Smart Plumbers, Inc.

 

Plumbing is often one of the most overlooked systems both in high-rise buildings and residential apartment blocks which is much different than repairing a leaking faucet or running toilet bowl in your home. Whether you manage schools, office buildings, or healthcare facilities you may face many plumbing issues. Faulty plumbing systems can affect the property in many ways from permeating the building with unpleasant odors aiding mold to develop in certain areas by creating moisture which overtime impairs the structural integrity of a building. 1) Faucets, sinks, pipes, and many other items leak overtime. Some property managers neglect preventative maintenance so in time repairs become vital. Assess damaged pipes and sinks and replace them with brand new ones. From a business standpoint, it is cheaper to replace old pipes than completely renovate in the aftermath of a water-related accident. You can ask a professional plumber to inspect your water system. Also, consider installing the la...

If you are experiencing low pressure from your shower head it can be caused by several things.  Remove showerhead and run water to check actual water volume and pressure. Before replacing showerhead it's a good idea to apply fresh plumbing tape (clockwise direction) to prevent any showerhead leaks. Flow restrictor valve/ water saver. Remove washer and colored restrictor flow valve replace washer. Calcium/Magnesium or lime  scale build up. Single Lever A single lever shower set up, remove handle and cover to get access to valve and cartridge.  Adjust hot 'red' screw, back off counter clockwise or/and cold 'blue' screw as needed for more pressure  flow. (Use Hex/Allan key, 2.5mm flathead screw driver, needle nose pliers). You may need to replace cartridge, clear clogged pipes.  You can purchase a water pressure gauge for your home to test overall water pressure coming into your household from city; 50 psi is generally good pressure.  Use Hex/Allan key, 2.5mm ...

This customer called us to report a clogged kitchen sink drain line that Joel was more than happy to make quick work of. As we've discussed with sewer lines before, having a cleanout (in this instance, for the kitchen drain) serves as a big relief for both the plumber and, perhaps most importantly, the customer's wallet.

  Smart Technology can save energy not just on heating, cooling & lighting, it can save water through smart irrigation which are rapidly becoming features for environmentally friendly feature of "smart" homes today. Creating value in a home can increase interest and demand for a property when properly designed and installed. That's why we recommend Smart Plumber & Rooters; we're not just here for the nasty things in life like a blocked drain. Smart Water Heater Smart Shut off valve Smart Re-pipe Smart Garbage Disposal Smart Shower Modern "Smart" automation of water supply and drainage sanitation system is a good solution and timely notification for the home owner.  Smart Irrigation Smart Faucet Smart Toilet/Bidet As a  result, the smart sewage and water management system allows for the increase of comfort of a person's life inside the house, minimize the risk of possible emergencies, reduce maintenance cost, minimize harm to the environment as a ...

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 ...

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         ...

Any housing unit has INADEQUATE PLUMBING if it lacks one of the following: hot or piped WATER, BATH TUB or SHOWER, flush TOILET. For most Californians, handwashing is a matter of turning on their home faucet. And while it is no substitute for other guidelines, handwashing is a SURPRISINGLY effective model or methodology against Coronavirus SARS 2/COVID 19. Unfortunately, not everyone can implement this public health guidance. The state’s HOMELESS POPULATION has difficulties, and so do residents with INADEQUATE PLUMBING. The American Community Survey, conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, collects national- and state-representative information about housing characteristics. In more than 6,300 housing units in California, people lack adequate plumbing, meaning they have no piped hot and cold water, no bathtub or shower, AND/OR no flush toilet. Californians across the state live in units with inadequate plumbing, including in COUNTIES MONITORED for coronavirus spikes due to worsening virus...

Depicted is our plumber Patrick conducting a repair on a gas line leak with his helper technician. The line underneath the concrete going to the house had sprung a leak. Gas leaks, especially ones inside the residence or business, have the potential to be dangerous. Thankfully, they can be easy to detect and the reliability of plumbing professionals like those at Smart Plumbers will ensure that the repair is done safely and thoroughly.  If you suspect you have a leak somewhere, we recommend calling PG&E as the first step you take. The PG&E technician will come out, shut the gas off, and assess the situation before telling you the next step. If they instruct you to contact a plumber, that's where we come in to conduct the repairs. As always, call Smart Plumbers at (408) 247-2400 or email us at info@smartplumber.com.

YOU NEED SEWER LINE REPAIR IF YOU SEE THESE SIGNS: Your toilet makes gargling noises. Drains aren't draining. Mold on walls. An increase in pests The toilet backs up when you flush.  Ever wondered why your bathroom smells of sewer gas odor? Without access to outside air the vacuum in the system might pull air from another plumbing fixture. For example, flushing the toilet could pull air from the bathroom sink removing the water from the P-Trap. So if you smell sewage out of the sink drain after flushing, this could be a sign of a larger ventilation issue. The P-Trap shaped piping is named after its shape. A small bend in the pipe to trap water creates a seal. This water seal prevents sewer gases and odors from leaking into your home via your drain. As water drains from the bathroom sink basin via the P-Trap, it draws air from the outside vent to equalize the pressure.  If the roof top vent is blocked by snow or some other debris then the trap seal could be sucked out by the dr...