Odds are that every Pompano Beach homeowner is going to need a plumber for drain cleaning at some point in time. Every homeowner has dealt with slow drains and typically those are dealt with using an unclogging commercial solution like Liquid Plumber or the more toxic Draino. But when those chemicals don’t work, resist the urge to cram a modified hanger down the drain or buy a manual snake; you can do more damage than good.

Serious drain clogging can be caused by a number of things. At Paradise Service Technologies we have been in the plumbing business in Pompano Beach for over 25 years and we’ve seen everything including clogs caused by:

• Baby’s toys
• Pet toy’s
• Wash cloths and dish towels
• Cat litter
• A shell collection
• Roots infiltrating the sewer line
• Rocks and debris entering the sewer line from a crack

When you have a drain cleaning problem that isn’t easily solved, you need to call a professional plumbing service. Trying to clear a clog with a hanger or a manual plumber’s snake is likely to damage the drain and rarely will clear the blockage.

How to Tell if You are in Serious Trouble

Many drain cleaning jobs are easy to resolve when you have the knowledge and the right equipment (like say a professional plumber has). But there is one clog that can get very involved.

If you have a clogged first floor toilet, and it’s accompanied by a slow or backed up tub drain, you may have a clogged sewer line. If all your toilets are backed up you most definitely have a blocked sewer line.

The sewer line is the largest pipe in your plumbing system and it runs from the city sewer line in the street to your home. It is, obviously, underground. When the plumber determines that may be the problem, he will use a truck mounted snake on the drain vent outside your home to attempt to clear it. If that doesn’t work he can send a camera into the line to inspect it. From there it may be a question of using a root cutter, or digging up the line and replacing the damaged part.

If you are in this boat you want an experienced plumber you can trust. Our customers have nothing but good words for us and we would encourage you to give us a call for a free estimate.

For Ft. Lauderdale homeowners, needing plumbing drain cleaning service can be a minor inconvenience or a major financial event. At Paradise Service Technologies we have been serving the Ft. Lauderdale area as a leading plumbing and air conditioning repair service for over 25 years and we’ve helped thousands of Ft. Lauderdale residents deal with clogged drains and other plumbing problems.

It’s been our experience that unless there is sewage backup, we are rarely called to clean a drain until after the homeowner has attempted to do it themselves. Some drain stoppages can be DIY projects assuming the homeowner has a least a little knowledge of how drains work. However, there are plenty of opportunities for a homeowner to convert a simple plumbing issue into a major and expensive, plumbing challenge because of a lack of knowledge or using inappropriate tools.

Here’s the rule for home plumbing repair…when in doubt call a professional.

The Drain Cleaning Projects that Can Drain Your Wallet

Many clogged drains are simple service calls for a professional plumber. To a homeowner who watches the fix, the process may appear to be exceptionally simple and triggers one of those “I could have done that” moments. What you are paying for in those situations is the years of training and experience of the technician that allowed him to quickly diagnose and correct the problem.

There is however, one type of drain stoppage that can challenge even a professional and that’s a sewer line backup.

If your first floor toilets are backing up or if sewage has backed up in your bathtubs you may have a sewer line stoppage. With toilets the stoppage may be in the pipe leading to the sewer line but if the plumber can’t clear it then it’s a sign that the sewer line is clogged.

A first step in clearing the line is to use a heavy duty snake, usually introduced into the line from cleaning trap located outside the home. These snakes are powerful truck mounted units with large augers mounted on the end.

If snaking can’t correct the problem then it is time to send a camera down the line to see exactly what and where the blockage is. Blockages can be caused by a collapsed line, roots from trees or large foreign objects. Removing those problems typically calls for digging up the yard to expose the pipe and replacing the clogged section.

This process gets expensive fast.

If you have questions on drain cleaning don’t hesitate to call us now. We’ll be happy to give you answers.

If your Ft. Lauderdale home needs plumbing repairs you have options. There are many common plumbing problems that homeowners can at least attempt to fix before having to call in a professional. However, keep in mind that the secret to successful DIY plumbing repairs is knowing when the problem is beyond your skill set and when it’s time to throw in the towel and get help.

