Don’t Forget About Outdoor Plumbing Blockages

Dealing with Outdoor Plumbing Clogs

With so many things that can go wrong with indoor plumbing, it is easy to forget that there are plenty of potential problems in outdoor plumbing too. Outdoor plumbing is just as vital to a house as indoor plumbing but in different ways. Often these fixtures are used to add value to a home through aesthetics or function as protection from rainwater damage.

Outdoor plumbing can suffer from environmental factors. Dealing with plumbing clogs can be stressful, but understanding more about the problem keeps them from getting out of hand. Follow this guide to learn more about outdoor plumbing clogs and how to deal with them when they arise.

What Does Outdoor Plumbing Do?

Outdoor plumbing is even more diverse than indoor plumbing. Indoor plumbing revolves around providing clean water and enabling hygiene, but outdoor plumbing has a lot of different purposes. Outdoor plumbing can include:

Irrigation systems
Pool plumbing
Outdoor water features
Landscape plumbing
Draining plumbing

When considering how diverse outdoor plumbing is, it’s easy to see how problems can be common. Since outdoor plumbing isn’t immediately necessary like hot water for bathing, it can be easily neglected or forgotten about until a clogged pipe demands attention.

What Causes Clogs in Outdoor Plumbing Fixtures?

The environment is the biggest hazard to outdoor plumbing reliability. Outdoor plumbing is usually located underground, so it always has to deal with the debris. To further complicate matters, outdoor plumbing usually only runs intermittently, like landscape drains removing water during a rainstorm and pool pumps that cycle on and off throughout the year. As debris is allowed to settle in outdoor plumbing, it can form clogs. The more intermittent the use of an outdoor plumbing fixture is, the more common and serious the clog that will form.

How to Deal with Tough Outdoor Plumbing Clogs

Outdoor clogs can be tough to deal with. Usually, outdoor clogs manifest themselves with flooding or mechanical failures in the case of pool pumps and water features. The issue with an outdoor plumbing clog is that piping is almost always below the soil’s surface and often below concrete and structures.

Fortunately, plumbers have had special tools for dealing with underground outdoor clogs for decades, like drain snakes. A more recent invention for clearing an outdoor clog is called the hydro jet. The flexibility and functionality of the hydro jetting process have made it the quick contender for the best way to deal with clogs.

During the hydro jetting process, a licensed plumber will feed a high-pressure jet down into the clogged pipe. The pressure from the jet cuts through tough clogs and washes away buildup that tends to cling to the inside of pipes. Once the process is done, the homeowner can expect to be problem-free.

About KC’s 23 1/2 Hour Plumbing and Air Conditioning

KC’s 23 1/2 Hour Plumbing and Air Conditioning have served Palm Springs and Coachella Valley residents for over 38 years. They provide upfront pricing, 24/7 emergency service, and a membership program that offers many benefits. Call them today for plumbing services in Palm Springs, CA.

Lucky AC Repair & Maintenance Tips In Honor of St. Paddy’s Day

3 Pro Tips for Solving (and Preventing) Air Conditioning Problems

Saint Patrick’s Day is the harbinger of spring for many folks – even if it happens to land a little before or after the official equinox. And of course, with springtime comes warmer weather and longer days. So it’s around this time that most people (especially in warmer regions like Southern California) stop using the heater and start cranking up the air conditioner.

And as AC usage increases, it’s not uncommon for homeowners to experience problems or hiccups with their AC systems. Fortunately, many of these seemingly dire issues often come down to a relatively easy fix. So before calling the nearest air conditioner repair company, homeowners may be able to save money and hassle by first eliminating these three possible causes of AC troubles.

Put In a Fresh Air Filter

The air filter is the first thing to check when the air conditioner isn’t working properly. When the filter becomes clogged with dirt, dust, hair, and other household particulates, the air handler won’t be able to pull in the air as effectively. This can drive up energy consumption, hinder unit performance, allow dirt to accumulate on internal components, and even cause the evaporator coils to freeze over. Problems like weak or warm air coming from the vents, uneven cooling, and poor air quality can result in a dirty filter.

