Don’t Ignore the Signs of a Slab Leak

It’s an unfortunate fact of life that sometime over the course of your home-ownership, you’ll have a plumbing problem that you need to deal with. Scheduling services for such a problem requires a professional Carmel Valley, CA plumber, if you have any hope of keeping your plumbing system working as reliably as possible.

Now, some plumbing problems are pretty benign in that they can be easily fixed—perhaps a leaking faucet or a slow-moving drain. But, the issue could be something more serious, leading to property damage and expensive repairs if not caught soon enough. One of these problems, in particular, is a slab leak.

The Formidable Slab Leak

Aren’t all leaks the same? What sets a slab leak apart from the rest? Why should you be so concerned, anyway? After all, a leak anywhere in your home is an issue that you’ll want to resolve ASAP. But there are some leaks that are more problematic than others, with the slab leak being one of them. The reason for this is because of its location.

A slab leak is a leak in your water line buried underneath the concrete foundation (the slab) of your home. This leads to a few different problems, with the main one being it can be difficult to realize when you even have a slab leak, until damage has already occurred. The good news is, however, that there are some signs, which we’ve highlighted below, that you can watch out for. Be sure to call a plumber right away though to minimize as much property damage as you can!

• Check your water bill. Are you using any more water than average in your home? If not, but your bills are increasing and you see no signs of a leak, you might be dealing with an invisible slab leak.
• Listen for running water. If you have no plumbing appliances on, you shouldn’t hear running water!
• Feel for warm spots on your flooring. Have you ever walked through the kitchen, noticed a warm spot, and chalked it up to being an area where your pet sleeps? Well, your pet may be sleeping there because it’s warm—don’t ignore this sign! Slab leaks are typically more often to occur in hot water lines than cold lines.

Contact the Pros for Slab Leak Repair

Recognizing that you have a slab leak problem is the first challenge you’ll deal with, but it’s not the last. Pinpointing and accessing a slab leak in order to repair it is not something the average homeowner can or should take on.

You could end up tearing up the wrong section of foundation, or cause damage to your property that voids out insurance or HOA coverage. Plus, do you really want to deal with the inconvenience of ripping up your flooring?

Hiring a pro for leak detection and slab leak repair means that you’ll have a plumber with the tools necessary to precisely locate the leak so that we can minimize any disruption to your property. Then your plumber can expose the damaged piece of pipe and have it repaired in a much quicker fashion than could be possible with guesswork.

For quality plumbing services, look no further than Paws Plumbing, Inc. Contact us today and “Hire Paws Plumbing!”

Consider This When Remodeling Your Bathroom

Springtime seems to be a pretty popular time for San Diego area homeowners to invest in remodeling projects for their homes. Bathrooms are typically a huge focus for remodels, with many people attempting to complete these remodels on their own. We don’t doubt that skilled homeowners have what it takes to complete simple remodeling tasks, however when it comes to bathroom remodels, it’s very important to have a San Diego, CA plumbing professional to handle the piping and plumbing fixture needs of your space.

That’s what our team is here for! Go ahead and give us a call for reliable bathroom plumbing installations. In the meantime, keep reading to learn about some considerations homeowners tend to look over when it comes to bathroom remodels.

Your Home May Need Repiping

Homes built in the 1970’s or earlier have pipes that are susceptible to corrosion and subsequent leaks. If your bathroom has never been remodeled before or if you have already been experiencing leaky faucets and fixtures, there’s a good chance you may need repiping.

Fortunately, the perfect time to invest in this service—at least for your bathroom—is during a remodel! That’s because all of your plumbing will be exposed anyway. Additionally, repiping allows you more freedom in designing the exact bathroom you want, since your piping can work with the changes rather than being something your plumbers have to work around.

Set Your Budget from the Beginning

There are many factors that go into plumbing installations, whether it be a huge installation like repiping or the installation of a small bathroom sink. But if you are planning on moving any fixtures, such as your toilet or sink, or if you want a larger toilet, for example, the cost of your plumbing project can start growing.

Your plumbing fixtures and appliances must be aligned and properly fitted with your bathroom space, so prior adjustments and construction might be needed in order to accommodate. If you are open about your budget at the beginning of your bathroom plumbing project, then it’s easier for our plumbers to work with you to see what options are available.

