.

Remove any materials obstructing the chimney

Whether it’s the chimney cap or animal guard, get it out of the way before you proceed with cleaning your chimney.

When it comes to cleaning, brush from the top-down, working your way towards the smoke shelf. For a thorough job, don’t be in a hurry.

Once you are done with cleaning, replace the hardware you had removed.

Give dust time to settle into the firebox

As much as you want to restore your home to its regular form, you shouldn’t rush into removing the tarp covering your valuables.

After cleaning, give it time for the dust in your chimney to settle then slowly peel apart a small opening in the taped seal you positioned over the firebox then using a smaller-diameter chimney brush, scrub as far as you can up into the chimney.

When you are done, cover your fireplace again and let the dust fall onto the firebox floor.

Restore your house

After cleaning all the parts of the chimney and giving the house enough time for the dust to settle, slowly remove the protective tarps from your furniture and floor so you can continue enjoying your house, now with a much cleaner and safer chimney.

Chimney cleaning tips

To have an easy time cleaning your chimney, avoid going for a long time without cleaning it as the creosote thickens with time making the chimney cleaning process complex.

The chimney cleaning tools you use should be good quality so you have an easy time cleaning the chimney and at the same time you give the chimney a thorough cleaning.

As you are doing the cleaning, ensure no one opens the exterior doors as this will allow a sudden draft that will send dust and ashes all over the living room carpet and furniture.

While you save money by cleaning the chimney by yourself, you can’t do a thorough job as chimney sweep services Columbia MD provides so for peace of mind your chimney will be professionally cleaned, let the contractors handle the work.

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Washer Repair: What Happens If You Overload A Washing Machine?

Posted on November 24, 2020 by Derek

washer repair

Since you have been using the washing machine, you have been hearing that you should avoid overloading it. Have you asked yourself what happens if you overload a washing machine?

Well, plenty of things happen. One of the things is the extra load puts extra strain on the appliance and the bearings, which causes the machine to keep on breaking down, so you have to keep on hiring washer repair professionals to repair it.

As a result of overloading, the clothes aren’t free to move around and get evenly clean, so you have to repeat the cleaning a few times.

Sometimes the overloading leads to the water failing to drain properly, and at the same time, you have high chances of leaks resulting during a spin cycle.

In extreme cases, the clothes get lodged between the door seal and the machine’s inner drum, which puts your clothes at the risk of getting damaged.

How do you know you have overloaded the washing machine?

Since most people are in a hurry to get things clean, they sometimes mistakenly overload the machine. How can you tell you have overloaded the machine?

One simple way is by placing your hand on the machine’s drum and see the amount of space left. If you can’t fit your hand in the left space, you have overloaded the machine.

All washing machine drums have a loading limit, and when you surpass it, you stand damaging your appliance. Generally, average washing machines have a weight limit of 3kg. If you feel you have loaded the machine more than this, don’t run the machine instead of removing the extra clothes.

Tips on how to properly load the washing machine

To avoid the repercussions that come with overloading the machine, you should load your washer properly.

Start with adding your clothes evenly around the agitator. Some people will tell you to twist sheets and towels around the agitator, but don’t do this. Instead, put them on each side of the agitator to maintain a balanced load.

Instead of piling the clothes in the center of the washer, place them around the edges of the wash plate. By doing this, you ensure the jeans and T-shirts easily move around and get clean.

If stuffing your clothes in the machine, the load is too big, and it’s only a matter of time before you overload the machine. For an optimally functioning machine, leave at least 6 inches from the top of the machine.

If you have a front-loader, put in your clothes one at a time. This way, you ensure you aren’t tangling them up.

If you have heavily soiled clothes, load them first as this way, they will be in contact with the water and detergent the longest.

Regardless of the type of machine you have, mix large and small items with helping your load stay balanced.

You shouldn’t under load your washer either.

In the same way, you shouldn’t overload the washer, you shouldn’t under load it either as it will be a source of problems. You’ll waste energy, time, and energy when you don’t load your machine to capacity.

