Preventing Home Sewer Problems

A broken sewer pipe can be a major headache to deal with, and the cost of sewer line repair can come as a shock if you are not prepared for it. To prevent unexpected problems, have your sewer line inspected, especially if your home is more than 40 years old. During an inspection, a sewer repair company will use a camera to look at your sewer line. This inspection will reveal any potential problems and give you the option of traditional or trenchless sewer line repair. Watch this video for more tips on preventing and dealing with home sewer problems.

If you can’t remember the last time your sewer line was inspected, contact Beacon Plumbing, Heating & Mechanical. We use advanced video cameras to inspect the condition of your home’s sewer line, and we offer trenchless sewer line repair to maintain your property. For additional information about our sewer line inspection and repair services, call us at (206) 452-4363.

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How to Tell if You Have a Leak in Your Home

A leak can waste hundreds of gallons of water in just a few days. And if that leak is hidden, it can result in extensive water damage over the course of a few weeks or months. Besides the obvious signs of a leak (pooling water, mold, etc.), look at your monthly water bills to determine whether or not you have a leak. If your water bills have been unusually high, there may be a leak somewhere in your home that is wasting water. You can also turn off all fixtures, faucets, and appliances for eight hours, and read the water meter to see if the needle has moved.

If you suspect that your home has a leak, contact the emergency plumbing repair specialists at Beacon Plumbing, Heating & Mechanical. Our team can help you save water and avoid expensive water damage repair. Visit our website to learn more about our plumbing services in Seattle, or call us at (206) 452-4363 to schedule a service.

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How to Remove a Hair Clog from Your Shower Drain

There are a lot of materials that clog your pipes, but hair is especially common. Over time, stray hairs can accumulate into a huge mass that prevents water from draining. If your shower is not draining as quickly as it used to, you may need to remove a hair clog from the pipe. To do this, you can place a bent wire hanger down the drain and rotate it to collect the blockage. Bring the wire up and discard the hair. Watch this video to see this technique in action.

If this doesn’t clear up your drain, contact Beacon Plumbing, Heating & Mechanical. Our expert plumbers can fix all of your residential and commercial plumbing problems. Browse our complete plumbing services online, or call us at (206) 452-4363 to speak with one of our plumbers in the Seattle area.

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What are the Most Common Types of Plumbing Emergencies?

No matter how well you take care of your home, a plumbing emergency is bound to occur from time to time—and when it does, it’s important to leave the repairs to a professional plumber. Even if you are an experienced do-it-yourselfer, you probably don’t have the tools or experience needed to quickly and successfully repair a plumbing emergency. The faster your plumbing issue is dealt with, the sooner you can return to your daily routine. Here is a look at some of the most common emergencies that require a plumber. 

 

Clogged Pipes

If your pipes become clogged with debris, they will be unable to deliver and remove water from your faucets, sinks, and toilets. Common clogs include hair, oil, heavy paper, and mineral build-up associated with hard water. You may be able to use a plunger or plumbing snake to remove a small blockage near the drain, but you will need to contact a plumber for buildup further along in the pipes.

Leaky Faucets

A leaky faucet is no big deal, right? Wrong! Even a minor leak can waste hundreds or even thousands of gallons of water in just a few days, so contact a plumber at the first sign of a leak. The longer you wait to repair a leak, the greater the chances of incurring water damage. Leaky faucets are the most common culprit, but a leak can also develop around a toilet or inside your water heater.

Sewage Backup

An overflowing toilet is never fun, but add sewage into the mix and this plumbing nuisance quickly becomes a plumbing emergency. If sewage backs up into your home, it can expose your entire family to harmful bacteria that can cause serious health issues. Contact a plumber as soon as possible to avoid a bigger disaster than you already have.

For all of your home’s plumbing emergencies, contact Beacon Plumbing, Heating & Mechanical. We offer 24-hour emergency plumbing services in Seattle. Our plumbers are standing by to assist you with same-day service, so contact us online or call us at (206) 452-4363 if you have any questions.

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How Often Should You Have Your Furnace Serviced?



