Latest Blog Posts By Category

How to Choose the Best San Fernando Valley Plumbing Company

Whether you are experiencing an issue with your plumbing or you replacing your entire system, it is imperative to hire a highly experienced and reputable plumbing company to get the job done right. However, many homeowners have been the victim of shoddy work and craftsmanship, as well as scams. In order to avoid having a similar experience, you have to be careful during the selection process. Here ...

What to Ask Before Hiring a Plumber

An important part of any home is the plumbing system. That is why when a problem happens that professional needs help, it’s important to know what to look for in a plumber. However, if you fail to hire a qualified plumber to resolve any of your piping issues, it can result in more damage to your home, even more costly repairs, and perhaps a full-on replacement. The following are questions to ask a ...

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Broken Pipes?

In the event of a natural disaster, an earthquake or fire, as examples, homeowners insurance can be a blessing. The damage can be incredible, and cost many thousands of dollars. Thankfully, homeowners insurance can absorb most of the cost. There are some areas that insurance will not cover, however, so it is important that you know what benefits your policy will provide. If the insurance company ...

What Causes a Leaky Faucet?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, plumbing leaks cause an average of 10,000 gallons of lost water every single year—enough to fill an average swimming pool. That’s a lot of water, and also a lot of money out of your pocket. One of the most common sources of household plumbing leaks is in faucets, where even a slow drip can add up significantly over time. Repairing a leaky faucet ...

Do You Know Where Your Water Shut-Off Valve Is?

You awake in the middle of the night to the sound of running water. Your worst fear has come true – a pipe has burst and is spewing water all over your bathroom. While calling a plumber is certainly the right thing to do, your first priority should be to stop the flow of water by shutting off your home’s main water valve. Unfortunately, many homeowners do not know where this valve is located or ...

How to Find a Garbage Disposal Leak

Despite taking good care of your garbage disposal, leaks can still occur in the long run. To make matters worse, you may not know where the leak is coming from. If you want to determine the source of the leak before contacting a licensed plumber, it is imperative to understand where and how to check for a leak. First, you must learn the anatomy of a garbage disposal. The following are four areas ...

The Difference Between Mold & Mildew

When you think of household fungi, you probably think of two terms: mold and mildew. There’s a good reason for this: both grow alongside each other in similar conditions, both have invisible microscopic spores that float around in the air around us, and both can cause serious health problems if they’re allowed to fester and continue to spread. However, the good news is both mold and mildew can be ...

5 Features of Your Plumbing System You Must Know

When you think about your entire plumbing system, you’re probably picturing a toilet, faucets, a bathtub, etc. However, the reality is that your home’s plumbing system is much more than a few fixtures. The fact is that there are several smaller parts which make those fixtures work and are considered the most important components of the system itself. The following are the 5 most important parts in ...

Do You Know Where Your Water Shut-Off Valve Is?

You awake in the middle of the night to the sound of running water. Your worst fear has come true – a pipe has burst and is spewing water all over your bathroom. While calling a plumber is certainly the right thing to do, your first priority should be to stop the flow of water by shutting off your home’s main water valve. Unfortunately, many homeowners do not know where this valve is located or ...

5 Warning Signs Your Sewer Needs Repairs

There are few plumbing catastrophes that are as costly – or as messy – as a backed up sewer. Sewer repairs are some of the most vital plumbing services to maintaining proper sanitation of your home or business. Even minor leaks and clogs can cause you to lose access to your plumbing fixtures like sinks and toilets, while more severe sewer problems can cause significant damage to the value of your ...

Save Up to $100 Per Year with Regular Plumbing Maintenance!

Do you have a dripping faucet? What about a slow, small leak in a pipe beneath your sink? You may not think these issues are anything to sweat about, but your wallet may say otherwise. Believe it or not, a dripping faucet, cracked water pipe, or other leak source in the average American household can waste as much as 10,000 gallons of water each year, which adds up to a hefty cost of around an ...

How to Remove & Prevent Limescale Deposits

If you have an older faucet or sink, or you have hard water in your home, you probably feel as though your water fixtures need cleaning fairly often. You may also notice that the source of the dingy appearance is a green or white chalky film that’s usually centered either around the handle and knobs or nozzle on your faucet. This substance is called limescale, and it can make even a sparkling ...

