Plumbing Repairs Archives - Page 2 of 2

How to Prevent Common Commercial Plumbing Problems

April 15, 2021 By Action Plumbing

As a business owner, you have a full plate, and even a simple plumbing issue can be a thorn in your side. When the plumbing fails, the business can experience downtime. With downtime comes lost revenue caused by unforeseen commercial plumbing problems. And not only is there lost revenue—the business will need to pay hefty repair costs to get the issue fixed.

The best remedy is prevention, and in today’s post, we’re going to highlight the most common plumbing problems and how you can prevent them.

Drainage Leaks

Leaks can be sneaky. Leaks from pipes and other fixtures can often go unnoticed, spawning unwanted mold that can be difficult to remove. Rot and mold are health hazards and can leave your business liable if employees or customers become ill. The best way to prevent long-term water damage is to schedule regular maintenance checkups with a professional plumbing company that knows what to look for. An experienced plumber can offer in-depth pipe leak testing and sewer leak detection services.

Clogged Drains

Clogged drains can be a recurrent problem for businesses—especially restaurants that frequently use kitchen sinks. A clogged drain can lead to damaged pipes, which can be costly to fix and replace. To avoid the clogged drain issue, follow these tips:

Avoid putting certain types of foods down the drain. Foods that are difficult to break down (e.g. eggshells, coffee grounds, etc.) can lead to clogged drains.
Don’t dispose of grease in the sink. If grease is poured into a drain, it is likely to congeal, which can block the pathways in the drainage system. It’s best to put the grease in a container and dispose of it in an actual garbage can.
Clean drain stoppers on a regular basis. Stray hairs, soap residue, and small particles can accumulate and clog the drain. Make a habit of consistently checking to ensure that the drain is clean.

Hot Water Supply Failure

Commercial hot water supply systems are far more complicated than residential systems, and they must adhere to strict licensing guidelines and board regulations. When dealing with heat loss, it’s best to immediately call a commercial plumber to fix the issue. You may need to add insulation, replace a malfunctioning thermostat, or completely replace the water heating unit. A commercial plumber will be able to make recommendations on the best course of action. To prevent future water heater issues, it’s best to schedule regular maintenance checks to ensure that the system is in good health and to proactively make minor repairs.

Clogged Toilets and Other Commercial Plumbing Problems

A clogged toilet can create an uncomfortable work environment for your employees, and it can frustrate customers who visit your business. It’s quite easy for toilets to get clogged, but the best way to take care of the issue quickly is to have your employees check the restrooms on a consistent basis. Again, we recommend that you schedule regular maintenance checkups to ensure that your plumbing fixtures are in good health. A simple checkup can save you from spending a great deal of money in the long term because you will be able to address problems before they worsen.

To find out more about how to prevent common commercial plumbing problems or to schedule our expert preventative maintenance services, give us a contact Action Plumbing today!

Preventative Maintenance Contract

October 18, 2017 By Action Plumbing

If you wait until you experience a leak, flood, or another unexpected disaster to call your plumber, you’ll often find that many of your problems could have easily been avoided. Preventative maintenance is the key to keeping your business’s plumbing running as smoothly and efficiently as possible, and Action Plumbing is here to help you keep everything on track with our expert services.

Now is the time to talk with an Action Plumbing expert about the possibility of arranging a preventative maintenance contract in order to get ahead of pesky plumbing issues before they wreak havoc. Preventative maintenance contracts can include a wide variety of services, and some of the most popular include:

Drain Cleaning

Regularly scheduled drain cleaning or sewer jetting is an important part of preventative maintenance to help you avoid a flooded basement, sewer backups, costly repairs, and the disruption of day to day activities in your business. These services involve cleaning your plumbing lines in order to remove any build-up or debris including grease, sludge, leaves, and other inhibitors.

Camera Inspections

Utilizing this high tech tool, our Action Plumbing experts can locate potential problems quickly and efficiently while keeping your costs down through extensive diagnostics. A camera inspection allows our plumbers much more flexibility and makes finding clogs or more serious problems like broken and leaking pipes a more direct process. A camera inspection is vital for ensuring you have the most in-depth look into what’s really going on in your pipes and sewer.

