Residential Plumbing Blog

The Problem with Bogus “Any Drain $99” Ads

December 30, 2015 By Action Plumbing

any drain $99 Marketing can be a wonderful thing. It allows businesses to communicate offers, services, and other important information to current and potential customers. The problem is, bad marketing makes it increasingly difficult for buyers to recognize bogus deals.

False promises have become commonplace throughout all media channels including online, print, and television. A prevalent example of questionable marketing practice in the plumbing industry is what’s come to be known as “Any Drain $99” ads.

Chances are good that you’ve come across a few of these ads yourself or have even fallen prey to the allure of a home drain cleaning for only $99. But, are these ads really too good to be true?

In a word … yes.

As a matter of fact, there are numerous plumbing companies currently facing some serious accusations by their state attorney generals. After some investigation, these companies aren’t able to produce any invoices that they have provided this service for the advertised price.

Allegedly, companies are offering to clean “any drain for $99,” but after the drains are scoped, they tend to find a “problem,” and then charge their customers’ additional fees.

At Action Plumbing, we believe in providing our customers with excellent service and fair prices. Our expert technicians will always deliver quality drain cleaning you can rely on, and you can always trust that we stand behind our offers and advertisements for drain cleaning and any other service you may need. No gimmicks. No false promises.

So, remember to proceed with extreme caution the next time you see a drain cleaning ad that seems too good to be true because it probably is. Contact Action Plumbing today to find out more information about our drain cleaning services.

How To Get Your Plumbing Ready For Winter 2023

November 17, 2015 By Action Plumbing

prepare your plumbing for winter action plumbing

Failing to plan is planning to fail. If you don’t prepare your indoor and outdoor plumbing systems for winter, big costs and high bills may occur.

Here is how to get your plumbing systems ready for winter 2023 in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware:

Fix All Leaks

Now is the time to find and fix all your leaks, before winter freezes begin. Some leaks are very hard to detect. Our team at Action Plumbing uses special electronic leak detection equipment to discover all leaks.

Contact Action Plumbing to find and fix all your plumbing leaks.

Drain And Insulate Your Hot Water Heater

Draining your hot water heater prevents sediments from building up in the tank. Doing so also stops silt from getting into the pipes you use to drink water from and clean yourself with.

Insulating your hot water heater or using a Hot Water Heater Blanket will lengthen the life of your unit and help you reduce energy costs.

If you’re interested in preparing your house and pipes for winter. Contact Action Plumbing.

The Importance of Water Heater Maintenance

October 13, 2015 By Action Plumbing

You may use your water heater every day, but oftentimes the “out of sight, out of mind” mentality can lead to water heater maintenance neglect. However, understanding the importance of water heater maintenance will likely put your water heater back at the top of your priority list. Here are a few reasons why it’s imperative to take care of your home’s water heater.

Save Money

Everyone likes to save money, and regular water heater maintenance will prevent you from spending extra dough to fix problems that could have been easily avoided if they had been caught early. If your system has stopped creating hot water completely, you likely have a leak that could also be increasing the amount you spend on your water bill every month. That extra money could have been avoided easily if your water heater had a regular check-up.

Improve Efficiency

Your water heater needs regular maintenance just like your car so that it can stay in tip-top shape. We recommend that you schedule a regular servicing at least twice a year, preferably in the spring and again in the fall, especially before the winter season starts.

Eliminate Surprises

There is absolutely nothing worse than enjoying a nice hot shower when unexpectedly, hit with a freezing cold blast. Again, this oh so unpleasant situation can be avoided with regular maintenance.

Setting up regularly scheduled water heater maintenance is easier than ever with the help of an Action Plumbing expert. Give us a call today to find out more information!

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.