Fortunately, the solution is simple: change the air filter! Or, if the home has a washable filter, it should be cleaned according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The ideal air filter replacement or cleaning schedule depends on various factors, such as the number of pets in the home, the overall level of dust (some rural homes may get more dirt or pollen tracked in), and any respiratory sensitivities of the occupants, but every 3-4 months is a good baseline.

Make Sure the Thermostat Isn’t the Problem

The thermostat is the next place to turn when the AC starts acting up. Dirt and dust can accumulate inside the thermostat and interfere with sensors or other electrical components. Wires can come loose or become corroded over time. Something could cause the thermostat breaker to trip. Older mechanical thermostats feature mercury bulbs that one can knock off balance with a bump.

These issues can cause a range of cooling problems, such as short-cycling (the system turns on and off repeatedly), continuous running, incorrect indoor temperature, and total system failure or shutdown.

If the thermostat screen is blank or the unit has suddenly stopped working, the best bet is to check the breaker or try replacing the thermostat batteries. When the unit is not performing correctly, homeowners can turn off the breaker and then remove the thermostat cover to inspect the internal components for dust, an off-kilter mercury bulb, loose wires, or other visual evidence. If there’s no obvious problem, or if the breaker continues to trip, it’s good to call an AC repair specialist to diagnose the issue.

Schedule a Tune-Up for Year-Round Protection

Finally, some AC performance problems may simply result from inadequate maintenance. This is the leading cause of heater and AC breakdowns and is usually preceded by one or more of the issues mentioned above – the house won’t get cool enough, the unit is always on, the HVAC breaker keeps tripping, etc.

A typical air conditioner tune-up and maintenance visit involves thoroughly cleaning the unit, lubricating fan bearings and other moving parts, checking belts and other components for wear and tear (and replacing them if need be), testing electrical systems, measuring performance metrics, recharging refrigerant lines, and numerous other tasks that ensure that the entire cooling system is in good shape and running at peak performance.

Whether homeowners are experiencing problems or not, it’s a good idea to schedule AC maintenance in the spring before the heat of summer arrives in full force – it’s truly the best way to ensure good luck all year long!

About KC’s 23 ½ Hour Plumbing and Air Conditioning

KC’s 23 ½ Hour Plumbing and Air Conditioning has been serving the Coachella Valley for over 40 years. As an award-winning and highly-rated local business, they offer flat-rate pricing, 24/7 emergency service, and a rewarding membership plan. They also guarantee 100% satisfaction on every job, so there’s no one better to call for air conditioner maintenance and repair in Palm Springs, CA.

A Dripping Faucet Can Ruin Any Mood

A Leaky Faucet Kills the Romance

February is the month for all things love and romance. Whether before or after Valentine’s Day, love is in the air. It’s time to take a night off for that special date night with a loved one. However, date night isn’t as romantic when the home has a leaky faucet somewhere. There is nothing like a constant drip from a faucet to ruin the mood of a romantic dinner or movie. Homeowners should have their sink repair done before their big date night this month to ensure the romance continues to flow!

Below is all the information homeowners need to understand the dangers of a dripping faucet and how to fix it. Continue reading to learn more about the plumbing system.

Dripping Faucets Lead To Dangerous Outcomes

It is never good to have water leaking into the home, even if it is leaking from the faucet. For starters, it inevitably leads to tons of wasted water. This is bad for the environment, but it’s bad for the homeowner’s wallet because all of the leaking water will lead to higher water bills.

These things are bad, but the real danger lies within what happens if the problem isn’t fixed soon enough. Leaking faucets can lead to mold growth in and around the faucet and potentially underneath the sink. Mold growth is incredibly dangerous in the home, especially if it ends up in the drinking water. Don’t let a molding faucet ruin those date night plans!

Why Does It Happen?

There are several different reasons why a faucet can start leaking. For one, the faucet could just be old and need to be replaced. Sometimes, it is better to replace a faucet early if it starts leaking rather than replacing any parts.

