Glass in the Disposal

Having glass or other foreign objects in your garbage disposal can turn into a major problem. It can cause the blades to get bent, clog your pipes, and even cause your disposal to jam possibly blocking your kitchen sink drain and dishwasher if it is connected. It is best to remove an item that is lodged.

thekitchn.com

The first thing to do if you have glass in your disposal is to turn off your disposal and to be safe, if possible, switch off the breaker too.

DO NOT STICK YOUR HAND IN THE DISPOSAL!!

Use a tool similar to needle nose pliers to fish out the pieces of glass.

You can also try an industrial size vacuum like a Shop-vac if you have one available.

Make sure you twist the blades to ensure you’ve gotten all the glass. You can do this with a hex key from underneath the disposal or by using a tool. DO NOT USE YOUR HANDS.

Once you are sure you’ve gotten all the glass, you can restore the power to the unit. Run the water to ensure you’ve gotten everything out.

Always keep in mind, retrieving things from a garbage disposal is a dangerous task. If you feel there may be something stuck in your disposal and do not feel comfortable getting it out, please give us a call.

It’s Vacation Time!!

Just an announcement about next week for our company. Sept 30th – Oct 4th is a vacation week.

What does this mean?

  • Half of our crew is on vacation.
  • Projects and estimates will not be scheduled for this week. We will be scheduling for the week of Oct 7th.
  • Emergency and small repair jobs will be taken and done as needed.
  • If there is no answer, please leave a voicemail. We will return your call as soon as possible.
  • Our Accounting department is closed during this time. Crissie will follow up with everyone when she is back in the office.

We will resume business as normal the 7th of October.

Thank you everyone!

Winterizing Irrigation Systems

As Winter rapidly approaches, please keep in mind your irrigation system and Backflow device can freeze and burst. If you leave water in the system it can freeze and damage the valves and lines. Preparing your sprinkler system for the Winter months is easy.

Here are a few helpful tips for your irrigation system

  • Turn off the timer. Turning off the timer allows the controllers to maintain your settings so you won’t have to reprogram. If you disconnect the power you will need to reset your timer.
  • Shut off the water supply using the main valve. Shutting off the main valve will protect your system from having water flowing through it.
  • Above ground pipes, valves and devices should be insulated. You can purchase insulation for these devices at most home improvement stores.

If you need any help with your devices please give us a call at 704-934-0015

We Love Our Customers as Much as They Love us!!

Larry H.

I called for installation of garbage disposal and check on city water pressure as well as rust in master bath sink.
Both plumbers were very professional, curtious, and did a very good job!
I will call them again for all plumbing jobs !
Thank you for a good job.

Katie T.

Plumber was knowledgeable, professional, fast and really knew what he was doing! Second time we have used Cain’s Able Plumbing and we won’t use anyone else!

Mike M.

Canes able did a great job replacing our main water line. Quality service at a reasonable rate. Highly recommended!

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Tony F.

Added bathroom. Great job start to finish. On time; on budget; very fair price. Have used previously and certainly plan to use again

Salvatore A.

Lloyd, Kyke and Cody are professional, courteous and incredible! Meticulous attention to detail Thanks so much!

Rick N.

I have used Cain’s Able Plumbing a couple of times now and have only good things to say. Their number is in my contacts and will be the only one that I call when I have plumbing needs.

Getting to Know Your Toilet

Knowing the different parts of your toilet can help you better understand where a problem may be coming from. If you notice a bad smell or if you have an overflowing toilet these key parts could prevent you from cleaning up a giant mess.

  • Tank- The tank is the back part of your toilet that holds clean water used for flushing the toilet and filling other components.
  • Bowl- The bowl holds the waste water.
  • Flush Handle- The flush handle is the part used to flush the toilet. It is connected to the trip lever.
  • Trip Lever- The trip lever lifts the flapper, allows water to leave the tank during a flush, and lets soiled water out.
  • Float Ball- The float ball is used to measure the amount of water inside the tank. It lowers and rises as the water moves through the system. When the tank is full, the ball stops rising.
  • Overflow Tube- The overflow tube leads to the toilets drain. It stops the tank from overflowing and pushes out any excess water.
  • Flapper Valve- The flapper valve is attached to the flush handle and the trip lever with a chain. Its main use is to keep water inside the tank. It creates suction to help force soiled water down the toilet drain. If your toilet is overflowing, you can try pushing the flapper down.
  • Stop Valve- Also referred to as the toilet supply valve, this valve controls the water supply. It is usually located behind the toilet near the floor.
  • Supply Tube- The supply tube supplies water to the toilet from the main water line into the refill tube.
  • Refill Tube- The refill tube refills the bowl with clean water through the supply tube when the float ball is down.
  • Trap- The trap is a seal that prevents water back flowing and prevents odors from seeping through from the main sewer line.
  • Wax Ring- The wax ring is a seal between the toilet and the main sewer line. Typically if you have a leak at the bottom of your toilet this is where it is coming from.

