Residential Plumbing Blog

Are Chemical Drain Cleaners Dangerous?

August 2, 2022 By Action Plumbing

are chemical draining cleaners dangerous action plumbing

The short answer is yes, chemical drain cleaners are dangerous to use in your plumbing system. Chemical drain cleaner is poison to the human body and doesn’t always work.

Here Is Why Chemical Drain Cleaners Are Dangerous:

Chemical Drain Cleaning Liquid Is Poison To The Human Body

Using pipe cleaning chemicals can mess up your human. When you use a liquid pipe cleaner, these chemicals go through and interline all the pipes that carry your shower and sink water.

The smell of these “cleaning” chemicals alone causes nausea, coughing, and light-headedness. Some of these cleaning liquids have caused rashes and other skin conditions. You don’t want your kids or pets messing around with this stuff.

Chemical Drain Cleaning Liquid Often Does Not Work

Not only are these synthetic cleaning chemicals poison, but they don’t always de-clog the drain. There are many reasons why your pipes might not be working correctly. Dumping posions down and around your sink and shower is not the answer. Don’t assume it’s just a drain clog. Get advice from a professional.

If you have a clogging or plumbing issue, then call a local plumber with quick service that you can trust. If you’re in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or Delaware areas, call 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.

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!

Locate Mold and Mildew At Home

September 24, 2021 By Action Plumbing

locate mold and mildew at home Mold and mildew can set in at any time, even with the constant upkeep of your home. Somehow, it can still find a way to target moisture and take its course. Bathrooms and basements are particular targets for this reason. Before we get into ways to find mold and mildew, let’s get into the differences between the two.

What’s the Difference Between Mold and Mildew

In order to spot a problem area in your home, you first need to know what it is you should be looking for. Mold is typically green, brown, or black, and can grow rather quickly, often having a fuzzy appearance. Mildew is normally gray or white in color and develops into thin layers often resembling powder. Both mold and mildew should be cleared away to prevent future growth that may potentially cause additional problems.

Are Mold and Mildew Dangerous?

Both can be dangerous depending on the type and amount of mold or mildew you encounter. Most healthy individuals would likely experience minor respiratory issues, while those who already have respiratory issues like asthma run the risk of serious complications.

Many people who have seasonal allergies also have a reaction caused by mold or mildew, experiencing sneezing, coughing, sore throat, runny nose, and more.

How to Find Mold and Mildew?

Be sure to thoroughly investigate all areas of your home and not just those that you would normally consider damp. Luckily, mold and mildew clean up are fairly easy. By using a little bit of elbow grease and diluted bleach, a soft-bristled scrub brush will usually do the trick.

Remember, although it’s common to find slight mold or mildew in damp areas (like a poorly ventilated shower), mold or mildew found in parts of your home that aren’t normally damp is often the sign of serious trouble. Whether it be a leaking pipe or a rainwater seepage, an unexpected plumbing issue is often the source of mold or mildew build-up.

If you’re finding mold or mildew caused by an underlying issue, contact Action Plumbing today to find out more about how we can help you get your problem resolved quickly. Don’t ignore the signs of a serious problem. Action Plumbing is ready to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!