Does Your Kitchen Sink Drain Too Slowly?

Posted on September 4, 2020 by weilhammerplumbing

If your kitchen sink starts to have issues, especially when it comes to poor drainage, it can truly put a dent in your daily household flow. Slow-draining kitchen sinks are among the most common kitchen plumbing problems expressed by homeowners and homemakers. Fortunately, there are a few quick and easy solutions for fixing a kitchen sink that doesn’t drain as quickly as it used to. These solutions could save you money on future problems and repair costs, as well as, eliminate time wasted waiting for a local plumber to arrive.

Continue reading to learn how to combat a slow-draining kitchen sink, and which plumbing company to trust for prompt and professional service.

Indianapolis Kitchen Plumbing Services 317-784-1870

Gather All Necessary Materials and Supplies

First, collect all the necessary ingredients you will need to unclog or clear a kitchen sink that doesn’t want to drain fast enough. You will need a pot to boil water, baking soda, and distilled white vinegar. Start by boiling 6 cups of water. While the water reaches a boil, proceed to dump one cup baking soda down the drain. Follow this step by pouring one cup of vinegar down the drain. When the drain stops fizzing, pour in the boiling water.

To entirely eliminate any blockage, continue to run hot water down the drain through the faucet. Although the initial rinse of boiling water is enough the wash away the blockage, vinegar, and baking soda, it is best to complete the job with an additional hot water flush. Now simply check to see if the drain is flowing again. If not, you might need to try a more aggressive approach to drain cleaners.

How to Beat Tougher Clogs

For tougher clogs, a store-bought enzyme cleanser may be necessary. Although a more aggressive approach, enzyme cleaners are not made with harsh toxic chemicals. In fact, they are chemical-free cleaners made from bacteria cultures. These bacteria cultures flow through drains and pipes, feeding on all the organic material causing the blockage. This includes mold, mildew, food, grease, hair, and anything else that is organic in nature.

It takes a little more time for an enzyme drain cleanser to take effect because they do not contain any chemicals that are manufactured to help speed up the process. After dispensing it down the kitchen drain, flush with hot water for several minutes, and then refrain from using the sink for two to three hours. Keep in mind you may need to use a snake, plunger, or other plumbing device to finish the unclogging process.

Take on the Plunge Challenge for Persistent Clogging

Sometimes, a more “hands-on” approach is the best method to unclogging a kitchen sink. This method only involves a plunger and your own manual power. You have to position the plunger on top of the drain, the fill the sink with water only enough to cover the rubber. Now you are ready to start plunging up and down in a consistent and steady fashion. Repeat as needed to unclog a slow-draining kitchen sink.

When Your Kitchen Sink Still Has Issues Contact a Local Plumber in Indianapolis

Call Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc. at 317-784-1870 when you need a licensed kitchen plumbing services in Indianapolis at an affordable price. We offer a wide range of standard and master plumber services for both residential and commercial properties. We also offer free estimates, free plumbing advice, and even free haul-away for old plumbing appliances like water heaters, water softeners, sump pumps, and more. Request a free estimate, today.

5 Contemporary Faucet Styles for Bathroom and Kitchen Sinks

Posted on August 11, 2016 by weilhammerplumbing

Indianapolis Plumbing Repair 317-784-1870

If you need a bathroom or kitchen upgrade that’s within your budget, there is no better place to start than with plumbing fixtures. Sink faucets are used frequently in your home, which means they are focal points for bathrooms and kitchens. So they are a great place to add some interior style and individuality without committing to a huge or costly remodeling overhaul. Continue reading and check out the most popular contemporary faucet styles and fashions on the market today!

Ultra-Modern Faucets

If you are really looking for something up-to-date, and even a bit ahead of our time, then the ultra-modern faucet styles are the ones for you. These modern styles offer sleek, simple, and shiny geometrical designs, as well as, innovative technologies like touch and infrared sensors, waterfall flows, and more. You can choose from a variety of colors, designs, and more.

Extendable Faucets

For those who use the kitchen a lot, an extendable faucet has a lot to offer. These have become popular among homeowners who cook frequently because they make dish rinsing more efficient and convenient. This makes them good for mudroom and garage sinks too. They are also great for those who have small dogs that take baths in the sink! These pull-out designs come in a vast selection of lengths, colors, finishes, and more. And they are reasonably priced for such modern style.

