When you hear the word “plumbing system,” you probably think of your toilets and sink drains. For many, the state of their sewer lines goes widely ignored — that is, until a blockage appears seemingly out of nowhere.

Warning signs of a clogged sewer line can include everything from slow drains to water backing up in your plumbing fixtures. These issues can be incredibly inconvenient and unsanitary. If you suspect you have a sewer line blockage on your hands, you might be wondering what causes the main sewer line to clog in the first place.

Here is everything you need to know about the common causes of sewer line clogs.

There’s a good chance that tree roots are to blame for your clogged sewer line. Tree roots seek out water and nutrients, so a lot of times, they will grow in the direction of sewer pipes. With time, these roots can break through the line altogether.

Tree root intrusions are often considered one of the top causes of sewer line clogs. However, this problem is more common with older pipes. Of course, clogs can appear no matter the age of your sewer lines. It’s important to call a 

 as soon as possible to prevent the issue from worsening.

When you scrub off your dishes in the sink, you might not realize how harmful leftover grease, fats, and oils can be to your sink drains. Once these substances settle in your drains, they quickly harden and transform into a stubborn clog.
When it comes down to it, grease can be what causes the main sewer line to clog. You can avoid this sort of issue by wiping off express grease with a paper towel and throwing it in the trash.

Like most things, your sewer lines can become worn or cracked over time. When these pipes break or collapse in on themselves, the resulting damage can act like a clogged main sewer line. This cannot be remedied with a typical drain cleaning service. Instead, you'll need to replace the broken pipe altogether.

As you may know, the only things you should flush down the toilet are human waste and toilet paper. However, a few extraneous objects can make their way down the drain line — including some items that seem like they can be flushed but shouldn’t.

For example, you should never flush feminine hygiene products, paper towels, tissues, or flushable wipes. These products might be marketed as flushable, but they can be some of the most common causes of sewer line clogs.

Other items, such as toiletries, can also be what cause the main sewer line to clog. Keep any of these items away from your toilets and sink drains by securely storing them in cabinets.

Heavy rainstorms, frigid temperatures, and construction work can cause soil to shift. If the soil moves toward your sewer lines and applies too much pressure, these lines can crack or burst. While this is not always one of the most common causes of sewer line clogs, it is still a possibility — especially if you live in an area prone to heavy storms or extreme conditions.

Clear Your Main Sewer Line With Guardian Plumbers

Once you understand what causes the main sewer line to clog, you can take steps to keep these lines in a better condition. Watch which items go down your sewer drains — whether it’s grease or “flushable” wipes — and remember to schedule regular sewer line inspections.

If you’re currently dealing with a sewer line clog, contact Guardian Plumbers for help. We offer 

, and the surrounding areas. Our plumbers use sewer line and drain cleaning techniques that are highly effective, so you don’t have to worry about using chemical drain cleaners or other household drain cleaning methods. Contact us today to learn more about our services!


Top 5 Causes of Sewer Line Clogs

If you have a leaking showerhead, you’re likely growing tired of the constant drip, drip, drip sound it produces. However, the problem with a leaky showerhead is more than a nuisance—it can also lead to inflated water bills.

There are several potential reasons why your showerhead is leaking. Let's go over how to identify the cause of a leak and how to fix leaking showerheads.

If you want to fully understand why your showerhead is leaking, you'll need to first determine the type of leak you're dealing with. First, ensure that the shower faucet handle is completely turned off. If the handle is in the "off" position and you notice dripping, the problem lies with the shower cartridge.

Otherwise, you'll want to remove the showerhead to look for a worn inner seal or mineral buildup. Slowly and carefully remove the showerhead from the shower arm. During this process, cover the drain to ensure that no loose parts fall in and get lost.

Now, let's discuss the top three most common causes of leaks and how to fix leaking showerheads once and for all.

Why is your showerhead leaking? Inspect your showerhead’s O-rings and rubber washers. O-rings and washers help prevent leaks by creating seals between your showerhead and its connections. However, these parts can eventually become damaged or worn, leading to inconvenient leaks.

To fix a leaky showerhead due to this problem, you will need to replace the worn O-rings or washers. Fortunately, you can likely purchase these parts at your local hardware store.

residential plumbing services in Wildomar

, CA, if you don't feel comfortable fixing the showerhead yourself. Our experienced plumbers know how to fix leaking showerheads and can determine if it’s best to move forward with a repair or replacement.

