Design Comfort Blog: Archive for the ‘Plumbing’ Category

Have you ever had a child stump you with a question that seems simple on the surface, but is actually difficult to answer when you have to put it into words? Most of us have; children wonder about things adults often take for granted, such as the color of the sky… or the shape of home plumbing.

“Why does the pipe under the sink have that funny curve in it?” We don’t know if a child has ever asked you this question, but we’d wager that most adults don’t have a good answer. We’ll give you one, and help you better understand your home’s plumbing at the same time and why you need that curved pipe taking up valuable storage space in your cabinet. If you need more than answers—you need repairs—then look among the plumbing services in Salt Lake City, UT to find Design Comfort.

The p-trap

That curved J-shaped pipe is known as the p-trap, and it serves the function of preventing sewer gas backflow from your drains. When water runs down your drain, it flows through the p-trap without obstruction, but when you shut off the water, a small amount of liquid remains in the p-trap. This water forms an air-tight seal against air from further down the pipe from coming up through drain. Without this water plug, sewer gases from decomposed matter in the drain waste vent would come back up through your sink drain and create a noxious smell in your home. The sewer gases can even harm your health in large doses. That simple curve in your pipe makes home life much more pleasant.

You need to make sure that the p-trap has a water seal inside it. Usually this only requires running the water in your sink regularly, so it isn’t something you’ll need to think about often. However, if there is a sink in your home that rarely receives use, the p-trap can dry up because of water evaporation. If you notice sewage smells coming from a sink you don’t often use, run water through it to restore the plug—and try to run water through it at least once a week.

P-traps are where clogs usually develop in sinks: they catch hair, soap scum, and grease. Sometimes you’ll need a professional plumber to clean out your p-trap, wither with hydro-jetters or by removing the pipe. Make sure you let a professional handle this job: trying to work on a p-trap yourself can get messy.

We hope this has answered your question (or your child’s) about the curved pipe under the sink. It may take up space you could use for storage, but life without it would really, well, stink.

When you need any plumbing services in Salt Lake City, UT, call Design Comfort!

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Tags: Plumbing, Salt Lake City
Posted in Plumbing | Comments Off on Why Are the Pipes Under My Sink Curved That Way?

Clogged drains… they happen. They shouldn’t happen often, but it’s rare for a homeowner to go a full year without experiencing this hassle at least one time. Usually, a clogged drain presents little trouble for a professional plumber to clear, although occasionally a clog may indicate a larger problem within a home’s plumbing.

The Salt Lake City plumbing experts at Design Comfort have many years of experience cleaning out blocked drains. We’ve put together a list of the common reasons that clogs happen, some of which you can avoid in the future with a few precautions.

• Oil, fat, and grease: One of the most common mistakes people make with their drains in the kitchen is to pour hot oil, fat, or grease down them (or the disposal). Although these liquids seem harmless, they solidify into a thick waxy substance after they dry. This will start to build up on the inside of the drainpipes and eventually lead to full clogs. Pour out these liquids into a separate container and relegate them to the trash, not the drains.
• Too much food/garbage: Your drains are not garbage disposals. They are not designed to handle heavy waste such as food and paper, so if you toss things into them that should go into the trash, it can cause horrible clogging. (And while we’re on the subject, garbage doesn’t go in the “garbage” disposal either. As a rule, if you can’t chew it, neither can the disposal. Put chicken bones, un-popped popcorn kernels, and other hard substances in the actual garbage.)
• Hair and soap scum: This is principally a problem for showers and bathroom sinks. Hair and soap naturally go down these drains, but they can build up in the p-trap (the curved pipe beneath the drain) and eventually create a clog. To help prevent this, have a cap over the drain.
• Damage to the sewer line: This is a serious problem that will begin affecting drains around your home. If you notice the clogs are happening in different drains, and that there is a foul, septic odor emanating from them, call plumbers immediately: you probably have damage in the sewer line that runs out to the municipal sewer.

Some of these clogs you might manage to clear on your own with a plunger. If that doesn’t work, avoid the temptation to use caustic liquid chemicals and instead call for a professional plumber to handle the work. Plumbers will use powered drain snakes and hydro-jetters to clean out your drain thoroughly and also help prevent the trouble from re-occurring. A plumber can also take care of a larger job like fixing a damaged sewer line.

When you need expert plumbing services in Salt Lake City, UT, call Design Comfort any time of the day or night.

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Tags: Plumbing, Salt Lake City
Posted in Plumbing | Comments Off on Here’s Why Your Drains are Clogging