It’s Like Throwing Money Down The Drain!

A running toilet can waste around 200 gallons of water per day, that equals thousands of gallons per year. On average, a running toilet adds approximately $200 per month to a water bill. If you notice your toilet is making noises after flushing it, you could be wasting money. To be sure of this, you can add a few drops of food coloring into the tank and let it sit. If the food coloring leaks into the bowl, you know your toilet is running.

Replacing Possible Culprits

  • The toilet bowl only needs to be replaced if it is cracked.
  • Flappers last around 4-5 years on average, however, certain cleaning chemicals used to clean toilets may shorten that to a year or less.
  • Handles should be replaced if you have to jiggle it for the water to stop running, if you have to hold the handle down to flush, or if the water runs constantly.
  • Wax seals should only need replacement every 20-30 years.

Just Let That Sink In

Fun and interesting facts about plumbing

Original wooden pipes used in Boston and Montreal in the 1800’s. They were hollowed out logs that were tapered on the end.
  • The origin word for plumbing is plumbum. In Latin it translates to lead. This is also the reason lead is abbreviated as Pb on the periodic table.
  • Sir John Harrington invented the first flushing toilet in 1596. Sir John of Kelston, only constructed two of these toilets. One for himself and one for his godmother, Queen Elizabeth I. It was a two foot oval, waterproofed with resin and wax, fed by water from an upstairs cistern.
  • King George II died while on the toilet. Being overweight and unhealthy, he suffered a heart attack while using the restroom.
  • Thomas Crapper was the first to market the flushing toilet to the public. He also invented the ballcock and held nine patents for updating various flushing components.
  • In the 1800’s, wooden pipes were used in areas like Boston and Montreal. These wooden pipes were hollowed out logs that were tapered on the ends.
  • In November of 1954, Albert Einstein was made an honorary member of The Plumbers and Steamfitters Union, after stating if he could live his life all over, he’d have been a plumber.
  • Ozzy Osborne of Black Sabbath, was a plumbers apprentice prior to pursuing his music career.
  • The Super Mario Bros, Mario and Luigi, were plumbers. In the original story line they were checking the local sewer lines when crabs and shell creepers took over. The plumbing scenario also tied in nicely with the discovery of Mushroom World, in which they were sucked down into a secret warp zone while unclogging a drain.

Tree Root Damage

07/30/19 In the first photo you will see the toilet drain (This is what is under your toilet) with the roots still intact . In the second photo you will see the roots that have been removed from the drain. These customers had noticed sewer returning and slow draining.

Tree Roots are drawn to the moisture, oxygen, and nutrients that are present inside of sewer pipes. The vapor that is released into the soil when there is a leak or crack inside your sewage system can attract roots to grow toward the pipes.

The most invasive species of trees are:

  • Hybrid Poplars
  • Willows
  • American Elms

The average cost to remove tree roots from sewer pipes is between $100 and $600. For larger roots causing more severe damage, that cost can go up to as much as $2500 for complete re-piping of the system.

If you notice a slow flowing drainage system or gurgling noises coming from your toilet bowl, please give us a call!

Backflow Device Testing

During summer months you may notice your lawn is dry and wilted but, before you decide to turn on the sprinklers, make sure you’ve had your back-flow device tested. On average, around 25% of back-flow devices will fail, possibly putting someone else’s health at risk. The number one cause of back-flow device failure is due to dirt and debris that flows through the pipeline.

Not sure what a back-flow device is?

Back-flow devices or preventers keep contaminated water from moving the wrong way though your waterlines. It’s sole job is to prevent drinking water from becoming contaminated due to back-flow. Back siphon-age can occur when the pressure in a tank or water trough is lower than the pressure of the water system. Your water quality may not be affected however, it may cause someone to get sick from drinking contaminated water.

If you need your back-flow devices tested, please call and make an appointment. Please remember, if you need any repairs, they should be made by a certified technician.