Design Comfort Blog: Archive for the ‘Plumbing’ Category

What Are the Benefits of Using a Low-Flow Toilet?

Monday, March 28th, 2016

Water conservation has become a hot topic in recent years, and with good reason. Fortunately, innovative plumbing technologies have allowed us to enjoy the same great performance we need from our plumbing systems while dramatically reducing the amount of water it uses. One of these technologies is a low-flow toilet, which uses significantly less water than a standard full-flush toilet. They can use as little as 1.6 gallons of water per flush, versus the typical 3.5 gallons of conventional toilets. Keep reading to learn the benefits of using a low-flow toilet.

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How Does a Water Softener Work?

Monday, March 21st, 2016

At one time or another, most homeowners have come across hard water. That is, water that contains more minerals—such as calcium and magnesium—than ordinary water. Calcium and magnesium prevent other positively charged ions from dissolving easily, leading to a buildup of these materials in your plumbing system. Soon you’ll discover deposits of soap, iron and lime in your showers, sinks and faucets. There are various ways to combat hard water, such as using a water softener.

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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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How to Properly Care for Your Garbage Disposal

Monday, March 23rd, 2015

A garbage disposal is a great addition to any kitchen. It aids in the elimination of food waste, cuts down on dishwashing time, and generally makes your life a bit easier. Though it may seem like one of the sturdier appliances in your home, the garbage disposal can actually break down quite easily if not treated properly. If you’re not sure how to keep your garbage disposal in top condition, read on.

Things to Do:

The first thing you should do for your garbage disposal is keep it clean. A small amount of dish soap and cold water is a good way to keep your garbage disposal healthy. You can also pour boiling water down the disposal to clear out any debris that might be clinging to the inside of the chamber. However, you shouldn’t run the garbage disposal while doing so. You should only use cold water while running the garbage disposal. Whether it is a good idea to put egg shells or coffee grounds down the disposal to clean it is a topic of some debate among professional plumbers. We’ll leave it up to you whether or not to take the risk, though it is possible that such things help to scour out the inside of the disposal.

Things Not to Do:

First, never put large bones or any other hard object down the garbage disposal. These can cause the disposal blades to break and require replacement. It’s also not a good idea to use the disposal for anything extremely fibrous, like celery. The fibers from the plant can tangle the blades of the disposal and cause it to overheat. Don’t pour any kind of grease or fat into the garbage disposal. Though these are often liquids when you pour them into the disposal, they will quickly congeal into a semi-solid state. This can clog up the disposal. Finally, absolutely avoid anything that isn’t actually food waste. Nothing that isn’t biodegradable.

If you have any questions about caring for your garbage disposal, call Design Comfort. We provide garbage disposal services throughout Salt Lake City.

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What are Pinhole Leaks?

Friday, February 20th, 2015

The average life expectancy of a copper plumbing system is up to a century. That’s long enough that you probably won’t ever have to worry about replacing your home’s plumbing.

However, the longevity of copper pipes does not mean that they are invincible. There are still a few unique and serious problems that can affect copper plumbing systems, and you should be aware of how they work. Let’s take a look at one of the most serious problems that can afflict copper pipes: pinhole leaks.

What Causes Pinhole Leaks?

Pinhole leaks are the result of a special kind of corrosion known as “pitted corrosion.” Pitted corrosion is odd in a few different ways. For one thing, it almost exclusively affects copper pipes in plumbing systems. For another, it is always focused on a very small area of the pipe, and progresses from the outside inward. This allows the corrosion to eat through the pipe faster. Finally, despite years of research studies, no one has yet been able to determine why pitted corrosion occurs so often in copper pipes. When the corrosion finally does open a hole in the pipe, it is often very small. This is why these leaks are called “pinhole” leaks.

The Dangers of Pinhole Leaks

So, why are pinhole leaks so dangerous? The main reason is because they are extremely difficult to detect. Pinhole leaks are so small that they don’t cause any of the usual symptoms that warns homeowners of a plumbing problem. There’s no loss in water pressure, or discoloration from rust in the water. Instead, the pinhole leak just releases one or two drops at a time, too little to be noticed.

The problem with being so difficult to notice is that pinhole leaks have time to deal a lot of water damage to the surrounding area. Most plumbing pipes are located in the walls, surrounded by studs and insulation. If the pinhole leak goes unnoticed for a long enough period of time, it can rot away the insulation and even weaken the studs. By the time you notice the damage to the wall, there’s not much to be done but replace the whole section.

The best way to stop pinhole leaks from causing so much damage is to have a professional plumber inspect your plumbing at least once a year. If you haven’t had your home’s plumbing examined in a while, call Design Comfort. We provide plumbing services throughout West Valley.

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What Is a P-Trap?

Wednesday, February 4th, 2015

When you open the cabinet underneath the bathroom sink to put away a cleaning product or fresh towels, you may have to reposition a few things in order to make it fit, as a curved piece of pipe underneath the sink is in the way. This same type of fitting sits underneath your kitchen sink; in fact, it’s underneath every drain in your home. If you were to examine the plumbing system of your home, a curved section of pipe is under every tub, sink, and outdoor drain, a part known as a trap. And the most common type of trap is the P-trap, named for its “P” shape.

