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Identifying and addressing an issue before it occurs is always better than having to deal with it after things have already gotten out of hand. This is especially the case when it comes to the plumbing in your home. 

After all, the last thing you want is to wake up in the middle of the night and have to call emergency plumbing in San Diego because a major pipe in your house has burst and is spraying water everywhere. 

In previous articles, we listed some common plumbing malfunctions and explained when an issue is serious enough to warrant calling emergency plumbers. Now we’ll help you prevent these unpleasant situations by listing the 4 silent signs of a faulty plumbing system. Read on. 

How do I check the plumbing in my house?

Many severe plumbing problems initially manifest as minor inconveniences that can be easy to ignore. Homeowners are strongly advised to pay close attention to these little issues and deal with them as soon as possible to prevent bigger (and costlier) malfunctions later on. 

Here are the top 4 signs of faulty plumbing you shouldn’t ignore:

1. Slow drain

This problem can either be caused by an easy-to-remove clog near the drain, or by a deeper issue located farther down the drain line. If a plunger fails to fix the problem after one or two tries, you should call in a plumbing service. 

2. Nasty smell

The plumbing system in your home is specifically designed to keep sewer gas from getting into your home. If you detect a sewer odor in your house, you may be dealing with a cracked vent line or a trap that has run dry. 

3. Discolored pipes

Take a look at the plumbing pipes in your basement. Are they discolored in any way, especially at places where two pipes join together? If the answer is yes, you may have a moisture problem on your hands. This can be caused by dripping from a drain or sink line, or even a leak in the supply line.

4. Slow water flow

Low water pressure or a slow stream is a sign of faulty distribution. If this only happens in one faucet, it’s typically an aerator problem that can be easily fixed. However, if the water pressure is lacking in multiple spots throughout your house, it’s likely caused by a problematic water main, a faulty water heater, or even a supply line leak.

How do you diagnose plumbing problems?

As you can tell from the above list, many serious plumbing issues can manifest as seemingly mild defects. Even something as insignificant as noticing that a part of your yard is significantly more green and lush than the areas around it may signify a sewer issue. 

Unfortunately, unless you’re a trained plumber yourself, you simply won’t be able to definitively diagnose (let alone fix) these deeper plumbing issues. 

For this reason, your best course of action is to have your plumbing system regularly checked by a reputable plumbing company and to call in emergency plumbers should you notice any telltale signs of a more severe problem. 

Who should I call when I need first-rate emergency plumbing in San Diego?

Have you recently encountered some problems with the plumbing system at your Morena property? Or perhaps you’re currently dealing with sewer backup, a burst pipe, or a similar issue that requires the immediate attention of an emergency plumbing service?

As the leading provider of water, smoke, mold, and fire restoration and remediation services in San Diego, Risk Free Serv has an extensive list of plumbers who we use on a daily basis to fully meet all your plumbing needs and more. Give us a call and request your free inspection and estimate today. 

Whether you’re looking to replace an old water heater or fix a leaky water line, it really pays to be familiar with the plumbing companies in San Diego to help with your emergency plumbing situation. 

However, being able to detect plumbing issues and have them fixed by regular plumbers is much better than relying on emergency services after the sewage is already backing up or a burst pipe is spraying water into your home. 

In an effort to help you save money and avoid nasty emergencies, we have outlined 7 common issues with home plumbing systems and provided some pointers on how to identify them. Keep reading to learn more. 

What are the most common plumbing problems?

Before we get into the list of issues, it’s important to point out that you should never attempt to fix plumbing issues on your own unless you have a background as a plumber and you’ve been trained in the most recent coding standards.

Simply put, these malfunctions aren’t something people can guess their way through. Trying to do so runs a considerable risk of making the problem worse. 

Here are 7 plumbing issues to look out for:

