Category: Blog

When a pipe breaks, things get serious. Many times, though, it’s a far less drastic leak that is the cause of your concern.

However, it’s a good lesson to learn: because when you need to know how to handle this situation under pressure (that pipe break I mentioned above), things can get messy fast if you’re not ready.

When you call for an emergency plumber, you may have to wait a while, even as you watch your pipes leaking or gushing water. Not good.

Smart homeowners are ready for these emergencies – after all, you keep a fire extinguisher in your kitchen in case of an oven fire, right?

The same goes for plumbing emergencies, so we’ve assembled the 4 best things you can keep close by in case that day comes.

1. Plumber’s Tape

Everyone has duct tape in their home, handy and effective for so many purposes. However, not everyone keeps its cousin close by: plumber’s tape.

Plumber’s tape is made from a special silicon material that actually bonds to itself to create a tight seal.

All you need to do is wrap it tightly around the leak, and it should contain the worst of the flow – hopefully it can help you last until regular working hours so that you don’t need to pay the emergency rate.

2. Rubber Pipe Connector

Rubber pipe connectors allow you to temporarily fix a problem, whether it’s in the middle of a pipe or at the joint.

Simply fit the rubber over the hole, making sure you cover a large enough area around it to maintain the integrity of the pipe.

3. Pipe Clamp

Keeping a couple of pipe clamps on hand is a definite winning strategy, because they are solid solutions known widely as a “plumber’s band-aid”.

The clamps are metal plates that can be screwed down together around the pipe.

These can be used to keep a pipe together, and prevent the rupture from getting bigger.

You can also use two of them to hold down a seal that you’ve applied, such as an inner tube cut to size.

Pipe clamps are so helpful that they will almost certainly keep your problem in check until your plumber arrives.

4. Plumber’s Epoxy

Plumber’s epoxy is used on cast iron pipes, which are a common feature in older or century homes, of which London has plenty.

It comes in a tube, and can be found at your local hardware store.

If you discover a leak, simply apply it as a patch; in most cases, this will hold the pipe until daylight hours, but make sure you call a plumber to address the issue as soon as you can.

A Permanent Solution

The above emergency fixes are really only temporary, and need to be attended to within short order; however, there are some proper repair kits that you can use yourself, such as fiberglass tape and Sharkbite fitting.

In the end, most of our customers feel that water pipe repair is best left to the experts at London Plumbing, and they trust us with their homes.

A plumber can come out and determine the problem quickly, and they can fix your water leakage problems once and for all.

Contact London Plumbing

Do you have leaky pipes in your home?

If so, don’t delay in calling London Plumbing – between the mess it causes and the potential insurance claim if it gets worse, it’s worth having us out to do a checkup on your pipes and address any issues we find.

We are well known in London for our quality and service, and we give you peace of mind in no time.

It’s so lovely to look out your bedroom window and see beautiful green trees – it’s relaxing, shading and provides privacy.

The downside to this, of course, is that those big trees are held upright by a root ball that is continuously expanding in all directions.

Even if your tree wasn’t planted too close to your home, you can still run into problems – and often times this means calling a local plumber to repair leaks from tree roots.

If you’ve considered planting a tree in your front yard, read below for some insights on what kind to choose.

How Do Tree Roots Crack Your Pipes?

Roots will find their way into tiny spaces and fill them – just think about the last time you planted your annuals, and think about how they look coming out of their pots.

Well, that can happen in your pipes, if you’re not careful.

While trees will rarely be the cause of cracks in your plumbing, they will take advantage of a weakness – a preexisting crack can be widened and breached by trees searching for water.

Top Dangerous Trees

Not all trees are as bad as others, so we’ve compiled a list for you of the ones to keep a close eye on.

Even if you’ve inherited the tree when you bought your property, it doesn’t mean you have to worry – simply schedule regular checkups with your local plumber.

They can scope your pipes with a camera to check them, or they might recommend a hydro-jetting service that will clean your pipes out quickly.

1. Maple

Silver maples, especially, have roots that are shallow and can become exposed over the surface of the soil where they stand.

They can cause a lot of problems if planted too close to foundations and driveways, but their roots are also quite invasive.

2. Elm

Elm trees just love moisture, and can’t drink enough for their liking.

As a result, they are attracted to sewer lines and drain pipes because they are a great source of water.

They are very good at finding a weak link in piping in order to invade the system with roots and draw water into the tree.

3. Oak

Oak trees are known to get quite big, and can live to be very old, meaning they’re often around and thriving as long as the house they belong to is being lived in – sometimes longer.

Oak trees have what’s known as a ‘taproot’ that grows straight down, and its main purpose is to find nutrients and moisture to help the tree keep growing.

Supplemental roots shoot laterally, and can often cover up to a hundred yards from the trunk, meaning that anything in that radius could be affected by them.

They are a common cause of blockages in sewer lines, and once their roots have wormed their way through a crack, they can aggravate that gap and cause severe leaks to occur.