Under loaded machines also tend to thump a lot, which might drive you crazy as you are doing the cleaning. A small load also puts the appliance off-balance, so it keeps moving around. It also doesn’t clean the clothes as well as you would want them to.

To ensure you perfectly load your machine, appliance repair Springfield experts recommend you regularly refer to the owner’s manual to guide you on properly loading the machine and even how to take care of it properly.

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Condo Remodeling: How Can I Remodel My House With No Money

Posted on October 19, 2020 by Derek

condo remodeling

Whether you are looking to undertake condo remodeling or any other form of remodeling, you should know that it doesn’t come cheap. Since not everyone can afford the remodeling, so you will often hear some homeowners asking, how can I remodel my house with no money?

If you feel you should improve your house’s look, but you don’t have money, there are plenty of things you can do with little to no money. Some of these things include:

Deep clean your house.

Did you know sometimes all your house needs is cleaning, not renovation? If you don’t have money to remodel the house, start with cleaning. Deep clean both the inside and outside of the house. You can do the work by yourself, but if you have some little money, hire a professional cleaning company and see the transformation.

Rearrange your furniture

Sometimes you will have the impression your house is outdated simply because you are used to seeing it the same way for years. To spruce things up, rearrange your furniture. Again, you can do the work by yourself, but if you have some money, hire an interior designer to help you with the arrangements.

While the designer comes at a fee, they will give your house a professional touch that will be appealing, and you won’t spend a cent on remodeling.

As you are making the rearrangements, get rid of clutter. This includes unused furniture, extra pillows, and any other thing you feel unnecessary in the house.

Paint your walls

There is nothing that can transform a house as fast as paint. Even if you don’t have money to paint all of the four walls, painting one wall is enough to change the entire space. To make your walls more interesting, try a special effect such as cracking or sponge painting.

Paint doesn’t work only on walls. If you don’t like how your floors, furniture, doors, kitchen cabinets, shutters, windows, or anything else looks, give it a new breathe of life with a coat of paint.

For a great appeal, be strategic in the colors you choose. For example, if looking to paint the front door, use a bright and welcoming color such as yellow, baby blue, or red.

Play around with fabrics

Curtains can make a huge difference. You can use those you already have or buy new ones (which are often affordable). You can also use slipcovers and pillows to update the look of your chair or sofa.

For the dining room or kitchen, try a new tablecloth.

If you have a sewing machine close to you and you love crafting, grab a few fabric remnants, and create your own pillows and window treatments.

Update your accessories

The same way you might have the impression your house is old and outdated due to looking at your furniture for too long, it’s the same way you are disillusioned due to having the same pieces of accessories.

Your once amazing artwork and tchotchkes can look boring if you have had them for a long time. To give your home a new look, change your accessories. You can also change their usual locations to change the look of the house.

If you don’t have money to buy new accessories, take them off the wall and store them. When you bring them back after a few weeks or months, your house will appear different and exciting.

Conclusion

Have you been yeaning to update your house, but you don’t have money? Now you know how to go about it without hiring home remodeling architects DC.

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Should Dead Trees Be Cut Down? Tree Services Experts Advise

Posted on September 20, 2020 by Derek

tree services

Most homeowners are attached to their trees. This is because this might be the first tree they planted when they bought their property, they might have climbed the tree when they were a kid, the tree might have been their treehouse, among many other things.

Due to their attachment, even when the tree dies, they don’t want to let go, so you will often hear them asking, should dead trees be cut down? According to tree services providers, if your tree is 100% dead, you should remove it. You can remove it by yourself if you have the necessary tools and skills, but for best results and to reduce the chances of an accident happening, hire an expert to help you out.

Why should you remove a dead tree?

There are plenty of reasons you should remove a dead tree. Some of these reasons include:

They attract pests

Termites, carpenter ants, and other wood-boring insects love boring into dead trees to set up shop in them. These bugs quickly colonize the tree, and they can easily spread to the neighboring trees. Rats can also build nests in the dead trees. When you have rats close to your home, you risk having a rat infestation as the rodents invade your home, searching for food and additional shelter.

