For sinks and showers, there are several types of drain plugs to choose from. While their purpose is the same, models differ in style and functionality. This article will discuss each type of drain-plug system, so you can find the best fit for your faucet and the needs of your household.
For Bathroom Sinks:
White ceramic sink near brown wooden door
The pop-up drain is the most common type of sink plug. In fact, it's probably what you already have in your bathroom. When you pull up on a lever, the stopper is lowered into position, blocking the drain and allowing the sink to fill with water. When you're ready to drain the sink, you push the lever back down. The stopper lifts, and the water flows out. The push/pull mechanism is controlled by a long arm that attaches the two pieces under the sink. The pop-up drain is inexpensive and easy to install. It does wear over time, but it's easy to replace. It is important that a pop-up drain be installed only in sinks that have overflow drains. Without them, the potential for flooding is greatly increased.
While it isn't technically a plug, the grid-style drain deserves a mention here as well. This small piece of metal with holes punched into it fits over the drain and prevents small particles from washing through. Many public restrooms use grid drains because they are much less likely to clog, and they prevent sinks from overflowing. If you have a grid drain in your residence, and the drain is recessed, it can be plugged with a rubber stopper.
For Showers and Tubs:
The lift-and-turn plug has a knob at the top. Twist clockwise and the drain closes; twist counterclockwise and it opens again. The long center screw is drilled into the drain crossbar and holds the plug in place.
The push-and-pull stopper is similar to the lift-and-turn plug, but instead of twisting it, you push the stopper down to fill the tub with water and lift it when it's time to drain.
The trip lever is installed through the tub overflow, which allows a small plunger farther down the pipe to close the drain when the trip lever is lifted, and open it when the lever is pushed down. This type of drain plug typically has a drain screen to keep large items from washing down the drain. The screen is especially helpful in catching hair before it gets into the pipes.
A toe-touch stopper is as easy as it sounds—you step on it to close the drain, and step on it again when you're ready to empty the tub.
The pop-up drain works the same in a tub as it does in a bathroom sink. The stopper is controlled by lifting and lowering a lever. This alternately lifts and lowers the stopper.
The flip-it stopper controls the flow of water when a toggle lever is moved from side to side. This stopper is the easiest to install—there are no tools necessary. Once you push it into the drain, the attached o-rings hold it in place and make the drain watertight.
For Kitchen Sinks:
Stainless steel kitchen sink with glass
The combination strainer and stopper is a removable plug that fits into a kitchen drain to prevent food particles from washing through it. When it's turned slightly, a rubber stopper at the bottom creates a tight seal in the drain, allowing the sink to be filled for washing or soaking. While it won't work on a drain that has been fitted with a garbage disposal, it is a very inexpensive, convenient choice.
A level stopper is also removable. It is typically a small plastic or silicon mat that sits over the top of the drain. While it does not provide a seal as tight as the strainer/stopper, its small amount of suction is usually enough to keep water in the sink for a short period of time.
A drain stopper, made of firm plastic or rubber, is placed directly into the drain for maximum stoppage. There is no strain feature on this type of stopper, but it is a good choice for drains that are connected to a garbage disposal.
For all your drain and plumbing needs, contact the professionals at Drain King.
There are many things to consider when planning a remodel to your house. Carpet or hardwood floors? Tub or shower in the new bathroom? Breakfast nook or kitchen island? Windrush or Whitewater Bay paint for the dining room? In the midst of all your design decisions, have you given any thought to your plumbing requirements during the renovation? Will you need to connect to an existing gas or sewer line? Do you need new water lines installed? Do you know where your pipes are located and how deep they're buried? Having this information is critical in the early planning stages of landscaping or remodeling.
Locating sewer lines outside the home is a crucial part of every renovation. When excavation is necessary, precautions must be taken to protect and preserve underground water, sewer, and gas lines. Our trained professionals can locate these pipes with our state-of-the-art televising and locating services. We can pinpoint the exact location of all pipes, determine their composition, diagnose the degree of corrosion (and potential need for replacement), and identify how deep under the ground they were installed. This information will help you eliminate guesswork and save valuable time and money during the remodeling process.