Industrial Faucets

Similar to pull-out faucets, industrial faucets also offer convenience and efficiency in the kitchen. They have gained popularity thanks to the trendy cooking shows on television. Many homeowners, chefs, and cooking enthusiasts prefer the industrial faucets not only because they look so professional, but also because they extend and flex, and provide more room in the sink, making dish management much easier.

Hands-Free Faucets

Loved by busy moms and multi-taskers everywhere, hands-free faucets are taking the lead in today’s modern plumbing fixture market. Not only do these faucets save water and prevents the spread of germs, they come in an array of colors, finishes, sizes, and more. They are highly-efficient, operating by either infrared or motion sensors to turn on and off, or by a single touch anywhere on the faucet.

Antique Faucets

We don’t mean real antique faucets (unless they’ve been exceptionally refurbished)! Instead, there is a current trend of old world style faucets that resemble antique designs, colors, and finishes. These faucets usually come in rustic finishes, and designed with more intricate detail. They make the perfect upgrade for anyone who loves old-fashioned, historic charm.

Indianapolis Faucet Repair

Weilhammer Plumbing Company Indianapolis Indiana

Weilhammer Plumbing Company 317-784-1870

Call Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc. at 317-784-1870 for professional faucet repair in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding counties. Owner and master plumber, Mark Weilhammer, knows how easily faucets can spring a leak, or how suddenly drains can clog. He and his team of licensed, bonded, and insured plumbers are eager to get your plumbing system back on track, and at a price you can afford! We have decades of experience providing a wide range of plumbing services, from major commercial plumbing work, to routine plumbing repair for residential properties. Call 317-784-1870 to speak with a friendly Indianapolis plumber about your faucet problems, today.

Standard Plumbing Valves and How They Work

Posted on July 1, 2015 by weilhammerplumbing

Plumbing Repair 317-784-1870

There are three basic styles of plumbing valves: gate valves, stop valves, and ball valves. Each valve-type has its own individual characteristics, advantages, disadvantages, and purposes. However, they can only be used for oil, water, and airflow control if the castings are labeled with the acronym, “WOG”, which stands for water, oil, and gas. Continue reading the learn more about stop, gate, and ball valves, how they work, and how they differ from one another.

Stop Valves

Stop valves operate with the aid of a rubber gasket that shuts off water flow in a pipe. To close off water flow, the rubber gasket is screwed onto a seat located in the middle of the valve. Appliances like sinks, toilets, and outdoor faucets commonly use smaller versions of stop valves. In order for stop valves to work properly, they must be installed in the right direction, in the way of the arrow, so that water flows against the bottom of the rubber gasket. If installed in the wrong direction, the water flow will force the gasket away from the valve.

Gate Valves

Also referred to as, “full-flow” valves, gate valves are commonly used in commercial and industrial pipe and plumbing applications. They are multipurpose bi-directional shutoff valves that are manufactured in a variety of metals, including cast iron, brass, and bronze. They retain a gate-like component inside that either raises or lowers, allowing or discontinuing water flow in a pipe. This gate is controlled by a knob at the top of the valve that twists right and left to open and close the metal gate component. Gate valves are not intended to customize water flow and pressure by adjusting the gate height. They are only intended to be opened all the way, or closed all the way. One downside to gate valves is their vulnerability to corrosion, which overtime, can cause the gate component to stick in the up or down position.

Ball Valves

Ball valves use a stainless steel (or sometimes brass, bronze, copper iron, and more) rotating ball with a hole drilled in its center that pivots in plastic bushings. The ball is generally controlled by a lever that is directly connected to it. It is similar to a gate valve because it also a full-flow type valve. The position of the lever indicates whether the valve is open or closed. The valve is closed if the hole in the ball is perpendicular to the flow of water. If the hole is parallel to the pipe and water flow, the valve is open. Ball valves differ from full-flow gate valves because the flow of water can somewhat be controlled by adjusting the opening of the valve. However, ball valves are not the best option for controlling water flow.

