3 Common Problems to Look for in Your Home’s Pipes

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Pipe damage in your home can be the result of many different factors. If left unattended, minor issues like rust, burst pipes, and high water pressure can turn into costly problems and will require expert pipe repair services. Not to mention, neglected pipe issues can result in increased water bills and long-term damage to your home. At RP Services, we want to help you detect the most common signs of pipe damage so you can find a solution sooner than later. 

Burst Pipes

When we typically think of the signs of a burst pipe, we think of large puddles around our property. However, there are other signs of a burst pipe that require immediate attention. If you suspect having a burst pipe in your home, keep an eye out for the following issues:

  • Low water pressure
  • Increased water bill
  • Unusual sounds coming from your faucets
  • Unusual pipe noises

By finding the root cause of your burst pipe, you may be able to save yourself time and money in the long run.

Rusted Piping

Similar to cars as they get older, your galvanized steel pipes are affected by rust, causing long-term damage if left untreated. Rust found on the inside of pipes can produce a lower water volume, which home and business owners often confuse with low water pressure. Pipe rust can spread to your pipe’s threads, resulting in an improper seal and leakage. If your pipes are rusted to the point that they are leaking, this may be your sign to consider galvanized pipe replacement.

Increased Water Pressure

The plumbing in your home can be seriously damaged by high water pressure, even if you don’t notice the damage right away. Residential plumbing systems may not always be equipped for high-pressure water and could lead to a significant amount of strain on your pipes. Overworking pipes with high water pressure could result in leaks, so it is important to regularly check your water pressure to prevent further pipe damage.

If you suspect that your pipes may not be working at optimal performance, contact the experts at RP Services for help. Our licensed, certified full-service plumbers will come to your home or business, assess your pipes’ conditions and provide you with high-quality solutions, including our signature repiping services and even 24/7 emergency plumbing services for those moments that can’t wait until morning.

If you’re ready for effective full-service plumbing with a history of excellence, call us today at (310) 734-9852 or contact us online. At RP Services, access to the best plumbers is always a call or a click away.

Causes for a Gurgling Toilet and How to Fix It

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We all know what our toilet should sound like; that’s we hear an unusual sound, such as a gurgling sound, it can be safely assumed that something is wrong. While gurgling toilets are not out of the ordinary, it is not an issue that should be put off for too long. If left unattended, a gurgling toilet can result in long-term damage to your home. Your plumbing system can be greatly affected and even display unusual signs of damage, such as water backup.

The best way to handle a gurgling toilet is to address the issue before it gets worse, preferably with the assistance of full-service plumbing professionals such as the experts at RP Services. Before calling your plumber, here are some signs that your gurgling toilet may need to be repaired.

Why Does a Toilet Gurgle?

A gurgling or bubbling sound from your toilet usually signifies a blockage in your sewage system. The air pressure in your pipes must be at a particular level in order for water and waste to properly pass through your plumbing system. Backup occurs when negative pressure leads to air escaping from your system, which is heard by gurgling or bubbling noises. Common places where blockages could occur include:

  • Toilet – Floating objects in your toilet usually mean that there is a blockage in your toilet.
  • Toilet Drain – Your toilet drain gets clogged when you flush items that shouldn’t be flushed.
  • Main Sewer Drain – This drain is connected to all of your home’s drains; if you’re experiencing blockages, your main sewer drain could be the source. Blockages in your main sewer drain can potentially affect all of your home’s plumbing fixtures.
  • Vent Stack –  Not all blockages are found in your drains. A clogged vent stack on your roof can cause a negative flow of air pressure, which trickles down to your toilet.

DIY Gurgling Toilet Repairs

Now that you know the causes of a gurgling toilet, here are some steps you can take to fix your toilet before the need for emergency plumbing arises.

  • Plunging – Sometimes, plunging your toilet is the easiest way to make blockages arise on your toilet’s surface. In order to accomplish this, make sure that your drains are sealed in order for the air to make its way through your toilet and push up any blockages.
  • Plumbing Snake – If nothing comes up to your toilet, reaching in with a plumbing snake is your next best option. A common household plumbing snake can reach up to 15 feet; if you find that you need more length, most hardware stores will rent a motorized snake that can reach up to 100 feet.
  • Speaking with Neighbors – Your toilet’s issue may not be limited to your home. Speak with your neighbors to see if they are experiencing similar problems. If your neighbors are also dealing with gurgling toilets, this may be the result of a clogged sewer main. At that point, it would be the responsibility of your city’s water and power department to fix it.

