M.A.C. Stewart Plumbing

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Halloween Pumpkin Carving Causes Garbage Disposals 

Few things wreak havoc in drainpipes and garbage disposals like pumpkin guts. The slimy, stringy and sticky pulp that Barrie scrape out of pumpkins every October to make Halloween jack-o-lanterns might just be the perfect material for clogging drains. For some reason, many first time pumpkin carvers are prone to carving pumpkins in their kitchen sinks so they can push the slimy guts right down the garbage disposal with minimal mess. Sounds good but it is a very bad idea! And few people make that same mistake twice.

What will it do to your plumbing?

First, pumpkin guts will choke a garbage disposal. And any pulp and seeds that get past the disposal will stick to the inside walls of the drainpipes. When the water stops running, the pulp dries and hardens like concrete. That’s right. Kitchen sinks and pumpkins are not a good match Don’t even think about liquid drain cleaner. In most cases, it is powerless against pumpkin guts. No sir, your household over-the-counter defenses are useless. You’re going to need a professional drain cleaner to power through a pumpkin pulp clog. Even a plumber with all his heavy duty drain cleaning equipment may face a formidable battle to open a drain clogged with pumpkin guts. Oh, and your disposal may never be the same or it may have to be replaced.

How sticky is it?

In case you haven’t gotten the point, pumpkin pulp is so sticky that we wonder if it isn’t the secret ingredient in super glue. If they could have grown pumpkins on Gilligan’s Island, the professor could have used pumpkin pulp to patch up the SS Minnow and the skipper would have been sailing her back into Honolulu Harbor before the end of the first season. Pumpkin pulp is so sticky, you could probably use it to patch a fiberglass fender on a Corvette. Yes, it’s that sticky and it hardens that much. Do not let it near your drains, including the toilet. Ever!

Call M.A.C. Stewart Plumbing in Barrie

If you find yourself constantly battling drainage problems, particularly in your kitchen sink, you may be fighting FOG. Educating yourself can help you prevent FOG from causing major damage to your home as well as the environment.

What is FOG?

“FOG” is an acronym for fats, oils and greases that enter your plumbing system and can cause problems of epic proportions.

Where does it come from?

Fats, oils and greases are a natural by-product of cooking and food preparation. They are found in many food products including shortening, butter, margarine, dairy products, baked goods, eggs, dressings, sauces, coffee, meats, food scraps, and more. Washing dishes that once held these products and running FOG-ridden items through your garbage disposal can all contribute to FOG buildup.

FOG’s Effects on Plumbing and Sewers

FOG can clog plumbing pipes and sewer systems similar to the way cholesterol clogs your arteries. Fats, oils and greases are insoluble in water. Dish soaps won’t help. Worse, as FOG cools, it floats on the surface of sewer fluids and solidifies on pipes. As a result, pipes may need to be cleaned more frequently, replaced sooner, or become completely blocked and cause a sewage backup into your home or sewer overflow onto streets. When FOG causes plumbing problems such as these, contact your local Innisfil plumber M.A.C. Stewart Plumbing for plumbing repair services.

How to Properly Handle FOG

You can help protect both Mother Nature and your home environment by properly disposing of fats, oils and greases, preventing sewage overflow from contaminating waterways and your home.

• Caution
  Never pour FOG down the sink – even disposals cannot properly handle fats, oils and greases. Use a sink strainer, disposing of as much food as possible in the trash.
• Contain
  Save FOG, such as bacon grease and meat drippings, in containers with lids where they can harden and congeal for recycling or disposal in the garbage. Used glass jars, large yogurt containers, and coffee cans are great for this.
• Pre-clean
  Scrape greasy pans and dishes into the garbage or compost. Wipe them with a paper towel or newspaper before washing.
• Dispose and recycle
  Composting bins and recycling drop-offs are great places to dispose of FOG. They can be recycled into biofuels or re-used in the form of gardening compost. Check with your city for solid waste disposal programs that accept used cooking oil, such as hazardous waste collection programs.
• Need a Plumber in Innisfil contact M.A.C.Stewart Plumbing

PREVENTING DRAIN CLOGS IN YOUR INNISFIL HOME

Innisfil homes tend to have very intricately arranged piping systems and because of the complexity, these plumbing systems are susceptible to clogging. Ensuring your system doesn’t fall victim to blockages can be tricky, and one of the best places to start inspecting are your drains. Maintaining the entrance and exit ways of a home plumbing system can mean the difference in a healthy home, and a costly repair bill.

