What Not to Flush Down the Toilet

Many home clogs are actually caused by homeowner negligence. Small, seemingly harmless pieces of trash can eventually cause debilitating clogs after being flushed. This report from the West County Wastewater District shows viewers which items should be kept out of your drain.



Tough clogs begin when one piece of debris gets caught inside your pipes. This stoppage catches other piece of debris and begins to build up within your drain lines. Thankfully, you can eliminate these clog risks by keeping unsafe items out of the toilet bowl.


A trained plumber can eliminate even the most stubborn clogs. In fact, Beacon Plumbing, Heating & Mechanical can handle your toughest plumbing emergency with ease. Call us at (206) 452-4363 if your home or business needs reliable 24-hour plumbing service.

Clogged Drains debris in clogs Clogged Toilet 24-hour plumbing service

Common Reasons You May Require a Sewer Line Video Inspection

Sewer line video cameras are used by plumbers to take up-close footage of your plumbing problems. In fact, many sewer line problems are impossible to find without a video inspection. The following clogs are just a few of the reasons that your home could need a sewer line inspection.

• Root Intrusion: Strong tree roots can penetrate and clog underground sewer lines. Unfortunately, these intrusions often take place several yards away from your home. A sewer line video inspection is absolutely necessary to pinpoint the exact location of the clog. Plumbers can then use this data to access the clogged pipe, remove the roots, and recommend preventative tips.

• Metal Blockage: Your home’s hard water may lead to a serious sewer line clog. Metal salts trapped in hard water can solidify when exposed to the metals in your sewer pipe. Eventually this solid build-up can cause a serious clog. Schedule a sewer line video inspection if your home plumbing uses hard water—early checks will help you spot and solve hard water buildup before a clog occurs.

• Homeowner Debris: Almost any item other than toilet paper can become a clog risk once flushed down the drain. You should have your drains inspected with a video line if your family has a history of flushing man-made items down the toilet. Children, for example, commonly flush large plastic objects like toys or blocks. Use early and routine inspection will to avoid larger costs down the road.

• Deep Leaks: Old plumbing is bound to break down and cause deep leaks underground. Sadly, these leaks are hard to spot until your home is impacted by flooding or a surging water bill. Schedule regular video line inspections at your home to catch pipe wear before advanced foundation damage occurs.

Beacon Plumbing, Heating & Mechanical can provide emergency plumbing and sewer line video services for your Seattle home. Call us at (206) 452-4363 to learn more about our plumbing business or to schedule an inspection.

plumbing Seattle Emergency Plumbing Sewer Line Repair Sewer Emergency

Unlimited hydroplane No. 37 unveiled at SSCC

Unlimited hydroplane No. 37 unveiled at SSCC

By Patrick Robinson and David Rosen


The Automotive Collision Repair students at South Seattle Community College joined with legendary hydroplane driver Billy Schumacher, the new sponsor Beacon Plumbing and owner Bill Cahill and SSCC President Gary Oertli to unveil the brand new look for the hydroplane, set to race at Seafair this August.

During the ceremony instructors Steve Ford, Doug Clapper, Howard Andersen, and Eric Smock were recognized.

President Oertli recalled memories of his youth in West Seattle and how he would bring sandwiches to Seafair every year. He recounted meeting Seafair and hydroplane legend Bill Muncey and had his photo taken with him.

The students gave the race boat a complete make-over which included stripping the old paint, and applying the new color and clear coat. Heavy Duty Diesel and Automotive Technology students also performed major maintenance on the truck that will tow the boat for the 2012 racing season.

The No. 37 is owned by legendary Billy Schumacher (“Billy the Kid”), the former unlimited champion driver who won 17 races from 1967-1976, and is perhaps best known for his unprecedented string of wins with the Miss Bardahl team.

Schumacher Racing has paid a shop fee and materials costs for the student project.

