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What Causes Black Mold in Sink Drains?

What Causes Black Mold in Sink Drains?

Written by Al Coronado Plumbing on . Posted in Blog Post, General plumbing blog, Plumbing.

If you see a black discoloration ringing your sink’s drain, you likely have black mold growth. So, what causes black mold in sink drains? Keep reading to discover everything you should know about black mold in your sink. 

As the top-related drain cleaning company in Tucson, AZ, our team at Al Coronado Plumbing can help you remove black mold and prevent future growth. Book an appointment by calling 520-834-8400.

What Is Black Mold?

Black mold might look like slime or gunk, but it’s actually two layers of growing organisms. On the top level, bacteria grow on your discarded hair, soap scum, skin cells, and more. Beneath the bacteria, penetrating into the pipes under your drain is black mold.

Black mold endangers your health and property and can grow from your sink into the rest of your home. If you see black gunk, mold has already penetrated deeper into your sink. Address the mold immediately to avoid more severe problems.

Causes of Black Mold

Black mold grows from two causes.

Drain Clogs

A drain clog provides the perfect breeding ground for mold. Not only does it cause moisture to build up, but it provides plenty of nutrients from hair and other substances. The dangerous thing about a sink clog is that the mold can go undetected while it spreads to the rest of your home.

Moisture Buildup

Mold only needs moisture and nutrients to take root, and that can occur in places other than a clog. Even when it doesn’t cause a blockage, whenever you rinse anything down the drain, it can lodge in the sides or joints of your pipe, eventually attracting water and then mold.

Signs You Have Black Mold

Now that you know what causes black mold in sink drains, look for these signs you have a problem:

  • Discoloration around the affected area is the most visible sign. The mold will present as a dark ring around the drain or just inside it. If you notice a pinkish discoloration, that’s a bacteria and an early sign mold is soon to come.
  • If your bathroom smells like an attic or humid basement, it’s an invisible indication mold is growing just beneath your drain.
  • If you notice your allergies increase whenever you use the bathroom, especially if you don’t experience them in bathrooms outside your home, it’s a clear sign something is growing in your sink.

How To Clean the Black Mold

Follow these steps to address black mold:

  1. Remove the drain stopper and scrub it down. For extra certainty, soak it in vinegar.
  2. Plunge the drain to remove any clogs.
  3. Use a homemade cleaning solution consisting of two cups of boiling water and one-half cup of baking soda to pour down the pipes.
  4. Call a plumber to inspect your pipes and address any further issues.

Contact Al Coronado Plumbing for All Your Plumbing Needs

Now that you know what causes black mold in sink drains, our Al Coronado Plumbing team can help you use drain cleaners and other cleaning methods to clear it. With knowledgeable and professional service, we make the process hassle-free. Book an appointment by calling us at 520-834-8400.

8 Signs It’s Time For A New Water Heater

Is Drain Cleaner Safe for Pipes?

Written by Al Coronado Plumbing on . Posted in Clogged Pipes, General plumbing blog.

Do you frequently experience clogged drains? Is drain cleaner safe for pipes when professional plumbers generally suggest avoiding them? Keep reading to discover why professionals like Al Coronado Plumbing recommend avoiding these products for drain cleaning in Tucson, AZ, and what to use instead.

And if you’d like an experienced team to handle your clogged drains, call Al Coronado Plumbing in Tucson, Arizona, to learn more!

The Dangers of Drain Cleaners

It’s usually best to avoid using drain cleaners to clear clogs from your pipes. For one, it may not be a problem that the cleaner can dislodge. Plus, the chemical reactions used for the cleaners can cause the following issues:

  • They get stuck too. The biggest problem is that drain cleaners are difficult to completely remove from the pipe system. Over time, they will create heat and react with existing corrosion to eat away at the pipes. Even PVC pipes are vulnerable.
  • They react with other cleaners. If these cleaners sit in your pipe system and you pour other cleaners down your drains, unpredictable chemical reactions could follow. If this causes toxic fumes, your household could experience health problems.
  • They’re harmful. Even if you pour carefully, a chemical blowback from the drain could splash and burn your skin or cause blindness if it comes into contact with your eyes.
  • They’re not eco-friendly. Drain cleaners are horrible for the environment. Nobody wants these contaminants in their drinking water, poisoning pets, or destroying plant and animal life around their homes.

Maintaining Your Pipes Without Drain Cleaners

Is drain cleaner safe for pipes if you get the right brand? What could you use instead? The best solution is to avoid clogged drains in the first place by controlling what goes down the drain, including the following substances:

  • Grease, fat, and oil from food
  • Any paper products other than toilet paper (even if they claim to be flushable)
  • Hard food waste, such as bones or fiber
  • Foods that expand, like pasta or rice
  • Gritty substances, like eggshells or coffee grounds

Handling Clogged Pipes

No matter how well you maintain your pipes, most plumbing systems will experience a clog eventually. If you encounter a clog related to your garbage disposal or other plumbing issues, calling a team like Al Coronado Plumbing is always the best option for removing blockages without causing further damage. However, you can also try the following for minor clogs:

  • Plunger: Plungers are an effective solution for minor clogs. It will dislodge the blockage, at which point you can usually wash it out of your plumbing system.
  • Drain snake: You can obtain an affordable drain snake at any hardware store, but your plumber has access to the industrial strength version. A snake can reach clogs that are farther down your pipes and break them up before flushing.
  • Baking soda: Some people swear by pouring boiling water down the drain, followed by a half-cup of baking soda and vinegar for harder clogs.