Here are a few tips on how to handle common plumbing issues in a home:

• Slow draining bathroom sinks. Bathroom sinks send a lot of debris down the drain. Hair, dead skin, dirt, soap residue, tooth paste and other materials may not always find their way to the sewage line. A quick fix for a slow drain is a mix of baking soda and vinegar followed with plenty of hot water. A more permanent fix is cleaning out the trap located under the sink. The U shaped trap is held in place with two PVC joints that can typically be removed by hand. Make certain you have a pan under the trap and then slowly loosen the joints. Clean the trap with a bottle brush making sure that build up along the sides of the pipe are removed. Replace the trap and your sink should drain fine. If it doesn’t you have a bigger problem and need help.
• Clogged toilet. You basically have two options. If you have the time simply wait. If the clog is a water soluble material give the water in the line some time to break it up and then flush it down. The second option is to use a plunger. You want a good seal over the hole in the toilet and then push and pull straight up and down. The idea is to change the pressure in the line and dislodge the obstruction. If that doesn’t work we suggest you not try to snake it yourself. Call for help.
• Garbage disposal not working. If you flip the switch and hear nothing you can try resetting the disposal. On the bottom of the disposal there will be a red “reset” button. Push it in and then try the disposal. If nothing happens check to make sure the disposal is getting power by checking the fuse panel. If you hear the motor humming but the disposal isn’t working, you have a jam. There is a hex wrench that normally comes with the disposal. If you don’t have one get one from a plumbing supply company, they’re cheap. Insert the wrench in the hole at the bottom center of the disposal and work it back and forth until the blades unjam.

Three common problems and three easy fixes. But if you need help, know that Paradise Service Technologies is available 24/7 to solve your every plumbing and air conditioning problem. If you have questions give us a call now and we will be happy to answer them.

When you need a Ft. Lauderdale emergency plumbing service in the middle of the night what do you do? When your toilet has backed up or your water heater has burst, our bet is that your number one priority is to find someone who can get there fast. The problem with choosing the first plumbing service answered by a human and not an answering machine, is that you really do not know anything about the plumber other than he says he can be there shortly.

This scenario plays out every night in Fort Lauderdale. Homeowners discover that their “emergency plumber” charges exorbitant fees for afterhours work, may or may not be licensed, may or may not have the appropriate equipment, offers no warranty or guarantee and doesn’t clean up after himself. Basically you have a “plumber” taking advantage of a homeowner in a fix.

Prior Planning Prevents Poor Plumber Performance

The time to find a reliable, reputable, emergency plumbing service is before you need it. Doing a little due diligence will prevent surprises when you need them the least. Find plumbing services that serve your area and that offer 24/7 emergency plumbing service. Once you have that list start checking out the companies:

• How long have they been in business
• Are they licensed (you can check with the state)
• Are they an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau
• Do they have references and testimonials from customers
• What is their billing policy
• Do they offer to guarantee their work

Once you have a short list, call the companies and ask the questions you couldn’t get answers to through your own research. Often times you’ll form an opinion of their “professionalism” just by how they answer the phone.

This may seem like a lot of work but when you need emergency plumbing, and you will at some point, you’ll have the plumber of your choice arriving at the door and not a stranger.

If you have questions about response time, guarantees and other services, don’t hesitate to call Paradise Service Technologies, Fort Lauderdale’s leading plumbing and air conditioning service. We’ll be happy to answer all your questions.

If you come home and find a sewage backup in your Ft. Lauderdale home you are going to want help cleaning it up and you are going to want it fast. If you have the phone number for Paradise Service Technologies you can get help quickly 24/7. We clean and repair sewage backups from both sewage lines and septic tank leaks.

The odor will be overpowering and you may want to start the cleanup before we get there. If you decide to try that make sure you wear rubber boots gloves and a mask. Aside from the disgusting aroma, sewage also represents a potential health risk.

Start with shoveling solids into a plastic trash bag. If the backup is in the tubs you can use a plastic dust pan so you don’t damage the surface with a metal shovel. The liquids are going to need to be soaked up so you’ll need a whole lot of paper towels or a cloth towel or two that you don’t mind throwing away. Place the dirty towels in a plastic bag and dispose.

You can open windows and run a fan to attempt to vent the smell but that’s about the extent you can do until the pros arrive. Don’t try to rinse anything until the source of the spill is identified and repaired. Adding rinse water to an already blocked drain is not going to improve the situation.

When The Plumber Arrives

The first task is to determine the cause of the backup and clear it. A quick check of the clean trap, usually located outside the home, will tell if the line from your house to the city main is clogged. If there is no water present in the trap then the clog is in a line inside the home.