Dead trees are unattractive.

A tree lacking leaves, with falling branches, or with a peeling bark is unattractive and will harm your curb appeal. The damage is more significant if looking to sell your house.

The tree could fall

A dead tree isn’t healthy, so chances are it will fall over if you don’t remove it early enough. You can’t tell when this will happen, but it will happen. When the tree topples over, it can fall on your house, your neighbor’s house, your fence, or any other piece of property that will be expensive to fix.

There is also the risk of the tree falling on someone leading to a serious injury. When someone is hurt by your tree, you are liable for the repairs or medical care needed.

The tree could be contagious.

If the tree died or is dying from a tree disease, the disease can spread to your other trees, and in no time, all of your trees will die. The infection can also spread to other plants and even flowers you had planted under the trees.

Branches many fall off.

Even if the tree doesn’t topple over, braches might as they are weak. This is usually common during a windy day or storm. Like when a tree topples over, the weakened branches can fall on your property, your neighbor’s property, someone, or an animal.

Can you decorate or paint a dead tree?

If the tree is weak and can fall and damage your property, nearby properties, or passerby, you should remove it. But if the tree is isolated and there is no risk of hurting someone, you can try painting or decorating it. To be on the safe side, we would advise you to remove it.

If you would love to keep a few souvenirs of your favorite tree, save a few of the dead branches and decorate them.

Hiring a tree removal technician

As mentioned above, you shouldn’t try removing the tree by yourself if you don’t know what you are doing. This is more important if the tree is large. When hiring a tree removal services Bethesda provider, ensure you hire the very best. Don’t skimp money hiring a cheap company as they will cause more harm than the dead tree.

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How Long Do AC Units Last? AC Repair Services Providers Answer

Posted on August 22, 2020 by Derek

air conditioner repair

Every homeowner knows they have to replace their air conditioner at a certain point. The big question is, how long do AC units last? According to AC repair services providers, air conditioners last between 10 and 15 years.

The life expectancy of the appliance varies depending on plenty of factors such as the quality of the appliance, how it was installed, the area you live in, and how you maintain it.

Can you extend the lifespan of the AC?

Yes, it’s possible to make your AC last longer. As mentioned above, the lifespan of the air conditioner is affected by plenty of factors, so for your appliance to last longer, you need to do the right things. Some of the things you should do include:

Install the right sized air conditioner

Everything begins here. There is no way your appliance will have a long life if you have installed the wrong one. When you install an appliance that is too big for your house, it works too hard and, at the same time, cools the house excessively.

On the other hand, if you install a small appliance, you will be overworking it so it won’t last long enough.

To ensure your air conditioner lasts for as long as possible, ensure you install the right one for your home. If you are installing it for the first time, it’s recommended you involve an AC technician who will advise you on the right one to go for.

Have the AC professionally installed

You might buy the right sized air conditioner, but if you install it the wrong way, it doesn’t last long enough. To avoid this, ensure expert AC technicians do air conditioner installation.

Be on top of air filters.

While they seem harmless, air filters have a significant impact on the life of the air conditioner. If you don’t clean or replace them regularly, you risk your air conditioner breaking down often and also having a short lifespan.

To keep your AC in top working condition, make a habit of cleaning the air filters regularly. A great schedule is to clean them monthly and replace them every 3 months.

When replacing the filters, go for high-quality pieces that will last for a long time.

You don’t need to hire professionals to help you clean the filters, but when you are doing it, ensure you thoroughly clean them. When cleaning the filters, also remember to vacuum the vents and air ducts. This will increase the efficiency of the air conditioning system, keep the air clean, and prolong the life of the appliance.

Is it time to replace the air conditioner?

Sometimes even with the best care, you have to replace the air conditioner. Signs it’s time to replace the appliance include:

The appliance is making unusual sounds.

