Residential Plumbing

Anthony's Plumbing

April 30, 2020 - Thursday

Residential Plumbing

For over twenty years, Anthony's Plumbing has been providing residential plumbing and rooting services throughout the Inland Empire, Los Angeles and Riverside areas. We strive to be the best plumbers that have ever come to your home and hope that you will remember us first when you have another residential plumbing related need.

Residential Drain Cleaning

Although there are many home remedies for clearing a drain on your own, sometimes the attempt will not work because of how badly the drain is clogged. When traditional drain cleaner doesn't seem to work, and when it seems like there is no other way to fix your clogged drain and you find yourself going online to look for a plumber near me, Anthony's plumbing is the go-to source to get the problem solved. Drain cleaning is one of our specialties, whether it involves a drain snake or perhaps even hydro jetting, we are quick and efficient at fixing any plumbing problems you might have.

Residential Hydro Jetting

Not all clogs call for hydro jetting, and it’s good to know how to discern. Some clogs may be cleared using snaking, or other drain cleaning methods. If you have anything other than a minor clog, hydro jetting is generally your best bet for clearing drains.

Residential Copper Repiping

Copper re-pipes, also known as pipe replacement, are extensive plumbing repairs that require the expertise of an experienced professional. For those in the market for re-piping or pipe replacement services, Anthony's Plumbing is here to help you rejuvenate your residential plumbing system.

Residential Leak Detection

Leaky pipes are dangerous for several reasons. Water that seeps out of pipes can cause a major flood. When the flooding is over, you are left with severe damage and mold growth. Mold is toxic to humans and animals and can cause serious respiratory problems after a few weeks of heavy exposure. Along with serious health problems, wet, slippery floors can lead to falls and other issues like bacterial infections. If your pipes are leaking, it’s wise to seek an experienced leak detection service provider like Anthony's Plumbing to spot the exact location and mend the problem immediately.

Residential Water Heater Installation and Repair

Water heaters are easily forgotten, but they do make our lives easier. Every hot water heater comes with various safety features that need to be set up properly during installation, particularly if you are upgrading to a tankless water heater. For safety's sake, professional help is essential for getting your water heater installed or repaired. At Anthony's Plumbing, our experts can inspect your water heater and help you install or repair it properly in no time.

Residential Garbage Disposal Repair and Replacement

With over twenty years of plumbing experience throughout the Inland Empire, Riverside County and Los Angeles County areas, we are experts at providing complete garbage disposal repairs and replacement.

Residential Toilet Installation and Replacement

Sometimes it's just old and not a good idea to try to fix, parts are hard to find. Your toilet may have hard water deposits and you end up having a clogged toilet in your home. It's just a big headache!! Our professionals have been installing toilets in local residences, giving homeowners a more stylish and functional bathroom. From simple toilet repair to new toilet installation, Anthony's Plumbing has custom solutions to meet your needs. If you purchase your own toilet from Lowe's or Home Depot, we can install it for you. Just give us a call to schedule a time you'd like us to stop by.

Residential Toilet Repair

It may come as a shock, but your toilet sees the same level of use and wear and tear as any major appliance in your home. This means that your toilet is prone to issues such as loose handles and continuously running water in your home, which may not seem like a pressing issue, but can in fact cause you to lose hundreds of dollars on your water bill if left unresolved, not to mention the problems of having a clogged toilet and not being able to flush when you need to. That's not the kind of a problem you can just walk off and leave for later. The good news is: now you know someone you can call.

Residential Emergency Plumbing

No one knows when plumbing emergencies will happen, but the good news is that the professionals at Anthony's Plumbing are available 24/7 to respond to any and all your plumbing needs. With over twenty years of plumbing experience, we have seen it all, and know how to fix emergencies quickly and affordably. Both residential and commercial service is available.

For reliable emergency plumbing services there’s only one place to call: the experts at Anthony's Plumbing! We’re available 24/7 to solve your emergency plumbing issues, so for a plumber you can trust, give us a call today: (909)-823-3807.

For COVID-19 Which is Better: Bar Soap or Liquid Soap?

