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.

Manage Snow Buildup to Prevent Plumbing Problems

Posted on January 12, 2016 by weilhammerplumbing

Indianapolis Plumbing Repair 317-784-1870

Winter is a fun and enjoyable time of year for people of all ages. We look forward to wintertime and snowfall because it brings with it the opportunity to enjoy several activities, like sledding, ice skating, ice fishing, and more. But it is important to not let the festivities of winter distract you from your home owner responsibilities! One of the most important systems in our homes is plumbing, and it is most vulnerable to damage in the winter.

One common problem that can lead to plumbing damage and repair is excessive snow accumulation. It is important to constantly manage the snowfall as it builds up around your home. This will not only prevent inconvenient plumbing problems, it will also save money on costly plumbing repairs. Continue reading to learn some possible plumbing problems that snow buildup can cause, and what to do if you find yourself in the same situation.

Sump Pump and Foundation

Your home’s foundation can be effected by large snow accumulation once the snow begins to melt. The excessive amounts of water will seep into the soil around the home’s foundation. This water can continue to seep into the basement and lower floors of the home. Needless to say, this can cause a lot of destruction. Personal belongings, clothing, and furniture can be destroyed by flooding, as well as, an extensive list of structural damages. Not only is this devastating for families, it is usually very stressful and costly to undo.

For this reason, in the case of large snow build up around your home, it is wise to check on your sump pump to ensure it is capable and ready to do its job. Start by inspecting the check valve to ensure that it is properly fitted. If you notice that the pump is running too frequently, it could be an indication of a bad check valve. It is important to have a bad check valve replaced because it prevents pumped water from returning back into the line. You can actually hear the pump running, so you’ll know if it’s running too often.

Gutters and Drains

Even though the temperatures are below pleasing, it is important to still keep up with outdoor winter maintenance if you want to prevent costly repairs and problems. Start by regularly keeping your gutters clear of dirt, debris, and snow. Also, be sure all exposed drains are clear of snow as well. This will prevent plumbing clogs and backups.

Plumbing Pipes

Many people think it is best to turn their heat down low, or entirely off, while they travel in the winter. This attempt to save money can actually be a start of a costly plumbing problem. When a home is too cold in freezing weather, the pipes can actually freeze. This leads to freeze/thaw cycles, and eventually, burst pipes. Not only is this an intrusive repair, it is a tedious and costly one as well. This can be prevented by keeping your house adequately warm when you are home and away. Keeping the thermostat set no lower than 65 degrees should provide the protection your plumbing needs against freezing.

Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc.

Weilhammer Plumbing Company Indianapolis Indiana

Weilhammer Plumbing Company 317-784-1870

Call Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc. at 317-784-1870 for professional master plumber repair services in Indianapolis, Indiana. Master plumber, Mark Weilhammer, has more than 50 years of experience in the plumbing service and repair industry. He repairs, services, replaces, and installs all plumbing parts and systems, as well as, water heaters, water softeners, sump pumps, slab leaks, and more! Call 317-784-1870 for information about our affordable and prompt plumbing repair services in Indianapolis, IN today.

A Guide to Eco-Friendly Plumbing

Posted on February 9, 2015 by weilhammerplumbing

Indianapolis Plumbing Repair 317-784-1870

There’s a new “Eco-Friendly” trend happening in today’s society that we can all be very proud of. There are thousands of ways to promote and support a healthy Eco-system, such as recycling, using chemical-free cleaners, reducing energy consumption, and more. Now, there is new technology and new ideas for “going green” with your home plumbing! So if you are motivated toward living a greener lifestyle, take some time and think about making some Eco-friendly changes to your home plumbing. Continue reading for an introduction to green plumbing practices and perhaps start making changes today!

Pipes

A great way to have a more Eco-friendly piping system is to insulate them. Properly insulated plumbing pipes promote energy preservation and efficiency. They decrease the amount of heat lost inside the pipe-works as it moves from one point to another. Insulated pipes also support better heat-preservation in hot water heaters, thus reducing monthly utility bills and energy consumption.

Water Heaters

Sometimes, an old or defective water heater can reduce your home’s energy efficiency and greatly increase utility costs. Simply by replacing your hot water heater with a more efficient one, you can save money and better support your environment at the same time!

Install New Showerhead Filters

You can safely reduce chlorine levels in your home’s showers and baths by installing chlorine filters in your shower-heads. Chemical-free water is safer for nails, hair, skin, allergies, consumption, and more. Although chlorine is used to disinfect water supplies, it can produce harmful byproducts and sediments that are bad for our homes and our bodies.

Install a Water Softener

A reverse osmosis filtration system is a great method to eliminating harmful byproducts and sediments in a home’s water supply. Laundry, drinking water, hair, nails, skin, dishes, plumbing piping, and more are all improved and protected with an energy-efficient water softener.

Install Low-Flow Fixtures

By choosing to replace your old shower-heads, faucets, toilets, and other plumbing fixtures with low-flow models can greatly reduce your water consumption. This also reduces monthly water bills!

On-Demand Circulation Pump

You can choose to install an on-demand hot water circulation pump in place of a hot water heater. This allows hot water to be ready on-demand, rather than waiting for it to heat up as it runs. This reduces water consumption and utility bills as well. And with insulated pipes, you won’t lose heat inside as the hot water sits.

Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc.

Weilhammer Plumbing Indianapolis Indiana 317-784-1870

Call Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc. at 317-784-1870 for master plumber services in Indianapolis, Indiana. Owner, Mark Weilhammer, has more than 50 years of experience in the plumbing repair industry, and provides services for residential and commercial properties. We repair, install, replace, service, and maintenance all make and model plumbing appliances and fixtures at the most competitive prices in town. We offer free estimates, free advice, and free haul-away services too! Call 317-784-1870 for state-licensed plumbing repair in Indianapolis, IN today.