David Balkan
Professional Plumber & CEO of Balkan Sewer & Water Main
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Co-authored Articles (71)
How to
Construct a Small Septic System
Most private septic systems are made up of two parts: the holding and digesting tanks, and the dispersal field. As the first holding tank fills up, the liquid waste will transfer to the second tank. Once the second tank ...
How to
Measure Pipe Size
Measuring pipe size can be a little confusing at first, but anyone can learn how to do it. To find the right size, first figure out if you need to measure the outside or inside diameter, then measure it with a ruler or t...
How to
Fix a Leaky Sink Drain Pipe
It’s always such a pain when you discover a leaky or broken pipe on your sink’s drain. When you find a leak, it usually means your pipes are loose, damaged, or worn out. Luckily, repairing your drain and pipes are r...
How to Remove Every Kind of Hose Clamp (Spring, Pinch, Washing Machine, and More)
Hose clamps are used for connecting many types of tubing and come in a variety of styles. Whether you need to disconnect a hose in your boat engine or replace the hose clamp on your washing machine’s drain hose, the pr...
How to Install a French Drain System in Your Yard
Tools, materials, zoning laws, oh my! Everything you need to know about laying drainage pipes Are you finding water pooling on your lawn? Or maybe there’s a bit too much moisture for comfort around your home’s founda...
How to
Detect Water Leaks in Walls
While many water leaks are caused by defective plumbing, leaks can also come from rainwater draining down inside the walls or from a cracked and leaky foundation. Long-term leaks can cause structural damage within your w...
How to
Determine a Faucet Brand
Whether your faucet was there when you moved in or you picked it out and installed it yourself, you may not know or remember its brand. This hardly seems like a big deal until your faucet has issues and you aren’t sure...
How to
Remove a Kitchen Sink Drain
If you hear a “drip, drip” from underneath the kitchen sink when it’s full of dirty dishes and water, there’s a good chance you have a leaky sink drain (often called a sink strainer). The sink strainer is the met...
A Complete Guide to Fix a Leaking or Dripping Tub Faucet
Learn how to take apart and diagnose the cause of your leak ''Drip. Drip. Drip.'' If you want to stop that annoying leaking tub faucet and prevent a higher water bill, you can repair it even if you don’t have any plumb...
How to
Install a Kitchen Sink Drain
If your kitchen sink drain is corroded and leaking, installing a new basket strainer is an easy way to solve the problem. Start by adding plumber’s putty to the underside of the basket strainer and fit it into the drai...
How to Fix a Toilet Tank Leak
Quick fixes for your leaky toilet tank so you can stop wasting water A leaky toilet tank may cause some serious concern when you first discover the problem, but this is almost certainly going to be an easy problem to fix...
How to Remove and Replace a Toilet Tank
Upgrading a cracked, broken, or outdated toilet reservoir If your toilet is cracked, leaking, or just outdated, it may be time to replace the toilet tank. Toilet tanks are sold separately from the bowls, so you can get a...
How to
Unclog a Main Sewer Line Without a Snake
Having a clogged sewer line is a frustrating problem for homeowners. Fortunately, you might be able to fix the smelly situation without hiring an expensive plumbing service or using a snake. Once you take the necessary p...
How to
Install a Septic System
Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (POWTS), more commonly referred to as septic systems, are used primarily in rural areas of the country where waste water treatment is not available. These systems fall into two...
How to
Clean a P‐Trap or U‐Bend
Is your bathroom sink blocked, clogged, or not draining properly? The usual case is a blocked U-shaped pipe, commonly known as a P-trap. Clearing one of these plumbing fixtures is easy, and you do not have to be an exper...
How to Thaw a Frozen Pipe
Prevent damage to your home’s piping with this straightforward guide If you turn your faucet on during winter and nothing comes out, you’ve probably got a frozen pipe. Water can freeze in your home’s pipes due to f...
How to
Use a Chemical Drain Cleaner
When mechanical methods fail, many people use chemical drain cleaners to unblock a clogged or slowly flowing drain. While these products are useful in both opening drains and removing buildup, they can be harmful if misu...
How to Plunge a Kitchen or Bathroom Sink: Tips from a Pro Plumber
Plus, what to do for stubborn, un-plungeable clogs and blockagesWhen you have a clogged or slow-running drain, plunging should be your first course of action. Plunging creates pressure that forces a clog to move, allowin...
How to Fix Water Hammer Noises
Solve problems with a water hammer arrestor on a washing machine, and other pipe issuesIf your pipes bang and clang loudly when you turn on a tap, you might have a problem with water hammer.. 30 March 2021. Water hammer ...
How to Unclog an Exterior Drain Pipe
Skip the plumber and save yourself some money by clearing your exterior drain yourself Notice an odd smell coming from a drain? Water pooling up around an outdoor drain after a heavy storm? Unfortunately, you probably ha...