 

There is no worse feeling than experiencing a broken furnace during the coldest day of the year. To ensure that your furnace is properly equipped to heat your home all winter long, it is important to have your furnace regularly serviced. To determine the appropriate service interval for your furnace, it is essential to consider the year and model of your furnace. If you notice that your older furnace is experiencing mechanical difficulties, you should schedule a furnace maintenance appointment right away. Newer furnace models should also be serviced on a yearly basis.

 

Contact Beacon Plumbing, Heating, & Mechanical to schedule your next furnace repair appointment. Our highly skilled technicians can provide you with a full lineup of services for your home, including sewer line repairs, furnace and water heater repairs, and heating in Seattle. To learn more about the quality services we offer to homeowners, give us a call at (206) 452-4363 or visit our website. 

 

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Why Do Pipes Burst?

 

 

The cooler winter weather is just around the corner, so it’s important to ensure that your home’s plumbing and pipes are ready for cooler weather. Burst pipes are one of the most common winter plumbing emergencies. By understanding why pipes burst when it is cold outside, you can prepare your pipes to withstand freezing temperatures. Let’s take a look at why pipes burst, and how you can avoid this serious plumbing issue.

Frozen Water Results In Burst Pipes

Water expands as it is exposed to freezing temperatures. When water freezes in a pipe, it can cause a complete obstruction of the interior of the pipe. As the pipe becomes blocked by frozen water, water pressure will build up behind the blockage. With nowhere to go, this pent-up water pressure will eventually cause the pipe to burst. Because frozen water is the primary cause of a burst pipe, this occurrence is most commonly reported during the coldest days of winter.

Preventing Burst Pipes

As a homeowner, there are several simple steps that you can take to prevent your pipes from bursting. Before the onset of the cold winter season, it is important to make sure that all of your pipes are properly insulated. If possible, make sure that all of your pipes are located in heated areas of your home. Your plumber should professionally insulate any exposed pipes. At the first sign of a burst pipe in your home, you should call your plumber for emergency services right away.

To learn more about preparing your home for winter, contact Beacon Plumbing, Heating, & Mechanical. We offer a complete range of highly rated plumbing and heating services, and our experts will ensure that your entire home is properly equipped for the coldest days of the year. Call us at (206) 452-4363 to learn more about the heating, furnace, and sewer repairs we offer to homeowners in the Seattle area. 

 

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How to Locate a Shower Leak inside a Wall

To locate a shower leak inside of a wall, it’s important to use the right tools and equipment. With proper diagnosis, the shower leak can be thoroughly repaired. For a look at some of the tools used to locate shower leaks, watch this video from John Whipple.

At Beacon Plumbing, Heating, & Mechanical, we will provide you with a full range of emergency services. From plumbing services to furnace repairs and more, our expert technicians will ensure that your home is in fantastic condition. To schedule your next plumbing, heating, or furnace appointment, visit our website today or call us at (206) 452-4363.

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How to Prevent Plumbing Emergencies [INFOGRAPHIC]

It’s easy to take your plumbing for granted—until something goes wrong. Sewer line and plumbing emergencies can be costly and create hazardous situations in your home. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent many plumbing emergencies. Perform a visual inspection of all of your faucets, toilets, and pipe connections to see if there are any signs of leaks. Leaks often start as a small problem, but can escalate quickly and cause serious damage to your home. In this infographic from the plumbing experts at Beacon Plumbing, Heating & Mechanical in Seattle, you’ll learn what else you can do to keep plumbing emergencies at bay. Taking small steps, like using drain covers and being aware of what enters your pipes, can prevent big problems from happening. Please share this important information with your friends and family!

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Go Beast Mode on Your Seattle Plumbing Problems

Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch says “Stop Freakin...Call Beacon!” Check out the video here:



Give us a call at (206) 452-4363 to schedule an appointment with our master plumbers today!

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Simple Mistakes That Can Result in a Plumbing Emergency

While some plumbing problems are unavoidable, other plumbing emergencies are a result of operator error. To help avoid a plumbing emergency in your home, it is important to be aware of how to properly use and maintain the primary components of your plumbing system. By learning about some of the most common plumbing mistakes, you can avoid an embarrassing call to your plumber. Here is a look at some simple mistakes that can seriously damage your plumbing.






