The newly-painted and refinished boat will carry the South Seattle Community College name and logo on its side as it competes throughout the U.S. and in Qatar this season.

How You Can Put an End to Your Smelly Drain Woes

Strong drain odors can easily spread to multiple rooms in your home. Thankfully, you can prevent the smell of sewage from entering your household with a bit of preventative plumbing. Use these simple drain maintenance tips to solve smelly drain problems for good.
• Monitor Clogs: Smelly drains are often a symptom of a serious drain clog. A foul smell naturally begins to rise after hair, dirt, and grease begin to collect in one spot. However, you can prevent these smelly clogs by being careful about what you put down the drain. For example, you should keep string vegetables out of the garbage disposal—fibrous vegetables can get caught in drains and contribute to clogs.

• Cycle Plumbing: Some plumbing smells are the result of insufficient maintenance. For instance, your home plumbing should include a p-shaped trap. This curved pipe holds a small reservoir of water that blocks sewer smells from traveling into your home. You’ll have to change this water every so often to keep foul drain smells below the surface. Sewer smells can also start in sink and tub overflows. Be sure to clean these plumbing sections regularly to avoid unpleasant odors. Rinses with hot-water and a bit of vinegar can help to remove odors as well.

• Contact Professionals: Often homegrown remedies and basic maintenance are not enough to eliminate a clog odor. Smells caused by deep clogs will need professional plumbing equipment to eliminate. Plus, the plumber’s video sewer line inspections can show you the exact cause of your plumbing odors. This information can help you prevent clogs in the future.

Contact Beacon Plumbing, Heating & Mechanical after strong drain odors invade your home. Our quick plumbing repairs could save your home from foul smells and potential flooding. You can reach us 24 hours a day and 7 days a week at (206) 452-4363.



Tired of Dealing with Clogged Drains?

The articles and pages below can help you understand the value of a quality plumbing service as well as how to tell if you have a potential sewer line problem on your hands. Contact Beacon Plumbing, Heating & Mechanical at (206) 452-4363 for more information on our recent topics.


•Visit this page from ThisOldHouse.com to learn more about how tree roots can find their way into your sewer line and cause problems.

•This reference from Angie's List can help you learn more about choosing a quality plumber.

•Check out this page from NACHI.org to get an idea of what plumbing supplies every homeowner should have on hand.

•Get some basic information on unclogging a drain at this page from HowStuffWorks.com.

•Check out this page from HandyAmerican.com to learn more about how to choose a qualified plumber.

What to Look for in a Quality Plumbing Service

When you need your home's plumbing repaired or maintained, it's important to have a quality plumber on your side. A plumber with the experience and attitude to get the job done will help you get back to your normal routine as soon as possible. Such a professional can also help you keep up with plumbing maintenance so your fixtures and piping perform as expected throughout the years.

Proper Licensing

The first thing to look for in a plumber is the appropriate licensing required by your local authorities. Unlicensed plumbers don't usually offer warranties or guarantees on their work, and can't be held accountable by any agency. Licensed plumbers, on the other hand, provide reputable, reliable, and quality service to their customers.

Experience

An experienced plumbing service will be able to handle any plumbing issue, large or small, with confidence and skill. Well-equipped plumbers with an established business will have commonly-used parts on hand, which can speed up the repair process. They will otherwise be able to obtain anything necessary within a reasonable amount of time.

Local Roots

Choosing a local plumbing service means more than just convenience for you—local plumbers build relationships through their service to the community, and their greatest asset is their customers. They understand the value in creating positive relationships and obtaining references from previous customers. Because local plumbers care about the wellbeing of their customers, they can also provide advice on preventative maintenance. Take advantage of their knowledge, and ask your plumber what you can do to prevent future problems and keep your plumbing in good condition.

Beacon Plumbing, Heating & Mechanical proudly serves the Seattle area with our plumbing expertise. Visit us online to learn more about our company, or contact us at (206) 452-4363 to schedule an appointment for plumbing services.