Brooks Plumbing Co. Blog: Archive for June, 2013

Are Strange Sounds Coming From Your Plumbing

Wednesday, June 26th, 2013

You depend on the pipes and plumbed appliances a lot on a daily basis to deliver clean clothes and dishes, hot showers, and fresh, potable water. You also need them to remove wastewater from your home efficiently and effectively so that you can keep your home clean and hygienic. But over time, your plumbing system may begin to make strange sounds. It can be difficult to sort out the good from the bad, but if it sounds unusual, strange, or occurs unexpectedly, it may be an indication of a problem that needs professional attention. When you need a plumber in Olympia,WA, call Brooks Plumbing. We can help you figure out where that sounds is coming and offer a thorough solution.

  • Pipes knocking. Does your pipe knock when you turn on the fixture? If so, then you might have an issue with your pressure. Unlike the wastewater disposal system, either your water supply is pressurized by the municipal water source or by the well pump that draws water out of the ground. In both cases, you need to have adequate pressure to operate a shower or run the dishwasher. But too much pressure can lead to pipes knocking against the walls and floor joists. This can be fixed by securing those pipes.
  • Water heater rumbling. Your water heater is a vital part of your home and you need to make sure that it operates well at all times. But over time, your water heater may develop sediment or scale, and when this builds up at the bottom of the tank, it can cause your water heater to rumble. This often means that the water inside the tank is being heated to potentially scalding temperatures. This can obviously be dangerous.
  • Water running. If you hear the sound of running water under the floors or near the concrete slab foundation of your home, then you may have a slab leak. Slab leak detection and repair can be challenging, so make sure you hire a reputable plumber to get the job done right the first time.

Call Brooks Plumbing when you need an excellent Olympia, WA plumber.

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Common Bathroom Plumbing Issues

Tuesday, June 18th, 2013

Trouble in the bathroom? As one of the most utilized rooms in the house, your bathroom endures a lot of wear and tear on a daily basis. Its primary system is that of plumbing: shower fixtures, bathroom sink vanity faucets, and, of course, the toilet, among others. You need your bathroom to operate smoothly in order to preserve the hygiene of your family members and your home. The bathroom can also be a place for relaxation, if you have a nice bathtub. But with all that wear and tear comes the need for repair. There are some common issues with bathroom plumbing that may turn up at your home sooner or later. Call Brooks Plumbing today when you need an Olympia, WA bathroom plumber.

  • Shower drain clog. Because of the amount of soap, hair and gray water that goes down your shower drain at such a rapid and continuous rate, there may come a time when you have a clog that needs dislodging. If it’s persistent, it’s best to have a professional try to remove the accumulation rather than approach it yourself. Using an auger improperly can damage your plumbing; a plumber can also make sure that the job is completed thoroughly.
  • Vanity trap issue. Your bathroom sink vanity has a U-shaped bend underneath the drain, just like any other component of your plumbing system. But if you have a slow drain, or if an accumulation becomes lodged within the trap, you may have to call for a professional plumber to remove the blockage.
  • Toilet won’t stop running. The toilet is often the largest consumer of water in the home, although today’s low-flush models have cut this consumption in half. Nevertheless, if your toilet won’t stop running, this can mean a higher utility bill every month because of all the wasted water. There may be a problem with the flush valve.
  • Showerhead leaking. This could be a problem with the threads onto which your shower fixture screws, but it could be a problem with the shower water valve itself.

Make sure that you have any of your bathroom plumbing problems taken care of by a professional. Call Brooks Plumbing today to speak with an Olympia, WA bathroom plumber.

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Grease Traps and Commercial Plumbing

Thursday, June 13th, 2013

If you run a commercial kitchen or restaurant then your grease trap and plumbing system are both critical to your daily operation. If you start to have problems with your grease trap or if your commercial plumbing system is clogged or leaking, call the Olympia, WA commercial plumbers at Brooks Plumbing today. We have years of experience working with all different types of businesses to help them improve the function of their grease traps and the efficiency of their plumbing system. Here are a few common issues that we see with commercial grease traps and plumbing systems.

Common Grease Trap Repair

Grease traps are an essential part of a commercial kitchen or restaurant. Often they are also required by law. The melted fat and grease that result from cooking can cause big problems for city sewer lines which is why restaurants are required to have a grease trap. Grease traps, as their name implies, allow restaurants to drain out water and other debris while simultaneously restricting grease from getting into the sewer lines. Grease traps need to be cleaned regularly to remove the solidified fat solids. These are a few of the most common grease trap problems that we see. If you need a Olympia plumber to fix your restaurant’s grease trap just call Brooks Plumbing today.

  • Clogs – If you start to smell a foul odor from your drains or if there is waste water coming up through your drains, it likely means that you have a clog with your grease trap. This could because it is full or because the pressure inside the trap is off. When you need an Olympia, WA plumber make sure that you call Brooks Plumbing. We’ve repaired countless grease traps and can get yours working again fast.
  • Leaks – Waste water leaks are also a common with grease traps. Any piece of equipment that handles a lot of water is going to have problems with leaks. If you’ve started to notice that your grease trap is leaking and you need an Olympia plumber just all Brooks Plumbing today.