Since any damage done to existing lines becomes the responsibility of the homeowner, it's important to know exactly what, where, and why you're digging. Trust Drain King to provide you with expert service; rely on our knowledge and experience to guide you through your upgrade. If your remodeling plans need to be adjusted slightly to allow for appropriate connection to pre-existing lines, it's better to know before you get partway through the build. You may want to take advantage of our composite detection services to ensure that your existing lines will support an increased water flow, especially where new lines connect to old. No homeowner wants to reach the completion of a remodel, only to discover it has to be torn out to get to the pipes in an emergency. No one wants to put extensive time, energy, and a great deal of money into a remodel just to see it ravaged in a crisis.
Connecting new water, sewer, and gas lines to an existing source should never be a DIY job. Call a Drain King licensed plumber before you begin to plan a home remodeling project. We can help take the guesswork out of your upgrade by working with you during every phase of your remodel.
At Drain King, we take great pride in our reliable, courteous, and highly qualified technicians. We use state-of-the-art equipment to correctly diagnose and repair whatever plumbing problem plagues you. We can detect and pinpoint a water- or sewer-line disruption at its exact location, and follow it up with an expert diagnostic solution, saving you considerable time, money, and frustration during the repair process.
While some of the most common household plumbing problems are easy and inexpensive fixes (for example: low water pressure, slow drains, a running toilet, or a jammed garbage disposal), they may be masking larger problems that can't be fixed with a Google search and some basic tools. These advanced problems require more technical diagnoses and repairs. We can determine precisely where and why your pipes are leaking and present you with a detailed explanation of the expense and labor involved in fixing them. We can correctly install or service water heaters and softeners, helping you choose the appropriate size and efficiency for your household's needs. We can locate the cause of your sewer-line disruption and fix it quickly, without having to tear up your yard or street.
The biggest advantage to these thorough diagnostic tests and repair/installation details is that, with such comprehensive information, you can decide how you want to proceed with the repair process. We at Drain King want you to be so well-educated on your plumbing diagnosis that you can make pertinent decisions about resolving the issue. If you understand the what and the why, you can determine the how and the when.
One of the first things a Drain King technician will determine is whether the problem is with the plumbing or septic system, followed by the location of the trouble, whether inside or outside the building. The remainder of the repair steps vary with each diagnosis but could include snaking, water jetting, or thawing of pipes; inspecting and/or pumping the septic tank; televising and transmitting services; and below-ground line repair and excavation. We pride ourselves on our thorough and legitimate diagnostic reports. We won't add unnecessary repairs or expenses to your report details. Trust our plumbing experts to guide you through the repair process with honesty and experience.
Plumbing emergencies are never convenient. Dealing with them is a hassle no one has time for in today's busy world. You've got problems, and Drain King has solutions we guarantee in writing.
Lift stations are an integral part of a gravity-flow sewer system. As waste is discharged into the sewer lines, it flows downhill toward a sewer treatment plant. Ideally, all homes or developed properties would be built below the existing sewer line so gravity could do its job without help, but in reality, it just isn't possible. Lift stations allow properties to be developed further away from the city's main sewer line, but gives them the ability to connect to the existing sewer framework. A lift station is essentially an elevator for waste.
Two components make up a lift station: the wet well and the pump system. A wet well is a large, circular, underground holding tank (most commonly made of cement, but occasionally composed of steel or fiberglass) that waste drains into. After the sewage reaches a certain height in the well, a series of low-voltage floats triggers a pump, telling it when to turn on and when to stop pumping—once enough wastewater has been diverted to the main sewer line. (This process is similar to the float system used in the back of a toilet.)
If they are filled exclusively with "sanitary" waste, lift stations need very little maintenance. Problems arise when excessive grease and heavy debris find their way into the wet well. These FOG materials build up on pumps, chains, floats, and sidewalls, and will clog or damage the pump impellers, making it difficult to move waste through the sewer line. When left untreated, grease will form a solid layer across the top of the well, which prevents the lift station from pumping any waste to the main sewer line. This leads to an eventual wet-well overflow of raw sewage, which is difficult to contain and eliminate, not to mention dangerous to the environment.
