An earthquake shut-off valve is a specialty valve that’s attached to the gas meter. During an emergency, the valves close and stop gas from flowing into the line. In 2000, all newly built buildings in California were required to have earthquake valves installed. If you have a home built after 2000 that’s connected to gas, you need to know how earthquake valves work.

In this post, we write about how these valves work and why they’re so important.

Types of Earthquake Shut-off Valves

There are two kinds of earthquake shut-off valves. The first type is the seismic natural gas shut-off valve. This valve is triggered when it detects an earthquake registering 5.1 or higher. The other type of seismic valve is an excess-flow valve. This valve turns on when the sensor detects a surge of pressure that signals a potential gas leak.

How Earthquake Valves Work

Earthquakes valves are, surprisingly, very straightforward. They’re installed directly onto the gas meter at the connection to the home’s gas pipe. The interior of the valve contains a metal ball. The ball is on a ring above where the gas flows through the pipe. During the seismic activity, the ball shakes and falls from its perch into the pipe and blocks the gas flow.

Gas can’t reenter the home until the valve is reset. Resetting the valves is simple because all it requires is one to move the metal ball back to its original position. It’s important to note that all you must make sure the gas lines aren’t damaged before resetting the valve.

Why Are Earthquake Valves Essential?

Large, powerful earthquakes can do a lot of damage to structures, including causing gas pipes to break and leak gas. Gas leaks are highly flammable and easily ignited causing fires and even explosions. An example of a gas leak that caused massive destruction is the Great San Francisco Fire of 1906.

What Should I Do If My Home Doesn’t Have an Earthquake Valve?

Older homes in Carlsbad, CA, might not have earthquake valves installed. If you have an older home and need this protection, call Carlsbad Ace Plumbing. Our certified technicians will come to your home and install the valve right away. We promise to make sure the valve works properly and will perform well in the event of an earthquake.

Don’t wait to install an earthquake valve at your home. Seismic activity can happen at any time and you want your home and your family to be protected. Call us today to schedule an appointment!

Flushing the toilet is something we do several times throughout the day. Have you ever thought about how much water this requires for such a simple task? Before water conservation laws in the mid-90s required that toilets use 1.6 or fewer gallons per flush, it wasn’t inconceivable for a toilet to use as much as seven gallons. Today’s low-flow toilets are the modern standard and can save homeowners a lot of money with each flush. Here are some things you’ll want to know about these money-saving toilets.

Better Performance for Less

Many people are confused when they hear the term “low-flow.” They believe that they are getting an inferior product that won’t accommodate their family’s needs. Although it’s true that these toilets use less water, performance isn’t affected. This is because of gravity. Pressurized pumps and increased horsepower help push waste from the toilet at a normal rate without using obscene amounts of water.

Not All Low-Flow Toilets Are the Same

Low-flow toilets have many different features depending on the model you purchase. A popular feature of many homeowners is the dual-flush option. You’ve probably encountered this kind of technology if you’ve used a public restroom. The idea is that you choose one flushing option for liquid waste and another for solid waste. Liquid waste requires less water than solid waste so you save even more.

Prefer a toilet with a powerful flush that doesn’t leave you wondering? Consider pressure-assisted toilets. These are different than gravity-fed toilets and give reluctant homeowners more confidence about a low-flow toilet’s ability to flush. However, if price is a concern keep in mind that pressure-assisted toilets are more expensive.

Other Ways to Save Money on Toilet Usage

Low-flow toilets are the tip of the iceberg when it comes to water conservation plumbing fixtures. If you really want to take conservation efforts to the next level, consider dual-flush toilets. These toilets use less water to flush liquid waste than solid waste. They’re a great option for all homes, and your local plumber can tell you more about the benefits.

Professional Toilet Installation

When you’re ready to install a low-flow toilet, call Carlsbad Ace Plumbing. It’s important to hire a plumber in Carlsbad, CA, for toilet installation to ensure that everything works correctly so you avoid unexpected repairs. Our plumbers can help you select a new toilet, answer questions about performance, and perform same-day installation. Give us a call or book an appointment online to get started today!

When home’s plumbing isn’t working as it should, this can cause high water bills, minor inconvenience,  and more serious issues. Calling a plumber in Carlsbad to fix leaks, repair a water heater, or figure out why you have a leaky basement is essential to ensure your plumbing system doesn’t have a catastrophic issue.

If you’re on the fence about calling a plumber, here are three reasons to make that call to us today!

