Commercial Plumbing Blog | Action Plumbing

How To: Home Waterline Management

April 19, 2022 By Action Plumbing

home waterline maintenance Remember the last time you saw your local water department working on fire hydrants in your neighborhood in order to flush water lines? Although this gushing, brown, flood of water may seem incredibly wasteful, in reality, it is an important routine activity necessary for maintaining the integrity of your community water system.

Generally speaking, degraded water quality is often the direct result of stagnant water which has collected in lesser-used parts of the distribution system, which is made up of a complex network of storage reservoirs and pipes. Over time, deposits and sediments can accumulate, and contribute to water quality deterioration, discoloration, odor, and taste problems if not removed.

Whenever you see your local water department or fire department flushing hydrants, there are a few things you need to be aware of in regards to your home tap water:

If you turn on your tap water and it is discolored and/or contains sediment, turn it off immediately and wait a few minutes before turning it on again.
Once you turn the water on again, allow it to run for several minutes so you can evaluate if it is completely clear. Be sure to let cold water run for a bit, giving the new water time to work its way through the pipes.
If the water is still unclear, turn it off and wait a few more minutes before trying again
You may notice slight discoloration for a few hours after flushing, but this discoloration does not affect the quality or the taste of your tap water.

Now that you understand the steps to making sure you’re tap water is drinkable after a community flushing, you should also know that this type of routine maintenance is important for your home as well. To ensure the quality of the water inside your home is excellent, your home’s water heater should be drained and flushed on a regular basis. This will help to keep it working efficiently and save you on costly repairs.

We typically advise that you follow the manufacturer’s recommendations on often your home water heater should be drained and flushed. If you have any questions regarding community hydrant flushing or are in need of assistance with flushing and draining your home heating system, contact Action Plumbing today.

When Should You Replace Your Hot Water Heater?

March 18, 2022 By Action Plumbing

when to replace your water heater If you’re wondering when to replace your hot water heater, you’re not alone. Many people who use hot water heaters in their homes are unsure about the proper upkeep, especially when it comes to replacing a unit altogether.

There are, of course, signs that your hot water heater is performing well, including:

water in your home that just isn’t as hot as you’d like it to be
leakage
strange, unexplained hissing sounds

Chances are good that a simple repair may be in order to solve any of the above-mentioned issues. For example, if you have a leaky pressure valve, replacing the valve may be the only solution you need. Another good is example is leaky water supply pipes. This fix may be as easy as tightening the fittings or replacing only the fittings if need be.

On the other hand, some issues you’re experiencing may not be fixed so easily and you may require a new unit to be installed. If you’re thinking of doing your own installation, there are few things you should consider before taking on the job yourself, like:

Are you generally handy around the house, and do you have the knowledge and patience to complete the job correctly?
Do you have the time to install a new water heating unit? Remember that while the removal of the old unit and the addition of the new unit is taking place, there will be no hot water available for anyone in your home.
Are you physically capable of moving both the old and new units? Water heaters can be particularly heavy and you should not attempt to pick one up if you experience any back issues or generally have difficulty lifting.
Do you have the correct tools for installing a water heater? If you’ve done plumbing work in the past, chances are you have many of the tools readily available. Tools for a water heater installation typically include a wrench, a pair of pliers, a hacksaw, some screwdrivers, and possibly a propane torch if you are working with copper pipes.

Another point to consider is that in order to connect the existing pipes to your new water heater, you may need to add threading to their ends. If your pipes are constructed with PVC, you’ll need to do solvent welding in order to connect them, and if they’re made out of copper, you’ll need to solder the fittings to your copper pipes.

If you have any questions about when to replace your hot water heater and would like guidance, contact Action Plumbing today to find out more about our expert plumbing services. We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Tips To Get Your Business Spring-Ready

January 18, 2022 By Action Plumbing

spring-cleaning-action-plumbing Spring is getting closer and we’re sure we’re all looking forward to it. As you go about making your to-do list to prep for spring cleaning, don’t forget to add some quick plumbing maintenance tasks to it. Here are some helpful tips to make sure your business is ready for the upcoming season.

