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No one likes that feeling of turning on a sink only to watch water pool up at the bottom and stay there. Clogs in sinks are among the most common problems plumbers need to deal with, and both bathrooms and kitchen sinks can be affected. In most cases, that arises from materials put down the sink. Either way, it’s a problem that needs resolving quickly, and in most cases, a professional plumber is the best way to do so.

THE CAUSES

The causes of a stopped-up sink vary wildly, and often depend on whether it’s a kitchen sink, a bathroom sink, or a subsidiary sink in a location like the garage. Kitchen sinks usually get clogged with food, while bathroom sinks get clogged from beauty and cleaning products. More specifically, the causes of clogs can include:

  • Coffee grounds, which can clump together with water and form an impenetrable blockage.
  • Fats, oils and grease, collectively known as FOG. They’re often poured down the sink in liquid form, then they solidify in the cool pipes.
  • Spaghetti and pasta, which can get expand with water and stop up drains.
  • Fibrous vegetables such as celery, carrots and potato peelings that may not break up with the garbage disposal.
  • Human hair, often mixed with soap or shampoo.
  • Toothpaste, which often builds up in the turn of the pipe and can nearly attain the consistency of cement when it accumulates.
  • Plastic toys. It can sound strange, but children can often throw action figures and other toys down the sink as part of their play.
  • Shampoo and other beauty products, which can prove surprisingly stubborn when they become dry and crusty.
  • Hard water, minerals which can leave a build-up in the sink pipes and eventually create a clog.

THE SOLUTION

The normal solution to such clogs is to purchase a chemical cleanser from a supermarket or hardware store, or even a plumbing tool such as a drain snake to deal with the issue. In most cases, such measures are hopelessly inadequate. Look at the list above: it’s quite varied and yet it still only covers the most common causes of clogs. Store-bought solutions adopt a one-size-fits all approach to all of them, hoping to partially treat each problem instead of fully dealing with your specific problem. That usually leaves part of the clog left behind to quickly reform a few weeks or months later.

Professional plumbers, on the other hand, have the skills and experience to handle your specific clog the right way. In addition, they have access to tools that can tailor the approach to handle the problem the right way. Hydro-jetting equipment, snakes with rotating heads and similar devices are too expensive for most homes, which don’t have to deal with clogs very often. But plumbers handle clogs on a regular basis, and their training combined with specialized devices can make short work of your plumbing clog in short order.

Of course, you can help your own cause out by noting materials that can result in a clog, and disposing of them in the trash instead of the sink. For those times when the clogs catch you anyway, call BZ Dependable Plumbing & Heating Inc. for plumbing service throughout Teaneck, NJ!

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Few Bergen County plumbing problems are more troublesome than frozen pipes, which crop up every year and can wreak havoc with your household if you let them. Problems with frozen and burst pipes are a common source of repair calls for us in the winter, and while we’re happy to correct the issue once it occurs, we also believe that spotting the signs early — as well as preventing frozen pipes outright — is greatly preferable to treating the problem once it’s occurred.

WHY FROZEN PIPES ARE A PROBLEM

Frozen pipes can occur at any portion of your plumbing system that isn’t sufficiently insulated, as well as in pipes outside the home, such as those used for your sprinkler system. When the water freezes, it blocks the flow of water through the pipes, preventing you from making use of the affected outlets.

That’s only the tip of the iceberg, however. Ice expands, which means the frozen water will press up against the sides of your pipe. If the pipes burst, ice and water will damage the surrounding materials — including drywall, furniture, and electrical components — and turn a fairly simple repair into a huge (and expensive) hassle.

SIGNS OF FROZEN PIPES

The first and most obvious sign of a frozen pipe is turning on the outlets with only a trickle of water coming out, or no water coming out at all. Frozen pipes also need low temperatures to manifest — though not necessarily freezing, since the cold metal of the pipes can cause the water to freeze even if the outdoor temperature is higher than 32 degrees.

Other signs of a frozen pipe can include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Strange noises. Whistling, groaning, banging or humming noises coming from your pipes could all indicate water that is struggling to get through.
  • Frost on exterior pipes. If you can see any pipes in your home and they are covered with frost or are otherwise unusually cold, it means bad things for the water inside.
  • Strange odors. A back-up in the drain lines or sewer lines could send strange odors up the pipes into your home. This is a good way of spotting frozen drain pipes, since the water usually flows away from you.

“SHOULD I CALL A PLUMBER FOR FROZEN PIPES?”

Short answer? Yes!
When you spot the signs of frozen pipes, shut off the water to the affected section and call in a plumber to get it resolved. Attempting to fix the problem yourself could result in burst pipes, which becomes exponentially more difficult to fix.

In addition to getting the water flowing again, the plumber can make some solid suggestions on the best way to prevent future frozen pipes and implement solutions in many cases. This can include insulating vulnerable pipes, repiping parts of the home to move them through warmer areas, and even just leaving the faucets on a trickle to keep the water flowing. That turns a simple repair call into a swift way to stop the problem before it starts in winters to come. Learn more about why you should call a plumber for frozen pipes here.

The Bergen County plumbing and heating professionals at BZ Dependable Plumbing & Heating Inc. are standing by to help you with your frozen pipes!

We’re Ready to Help!

Call Us Today!