Squealing, rattling, banging, grinding, and other unusual sounds mean there is something seriously wrong with your air conditioner. In most cases, it means the belt has slipped out, or the motor bearings have broken. Replacing these is usually more expensive than replacing the air conditioner, so you are better off getting a new unit.

The AC keeps breaking down.

Does your air conditioner keep breaking down? The money you spend hiring air conditioner repair services Woodbury providers might be more than you would spend on a new unit, so you are better off getting a new appliance.

As mentioned above, when getting a new appliance, ensure it’s the right size for your home. Get a unit with a high energy star rating. This way, you have peace of mind the appliance won’t consume a lot of energy.

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4 Benefits Of Granite Countertops

Posted on July 22, 2020 by Derek

granite countertops

Granite is one of the most popular countertop materials. If you are a new homeowner, you must be wondering why the pieces are so popular. Here are 4 benefits of granite countertops and why you should have them in your home:

Granite comes in plenty of colors.

If you ask many homeowners, they will tell you granite comes in only one color—white. This can’t be further from the truth. Since granite is natural, it comes in plenty of colors to choose from. The most popular colors being: gray, white, black, and many others.

When making the purchase, ask to see the actual slab that the contractors will use to make your countertops. Don’t make the mistake of seeing the sample. It will even be worse if you ask to see the photograph of the sample.

As mentioned, granite is natural, and like other natural products, granite colors and patterns vary significantly from one slab to the other. So be keen when choosing the slab, so you choose the right one.

When inspecting the slab, don’t just pay attention to the color. Also, be on the lookout for obvious signs of damage such as cracks, chips, and fractures. While most of the flaws aren’t a problem, some might compromise the quality of the stone.

They are affordable

Due to their popularity, many people have the impression granite slabs are expensive, which isn’t the case. Compared to other countertop materials such as marble, you will find granite to be quite affordable.

Of course, the cost of the stone will be influenced by several factors such as: quality of the stone, where you are getting the slab, the store you buy from, and many other factors.

You can keep the costs down by using remnants and thinner slabs, but you should be ready to have unappealing seams in your kitchen.

As you are buying the slabs, you should note that some retailers tend to inflate their prices, making the pieces too expensive. To avoid spending a lot of money on the countertops, take your time and research the contractors selling high-quality pieces at a low price.

To even keep the prices low, work with a retailer selling, fabricating, templating, and even installing the countertops by themselves. In addition to this saving you money, it also gives you peace of mind as you deal with one person.

Avoid big box stores as they are not only expensive, they are limited on options.

Granite is easy to maintain

While granite is tough and sturdy, if you don’t take good care of it, it’s only a few years, and it will start looking like cheap junk. Fortunately, you can prevent this from happening by taking good care of the stone.

The first thing you should do is to clean the countertop regularly. The cool thing is you don’t need to use a fancy cleaner to accomplish the task. Warm, soapy water is enough to get the work done.

When cleaning, avoid using an abrasive cleaner that can scratch and damage the surface leaving the surfaces vulnerable to stains and germs.

Another thing you should do is to ensure the countertops are properly sealed. This is to prevent moisture from seeping into the porous stones and leaving permanent stains.

You can personalize the countertops.

Not only do the pieces come in different colors, they are also easy to personalize during the fabrication process. You can polish the surface, giving it a sleek look or give it a rough look with a chiseled edge. It’s up to you to make your choice depending on your desired look.

Granite installers Potomac recommend a sleek, elegant look for minimalistic kitchens and the rough look for rustic homes.

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Pool Contractors: Tips To Choosing The Right Location For The Pool

Posted on May 22, 2020 by Derek

pool contractors

When they are putting up a pool, the first question homeowners ask is where they will build it. Depending on your needs and desired pool design, there are plenty of factors you need to consider to choose the ideal pool location. Some of the factors to consider as given by pool contractors include:

Space

The size of your yard will significantly affect the location of the pool. If you have a small space, you don’t have plenty of options to play with. In most cases, you locate the pool close to the house.