Anthony's Plumbing

April 19, 2020 - Sunday

FOR COVID-19 WHICH IS BETTER: BAR SOAP OR LIQUID SOAP?

With the COVID-19 health advisory that we need to wash our hands regularly, which is better: bar soap or liquid soap?

“Soap and water are better because, at the end, the water rinses away all the dead stuff,” Mayo Clinic neurologist Dr. Joseph Sirven said recently, pointing out that while sanitizers can destroy bacteria and viruses, those dead pathogens don’t go anywhere unless they’re rinsed away.

Dr. Mobeen Rathore, who also serves as chair of Baptist Health’s infection control committee said, “In fact, soap and water is the preferred mechanism for washing your hands and good hygiene, over even hand sanitizers.”

It’s not that the doctors disparage antibacterial liquid soaps and sanitizers, but the physicians seem to regard those recently elusive products as a ‘plan B’ compared to washing with bar soap and warm water.

To minimize the risk of getting sick and spreading illness, it might seem like you need the strongest antibacterial hand soap you can find–but that’s not actually the case. “You don’t need antibacterial or antiseptic soap to remove COVID-19 from your skin,” Dr. Andrew Pavia, Chief, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of Utah, explains. “Regular soap is great. In my house we use plain old Palmolive and Dove bar soaps to wash our hands.”

“If soap and water are not available, then you can use hand sanitizers that have at least 60 percent alcohol,” Rathore said.

So, why then is bar soap in a relatively available supply?

“It seems to be a very psychological thing, I think for sure,” said Dr. Tiffany Wells at River City OB-GYN.

“I think that people have gotten used to that type of soap in the containers,” she said, hinting at habit and convenience, “but being at home, having a bar of soap would be perfectly effective, reasonable, and typically cheaper,” Dr. Wells said, tossing in yet another virtue. “Also, less use of plastic.”

Sirven agreed about the convenience factor of portable liquid soaps.

“You can stick one in your car, stick one in your office. That you can’t easily do with a bar of soap,” he said, but maintaining that convenience doesn’t equal effectiveness. “The truth is, soap and water is still the ultimate go-to.”

Sirven went on to explain that bar soaps protect against COVID-19 because of its composition – essentially a protein surrounded by a thin layer of fat.

“You need this fat compound – that’s what the soap is – to break down that virus,” he said. “And, believe me, it will not survive that.”

Wells elaborated on that point, clarifying that in and of themselves, the antibacterial properties of some soaps have little effect on viruses.

“Antibacterial would do nothing to produce anti-viral effects. They are very different things.”

She also continued about the irony that bar soap appears to be less popular, particularly at a time of public angst about health and hygiene.

“It’s available and it’s effective,” she said, “so there’s no reason that it shouldn’t be the same level as the liquid soaps.”

What if Dr. Rathore was given a hypothetical choice? “So, let’s say you’ve got Irish Spring bar soap, dish soap, antibacterial hand soap, some Dove body wash or good old hand sanitizer. If you had all of these in front of you and you needed to wash your hands for a routine hand wash, which one would you choose?” We thought for sure he’d opt for the antibacterial liquid soap or sanitizer. He was unmoved.

“I just use soap and water,” he maintained. “In fact, the antibacterial soaps cannot even claim that they are better than the regular soaps,” Rathore asserted.

But Rathore, Wells, and Sirven all offered the caveat that while type of soap isn’t a significant factor, the time and technique one uses when washing are.

“There’s a way of washing hands which is very important,” Rathore said.

“Taking the 20 seconds, washing all surfaces, drying appropriately,” Wells added.

“You have to make sure it goes and covers your whole hand,” Sirven echoed.

The Centers for Disease Control offers this online guide to proper handwashing: [https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html]

“You can use the other things also,” Rathore refrained, “but using your regular bar of soap is just perfectly fine. It’s not that complicated.”

