Smart Plumbers, Inc.

Got a leak, we'll take a peek! Most faucets generally last for 15-20years.  One of the most common signs that it's time to replace your faucet is when it doesn't perform as well as it should or needs constant repairs to function . Most people only pay attention to their faucets when they build up rust, (valve seat rusts causing leaks) or has low water pressure.   Internal Cleaning & External: BAKING SODA Isolate the shut off valve before dissembling the faucet from the sink and pipe using the correct tools. Keep the faucet open and turn it upside down and add the baking soda in its interior and exterior. You can use a small brush to brush off the corrosion, then rinse with clean water and reassemble when done. Exterior: LEMON JUICE PASTE   This method is a good solution to remove rust from the exterior of a faucet. Use warm water or a clean cloth to remove rust build up. In a bowl, mix 1/4 cup of salt with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. Mix to a paste and apply evenly on

Water heaters have a relatively long lifespan of approximately 8-12 years. Certain factors, such as not maintaining a regular flushing schedule, can hamper this longevity and pose problems. One insightful customer suspected his water heater tank needed a flush. The unit was old enough that Chris the plumber went ahead and installed an entirely new unit. Then we did something not typically done as part of our clean-up procedure. After we brought the old water heater back to the shop (as a courtesy we haul away the old one for the customer), Chris cut open the tank to reveal the insides. You don't get to see a water heater dissection done very often! It turns out that there wasn't much sediment inside the tank, but it was heavily rusted inside - definitely warranting a unit change. Bang-up job, Chris!

Many houses in the Bay Area have cold water lines that are in need of replacing. Modern pipe materials for this purpose include copper, plastic, and galvanized steel. When combining copper pipe with galvanized steel the material placement is very important. The normal lifespan of copper pipes is about 50 years, while galvanized steel pipes only last about 10 years. In the first picture, you can see the corrosive build-up of rust in a steel pipe over a span of 30 years. When the rust from a galvanized steel pipe spreads to a copper pipe, corrosion will quickly occur and form a pinhole leak. The bottom picture shows an example of a copper pipe with rust caused by water coming through the galvanized part. We strongly recommend placing copper pipe first in the line before the galvanized section.

A long-time customer called complaining of a leak coming from their showerhead. We dispatched Smart Plumbers technician Christopher to assess the situation and make any necessary repairs. Behold, the before picture. Nice set-up, but the leak is posing a serious problem to the user. Chris proceeded to cut open the tile in order to perform some behind-the-wall shower surgery. With the guts revealed he was primed and ready to work on fixing the leak. Not only was the problematic showerhead replaced, but with the wall already open anyways the customer gave the go-ahead to...well, go ahead  and replace the shower control valve as well. Out with the old, in with the new.

Smart Plumbers' expert technicians are here to provide professional-level shower repair and shower installation services including (but not limited to) running shower issues, unclogging shower drains, and shower replacements and installations. Modern bathrooms have a widevariety of shower and bathtub options including sophisticated shower heads, mist-providing water-saving choices, spa-like water jets, and many innovative faucet designs. We're here to help wih them all. Here we have Smart Plumbers' senior technician Joel installing a new shower kit for a customer. Should you find yourself in a situation where you need any new parts installed for your shower, contact Smart Plumbers & Rooters and (408) 247-2400 7 days a week, 24 hours.

Quick fix tips for your Garbage Disposal  Is your garbage disposal jammed, clogged, leaking or not draining? Here are some pointers that can $ ave you $$ .. 1) Push the reset button on the bottom of the disposal and then try it again. 2) Make sure the cord is plugged into a working electrical outlet or hardwired to an electrical box. If necessary reset the circuit breaker that supplies electrical power to it. 3) To clear a jam, insert a 1/4 hex wrench/Allen key into the hex shaped hole underside of the  garbage disposal and crank in both directions (counter and clockwise) a few times to free up the flywheel/blades. 4) If you don't have a hex wrench/Allen key, disconnect the power, place a short broom stick or plunger handle into the disposal; push it down against one of the blades and try to rotate back and forth to free the jam.                    NEVER PLACE YOUR HAND INSIDE THE GARBAGE DISPOSAL             Don't try to run the disposal if it hums, but doesn't grind. This