(201) 837-6700 (201) 837-6700 Book Online

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You may have heard the term slab leak before, probably spoken of in ominous tones. They rank among the most difficult plumbing problems to address, though more for their location than any specific issue in and of itself. After all, plumbing leaks are quite common, and any plumber in the Bergenfield, NJ area that can’t deal with one probably needs to find another career. But slab leaks are located beneath the concrete foundation of your home, porch or pool; in some cases, they are actually embedded in the concrete. That can provide great protection from damage, but when a leak opens up in such a spot, it can go for weeks or months before being detected. In the interim, it can cause severe damage to the concrete, eventually leading to cracks or worse. What started out as a simple leak can soon become a nightmare for your home.

EARLY DETECTION IS KEY

The sooner a homeowner can spot the signs of a slab leak, the more the damage can be contained and the easier it may be to affect repairs. Signs of a slab leak can be subtle, but with a little care and foresight, you can take notice of them, When you do, turn off the main water to your home and call a plumber immediately. The symptoms can include:

  • Drips or sounds or running water in unusual locations.
  • Standing water around your foundation.
  • Higher-than-anticipated monthly bills.
  • Lowered water pressure in given outlets, including toilets and showers.
  • Warm spots, cold spots or dampness in the concrete above the leak.
  • Cracks or fissures forming in the concrete itself. (This is a late-occurring sign, usually requiring immediate action.)

The qualified professionals at BZ Dependable Plumbing & Heating Inc. can address slab leakswith speed and efficiency. Trust our expertise in dealing with difficult problems like this one!

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Winters in Teaneck, NJ see their share of plumbing problems: everything from frozen pipes to clogged drains to full-bore pipe replacement. If you own a home, you might be very handy with do-it-yourself projects, and feel that you can tackle plumbing problems as well. Unless the issue can be solved with a simple plunger, that’s usually a big mistake. Professional plumbers bring a great deal to the equation that even the most adept laymen simply can’t.

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

Chances are, the average homeowner has only dealt with a given problem a handful of times at the most. That means you may waste a lot of time and effort ascertaining the best way to proceed. Professional plumbers, on the other hand, handle problems like yours on a weekly basis. That means they can handle it the right way swiftly and effectively, with no time wasted on trial and error.

EQUIPMENT

Plumbers have access to equipment that most homeowner wouldn’t need more than a few times, and which therefore become prohibitively expensive for anyone who doesn’t fix pipes for a living. But that equipment – anything from a motorized snake with a rotating head to a seismic detector to spot leaks – usually addresses the specific nature of the issue and can solve the problem much more readily.

INSURANCE

If you’re fixing your own plumbing and something goes wrong, you’re on the hook for any additional repairs, and may even incur injury. Licensed plumbers, on the other hand, are bonded and insured, which not only means that any unexpected damages are taken care of, but that you’re not liable for any injuries that occur during the process. Most plumbers will also provide a cost estimate up front, so you know how much the repairs are going to cost.

For plumbing issues both large and small, count on BZ Dependable Plumbing & Heating Inc. to make them right.

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The holidays are officially here in Bergenfield, NJ, and that means a number of us will be going out of town to celebrate with family, or just to get away from a few days. Cold weather and similar issues have the potential to wreak havoc with your plumbing system, and if there’s no one home to stem the damage, it can get quite severe in some cases. An ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure, and if you can prepare your plumbing system before you leave for the holidays, it could save you a great deal of trouble. Here’s a quick list of steps to follow that can help ensure no trouble comes knocking while we’re out of town.

1. INSULATE

Among the biggest worries with your plumbing during the holidays is frozen pipes, which can burst and create a huge mess if you aren’t careful. Look for pipes in your homes in uninsulated areas and get them insulated if possible to make sure they stay safe.

2. DRAIN OUTDOOR PIPES

If you haven’t done this already, you should do so as soon as possible. Turn off the water to any outdoor pipes, then turn them on and drain them of all water. That will keep water from lingering in the pipes and prevent them from freezing while you’re gone.

3. CHECK FOR LEAKS

If you haven’t arranged for a maintenance inspection of your home plumbing yet this year, make sure you schedule one before you leave for the holidays. Among the other benefits that maintenance provides, it lets the plumber check for potential leaks in the system, allowing you to schedule a repair session and seal those leaks before you take off. That way, they won’t lead to any nasty surprises when you come beck from your vacation.

Trust the experts at BZ Dependable to help prepare your plumbing system for the rigors of winter.

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Lime deposits are quite common in the Dumont, NJ area, and if you are a homeowner chances are you’ve had to deal with them in some form or another. They’re actually hard water deposits — water containing high amounts of minerals like calcium — and you’ve likely cleaned their crusty white build-up off of a faucet or shower head. It’s harmless enough if swallowed, though it does give drinking water an odd metallic smell, and cleaning it off of your fixtures can be a pain. When it gets into your water heater, though, it can become a real problem. You need ot watch for the signs of it and get it addressed as quickly as possible.

BUILD-UP

Water heaters need to be flushed out every now and again or else lime deposits and similar sediment will coalesce at the bottom of your tank. That’s problematic because it forms an insulating barrier between the burners and the water it needs to heat. It forces the water heater to use more fuel to do its job, and raises your monthly bills accordingly. Even worse, all that wasted heat is absorbed by the bottom of the tank, increasing the strain on it and shortening the time when fissures or other problems will appear.

HOW TO SPOT IT

Build-up and lime deposits in your tank can be detected by watching for unexpected rises in your monthly bill. A more reliable method, however, is to listen for odd noises such as bubbles and gurgles coming through your tank. That’s the sound of water passing through the sediment. It can be cleaned out by scheduling a maintenance session with your local plumber. When applied annually or semi-annually, such maintenance can prevent lime deposits from forming in the first place.

For high-quality water heater servicing, call BZ Dependable today!

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