The professional at Drain King begin a through lift-station cleaning by liquefying any solid grease so it is easier to pump out. We then pump out the well using a sanitary vacuum truck, and all of the floats, impellers, and well walls are pressure-washed and thoroughly cleaned. Any solid debris left on the bottom of the tank is removed. Then, we test the entire system to ensure each part is in good working condition. Because a wet well is considered a confined space, special labor-safety regulations are in place to make entry as safe as possible. Because of the potential hazards that can arise from a confined space, only specially trained workers should attempt to enter them. Drain King’s experts have received extensive instruction in confined-space protocols. We are a safe, reliable choice for all of your plumbing needs.
Gutter maintenance. Those two words often strike fear and trepidation into the hearts of even the most seasoned DIY homeowner. Every fall and spring, gutters should be cleared of debris so they can drain freely. If rainwater can't drain, it will pool around the drain outlets and overflow, which could eventually cause the gutters to pull away from the house and the wood to rot behind them. If enough water builds up, it can push its way into the house. While gutter maintenance is inconvenient, it's preferable to a leaky roof. Keep reading for some tips to help the process go more smoothly.
Ladders. Make sure you choose a sturdy one that will support your weight and isn't too difficult to carry, since cleaning out the gutters will require multiple ladder repositions. Use a ladder shelf to hold a receptacle for gutter debris. If your gutters are higher than the first story, or you become nervous when climbing a ladder, it's best to leave gutter maintenance to a professional.
Protective Gear. This includes gloves, goggles, and a dust mask. Rubber gloves won't absorb gutter sludge, and will protect your hands from animal droppings that are full of bacteria, as well as loose screws or sharp pieces of metal. The goggles and dust mask will protect you from anything that gets blasted out of clogged gutter downspouts. The last thing you want to experience while cleaning your gutters is an eye injury. Besides rotting leaves and mud, small creatures—including frogs, rats, bees, and wasps—are occasionally flushed out.
Gutter Scoop. These bright orange, inexpensive plastic scoops are available at hardware stores. The front edge of the scoop is very thin and flexible, making it an effective tool for gutter cleaning. Do not use a metal scoop! The metal can scrape across the gutter seams, loosening the caulk that holds them together. If you have metal gutters, the metal-to-metal contact can introduce rust to otherwise healthy steel. If there are already some rusty spots, this will speed up the rusting process, which leads to leaky gutters and eventual replacement.
Garden Hose. Once all the gutter grunge has been cleared, flush the gutters and downspouts with a garden hose. You can attach a pressure nozzle or sprayer for greater force and easier control. Direct the stream of water toward the downspout. If there is a clog in the downspout, you can use an auger (plumber's snake) to clear it. It's easy to check for leaks at this stage, when water is flowing freely through the gutters. If you mark them, you can easily patch and repair them once the gutter is dry.
The professional at Drain King are available to answer your questions on gutter cleaning and all other plumbing related issues.
Have you ever walked into a public restroom or a restroom in an office building and been hit with a strong, unpleasant odor? This may be the result of a dirty or clogged floor drain. Floor drains are found in many places like commercial restrooms and industrial spaces, near and around water heaters, in basements, kitchens, or laundry rooms.
The floor drain captures overflow water from sinks, toilets, tubs, rain, and any other pipe in your home, and then directs it safely to a sewer or municipal storm drain, so floors stay dry and rooms do not flood.
If you have floor drains in your home or business and you smell something bad coming from them, it’s typically because the traps have dried out. Floor drains have a U-shaped or P-trap pipe, just like your bathroom sink drain. The U-shaped pipe is designed to hold water that stands in the pipe and prevents sewer gases from coming up through the drain. If you smell sewer gas, fill the drain with a five-gallon bucket of water. This will seal off sewer gases and also let you see if the drain is working properly.
Floor drains become clogged just like any other drain, even more often because they’re on the floor where dirt collects. If your floor drain is clogged or slow, take steps to remove the clog. Use a drain auger or snake to see if you can reach the clog. Floor drains are often connected to longer pipes, so if you are still having problems, please call our professionals at Drain King. We can unclog and, if needed, clean out the pipe.