Placing Inappropriate Items in the Garbage Disposal

 

Your kitchen garbage disposal is equipped to handle a variety of food waste. However, not all food waste should be placed in your disposal. Items such as bones, starchy foods, and stringy foods can jam up your system and cause a serious clog. To keep your garbage disposal in good condition, only dispose of soft items that can be easily processed.

Over-Tightening a Faucet Handle

If your faucet has a continuous drip, excessively tightening the handle will not repair the leak. In fact, over-tightening your faucet handle can strip or break the handle, causing more damage than the leak itself. When your faucet begins to leak, call your plumber to provide you with professional repairs right away.

Flushing Household Items down the Toilet

A toilet is designed to dispose of bathroom waste and toilet paper. Household items such as toys can cause a serious plumbing emergency when they are flushed down the toilet. Once a toy becomes trapped in the toilet system, it may be necessary to take out the entire toilet to remove the item.

If you are experiencing a plumbing emergency, do not hesitate to call Beacon Plumbing, Heating, & Mechanical. Our master plumbers offer a full range of emergency plumbing services, including sewer line repairs and water heater repairs. To make a plumbing appointment for your home in the Seattle area, give us a call at (206) 452-4363.


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What to Do When You Smell Sewer Gas In Your Home

When you experience a home sewer emergency, it is important to respond to the situation quickly and calmly while you contact your plumbing professional. In some cases, a backed-up sewer line or other sewer issue can cause sewer gas to enter the living spaces of your home. To help you prepare for the event of a home sewer emergency, here are some steps to take when you smell sewer gas in your home.

Locate the Source

When you smell sewer gas in your home, you should first locate the source of the odor. Sewer gas may be entering your home through one or several drains. Using your senses, try to find the drain where the odor is the strongest. By pinpointing the location of the sewer issue, you will be better prepared to fix the problem.
 
Eliminate the Problem

Before you call your plumber, you can try to eliminate the problem on your own. Once you have determined which drain is the source of the odor, you can pour a cup of bleach down the drain to neutralize the smell. You can also look to see if hair or any other items have caused a blockage in your drain.
 
Call a Professional

Sewer gas smells that are very strong or that last for a longer period of time should be dealt with by a professional plumber. Your plumber will be able to precisely locate the source of your sewer smell. By contacting a professional, you will be able to ensure that the sewer smell is not caused by a major problem, such as cracked or leaking pipes.

At Beacon Plumbing, Heating, & Mechanical, we offer 24 hour emergency plumbing services. If you are experiencing a sewer backup or another type of emergency, our knowledgeable technicians will provide you with prompt, friendly, and efficient service. Call us at (206) 452-4363 to make a plumbing appointment in the Seattle area.

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What Can You Put Down Your Garbage Disposal?

Your garbage disposal can clog or back up if you put the wrong types of items down the drain. To keep your garbage disposal in great working order, make sure to only put soft, easily processed food items such as fruits, vegetables, and soft grains down your garbage disposal. For more information about how to care for your garbage disposal, watch this video from Howcast.

If your garbage disposal is clogged, Beacon Plumbing, Heating, & Mechanical will be there to help. We offer a full range of plumbing services, including around the clock emergency plumbing appointments. Call our Seattle location at (206) 452-4363 to schedule an appointment with our master plumbers today!

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How a Septic System Works

If you live in a rural or suburban community, it’s likely that your home is connected to a septic system. For those homeowners who use septic systems for their wastewater disposal needs, it will be helpful to understand how these amazing systems work to properly treat and dispose of what goes down your drain. To highlight the importance of routine septic system maintenance, here is a closer look at how a septic system works.

Septic Tank
All of the water from your home’s toilets, sinks, and other faucets flows through the pipes and into your septic tank. The septic tank is typically placed at the back of a property, and is surrounded by a drainage field. Once inside the septic tank, the components of the wastewater are separated for easier storage.