Consider Your Bathroom Efficiency

When you hear the term energy efficiency, it’s likely that you think about things like electrical appliances and lighting. These, of course, do contribute to your overall energy usage. However, in this case, we’re talking about your plumbing appliances. Are you unintentionally wasting water?

Today’s plumbing installation options include things such as low-flow showerheads, low-flush toilets, and other plumbing appliances that help reduce water consumption. Therefore, your water bills can drop too, and that savings over the long run can help offset the initial installation costs.

Now Is the Time to Indulge

Have you been thinking about indulging in luxuries like a whirlpool bathtub or a multi-bowl “Jack and Jill” style sink? The perfect time for such an installation, if your budget allows, is during your bathroom plumbing project.

This way, you can rest assured that your additions will fit in with your current plumbing fixtures and appliances, and you won’t need to make adjustments later. We’ll help you choose quality, high-efficiency plumbing appliances that will ultimately help you save.

Looking for reliable plumbing services in the greater San Diego area? Then, Hire Paws Plumbing! Contact Paws Plumbing, Inc. today.

Some Expert Tips for Avoiding Drain Clogs

If we asked you what the #1 most common plumbing problem is, we can guess what your answer would be. It’s no surprise that drain clogs are the one plumbing issue that almost every homeowner has to deal with at some time or another. Fortunately, our professionals handle unclogging drains and exceptional San Diego drain cleaning services to get your plumbing system back in top shape.

Naturally, you’d like to avoid drain clogs if at all possible. Of course, we’d like to have your business when you do need drain cleaning, but we also want to help you have as few plumbing issues as possible. To help you out, we’ve provided some expert tips below on how to avoid drain clogs.

Get a quick overview on how to prevent drain clogs before diving into the details below.

• Buy a drain screen or cover made of rubber or mesh to catch things like hair, soap scum, and food particles
• Avoid pouring fats, oils, and grease (FOG) down your drain; instead, use a separate receptacle and put them in the trash
• Regularly run hot water in effort to keep your pipes clear of debris, including any FOG you accidentally added
• Steer clear of store-bought liquid drain cleaners, which are often a temporary fix and can cause corrosion

Use Drain Screens or Drain Covers

Soap scum, hair, objects accidentally knocked down into drains—they are all very frequent sources of drain clogs. You can stop most of them, though, with a drain screen or a drain cover. The latter is sold at pretty much any hardware or home improvement store, and are very easy to just simply place over the drain.

A drain screen does need a bit more installation, and you might want to work with a plumber to get it installed. You’ll also need to remove drain screens on occasion to prevent them from stopping up the drains.

Keep FOG Out Of Your Kitchen Sink!

FOG stands for “Fats, Oils, and Grease,” and these byproducts of cooking are quite the enemy to kitchen sink drains. Although they are in liquid form when hot, as they cool down from the air of the drain vents, they change into solids that become very hard to remove. We recommend pouring your FOG from cooking into a separate receptacle and putting that in the trash rather than down your drains.

Run Hot Water down the Drain After Each Use

This is a task that helps deal with FOG. While we want to reiterate that you shouldn’t be pouring it down the drain at all, if it’s done accidentally or if you simply can’t avoid disposing of it this way, then hot water will help break it apart so it can flow easier down the drain. You don’t have to run it for a long time, perhaps just 20-30 seconds, and this should help a little.

Avoid Store-Bought Liquid Drain Cleaners

When homeowners have a relatively mild drain clog, they’re often quick to reach for the chemical drain cleaners that can be purchased at the store. Unfortunately, these solutions are temporary at best, and because of the chemicals within them, can actually cause corrosion and damage to your drains and the rest of your plumbing system.

Schedule Plumbing Maintenance

Contact our team to have your plumbing system inspected. We use video pipe inspection among other methods to see what opportunities for improvement your plumbing system may have, and we might follow that up with drain cleaning or even recommend repiping in areas that your plumbing is corroding.

For reliable and effective plumbing services, contact Paws Plumbing, Inc. today!

Is It Time for You to Call a Plumber?

