Category: Plumbing

Even though you probably don’t think about it often, your home’s piping system is more complicated than you may think. While it is called one system, it’s actually a combination of drain pipes, water supply pipes, vent pipes, and even smaller components.

With all of the many pipes that make up the single piping system, pipe corrosion can be a major issue. You might be wondering if there is anything that you can do to stop corroded pipes. We’re here today to walk you through what you can do to help control a potentially expensive home plumbing situation.

What Is Pipe Corrosion and How Does It Happen?

Pipe corrosion, essentially, is where the pipes in your plumbing system start getting eaten away. This can cause a domino effect of problems in your home, from small mold issues to larger, flooding issues.

To stop corroded pipes, make sure to pay attention to the causes of corrosion. Some of the largest factors that lead to this potentially disastrous issue are low pH values and/or high oxygen content in your water supply, a hotter water temperature, and the chemical makeup of the water in this part of Utah.

How to Keep Your Pipes Clean

Right now you’re probably wondering, is there anything I can do to stop corroded pipes? Many of the factors that added to corrosion seem like they would be totally out of your control.

However, the best defense to stop corroded pipes is a good offense. One of the best ways to stop corrosion is to follow a few simple steps to removing calcium deposits from your own pipes.Start by removing any drains from the sinks, then pour an entire gallon of white vinegar into the pipes.

Wait for 30 minutes, then stick a brush with a long handle as far down into the pipes as you can reach and scrub! While you can do this repeatedly, it’s a good idea to follow this up by installing a water filter. And for those tough deposits that won’t come out with DIY cleaning, it’s best to work with a plumber. An experienced contractor will be able to find you a long-term fix that’s safe on your plumbing as well.

Is Repiping The Better Option?

While repiping can be a great way to stop corroded pipes, often following the above steps can head it off before it really becomes a larger problem. However, in severe situations, repiping may be your only option.

But what is repiping?

Essentially, repiping is removing all of the existing pipes in your plumbing system and replacing them with newer pipes. Often this means switching old copper pipes for the newer PEX variety, but each individual home is different and will require different things.

A certified plumber from Valley Plumbing and Drain Cleaning can help you make the best decision. If you think your pipes may be experiencing some corrosion or if you just want to have your home evaluated to stop corroded pipes before they start, contact us at (801) 341-4222. We would love to come out and help you keep larger, more expensive, problems from rearing their ugly heads.

On Sunday, May 12th, it will be time once again to celebrate Mother’s Day! There is no better time to spend quality time with our mothers, and let them know how much they mean to us! There is also a no better time to thank them for all the time and patience they put into teaching us the basics of life.

Do you remember all of the chores your mother taught you over the years? It is probably safe to say you remember all of them! You also probably do most of them on a day to day basis. All of the chores our mothers taught us had a bigger impact then you may think!

Sometimes that meaning can be hard to see when you are little, or a teenager; but it was there nonetheless. It may be only now that you realize all the chores you were asked to do were not only chores, but lessons on how to save money, time, and energy... even with your plumbing services!

Let's take water for example. Many chores that were handed out to us had to do with water. Looking back now, you may realize the significance of those chores and how they are essential to us in more ways than one…

Glassware Stains Meant Trouble!

Let's do a quick poll; type the word “MOM” in the comments below if your mother asked you to wipe down glassware after it was already clean! Whether they were fresh out of the dishwasher, or they had been sitting on a shelf, your mother probably asked you to give them another wipe down.

As we now know, it was not just dust, your mother was trying to get rid of, but hard water stains! Every mother's worst nightmare is hard water stains. They collect on our dishes, bathroom fixtures, and kitchen appliances.

Hard Water is caused by mineral buildup in our water. If your mother had not asked you to wipe down those dishes a second time, your glassware would have been stained beyond repair! Our mothers knew the dangers of this, and she was teaching you how to keep it at bay!

Timing Your Shower

How many of us had our showers timed? Or at the very least we were told to keep our showers short and to turn off the water while we were brushing our teeth. Mother’s are notorious for conserving water and with good reason!

For every minute you are in the shower you use approx 2 gallons of water! Your mother, being a wise woman, knew how much money and waste this was going to cause. In fact, you are probably saying the same thing to your children now!