When Should You Contact the Experts?

If you’ve tried all of the above options with no results, it may be time to call in the professionals. An experienced full-service plumber should be able to assess your blockage with advanced technology and give you a detailed report of what needs to be done. Professional plumbing experts can be found at RP Services, where we specialize in emergency plumbing, including urgent toilet drain repair.

If you need emergency plumbing services, look no further than the experienced plumbers at RP Services. Our team of experienced, licensed plumbers will gladly come to your home and address your plumbing needs, all with the signature white-glove approach we have been recognized for over 30 years. Call us today at (310) 734-9852 or reach out to us online to schedule an appointment. At RP Services, effective plumbing repairs and maintenances are always a call or a click away.

Plumbing Issues to Look Out For in Your New Home

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If you’re reading this, chances are you have just bought a new house, or are in the market for a new home. Buying a new house can be fun and exciting, filled with joy, anticipation, and even a little anxiety. Once the dust has settled and the ink has dried, reality sets in. At this point, you might get nervous about any potential issues your new home might have. Even if the house you’re purchasing is relatively newer compared to other houses in the neighborhood, it cannot be assumed that the house will not have its share of issues, including problems with the plumbing inside the house. Here are some ways to take initiative and resolve any plumbing issues in your home before they require emergency plumbing services.

Take care of the issue sooner than later

Like with any problem, the best way to deal with your plumbing issues is to identify the problem and not put off the solution for another day. Proactively resolving the issue will save you stress, and most importantly, money on costly emergency plumbing repairs. The best way to take immediate action is by contacting a full-service plumber to inspect your home and assess any issues that may arise. The plumbing service experts at RP Services are ready, willing, and able to make sure that your new home’s plumbing system is running as it should.

The top 5 plumbing issues you may encounter in your new home

 

1. Clogged Pipes

Clogged pipes can be the result of the environment surrounding your home. If you have trees surrounding your home, it is possible that their roots have found their way into your pipes, causing lasting damage to your entire system. At worst, the previous homeowner may have neglected to fix the issue, and now it’s become your problem. Check with your neighbors to see if they’ve experienced similar issues and contact RP Services for round-the-clock emergency plumbing services.

2. Blocked Drains

If your pipes are clogged, there’s a good chance that your drain will follow. Food grease, leftovers, or construction debris could have found their way into your drain, causing a blockage. Blocked drains could cause long-term damage to your house’s structural integrity, all the way to the house’s foundation.

3. Problems with your Water Heater

Most people start their day with a hot shower in the morning. If you find yourself in this category, a water heater that’s breaking down can really affect your morning routine. Problems with water heaters can range from being poorly installed, having a bad internal thermostat, sediment in the tank, or a leaky pipe. Our licensed and certified full-service plumbers are experts in diagnosing problems with your water heater and can promptly fix the issue, saving you time and money on a costly replacement.

4. Leaks in your faucets

Leaky faucets are random and can happen even in the newest houses. Small drops can accumulate and really do a number on your water bill. Without the proper attention, these small drops can turn into major issues. It’s best to contact a plumbing service that can inspect your faucets and fix any leaks before they affect the rest of your system.

5. Toilets that constantly run

If your toilet valve isn’t closing properly, it will constantly run water, resulting in higher water bills. In addition, faulty toilets waste dozens of gallons of water per day. While opening your tank and checking the flapper is a relatively simple task, it is best to leave it to expert full-service plumbers, such as the technicians at RP Services.

As soon as you find a plumbing issue in your new home, look no further for your repair needs than the experts at RP Services. RP Services has specialized in emergency plumbing services in the Los Angeles area for more than 30 years, and our reputation for white-glove services speaks for itself. Our certified full-service plumbers will address all your leak issues with the utmost professionalism and care, leaving you satisfied with our service every time you need us. Contact us online or call us at (310) 734-9852 and allow us to put your mind at ease with a quick and convenient consultation.