For all your commercial plumbing and grease trap repair, installation or maintenance just call the Olympia, WA plumbers at Brooks Plumbing.

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The Benefits of Using an Electric Water Heater

Thursday, June 13th, 2013

If you’re looking to replace your old water heater, you’ve probably been debating whether to go gas or electric. While the price differences between gas and electric hot water units and the efficiency of gas water heaters may lead you to shy away from the electric tank heater, there are a number of reasons why you should go with an electric water heater instead of a gas tank. Here are just some of the reasons to go electric.

Installation Costs

When you install a new gas water heater, you have more work cut out for you in the installation process than you would if you purchased an electric heater. Because gas heaters operate on, you guessed it, gas, you need to install a vent and vent hood above your heater. This vent system will allow for the excess gas to leave your home, but that also means you need to install enough piping to allow the gas to leave your home. With an electric water heater, however, you don’t have to install a single piece of pipe. Once you have your heater in place, you install a special outlet so as to power your heater, and you’re good to go.

Necessary Space

Now that you know about the need for a vent when you use a gas heater, it’s time to discuss the space issues that can arise when you don’t go with an electric water heater. A gas tank water heater requires no less than six inches of ventilation around the tank’s top and sides. Unfortunately, if you’re working with a tight space, such as a bedroom closet, you can’t simply throw a gas unit in there and call it good. However, an electric unit is a great choice for small confines, as you don’t have to worry about gas building up, or possibly exploding.

Greater Safety

Have you ever heard the horror stories of when a gas water heater explodes? Well, two things can ultimately cause a gas heater tank to explode. In newer gas models, the bottom of the tank is sealed, making it more difficult for the gas vapors to hit the open flame. In older gas heaters, though, there was no seal, leaving the bottom of the tank vulnerable. The second thing that can lead to a gas heater explosion is a malfunctioning pressure relief valve. When the valve is unable to relieve pressure built up within the tank, and when the tank can no longer take the pressure, the tank can explode.

No Pilot

Further touching on water heater safety, you’ll never have a need to relight your electric water heater, where you would need to do so if your gas water heater’s pilot light goes out for any reason. Though, newer models of gas heaters use electric ignitions, which eliminate the need for the pilot light. However, this creates a rather large issue that gas heaters didn’t have in the past.

No Longer at a Disadvantage

In the past, when the power went out, you were in luck if you had a gas water heater. Older models allowed for your home to always have hot water, even in the event of a big storm or power outage, since they required you to light the heater’s pilot light with a match. Well, as we just discussed, newer models are no longer equipped to have you light the pilot by hand. Well, now using electric ignitions, gas water heaters no longer have the edge in a power outage. If you lose power with either type of heater, you lose the ability to heat your water.

While there are reasons to buy either type of water heater, your electric heater is the safer option for a number of reasons. With natural gas and electricity costs expected to rise, there isn’t much to say about the gas heater being your cheaper option. If you’re in the market for a new tank water heater, consider going electric.

Rachael Jones is a blogger for DIYMother, where women aren’t afraid to use power tools in a dress.

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Plumbing Tips: Benefits of a Sump Pump

Monday, June 3rd, 2013

If your basement is prone to flooding, you had best contact a professional plumber to discuss the installation of a sump pump in your home. Sump pumps are a great way to protect your home and your possessions from water damage. It is necessary that your sump pump installation is completed by a qualified Olympia plumbing professional. That is why you must schedule your sump installation with an Olympia, WA plumber at Brooks Plumbing. When you work with a professional plumber on our team, you will have no doubts about the quality of the service that you receive. Our plumbers have the years of training and experience necessary to ensure that your sump pump is there for you when you need it most.

A sump pump is installed in your basement, and is responsible for pumping any water that leaks into your basement to the appropriate drainage channel. Positioned at the lowest point of your basement, water will naturally head towards your sump pump, allowing it to relocate that water to more appropriate area than your basement floor. There are a number of benefits to the installation of a sump pump in your home, assuming that you have yours professionally installed for maximum performance levels.

First of all, even relatively small amount of water can do serious damage to your home and any possessions in your basement. Most basements are used as storage areas, and the items stored therein can be subjected to water damage or even mold growth if surrounded by a damp, musty atmosphere. Any appliances may be damaged and rust if water pools around them as well. Plus, wooden components in your basement may rot if they are constantly damp. Your home and your possessions are too important to be subjected to such issues. Contact Brooks Plumbing today with any questions you may have about the benefits of a sump pump.

Call now to speak with a sump pump specialist at Brooks Plumbing. We have the answers to all your questions and can help you decide if a sump pump installation is right for your home. Whatever your Olympia plumbing needs may be, Brooks Plumbing is the company you can count on for outstanding service.

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