Call Al Coronado Plumbing to Unclog Your Pipes

Is drain cleaner safe for pipes in moderation? You won’t need to risk it with Al Coronado Plumbing on your side. We can keep your property’s pipes in great working condition, fix clogged drains, and more—call 520-834-8400 today!

4 Reasons Why You Should Seek Professional Plumbing Services

4 Reasons Why You Should Seek Professional Plumbing Services

Written by Al Coronado on . Posted in General plumbing blog.

When you have a plumbing problem in your Arizona home, you should seek Tucson plumbing services from a top-rated plumbing company. Even minor plumbing issues like leaking faucets need to be nipped in the bud before they cause you major losses. The United States Environmental Protection Agency estimates that every one in 10 homes in America has small leaks in their plumbing that waste around 90 gallons of water each day. You don’t want this for your Tucson home.

You should seek plumbing service immediately if you spot the following issues.

1. Leaky Faucets

Not only are leaky faucets annoying, but they can also cause substantial structural damage to other parts of the house, such as the floor, wood shelving, cabinets, and countertops. Faucets may start to drip because of worn-out washers, poorly installed washers, a corroded valve seat, or a damaged O ring. It takes an experienced plumber to repair a leaking faucet without damaging it further.

A common mistake that most homeowners make is trying to DIY a leaky faucet. You should avoid DIY repair because you’ll most likely worsen the problem and end up needing a new faucet replacement. For instance, you may use the wrong tools and destroy the stem screw of the faucets. When you fix the faucet back with a distorted stem screw, it will continue to leak in different places. This will attract mold, rot, and rust, besides causing extensive water waste. When you call Tucson plumbing services, a trained plumber will repair your leaky faucet expertly. If there’s a need to replace the faucets, a Tucson plumber will handle the replacement and charge you fairly.

2. You Don’t Have Water In Your Taps

A big leak or blockage in your plumbing system may cut off the water supply to your house. This is more common in the old plumbing systems that need replacement. Also, if you have been out of your house for a long time, say six continuous months, you may find that your plumbing system isn’t working.

Typically, most plumping systems are well concealed behind the wall, or under your house, so you can’t spot the problem without using special plumbing tools. That’s why you should engage a reputable plumbing service. Plumbing companies employ state-of-the-art diagnostic tools to help them detect leaks and blockages in plumbing systems. This helps plumbers make an accurate diagnosis and start the repairs early.

3. You’re Experiencing Backflow Problems

When you flush your toilet, wastewater flows down through the waste pipe and drains to the sewer system. However, sometimes the flush water travels in the opposite direction and comes back up. This is called backflow, and it necessitates you to call an emergency plumber because it can contaminate the rest of the water with the wastewater. This also causes a bad stench that will make your house inhabitable.

Good thing you’ll find a 24-hour plumber in Tucson to fix your plumbing system right away. The common causes of backflow problems include back siphonage, backpressure, and sewerage pipe damage. Backflow problems are serious, and you should call an emergency plumber when your plumbing system starts experiencing these problems.

4. When Installing New Toilets, Water Heaters, and Other Appliances

Whether you’re planning a complete bathroom remodel or just installing a single toilet, you should engage plumbing services. For a new water heater or toilet to function properly, it must be connected to the plumbing system by a professional plumber. If you choose to DIY, you may interfere with your plumbing system and cause it to malfunction. Conversely, a plumber has enough experience to install any appliance that requires to be connected to the plumbing system without causing complications.

Small problems like leaks and blockages in your plumbing system can become major problems if not repaired in good time. Whenever you have a plumbing issue in your home in Arizona, you should seek plumbing services from a top plumbing company in Tucson. The best plumbers will charge you by the job and guarantee quality plumbing work.

How a Plumbing Service Can Make Your Home Eco-Friendly?

How a Plumbing Service Can Make Your Home Eco-Friendly?

Written by Al Coronado on . Posted in General plumbing blog.

When you think of how you can make your home eco-friendly, your first thought may not be about water usage. While paying attention to things like your electricity usage and heating and cooling costs can be good ways to make your home more environmentally friendly, looking at how your home uses water can also be helpful. Here are a few ways that your local plumbing service can help you make your home more eco-friendly.

Install a Low-Flow Toilet

Your toilet is responsible for around 38% of the water used in your home. However, many times you don’t need the amount of water used per flush, and low-flow toilets are a great way to decrease your water usage without a noticeable change to your daily life. Low-flow toilets compensate for the lessened amount of water by utilizing a gravity-driven system or a pressure-assisted system, and both make your low-flow toilet just as functional as a traditional toilet.