 

DIY Faucet Repair: 7 Steps to Fix Your Faucet Right

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A leaky faucet in your home is always an inconvenience that you may not be prepared for. If left unattended, minor leaks can turn into major issues, resulting in the waste of gallons of water per day and a rise in your water bill. Fortunately, there is a way to repair your leaky faucet before calling in a professional full-service plumber. Here is a surefire way to DIY your faucet repair. To properly repair your leaky faucet yourself, you will need the following tools:

  • Adjustable wrench
  • Replacement washers/O-rings
  • Philips screwdriver
  • WD-40

Once you have the tools you need, follow these six simple steps to repair your faucet. 

1. Turn off your water supply

Before beginning any type of repair work, make sure your water has been shut off. This will prevent any unnecessary messes when you open your fixtures. You can do this by turning the handles next to your sink to the right, ensuring that no water flow is reaching your faucet. 

2. Remove any decorative features

For faucets with decorative covers over the valves, you’ll want to remove those covers before any serious work. These covers will have a fine thread on the valve assembly that can be unscrewed. If you’re having trouble getting the covers off, use your WD-40 to help you loosen the cover.

3. Loosen the packing nut

After using your wrench to loosen your packing nut, remove the stem which should be easily visible to you if done correctly. Be advised that faucet stems will vary; some will pop off the valve while others may twist off. Regardless of the style, be sure to remove it gently to avoid damage to your faucet’s parts.

4. Pull the cartridge

For faucets older than 25 years, your next step will be to remove the cartridge. After 25 years, faucet cartridges can wear out due to wear and tear, having been turned on and off for such a long time. To remove the cartridge, use a set of channel locks pliers to pull it straight out. If you feel some resistance, feel free to wiggle it a little to get it out. Don’t hesitate to call your local full-service plumber to use professional equipment to remove it in a worst-case scenario.

5. Check your O-ring

Once everything from steps 1 through 4 has been removed, your O-ring should be easily visible. Faucet leaks can sometimes be the result of an O-ring that has been damaged or has a worn-out seal. Remove the damaged O-ring and get ready to replace it with a new part.

6. Have a hardware expert help you find the right replacement O-ring

To ensure you’re using the correctly sized replacement O-ring, take the old part to your trusted hardware store. A trained expert will be able to pick out the replacement part that should fit your faucet. If you prefer having too many parts rather than not enough, you can always buy a pack of O-rings in different sizes.

7. Put it all together

Once you have all the parts ready, the final step will be to reassemble in the following order:

  • O-ring
  • Stem
  • Packing nut
  • Screw
  • Handle

Once everything is put together, your next step is to ensure everything is secured tightly. Afterward, feel free to turn on your faucet and witness the fruits of your labor. Turn the knob gently and slowly; then, test your water to make sure the leak has disappeared.

If you’ve completed all of these steps and there is still a leak, your next step will be to reach out to an expert plumbing company to solve the problem. For more than 30 years, RP Services has specialized in emergency plumbing services and leak repair in the Los Angeles area. Our certified full-service plumbers will address all your leak issues with the utmost professionalism and care, leaving you satisfied with our service every time you need us. Contact us online or call us at (310) 734-9852 to allow us to put your mind at ease with a quick and convenient consultation.

Home Water Leaks: 5 Ways To Find Them Before It’s Too Late

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Wet cabinets, mold, or a smelly home are clear-as-day signs of a water leak in your home, but are you familiar with signs in your home that aren’t as obvious? For homes older than 25 years, indicators of a leak are much more present and should have more attention paid to; this includes checking all of your connections for oxidation, including valves, pumps, and any hoses to washing machines you may have installed. Aside from checking these common fixtures, it’s time to do a more detailed inspection. Water leaks can lead to higher expenses and long-term damage to your home, so it is important to know how to quickly spot the signs of a leak. 

Keep an eye on your water bill

If you’re noticing that your water bill is higher than usual with no changes to your daily consumption, this may be the first sign of a water leak. Leaks in your pipes lead to higher water usage, which results in a spike in your bill. Be mindful of leaks that aren’t always readily seen, such as leaks in pipes underneath your home. An experienced full-service plumber will always check your underground pipes to make sure that your repair stays fixed and avoid any unnecessary repiping.

Check your water usage

Looking at the statistics on your water bill can be intimidating if you don’t know what to reference. You end up asking yourself, “how much is too much?”, so it’s important to know where your water usage stands in comparison to the average amount of water used by homes that are similar to yours. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a family of four uses a maximum of 12,000 gallons of water per month. 

