How to Unclog a Drain

January 5, 2016
Posted by Ty Gailey

I receive a phone call one morning. It is my lawyer (AKA my friend Bryan) and he sounds a little agitated.
“I may need you guys to come run a camera in my drains. My shower drain isn’t working. I put a bunch of chemicals down there and its still not working.”
Also Bryan’s washing machine isn’t draining. It’s possible Bryan has two separate issues, I tell him. The washing machine turns out to be 19 years old. I make sure to let Bryan know that we don’t use chemicals to unclog drains. A chemical such as Drano may help when used for preventative maintenance. These organic drain solvents are unsafe. They melt hair and organic materials. Also they are bad for the environment. Once a drain is clogged a chemical isn’t going to unclog the drain. Mechanical means are required for that.
I recommend that Bryan may want to go purchase one of these little consumer-grade drain augers from Home Depot. First he should try a simple plunger. I stay on the phone with Bryan while he removes the drain cap.
“Ok, I’m plunging now.” he says.
The plunger worked and the water began to flow freely in the shower.
“I guess this means I need a new clothes washer,” said Bryan.

Polybutylene Pipe Replacement: CPVC verus PEX

January 5, 2016
Posted by Ty Gailey

Add Pex to the mile long list of things that could give you cancer:

https://calpipes.org/ProtectingCalifornians_PEX.asp

We’re not sure about pex causing cancer and all that but Pex is definitely not a material we use for interior water pipes. We prefer CPVC because it has stood the test of time. CPVC requires more plumbing skill and “neatness” in the way that pipes are run. Pex comes in a roll and it basically a big hose that doesn’t have to be run in straight lines. Also pex is connected using another crimp ring system. Crimp rings were a huge culprit (not the main culprit: https://www.callplumbingexpress.com/replacing-polybutylene-pipe) in the current rash of polybutylene failures. CPVC is chemically welded together with solvent and glue. If a CPVC joint is going to leak, it will do so in the first 12 hours under pressure. Crimp rings that are improperly installed could pop apart at any time.

The moral of this blog post is that you should always go with CPVC or copper. Pex is not a good option for interior water pipes. That is all.

Polybutylene Pipe Replacement in Marietta, GA

January 5, 2016
Posted by Ty Gailey
Polybutylene Replacement Atlanta GA

Thousands of Home Re-piped by Plumbing Express in Cobb County

If you have a home or are considering purchasing home with polybutylene piping, you should consider calling our company. We are one of few companies specializing in poly pipe replacement in Marietta, GA and the surrounding area. Never contract a service plumber to replace your water pipes without speaking with a repipe specialist. The benefits of working with Plumbing Express for polybutylene pipe replacement include:

So King David needs a water heater

January 5, 2016
Posted by Ty Gailey

An unusual call from a man who asked me to refer to him as “King David of Zion” came to us from Atlanta Gas Light.

Me: “Thank you for calling Plumbing Express Atlanta, how may we help you?”

Man: “Hello, I need a gas water heater.”

Me: “We can help you with that. May I ask whom I have the pleasure of speaking with today?”

Man: “My name is Bill but there are many who call me King David of Zion.”

Me: “Ok, Sir. Where about are you located?”

King David: “Athens”

Me: “Well Sir, we are primarily an Atlanta Plumber. We cover the Metro Atlanta Region. Athens is just outside of our service coverage area. The exception to that is for polybutylene pipe replacement jobs. We go all over the state of Georgia for those.”

King David: “That’s Fair.”

Me: “I was hoping you’d say that, Sir.”

Our motto at Plumbing Express is: “We treat our customers like a king even if they are just some crackpot telling everybody they are an actual king.”