The Importance of Water Flow

Of course, to wash your hands effectively, it involves having a running stream of warm water so you can wash away the soap and “dead stuff.” If your sink faucet doesn’t work, if your hot water heater doesn’t work or if the drain is clogged, washing your hands becomes a challenge. That is where we come in. For over twenty years Anthony's Plumbing has been coming to customer’s homes and businesses fixing all their plumbing related needs. 

If you need us, we are here 24/7 and ready to respond to your call. You can reach us anytime at 909-823-3807. In the mean-time, be safe, stay inside as much as possible and know that we are here for you if you need us.

Solving 3 of the Most Common Plumbing Problems

Anthony's Plumbing

March 29, 2020 - Sunday

Solving 3 of the Most Common Plumbing Problems:

Plumbing issues have a wide range of possibilities, from the relatively minor and inexpensive, such as a dripping faucet or running toilet, all the way to a sewer system backup or a major pipe leak capable of causing severe damage to walls, floors, and personal property. A study found that on average, most people call a professional plumber around once every three years. Common plumbing problems can include basic issues such as dripping faucets, all the way through to burst pipes. The good news is that Anthony’s Plumbing is available 24/7 locally for all your plumbing needs.

Here are three of the most common issues that can result in the need for plumbing work. You can prevent or minimize problems from occurring if you know the types of things that most often go wrong. More advanced problems will generally require the help of a professional plumber.

3 Most Common Plumbing Issues

• Dripping faucets
• Slow draining sink
• Clogged bath or shower drain

1. Dripping Faucets

Dripping faucets are so common that it's rare to find someone who hasn't experienced this issue. It's not just a source of irritation; the waste of water can increase your water bill and cost you additional money. A single faucet can drip away hundreds of gallons over the course of a year.

The cause of dripping faucets in most cases is an internal washer that has become stiff, torn, worn, or dislodged over time. Fixing the problem is often achievable by the average householder, but it requires the correct tools. If you search YouTube for “How to Fix a Dripping Faucet” or “How to Fix a Leaky Faucet” you’ll find countless videos that show how to address the problem. As always, if you need additional help, Anthony’s Plumbing is here 24/7, so don’t be afraid to call.

2. Slow Draining Sink

This problem is normally caused by some sort of blockage that is restricting water flow. Your kitchen sink drain may contain things like congealed fat and food remnants. After making sure there is no silverware that slipped down the drain, try running water briefly and turn on your garbage disposal for a few seconds to see if that clears the problem. In a bathroom sink, the blockage is more likely to be caused by knotted hair and soap.

Methods for clearing a clogged sink might involve using a plunger, pouring baking soda and vinegar down the drain, using a chemical clog remover, or using a plumber's snake. If the problem isn't tackled, then it will likely worsen over time, until eventually the drain is completely blocked. At that point, if you feel you’ve run out of options, give us a call and we can help.

How to Unclog a Sink Drain Using Chemicals

• Be sure to follow all the directions on the packaging and make sure not to use too much.
• Wear gloves and goggles for safety.
• Don't mix chemicals. This can produce poisonous gas.
• Pour chemicals down the drain.

Note: Chemicals can cause damage to your drainage pipes if used repeatedly, so I would recommend not resorting to this method lightly. If there’s any questions in this regard, give us a call. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

3. Clogged Bath or Shower Drain

As with slow draining bathroom sinks, bath and shower drains generally get blocked up by clogs of hair and soap. Clearing the blockage may require the use of a plunger or a snake. Baking soda and vinegar can sometimes dissolve the clog too. The problem generally gets worse over time, if not dealt with. The problem can be prevented or minimized by buying a drain guard to catch the hair.

How to Unclog Your Shower Drain Using a Plunger

• Adding petroleum jelly to the edge of the suction pad will improve the seal.
• Make sure there is enough water in the shower so that the end of the plunger is submerged.
• Make sure the plunger covers the drain as completely as possible.
• Plunge vigorously.

If that doesn’t work, our number is 909-823-3807 and we are here 24/7 for all your plumbing needs.

Coronavirus and Clogged Toilets

Anthony's Plumbing

March 25, 2020 - Wednesday

Coronavirus and Clogged Toilets

More and more toilets and sewer systems are backing up as people clean their homes with disinfectant wipes and turn to paper towels, napkins and baby wipes to deal with the shortage of toilet paper. 