Make use of your water meter

Your water meter can be an effective tool when checking for leaks in your home. Follow these three simple steps on your meter to see if you have an unseen water leak:

  1. Turn off your home’s water, including ensuring that your dishwasher and washing machine is not being used.
  2. Once your water has been turned off, time to check your meter for any changes. If the meter has not changed, that is an indicator of a fast-moving leak and your meter is recording it as regular usage.
  3. Wait two more hours and check your meter again. Changes in your meter with the water turned off can be an indication that your leak is slower.

Test your toilet for leaks

Toilets account on average for up to 30% of total water usage in your home; during a large leak, toilets can leave their mark on your daily water consumption. If you have a leak, water will trickle from your toilet’s tank to your bowl when it isn’t in use. If you suspect a leak, drop some food coloring or a dye tablet from your hardware store into your tank and wait 10 minutes. If the water in your toilet bowl is colored, that is a surefire indicator of a water leak.

Check your outdoor faucets

Sometimes, a leak can be as small as one found in an outdoor faucet. Water leaks in outdoor faucets can be checked by connecting a rubber hose to your faucet; if water is leaking through your connection, it is time to replace your rubber hose gasket. This is especially important for homes with irrigation systems.

Once the leak has been identified, your next step is to find a reliable plumbing company that can provide round-the-clock repairs as quickly and efficiently as possible. RP Services, Inc. has specialized in emergency plumbing services in the West Los Angeles area for more than 30 years, and our reputation for white-glove service speaks for itself. Our certified full-service plumbers will address all your leak issues with the utmost professionalism and care, leaving you satisfied with our service every time you need us. Contact us online or call us at (310) 734-9852 and allow us to put your mind at ease with a quick and convenient consultation.

3 Things To Look For When Contracting Your Next Plumbing Service

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Having issues with your plumbing is an inconvenience, at best. At worst, these issues could jeopardize your daily routine and create further problems for your home. Plumbing repairs could be very costly in the long run, and even more so if the plumbing company doing the repairs doesn’t do the job right the first time. However, by doing the correct research and asking the right questions, you can save yourself time and money by choosing a full-service plumber that will provide quality service you can rely on time after time.

Superior plumbing service every time

When you are looking for places to eat, it’s more than likely that you will check the restaurant’s reputation. If you would do that for lunch or dinner, it makes perfect sense that you would do the same for a necessity such as your plumbing service. When researching local plumbers, check popular review websites such as Yelp or Google. When checking reviews, don’t limit yourself to just seeing the number of stars the business has; check the number and quality of reviews as well. Constant reviews that speak negatively about the quality of the company’s services and staff are an immediate red flag and should encourage you to look elsewhere. Keep a lookout for detailed reviews that speak on what previous customers liked from their plumbing company and pay special attention to which of their values align with your own.

Pricing that’s clear and within your budget

Once you’ve found a quality plumbing service, it‘s equally important to make sure that you are not compromising quality for affordability. Once you’ve identified a plumbing company that you’re interested in working with, be sure to ask for an estimate on your service request. Any reputable company should provide an estimate that is fair and accurate with your needs. At RP Services, we always assure transparent pricing that is always reasonably priced to ensure that you won’t break the bank. It is equally important to choose a plumbing company that can meet you wherever you are in your financial journey. RP Services offers a variety of affordable financing options so you can responsibly finance your services while knowing that your project is in the best professional hands.

Licensed, professional staff

Regardless of who you choose to hire for your plumbing needs, they should be qualified to handle whatever job you throw at them. Any reputable plumbing company should have experienced, licensed, and insured contractors to do the job; this is even more important when considering a company for any last-minute emergency plumbing services! Any respectable plumbing company will have their license number posted on their website, and RP Services is no exception.

When searching for the right plumbing company to meet your needs, look no further than RP Services, Inc. For the past 30 years, our family-owned business has provided top-quality plumbing services to the greater West Los Angeles area. Whether you need a minor repair for your home or need something more heavy-duty done including repiping, new plumbing construction, or commercial plumbing repair, our certified technicians will make sure to provide quality service that will stand the test of time. Contact us online or call us at (310) 734-9852 and allow us to put your mind at ease with a quick and convenient consultation.