• No water. Clogged pipes, frozen plumbing lines, and water line leaks can all cut the water supply to your home. Since water leaks can damage the foundation of your house, you should call in a plumber to deal with them ASAP.
• Sewer smells. Clogged drainage pipes can result in your shower, toilet, or sink letting out an extremely unpleasant odor. This occurs as a result of blockages from materials such as grease, hair, or food, and typically happens as the sewer lines approach the end of their life.
• No hot water. This is a sign of excessive sediment buildup inside the water tank of your water heater. This problem can be solved by hiring a licensed plumber to perform a yearly water heater tune-up. 
• Overflowing toilet. Faulty flappers, clogged sewer or drainage pipes, or just flushing down too much toilet paper are some of the usual causes of overflowing toilets. If you can’t easily solve the issue with a plunger, call in the experts.
• Low water pressure often stems from cracked or otherwise damaged water lines. Another possibility is an aerator blockage. Diagnosing either of these problems requires specialized knowledge and equipment, so don’t hesitate to call in a plumbing service.
• Dripping faucets. Steady drips can stem from a variety of problems, including cracked pipes and pressure buildups. Since even a small drip (10 drops a minute) results in an additional 500 gallons of water being spent each year, it’s very much worth your while to have it fixed.
• Sweaty water heater. Condensation on or around the heater often signifies a slow, steady leak. These can come from cracks in the casing or piping, and can eventually lead to larger problems. Other things to look out for include rusty spots, corrosion, and a large pool of water in the drip pan.

Who should I call when I need dependable San Diego emergency plumbing?

Just as you wouldn’t hire an inexperienced auto mechanic to fix your car or replace your tires, you also shouldn’t cut corners when it comes to dealing with plumbing emergencies and keeping your plumbing system in good working order. 

At Risk Free Serv, we pride ourselves on providing the very finest water, mold, fire, and smoke remediation and restoration services in San Diego. In addition to being available 24/7, our emergency teams are also extremely fast: they will be at your place within an hour regardless of whether you live in Downtown San Diego or out in the suburbs. Contact us today.

Although we rarely think of it that way, the modern plumbing system is one of the greatest inventions of all time. We all depend on having ready access to clean water in our toilets, baths, sinks, kitchens, and showers to the point where it’s impossible to imagine life without it.

Despite its many advantages, our plumbing systems can be a source of headaches as well. As anyone who has ever dealt with a leaky dishwasher or an overflowing toilet will tell you, plumbing malfunctions can really disrupt your day, damage your belongings, and even endanger your health and safety.

Calling in emergency plumbing services in San Diego is an easy and effective way to solve this problem. But how can you tell when the plumbing problem is serious enough to warrant calling in emergency plumbers? That’s what we’ll be discussing in the following article. Read on. 

How do you know if you have plumbing problems?

Plumbing issues are notoriously unpredictable, especially if you have old pipes. They often seem easy to fix, only to end up with you knee-deep in water that’s apparently coming from nowhere. 

Common signs that something isn’t quite right include:

• You’re not getting any water
• You hear knocking from the pipes
• The water heater is “sweating”
• Your sink is slow to drain
• Burst pipes
• There’s dampness in your basement
• Your shower or sink keeps dripping
• You’re not getting any hot water
• Drainage is slow
• Your toilet is gurgling up water
• Your water has an unusual color
• You don’t have any water pressure
• There’s severe backflow 

When should you call an emergency plumber?

It goes without saying that you should get a plumber involved ASAP if there’s flooding in your home, a pipe that has burst or is leaking, your toilet is overflowing, or your drain is backing up.

Here are 3 less-obvious signs you need emergency plumbing services:

1. There’s no water

If no water is coming out of your faucets or showers, or there’s only a drip, ask your neighbors if they have the same problem. If they do, it’s probably not an issue that’s limited to your house, so make sure to notify the authorities about it.

However, if only your home doesn’t have water, you should get professional help immediately. This is a huge sign that you’re dealing with severe malfunctions such as major leaks, backups, frozen pipes, water main problems, and more. 

2. Sewage odors

If your water has an unpleasant smell, that’s a sign that your septic system, sump pump, or other plumbing could be faulty. To avoid a potentially catastrophic sewage backup, call in an emergency plumber and refrain from using your sinks, showers, or toilets until the issue has been solved. 

3. Leaky water heater

If you spot a leak on your water heater, check its drip pan. If it’s empty, you can call a regular plumber. If there’s water in the drip pan, shut off the cold water line immediately, then turn off the water to your home, switch off the heater itself, and finally contact an emergency plumbing service. 

Where can I find the most reliable emergency plumbing services in San Diego?

Plumbing emergencies can result in costly repairs and serious property damage. For this reason, a reputable water remediation and restoration company such as Risk Free Serv should be called in as quickly as possible to deal with the problem. 

Our emergency plumbing specialists are available 24/7 in all areas of San Diego. They will arrive at your location in less than an hour regardless of whether you’re located in Palm City or at the very heart of Downtown San Diego. Get in touch with us today.

