Plumbing drain sounds are the key to diagnosing many different issues. Master plumbers can often diagnose a plumbing issue right away by just listening to the plumbing system’s noises. Today we’re going to discuss the most common plumbing noises to help you understand what might be causing them.

Strange noises emanating from your drain system could indicate partial blockages, issues with drain venting or even a septic system that is reaching the end of its lifespan.

Some noises are normal, even though they could be somewhat annoying. They could often be repaired with simple noise transmission control and sound insulation applications. However, some noises may indicate a more serious issue that requires immediate attention from a master plumber.

Finding the Source of Plumbing or Drain Sounds

Experienced, City of Toronto licensed plumbers have years of experience and know exactly how to detect and diagnose the source of drain sounds. They are very familiar with these issues and will know how which steps are required to quickly repair the problem.

Use these tips to detect drain and plumbing sounds:

1. Find the Noisy Fixture

Is the sound isolated to one fixture, or can it be heard around all the fixtures? If it is the whole building, it could be a system drain problem. The building may only have a single inadequate vent system, or perhaps no vent at all.

Should the sound be isolated to a single fixture, the problem could be a blockage or perhaps a vent issue located in one of the rooms that have drain or vent piping.

2. Flush the Toilets

Inadequate or blocked vents will slow down the drains and result in a noise. However, if the drains don’t empty particularly slowly and there is gurgling at the basin when you flush the toilet, you may want to take a look under the basin.

An S-type trap may not be vented, which causes the toilet to try draw air into the drain line.

A P-trap is usually vented, but any piping that is not standard will require that you call a Toronto plumber.

3. Check the pipes

If there is a vertical plumbing drain line that passes up from lower floors and out the roof, the building probably doesn’t have sufficient vents.

You can also look from out outside your home for plumbing vent pipes that poke out through the roof. If you see one in the area where the baths are, but you don’t see a vent stack pipe near the kitchen or laundry, those rooms may lack proper plumbing vents.

4. Check the vents

Blocked vents could cause gurgling sounds or poor drainage.

5. Check your sound isolation and insulation

If the sound is heard throughout the whole building and not just in one room or near one fixture, it is probably due to poor insulation.

6. Check the septic tank

Check your septic system for any signs of odors, blockages or backups. If you see effluent breaking out to the surface, or if you notice smelly soffy or muddy areas, there may be a problem with your septic system. It may not be accepting waste consistently.

While some of these issues could easily be repaired using DIY techniques, you may need to call a professional plumber to look at serious issues. City of Toronto licensed plumbers are highly skilled in detecting and diagnosing plumbing noises.

Your home’s drainage system requires constant attention and maintenance to keep it in good working condition. However, most homeowners don’t pay much attention to their plumbing systems until a leaky faucet or a clogged drain causes trouble. That’s when they get hold of a plumber to provide drain services.

It is important to do regular maintenance on your plumbing system, and make small ongoing upgrades to prevent costly damage to your walls, floors and ceilings. While most people have had bad experiences with dishonest Toronto plumbing contractors, there are ways to find reputable, City of Toronto licensed plumbers who will be an asset to your home.

Plumbing problems such as roots in drains, blocked drain, and leaks should be dealt with promptly to prevent damage. There are many cheap plumbers, but don’t go for price alone. Use the list below to look for the best plumbing contractor in Toronto.

Choosing the Best Toronto Plumber

1. Choose a Licensed Plumber

When you find a cheap plumber, be aware of the fact that he may not be licensed and he may not be a member of the local trade organizations. If a plumbing contractor does not have a licensed number on display, he may be nothing but a glorified handyman. The best plumbing companies in Toronto and everywhere in Canada, belong to local trade organizations. Find a company, like Anta Plumbing, who is a member of the Better Business Bureau.

2. Choose a Plumbing Company That Employs a Master Plumbers

Qualified, competent employees form the backbone of any service-based business and that’s particularly important for a drain service and plumbing company. When you call for an estimate, be sure to ask whether the company is a City of Toronto licensed plumber and whether it employs master plumbers. Employees must have the training and expertise to deal with all types of plumbing issues.