When the clog is cleared the technician will begin a cleanup using air scrubbers, special vacuums, and sanitizer. The smell will be significantly less but probably won’t entirely disappear for about a week.

Sewage cleanups are no fun when you aren’t equipped to do it correctly. At PST our goal is to get to your emergency quickly, clear it and clean up the mess to your satisfaction. If you have a question on this service please give us a call now and we’ll be happy to talk.

Sewer line backups are plumbing emergencies waiting to happen and there is no question that you should call a Fort Lauderdale plumber when you first suspect a problem. If the issue is not addressed you could wind up with an ugly mess in your home and a backhoe digging up your front yard. This is an experience (and an expense) that you definitely want to avoid.

So how can you tell if you have a potential sewer line backup? Here are a few tips to help you make a plumbing diagnosis:

• Toilets are usually the first indicators. If all of the toilets in your house are slow to flush and plunging seems to have minimal effect you may have a sewer line blockage. Turn on the faucet in the sink closest to the toilet and let it run a bit. If you see bubbles percolating up in the toilet bowl you have air in the line, another indicator of a sewage line backup or a cracked sewage line pipe.
• Shower drains are sometimes the first indicators because they are the closest (lowest) to the sewer line. Again if all your shower drains are slow to drain you may have a problem. However shower drains are subjected to hair, sand and other debris so you may want to try a natural drain cleaner like vinegar flushed with hot water before calling a plumber.
• If your tub or toilet backs up while your washing machine is draining you have a blockage somewhere and it could be the sewer line.
• Lastly, if you have main sewer line clean out you can open it and check for water. There should be no water standing in the clean out pipe. If there is water present there is no doubt about having a sewer line blockage.

A Sewer Line Blockage is not a Do It Yourself Project

A homeowner can diagnose the general problem but attempts to clear a blockage can do more harm than good. You need to call a reputable Fort Lauderdale plumber like Paradise Service Technologies where our objective is to satisfy customers with competitive pricing and service second to none.

Our technicians have the experience and the equipment to handle any blockage efficiently and effectively. As a rule, the sooner the problem is dealt with the faster it can be remedied and the less it will cost to perform. If you are experiencing slow drains, give us a call and arrange an appointment at a time that is convenient for you.

One of the most common customer statements I hear as a Fort Lauderdale plumber is “it just happened all of a sudden” referring to their plumbing emergency. Sometimes that’s true but more often than not plumbing problems will announce themselves well in advance if you know what to look for.

Detecting plumbing problems early can save a Fort Lauderdale homeowner a significant amount of frustration not to mention money spent on repairs. Small plumbing problems can often be repaired by the homeowner but if those small problems develop into large ones you will need a professional plumber to correct them.

What Every Fort Lauderdale Homeowner Should Know About Plumbing

Plumbing is a pretty simple concept…pressure and valves. If the lines and hoses that are under pressure are compromised (leaky joint, cracked pipe, burst hose, failed valve etc.) the pressure will direct water to unintended destinations. When the source of pressure is gravity (toilets and drains) and the pipe the gravity is applied to is blocked to the point that gravity pressure can’t move the water, water backs up.

That’s the basics. You’ll see how they come into play here next with these simple tips:

• Know where the cut off valves are. If you discover a major leak cut the water off at the source of the leak. Toilets, faucets, washers, dish washers and hot water heaters all have valves that control water flow. Know where they are and how to turn them off. If the leak is in the wall you will need to know where the master water valve is that connects to the city’s main.
• Look for water where water doesn’t belong such as in cabinets under sinks, on the floor near appliances, stains on the wall or ceiling or damp carpet. Those areas are wet for a reason and you need to track down the source of water and repair it before mold becomes an issue.
• If you notice your water bill going up for no explainable reason, turn off all of your water and then look at your meter. If the meter is showing flow your next call should be to the water company asking them to verify the accuracy of the meter. If the meter is ok you may have a leak in the line that connects your home to the city’s main. You’ll need a professional plumber to determine if that’s the case and the best strategy to take going forward.
• Don’t ignore slow draining sinks or toilets that require plunging. Both can be the precursors of serious problems. Have a plumber look at them when they are still manageable so the “fix” is not a major investment.

Procrastination has a price. If you have a recurring plumbing problem don’t ignore it. Call an experienced, trusted Fort Lauderdale plumber like Paradise Service Technologies to fix your plumbing problem before it becomes an “emergency” call.