Discovering a mold or mildew infestation on your property is one of the most frustrating things that can happen to a home or business-owner. Unfortunately, due to how ubiquitous mold is, there’s a considerable chance you’ll have to deal with a mold problem at least a couple times in your life.

The good news is, calling in San Diego mold remediation technicians is a quick and cost-effective way to address even an advanced mold infestation and prevent it from reappearing in the future. 

But how exactly does mold remediation work? Why should you call mold removal experts instead of just removing the mold yourself? What’s included in a typical mold remediation service? Read on to learn the answers to these questions. 

Do I really need mold remediation?

If your mold problem is extremely small (eg., you’ve found a few moldy spots on your clothes, or some of the food in your fridge has turned moldy), you may be able to solve it by disposing of the moldy items or even scrubbing the moldy spots off the fabric. 

However, if the mold is already growing on your walls, furniture, or floor coverings, there’s a significant possibility that the issue is caused by a more serious problem, such as faulty plumbing, leaky roof, high humidity, and more. 

For this reason, property owners are highly advised to have their place examined by a certified mold inspector. By identifying the real cause of the mold infestation, you’ll be able to keep it from coming back and prevent further damages to your belongings. 

What is involved with mold remediation?

The goal of a mold remediation is not just to remove visible signs of mold and render any remaining spores dormant and therefore harmless, but also to find and address the source of dampness that has originally enabled the infestation to occur. 

Here’s how professional mold removal experts usually do it:

• Step #1: Handle the water problem. Pinpoint and deal with the source of moisture (for example, water damage after a flood), therefore preventing the mold from regrowing in the same area.
• Step #2: Cordon off the affected area. The moldy room or rooms have to be sealed off from the rest of the property to prevent cross-contamination.
• Step #3: Mist the infested area to minimize the amount of dust and mold spores present.
• Step #4: Gather wet or mold-damaged materials, put them in heavy plastic bags, tie the bags closed, and dispose of them.
• Step #5: Cleanup. All moldy surfaces are scrubbed clean using an antimicrobial solution. To keep from damaging them, wooden surfaces and non-porous materials should be scrubbed down with a wire brush and then wiped clean using disposable wipes.
• Step #6: Visually check the cleaned rooms to ensure there are no signs of contamination or debris.
• Step #7: Thoroughly dry the area to remove any lingering moisture. Fans, dehumidifiers, and increased indoor air temperature can all be used to speed up the process.
• Step #8: Replace any items and materials that had to be thrown out. 

Where can I book a truly in-depth San Diego mold remediation service?

Whether you’re looking to purchase an office in Harborview, or you suspect you may have a mold problem in your San Diego home, having the right experts in your corner is essential in order to safeguard your health and protect your investment.

That’s where Risk Free Serv comes in. As the top provider of mold, fire, smoke, and water remediation and restoration services, we’re ideally positioned to make sure your property is 100% mold-free. Give us a call and request your free inspection and estimate today.

Did you know that we’re all constantly surrounded by mold? That’s because mold spores can be found everywhere where there is organic matter. This isn’t nearly as scary as it might sound: most molds are harmless to people and actually provide huge environmental benefits. 

However, there are a few kinds of mold and mildew that can endanger both our health and our belongings if allowed to spread through our homes unchecked. Mold infestations are such a serious problem that they can even reduce the real estate value of your property.

So what’s the best way to deal with a mold problem? Can you solve it yourself, or do you have to hire professionals who specialize in mold remediation in San Diego? What can mold remediation experts do that you can’t do yourself? Read on. 

Can you clean up mold yourself?

Unless you’re a mold remediation expert who has access to professional-grade tools, the only times you should attempt to address a mold problem yourself is if it’s a minor one and the mold can easily be prevented from infesting other surfaces.

Examples of less-serious mold problems include:

Moldy fabrics

Clothes, bedsheets, towels, and other fabric items can become moldy if they stay damp for a prolonged period of time. If these items get very moldy, it’s best to replace them. 

However, if there are only a few mold stains, you may be able to remove them by washing the fabric on the hottest washer setting that won’t damage it. If the fabric allows it, add a few drops of bleach to the detergent. Afterwards, leave the items to dry out completely in the sun. 

Moldy food

Food can start to get moldy if it’s past its expiry date, if it’s kept in damp environments, or if it’s in the proximity of other moldy items. If this happens, you should immediately dispose of the moldy edibles to keep them from infesting your other food.