For more information about your plumbing system and to receive comprehensive plumbing services in Sandy, call our skilled team of certified plumbers today.

The Purpose of the P-Trap

Plumbing traps have been around since 1775, but the first P-trap was used by Thomas Crapper in 1880. The sole purpose of a plumbing trap is to fill up with water and prevent sewer gases from entering the home. The noxious fumes from sewage are effectively blocked as long as there is a small amount of water in the bend. The original “S” shape would clog and back up frequently, so a U-bend was more appropriate in most cases. The addition of a straight pipe made for a sideways “P,” which is how the new pipe got its name.

Trouble with the P-Trap

The P-trap may eventually run into some trouble, including the occasional leak or clog. But the good news is that the P-trap under your sink is exposed, which makes repairing a leak a lot easier. Furthermore, any clogs are right near the surface, so your plumber won’t have to use any heavy equipment to remove the blockage. And if you lose a piece of jewelry at the P-trap, it’s not too hard for a plumber to fish it out.

Finally, if you do happen to smell something foul from the drains despite the presence of a P-trap, there may be a quick fix. If you’ve been on vacation and the drain has not been used, it might have dried out. Simply turn on the water and see if that helps. If not, try pouring vinegar and baking soda down the drain, and if all else fails, call an expert.

Call the friendly people at Design Comfort for information, advice, and exceptional plumbing services in Sandy.

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3 Reasons to Replace Your Water Heater

Wednesday, May 7th, 2014

You turn the handle with the letter “H” or the red mark on it, and hot water pours out of a faucet or showerhead. This is something you expect to happen every day, and thanks to a sturdy water heater, you will get it almost every day.

But then that day will come when it won’t happen: you have a dead water heater and you need to replace it with a new system. This happens to all water heaters eventually—no home appliance can endure forever. But you may decide to replace your heater before this occurs: here are three good reasons to schedule water heater replacement service in Salt Lake City before the heater gives out on you entirely.

Installing a new system to provide you with the hot water necessary for daily comfort is a simple task for the right professionals: call on Design Comfort, where water heaters are one of our specialties.

1. It is exceptionally old

You should know the age of your system and the manufacturer’s expected lifespan for it. (Look on the heaters tank to find this information.) Most heaters will last 1–15 years with maintenance. A heater over 15 years could begin to fail at any time, and should be replaced before it turns into a money waster and a source of numerous repairs. You have already received a great return on the initial investment; get ahead of the heater before it begins to fail.

2. It has started to corrode

Corrosion striking the tank is often the sign of a water heating system in its final stages. When rusty brown water starts flowing from the taps, or if you spot corrosion on the water tank, then the water heater is on the verge of dying and repairs will not reverse the process.

3. You want to shift to a tankless water heater

If your family has grown since you installed the water heater, you might start to find that the old heater is inadequate for your needs and runs out of hot water too rapidly. In this case, consider the switch to the technological advance of the tankless water heater, which not only saves power (no need to keep a tank of water constantly hot with continuous energy use) but provides you hot water on-demand… so you’ll never run out of hot water, no matter how many people in your home need morning showers. Ditch the old storage heater for a tankless model if your installer thinks it will better fill your needs.

Remember that you need to have trained and qualified installers put in a new water heater for your home or else it will not work as expected and encounter efficiency and performance issues. Trust the work to the staff at Design Comfort, where water heater replacement in Salt Lake City is one of the services we take pride in.

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How Does a Sump Pump Work?

Thursday, April 24th, 2014

Here in Utah, the rainy season means frequent floods and prudent homeowners will take steps to protect their homes from heavy rains. Plumbing repair companies often offer protective measures against flooding, specifically a sump pump which can be installed in your basement with relative ease. It’s a sensible addition to your household, for a number of different reasons. How does a sump pump work? The answers will help explain how invaluable they can be.

The sump pump is installed in a sump pit, a small hole dug into the lowest point in your home. As water leaks into the basement during a flood, it triggers a float activator or pressure sensor, which turns the sump pump on. A device called an impeller – which resembles a small fan – starts to turn in the pump, creating centrifugal force that pushes the water to the sides of the pump. That creates a low-pressure vacuum at the center of the pump, which sucks in the water from the pit and pushes it upwards, then out of the home via a venting pipe. The results keep you basement from flooding and can potentially avert tens of thousands of dollars in damages.

Some types of sump pumps are mounted on stands above the pit. They cost less than other sump pumps, but tend to make a lot more noise when they run. Submersible pumps, which are placed in the pit with the water, tend to be a lot quieter, but cost more to install than pedestal-mounted pumps. Both types usually use electricity, which means they need to be connected to a generator or the power grid in your home to work.

Knowing how a sump pump works is just the first step. The next is to call a Millcreek plumbing repair company that can install one with professionalism and pride. The experts at Design Comfort proudly serve homes throughout the Salt Lake City area, and we can discuss your options with you before installing the right sump pump for you. Pick up the phone today to make an appointment. You’ll be glad you did!

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