Paying a water bill is no fun for anyone! Paying one that is astronomically high due to long showers is downright painful! Whether your mother had your shower on a timer, or she gave the 5-minute countdown knock, she knew what she was talking about.

Not only are long showers going to cause an expensive bill each month, but they also can cause your pipes to corrode more quickly. All that mineral buildup we talked about on your mother’s dishes can also buildup in your pipes. This can reduce the flow of water; which causes you to use even more water!

Are You Collecting Water?

At this point, you may have started to see the theme, right? Whether they knew it or not; our mothers were the ultimate water conservationists!

Another great example is Beth! Beth uses a rainwater tank in her backyard to collect water. As you can guess, this is something her mother taught her to do.

Beth’s mother used a rain barrel to collect rainwater in order to water her plants, wash dishes and clothes, and cook with! Though Beth mainly uses hers to water her garden and indoor plants, she saves almost $100 per year; all thanks to her mother's advice!

Say Thank You to Mom

Looking back now, all of those chores your mother gave you were not only to help you learn responsibility but to help you conserve water and save money! For that reason, and so many more, your mother deserves a giant thank you!

No need to wait for Mother’s Day either. Call your mom, give her a hug, and spend time with her. Let her know you realize all the things she had you do were preparing you to have the most efficient life possible!

At Valley Plumbing and Drain Cleaning, we’d like to send a warm Happy Mother’s Day to all of our mothers out there! We hope your day is full of happiness and relaxation. You deserve it!

If you’re tired of the April Fool getting you every year with his tricks and excessive plumbing expenses, then put a stop to it and flip his tricks ack on him! Valley would like to help you get back at that tricky April Fool this year, by helping you save more money on your plumbing expenses.

If you want to save money on your plumbing costs, but aren't sure how to, don’t worry! Valley Plumbing is here to share some tips to help you save money on plumbing maintenance, repairs, and even installations.

Make the Rain Water Work for You

One way to decrease your plumbing costs every month is to get creative about your water usage. Harvesting and recycling rainwater is a great way to decrease your monthly water bill and also do your part to help the global water crisis.

Rainwater barrels can be a bit pricey to install (some cost as much as $2,200), but the benefits of using harvested rainwater to clean your home or flush your toilets far outweigh the cost of a rain harvesting system! You'll see a difference in your monthly water bill each month!

Make Plumbing Maintenance a Priority

We cannot stress enough the importance of keeping up with your plumbing maintenance. Maintaining your plumbing system costs far less than the cost to repair and clean up a major plumbing emergency that can be caused by a lack of maintenance.

Making sure to have your drains cleaned twice a year, and have your pipes inspected once a year can end up saving you thousands of dollars on plumbing repairs. Another way to maintain your plumbing is to be mindful of what you are putting down your drains.

Clogged drains can cause a host of problems, and liquid drain cleaners that are often used remove them can actually do more harm than good. Keeping harmful substances out of your drain pipes can also save you money n the long run by making your pipes last longer.

Make the Right Choice to Save More Money

Which plumbing company you choose to trust your plumbing to can make a big difference in how much money you actually save. That’s why it’s important that you choose a company that offers competitive pricing across all of their services, as well as coupons and other savings on top of them!

Don’t want to sacrifice quality workmanship, to save a little bit of money? Good; you shouldn’t have to! With Valley Plumbing, you get quality services, done right the first time, at always competitive prices! Our team of highly skilled plumbing technicians and contractors is dedicated to making sure you feel confident in the work we do to keep your plumbing in the best possible condition.

Trust us with your plumbing maintenance by joining our Quality Service Club maintenance program, and you can enjoy savings like 15% off additional services. Call Valley Plumbing today at (801) 341-4222 to speak with a plumbing professional in Salt Lake City, UT today! Ask about our incredible referral program to learn how you can get an extra $25 from Valley Plumbing!

Isn't it fun to play with the lyrics of some of your favorite songs and make them about something else? We hope you recognized our reference to Queen's classic hit Another One Bites the Dust (and if you didn't, who even are you?).

Another One Bites the Dust is one of our favorite songs to listen to during the spring when dust count is on the rise. Sure, no one enjoys breathing dust in through the air, but did you know you may also be drinking, showering in, and washing your hands with dusty water?