If this occurs inside your fridge, you should thoroughly clean both the exterior and the interior of the fridge to prevent the mold from spreading. If this is a recurring problem or if the fridge is letting out unpleasant odors, you should call in mold removal technicians.

Do you need a professional to remove black mold?

Unless the mold problem is extremely minor, or the moldy item or surface can be readily replaced without affecting the rest of your property, you’re almost always better off leaving mold remediation to the professionals. 

The truth is that identifying the full extent and cause of a mold infestation can be extremely tricky. For instance, using a humidifier can increase the moisture inside a room and cause it to develop some mold on the walls. However, these same moldy spots can also be a sign of faulty insulation or leaky pipes. 

Mold removal experts know which signs to look for to determine the true cause of a mold infestation. Furthermore, they have the tools and the expertise necessary to ensure total mold removal that significantly reduces the chance of mold reappearing. 

Where can I book an extensive mold remediation in San Diego?

Let’s say you’re planning to buy a new home in Kensington. No matter how great your property of choice may look, there’s always a risk that damaged plumbing, increased humidity, or a past flood have turned it into a fertile environment for all sorts of unhealthy molds.

Having the place examined by a professional is a crucial step in ensuring you make a good investment. As the top team of mold, water, fire, and smoke remediation experts in San Diego, Risk Free Serv can help you do just that. Contact us today.

Molds are fungi that grow both indoors and outdoors. Outside, their hardiness, efficient reproductive system, and ability to break apart animal and plant matter gives them an important ecological role. Unfortunately, these same traits are what makes mold so problematic when encountered indoors.

As with all issues in life, the best way to prevent a mold infestation in your house is by identifying the problem early on. This way, you can deal with it before it can endanger your health and result in serious mold damage in San Diego. 

But how do you detect a mold infestation before it can really get out of hand? What are the top 3 telltale signs of indoor mold? Who can you call if you need professional-grade mold remediation? Read on to find out. 

How do you detect mold in a house?

Mold always starts out as a small spot, but grows quickly from there. Unless it’s in an out-of-the-way location (such as in HVAC vents or insulation), it should be readily visible to the naked eye. The best time to check your home for mold is while carrying out your spring home maintenance, as this will give you ample opportunity to get into the nooks and crannies of your property.

Molds vary widely when it comes to their color, and they can look cottony, velvety, or powdery. In some cases, they may resemble old stains or splotches of dirt. Luckily, there are easy ways to figure out if these stains are really stains, or if they’re actually “camouflaged” mold. 

If any of these are the case, it’s probably mold:

• It has an earthy, musty odor
• There’s a source of moisture nearby, and not a lot of light
• The material the mold is growing on is cracking, peeling, or warping
• A drop of bleach causes its color to lighten after 1-2 minutes
• Unlike dirt and old stains, mold grows over time

Molds often appear in places that we either can’t see or don’t visit often, such as in the attic, basement, inside walls, under area rugs, and so on. If this is the case, you may not be able to catch it before it can damage your property and potentially harm your health. 

What are the signs of a mold infestation?

Here are 3 biggest signs you’re dealing with a mold infestation:

1. Strange smells are coming out of your HVAC system

Standalone AC units located in heated closets or basements are often a fertile environment for mold. Excess moisture can also cause mold to take root inside the HVAC vents themselves. This not only makes nasty odors come out of your heating and cooling system, it also enables mold spores to get into other parts of your home.

2. Wallpaper is peeling

If your wallpaper is cracking, bubbling, peeling, or suffering other surface abnormalities, there’s a chance the walls are moldy. Furthermore, if any parts of the wall look warped or feel damp, you should definitely have your house checked for mold.

3. You’re not feeling well

High amounts of mold spores in the air can make you feel constantly tired or like you have a cold. They can also aggravate respiratory conditions such as asthma and allergies. To make matters worse, children who live in moldy homes are at an increased risk of developing asthma later in life.

What should I do if my house has suffered extensive mold damage in San Diego?

Mold can appear in any home or office regardless of whether it’s located on Shelter Island or in Downtown San Diego. If not dealt with immediately, a mold infestation can cause property damages, severely reduce indoor air quality, and negatively impact the occupants’ health. 

This is where Risk Free Serv comes in. We’re a locally owned and operated remediation company that specializes in mold, water, fire, and smoke restoration and remediation. Call us today and take full advantage of our high-performance equipment and our fair and ethical pricing system.