If you are one of the lucky people that have large spaces, you have a large area to play around with. You can build the pool close to the house or set it far away to create the illusion of separate space.

Privacy

Of course, you don’t want to be seen by every person when you are swimming, do you? So you want to locate the pool away from prying eyes. If you live close to the main road, you should locate the pool in an area where people can’t easily see you.

Limiting factors

Your yard might be having several factors that might be preventing you from installing the pool where you would want it. For example, you can’t install an in-ground pool on a slope—the area needs to be on level ground.

Other things that might get in the way of installing the pool include:

  • Windy areas causing excessive water evaporation
  • Low lying areas that are prone to flooding
  • Local building codes
  • Accessibility to pool construction equipment
  • Property lines: Avoid locating the pool over stormwater drains, gas, electricity, sewers, and others.
  • Trees: While overhanging trees provide a welcome relief when you are relaxing by the poolside, they tend to drop leaves to the pool, meaning you have to keep on cleaning it. If you don’t want to keep on doing this, you should locate the pool as far away from the trees as much as possible.

Luckily, an experienced pool builder can help you get around these issues.

Personal preferences

We all have an image of how we want our pools to look like and where we want them located. Before you settle on a given location, think whether the location allows enough sunlight. Does the area allow you to supervise the children easily? Does it provide privacy? Can you easily store equipment and pool supplies nearby?

You shouldn’t be so uptight on the location of the pool. If constructing the pool for the first time, consult a professional pool builder or designer.

Position the pool in an area where you can easily see it from the main living area of the house to maximize the impact of the pool and have your water view.

Locate the pool just outside or next to the entertaining outdoor area. This provides the yard with a seamless transition from the house to the outdoor areas of the pool.

The pool should also be in an area where you can easily see and access the kids. This allows you to have an easy time monitoring how the child is using the pool.

Do you entertain a lot? You want to locate the pool near your entertainment area. This way you can listen to music or watch a movie while in the pool.

Parting shot

These are some of the factors that will influence the location of the pool. In addition to the pool, also think about where the kids will be playing, where the pets will be walking, among many other things. To settle at the ideal location for the pool, work with expert swimming pool builders Long Island.

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Hiring The Right Seller’s Agent DC and Other Tips To Sell Your House Fast

Posted on April 13, 2020 by Derek

sellers agent dc

If you are like other home sellers, you want to sell the house as fast as possible. Luckily, it’s possible to do it. You only need to consider these tips:

Hire the right agent

To have an easy time selling the house, it’s wise to have a seller’s agent DC by your side. Just like in any other area, no two agents are the same, so you should be cautious about how you go about it.

According to HomeLight, the top 5% of real estate agents sell their homes faster and for more money than the average agent. To sell your house quickly, you want to work with the cream of the crop.

When hiring, ask plenty of questions such as: have you sold homes in this price range? What is your marketing strategy for my home? Do you work with a team, or are you representing me on your own? Have you sold houses in this price range?

The purpose of asking questions is to get to know as much as possible about the agent.

To sell the house fast and for the most money, you want to work with an experienced professional. The first thing you should ask to see is the real estate agent’s license. This is to ensure they are qualified.

You should then go through their client referrals and reviews. This helps you to verify that they have had success selling homes, and they are the right agents to sell your house.

After you have found the right agent, go ahead and sign the listing agreement. This is a contract between the seller and the real estate agent that gives the agent the ability to market and sell the house. Once you have signed the agreement, you are bound to work with the real estate agent.

Price the house right

Every seller wants to sell their home at the highest price. While there is nothing wrong with this, you should be realistic. You don’t have to under-price the house for a quick sale, but you should price it smartly.

Your agent will help you price the house right. You can also use a home estimate tool.

Stage the house

Staging the house is highlighting the attractive features of the house so that it’s more attractive to potential buyers. You can do this by rearranging the furniture to open up space, painting the walls with neutral colors, getting rid of apparent imperfections, and many other things.

