Brooks Plumbing Co. Blog: Archive for March, 2013

Plumbing FAQ: Does my home need a grease trap?

Monday, March 25th, 2013

When you think about grease traps you likely think about commercial restaurant and kitchens that need to dispose of lots of fats, oils and grease—sometimes called FOG for short. These types of food waste don’t break down and can form terrible clogs. In fact, in some municipalities it used to be illegal to dump FOG down your home drain because it required extra maintenance and treatment from the water utility to remove them and remove clogs in city pipes. Homeowners had to install grease traps and get them regularly maintained, cleaned and sanitized. Because garbage disposals are so prevalent now grease levels in city water are likely rising again. Contact the Lacey, WA plumbing experts at Brooks Plumbing

if your home has constant clogs from fats, oils or grease. We can help you figure out if a grease trap is right for you. Here are few things to consider before that.

Why Install a Home Grease Trap?

Unless you’re opening a donut store in your home or if you do a lot of frying your home probably doesn’t need a grease trap. However, if you do find yourself doing a lot of frying in your home or if you’re trying to start a small restaurant then it could be a good idea to install a grease trap. This will protect your plumbing system and help you keep your plumbing system working well. Contact the Lacey, WA plumbing experts at Brooks Plumbing if your home is having any plumbing issues.

However, if you are concerned about the amount of treatment that has to be done to your city’s water supply then doing your part to remove your fats, oils and grease from the sewer system could be a good idea. A grease trap can be installed at your home near your sink drain. You can either get it regularly serviced by a company or use bacteria to keep the trap clean and to avoid the foul odors commonly associated with grease traps.

For all your Lacey, WA plumbing services, including plumbing repair and plumbing installation, contact Brooks Plumbing.

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Plumbing FAQ: Common Sump Pump Problems

Monday, March 18th, 2013

Sump pumps protect our basements from flooding. Because our basements are below ground, they are prone to flood first in the event of a rapid increase in the level of water in the ground. A sump pump is a simple device that removes water from your basement and sends it to a drainage system. Because they are placed at the lowest spot in the basement, in a small pit, they are able to handle water first before it reaches the rest of the basement floor. We depend on them to protect our basement from water damage. Like any other mechanical device, however, your sump pump can require repair at some point in its life. We’ve gathered together a list of some common sump pump problems that may help you. If you need a plumber in Olympia, WA, call Brooks Plumbing Company.

  • Insufficient pumping. Occasionally, your sump pump may be overwhelmed by the amount of water flooding into your basement. It may not be powerful enough, or it may be old and at the end of its service life. It’s important to install only high quality sump pumps and to make sure they are professionally installed. That way, you can be prepared for flooding.
  • Clogged. If your sump pump does not have a lid, dirt and debris can easily begin to fill that space and cause the unit to clog. Alternatively, if your sump pump sits directly on the bottom of the pit, it is prone to clogging.
  • No power. If your sump pump has no power, then it cannot hope to prevent flooding. Your circuit breaker may have tripped or you may have blown a fuse. Maybe you unplugged the sump pump by accident. It’s probably a good idea to install a battery backup for your pump, so that it can continue to work if this happens again.

These are some of the most common plumbing problems. Remember, it’s important to take care of any problems so that your home is prepared for the worst. It’s often impossible to know when flooding is going to occur, so make sure your sump pump is always in good working order. Need a plumber in Olympia? Call Brooks Plumbing Company today!

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Water Heater FAQ: How Do I Know What Type of Water Heater to Install if I Upgrade?

Monday, March 11th, 2013

Are you thinking of upgrading the water heater in your Olympia, WA area home? Your first step is calling the water heater experts at Brooks Plumbing for advice and to help you in your selection. We can help you determine the load calculation for the amount of hot water you need to adequately supply your entire plumbing system with hot water. This will help size your new water heater and ensure that you aren’t left without enough hot water for everyone in your home.

Your hot water usage will also help you determine which type to install as your upgrade. There are two basic styles of water heaters: tank and tankless. Most homeowners heat the water in their homes with a tank water heater, but if you find that you run out of water often, you may need a larger tank, a more efficient water heater, or you may consider upgrading to a tankless water heater.

The newer tankless hot water heaters are a great solution if you want on demand hot water without having to wait on the tank to refill, or if you are losing energy in standby losses. If the recovery time on your tank water heater has increased gradually, it may be time for a new one. Replacing a water heater is not an easy decision, but one that can offer energy savings and more reliable hot water for you and your family.

Make sure you hire a professional contractor you can trust. If your water heater isn’t sized correctly, or if another type would benefit you more, you won’t get the most out of your new investment. Call the Olympia, WA water heater specialists at Brooks Plumbing, and get started today! Contact Brooks Plumbing!

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Plumber FAQ: How Video Pipe Inspections Help

Monday, March 4th, 2013

Video pipe inspections are a relatively new piece of technology that Olympia, WA plumbers use. It allows us to see deep down into the plumbing system to find clogs and leaks. This is a huge benefit to us and we wanted to share some of the advantages that it has. At Brooks Plumbing, our plumbers in Olympia, WA offer complete plumbing repair and installation. If your drains are slow, if they’re leaking or If they’re completely clogged, call the Olympia plumbers at Brooks Plumbing today!

What Is Video Camera Pipe Inspection Equipment?

If you’ve ever seen a spy move where they slide a thin wire under a door or through a window opening in order to look inside the room—that’s sort of like our video camera pipe inspection equipment. The camera and wire are about the thickness of a pencil and can be fed down into your drains and pipes. Our plumbers have a separate unit with a screen that shows us what the camera is seeing in your pipes. We can control the camera so that we can see any blockages, cracks or clogs that might be down in your plumbing.

What Are the Benefits of Video Camera Pipes Inspections

The main benefit of video camera inspections is information. It allows our plumbers to go into each job with as much information as possible. We can pinpoint where the clog is and what it’s made of. That allows us to quickly attack it and remove it. Instead of having to fish around in your plumbing with a long, metal snake we can just send the camera down the pipe to find out exactly where the clog is.

Benefits of Professional Plumbing Maintenance in Olympia

During regular plumbing maintenance visits, your plumber should use video camera equipment to inspect any suspicious problems with your plumbing. When you have an Olympia plumber inspecting and regularly cleaning your plumbing system you might be able to find small clogs or problems early before they turn into larger, more costly repairs.

Call the Olympia plumbers at Brooks Plumbing if you need any plumbing repair or maintenance. We can work on any kind of plumbing system and fix all kinds of problems. Call us today to talk with one of our friendly plumbers in Olympia, WA. Contact Brooks Plumbing today!

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