That said, a few other causes of a leaky faucet are:

Corrosion
Damaged or broken O-ring
Defective gasket
Defective washers
Broken or damaged cartridge
Water pressure problems

These causes are fairly easy to fix if homeowners hire a professional. The plumber will be able to tell them if it’s worth it to fix or if they should simply replace the faucet entirely.

Different Ways To Fix It

One of the most common causes of a leaky faucet is a damaged or broken cartridge. There are a few steps that professionals take to replace them. Depending on the type of sink a homeowner has, there are a few different steps to take, but for the most part, the replacement is generally the same.

Here are the basic steps to replace a cartridge:

First, turn off the water
Take off the handle covers
Remove the handles
Take off any nuts
Now, one can remove the cartridge
Remove and replace the O-ring
Replace the cartridge
Replace the handles and handle covers
Turn the water back on

KC’s 23 1/2 Hour Plumbing and Air Conditioning Care About Homeowners

KC’s 23 1/2 Hour Plumbing and Air Conditioning has 40 years of excellent service in the Coachella Valley area. They are about their community and offer 24/7 emergency services for those in need. Homeowners can trust they’re getting impeccable plumbing service in Palm Springs, CA when they call this company. Call today!

3 Ways to Improve Your Home’s Heating and Cooling This Year

3 Ways to Improve Heating and Cooling This Year

Heading into the new year is a chance for homeowners to reevaluate their HVAC system to find ways to lessen their utility bills, boost energy savings, and keep maintenance low. Here are three HVAC expert-approved ways to improve the performance of a heating and cooling system in 2022.

Optimize the Temperature Settings

The ideal temperature settings for each home will vary based on climate and the homeowner’s preferences, but keeping the temperature consistent is always key to keeping energy usage low. When the air conditioning is turning on and off constantly, it uses more energy, making for higher energy bills and putting more strain on the system overall leading to more frequent repairs.

Smart thermostats and programmable thermostats make it easier to optimize the temperature settings. Thermostat replacement can be easy for homeowners to improve their heating and cooling this year. Smart thermostats learn the energy usage patterns of the home and make adjustments automatically.

Schedule Bi-Annual Maintenance

One should do AC maintenance and heating maintenance at least twice a year. Air conditioning maintenance involves:

Cleaning the inside of the unit
Replacing coolant fluid
Checking for worn-out parts

Heating maintenance can be more complicated due to the high temperatures within a furnace or boiler and should always be left to the experts.

Keeping up with HVAC system maintenance will promote the system’s longevity by preventing unnecessary repairs. During regularly scheduled maintenance, the technician will have a chance to look over the system for signs of damage that could indicate a larger problem. Doing maintenance just twice a year can drastically extend the lifespan of the heating and cooling system.

Change the Air Filters Often

Air filters are an important aspect of a central air system. The filtration system cleans dust, dirt, pet hair, dander, and other debris from the air as it circulates. When the air filter becomes too dirty, dust bunnies can take over the HVAC system and eventually cause a system failure. Dirty air filters can also cause allergic reactions to flare up from the airborne contaminants.

Most air filters need to be replaced every three months, but in homes with many family members, multiple pets, or cigarette smokers, the filter may need to be replaced every month or every other month. Forgetting to change the filter may not seem like a big deal, but this mistake can cause a total HVAC system failure that is difficult to repair.

AC filter replacement is usually a simple process, but homeowners unable to do it themselves should contact a local AC company for filter replacement services. An experienced HVAC technician can help the homeowner determine which air filter is right for their system and how often they should optimally replace it.

About KC’s 23 1/2 Hour Plumbing and Air Conditioning

KC’s 23 1/2 Hour Plumbing and Air Conditioning is a top-rated local heating company that offers comprehensive HVAC services to Palm Springs and the surrounding areas. They are available 24/7 for plumbing or HVAC emergencies and have a flat-rate menu of prices, so homeowners always know what to expect.