3. Choose a Plumber Toronto Who Offers Extended Warranty

Quality plumbing contractors do things right first time, on time, but parts can fail and things can go wrong. Hire a plumbing company that offers an extended warranty to give you more peace of mind. Some of the best companies offer 25 years warranties, which means that if something went wrong, you won’t have to pay for any corrections.

4. Hire a Plumbing Contractor Who Uses Quality, Modern Equipment

Most experienced drain service experts or master plumbers can repair simple plumbing problems with basic tools, such as a hammer, pliers and a wrench, but modern technology needs more advanced equipment. When you think about replacement of pipes and fixtures, or clearing clogged drains, you want to know that your plumber has tools that promise more efficiency in less time. For example, here at Anta Plumbing, our trucks are equipped with a wide range of basic tools, as well as specialist drain snakes, augers, hydro jetting machines and electronic leak detection kits that make the job faster and more effective.

5. Hire a Reputable Plumbing Service

You can find a plumber behind every bush, but finding a reputable plumbing services Toronto company will take a little research. When you need a plumbing contractor, take a look at online reviews. Seeing people’s reactions to services they received will be a great place to start when you are shortlisting drain services and plumbing companies.

When your plumbing goes wonky, be sure to hire a good Toronto sewer and drain services contractor who complies with the checklist above.

If you want to save money by cutting down on your water consumption and your utilities bill, try these great plumber-approved tips.

1. Check for Leaky Faucets

Even the smallest of leaks can drain your pockets. Even worse, it can cause damage to your walls, ceilings and floors, costing a lot more money to repair than a simple leak. It is important to do regular run throughs of all the faucets in your home, looking for leaks. If you find a leak, deal with it right away to prevent it from becoming a bigger problem.

Tip: Check for leaks using your water meter by turning off all faucets and appliances. Check the meter every hour to see if the meter reading changed. If it did, you probably have leaks somewhere in your plumbing system. Call your Toronto plumber for specialised leak detection services if you can’t find it yourself.

2. Save Shower Water

Plumbing technology keeps improving and here at Anta Plumbing, we have access to some of the best low-flow faucet aerators and water conserving shower heads. More and more people are making use of these technological advances without noticing any issues, and saving money and water at the same time.

3. Watering Your Lawns

Plumbers know how dry and hot the summer months can be. We know that the lawn sometimes requires some watering, but it is crucial to do that only when it is necessary. Your lawn only needs around one inch of water per week to keep its lustrous green color. If it is left brown by the dry summer months, autumn rains will soon restore it to its rich green color.

4. Conserving Water With the Toilet

A toilet should not be used as a waste disposal. Every time you flush the toilet, it uses between 5-7 gallons of water, so be sure to only use it for its intended purpose. Apart from wasting water, it can cause clogging, which will cost you unnecessary money in emergency plumbing. Another way to save money with your toilet is to ask your Toronto plumber to install a low-flow toilet, which will dramatically lower your water usage.

5. Save Water on Dishes and Laundry

Unless you have an energy efficient dishwasher or washing machine, be sure to wash only full loads to cut down on both water and energy consumption.

Leaks are one of the biggest culprits in water waste for homeowners, but with a little bit of dedication and information, you can learn how to detect leaks and save money on your water bill while caring for the environment. Call Anta Plumbing for advice on getting the most from your faucets, fixtures and water-using appliances.

Your kitchen plumbing works hard. Most days, you probably wash dishes three times. If you have water using appliances, such as a dishwasher or laundry washer in your kitchen, that adds additional pressure to your drains. Food particles, fats, and grease tend to accumulate inside the drains and the garbage disposal, causing blockages.

Don’t expect that your kitchen’s plumbing will always work perfectly without a hitch, because it is the most common site for plumbing issues – just ask any licenced plumber vic.

If your kitchen plumbing is constantly experiencing a range of issues, including leaks, clogging and water hammering, don’t hesitate to call a City of Toronto licensed plumber such as Anta Plumbing, a master plumber Toronto company that offers drain services and many other plumbing gigs around the city.

What is Regular Kitchen Plumbing Maintenance?

