Commercial Plumbing Blog

Plumbing Myths Debunked

March 17, 2016 By Action Plumbing

Many homeowners struggle to find reliable plumbing information online, and there’s a lot of misinformation floating around on the internet. By following this bad advice, you can end up in a worse situation that will increase your bill and delay your repair. In order to avoid potential plumbing pitfalls, here are some common plumbing myths debunked to save you energy and aggravation.

Hand soap cleans plumbing fixtures – FALSE

Your home has a wide variety of plumbing features, and there is an appropriate way to clean every fixture. For example, you should only be cleaning your toilet bowl with a good disinfectant that will sanitize the area properly while killing germs and preventing infections. Other fixtures are more delicate, like those made out of brass which should only be cleaned with a solution that provides gentle exfoliation such as baking soda.

I can put anything down my garbage disposal as long as the water is running – FALSE

Running water down the drain while using your garbage disposal does NOT magically prevent clogs. Frankly, there are many things that don’t belong in your garbage disposal, and no amount of water is going to change that. Foods that are likely to cause damage to your disposal include banana peels, eggshells, and other bulky foods that are difficult to breakdown.

If my disposal is still running, everything is fine – FALSE

You can have a clog in your drain even though food items are still going down it. If you think your disposal is running slower than usual, chances are very good that you may have a hidden blockage or a developing clog. You should stop running your disposal immediately and have the clog addressed before it causes serious damage.

A lemon rind will clean my disposal – FALSE

Your disposal won’t really be clean after devouring a lemon rind (although it may smell a bit better). You should only use a cleanser with a gentle brush to clean the unit after you make sure that it is disconnected from the power source. Always remember that safety is your first priority and to take extra care to ensure your disposal is handled carefully before, during, and after cleaning.

Keeping these helpful tips in mind will help you to avoid unnecessary home plumbing problems, and keep your plumbing know-how on the right track. If you have any questions about your plumbing contact one of our qualified experts today for assistance, and please feel free to leave any common plumbing myths you’ve experienced in the comments below.

The Benefits of Camera Sewer Inspections

February 22, 2016 By Action Plumbing

benefits of camera sewer inspections Tough to find blockages in your sewer can not only cause you a lot of unexpected issues … they can be a real headache for a do-it-yourself plumber. You know there must be a problem with your plumbing when all the usual signs are presented, like gurgling, knocking, or back-ups. Still you press on, insisting that you’ll eventually find the blockage, until you eventually break down and hire a professional who has the ability to locate your blockage with the use of professional equipment like a camera.

When is Camera Sewer Inspection Necessary?

If traditional blockage detection doesn’t work, professional plumbers will use a camera to pinpoint the exact location of the problem and find the most efficient and strategic way to resolve the issue. This is incredibly important to you, the property owner, for several reasons:

camera sewer inspection saves you time
camera sewer inspection saves you aggravation
camera sewer inspection saves you money in the long run

What’s Involved with a Camera Sewer Inspection?

Basically, it is an inspection utilizing a brightly lit snake with a very small camera attached to its head. Action Plumbing’s expert technicians carefully maneuver the snake through your pipes until they are able to locate the hard to find blockage. Because the snake is incredibly flexible, our team can easily maneuver around the many twists and bends of your system to find even the smallest items or valuables, including lost jewelry.

If you or someone you know is having difficulty locating a blockage, contact Action Plumbing today to speak with one of our qualified representatives to find out more about how camera sewer inspection can help solve your problem fast.

Why You Should Winterize Your Irrigation System

October 6, 2015 By Action Plumbing

winterizing your irrigation system There are numerous reasons why you should winterize your irrigation system, but by far the most important one is that you will avoid damaging your very useful investment.

There are 3 different types of successful irrigation techniques:

Manual Drain Valve Method Requirements

You must have a properly designed irrigation system in order for this particular method to work properly, which means the valve should be installed at the lowest point of the system’s mainline. If you have a system with numerous low draining points, then several manual drain valves should be installed to ensure you are achieving maximum drainage.