Make sure you pay special attention to your wet areas including your kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room. You want to be sure that no leaks or other problems came up over winter.
Clear out debris from your gutters, downspouts, and drains so they’re ready or spring rainfall.
While you’re at it, also look out for bird nests, leaves, or sticks that may be clogging up your vents or pipes.
A very important task is to make sure your sump pump is in good shape. To test it out, pour a couple of buckets of water into your sump pit to make sure it turns on and off when it’s supposed. This will keep your plumbing system safe.

Also be sure to:

Prevent water supply valves under your sinks from sticking by turning them on and off a few times.
Unclog your drains lacking strainers to make sure they don’t have any soap, hair, or other debris blocking them.
Remove built-up mineral deposits from your showerheads. To do so, soak your showerhead in vinegar overnight. Then use an old toothbrush to scrub away any leftover residue.
Remove corrosion-causing sediment by draining a few gallons from your water heater tank. Visit the water heater manufacturer’s site for instructions specific to your make and model.
If you don’t already have one, install a flood alarm to warn you in the event that you have flooding. It will sound off when it comes in contact with the water.

If you have any questions about how t get started on our spring plumbing tips or are in need of any assistance with the tasks listed, don’t hesitate to contact Action Plumbing today.

Frozen Pipe Prevention

December 20, 2021 By Action Plumbing

We’re in the heart of the colder season. With inclement weather and cooler temperatures, it’s important to make sure your home is ready to withstand whatever Mother Nature throws your way. One way to do this is to make your pipes don’t freeze. Here are some tips on how to prevent that from happening at your home or business:

Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage;
Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing;
When the weather is extremely cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by expose pipes. Running water through the pipe helps prevent freezing;
Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night;
If you are going to be away during cold weather, leave the heat on and set to a temperature no lower than 55 degrees.

If your pipes are indeed frozen, we suggest:

Keep the faucet open — running water through the pipe will help melt ice.
Apply heat to the section of pipe using an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, an electric hair dryer, a portable space heater (kept away from flammable materials), or by wrapping pipes with towels soaked in hot water.
If you are unable to locate the frozen area if the frozen area is not accessible, or if you can not thaw the pipe, call Action Plumbing, Inc.
If you cannot thaw the frozen pipe – do not let too much time pass, because a frozen pipe may turn into a broken pipe and can cause property damage.

If you have frozen pipes at your home or business, the quicker you reach out to Action Plumbing, the quicker we can fix the situation. Contact us today!

The Reasons For Noisy Pipes

November 18, 2021 By Action Plumbing

reasons for noisy pipes action plumbing Do you ever hear loud or even subtle clanking and creaking at your office or home? If so, it’s more than likely a sign that something is going on with your plumbing. Before you take action, you’ll probably want to know the reason for your pipes making noise.

Sounds Such As Banging or Clanking

This noise seems like lots of racket, but often it indicates that your pipes are loose. As you can see, this is quite common in buildings (especially older ones).

These pipes flex when the flow of water comes to a halt. After that, it causes some rattling. Fortunately, are relatively easy to fix with the help of an experienced plumber.

Tick-Tock

We’re not talking about the app here. If you’ve got a tick-tock sound, trying to track down where that noise is coming from can often be infuriating. Luckily, the ticking sound is usually just your water meter reverberating through your building’s pipes. This happens often if it’s located near your foundation. Additionally, you’re more likely to hear this noise when the water is on. However, if you don’t hear it, there’s not much you can do to avoid it.

Drip-Drop

Dripping can be a clue to more serious concerns that may have otherwise alluded you. Although many times a drip is coming from something as simple to fix as a leaky faucet, other areas that should be inspected very closely include your water heaters, refrigerator, and especially the inside of your walls. It is imperative that you locate the cause of your leak and have it addressed by someone who knows how to fix it correctly so you can avoid any future damage.

Whether your pipes are dripping, ticking, or banging, it’s important to remember that these little annoyances can sometimes be warning signs which should not be ignored. If you’re asking yourself “why are my pipes making noise” or are unsure about whether or not your noisy pipes are the sign of something more serious, contact one of our Action Plumbing experts today.