Scum and Sludge Layers
As the wastewater sits inside the septic tank, it begins to separate into a scum layer and a sludge layer. Solid items sink to the bottom and form the sludge layer. Other matter floats to the top, creating the scum layer. In between the two layers, water sits until it is displaced by new wastewater. Any gases are released by a component called a P-trap.

Septic System Maintenance
Over time, the sludge layer in your septic tank will build up. During a septic system maintenance procedure, your plumber will pump out the sludge layer, leaving room for more wastewater to enter. Routine septic maintenance will ensure that your system is in proper working condition for many years to come.

When your septic system is in need of maintenance, contact Beacon Plumbing, Heating, & Mechanical. Our highly experienced plumbers offer expert septic system maintenance and repair services. To schedule your septic system service with our plumbing professionals in the Seattle area, give us a call today at (206) 452-4363. For more information, click on the link to visit our website.

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How to Properly Dispose of Cooking Grease

You cook up a great fried chicken dinner—now what are you going to do with that leftover cooking grease? Any plumber will tell you that the worst thing you can do is to put it down your garbage disposal. Even though your grease looks like a liquid after you finish cooking, it will turn into a solid when it cools in your drain and cause a major clog. Grease can also eat away at your pipes.

What are you supposed to do with your cooking grease? The best thing to do is get a container that can be covered and pour the grease into it. You can reuse the container several times and throw it away when it gets full. An old coffee can will do the trick, as will a soda bottle. Be sure to allow the grease to cool before you pour it into the container, or it could melt.

If grease does end up down your drain, Beacon Plumbing, Heating, & Mechanical can help. We’re available round-the-clock for any and all plumbing emergencies. When you need us, call (206) 452-4363.

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Reasons to Avoid Using Additives in Your Septic System

Proper septic system maintenance is essential, but additives aren’t necessarily the answer. Although conventional wisdom dictated that additives could help break down organic waste to minimize system failures, a growing body of evidence indicates that this is not the case. Before you make decisions about septic system maintenance, discuss your plans with a qualified plumbing company. You may be surprised at what they have to say about system additives.

Problems with Septic System Additives

Septic system additives were first created to address a problem that may not actually exist. Previously, it was believed that household cleaners were too hard on the natural bacteria in septic systems that help keep the unit functioning properly. The additives were used to revive the bacteria to prevent system back-up. In reality, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the additives may have the opposite effect. They may interfere with the breakdown of waste, cause septic system back-ups, and contribute to groundwater pollution. Some additives even contain carcinogens that could seep into groundwater and compromise community drinking water.

Alternatives to Septic System Additives

Since household cleaners are no longer believed to compromise septic systems, your plumber can recommend alternative ways to maintain your system. Monitoring your sludge and scum levels will let you know if your system operation is compromised in any way and help you catch any problems before they turn into a complete system failure. Having your system pumped every two to five years (depending on the size of the system and number of people in your household) will also help keep it in good working order. These methods allow you to maintain your system without any risk of contaminating ground water.

Beacon Plumbing, Heating, & Mechanical is here to help you keep your septic pump in top condition. We also offer sewer line repair, tankless water heaters, and more. Call us today at (206) 452-4363 to find out how we can help you with all of your commercial and residential plumbing needs.

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Preventing Drain Clogs When Washing the Dishes

Simple dishwashing can turn into a disaster if you’re not careful about keeping debris out of your drain. It’s easy to let bits of food from plates slip down the drain. Over time, even the small crumbs you wash down your drain can build up into major clogs.

In this video, you’ll get some tips for keeping your drains clog-free when you wash dishes. Start by scraping your plates off thoroughly into the trash can or a garbage disposal. Make sure your sink drain cover doesn’t have holes large enough to let food slip through. Clean up any food that ends up in your sink or on top of your drain right away, and avoid putting cooking oil down your drain.

If your drain does become clogged, Beacon Plumbing, Heating, & Mechanical can help. Our plumbers are available around-the-clock for all of your emergencies. Learn more about our plumbing services by calling (206) 452-4363.