Opt For an Eco-Friendly Shower

Your shower is another large part of your home’s water consumption. Luckily, there are many low-flow showerhead options available on the market. Because of the popularity of eco-friendly changes around your home, there are more options than ever for eco-friendly, low-flow showerheads. These showerheads work by either creating more water pressure, making less water still have the same impact as more water does, or by adding air into the water stream, creating a more bubbly, gentle shower spray. Your local plumbing service can help you install the right low-flow showerhead to match your preferences.

Fix Leaks as Soon as You Notice Them

Another eco-friendly measure is to make sure you’re not wasting any water through leaking faucets or pipes. Not only are plumbing leaks inconvenient and possibly damaging to your home and belongings, but they also waste water. If you notice a leak, you should make sure to get plumbing services as soon as possible. If it’s a particularly large leak, it might be a good idea to contact a 24-hour plumber or emergency plumber to get the leak fixed as quickly as possible.

Being making small changes to be more eco-friendly is an easy way to help the planet. Because there have been so many advancements in the world of eco-friendly technology, we can opt for low-flow options of toilets and showers without having to sacrifice the functionality of traditional options. If you’re looking to get an eco-friendly plumbing upgrade in the Tuscon, AZ area, make sure to contact Al Coronado Plumbing today to find out how we can help you.

Does liquid detergent clog pipes?

Written by Al Coronado on . Posted in General plumbing blog.

Does liquid detergent clog pipes? In the event that your pipes do become clogged due to liquid soap or powder soap, you should contact a professional plumber to assist you. You can avoid clogging your drains with soap by making sure that you read manufacturer labels and follow proper usage guidelines.

When cleaning your dishes or laundry, not many people think about whether or not the soap they’re using can pose the risk of clogging your drains. Recently, there have been studies conducted to test the theory that over time, potent cleaning soaps have the ability to clog the functionality of your pipes. This thought has neither been proven nor disproven, however, there have been reports by people who have shared their horror stories after using specific types of liquid detergents.

Every liquid detergent brand that you see on the market is made by a different company, each of these companies follows their own unique formula to deliver the soap products you trust and love. The pipes throughout your home are made from metal which is susceptible to corrosion and decay over time. Some of the agents used in common household liquid detergents can speed up the process of corrosion or even cause clogs in rare instances.

Below, we’re going to provide you with all of the important information that you need to know about liquid soap and how it impacts your pipes.

What about laundry detergent?

As of right now, there is relevant information that suggests using powdered detergents as well as some liquid detergents in the incorrect manner can lead to issues of your pipes becoming clogged. One of the best ways to avoid encountering any issues with your pipes becoming clogged due to detergent is by looking at the manufacturer labels on your washing machine and dishwasher.

Using the incorrect amount of detergent can also lead to issues where your pipes become clogged. Read the label of your chosen detergent to make sure that you are always using the proper amount for your loads.

There are also a lot of other effective ways that you can reduce the odds of your pipes becoming clogged.

Tips on how to avoid clogging your drain with detergent:

  • Apply a drain cleaning treatment to your pipes about once every other month
  • Always try to use liquid detergent instead of powder cleansers
  • If you do encounter drain clogs, you should always call a professional plumber to assist you with repairing the problem
  • Run an empty cycle in your washing machine every month or so with white vinegar to dissolve any caked up detergent which may be left in your pipes

These are some simple steps that you can take to ensure your pipes stay clear of any obstructions or stoppages.

Does liquid detergent clog pipes?

Liquid detergent has a very low chance of clogging your drains unless you use an excessive quantity. One important factor to consider when determining whether a particular soap poses a clog risk is its chemical composition. There are a few main chemical classes that can help you identify the potency of any detergent product you decide to use.

Main Chemical Classes for Liquid Detergent:

  • Powdered detergent– usually comes in the form of a powder-filled ball and can pose a clog risk when used in excessive quantities
  • High-Bleach detergents– detergents and cleaners that have a high amount of bleach can corrode the quality of your sewage system when used in large amounts
  • Commercial Clog Remover- for use in specialized applications and should never be used when trying to unclog your washing machine or dishwasher at home
    Caustic Chemicals- caustic chemicals are a broad class of chemical agents that have the ability to ruin your home’s pipe system due to the fact that they are meant for machines like clothes washers

By completely avoiding or limiting your use of chemical agents such as the ones listed above, you can safeguard your home’s pipe from the threat of becoming clogged quite easily. The most common reason for liquid detergents causing clogs in your pipes is because of using too much of it.

During certain cycles like the rinse cycle, excess detergent can become clogged in your pipes due to insufficient drainage. Using accurate measurements and following all of the printed guidelines on the packaging is the best way to avoid this problem.

Throughout this article, we’ve given you all of the key details you need to know as it relates to avoiding the issue of soap clogging your drain. By using all of the information in this article, you will be able to maintain proper functioning drains with ease.

Hopefully this article gives you knowledge on “Does liquid detergent clog pipes?”

Further reading. This post on Amazon answers some FAQs on detergents and clogged pipes

Additional information on drain cleaning