At Paws Plumbing, we know your home’s plumbing system was designed to last for decades, or longer. However, sooner or later even the most durable pipes begin to corrode and will likely suffer from a leak. This is especially true here in Encinitas, where hard water is common among households—hard water is water with a high concentration of magnesium and calcium (both of which eat away at your pipes).

The problem with detecting a plumbing leak lies in the fact that most of your plumbing system is hidden behind walls or in crawlspaces, where leaks can go unnoticed for weeks or even months in some cases. There are some leaks that are obvious—a burst pipe quickly spreading water across your kitchen floor, for instance—but others are much more subtle.

Watch for the Signs of a Plumbing Leak

The good news is, there are symptoms you can watch out for that indicates a plumbing leak is happening. When you know what to look for, they are easier to spot, and the results can spare your household a great deal of damage and inconvenience. If you’re still unsure after this, but think you might have a leak, we recommend that you call a plumber in Encinitas, CA. This will guarantee that if you do have a problem, it will be resolved quickly.

In the meantime, read on for common signs of a plumbing leak:

• The sound of running or dripping water: Be especially aware if this is occurring in a spot with no obvious source.
• Soft spots along walls or floor: If there are areas that are becoming soft from moisture, chances are there’s a leak beneath or behind that area.
• Mold growth anywhere in your home: While this could be a sign of too much humidity in your home, it may certainly be the sign of a leak.
• Unexpected spikes in your water bill: Be especially aware if you haven’t been using your plumbing appliances any more than normal, yet your water bills are rising.
• Hot or cold spots on your flooring: This is the sign of a slab leak, and you’re feeling it due to the temperature changes as the water passes through.
• Reduced water pressure from faucets and other plumbing outlets: Depending on how many are impacted, you can get a pretty good idea of where the leak might be. This is also the sign of a clog, and if it’s occurring with all your faucets, you have a main water line blockage.
• A running meter despite no running water: There’s a relatively easy way to spot a leak in your home if you’re unsure. Check the meter reading, then wait about 30 minutes without using a single plumbing outlet. Then check it again. If the meter has gone up, then you have a leak.

What To Do When You Spot the Signs of a Plumbing Leak

The immediate next step you should take when you see the signs of a plumbing leak is to turn off the water to the affected area. If you’re unsure how or if there’s no ready way to tell where it’s actually located, then turn off the main water valve to your home. This will shut off water to the entire plumbing system. It’s a very good idea to ensure that everyone in your household understands how to use the main water valve, and, of course, where it’s located.

Hire Paws Plumbing! Paws Plumbing, Inc. is your trusted resource for all your plumbing needs.

Tree Roots: A Bigger Threat Than You May Realize

It’s no coincidence that your plumbing system’s sewer line is buried beneath your property and your yard. For starters, it’s obviously more attractive this way. Secondly, it’s safe and functional this way. Unfortunately, this means that not only is it out of sight and hard for you to spot problems with right away, but it’s also prone to issues such as tree root infiltration, which is a more common reason for clogged drains in Del Mar, CA than you may realize, and a bigger threat than you may know.

Tree roots are known to cause severe sewer line damage, requiring the assistance of professional plumbers to repair. Tree roots crave water, and therefore even the smallest leak in your sewer line can attract them.

Are They Really That Damaging?

Your sewer lines are sturdy, for the most part. To you, they may seem completely impenetrable. But if your sewer line is aging, or even if it’s just made from a less durable material, then it is going to be susceptible to persistent roots and plant growth.

Typically, the piping that is most prone to tree root infiltration is clay tile or Orangeburg pipes. But even concrete or PVC pipes can be affected. Once tree roots have grown into your sewer line and damaged the pipes, they create two subsequent issues.

First, the affected section of piping enables sewage to leak out into your yard—you might notice standing water, spongy grass, and/or an unpleasant smell coming from your yard. Secondly, the roots can continue to grow up into the pipes as they absorb water, causing a partial or complete blockage of your sewer line.

Can This Be Prevented?

Yes, tree root infiltration and damage can be prevented. First, our plumbing pros can help you determine where exactly your sewer line is, so you can plant trees a safe distance away. There are some trees that are even more likely to put out roots that can damage your sewer line more than others, which is good information to know.