It is also very important that your piping is sloped so that it is able to drain completely. Be aware if your valve happens to be located indoors, you should be able to drain an adequate amount of water without fear of overflow or flooding.

Automatic Drain Valve Method

The automatic drain valve is pretty self-explanatory… basically, every time the system shuts off, the valve opens on drains all the water from the pipes. The automatic valves should be installed at the lowest point of the sprinkler lines, below the sprinkler control valves, and at the lowest point of the sprinkler lines.

Compressed Air Blow-Out Method

The compressed air blow-out method typically involves extra care, and we recommend that it is attempted by professionals only. In this method, water is cleared from the mainline pipe, the sprinkler control valves, the lateral pipes, and sprinkler head using compressed air.

If you are unsure which method is best for winterizing your irrigation system, it is important that you speak to a professional who can guide you in the right direction and help you get the job done right. For more information on winterizing your irrigation system, contact Action Plumbing today.

Trenchless Sewer Pipe Replacement

September 22, 2015 By Action Plumbing

Thanks to numerous advancements in technology over recent years, there are now less invasive methods of replacing sewer pipes for both residential and commercial projects. This technology, commonly referred to as trenchless sewer pipe replacement, involves replacing old worn out sewer pipes with new pipes with minimal surface disruption.

What does this mean to you? Trenchless sewer pipe replacement is typically a simple process that leaves your lawn, street, driveway, or sidewalk intact. This is a tremendous benefit for the home or business owner that desires as little disruption as possible to property lying above sewer pipes that need replacement.

How Does Trenchless Sewer Pipe Replacement Work?

This particular method of pipe replacement involves pulling the new pipe to be installed directly through the old or damaged pipe. The new pipe is pulled behind a what’s called a breaking head, which is a device that clears the channel ahead for the new pipe, even when the old pipe is collapsed. There is typically a machine used to pull the breaking head, which is normally lowered into the ground through a singular pit that acts as the point of access for the procedure. The pulling machine then glides the breaking head to its final destination.

Once we determine where the line will begin and end, two small cavities are dug into the ground as deep as necessary for job completion. The first cavity is the entry pit, and the second is the pulling pit where the pulling machine is located, ready to pull the breaking head at a speed of approximately 2-4 feet for an hour.

Other extremely common names you may have heard for a trenchless sewer pipe replacement are pipe breaking, trenchless technology, trenchless pipe rehabilitation, and no-dig pipe replacement. No matter what name the procedure goes by, the benefits are clear … trenchless sewer pipe replacement is an effective and efficient solution for replacing damaged or sewer pipes are on your property.

Action Plumbing has successfully completed numerous trenchless sewer pipe replacement projects for both residential and commercial properties. Our experts are experienced and ready to tackle your sewer pipe replacement job while providing you with top-notch plumbing services utilizing trenchless sewer pipe replacement technology. For more information on how Action Plumbing can help you with your sewer pipe replacement project, contact us today.

Cleaning Storm Drains

September 16, 2015 By Action Plumbing

cleaning storm drains There are many things to consider when it comes to maintaining an entire municipality, especially when it comes to the management of pollution in your community. One of the most important tasks a municipality faces in regards to pollution prevention is the cleaning of storm drains.

It is imperative to understand why cleaning storm drains regularly is of vital importance. Cleaning storm drains systematically will reduce the number of pollutants that can block your community drainage system and limit debris and trash from filtering into receiving waters.

There are certain areas that should receive special attention, particularly if they are in low lying neighborhoods. These flat grounds often don’t have a fast influx of water to naturally flush the drainage system, and can easily get backed up with some common pollutants that include:

oil
trash
grease
debris
detergents
antifreeze
sediments
animal waste
pesticides and other chemicals

In addition to excessive pollution, the water overflow created by storm drain blockages can also cause land erosion. In order to avoid such issues, municipalities must create a plan for cleaning community storm drains. These plans are also beneficial for new development projects, paved areas, waterways, vegetated areas, and many more.

If you would like more information about storm drain cleanings or need assistance in creating a storm drain cleaning plan for your township, municipality, or new development project, contact Action Plumbing today.