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How to Save Your Phone When it Falls in the Toilet

Posted on | by Drainiacs

Saving Your Phone from the Depths of Your Toilet

If you are one of the 75% of Americans who like to text, chat, play games, or surf the web on your phone while on the flush-able throne then user beware!  The likelihood that you will become part of the 1 in 5 who drop their phone into the toilet is extremely high but don’t worry! We’ve got you covered! Replacing your cell phone can be expensive but losing all of that precious, valuable, information is simply heartbreaking.  Especially since memorizing phone numbers has become a thing of the past. So if you lose your phone to the mighty flush don’t fret! We’ve got some simple solutions that can bring your trusty phone back to life.

For iPhone’s

Step 1. Don’t take out the battery!! We can’t stress this enough. Taking out the battery will void your warranty and it’s just too darn hard to put back in.  Also, resist the urge to push any buttons.  You will most likely kill your phone altogether if you do.

Step 2. Quickly wipe the phone clean and try to dry off as much of the surface water as possible.  However, don’t use a hairdryer to dry it! The hot air can damage the interior of the phone as well as move the water around to various parts which may make the situation worse.

Step 3. Place the phone into a large bag or a bowl and cover it with DRY rice. Set it aside in a dry warm place for 24 to 48 hours.

Step 4. Keeping your fingers crossed, take the phone out and power it back on.

For Androids and Other Devices

Step 1.  Unlike the iPhone, take out the battery along with the SIM card and wipe them clean along with the phone.  Again, don’t try to revive your phone by pushing buttons!

Step 2. Follow steps 2 through 4 as directed above.

If it’s successful the rice will have absorbed all of the water from the inside of the phone and your phone will be back up in running just like before the unspeakable incident occurred.  Just make sure to clean it once or even twice for your peace of mind with a disinfecting wipe. If it doesn’t power on then it may be time to stroll back into your local phone retailer and get yourself a brand new phone.  But beware, unless your warranty covers water damage, most warranties are voided when the phone is dropped in water.  I’m sure you’re thinking, “How would they ever know that it was dropped in water?”.   Well, in case you didn’t know, all phones have a small white detector that turns red when a phone is dropped in water so retailers know if the phone suffered a water mishap.  So don’t try to pull the wool over their eyes!  At the very least you gave it a good try and learned a valuable lesson. Say no to phones while in the John!

How can I unclog the pipes in my home?

Posted on | by Drainiacs

DIY Plumbing Projects That Are Best Left To Professional Plumbers

 

West Covina PlumberMany people feel as if they can handle plumbing clogs themselves. Simply use a plunger for minor clogs and move on to a manual snake for more serious clogs. While this is true and most clogs can be handled by yourself without the use of a professional plumber, there are some situations where it is essential to use a professional plumber to handle bathroom clogs.

One key factor to determine if you should leave your clog to a professional plumber is the seriousness of the situation. If a snake or plunger is ineffective at dislodging a clog then you may have to use a professional plumber. Start by viewing any noticeable section of your pipes. Sometimes this is underneath a sink that lies between the bathtub and the drainage pipes. Other times this is in a basement. View the pipes to see if there is any leaking. If there is, then you should leave the clog to a professional.

If you are unable to dislodge the clog then you should refrain from pouring chemicals down your pipes to loosen the clog. Many people dump chemicals down their drain pipes to dislodge a serious clog in order to avoid having to incur the expense of using a professional plumber, only to find that they have done irreversible damage to their pipes. This often ends up costing them more in the long run. Fight the urge to dump chemicals down your pipe drain. You are doing serious damage to your house.

Secondly, you should consider the layout of the bathroom and the pipes. If your pipes are near the edge of your house or travel below concrete outside, an underground vine or tree root may have infiltrated the pipe and may need to be dislodged by a professional plumber. Do not try to break up the pipes yourself as you may damage the foundation instead. Contact a professional plumber.

Clogged drains often seem like a basic problem that you can solve yourself. However, when initial attempts fail to dislodge a clog it is time to hire a professional plumber so that you do not end up with a flooded house or cause serious damage to your pipes.

Are you in need of a reliable plumber in the West Covina area? Call Daniel Cordova Plumbing, Drain & Sewer at (626) 962-0885 and schedule a service call today!

Why is my drain clogged?

Posted on | by Drainiacs

Dangers Of Tree Roots In Your Sewer Line

 

West Covina PlumberTrees and shrubs are a beautiful addition to any landscape design. They provide shade, color, and can even help to increase the value of a home. Unfortunately, they can also cause problems with your sewer lines if not properly maintained. The damage caused by tree roots can be expensive and it is your responsibility to pay for the repairs. Most sewer pipe damage is caused by intrusive tree roots and can be difficult to detect as the pipes are buried underground.

The homeowner is responsible for the underground sewer pipe that connects from the street to the house. Oftentimes warm vapors can escape from these pipes attracting the roots. Over time, the roots can manage to break through the pipe to reach the water and nutrients inside of the pipe. The vapor is usually emitted from loose joints or small cracks in the pipe. Once the roots are inside the pipe, they continue growing. They will form a hair-like root ball that, if left undisturbed will eventually block the sewer pipe. The root ball will trap all flowing debris from the house, and as they continue to grow the pipe will eventually crack, and break.

Slow moving drains and gurgling noises coming from the home’s toilets are generally the first sign that your pipes are becoming clogged. A plumber should be called as soon as this is noticed. To help prevent tree roots in the sewer lines, regular inspections should be conducted. Knowing exactly where the sewer pipe is located on your property is also key in helping to prevent root damage. Not planting trees and shrubs with invasive root structures near the sewer pipes will also help prevent costly repairs.

With a little knowledge and regular inspections, you can either prevent or repair your sewer lines with minimal cost. Minor repairs and root removal generally involve the use of augers, pressure washers, and saws which is always more cost-effective than replacing your home’s sewer lines.

Are you dealing with clogged drains in your West Covina home? Call Daniel Cordova Plumbing, Drain & Sewer at (626) 962-0885 and schedule a service call today!

What Should I Do in Case of a Plumbing Emergency?

Posted on | by Drainiacs

How To Handle a Plumbing Emergency

 

West Covina 24 Hour Emergency PlumberPlumbing problems can and do arise. They have a tendency to arise at a very inopportune time of the day or evening. A pipe might burst on the weekend or a drain may become severely clogged on the morning of Thanksgiving. In truth, no matter when a plumbing emergency occurs, the troubles that can emerge can be costly and time-consuming to deal with.

The secret here is it is necessary to respond immediately to a plumbing emergency when it occurs. There are quite a number of simple steps to take and they should be taken quite quickly. Emergency situations only get worse when they are not correctly attended to. The following are a few things to do at the first sign of trouble.

Quickly ascertain what the problem is. This does not mean a complete inspection has to be performed. There would be no time for such steps. That said, it is necessary to look at where the problem is coming from and what is the general problem is. An overflowing drain is likely a clog. Water rapidly changing the color of the walls to yellow can mean a pipe has burst in the walls. No one has to be perfect in the assessment of the problem, but a basic idea of what is going on needs to be determined.

Turn off all the water in the home. Problems with the plumbing can mean water damage or worse. Cutting off the flow of water through the pipes would be one way to reduce damage.

Immediately call a plumbing company that is capable of handling emergency work. Trying to fix an emergency is never going to be easy even when someone is capable of doing it. For the average homeowner and apartment dweller, fixing the problem is a near impossibility. Call on a professional service instead as this would be the wiser and more effective course of action to take.

Are you ready for a plumbing emergency in the West Covina area? Call us at (626) 962-0885 and get started right now!