If you are concerned about the age or condition of your sewer line pipes, our plumbers can perform a video pipe inspection to investigate your plumbing system and see if it is, in fact, prone to damage or deterioration, and take the proper steps from there. This might include replacing your piping with more durable and root-resistant material.

“I’ve Already Experienced Tree Root Damage, Now What?”

In addition to performing video pipe inspection to make sure that tree roots are actually what is causing your plumbing issues, we have several professional-grade tools to help us resolve this problem for you.

More often than not, we’ll use augers to break up the tree roots, and we can replace pipes that are too damaged by the tree roots to be repaired. It may even benefit you to have your pipes rerouted away from your landscaping if adjusting your landscaping is not an option.

Paws Plumbing, Inc. is your go-to plumber for the greater San Diego area. Contact us today!

What You Need to Know About the Different Types of Water Heaters

There are 5 different types of of water heaters, typically it’s narrowed down to these main two for your home: tank water heaters, and tankless water heaters. Both of these types of water heaters can provide your home with the hot water you need. Below we will expound more on the 5 different types of water heaters that are found in house holds today,

Water Storage –

As their name implies, a tank water heater has a large tank which holds the heated water until you need it. This tank is insulated to help reduce heat loss, making it easier to keep this tank at your ideal temperature for longer. When you turn on the hot water in your home, water flows out of the tank and into your home, eventually reaching the tap which needs it. The tank then replaces the water you used with water from your supply, and then heats it to get it back up to temperature.

Conversely, tankless water heaters do not have a storage tank. Instead, they use a series of heating elements to heat the water as it flows through the heating unit, in a sense creating it on-demand as you need it. When you turn on a hot water tap, the heating elements in your tankless water heater turn on, heating the water quickly then feeding it immediately into your hot water lines for use elsewhere in your home. This makes it extremely easy for water to reach your ideal temperature and makes hot water delivery quick.

Tankless Water Heater –

Arguably the largest advantages of tankless water heaters is that they eliminate a number of the potential risk factors that a tank-style heater can carry. Because they don’t have a storage tank, they rarely leak and have much longer lifespans as a result. In fact, a well-cared-for tankless heater can last for decades, and even outlast the amount of time you own your home! Likewise, because there’s no risk for a pressure-related explosion, they’re far safer for your home and your family.

Tankless heaters are also far more efficient. Because they only use energy to heat the water you use once, you’ll see significantly reduced energy costs. No more paying for the energy to heat an entire tank of water and then paying more to keep it at your ideal temperature!

What are the downsides to a tankless system? The largest one is cost—tankless water heaters are quite a bit more expensive to install, so they’re a larger investment in your home. However, switching over to a tankless system could actually be a self-funding investment—because they last significantly longer than your traditional tank-style heater, their longer lifespan and reduced energy costs will save you a bundle, which means more money right back in your pocket!

Heat Pump Water Heater –

A heat pump water heater, or Hybrid water heater, is a style of water heater that uses the heat in the air and in the ground to create the hot water. Electricity is used to move the heat from the ground and air into the water, instead of normally electricity being used to heat the water itself. Heat pump water heaters can use up to 60% less electricity than normal storage tank units. But these models can sometimes require up to 8 feet of vertical clearance.

Similar to your typical storage tank water heater, heat pump water heaters need to be routinely cleaned at least twice per year to ensure you get the maximum lifespan from your unit.

Solar Powered Water Heater –

With a solar powered water heater, the sun is what is used to heat your water. If you already have solar panels, this is a very good unit to go with.
Of all the water heaters, this particular one is the most energy efficient as it is using solely the rays of the sun.

Condensing Water Heater –

With condensing water heaters, these primarily run off of natural gas. But, it’s funneling heat in through an exhaust from the natural gas system and uses that to heat the water. This heated water is held in a storage tank, not unlike your normal storage tank water heaters. This model uses very little energy, because it’s using the gas fumes that have been burned somewhere else, like your oven or heater.

Need a new water heater? Call Paws Plumbing at (858) 252-1670 and let our San Diego plumbers handle it for you!

Drain Do’s and Don’ts

The pipes and drains in your home are the unsung heroes of your home. Today, many people take water being ready for them at the turn of a faucet for granted. On the other side of things, drains take the wastewater away from your home. Both are vital to the function of your home.