Wastewater treatment officials across the nation have asked residents not to flush wipes down the toilet using the hashtag #WipesClogPipes. Many Americans seem to be following the recommendations of public health officials to clean and sterilize countertops, doorknobs, faucets and other frequently touched surfaces in their homes. The problem? Many are then tossing the disinfectant wipes, paper towels and other paper products they used into the toilet. The result has been a coast-to-coast surge in backed-up sewer lines and overflowing toilets, according to plumbers and public officials, who have pleaded with Americans to spare the nation’s pipes from further strain. Many say the woes besieging the nation’s infrastructure have been compounded by the lack of toilet paper on store shelves, which is leading some to use paper towels, napkins or baby wipes instead.

It seems easy to dispose of almost anything in the toilet - flush, and forget. But, flushing the wrong things down the toilet can cause some serious and expensive problems for your home’s plumbing lines. It can also cause even bigger problems in your local sewer system, from the pipes running under the street outside your home, to the treatment plant, which were designed to dispose and treat specific items. While it might seem to make your daily life easier, putting the wrong thing down the toilet can and do cause blockages, which take time and money to fix.

“Flushable wipes are not truly flushable,” said Jim Bunsey, chief operating officer of the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District. “They might go down the drain, but they do not break up like regular toilet paper.”

Several plumbing company around the country have issued a similar plea to their customers and said that substituting facial tissue for toilet paper was “another bad idea,” unless it’s used in small amounts and flushed frequently.

The California State Water Resources Control Board warned this week that “even wipes labeled ‘flushable’ will clog pipes and interfere with sewage collection and treatment throughout the state. Flushing wipes, paper towels and similar products down toilets will clog sewers and cause backups and overflows at wastewater treatment facilities, creating an additional public health risk in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.” The agency said wastewater treatment plants across California were reporting problems. It noted that most urban sewage systems depend on gravity and water flow to move toilet paper and waste, and were not designed to accommodate disinfectant wipes and paper towels, which do not break down as easily and clog the system. The board noted that clogged sewer lines are more than just a headache for residents cooped up in their homes during a pandemic. Spills flow into lakes, rivers and oceans, where they can harm public health and the environment, it said.

Plumbers said they were fielding an increase in calls from people working from home and self-quarantining.

“We have noticed an uptick in the amount of clogged main sewer lines and, when we dispatch our technicians, we are pulling baby wipes out of the line and we’re seeing paper towels and Lysol wipes,” Mark Russo, vice president of Russo Brothers & Company, a plumbing and heating service in East Hanover, N.J., said on Saturday. “These items are things that should never be flushed down the toilet,” he said.

Of course we know that clogs happen. For whatever the reason, Anthony's Plumbing is here 24/7 for all your plumbing needs. During this extremely difficult situation with COVID-19, we are implementing social distancing. Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of our customers. We have been mandated by the federal government as an essential business, and that is not a responsibility that we take lightly. Thank you, be safe, be aware and be diligent. [If you have questions, you can reach us at 909-823-3807].

Pex or Copper - Which is Better for Repiping?

Anthony's Plumbing

March 1, 2020 - Thursday

Pex or Copper - Which is Better for Repiping?

Have you been thinking about repiping your home lately? Are your home’s pipes damaged or corroded? If so, you may be wondering whether you should use pex or copper to get the job done correctly.

In this article, we’ll talk about the differences between pex and copper pipes so you can make a more informed choice. We’ll also go through the advantages and disadvantages of each to help you answer the questions about whether to choose pex or copper for your repiping job?

Pex vs Copper Pipes – The Difference Between the Two Materials

Don’t worry if you have no idea which type of pipe to use in your home! There are really only two options and neither one is the wrong choice; each material has its pros and cons.

Pex piping is a flexible material that’s easy for plumbers to install. It’s made of cross-linked polyethylene, which ranges in size from 1/4-inch to 4-inch, but 1/2-inch, 3/4-inch, and 1-inch are the most  commonly used sizes. Most pex that you see comes in red or blue and relates to whether the water in hat section is hot (red) or cold (blue).

