A clogged drain can happen in the home or commercial properties like restaurants. It happens often and for many reasons. Read more here about the items that can cause a clogged drain.

A clogged drain shows up in multiple ways (smelly drain, water beneath the toilet), but the primary sign is water draining slowly in the sink, bathtub or shower. How do you fix a clogged drain? How do you know if you need a cleaning or CLEARING? What’s the difference between the two? Let us explain.

Drain clearing involves the removal of clogs that are obstructing water flow. These clogs may include hair, soap scum, food particles and other debris. Drain clearing, also known as drain unclogging, is an easy fix to this problem. You either take on this task as a do-it-yourself project or call a plumber to just get the water down.

Plumbers who offer this service usually “poke a hole” in the blockage instead of cleaning it. The problem doesn’t go away, but it gets the job done temporarily, so other options such as drain cleaning, drain repair, or hydro jetting can be discussed.

Drain cleaning involves a more thorough cleaning of your entire drainage system. This includes removing built-up residue and debris from the walls of your pipes, as well as flushing out any remaining clog-causing materials.

If you have had a drain cleaning and the clogged drain persists, hydro jetting is the next step in getting rid of those stubborn clogs and preventing more from occurring. Hydro jetting involves using high-pressure water streams to dislodge and remove any blockages or debris from the inside of the drain or pipe. works by creating a high-pressure water stream that is directed through a special nozzle into the drain or pipe. The pressure of the water can range from 3,000 to 8,000 pounds per square inch (psi), which is strong enough to break down and remove any clogs or buildup. Hydro jetting is environmentally friendly, reaches farther into the plumbing system to promote a through clean, and prevents future clogs.

L.D. Smith Plumbing’s hydro jetting service includes the latest equipment to remove debris as stubborn as tree roots up to two inches thick. Watch the video below to learn more about our services.

https://vimeo.com/763252383

L.D. Smith Plumbing has been named to the winning list of Nextdoor’s 2023 Neighborhood Faves, the only annual awards where neighbors vote to celebrate their favorite local businesses. This year, Neighborhood Fave winners like L.D. Smith Plumbing will receive greater visibility and ranking on the Nextdoor app as well as a sticker to showcase their win in the real world.

“Neighbors know best, and Nextdoor’s Neighborhood Faves are the only annual awards celebrating the businesses that are most loved by locals. This prestigious recognition is only awarded to 1% of the local businesses on Nextdoor and is a testament to the positive impact they have had on their community,” said Nextdoor CEO Sarah Friar.

Used by one in three households in the U.S., Nextdoor is the neighborhood network where verified neighbors and businesses connect to the neighborhoods that matter to them.

"Customer feedback is critical to our business, so we are honored to be voted a favorite local business on Nextdoor," said Lance Smith, owner, L.D. Smith Plumbing. "We had a record-setting second quarter this year and we know that success is because of the support of our customers. We value their business and are committed to always providing the exceptional service they have come to expect from L.D. Smith Plumbing."

The complete list of winning businesses in each city is available at nextdoor.com/favorites. Join the neighborhood network by downloading the Nextdoor app or visiting nextdoor.com.

How did Lance Smith begin his journey to own of the top plumbing companies in Indianapolis? On a recent podcast "Default Profitable," he discussed his beginnings as a plumber and how he started L.D. Smith Plumbing.

The Default Podcast is a resource and community of support for small business owners to gain insights, avoid common pitfalls, and stay informed about industry trends.

Listen to the full interview here. https://defaultprofitable.podbean.com/e/ep-01-lance-smith-ld-smith-plumbing/

Lance Smith, owner of L.D. Smith Plumbing, is featured in the recent newsletter for Greater Indianapolis Plumbing Heating and Cooling Contractors (GIPHCC). Lance is a member of the GIPHCC Board of Directors.

His profile in the GIPHCC newsletter highlights his journey to becoming a plumber and owning his own company.

"(Lance's) first plumbing role was in new construction. Lance enjoyed the work but wanted to get into the service side. He worked for a service company for two years and decided to branch out on his own," the article states. "He started on his own, like many others, out of his garage and quickly grew into the multi-employee company he has today."

The article also highlights Lance's passion for barefoot water skiing, especially on the White River near his home. "If you see anyone boating or kayaking down the river or being pulled without skis, odds are it's Lance enjoying his time away from work."

Read the full article here.

A recent article in USA today highlights the danger of a popular method used in trenchless sewer repair – Cured-in-place pipe lining, also known as CIPP.  The article reports numerous people have gotten sick from the fumes.

Cured-in-place pipe lining is a trenchless method of sewer line repair.  This process has gained popularity because it is less invasive,  often less expensive, and completed faster than other sewer repair methods. The process inserting a liner inside an existing pipe that is then inflated and heated to harden. This curing process in essence creates a new lined pipe inside of the old one.  While it does usually seal off any holes or cracks, it does not eliminate any bellies or large offsets like conventional replacement or trenchless does.

The article cites “noxious fumes created during the process can escape the job site and sicken people in their homes, schools and businesses.”

There are several alternatives to CIPP, here are some of the options:

Traditional excavation and replacement involves excavating and removing the damaged pipe and replacing it with a new pipe. While it can be more invasive and disruptive compared to CIPP, it allows for complete inspection, repair, and replacement of the damaged pipe. It may be necessary when the existing pipe is severely damaged, has a "belly" in it, or has collapsed, and CIPP is not a viable option.

Pipe bursting can be an effective alternative to excavation and replacement, as it allows for the installation of a new pipe without complete excavation. However, it requires access points at both ends of the pipe and may not be suitable for all types of pipe damage or configurations.

Questions or concerns about a recent trenchless sewer repair that involved cured-in-place lining? Contact L.D. Smith Plumbing.

Another year is coming to a close – and it has been amazing thanks to you, our wonderful customers.  Whether you have been loyal to us for years or decided to give us a try this year, I would like to personally thank you for your support. We are a local company with deep roots in Indianapolis and are proud to provide quality, honest plumbing services.

I would also like to thank our awesome staff for their hard work this year serving customers as well as participating in ongoing training. Their contributions are among the reasons for our consistent growth in metro Indianapolis. As a reward to our staff for their hard work, our office will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day to allow our staff to rest and spend time with their families.  There will be no emergency services on these days.

As we embark on the next few weeks of holiday celebrations, please take a moment to know the location of the water shutoff valve in your home in case of a water emergency. If you need assistance locating your water shutoff valve, please call our office.

Again, thank you for choosing water’s boss to keep water in place in your home or business.

Happy holidays!

Lance Smith
Owner, L.D. Smith Plumbing

 

 

When buying a home, we often consider location, style, and yard size, but what about plumbing? The last thing any homeowner wants is to purchase a home and find out later that thousands of dollars in repairs are needed to fix plumbing issues. This is especially important when shopping for an older home. Having a licensed plumber inspect the home prior to purchase could help with decision-making if you are struggling between multiple choices and empower you in negotiations as you finalize an offer.

Lance Smith, owner of L.D. Smith Plumbing, explains more about the value of a plumbing inspection before signing on the dotted line to buy a new home.

Are you looking to buy a new home in Indianapolis? Request an appointment with L.D. Smith Plumbing to inspect plumbing in your potential new home

Most homeowners will experience a clogged drain. There's just no way around it. Some simple fixes could address the issue. Often a licensed plumber is needed for a permanent solution. Lance Smith, owner of L.D. Smith Plumbing, explained some of the reasons why drains get clogged during a recent visit to Life.Style.Live! He also detailed how plumbers attack the problem. Watch here.

Call us today to request an appointment to clear your main drain for $83. Guaranteed to work or it's free.