Residential Plumbing Blog

Spring Plumbing Tips

April 18, 2016 By Action Plumbing

Now that the flowers are finally blooming, it’s time to get into Spring cleaning mode. This includes making sure your home or business’s plumbing system is order, and Action Plumbing has great advice to keep everything running smoothly. Here are a few Spring plumbing tips to consider:

Outdoor Plumbing

Investigate your gutters to make sure they are clear of debris and check for bird nests that may have popped up in recent weeks.
Clear drains and downspouts of any dead leaves that me be left over from the fall.
Check all pipes to make sure there isn’t any damage from freezing.
Be sure to replace any pipes that do have cracks before running the water for the first time.

Indoor Plumbing

Check all faucets and pipes in your kitchen a bathrooms for leaks and repair as needed.
Add a few drips of food coloring to the tank of your toilet to help find hidden leaks. If the coloring appears in the toilet bowl with 30 seconds, it’s an indication you may have a problem.
Unscrew your shower head and soak it in vinegar to clean away mineral deposits. Gently scrub with a toothbrush and soak over night if necessary.
Check the water valves located near sinks and toilets to make sure they are operable and in good working order.

General Plumbing

If you’re currently using a sump pump, you can make sure it’s working correctly by pouring a bit of water into the pit. Wait until the pump turns on and discharges the water.
Inspect exposed pipes located anywhere in your home and repair leaks as necessary.
If you commonly experience issues with back ups, install a backflow valve in the floor drain to prevent future problems.

If you have questions about spring plumbing tips or need assistance in any way, contact one of our expert plumbing professionals to find out more about how Action Plumbing can help.

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.

Three Ways to Use Less Water

February 24, 2016 By Action Plumbing

There are several benefits for conserving water in your home including lower bills and helping your environment. Many homeowners are surprised to find out that water conservation can be rather easy if you just make a few basic changes to you and your family’s daily activities. Here are three ways to use less water in your home to get everyone involved with conservation.

Turn Off the Tap

You’re in the bathroom about to brush your teeth. You turn the faucet on and allow the water to run the entire time you’re brushing, even though you really only use to rinse your brush when you’re finished, and perhaps take a quick sip of water for one last rinse. The amount of water wasted during this time may seem incredibly inconsequential, however, consider the thousands of people in your community who also allow the water to run during brushing and how much water would be saved if everyone made an effort to turn off the tap mid-brush. The same can be said for anyone who lets the water run while shaving at the sink.

Avoid Baths

Cleanliness may be next to godliness, however, how you go about your daily routine can make a big difference. Did you know that the average bath uses 3x more water than the typical shower? If you limit your shower to five or six minutes and swap out your shower head for a low flow model, your water savings can be significant.

Fix Your Leaks

If you have a leak somewhere in your home … you’re not alone. As a matter of fact, most homeowners have a leak in their plumbing somewhere. What you may not realize is that a leak can be the biggest culprit of water waste, driving up your water bill more than you’d expect. You’ll get a fast decrease in water usage once you address a pesky leak and reap the financial benefits quickly. It’s important to remember that some leaks can be a lot harder to detect than others (like toilet leaks, for example) so if you suspect you have a leak and are unsure about how to locate it, contact a qualified Action Plumbing expert to help you get to the source of your problem.

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.

Benefits of Thermostatic Shower Heads

January 15, 2016 By Action Plumbing

thermostatic shower Getting exactly the right water temperature for your shower can be a tricky endeavor, and no one likes unpleasant surprises. Whether the water’s too hot or too cold also depends a lot on your personal preferences, which often means turning the shower on for a while to let it run so you can get it “just right” before hopping in.

Approximately 20 percent of all shower water is wasted according to recent studies conducted by the EPA. For an average shower, it normally equates to approximately 4 gallons of wasted water, but you need to remember that it’s not only water that’s being wasted … it’s also the energy needed to heat that water.

There are a lot of different factors involved when determining how long it takes for hot water to get to your shower, including:

your home’s water pressure
how far away your shower is from the hot water heater
the size of your home
the diameter of your home’s pipes

Even considering these variables, you may not realize that the few minutes the water is running pre-shower can actually be very wasteful. Think about how much hot water is going straight down the drain, and how much lower your bill would be if you could adjust your shower temperature more efficiently.

The good news is there’s a device available that will help cut down on your utility costs while also conserving water. It’s called a thermostatic shower head, and it can help you get the perfect temperature in less time.

There are a variety of options available including heat sensing technology that can be added right to your current showerhead or stand-alone shower head units. The general purpose for both is essentially the same. When the water reaches a certain temperature, the flow shuts off, saving both water and heat energy.

If you’d like more information about thermostatic showerheads or assistance with installing a thermostatic shower device, feel free to contact Action Plumbing. Our plumbing experts are happy to assist you and are available 24 hrs. a day, 7 days a week.