Are you trying to understand why your showerhead is leaking around the faceplate? This issue could be caused by mineral buildup in the showerhead. You’ll need a bowl of white vinegar to fix a showerhead leaking due to mineral deposits.

Remove the showerhead and place it in the bowl of vinegar overnight. In the morning, use a toothbrush to remove any mineral deposits.

If you’re wondering why your showerhead is leaking while it’s turned off, you might have a damaged cartridge within the faucet body. Most single-handle shower faucets have a cartridge that controls the flow of hot and cold water. However, a cracked or worn cartridge will allow water to drip even while the shower is turned off.

Fortunately, you can learn how to fix a leaking showerhead due to a damaged cartridge. All you will need to do is remove the cartridge and replace it.

Replacing the cartridges for single-hand showers is a straightforward process. First, turn off the water supply to the shower; you can do this either at the shower valve or the main shutoff valve. Once you've shut off the water, you'll need to remove the shower handle, faceplate, and retaining clip. You might also need to remove a hex nut before you can access the cartridge.

Afterward, replace the parts and turn on the water once more. If you've installed a new cartridge and still notice a leak, the valve body might be damaged. You’ll need to contact a professional to replace the valve body.

Ready for Professional Plumbing Assistance?

While you now know why your showerhead is leaking, you still might require professional assistance. Guardian Plumbers is here to help with our plumbing fixture services. We offer everything from shower faucet repairs to 

 services in Wildomar, CA. Contact us today to learn more about our services!

Why Is My Showerhead Leaking?

Have you ever noticed how when you turn your water faucet on, the water tends to come out at a pretty consistent pressure level? This is largely thanks to a small device on your main water line known as a pressure reducing valve, or PRV for short.

The water pressure in the city’s main water network is usually far too high for most homes to effectively use and is also prone to fluctuations as homes increase and decrease their water usage needs. A PRV reduces the high pressure and evens out the ebbs and flows, so the water entering your home is both at a manageable and even pressure level.

But as with any part of your plumbing system, your PRV can wear out after a while, and a broken or worn PRV can cause some serious potential issues for your home. If you want to avoid these issues and the repercussions they can have on your plumbing system, you need to have a 

 come to your home and replace your PRV as soon as possible.

Here are some of the things that can happen if you don’t replace a pressure regulating valve when it breaks down.

When the pressure in your pipes is too high, it puts a lot of strain on the pipes themselves as well as all of the joints and fittings where they are pieced together. All this extra pressure is particularly bad on the weak points in your plumbing, and yes, every home has weak points.

When the pressure becomes too much, the weak point gives out, and suddenly you’re facing a plumbing leak. Most 

 are small, which makes them difficult to detect and capable of wreaking some serious havoc on your home. However, big plumbing leaks can deal with an unbelievable amount of damage in a short period of time.

You can identify a leaking main water pressure regulator by looking for water on the floor or on the regulator itself. Find your water meter, which is usually located in the basement, and look for a bell-shaped device right next to it. This is your water pressure regulator, and it should look something like this:

If you notice water leaking from your water pressure regulator, it may be time for a replacement. It's essential to address this problem as soon as possible because faulty water pressure regulator symptoms can lead to costly water damage.

Is water leaking from the handles on your faucet, even when the faucet is turned off?

Water leaks are one of the most common water pressure regulator problems and can be a significant indication that you need to replace the water pressure regulator. This is a sign that the gaskets and other parts of your 

faucet have started to wear out and crack

 under the stress caused by high water pressure.

It is possible to fix this, but it’s going to result in a lot of wasted water, and over time, the faucet’s only going to wear out again. Not to mention when you turn on the water, it will simply spew out at an alarming rate rather than at a much easier and more controllable flow.

High Water Pressure Damaging Your Water Heater & Appliances

Your home’s appliances are all similar to faucets in that they need to be able to turn the water on and off. So when the pressure builds up too high, this could present all sorts of problems for your water heater, washing machine, reverse osmosis or another type of water filtration system, dishwasher, and so much more.

In fact, high water pressure and hard water are two of the most common reasons why a water-connected appliance experiences a breakdown.

While it may not happen immediately, high water pressure can quickly contribute to wear and tear, so it’s important to get your PRV fixed quickly if you want to avoid having to pay for even more costly repairs or appliance replacement.