When you call a plumber, be sure to find one that has a master plumbing license Toronto to deal with your home drain cleaning. He will do a thorough inspection of your kitchen plumbing (and the rest of your home) to check that all the pipes are sturdy and leak-free. Raised spots, sagging and other signs of imminent leaks will have to be dealt with.

Professional drain cleaning will help prevent build-up that might lead to blocked drains.

During the plumbing maintenance inspection, your Toronto master plumber will do a video pipe inspection to see the inside the drainpipes and to find any other issues with your plumbing system.

This is what regular plumbing maintenance does for you –

Spot potential leaks before they cause problems: It’s usually difficult to detect small leaks before they become big issues, but with regular maintenance, you can avoid kitchen hazards and unnecessary expenses on your water bills.

Reduces blocked drains and water pressure problems: With regular drain cleaning, clogs won’t be aggravated, thus leading to fewer major blockages.

Increased lifespan for your appliances: Regular inspections will help increase the lifespan of your garbage disposal, dishwasher and other appliances by easing the impact on faucets and other fixtures.

Reduced water bills: If your kitchen plumbing is not working properly, you may be wasting water. With regular maintenance, you know that your kitchen is not using unnecessary water. Additionally, your home drain cleaning Toronto plumber will advise on all the best installations that can help you to save money while providing your family with the cleanest, healthiest water.

When Should We Schedule Regular Kitchen Plumbing Maintenance?

City of Toronto licensed plumbers who specialize in drain services recommend that you schedule regular plumbing maintenance calls for your home for at least once every year.

With regular kitchen plumbing maintenance, Toronto plumbers will help save you money on your water bill, while at the same time avoiding blocked drains and keeping your water-using appliances in good working order.

Every household will experience its fair share of plumbing issues, and in some cases, blocked drains may occur quite frequently. According to our Toronto master plumber, a minimum of one blocked drain in the bathroom per year is pretty common. It’s usually pretty easy to get your drain unblocked in a few minutes, using a basic plunger, but sometimes, a plunger is just not the right man for the job, and you will have to call a City of Toronto licensed plumber.

What Causes Blocked Drains in the Bathroom?

One of the biggest culprits of blocked drains in the bathroom, is hair. When we bath or shower, hair becomes trapped in the sludge inside the pipe walls, or in the p-trap, which is the small, curved section of pipe underneath the sink. With use, the hair starts to accumulate and make it difficult for a plunger to remove the clog.

Soap scum also builds up along the drain walls, causing blockages. We can’t stop soap from going down the drain, where it can create acidic by-products that can build up, causing damage to the interior walls of the drainpipe. It can also block your drains.

Many blocked drains can be prevented. You could use a trap to prevent most of the hair and other objects from entering your drain pipes, thus lowering the incidence of tough clogs.

Regularly rinsing your drains with a salt, bicarbonate of soda and vinegar rinse and following this with hot water, will help remove buildup against the drain walls, and this should help avoid blocked drains in future.

Repairing Blocked Drains in the Bathroom

It is important to be extremely careful with chemicals in the bathroom, as you never know how they will react. Here are some steps to follow when unclogging blocked drains in the bathroom.

1. Use a Plunger

A plumber is the easiest way to unclog a blocked drain. Simply hold the opening of the plunger over the drain and push it down a few times to loosen the blockage. You can do it several times until it works, and if it doesn’t, you will have to call a Toronto plumber.

2. Use a Drain Snake

A drain snake is inserted into the drain, where it physically loosens the blockage. This is a good option for blockages caused by hair or soap scum deep inside the drains.

3. Clean the P-Trap

If your bathroom basin is clogged, cleaning out the trap will be a great start. Empty out the cabinet and get some old towels or rags and an empty bucket. You will need some basic tools to loosen the fitting. Once you have removed the p-trap, clean it out properly, removing all the grime before replacing it.

What to Do If None of These Options Clears Your Blocked Drain?

Sometimes, blocked drains are located deep inside the plumbing system, and none of the above methods will do the trick. You will have to call a Toronto plumber who specializes in home drain cleaning.

The reason why Toronto plumbers can remove stubborn clogs, is that they use specialized equipment, such as hydro jetting and electrically powered drain augers to reach deep inside blocked drains. Home drain cleaning Toronto is a job for the pros!