However, they aren’t indestructible. Every plumbing system experiences wear and tear. This rate of deterioration can be hastened by bad habits on the part of the homeowner. We want your plumbing to stay healthy and last as long as possible. We will detail the best practices for your drains so you can delay and problems with your system.

“Flushable” Wipes

Package advertising can be misleading. Most people know this, but it’s hard to tell what specific products can be trusted. One of the most problematic examples we see in our field is the so-called “flushable” wipe.

It turns out that just because something is flushable doesn’t mean it’s good for your system. Orbeez are technically flushable, but as this French influencer found out, that doesn’t mean it’s good for the plumbing system.

Flushable wipes function not that differently in the larger plumbing infrastructure believe it or not. With toilet paper shortages due to the COVID-19 outbreak, there has actually been an increase in incidents related to flushable wipes bunching up in the sewer system!

If your flushable wipes don’t cause a clog in your own home’s plumbing, it may impact your neighbors and the essential work being done by municipal waste treatment facilities.

Solid Fats

Many people are rediscovering their love of cooking in isolation. Fat makes food taste good, but it isn’t the best thing to put down your drains. If you’ve cooked up some bacon, don’t just pour that grease down the drain. Remember that many fats become solid at room temperature. While that bacon grease is liquid right now, it can easily create clogs once it cools.

Unless you have a specialized compost that can handle fats, we recommend either storing the grease for later cooking or simply throwing it away.

Garbage Disposal Don’ts

Now we can start talking about the unsung hero of kitchen plumbing, the garbage disposal. There are certain foods that do not mix well with the blades of your garbage disposal. Vegetables that are very fibrous can gum up the works and wear out the motor. Here are a few examples of foods that can get caught in the blades.

• Onions

• Eggshells

• Celery

• Peels

You also have to worry about foods that expand or that can’t be broken up well by the garbage disposal. These items can probably get past the blades and into the drain but can cause clogs once they’re there. We’ve listed some of these foods below.

• Pasta

• Rice

• Bones

Avoid these items and let your garbage disposal handle the rest!

Toxic Drain Cleaners

Even if you follow all of these do’s and don’ts, it does not mean you will never get another clog in your drains. Sometimes, the quality of water you receive in your home leave mineral deposits that make clogs form more easily.

However, when this inevitably happens you need to respond in the right way. Toxic commercial drain cleaners aren’t the way to go. They lack the precision that an experienced plumber’s tools can provide. Instead, the chemical reaction these products use simply burns away everything in sight. This includes your pipes! We’ve seen modern PVC piping warp as a result of contact with these toxic cleaners. Older pipes can be severely damaged by them as well.

In order to ensure the long-term health of your plumbing call your local plumber when you get that occasional clog that you can’t clear with a basic plunger.

If you need plumbing help, call Paws Plumbing at (858) 252-1670 or fill out an online contact form! We are taking every precaution to ensure we can service your plumbing safely during this time.

Water Filtration FAQ

We rely on water every single day. Water enters your home and we hope it’s of good quality. While on the whole, our municipal water systems do a great job of keeping our water healthy, there’s always room for improvement. We’ll explain the answers to some of the common questions we get regarding water filters in this blog, so you can see if a new system is right for you and your family.

What are the Types of Water Filter?

Water treatment systems are primarily categorized by scope and method. When deciding on a water filter, you can get one that will purify a specific appliance or the water entering your entire home.

The main difference in benefits between these two is the cost and use. For something like a water softener system, a whole-home unit can do wonders. If you want to filter out particulates for the crispest, cleanest tasting water, an under-the-counter unit is more practical.

The second categorization is found in the purification method. Reverse osmosis is perhaps the most common, but UV filters are an emerging technology to consider as well. Either way, a properly installed filter can do wonders for your household.

What is Hard Water and Should I Be Worried About It?

Water “hardness” is a measure of mineral content in the water. With small particles in your water, it can cause dry skin, and wear and tear on clothing. Additionally, mineral deposits can grow in your pipes and cause water pressure issues and frequent clogs.

It’s perfectly fine for drinking water, even though many complain about the taste of water with high calcium deposits, so it’s not something to worry about health-wise. However, it’s important to know that San Diego has high levels of hard water, so your skin, hair, and clothes are being affected if you do not have a system installed.