You read that right- dusty water! So sit back, play some Queen in the background, and read on to learn more about how water softeners can help you get rid of dust that can cause your water supply to harden.

Dust And Hard Water

Dust, along with hard minerals like magnesium and calcium, in your water supply can cause it to harden. While “hard water” is not physically solid, it is hard in its chemical makeup. Hard water can affect everything from your shower to your laundry and dishes.

Here are some common signs that you may have hard water in your home:

• You notice white spots on silverware or dishes after washing them.
• Skin irritation or itchiness from the minerals and dust in your water.
• Clothing that becomes faded or rough after even the first wash.
• You begin to notice that you need more soap or detergent to clean the same amount.

Investing in a Water Softener Can Make All The Difference

Water softeners are designed to remove the hard minerals and dust from your water through one of a few different processes.

Some of the types of water softeners include magnetic softeners, dual tank softeners, salt-free ion exchangers, and (the most common) ion exchangers.

Any type of water softener will remove harsh minerals from your water and improve your overall water quality. Softer water means you can use less soap each time you wash dishes, put on a load of laundry, and even wash your hair.

This saves you money not only on soap but also on needing to buy clothes more often and needing to purchase products to make up for the damage to your hair.

Understanding Water Softener Costs

While installing a water softener in your home can cost anywhere from $300 to $10,000 depending on where you live, the type of softener you’re looking to install, the size of softener you need, and the condition of your water. A water softener installation far outweighs the cost with all its benefits.

Queen will forever be hailed as rock royalty for making great songs like Another One Bites the Dust. As such, we're sure they wouldn't put up with any dust in their air or water. If Queen is too good to deal with dust affecting their water quality, then so are you!

What are some of your favorite songs that we can listen to this spring? We want to know! Leave your favorite springtime jams in the comments below, and we'll be sure to check them out.

If you have commitment issues, then Valentine’s Day is probably a nightmare for you! This time of year, people in committed relationships are flaunting their happiness all over the place, people in new relationships are committing to one another, and some are even proposing in preparation of making a lifetime commitment!

Lucky for you, Valley Plumbing is here to give you an opportunity to join our Quality Service Club! This plumbing maintenance program will help you keep your plumbing in working order while saving money, so it’s something you’ll want to commit to!

Are You Prepared For a Plumbing Emergency?

Let's be honest- no one is ever prepared for an emergency to strike, plumbing or otherwise.

The good news is that there may be ways of preventing an emergency from arising.

It is a well-known fact that regular plumbing maintenance can help you avoid plumbing emergencies. Some of the most common plumbing emergencies, like a clogged toilet, raw sewage back up, and a burst pipe, are preventable with consistent maintenance on your toilets, sinks, and drain pipes.

With a Quality Service Club membership, not only do you receive annual safety inspections, but you will also have emergency shut off tags placed on all your incoming water service valves and on your water heater. You also get priority service, so if an emergency should arise in your home, it takes top priority with our team!

Start Taking Care of Your Piping System Today

The best way to keep your pipe system in good shape is by having your drains inspected and cleaned by a plumbing professional every six to twelve months.

Don’t neglect your drains until you have a clogged drain that is causing foul odors, slow drainage, or even sewage to flood your home.

Clogged pipes can eventually burst, leading to a flood of potentially unsanitary water in your home! Getting regular drain cleanings from Valley Plumbing could save you from an emergency, or from needing costly pipe repairs. It can also make your piping system last longer.

Make Long Term Plans With Us

If, even after learning how our Quality Service Club can help you avoid plumbing emergencies and benefit your pipe system, you’re still not sure if you want to commit, consider this:

Signing up for a plumbing maintenance plan means you have a long term partner in keeping your plumbing up to snuff! In the same way that you trust your primary care physician with your health, you can trust the experts at Valley Plumbing with your plumbing systems! Our Quality Service Plan also guarantees you 15% off all other plumbing services!

If you plan on living in your current home long term, then take care of your plumbing long term with a Quality Service Plan from Valley Plumbing. Now that you know about how you can keep your home and plumbing in proper working order, let’s talk about how Valley Plumbing and Drain Cleaning can help you save money while you do it!

Give us a call today at (801) 341-4222 to speak with a reliable plumbing contractor in Salt Lake County, UT about how our Quality Service Plan can help you save money on your regular plumbing maintenance.