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How to Avoid Clogged Drains in Your Home

Clogged drains are one of the most common reasons that plumbers are called. Fortunately, you can prevent most clogs simply by paying a little attention to what you put down your drain. Read on to learn how to cut down on the number of emergency plumbing calls you have to make for drain clogs.

Take Care with Food Waste
Food is the culprit behind many clogged drains. When you’re rinsing dishes, don’t let food scraps fall into the sink. Scrape your food waste into the trashcan before rinsing. If you have a garbage disposal, you should still use your trash for large pieces of food, rice, pasta, bones, and coffee grounds, which will all clog the disposal. Place a mesh screen over your drain to catch any scraps you missed and rinse it out right away. Never put grease down your drain—it will solidify and cause clogs. Instead, put it in a plastic container to throw away.

Keep Shower and Sinks Clear
If you have a clog in a bathroom drain, then chances are that hair is to blame. Use a mesh screen on your shower drain to catch hair and clean it out regularly. If you dry your hair or brush your hair while standing over your sink, make sure to remove hair from the drain afterwards. If you don’t have a screen and see hair in the drain, pull out as much as you can and call your plumber.

Flush Wisely
Don’t use your toilet to dispose of anything other than toilet paper and sewage. Anything else you flush could clog the pipes. In addition to clogs, flushing inappropriate things can lead to toilet overflows.
If your drain is clogged, don’t use chemical clearing products, which damage pipes and won’t resolve the whole clog. Instead, call Beacon Plumbing, Heating, & Mechanical today. We offer commercial and residential plumbing services, as well as heating and furnace repair. You can learn about all of our services by calling (206) 452-4363.

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Benefits of Working with Beacon Plumbing, Heating & Mechanical

Here at Beacon Plumbing, Heating & Mechanical, we understand the importance of receiving prompt, professional service for your home or business. Plumbing issues such as leaky pipes and sewage backups are not only an inconvenience; they can also cause severe water damage and contaminate your property. That’s why we offer 24/7 emergency services all year long. We can generally have an expert dispatched to your home or business in less than 90 minutes!

Since 1999, Beacon has built its reputation as a leading plumber in Seattle and the surrounding areas by employing a team of highly trained and licensed plumbers, offering the latest plumbing techniques such as trenchless repair, and ensuring total customer satisfaction with a 1-year guarantee on all parts and labor. As a locally owned and operated plumbing company, we’re committed to building long-lasting relationships with Seattle residents based on trust and integrity.

The difference is clear with Beacon Plumbing, Heating & Mechanical. Contact us at (206) 452-4363 to receive an estimate from our plumbing experts, and be sure to follow us online to receive more home maintenance tips for saving money!

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Tips for Choosing the Right Plumber

Hiring a contractor for your home involves more than just picking up the phone book or contacting the first result from a search engine. Inviting a contractor into your home to perform major repairs can be daunting, particularly when it involves something as important as plumbing issues. Protect your home and your wallet and look for these qualities when searching for a reliable Seattle plumber:

Credentials
Above all, it is important to verify that a professional plumbing company has the appropriate licensure and insurance to protect you from any liability. Also, make sure that the company employs experienced professionals with the proper certifications. Does an “expert” plumber mean someone who has completed or is currently completing a license, or does it refer to anyone with more than two weeks of experience?
 
Experience
Any company can advertise, but an established plumbing company with a local reputation is more likely to have a wide customer base with plenty of reviews. They are also more likely to have a working knowledge of local building codes, which can vary by municipality.
 
Reasonable Rates
Different plumbing companies may charge different rates for certain jobs. Some companies will charge a flat rate, while others will charge an hourly rate. However, don’t automatically choose a plumbing company with the lowest fees—beware of any equipment costs or surprise expenses. An expert should be able to provide an accurate written estimate for any necessary repairs.

Beacon Plumbing, Heating, & Mechanical has been serving the Puget Sound area for over 14 years. We employ a staff of licensed professionals, and we are available 24/7 to meet all of your plumbing needs. From appliance maintenance to emergency repairs, we’ll provide you with quick, courteous, and cost-effective services. Just follow the link to see our customer reviews and call (206) 452-4363 with any questions.

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