Water Leaks

There many ways to identify leaks and most require a plumber’s expertise. You might be able to fix a leaky tap by replacing the rubber washer, but other leaks need professional attention. Most of these types of leaks are hidden and require advanced tools and expertise to figure out where they’re coming from such as slab leaks and leaks hidden behind walls.

Our plumbers have tools that help us detect the tiniest leaks that have the potential to do a lot of damage the longer they go undetected. If you have water stains on your walls, spongy spots in the yard, or notice standing water in your basement, call us right away. We’ll send one of our Carlsbad plumbers out to figure out what’s happening.

No Hot Water

If you can’t get enjoy a normal shower cycle because you keep losing heat , you probably have something happening with your water heater. Give us a call and we’ll take a look. We’ll let you know whether the problem is something mechanical that can be fixed with a new part or if you need to consider getting a new water heater. Our plumbers can fix problems such as thermostat issues, anode rod deterioration, and valve replacement. If you have a leaky tank, we’ll figure out where the leak is coming from and give you the best solution to fix the problem permanently.

Basement Flooding

If your basement is taking on water, calling a plumber in Carlsbad, is your best shot at getting the work finished correctly. We equipment to clear out the water and deal with the problem. Lots of things can cause basements to flood such as a sewage back up, which can be a health hazard, a burst pipe, or even a broken sump pump.

At Carlsbad Ace Plumbing, our #1 priority is always our customers. No matter what problem you’re having with your residential plumbing, call us! We have expert plumbers on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week!

Clogged drains are very common problems for homeowners in Carlsbad. Sinks, bathtub and shower drains, and toilets are used every day, multiple times. Over time, it’s only natural that waste and other debris will collect in pipes causing problems. Sometimes these problems multiply quickly and homeowners find themselves need fast, affordable emergency drain service in Carlsbad.

When it comes to drain cleaning techniques, there are two tried and true ways to clear a drain: drain snaking and hydro jet drain cleaning. The exact technique your 24 hour plumber will use depends on the situation, but it’s a good idea to know the difference between the two so you can discuss your options with the plumber.

Drain Snake: Old-School Drain Cleaning

Clearing pipes using drain snakes is an old-school method of getting rid of clogs that is still used in some cases. The “snake” is cord that has an auger attached on the end. As the cord moves through the pipe, the auger drills through the debris to restore water flow through the pipe. Although the results can be favorable, more and more drain cleaning plumbers in Carlsbad are moving away from using this technique because the auger only creates a hole in the middle of the clog. It doesn’t get rid of the debris that is on the sides of the pipe; therefore, a new clog can form rather quickly.

Hydro Jet Drain Cleaning Is the Better Option

When this drain cleaning technique became available, it changed the game in terms of drain cleaning. Unlike the drain snake, this drain cleaning tool is designed to completely obliterate any trace of debris. It cleans every part of the pipe and breaks apart the toughest debris, including tree roots in sewer lines. It’s highly effective and homeowners won’t need to call for additional drain cleaning two or three months down the line.

Schedule an Appointment with a Drain Cleaning Plumber!

What’s the best way to avoid an emergency drain cleaning service? Catching problems early is always better. If you haven’t had your drain cleaning in a while or ever, call your local Carlsbad plumber. Professional, licensed plumbing service is available at Carlsbad Ace Plumbing 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We provide 90-minute or less response times, 100% customer satisfaction guarantee, and fully insured workmanship.

A smelly drain is not a welcome guest in your home. Kitchen and bathroom drain odors can be the result of many different situations such as food stuck in the kitchen sink or a clog in a shower drain or toilet. There are other types of smelly problems, too, though. These problems may be the direct result of something wrong with your sewer line. Here are 3 signs that you may need to call a plumber for sewer drain cleaning in Carlsbad.

• Are all your toilets and sinks experiencing clogs? While one drain may give you a hard time every now and then, it’s not typical for every drain to be affected. In a case like this, it’s a good bet that the main line is clogged and needs to be inspected and cleaned.
• When you empty the kitchen sink, do your toilets gurgle? This is another sign that there’s an issue in the sewer line. Call a plumber right away.
• Is raw sewage backing up in the drains throughout your home? This is a serious situation. Raw sewage should never be present in the home. It’s a health hazard and can even lead to sewer gas buildup, which can be deadly. Don’t mess around when raw sewage is present in your home or in your yard.

Call a 24 Hour Plumber for Emergency Sewer Repair

Sometimes, all that is needed is sewer drain cleaning using powerful, state-of-the-art equipment. In other instances, the plan of attack may require something else such as trenchless sewer pipe repair and replacement. If you’re concerned about sewer line problems, call us today and we’ll send one of our talented, knowledgeable, and licensed plumbers to your home to analyze the situation.