Serious drain clogs are caused by a number of internal and external factors but one of the most common causes witnessed by professional plumbers, like Innisfils M.A.C. Stewart Plumbing, are foreign objects. These can enter a plumbing system through a variety of access points such as toilets and kitchen sinks. Average items found range from food, waste, excess toilet paper, and even toys. And in most cases, a serious clog is too much for an over-the-counter plunger to handle.

In order to prevent costly drain clogs in your Innisfil  home, check out these top tips from the trusted pros at M.A.C. Stewart Plumbing:

• Use drain strainers: A lot of times, especially during the holiday season, homeowners tend to use their kitchen sink as a trash can. Even with a garbage disposal, large food scraps are not meant to pass through a home’s plumbing system and can lead to costly clogs. One way to prevent this is to install inexpensive drain strainers that catch the larger pieces of food.

• Watch what you flush: While it may be funny to read, M.A.C. Stewart Plumbers do often times find toys in toilet drains as the cause of clogging. If you have little ones in your home, explain to them the importance of keeping things out of the bowl and advise on proper toilet paper use as excess amounts can back up a system quickly.

• Inspect outside drains: Outside drains are also susceptible to clogging, especially when near invasive trees. Roots can grow around piping in a way that inflicts damage and causes clogs. However, a proper inspection can identify these plants before they cause any issues.

Simple measures can go a long way in preventing clogged drains in your Innisfil or Barrie home but professional home inspections can deliver the ultimate peace of mind. Fortunately, the experienced professionals at M.A.C. Stewart Plumbing can help with specialized services for drain clog remedies and prevention. To find out more contact M.A.C. Stewart Plumbing in Innisfil at (705)7335154

WATER CONSERVATION SAVES MONEY AND HELPS US ALL IN SIMCOE COUNTY

Thomas Fuller said “We never know the worth of water until the well is dry.”  In honor of National Water Quality Month, Bradfords trusted professionals at M.A.C. Stewart Plumbing urge you to take simple steps to clean and conserve water in your home.

Bradford tests the tap water annually to guarantee it meets safety and cleanliness standards. Homeowners can take action to further ensure safe drinking water in your home, like installing a water softener and a water filter.

When your home has a water softener installed, it removes minerals from the water making cleaning much easier and quicker. Less soap and shampoo is required due to the clean rinse the first run through and your appliances and pipes will last longer too. Maintenance of your water softener system should take place every few months so it continues to operate properly and check that the proper amount of salt is being used.

Installing a water filter will remove chlorine, bacterial and lead contaminants from your drinking water. It will also remove dangerous contaminants while keeping positive mineral deposits that help maintain a healthy pH balance to keep your family healthy and hydrated.

FIX A LEAK, SAVE A BUCK

A small drip can waste as much as 20 gallons of water per day. Conserving water at home can decrease your utility costs and your environmental footprint and there are a bounty of ways to do so.  For instance, installing a water saving showerhead will help limit the amount of water for each shower. Contact us about insulating your water pipes to avoid wasting water by waiting for it to heat up. Another great tip to save water is to reduce how much water you let run when you wash your car or the dishes or brush your teeth. If you have outdoor plants that need watered regularly, keep a bucket or bin outside to collect rainwater for that purpose.

You and your family should be able to count on the safest drinking water possible in your home. Call M.A.C. Stewart Plumbing today for more ideas on improving your water quality. We can also assist in choosing the right water softener for your home and perform any needed repairs.

Plumber in Bradford

PLUMBERS IN BRADFORD

Sometimes you gotta call a Plumber

Water Softener Installation and Repair

For water softener system installations in the Bradford area you will be glad you found the experts at M.A.C. Stewart Plumbing in Bradford West Gwillimbury.

Hard water contains more minerals than soft water, specifically calcium and magnesium, and can cause many problems for your home’s plumbing system, ranging from clogged pipes to the prevention of soap and detergent from dissolving in the water.

Our team can install a water softening system in your home in Bradford, which will remove the minerals that cause hard water and prevent the associated negative consequences.

Benefits of Installing a Water Softening System

A well installed, high quality water softener system will prevent lime-scale build up on your water pipes and plumbing. This build up can have a variety of negative effects including limiting the efficiency of hot water boilers, and extending the life span of household machines such as laundry machines, heating and air conditioning machines as well.

Whether you are looking for a free quote on a complete water softening system installation or just want to discuss the benefits of installing a water softener, we can help.

We carry all the name brands and offer the best warranties and workmanship guarantees in town.

Have a Plumbing problem that needs to be addressed immediately or need the services of a professional Bradford Contractor you can count on? Contact M.A.C. Stewart Plumbing and Drain Cleaning today at (705)7335154.