Pipes and Drains Archives - Page 3 of 4

How to Clean Your Garbage Disposal

August 14, 2016 By Action Plumbing

Garbage disposals may provide a lot of benefits, with convenience being at the top of the list. There’s no doubt that throwing your food scraps down the drain is better than dumping them in the trash to rot and stink. If you’re like many homeowners, you use your garbage disposal at least once a day. But the question is … how often do you clean it and are you sure you’re cleaning it properly?

Why Clean Your Disposal

Regularly cleaning your garbage disposal will help prevent any nasty odors from wafting out of the drain. It also helps to avoid problems causing clogs and other costly plumbing issues. Believe it or not, the items you decide to put down your disposal can actually help keep the machinery clean. They can also help with the disposal’s upkeep and maintenance.

Acceptable Items to Dispose

Biodegradable foods and tiny scraps
Chicken, fish, and other small bones act as a scrubbing agent for internal parts
Ice cubes also scour the inner disposal
Deodorize and freshen with orange, lemon, or lime peels

Unacceptable Items to Dispose

Absorbent foods like rice or pasta
Beef bones, pork bones, or other large bones
Any items that will clog drains or pipes like eggshells or coffee grounds
Starchy foods like banana peels and potato peels
Grease and fat clogs drains and coats pipes and blades

If you’ve been grinding items deemed acceptable, chances are good that you’ve already been caring for your disposal without even realizing it. The best way to keep a disposal clean is to use it regularly, as unused disposal will often experience odors, clogs, and stubborn build-up.

In the event that you do have a minor clog, clearing it yourself is often easy enough. By just turning the blades using a small wrench, you can manually rotate the internal gears safely from the outside. Never use any type of chemical cleaners and only attempt to remove visible clogs by manually turning the blades or using a long pair of pliers. NEVER put your hand down into the garbage disposal … EVER!

If you have a stubborn clog or have any questions about proper garbage disposal cleaning techniques, contact Action Plumbing today for help!

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.

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.

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.