Depersonalize

It’s common for people to be attached to their houses and want to decorate them with as many personal items as possible. When you are selling the home, you have already declared you no longer want the house.

To make the house more attractive to potential buyers, get rid of the family photos, personal papers, mail, and other items. You are better off presenting the house as a blank slate to the buyers so that they can imagine themselves living there.

Be accommodating

Different buyers might want to see the house at different times of the day. For example, you might be in the middle of lunch or out of the house, and they need to see it. Many homeowners will try to reschedule at a convenient time. Don’t do this.

You should be ready to show the house to potential buyers regardless of the situation.

Remember that when you tell the buyer or realtor DC, you can’t show the house at a given time, this might not work for them, and they move on to the next home. This might result in no buyer wanting to see the house and your house staying in the market for a long time.

As you are showing the house, it’s always wise to be different. For example, bake a fresh plate of cookies and ask the agent and buyer to help themselves. This act not only puts the buyer in a good mood, but it also makes your house memorable.

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What To Do If Your Sink Is Clogged As Given Drain Cleaning Services Providers

Posted on March 21, 2020 by Derek

Many things clog sinks. Bathroom sinks are blocked by dirt, soap residues, and hair. When it comes to the kitchen, the most common culprits are oil, soap scum, cooking grease, and food debris.

All of these materials accumulate into gunk, blocking the drain pipes. Clogging of the sinks is not only scaring, but also frustrating. Luckily, drain cleaning services providers observe that there are plenty of things you can do when your sink has clogged.

What to do when you have partial blockages and a slow drain

Sometimes debris and gunk will build up around the walls of your drain pipes, causing water to drain too slowly. When having this problem, there are several ways in which you can clear the blockage.

Begin with running hot water down the drain. You can also pour boiling water in your drains to soften the clog. If this doesn’t get rid of the clog, add grease-fighting dish detergent and more hot water.

What to do if you have a complete blockage and no drainage

If you have a sink that has completely blocked up and no water is draining, pouring hot water and soap into the drain won’t be of much benefit. Some of the tricks you can use to get rid of the clog include:

Plunging the clog: Use a plunger on the drain and see whether the clog will clear. When plunging the bathroom sink, remember to cover the overflow drain. This is to prevent the water you push with the plunger from spilling out.

Cleaning the elbow joint: If plunging isn’t getting rid of the clog, open up the drain and access the elbow joint. If dirty, clean it. To avoid spilling water on the floor, have a bucket in hand to catch any water that might be present in the pipes or sink.

Snake the drain: If you opened up the elbow joint and the clog isn’t here, you have to go deeper. One of the best tools to use for work is the plumbing snake.

With the elbow joint out of the way, insert the drain snake into the drain. You should feed it until you can’t hear it moving further. Once you hit an obstacle, rotate the snake. You should then pull out the drain snake, and you will come out with the blocking material.

Check the garbage disposal

Sometimes the clogging of the kitchen sink might be due to problems in the garbage disposal. Before you rush to hire a drain contractor, check whether the garbage disposal is clogged.

Garbage disposals often clog up due to food pieces that have stuck between the blades. These you can easily break up manually by turning the disposer blades. Don’t make the mistake of sticking your hand in the garbage disposer as the blades are sharp; hence they can easily hurt you.

Some homeowners like to complete their work fast, so they run for chemical cleaners. Don’t do this as the cleaners tend to damage the garbage disposal.

If having issues getting rid of the clogging material, ask an expert drain technician to help you out.

How can you prevent clogs and blockages in the sink?

To avoid the trouble of unclogging the sinks, you should prevent the clogs from coming about in the first place.

To prevent the kitchen sinks from clogging, avoid pouring cooking grease directly in the kitchen sinks. The best way of disposing of it is by putting it in the garbage disposal.

When it comes to the bathroom, place sink guards in the sinks, sewer cleaning Bergen companies also recommend that you dispose of any hair from the brushes and combs in the garbage. Don’t put them in the sink or toilet.

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