Drain Cleaning Tips
Step 1
Every few days run very hot tap water through the drain. This is one way to keep a drain free of odors. Treat any partially clogged drains promptly
Step 2
Put a tablespoon of baking soda into the kitchen drain about once a week, then slowly pour in 1/4 cup of vinegar or lemon juice and let it stand for 30 minutes. Next run run hot water through the drain to eliminate minor buildups and odors.
Step 3
Pouring a strong salt water (brine) solution down the kitchen sink drain will eliminate odors and keep grease from building up.Step 4
Consider buying a drain cleaner solution if you have drains you can't clear out naturally. Be sure to read the label regarding the product suitability safety for your drain pipes.(Some chemical drain cleaners will harm plastic drain pipes). Make sure the solution is safe for plastic pipes or a garbage disposal . Be sure to follow the drain cleaner instructions.
Step 5
Alternatively, consider a natural drain cleaner even for blockages. Remove any standing water then pour 1/2 c. baking soda into your drain. Follow this with 1/2 c. white vinegar. The baking soda is basic and the vinegar is acidic, so they will react with a churning action which should break up the blockage without using any chemicals.
Step 6
Call GAC Company for anything beyond regular drain cleaning and simple unclogging of drains.
Clearing a Clogged Toilet
There's never a good time for a clogged toilet, but it always seems to happen at the worst times imaginable. Fortunately, most clogs can be cleared quickly and easily with the GAC Company's friend, a rubber plunger. By following these steps, you should be able to get that misbehaving toilet back up and running in no time.
Use the right tool
First things first, make sure you use the right tool for the job. The idea is to use the plunger to push water, not air. Water will not compress like air will when you apply pressure to the plunger, so you want one that is going to form a tight seal. The small, cheap plungers with suction cups don't work well on most clogged toilets. They don't seal well, and they're more likely to shoot water back up into the bowl rather than push it down the drain. Your best bet is a large, heavy-duty plunger with a ball-shaped cup or a fold-out rubber flange. These plungers are avilable at any hardware store in Santa Rosa or anywhere else in Sonoma County.
How it's done
Make sure there is enough water in the toilet bowl to cover the rubber portion of the plunger. In most clogged toilets, this shouldn't be an issue. In fact, if your toilet bowl is filled to the rim, you should probably give the water level 10 minutes or so to drop before plunging. If, for some reason, there isn't enough water in the bowl, do not flush the toilet again. Instead, use a pan or pot to pour water from the sink into the toilet bowl until the level is high enough.
Insert the plunger into the toilet bowl and press down slowly, making sure you get a good seal over the drain. Push in and out with the plunger as vigorously as you can, while taking care to keep the seal tight. Pushing creates pressure against the clog, while pulling creates suction in the drain. Eventually, this action should dislodge the clog and allow the toilet to drain. If the clog is loosened but doesn't come free, you can repeat the process. Leave the plunger in the toilet, and add water to the bowl. You may have to do this several times for particularly stubborn clogged toilet.
There are several other home remedies for dealing with a backed up toilet, such as snaking a wire hanger through the drain. However, if your blockage is so severe that a plunger can't help, it's' time to call a GAC Company plumber to solve that clogged toilet.
Standard Water Usage
Inside the Home
Running the Tap……………2-5 gallons per minute
Taking a Shower…………...2-7 gallons per minute
Taking a Bath………………20 to 60 gallons per Bath
Washing a full load of clothes……24 to 40 gp Load
Flushing the Toilet………………..1.28 to 7 gp Flush
Running an automatic Dishwasher…..10 to 20 gp Load
Outside the Home
Running the Hose…………….5 to 10 gpm
Watering 1,000 square feet of grass
In Summer ………………….850 gallons per week
In Fall ………………………400 gallons per week
Watering 1,000 square feet of Shrubs
In Summer ………………… 450 gpw
In Fall ………………………200 gpw
Watering a mature fruit tree (15’ canopy)
In Summer ………………….131 gpw
In Fall ……………………….41 gpw
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