Preventative Maintenance Archives - Page 2 of 3

Ice Dam Prevention Tips for Gutters

November 27, 2017 By Action Plumbing

Although it’s extremely important to keep your gutters clear of debris throughout the entire year, it can be especially challenging during the winter months when Mother Nature strikes the hardest. Clogged gutters can easily trap water that will inevitably freeze, leaving you with a potential hazard sometimes referred to as an ice dam.

What is an Ice Dam?

An ice dam often occurs along the edge of your roofline or in your gutters depending on the orientation, style, and pitch of your roof. The culprit is often melting snow that refreezes, clogging your gutters and preventing water from draining properly. When this happens, water can easily get backed up, causing havoc with your shingles and eventually leaking into your business.

How to Recognize an Ice Dam

One of the best ways to check for an ice dam is to take a close look at the ceilings of your exterior walls and attic. If you notice moisture or water stains, there’s a good possibility you may have an ice dam.

Inspect any icicle formations you may have around your business’s exterior to discover whether they are trapping any water. Icicles can often lead to additional problems blockage problems and potential dangers for those walking below.

Prevention Tips

Be sure to clean your gutters regularly, even during the winter months whenever it’s possible.
On mild winter days, inspect your gutters and the areas around your business for any signs that an ice dam may be forming.
Safely remove icicle formations and remember … never stand directly underneath an icicle when inspecting your gutters, cleaning, or performing icicle removal.

Lastly, one of the best ice dam prevention strategies is to hire a professional to handle your routine gutter cleanings to ensure you always have a clean gutter system. For more information on our professional gutter cleaning services, contact an Action Plumbing representative.

Avoid Frozen Pipes by Planning Ahead

November 2, 2017 By Action Plumbing

Bitter cold temperatures may already be here, but it’s not too late to take the necessary steps to avoid frozen pipes and other costly plumbing issues. Whether you rent or own your own business, there are a few things to consider in order to protect your property from unnecessary damage.

Of course, not all frozen pipes result in catastrophe, but it is common for expanding ice to break pipes that are vulnerable, and this often results in damaging leaks or flooding. So, how do you these kinds of problems? The answer is simple … you can avoid frozen pipes by planning ahead using a few of the following tips:

Locate Your Pipes

In order to ensure your pipes are protected you need to know exactly where they’re located. While a pipe may be well insulated in one area of your business, there’s a good possibility that it’s exposed to freezing temperatures in another. If you’re unsure about how your plumbing system is laid out, Action Plumbing can work with you to complete an audit of your plumbing system.

Insulate

Once you have a better idea of where your at-risk pipes can be found, you need to make sure they are protected with insulation. While a newspaper can sometimes be adequate for pipes found in a cold basement, others at greater risk should be insulated with foam tube or heated tape.

Let It Run

If the temperatures have already plummeted and you’re concerned, allowing the water to run even slightly can prevent pipes from freezing. Although it’s true you’ll be wasting water, it’s better than facing the alternative.

Let in the Heat

On particularly cold nights it’s a good idea to open the cabinets or drawers under your sink. This will allow the heat from your business to enter in order to prevent your pipes from freezing.

Find the Main Shut-Off

If you are faced with damaged or leaking pipes, it’s important that you know how to shut off the main water supply in order to prevent serious flooding. And remember, Action Plumbing is available 24 hrs a day 7 days a week in the event you have an emergency and need assistance.

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 Maintain Your Sump Pump

September 30, 2016 By Action Plumbing

Many areas in our region have experienced record rainfalls this summer, which has homeowners concerned about unexpected basement flooding. Using a sump pump may be enough to keep your mind at ease, but it’s important to take the time to find out whether it’s in the best condition to perform efficiently if and when it’s needed.

Unfortunately, many homeowners assume that their sump pumps are in perfect working order, only to discover a basement flood that could have been avoided if their pumps had been maintained properly. Luckily, there are some things you can do to make sure your sump is ready to do its job.

Regular Check-Ups

Don’t just assume your pump working properly, especially during the times when you’re most at risk for flooding. Remember you need to give it a visual inspection at any point of the year when flooding is likely. This especially includes everything from a sudden warm winter day that causes significant snowmelt to a heavy Spring time downpour. Also give your sump pump a once over every few weeks, as checking regularly will help you find a potential problem early before you end up with a huge mess.

Pump Clean Up

Regular sump pump maintenance also involves giving it a good cleaning. You may not realize that your pump is clogged by built-up debris, like small rocks, dried leaves, or other runoff. Don’t just clean the pump filter. While you’re at it, be sure to check the entire pump and pit to make sure there’s nothing that’s preventing the pump from working correctly.

Replace Old Pumps

Most pumps last anywhere from 7-9 years, and while it’s a good idea to make the most out of your pump’s longevity, don’t risk a flood by relying on an old or damaged sump pump. Although maintaining your pump will help to extend your pump’s life, you need to recognize that any signs of failure could lead to an unfortunate and costly disaster.

Do you have any additional suggestions on how to maintain your sump pump? If so, please feel free to share your ideas in the comments below. If you are need any expert advice on maintaining your sump or cleaning your sump pump, feel free to contact Action Plumbing today.

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!