Additional Types of Valves:

• Check Valves
• Diaphragm Valves
• Globe Valves
• Butterfly Valves
• Pressure Balanced Valves
• Knife Valves
• Ball-Check Valves
• Ball-Diaphragm Valves
• Zone Valves
• Locking Valves
• Solenoid Valves
• Sluice Valves (another name for gate valves)

Contact a local master plumber for expert advice regarding plumbing repair, plumbing parts, products, advice, and more. In most cases, water flow issues are best addressed by a trained professional that retains proper tools and resources to effectively undertake a plumbing issue or repair that could possibly lead to indoor flooding.

Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc.

Weilhammer Plumbing Company 317-784-1870

Call Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc. at 317-784-1870 for emergency plumbing repair in Indianapolis, Indiana. Owner, Mark Weilhammer, is a state licensed master plumber with more than 40 years of experience in the plumbing industry. Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc. has been a family owned and operated Indianapolis plumbing company since 1901, and continues to provide proficient plumbing services to all Hoosier communities at the fairest prices in town. Call 317-784-1870 to learn more about all our plumbing repair services in Indianapolis, IN today.

Does Your Kitchen Sink Stink?

Posted on April 2, 2015 by weilhammerplumbing

Indianapolis Garbage Disposal Repair 317-784-1870

Have you begun to notice a mysterious odor in your kitchen? Does it seem like it’s coming from the sink? If so, there could be some problems with your sink or disposal that require swift solutions. One of the most dangerous causes of smelly sinks is bacteria growth. Bacteria is harmful to our health and can easily contaminate food prepared in the kitchen.

Even harmless bacteria is undesirable, and cooking in a smelly kitchen is too. For these reasons and more, it is important to address any issues your kitchen sink or garbage disposal might be having, and what solutions are best.

Continue reading to learn about the possible reasons your kitchen sink smells, and what to do to remedy each problem.

Bacteria

As mentioned, one of the most dangerous causes behind a smelly kitchen sink is bacteria. Food particles over-accumulate and clog kitchen drains, causing the formation of a nasty sludge. This sludge prevents water from free-flowing through the drain, leading to bacteria growth. And furthermore, mold only needs darkness and moisture to grow, making the kitchen drain a perfect incubating ground. Mold and bacteria are harmful to our health and can contaminate our food, causing food-borne illnesses and more. To eliminate bacteria from kitchen sink, pour any of these items down the drain:

• Bleach
• Vinegar
• Baking Soda (Post-rinse heavily with hot water)
• Store-Bought Kitchen-Safe Drain Cleaner

Garbage Disposal

Grease is often a problem for garbage disposals. When greasy foods are eliminated down the kitchen sink, the grease generally tends to linger behind and stick to the blades of the disposal. These greasy-leftovers decay overtime and then start to smell, causing an unpleasant odor in your kitchen sink. To remove this issue, simply pour hot water down the drain, multiple times, until the odor is gone.

Another option is to grind ice and kosher salt in the disposal, followed by some citrus rinds, to dislodge the grease, clean the blades, and eliminate smells. Or you may also choose to use any of the above listed items to further eliminate a decomposed food issue or lingering smell.

Roof Vents

If there seems to be no end to the smell in your kitchen sink, even after you’ve exhausted all other efforts and options, it might come down to a vent problem. There is a vent that goes from your kitchen sink, all the way up to the roof (in most standard homes). If these vents become clogged, use a snaking-device to clear the obstruction in the vent, or use the hot water approach. The best solution for this problem is to simply contact a licensed master plumber for assistance with clogged vents and kitchen sink issues.

Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc.

Weilhammer Plumbing Company 317-784-1870

Call Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc. at 317-784-1870 for superior plumbing repair and kitchen plumbing services in Indianapolis, Indiana. Owner and master plumber, Mark Weilhammer, and our team of licensed, bonded, and insured plumbing contractors, are eager to help solve your kitchen sink and plumbing problems. We offer a wide range of high-quality plumbing services at the most competitive prices in town. That is why we have been in business for more than 100 years! Call 317-784-1870 for information about our Indianapolis plumbing services and kitchen plumbing repairs we offer for residential and commercial properties.