We hope to answer more of your water filter questions in the future, but we’ll leave it at that for now. If you’re interested in a water filtration system, give Paws Plumbing a call and our local technicians can help.

We are taking every step to ensure the safety of our technicians and customers during this time. Call us at (858) 252-1670 or set up an appointment online!

Sink Style Guide for 2020

Tankless Water Heaters vs. Storage Tank Water Heaters: Which Is Best for Your Home?

Tankless vs. Conventional Water Heaters

When it comes to investing in the comfort and safety of your home, few issues are more important to address than your water heater. After all, it’s the source for all of the hot water you use to wash dishes and clothes with, bathe in, clean around the house, and more. Without your hot water heater, you would certainly be living much differently than you are now!

If you are thinking about replacing an aging water heater, you have some important options to consider. Chief among these is deciding whether you want to go with a traditional storage tank water heater or a tankless water heater. Let’s discuss both of these types of water heaters and how they differ from each other.

What Is a Tankless Water Heater?

As you might have guessed, the defining feature of a tankless water heater is the fact that it doesn’t store heated water in a large cylindrical tank.

In fact, a tankless water heater doesn’t store heated water at all. Instead, it heats water on-demand by flowing it through a heat exchanger that uses high-powered burners that fire up whenever you need hot water. From there, the heated water travels to wherever it’s needed in your home.

Tankless water heaters can be powered by either natural gas or electricity, but unlike storage tank water heaters, they don’t need to constantly heat water. This makes them much more energy-efficient than their counterparts, allowing homeowners to save on energy costs over their lifespans, which can exceed 20 years.

Some think that makes up for the relatively greater initial cost of affording a tankless water heater. While storage tank water heaters cost less upfront, they can cost a lot of money to run over the years when their energy consumption is taken into account.

It’s also important to note that tankless water heaters can only heat so much water at any given time. You may find it difficult to get a sufficient amount of hot water to more than two destinations that require it at any given time. That means

How Are Storage Tank Water Heaters Different?

When it comes to heating water in a home, storage tank water heaters have been the status quo for decades. You probably already have one in your house, so you’re probably no stranger to them.

Typically, storage tank water heaters consistently heat and store 30 or 50 gallons of water for use at any given time. Whether you need a 30-gallon or a 50-gallon water heater tank depends upon the size of your home and how much hot water you use on a daily basis.

A single-family home consisting of two people can probably get by with a 30-gallon tank, but a 50-gallon water heater storage tank is recommended for larger households. Unlike tankless water heaters, storage tank units can supply hot water to several different locations at once without sacrificing temperature, but only for as long as the hot water supply in the tank lasts.

Like their tankless counterparts, storage tank water heaters can use either electricity or natural gas. However, those that use natural gas use nearly 50 percent less energy. Even though this results in lower energy costs than electricity, storage tank water heaters are always running. That means they will probably cost more to operate than a tankless water heater if both are used similarly.

Because storage tank water heaters are expected to last only 10 to 15 years, homeowners can expect to replace them at least once or even twice after the unit they moved in with fails. They are also susceptible to rust, which can eventually cause leaking or – in exceedingly rare cases – water heater explosions, which is a risk that tankless units do not share.

Which Type of Water Heater Is Best for Your Home?

There is no objective answer to this question because it often comes down to what an individual homeowner’s needs and goals are.

If you need to ensure your family of four or more people always has the hot water it needs, a storage tank unit will probably suit you best – and a large one, at that! If you are concerned about energy usage and cost, a tankless water heater will probably meet your needs if it’s just you and one other person in a smaller home.

You may even find that your home is built to accommodate a storage-tank water heater better than a tankless one. Although tankless water heaters often hang on walls and tank up much less space than storage tank units, you may not have the suitable space to install one.

If you’re looking for the best type of water heater that works for you, you should consult with a professional plumber like ours at Paws Plumbing. We’re familiar with water heaters of all kinds and can provide advice and guidance on selecting the type that meets your needs. We can even help you purchase and install the water heater you select when the time comes!

For more information about all of our services, contact Paws Plumbing online or by calling (858) 252-1670.