Low water pressure—or no water pressure at all—can also indicate a faulty pressure reducing valve. You may need to replace your water pressure regulator if you notice a significant decrease in water pressure when using multiple faucets at once.

However, low weather pressure isn’t always a sign of a bad water pressure regulator. Check to see if you have poor water pressure for your hot and cold water. If you only notice a problem with your hot water, then a malfunctioning water heater may be to blame. Contact a 

 to inspect further and provide a professional diagnosis.

When you turn the water off, do you notice a sudden loud thumping or banging from inside your walls? This is the previously-alleviated extra pressure suddenly building up and putting 

 again. This creates a vibration in the pipe, which can cause the pipe to move and create the hammering noise.

Sometimes the hammer is soft and barely noticeable, while in other instances, it’s significantly louder and difficult to ignore. In either case, this signals a potentially serious problem may not be far off.

Don’t merely brush off these noisy signs that your water pressure regulator is bad. Get in touch with a professional right away to repair or replace the water pressure regulator.

How to Know It’s Time for a Replacement

How long does a water pressure regulator last? On average, you should replace your PRV every four to five years.

However, how often you should replace water pressure regulators can depend on a few factors. For example, your PRV usage can influence how often you need a pressure regulator valve replacement. The more you use your PRV, the more wear and tear it will endure.

When It's Time for Professional Plumbing Services

Do you need your pressure regulator valve repair? Or, if you have an old water pressure regulator, is it time for a replacement? Don’t simply endure inconvenient water pressure regulator problems.

The expert and highly qualified team of professional plumbers at Guardian Plumbers can help! We provide an array of 

residential plumbing services in ildomar,

 CA. You can count on us to replace water pressure regulators with customer satisfaction in mind.

4 Signs It's Time To Replace Your Pressure Regulator

Since 2010, Guardian Plumbers has been providing honest, reliable, 

 and Temecula, CA, throughout Riverside County, and beyond. Whether you need the help of a professional plumbing company to repair, replace, inspect, or maintain any element of your plumbing system, our plumbing contractors will be there, stat, 24 hours a day! With the level of quality in the products we use and the work we provide, it’s easy to see why our customers consider us the best plumbers in the region. Don’t just take our word for it; contact us today to discuss your unique plumbing needs.

Someone You Can Trust Since 2010

Guardian Plumbers

Home

Let the best plumbers in Riverside County take care of all your plumbing needs! Call the region’s leading plumbing company today to request an estimate.

8 Reasons to Get Guardian Plumbers on the Job

Plumbing Emergency? Let Guardian Plumbers Protect Your Home and Family!

Clogged drains putting a damper on your day? Overflowing toilet making a mess and damaging your property? Slow-draining sewer line stressing you out?

It doesn’t matter when these problems pop up, whether it’s the middle of the night or a weekend or holiday. If you need a plumbing company that can resolve your issues immediately, you need to call the 24-hour plumbers at Guardian Plumbers.

Our plumbing contractors are dedicated to providing the honest and reliable plumbing services you deserve for your home or business. We’re a family-owned and operated business employing the top licensed plumbers in the industry and proudly serving Temecula, CA, and the surrounding communities for nearly two decades. Our emergency plumbers are on duty 24/7 to tackle the area’s plumbing headaches. When you need us, we'll be there, no matter the hour, and we promise to get the job done right the first time to spare you future hassles and costly repairs. We know we’ve done our job when we’ve earned the trust of our customers. It’s what keeps us going and makes our jobs so rewarding.

To recognize the veterans, military service members, law enforcement, emergency responders, firefighters, teachers, and senior citizens who selflessly serve our local community, we offer special discounts just for these groups. Visit our 

 page for more information. To inquire about any of our 

For five-star customer service at prices you can afford, any time of day, any day of the week, enlist the extensive knowledge, excellent workmanship, and exceptional service of our licensed plumbers! Our work is guaranteed. In addition to being reputable emergency plumbers, we specialize in 

. From toilets and sinks to showers and garbage disposals, our plumbing company can fix almost anything. We also provide eco-friendly equipment to those who live green.

Call us today from Temecula, CA, or anywhere in the area for any of the following services:

Full-Service Plumbing Company in Temecula, CA

Let Our 24-Hour Plumbers Shield Your Home from Troublesome Plumbing Issues!

Top 5 Causes of Sewer Line Clogs

Why Is My Showerhead Leaking?

4 Signs It's Time To Replace Your Pressure Regulator