Pros of Using pex pipe vs copper

* Pex piping has fewer joints, which lowers your overall repiping cost

* Pex can be used with hot and cold water

* Pex has a higher resistance to breaking during extreme cold weather, so it’s less likely to burst, since it’s a much more flexible material

* Pex has a shutoff valve at each supply line (which is convenient in the event of repairs)

* Lower shipping and handling costs, as pex pipes are stored on spools and weigh less

* Cross-linked polyethylene can turn 90 degree corners and doesn’t require plumbers to use elbow fittings

* Pex piping is safer to install (it doesn’t require a torch to make connections)

* It more efficiently keeps heat inside

As you can see, there are many advantages to using pex piping within your home; however, there are also many advantages to using copper pipes within your home.

Let’s take a look at the benefits of using copper in your repiping job…

Advantages of Using copper pipes

Copper pipes have been used by plumbers for quite a long time for hot and cold tap water, as well as within home HVAC systems. There is soft copper and rigid copper, both of which are ideal for different piping purposes.

Soft copper is ideal for air conditioners and heat pumps; rigid copper is more commonly used for water lines, as it can be heated and bent without cracking.

The pex or copper debate – a few reasons to choose copper

* Copper is the only material that comes with a 50-year warrantee from the manufacturer

* For more than 70 years, plumbers have been successfully using copper for piping

* More than 80% of modern homes are built using copper piping

* Copper is a natural material that’s environmentally friendly; you can count on it staying in good condition, even years after being installed

* Color coding makes it easy to know which pipes are hot and cold (again, red is hot, blue is cold)

* Copper fittings create joints that are leak proof when they’re installed properly

* In the event of a fire, copper tubing will not give off any toxic gases

* Copper tubing prevents harmful bacteria from growing

* You can use copper outside, as it’s not affected by ultraviolet rays

Pex pipe vs copper – the disadvantages to consider

Now that we’ve gone through the advantages of using both pex material and copper material when repiping your home, let’s be sure we cover all the bases by looking at the disadvantages of both.

Cons of using pex

* Pex piping can’t be used outside

* Water damage is possible, as the material is not impermeable (copper is)

* As far as sustainability, pex cannot be recycled after use

Cons of using copper

* Copper can corrode over time

* In cold weather, copper pipes can freeze and burst

* Copper is more expensive than pex (pex costs 1/3 of what copper costs)

As you can see, there are good reasons to use pex piping in your home, as well as good reasons to use copper piping in your home.

If you’re performing the repiping job yourself, you would have an easier time using pex piping material. If you’re hiring a professional plumbing company to get the job done, copper may be a better choice since it requires soldering, or connecting pipes together using a propane torch.

After reading this detailed article, we hope you’re walking away with a better understanding of the differences between pex and copper piping. In the end, it’s up to you! Just be sure to consider the pros and cons of each material before investing. Ultimately, if you have any questions or need help choosing, ask your friendly, professional plumbing friends at Anthony’s Plumbing. We are here 24/7 and if we can’t take your call [because we’re out in the field], we will be sure to get to you as soon as possible.

Save Money With a New Toilet

Anthony's Plumbing

February 27, 2020 - Thursday

HOW YOU CAN SAVE MONEY WITH A NEW TOILET:

Did you know that by simply installing a new toilet you can save money on your water bill?  Older toilets tend to use more water, costing you more each time you flush. A newer replacement is recommended for both your bathroom and your wallet. Having a new toilet installed can add value to your bathroom and save you money because many new toilets are environmentally-friendly and are designed to conserve water.

For those who are interested, there are different types of flushes for different toilets that are installed. These different types of flushes differ in the amount of water used each time you flush. The normal flush uses 1.6 gallons of water per flush, the “Dual Flush” uses between 1.1 and 1.6 gallons per flush, and the “Power Flush” uses about 1.0 gallons per flush. Generally, the power flush is used in commercial settings, but some homeowners have also asked us about installing them in their homes, as well. If you ever have any questions, consultations are free and we strive to exceed your expectations.