How to Replace a Single-Handled Faucet with a Double-Handle

Choosing between a single-handled or double-handled faucet ultimately boils down to preference. While some prefer a single-handled faucet for use in a kitchen, others may favor the aesthetic and function of a two-handled variety for bathroom sinks. Fortunately, since most modern bathroom sinks come pre-drilled with holes for both single and double-handled fixtures, swapping from one type to the ...

Staying Cool Without a Pool

Staying cool during the blistering summer heat is a tough task for many people, and while taking a dip in your local swimming pool is a favorite pastime, it’s not necessarily an option. Backyard swimming pools are everywhere in Southern California, but the majority of homeowners don’t have one, and many more don’t even have easy access to a local pool without significant transportation. If you’re ...

Be on the Lookout for Mold & Mildew

No matter how carefully you clean your home, you may one day find that you’re doing battle with mold or mildew growth. Mold and mildew are both types of fungus that grow in dark, damp conditions, such as ones that can be found in your walls when your pipes start to leak. Bathrooms, laundry closets, and garages are also mold growth hotspots. While mold and mildew definitely look unsightly, they ...

Conserving Water During the Drought

It’s no secret that California has been fairly dry for the last several years. While last winter brought about a good amount of rain and snow, which has helped refill lakes and reservoirs, this influx of water only made a small dent in the actual scope of the water shortage our state has been experiencing. Therefore, it’s still crucially important that everyone share the responsibility for ...

The Benefits of Using Plastic Pipes

Over the past two decades, the use of plastic pipes for plumbing has gained substantial popularity. Nowadays, plastic pipes account for over half of the plumbing pipes bought by consumers each year. Whether they are used for drainage or water supply, plastic pipes such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) have several advantages over traditional metal piping. The ...

Adding Plumbing to a Studio or Workshop

At Duran & Sons Universal Plumbing & Rooter , we have offered our exceptional plumbing services to many customers undergoing home renovations to add a studio or workshop. Whether you plan on hiring a contractor or undertake this home project on your own, you must determine whether you need plumbing at all. If you want to build a home office or a place for peace and silence, then plumbing may not ...

Are Your Plumbing Pipes Worn Out?

As decades pass, your home’s water pipes gradually corrode, requiring necessary replacement. However, regular plumbing maintenance can help prevent having to replace your entire system, as well as the expensive costs involved. If your house is over 50 years old, it is imperative to annually look at any exposed piping found in basements, utility rooms, and crawlspaces to look out for telltale signs ...

5 Warning Signs Your Sewer Needs Repairs

There are few plumbing catastrophes that are as costly – or as messy – as a backed up sewer. Sewer repairs are some of the most vital plumbing services to maintaining proper sanitation of your home or business. Even minor leaks and clogs can cause you to lose access to your plumbing fixtures like sinks and toilets, while more severe sewer problems can cause significant damage to the value of your ...

How Do Reverse Osmosis Filters Work?

Clean water is important for your health, your comfort, and the condition of your home, so you more or less expect it to come from your pipes. What you may not be aware of is “clean” water may still contain deposits or other materials that could cause damage to your clothes, property, or even your health if consumed too much. As a result, many people who deal with issues like hard or nasty-tasting ...

Do I Need a New Water Heater?

You depend on your water heater every day—whether it’s to provide warm water to bathe in, suitable water to wash your clothes, or even water at an ideal temperature to speed along the cooking process. So when your water heater breaks down or just doesn’t seem to be able to keep up with your demands any more, you may be wondering whether you should repair it make the extra investment to replace it ...

What to Do If Your Water Heater is Leaking

As a homeowner, one of the scariest signs of trouble is the accumulation of water near the bottom of your water heater. This is often a sign that your water heater has sprung a leak somewhere, and if you don’t resolve the issue quickly, the issue could get worse, causing flooding and heavy damage to your home. What this means is that you should immediately reach out to a San Fernando Valley ...

Why Is My Water Temperature Inconsistent?

Have you ever been taking a shower and experience a sudden burst of cold water? If the answer is yes, then you may have an issue with your water heater. Fluctuations in water temperature are a common indication of water heater problems. Before you contact a licensed plumber for help, check the “dip tube” on your water heater to see if it is damaged. It is a tube which runs from the water line to ...