Seasonal Tips Archives - Action Plumbing

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.

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!

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.

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.

Why You Should Winterize Your Irrigation System

October 6, 2015 By Action Plumbing

winterizing your irrigation system There are numerous reasons why you should winterize your irrigation system, but by far the most important one is that you will avoid damaging your very useful investment.

There are 3 different types of successful irrigation techniques:

Manual Drain Valve Method Requirements

You must have a properly designed irrigation system in order for this particular method to work properly, which means the valve should be installed at the lowest point of the system’s mainline. If you have a system with numerous low draining points, then several manual drain valves should be installed to ensure you are achieving maximum drainage.

It is also very important that your piping is sloped so that it is able to drain completely. Be aware if your valve happens to be located indoors, you should be able to drain an adequate amount of water without fear of overflow or flooding.

Automatic Drain Valve Method

The automatic drain valve is pretty self-explanatory… basically, every time the system shuts off, the valve opens on drains all the water from the pipes. The automatic valves should be installed at the lowest point of the sprinkler lines, below the sprinkler control valves, and at the lowest point of the sprinkler lines.

Compressed Air Blow-Out Method

The compressed air blow-out method typically involves extra care, and we recommend that it is attempted by professionals only. In this method, water is cleared from the mainline pipe, the sprinkler control valves, the lateral pipes, and sprinkler head using compressed air.

If you are unsure which method is best for winterizing your irrigation system, it is important that you speak to a professional who can guide you in the right direction and help you get the job done right. For more information on winterizing your irrigation system, contact Action Plumbing today.