Preventative Maintenance Archives - Page 3 of 3

Summer Vacation Plumbing Planning

July 28, 2016 By Action Plumbing

It’s hard to truly enjoy your summer vacation if you’re preoccupied thinking about all of the things that can potentially go wrong while you’re away. And no matter how many times you tell yourself you remembered to lock up and close the garage door, there’s always that little voice in the back of your head asking if there’s anything else you should have done.

Many people don’t take their home plumbing into consideration before going away, but it is important that you consider what could happen if you spring a leak and nobody’s around to shut off the main valve. Although most well-maintained plumbing systems will rarely experience an issue during a brief vacation, the possibility is still very real. Why run the risk of coming home to a plumbing catastrophe when it can easily be avoided?

If you’re planning to be away from home for more than just a day or two, take a minute and turn off your home’s main water valve. Not only will this prevent any unexpected problems, but it will also help give you peace of mind while you’re away.

It’s important to remember that shutting off the main water valve will also prevent you from using your garden watering system if you happen to have one. In this case, you should shut off only the valves that will allow your system to run properly.

One of the biggest benefits of going away (other than the awesome vacation, of course) is the amount of money you’ll save on utilities. There are a few other small things you can do to maximize your savings like:

Shut off your automatic ice maker before you leave to save more water
Shut off your water softening system before you leave to save electricity and salt
Shut off your hot water heater. It’s one of your home’s biggest energy sucks and by simply turning it off you can greatly improve your savings. Many modern water heaters even have a “vacation setting,” ideal for conservation while you’re away.

Follow the suggestions mentioned above to make your summer vacation plumbing planning easier than ever. And you need help with or have questions about any of our conservation suggestions, feel free to reach out to one of our qualified experts today. We’re happy to assist you!

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!

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.

Do I Need a Backflow Prevention Device?

August 14, 2015 By Action Plumbing

backflow prevention device Navigating home plumbing can be challenging for even the most seasoned do-it-yourselfer. With so many intricate parts working together to provide your home with water that is fresh and safe for consumption, understanding what these parts are and what they do is imperative if you plan to do any plumbing work yourself.

One of the most common plumbing occurrences is known as backflow, which is an unwanted reversal of liquid, solid, or gas into a water supply. Understanding backflow and what it means to your home plumbing system is an important foundation for your home’s general water flow operations, and one of the most common methods of handling backflow problems is to employ something called a backflow prevention device.

What Does a Backflow Prevention Device Do?

A Backflow Prevention Device (also called a BPD for short) allow water and materials to escape rather than flowing directly into your home. You can install a BPD yourself, or hire an experienced plumber to install a BPD for you.

Some older bathrooms may not have a backflow device installed, so if you are planning on remodeling a bathroom in your home, make sure you check to see if you currently have a BPD.

How Does a Backflow Prevention Device Work?

Water systems use pressure to make water flow from home taps and showers. If you experience a significant decrease in water pressure often caused by a burst pipe or a sudden increase in water demand, the immediate decrease in water pressure may allow for contaminated water to be drawn into the system. In order to stop this from happening, a specialized backflow preventer valve is often installed in any place where your water system is at risk of contaminated fluids entering your pipes.

To find out more about backflow prevention devices and whether you need to install or replace a backflow prevention device in your home, contact Action Plumbing today.