Anthony’s Plumbing can help you with all your toilet plumbing concerns in the areas surrounding Fontana, California where we are based. Our professionals have been installing toilets in local residences, giving homeowners more stylish and functional bathrooms for over two decades. From simple toilet repair to new toilet installation, Anthony's Plumbing has custom solutions to meet your needs. When you call our plumbing company for toilet repair services, we will send out a licensed technician to your home to inspect your toilets and the associated plumbing. Anthony’s Plumbing will diligently work to locate the source of the toilet issue, if there is one. Once the root of the problem is identified, it is our goal to complete the repairs or installations quickly and efficiently. In helping to achieve this, our technicians stock many standard commode parts on their trucks. We’re available day or night to solve your plumbing issues, so give us a call today.

As a family-owned and operated plumbing company, we provide plumbing services to people who are searching for “plumbers near me” or “Fontana plumber” and those seem to be our biggest sources of traffic. However you find us, our goal is to be of such professional and friendly service that you will never need to look for another plumbing company again. Besides toilets, we do everything plumbing related, including drain cleaning, slab leak detection, hydro jetting, faucet repair, repiping, tankless waterheaters, rooting and sewer repairs, tree root removals from your water lines, removing and replacing old or broken plumbing, as well as garbage disposals and of course emergency plumbing.

If you are interested in replacing your toilet with a newer model and saving money over time, give us a call at 909-823-3807 and let’s talk. Thank you for your time in reading this.

Does Your Plumber Recommend an Electric Water Heater?

Anthony's Plumbing

January 31, 2020 - Friday

Does Your Plumber Recommend an Electric Water Heater?

When considering the best choices in plumbing, modern Electric Water Heaters can easily save you thousands of dollars over a 10-year period with their energy efficient designs. Many water heaters, like the Rheem Performance Platinum 65 gal. 10-Year Hybrid High Efficiency Smart Tank Electric Water Heater shown here, include an integrated Wi-Fi connection for mobile alerts if there is a potential leak. In fact, units like this one can pay for itself in 2-3 years thanks to an amazing 3.70 energy factor and features that deliver long-term savings. This unit also features additional smart features like High Demand mode to allow your hybrid to provide more hot water or Vacation Mode to save energy and costs when you're away. The model shown here provides more hot water than many standard residential electric models providing ample hot water for households with 3-5 people or homes with 3+ bathrooms.

 There are many models and options of water heaters available, so if you’re considering replacing or upgrading your gas water heater with an electric water heater, ask your plumbing professional at Anthony’s Plumbing for our recommendations. There’s no charge for a consultation, of course. As a family-owned and operated local plumbing business, we have been establishing long-term relationships with our customers for over 20 years, and our goal is to provide the best information and service to you and your home.

 Many homeowners believe that the days of the gas water heater are all but over, given the efficiency, energy and cost savings and ease of maintenance of modern electric water heaters. Water heater repair is believed to be very costly, and many people put it off as long as possible. Some people ask themselves how long they can take cold showers until they absolutely have to call for help? In a matter so routine as taking a bath or shower, it shouldn’t be that way. To help you in your decision, we now offer financing [on approved credit]. The only real choices now are whether to choose tankless water heaters or traditional water heater? When it comes to making a wise choice, electric tankless water heaters are much easier to install, and easier generally means less expensive as well.  Correct installation is key to getting the most from your new tankless water heater. Regardless of the type of water heater you choose, a qualified professional will help you determine the best type of heater to purchase, correctly size the unit, and ensure that the gas pipes or electrical requirements and venting match the units needs. While it is true that Home Depot and Lowe’s offer many options, the current configuration in your home should be factored in, and a qualified professional can help you consider your options before making a final decision. 

If your hot water heater is working, you can continue as you are, and hope for the best, or you can call us for a free consultation. Changing your current hot water heater can save you money over time. Let us show you how. When it comes to hotwater heater installation and repair, call Anthony’s Plumbing at 909-823-3807 and let’s talk about your options.