Why does my sink drain slow?

Sink Drain - Plumbing Service in Philadelphia

Whether you have tried to wash the dishes or drain the bathroom sink, it can be frustrating when you see that the sink or tub is not draining properly. It always seems to happen when you’re in a hurry too, right? Understanding that many of the homes and plumbing in the Philadelphia area are older, clogged drains can be a regular occurrence. IFixdit, LLC -Plumbing and Drains has been the experts in the Philadelphia area for all levels of master plumbing for years; we’d like to share some helpful answers as to why your sink might be draining slow.

What causes my sink not to drain correctly?

There are many reasons why your sink or tub might be draining slowly, often you need to determine what is causing it not to drain; before you know what to do to fix it. To get a better understanding, let’s look at some of the reasons why your Philadelphia sink or tub may drain slowly.

Sinks and tubs are the catch-all

The sink and bathtub seems to be the place in your Philadelphia area home that food, chemicals, hair and everything else gets dumped. With this practice, it’s just a matter of time before the sink clogs up. Naturally to avoid this being a problem, you only want to put liquids down the drain. Use a screen for your drain when you are cleaning up dishes or washing the dog so that it will help catch the foreign debris before it collects and builds inside of your drains.

For more information, check out our article on how to free up a bathroom clog.

Call iFixdit, LLC Today – (267) 979-4517

Bathroom Drain - Plumbing Service in Philadelphia

Air vent pipe or “stack pipe” clog

Part of the plumbing for your Philadelphia area home is the inclusion of an air vent pipe or “stack pipe” that’s built into the system. These vent pipes are connected to your drain pipe at the point where the downturn of the drain would exit from under the sink and into the main plumbing. They are necessary for the proper function of your drains.

This vent pipe creates an air flow so that the water can properly flow and drain. If this pipe, which is routed through the wall and up through the roof, becomes clogged with debris (like leaves, rocks, nuts and bird nests), it can cause your sink or bathtub to drain slowly. Two tell-tale signs that the air vent pipe is clogged are: a gurgling sound coming from the sink when it drains and a foul smell coming back up through the drain. Cleaning of this pipe should only be done by a plumbing professional.

For the most part, the access of this pipe is located on the roof which means putting yourself in a dangerous position of falling while attempting to investigate and clean. Depending on the extent of the stoppage, a probe positioned at the end of an auger may be necessary for proper diagnosis and correction. Be sure to call the plumbing professionals at IFIXDIT, LLC to schedule a consultation for this problem.

Build-up inside the pipes

Depending on the age of your Philadelphia area home you may have pipes that have become internally corroded, creating a condition where the water in your sink or bathtub does not drain as quickly as it should. In many cases the correction for this problem would be the replacement of the effected pipes, all the way up and through the replacement of all the pipes in your Philadelphia home.

Plumbing problems outside of your control

This last reason for a  blockage can be, for  most homeowners, outside of your control. This might be a problem with the plumbing system caused by and external influence (such as cracked underground pipes or tree roots growing into the plumbing drain pipes) Older apartments and homes in the Philadelphia area can find this to be a problem from time to time.

When Experience Counts

iFixdit, LLC -Plumbing and Drains has been serving Philadelphia as a professionally licensed and registered plumbing company for years. Our unique blend of customer satisfaction combined with experience derived from years of exclusively serving the residents of Philadelphia has created a reputation within our community of satisfied customers. Whether you have a bathroom drain that needs to be taken care of or you need a new water heater installed, rest assured that our licensed plumbers are ready to get the job done.

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So you want to be a plumber in Philadelphia, better come ready.

clearing a drain - Plumbing Service in PhiladelphiaThinking about getting into the plumbing industry? There’s more to it than just having a few tools and a great personality, it takes a follow-through focused mindset with a heart towards customer service before you ever connect the first pipe; if you expect to succeed in this industry.

In the plumbing industry, which includes services such as: water leak repairs, garbage disposal repair, faucet installation, sewer & drain jetting, toilet repair and more; it’s not how many new plumbing companies start up every year… as how many are going out of business. This industry (according to various internet searches, articles and statistical quotes) sees 48% of plumbing companies failing in the first year of business, 60% fail by their 5th year; leaving only seven 7% of reported plumbing company start-ups to survive over 10 years. You might think that they just gave it a good run… but what about the impact of leaving all those customers with worthless warranties?  

To make it in this industry as long as IFixdit, LLC -Plumbing and Drains  has, serving the great residents in, and around the Philadelphia area for so many years; it not only takes a process of dedication and knowledge to achieve the standards of this industry; you must be willing to set the high standard.

In this article we will address some of the mainstays of the plumbing industry as well as the key elements that has made iFixdit Plumbing well known to the citizens of the Philadelphia area.

NOTE FROM THE OWNER: There are a series of skills that are necessary for a successful plumbing business in the Philadelphia area. While some plumbers excel in certain areas, it is important to constantly push yourself to excel in all areas of this industry. With building and zoning codes changing, housing markets fluctuating and the media constantly pushing green technology; it is important to be willing to learn new things, without giving up the time honored workmanship that experts in this industry are known for.

Plumbers Need To Put The Customer First

Working with people is the first step of becoming a successful plumber for the Philadelphia area. If you are not able to work with customers, exceed their expectations, understand their concerns and put yourself in their shoes; it will be very difficult to earn their trust and repeat business. Often times, plumbers will enjoy to talk above the customer, using technical plumbing industry terms that the average customer would not understand.