Catch Basin Cleaning

The most important use of a catch basin is to keep your local water supply free of debris like leaves, sticks, rocks, garbage, and much more. Unfortunately, these materials can build up quickly, which is why it’s important to have your catch basins maintained on a regular basis. Professionals often rely on an industry-standard vacuum to remove debris, while also relying on shovels and other devices.

With a contract for regularly scheduled preventative maintenance, you don’t need to worry about when these types of services need to be performed in order to keep your plumbing in good standing. To find out more about Action Plumbing’s preventive maintenance contract offerings, contact one of our experts today.

How to Prevent Clogged Drains

July 18, 2015 By Action Plumbing

There’s no denying that clogged drains are a complete pain. A clogged drain always seems to occur at the absolute worst time, and it can be really time-consuming to fix. The good news is there’s a lot you can do to prevent clogged drains in your home.

Keeping Drains Clean

The best preventative measure you can take to prevent a clogged drain is to keep it clean. This may sound really obvious, but the reason many drains become clogged is simply that they aren’t at the top of the priority list when it comes to cleaning kitchens and bathrooms. Clean drains are just as important to your family’s health as clean countertops, toilets, and floors.

Keeping Drains Debris Free

Tip One – Pay Attention: The first step to keeping drains debris-free is to be aware of what’s being put into them in the first place. Avoid washing foods, fats, or grease into the drain where they can easily clog up your waterways.

Tip Two – Brush your Hair Before Showering: Before you hop into the shower, make sure you give your hair a thorough brushing to remove loose hair. This will greatly decrease the amount of hair that goes down the drain and help prevent clogs and unpleasant smells.

Tip Three – Use Mesh Screens: Many people use mesh screens in their kitchen drains, but placing mesh screens in all of your home’s drains can really help decrease drain clogging debris. Food particles, hair, and other unpleasant gunk will get caught up in the drain and prevent a major headache.

Tip Four – Wash Pets Outdoors: Pet hair is always a major contributor to clogs, so consider washing your pets outdoors when the weather permits. If you must wash Fido in the tub, lay a washcloth over the drain to minimize fur and dander clogs.

Even after taking all the precautions mentioned above, chances are you will still experience a clog from time to time. Having a quality plunger or auger on hand will help you in a pinch; and if you have a more serious clog you need help with, call Action Plumbing. We’re available to help you with clogs or any plumbing issues you may be facing, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Replacing Orangeburg Pipes

June 16, 2015 By Action Plumbing

replacing orangeburg pipes - action plumbing

Orangeburg Pipes are a fiber conduit pipe that was in use anywhere between the 1870s and 1970s. These fiber conduit pipes have a shelf life of around 50 years. As you can see, with a piping system this old, it’s about time to consider replacing Orangeburg pipes immediately. But first, you may be wondering, “What are Orangeburg pipes, and are they located on my property?”

What Are Orangeburg Pipes?

Before you think about replacing them, we should understand what they are and why you need to replace them. These type of This type of pipe materials are the construct of layers of wood pulp and pitch fibers. As you can see, these pipes were extremely popular back in the day. Firstly, parts of the pipes (even the joints) would seal up quite easily. Above all, this means it would help construction projects tight on a deadline finish up much quicker than previously thought.

The Problem with Orangeburg Pipes

Many people believed they would last up to 50 years. However, there are a significant amount of cases where these pipes took less than 10 years to fail. Although they were relatively stable, they wouldn’t stand more pressure than intended. As you can see, when pipes fail they cause lots of damage. When something causes damage, you need to shell out more money for repairs.

Do I Have Orangeburg Pipes?

If there’s a history of Orangeburg pipe usage in your area, chances are good that you may have Orangeburg pipe on your property as well. Some areas that commonly have Orangeburg pipes are Cherry Hill, NJ and Willingboro, NJ.

There are several signs you should watch that may provide hints that there are Orangeburg pipes on your property including, lines that are clogged frequently, tree root invasion, or total and complete collapse.

What Should I Do About Orangeburg Pipes?

If you suspect that you have Orangeburg pipes on your property, the first thing you should do is contact Action Plumbing immediately. We offer a professional service to inspect and determine if Orangeburg pipes are currently being used on your property, and we have the technology needed to make inspections and replacements without causing further property damage.

For more information about replacing Orangeburg Pipes, contact Action Plumbing today. We’re available 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week.

When to Replace Your Hot Water Heater

June 9, 2015 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.