Commercial Plumbing Blog

How To Maintain Your Garbage Disposal

July 27, 2022 By Action Plumbing

You will save money by maintaining your garbage disposal. Do not insert any blade or motor-damaging items into your disposal system.

Garbage disposals are primarily for soft food waste and skin/peels.

If you can’t put something in the disposal system, throw it in the regular household trash bin or garbage can.

Some food waste, like coffee grounds, is bad for your disposal but great for a home-managed compost pile.

Do Not Put These Items In Your Garbage Disposal:

Glass (broken shards, etc.)

The glass will jack up your disposal’s blades. Dull blades mean your garbage disposal won’t work and now you’re calling us.

Bones (chicken, steak, fish, seafood, etc.,)

Bones are damaging to the disposal system’s blades and motor. Garbage disposals can break down hard materials sometimes, but doing so long-term dulls the blade and wears out the motor.

Hard Metals And Materials

Sticking a hard piece of metal like a spoon in your garbage disposal will blow out your system’s motor and damage the blades. Make sure you check your disposal for any metal tools (like a fork or spoon). before turning it on and running the system.

Coffee Grounds

Putting coffee grounds through your garbage disposal will both clog your drains, and damage your system’s blades and motor. Once the grounds are in and around your garbage disposal, they turn into a clogging muck.

Fats, Oils, Grease (FOG)

These FOG materials go down your disposal as a liquid but then solidify once down the drain, clogging your pipes. Your Garbage Disposal cannot fix the drain clog and now you have a plumbing issue.

The goal is to keep your garbage disposal system sharp and powerful for a long time. Doing so means you save money and do not have to pay for repairs. Only put soft, hand-mashable waste in your garbage disposal.

If you have a broken garbage disposal or plumbing problem in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or Delaware areas, make an appointment with Action Plumbing. We will fix your plumbing and disposal issues.

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.

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.

Planning Ahead Can Prevent Frozen Pipes

October 13, 2021 By Action Plumbing

frozen pipes prevention action plumbing Colder temperatures are around the corner. It’s never too early to plan ahead for the trouble that comes with that. Make sure you take precautions to get your business or home ready to withstand the cold. Avoiding frozen pipes should be number one on your list of preparation items.

Not all frozen pipe situations lead to disaster, but why take the chance? Use these tips to plan ahead to prevent your pipes from freezing:

Locate Your Pipes

In order to ensure your pipes are protected you need to know exactly where they’re located. While a pipe may be well insulated in one area of your business, there’s a good possibility that it’s exposed to freezing temperatures in another. If you’re unsure about how your plumbing system is laid out, Action Plumbing can work with you to complete an audit of your plumbing system.

Insulate

Once you have a better idea of where your at-risk pipes can be found, you need to make sure they are protected with insulation. While a newspaper can sometimes be adequate for pipes found in a cold basement, others at greater risk should be insulated with foam tube or heated tape.

Let It Run

If the temperatures have already plummeted and you’re concerned, allowing the water to run even slightly can prevent pipes from freezing. Although it’s true you’ll be wasting water, it’s better than facing the alternative.

Let in the Heat

On particularly cold nights it’s a good idea to open the cabinets or drawers under your sink. This will allow the heat from your business to enter in order to prevent your pipes from freezing.

Find the Main Shut-Off

If you are faced with damaged or leaking pipes, it’s important that you know how to shut off the main water supply in order to prevent serious flooding. And remember, Action Plumbing is available 24 hrs a day 7 days a week in the event you have an emergency and need assistance.

6 Common Commercial Plumbing Problems and How to Avoid Them

August 23, 2021 By Action Plumbing

Don’t let common commercial plumbing problems get in the way of your business. Owning your own business is extremely rewarding for many entrepreneurs, especially when your hard work pays off. But along with success also comes the complications of running the day-to-day operations, which is normally a massive responsibility. You need everything to be working as efficiently as possible, but when unexpected commercial plumbing problems strike, they can leave you feeling hopeless and overwhelmed.

The good news is that you can help prevent 7 common commercial plumbing problems if you know what to look for and what to expect.

Toilet Clogs

If you offer public restroom facilities to your customers, this issue is definitely at the top of the list. Unfortunately, not all patrons treat public bathrooms the way they should be treated. Most public restrooms are built to withstand heavier usage compared to residential restrooms, but never-the-less, toilet clogs can still be a problem.

To avoid serious toilet clogs, be sure to have members of your team cleaning your public restrooms regularly. A small clog is easy to fix on your own with a plunger, but if it’s left unattended it can quickly turn into a large clog that requires the help of a commercial plumber like Action Plumbing to snake the drain.

Faucet Leaks

Although a faucet leak may seem like a minor commercial plumbing problem, it can lead to serious problems down the road if it isn’t addressed. Not only do leaks leave standing water which can seriously damage your property, but they can also cost your business thousands of dollars a year in water bills.

If you or a staff member notice even a small leak and you can’t eliminate it, reaching out to a professional service like Action Plumbing can save you a lot of money in the long run by protecting you from structural damage and astronomical water bills.

Broken Fixtures

One of the most common issues with bathrooms is broken toilet handles, as many businesses still have older restroom fixtures that aren’t very reliable. It is very common for a toilet handle to break after a particular number of flushes depending on the manufacturer. Broken fixtures lead to clogs because patrons don’t have the ability to flush as needed. And as you know, small clogs lead to bigger clogs that require professional assistance.

In order to avoid the slippery slope of broken handles and clogs, many business owners choose to invest in hands-free systems which are designed to be more durable and longer-lasting than manual toilet handles.

Drain Clogs

Drain clogs are often an issue in restrooms with heavy foot traffic, and although they may also seem like a minor inconvenience, these drain clogs can result in pipe blockages. Not only can this cause damaging bathroom flooding and pipe damage, it’s also a significant inconvenience for your patrons.

Checking restrooms regularly for any signs of clogged drains (like lingering debris or paper towels) can be one of the easiest ways to keep your sinks clog-free.

Odors

An unpleasant smell is usually a sign of a serious underlying problem, which can likely involve a sewer blockage. If you’ve cleaned your facilities thoroughly and are still experiencing sewer odors, you should contact a commercial plumbing professional like Action Plumbing to determine where the blockage is and get it fixed as soon as possible.

Temperature Issues

Hot water on demand is important for all commercial businesses, and if you experience a sudden shortage of hot water, your hot water heater is often part of the problem.

Action Plumbing offers hot water heater inspection services to determine the cause of your hot water heater malfunction so you can keep the hot water flowing in your business when you need it.

Do you have any other commercial plumbing problems not listed above? Contact us today to find out what Action Plumbing can do to make sure your plumbing issues are solved quickly and efficiently so you are always open and ready for business!