While this practice is common, it does not build good customer relations. The plumber is the expert; part of your job is to explain the plumbing process in such a way that your customer will FEEL like a plumbing expert too. This level of customer service builds a level of trust and understanding that will see your customers sharing your information with their friends and family members in the Philadelphia area.

 

Call IFixdit, LLC Today – (267) 979-4517

Drain Clearing - Plumbing Service in PhiladelphiaPlumbers Need to be Proficient in Many Areas

A plumber needs to make sure that he is adequately trained, certified and skilled in a variety of different areas: HVAC, plumbing, general construction, electrical, cabinetry, flooring, roofing… the list goes on. As within different plumbing tasks, such as water heater installation, water line repair and leak detection; the plumber will need to work with these, and other areas, to make sure that the plumbing task can be completed without the need of subcontractors or substandard workmanship.

While it is true that plumbing principles of these different disciplines can be taught; it is also true that it takes a mechanical minded person to be properly understood. Let’s face it, you either have it or you don’t; schools and training courses can teach the basic principles of plumbing however, it takes that mechanical mind to understand how plumbing, and other areas of home-improvement and repair, fit together.

A Good Plumber Needs Time Management Skills

A good plumber in the Philadelphia area should be able to effectively manage their schedule to be productive for their employees and for their customers. Showing up on time has high marks to many customers; identifying respect, but it goes further than that. Because the Philadelphia area is a constantly changing, diverse and growing market; a successful plumber may find themselves with dozens of projects to complete within a specific amount of time. Being able to balance your time correctly, making sure that these jobs get done as promised; will be paramount to ensure success.

Owner - Plumbing Service in PhiladelphiaPlumbers Need to be Properly Licensed, Bonded and Insured

A failure in the plumbing industry is when plumbers and plumbing companies do not take the time to be properly licensed, bonded and insured. Often the failure rate of plumbing companies in the Philadelphia area can be linked back to poor workmanship that led to a lawsuit that either financially wiped out the company or damaged the reputation beyond repair. By being properly licensed, bonded and insured you are letting your customer know that you’ve taken the proper steps to not only protect your own company, but their interests as well. It also means that you have been able to demonstrate to different local, state and federal agencies that you have competent contracting skills; providing your customer with some peace of mind.

Experience Does Matter

IFixdit, LLC -Plumbing and Drains has been serving Philadelphia as a professionally licensed and registered plumbing company for years. Our unique blend of customer service combined with experience serving the residents of Philadelphia, has created a reputation within our community of many satisfied customers. Whether you are having trouble with your water heater or need a simple drain unclogged, rest assured that our registered master plumbers are ready to get the job done.

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Who should I call to replace my water heater in Philadelphia?

Image of a Water heater - Plumbing Repair in Philadelphia

If you have found yourself in a situation where it appears that the water heater in your Philadelphia area home is in need of replacing, the question may be asked: “Who should I call to replace my water heater?” This indeed is a valid question because if you search Google for “water heater replacement in Philadelphia” Google will show you independent contractors, construction companies, home-improvement services, handyman services, HVAC services and plumbing services all saying that they are the best when it comes to water heater replacement in Philadelphia.

As a Full Service Master Plumber specializing in the repair and replacement of hot water heaters in Philadelphia, our view might be a little biased; however there’s a reason why a plumbing service is the right choice for the replacement or repair of your water heater:

A professional plumber can tell you if your water heater really needs to be replaced.

With so many of these other types of companies out representing themselves as a water heater replacement service in Philadelphia, you must wonder if replacement is always the best option. Because of these handyman and remodeling services are not trained and experienced in diagnosis, replacement really is their only option; however, when you utilize the services of a master plumber you may find that options are available.

As an experienced, full service, master plumber; iFixdit LLC would never recommend the replacement of a water heater unless the following conditions exist:

  • The frequency of repair for your water heater is excessive (More than 1 service call per year)
  • The efficiency level of the water heater clearly affecting the utility bill.
  • The estimated cost of a water heater repair is greater than 40% of the cost of a new water heater.
  • You have had a recent bathroom addition or plumbing update that might strain the current size of your water heater.

Call IFixdit, LLC Today – (267) 979-4517

Water Heater - Plumbing Service in Philadelphia

We are Licensed, Bonded and Insured Plumbing Service

So many companies in the Philadelphia area are out representing themselves as a capable plumbing service, but most have not taken the time to protect your investment and the reputation of their company by becoming properly licensed bonded and insured.

While there are licensing & certifications necessary to become a master plumber, these certifications do not protect you in the event that an incident should occur. Being sure that you have a plumbing company that have taken the proper steps to become properly licensed, bonded and insured for the Philadelphia area means that your hiring a company that cares about its reputation and integrity within the Philadelphia community.

They’re probably going to call us anyway…

It’s an unfortunate truth in the industry that many independent contractors, home remodeling services, etc. will pull a little bit of bait and switch when it comes to water heater replacements for your Philadelphia home. Many simply do not have the certifications necessary in Philadelphia to properly perform water heater replacements, so they’ll call a certified master plumber; and you get to pay the marked up bill. Naturally this type of third-party direction will cost more than simply contacting a locally owned and operated professional plumbing service.

Experience Does Matter

IFixdit, LLC -Plumbing and Drains has been serving Philadelphia as a professionally licensed and registered plumbing company for years. Our unique blend of customer service combined with experience serving the residents of Philadelphia, has created a reputation within our community of many satisfied customers. Whether you are having trouble with your water heater or need a simple drain unclogged, rest assured that our registered master plumbers are ready to get the job done.

Useful Links

Click to see more about the services provided: Click Here