These kinds of problems do not solve themselves. Wishful thinking won’t make them go away, but power plumbing solutions will. Call Carlsbad Ace Plumbing for the best sewer drain cleaning in Carlsbad, CA, today.

Recognizing the warning signs of a serious plumbing problem is a great way to maintain the safety of your home and property. If you know when to call a professional plumber for a sewer line repair in your home, then you can start working on a solution before your system is crippled by a serious problem. If you do find yourself facing any kind of plumbing issue, you can rely on Carlsbad Ace Plumbing to deliver fast, affordable and effective solutions.

Common Symptoms of Sewer Trouble

1. Mildew and Mold: If the basement or other room in the home has been particularly musty lately, then there may be an unseen problem with some of the pipes connecting your drains to the main sewer line. Even small water leaks can foster exponential growth of mold and mildew, which thrives inside walls and under floors.

2. Low Toilet Water Level: While many toilet problems are caused by a malfunction of the mechanism inside the fixture itself, sometimes they are the result of a clog or other issue with the connecting sewer lines. Keep an eye on toilet bowls to make sure they are filling all the way up after each flush.

3. Poor Drain Performance: If you find yourself stepping into a pool of tepid water whenever you take a shower, then there could be a partial obstruction that is decreasing the efficiency of your drains. It’s best to deal with clogs quickly, even small ones, as leaving them alone can create a much bigger problem down the road.

4. Sewer Smell: If you smell a foul odor in your home or elsewhere on your property, then it could mean that there is a significant leak in the line connecting your home to the septic or city sewer system. Sewer leaks can create a significant health hazard for humans and animals, so don’t hesitate to call a licensed and insured plumber to troubleshoot your plumbing.

Work with Professional Plumbers for Dependable Results

As a licensed and insured contractor, Carlsbad Ace Plumbing is fully equipped and certified to help local homeowners in Carlsbad with sewer line repairs, troubleshooting and other maintenance projects. We also offer 24/7 emergency services, so you can rely on us to come to the rescue on late nights and weekends.

A basic understanding of your home’s plumbing system can prevent frustration and save you money. While there are some difficulties that require professional plumbing services, having a little bit of plumbing know-how is a good thing.

In the event there is a plumbing emergency, here are 5 things all homeowners should know

How to Shut Off the Main Water Supply

Burst pipes wreck homes. If you know how to quickly locate the main water valve shut-off, you can avoid extensive damage to your home.  You’ll find the main water valve where the water enters the home from the outside line. Common places to find this valve include the basement, utility closets and garages. Before there is an emergency, locate the valve and practice turning it on and off.

How to Unclog a Toilet

You can save money by trying to unclog an obstructed toilet before calling a plumber. Start by using a plunger. Make sure you’re using a toilet plunger. A toilet plunger is not flat. It has a flange that makes it easier to create suction.  If you try plunging the toilet and it still won’t work, call a plumber. It’s likely that something is clogged beyond the trap where the plunger won’t be of any help.

Repair a Leaky Toilet

A toilet that runs continuously is a toilet that is leaking water. These leaks occur inside the toilet tank and can cost you extra money on your water bill if not taken care of right away. To fix the problem, lift the lid to the tank and take a look at the interior components. Broken parts can easily be fixed with parts available at your local hardwood store.  These parts include the flapper, the chain, or a broken flush-valve unit.

Resetting a Stalled Garbage Disposal

As your friendly Carlsbad plumber, we’re more than happy to help you reset your garbage disposal. However, this is a simple task that you can do on your own and save money on a service call.  When your garbage disposal stops working, don’t assume the worst. It may just need to be reset.

The reset button is red or black and can be found on the underside of most units. Make sure the garbage disposal is turned off then press and hold the reset button for a few seconds. Now try turning the unit on. If this didn’t solve the problem, pick up the phone and call us because it’s likely another problem.

Adjusting the Water Heater Temperature

Is your water cooling faster than normal? This could be the result of a thermostat that needs to be adjusted. It doesn’t happen often, but sometimes the thermostat may get bumped. The average water heater has three settings. For optimal performance and less energy consumption, the middle setting is ideal.  If you adjust the thermostat and you’re still experiencing problems, give us a call. You may have sediment in the tank or a bad heating element.

We don’t want to lose business, but we know there are some things that you can do to keep plumbing costs low. Of course, never waver to call a plumber if you’re uncertain about a simple maintenance procedure. Plumbing can be tricky and you don’t want a mistake that’s going to cost you a fortune.