How to Retrieve Jewelry that Fell Down the Drain!
Have you ever lost jewelry down the drain? Panic can set in quickly, especially if the item is valuable! Don’t worry! You may be able to retrieve the jewelry yourself. Before you call a plumber, take a deep breath and read on for helpful tips on how to retrieve lost jewelry from the drain! Step 1: Turn off the water and consider shutting off the valve to prevent the jewelry from potentially traveling into the sewer. Next, locate the pipes below the sink and identify the P-Trap. This is the ‘u’ shaped area of the pipe. Step 2: Before removing a portion [...]
How to Prevent a Clogged Sewer
Just about everyone deals with a clogged toilet or drain from time to time. It’s to be expected, even among the most careful homeowners. Of course, expecting a clog shouldn’t stop you from trying to prevent one, especially the underground variety. Those tend to be the most difficult and costliest to repair. So, to help keep everything flowing nice and smoothly, here are three ways to prevent a clogged sewer line: Use Enzyme Cleaners A monthly treatment of a drain cleaning product helps make mole hills out of mountains. At the same time, prevent pipe corrosion and environmental damage by [...]
How to Prevent Winter Melting from Flooding Your Basement
After one of the snowiest winters in Omaha history, the last thing anyone wants is sump pump failure. Combine record-levels of melting snow and incoming spring rain, and we’re set up for potential disaster. To ensure that your basement stays dry, an efficient and functioning sump pump is the most critical piece of equipment. Now is the perfect time to do a yearly check to make sure your sump pump is in working condition. How To Conduct an Annual Sump Pump Maintenance Check: Remove the cover of your sump pump pit. Check the drain hose to make sure it’s [...]
Do I Have a Sewer Line Problem?
Do you think you have a sewer line problem? Household plumbing and related problems are bad enough when the cause is staring you in the face. At least then you have some idea of what comes next…trying to fix it yourself, shutting off the water supply, calling a plumber, etc. But what happens when you notice certain problems but can’t see what’s causing them? Frustrating to say the least, right? Well, if you’ve ever experienced any of the following symptoms, there’s a good chance a blocked or damaged sewer was the underlying problem. Here are a few examples of the [...]
Is My Sewer Clogged?
A clog in your underground sewer line is a very serious problem, especially if not detected in a timely fashion. Once clogged, the water has no place to go. That means it will flow backwards into your household plumbing. But since you can’t see what’s going on underground, how would you even know the above-ground problems are being caused by clogged or cracked sewer pipe? Here are the most common warning signs: Multiple Fixtures Are Clogged – A clogged toilet could be a sign of a clogged sewer. But that same underground clog could also result in shower and tub [...]
How to Avoid a Clogged Bathtub Drain
There are two basic ways to deal with a clogged bathtub or shower drain. The first is the time-honored tradition of doing absolutely nothing about it – until, that is, the clog is so bad, water simply refuses to go down the drain, or goes so slowly you can’t even bear to watch. We know people like that, and we bet you do, too. Then there’s the more practical – and far more effective way – to deal with a clogged drain. And that’s to employ a few simple and common-sense steps for preventing drain clogs in the first place. [...]
Why You Should Get a Second Opinion on Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning
Have you ever been faced with a significant home repair and thought… “I wonder if I should look around more or get another opinion before I commit to this.” Of course you have. It’s a common human reaction. When something vital to our safety and comfort (like plumbing, heating, or air) stops working properly, most of us have only one thing on our minds: “Fix it. Fix it fast!” So most of us don’t bother to get a second opinion - which can lead to stress, worry, and additional (unnecessary) expense. How to Know When It’s Time For a [...]
How a Plumbing Inspection Can Save You Time and Money
Admit it. You neglect your plumbing maintenance. Between work, getting kids to and from school, and all of life’s other more urgent events, you probably never give your poor old pipes a second thought. And why would you? Other than buying or selling a home, “Plumbing Inspection” is a phrase most homeowners probably never say in the normal course of conversation. But the truth is that if you neglect regular plumbing maintenance, your home and family can meet with some expensive and inconvenient circumstances. As a matter of fact, there could even be some potential health risks involved. Why Plumbing [...]
Five Leading Causes of Clogged Drains, and How to Prevent Them
Plumbing problems are not unlike mosquitoes. They’re both pesky, they have a habit of sneaking up on you and, ultimately they bite you somewhere it hurts. In the case of plumbing and drain problems, that’s usually in the wallet. Well, the same way you can prevent mosquito bites with bug spray, knowing what to keep out of your drains can help prevent clogged drain problems. From our many years of experience, the following are among the most common contributors to clogged kitchen and bathroom drains. Grease – Nothing can stick to the inside of your kitchen drain line like cooking [...]
How to Unclog Your Drain in Omaha & Council Bluffs
Very few people immediately pick up the phone to call a plumber when a clogged drain “happens.” Most of us are far more inclined to try fixing it ourselves, especially since most clogged drains can be cleared pretty quickly and with minimum effort. So the question isn’t really “if” you should try it on your own, but how to go about it. At Burton, and as the first designated Green Plumber in Nebraska and Iowa, we recommend using natural drain cleaning solutions to protect your plumbing and, of course, the environment. Supermarket drain cleaning liquids are chemically based and, after [...]
How to Avoid Thanksgiving Clogged Drain Problems in Omaha
Turkey is what you think of on Thanksgiving. But if you are a plumber - you think of the potential for a clogged drain! Well, plumbing companies like Burton also call that day Black Friday, but not because we’re avid shoppers. For us, the day after Thanksgiving is our busiest day of the year. Why? Because once the remnants of your Thanksgiving feast hit the garbage disposal and kitchen sink drain, all heck breaks loose. A clogged drain is no one's friend. And so, to help you concentrate on leftovers, holiday shopping, spending time with your family and friends during [...]
Is it Time for an Omaha or Council Bluffs Emergency Plumber?
Everyone has their own definition of what constitutes a plumbing emergency in Omaha, Council Bluffs, and throughout the greater Omaha region. If, for example, you come home to a flooded basement, we can all pretty much agree on that being a true plumbing emergency that requires a quick phone call to a reliable and experienced plumbing professional. But what about a sink that’s slow to drain, but not completely blocked, just as one example of a plumbing problem that, in most cases, isn’t a true emergency? However annoying it might be, there are certain home remedies you can try before [...]