4. Willow

Willows may be beautiful, but they are capable of major damage to your home’s structure and to the plumbing.

Willows grow naturally in very moist and rich soil, which not a lot of residential yards can supply; the soil just doesn’t have enough oxygen or hydrogen for it to thrive.

As a result, it will try to find nutrients and water wherever it can, including your plumbing system.

5. Birch

Birch trees can get quite tall, which many homeowners like, but remember that comes with a root system that can be two to three times the height of the tree itself.

Birch trees need a lot of space for their roots, and if they don’t have it, they will burrow into and down through your sewer lines.

Not only can this lead to a fairly large blockage, the roots will also damage the pipe as they grow, requiring it to be replaced.

Which Trees Are Better?

A better bet is to plant fruit trees, which don’t expand as widely – as a bonus, it means you can reap a harvest every year that will see you and your friends well-stocked with preserves.

Another lovely option is to plant a magnolia tree – they flower so lusciously in spring that you’ll definitely be the object of your neighbours’ envy.

Lastly, consider an ash tree, which are elegant, excellent at shading your home, and make your soil more hospitable for grasses and other plants to grow.

Contact Peoria Plumbing Pros

If you’ve got a large tree in your front yard, consider spending some time figuring out what type it is and where it sits in relation to your plumbing and sewer systems.

Next, call Peoria Plumbing Pros and service to book your appointment, and we’ll do a quick survey for you, including scoping the pipes with a camera to establish if you have any issues.

We can help you prevent a plumbing emergency with a visit, and we’ll give you peace of mind so you can continue enjoying your tree for years to come.

Clogged drains can be annoying.

From having water pool at your feet during a shower, to not being able to properly rinse the sink after brushing your teeth, we’ve all seen this happen.

It’s not just a nuisance however, allowing the problem to fester can lead to significant damages to your pipes, and result in the need to spent a lot of money on plumbing repairs.

Let’s have a look at some of the common ways your drains can become clogged.

Main Sewer Line Clogs

The sewer line connects your pipes to the municipal sewage system, or your septic system.

While rare, clogs in the main sewer line can, and do, happen.

Causes can include tree roots, a build-up of items which should not be flushed, or heavy vehicles driving over top of the area where the line runs.

In cases of a sewer line clog, a video scope may be used to pinpoint the problem and determine the best solution.

In severe cases the line may need to be replaced altogether – this is one situation where you will definitely want a professional opinion, and not to try to “DIY”.

Bathtub Clogs

Have you ever had a shower, only to end up ankle-deep in water when you’re done?

No, you didn’t forget to take out the drain-stopper, you probably have a clog.

Shower and bathtub drains can get easily backed up with hair (especially if someone in your home has long hair), soap build-up, or children’s toys (consider which bath toys you are buying for your children).

Sometimes hair build-up in a shower drain can be tackled with a good pair of gloves and bit of persistence (it’s not a pretty job but someone’s gotta do it – usually the person whose hair is the culprit) however if drain issues continue than it’s best to have a plumber take a look at it.

Toilet Clogs

Clogging a toilet can be embarrassing, especially if you were the last one to use it.

However if your trusty plunger isn’t enough to solve the problem, or if there are recurring issues with your toilet failing to flush properly, than it’s probably time to call in the pros to have a look at what might be the issue.

Sink Clogs

Underneath the sink, there is a trap which has two purposes – it stops large clogs from going down further into the pipe, and also prevents gases from coming up, into the sink.

This trap can be recognized by its shape, usually either a “U”, “P”, or “S” shape. Its main purpose is to provide a liquid barrier between the sewer and your house, so you don’t have sewer gas seeping through your drain all day.

But a lot of things that get flushed down the drain get stuck in here. That includes the Lego figure or engagement ring that accidentally went cave exploring, but it also includes leftover food particles, hair, oils, and other gunk.

Often times, a clog in the drain is in the trap, although sometimes it may be beyond it.

If you have the proper tools on hand, you can remove the trap and attempt to unclog the drain yourself, however if you’re unsure of what you’re doing it may be a smarter idea to call a professional plumber.

Kitchen Clogs

Modern kitchens are often equipped not only with a sink, but also a garbage disposal.

Basins under the sink are connected and flow through a trap.

The dishwasher is also connected in the area of the garbage disposal.

Needless to say, the kitchen has a lot of moving parts in your kitchen that relate to plumbing and can affect each other.

A back-up in the garbage disposal can cause issues in the sink and dishwasher.

Keeping the garbage disposal in proper working order can prevent many other kitchen headaches, so be sure to keep it clean and learn how to reset it, and how to perform other minor repairs.

Contact Peoria Plumbing Pros

Have a plumbing issue that you need help with?

A clog which you’ve tried everything for but it won’t go away?

Contact Peoria Plumbing Pros, and have one of our professionals come help you, instead of risking making the problem worse.