Brooks Plumbing Co. Blog: Archive for August, 2013

What is a Drain Tile System?

Wednesday, August 28th, 2013

Given enough time, water can carve out giant valleys through mountains. It is actually one of the most destructive forces on the planet. That’s why it’s so important that you protect your home from water. One way to do that is with the use of a drain tile system. Also called a French drain or a perimeter drain, these systems are installed around the foundation of your home so that they can drain away any water that might collect against the side of your home and cause damage to your foundation, your slab or your home’s structure. Here at Brooks Plumbing, we have a complete offering of plumbing installation services and we wanted to share a little bit about what drain tile systems are and how they work.

Tumwater Plumbing Installation: Drain Tile System

Drain tile systems are designed to remove water from around your home and drain it away to a place that is further away so that it can’t damage your property. In order to do that, a large trench is dug around your home against your foundation. A plastic sheet called filter fabric is laid in this trench and against the foundation that prevents water from touching your foundation or from soaking into the ground under your home.

After that, gravel is laid on top of the fabric and then a pipe with perforations is laid on top of the gravel. More gravel is added on top of the pipe to allow water to drip down into the pipe. The pipe needs to be installed at a slight angle so that gravity will carry any water down the pipe naturally. Often, metal flashing is installed against the cement foundation to provide further protection from water.

As water starts to flow towards your home it will seep into the pipe and get carried down the pipe and away from your home. The outlet for the French drain also needs to be considered. Many times homeowners have their drain tile system empty onto the street where public drainage and sewer systems carry it away. Other homeowners choose to route the drain tile into a sump pump which then pumps the water away from your house. Call us today for more information about our drain tile system services.

If you have any questions or if your home frequently has floods around it, call the Tumwater plumbing installation professionals at Brooks Plumbing today.

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Signs that You Need Whole-House Repiping

Wednesday, August 21st, 2013

The water pipes and drains in your home get a ton of use throughout the year brining in fresh water and disposing of your waste water. All of that use can lead to the need for Olympia plumbing repair services but eventually it will likely lead to the need for whole-house repiping. So what can you look for that might indicate that your plumbing is on its last leg? Read on below to find out and then give us a call here at Brooks Plumbing. Our Olympia plumbing technicians can answer any questions that you might have and we can visit your home to take a look at your plumbing and help you determine if repiping is needed.

Olympia Plumbing Tip: How to Tell If You Need Repiping

Keep an eye out for any of the following issues that could signal that you need whole-house repiping services in Olympia, WA.

  • Water pressure – The water that comes into your home from your utility company is under pressure so that it can travel up in to your home to all of your faucets. Over time, leaks can develop in your pipes as well as corrosion and mineral deposits that reduce the amount of water pressure in your home. This can also be caused by tree roots growing into your water pipes. If you notice a sudden or gradual decline in water pressure, like your washer not filling up fast enough, it could be time for repiping.
  • Water color – If you notice any kind of rust coloration in your water it could be time for repiping. While rust isn’t harmful to humans, it is very harmful to your appliances and to the rest of your water pipes. Sometimes the rust can be localized at a particular joint where the metal flux that’s used to seal copper pipes has started to rust. But other times the rust could be systemic throughout your home plumbing system.
  • Home and plumbing age – Sometimes it’s just old age that can cause your pipes to need to be replaced. As your pipes age they will require more and more repairs and while you may be able to replace small sections of the pipe in your home, there’s little to be done for the pipes that are buried in the ground.

When you need any comprehensive plumbing services just call the expert Olympia plumbers at Brooks Plumbing.

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3 Reasons You Need a Sump Pump

Friday, August 16th, 2013

A sump pump is a small pump placed in your basement in order to keep it dry. The sump pump is either submerged in the sump pump or installed on a pedestal above the sump basin, which makes it easier to service. When floodwaters start to fill the pit, the sump pump moves the water out of the building so the basement itself can stay dry. In Olympia, WA, where plumbing systems fight a constant battle against the frequent rains, sump pumps are an absolute necessity. Here are three reasons why you need a sump pump in your home.

  • Your basement will probably flood sooner or later. Olympia experiences some of the highest rainfall levels in the country, and when the rains come, they tend to stick around a while. That makes basement floods very likely, and when that happens, a sump pump is your best line of defense.
  • You don’t need to wait for help. With a sump pump in place, the draining starts quickly and continues as long as the pump (and the flooding) holds out. Contrast that to a situation where you need to use a hand pump, or call a plumber to help drain your basement. Time gets lost and if the flooding takes place during a major storm, it could be quite a while before someone can get to you for help. A sump pump in place means not having to sweat out a service call in the middle of inclement weather.
  • They are relatively inexpensive to install and maintain. While sump pumps require the services of a professional plumber to install properly, the procedure is relatively straightforward, and the up-front costs are minimal. When you compare it to the damages caused by rising flood waters, to say nothing of the fuss and bother of draining your basement after the rains subside, the cost becomes even more appealing.

If you want to install a sump pump in your basement or crawlspace, call upon an Olympia plumber who knows the ins and outs. Brooks Plumbing can handle sump pump installation and maintenance in Olympia. Contact us today to set up a consultation.

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2 Reasons for Considering Bathroom Remodeling

Wednesday, August 7th, 2013

Are you satisfied with the state of your bathroom? Do you wish it were more comfortable, more luxurious, or simply more practical?As one of the most utilized parts of the home, the bathroom, whether it’s downstairs or part of the master bedroom suite, needs to be optimized for your particular needs. As such, it is one of the first rooms that homeowners think of remodeling. This may not simply be for aesthetic reasons, however, but rather a necessity due to the presence of mold and mildew, or other wear and tear to the shower or bathroom sink vanity. Whatever your reason for considering remodeling your bathroom, you need to hire a professional bathroom remodeling contractor in Tumwater, WA to complete the service properly. Call Brooks Plumbing today. We can handle not only the plumbing aspect of your new bathroom, but the installation of any fixtures, flooring, tile, and built-ins.

  • To change the layout. When remodeling the bathroom, most homeowners want to make some kind of change to the layout of the bathroom, whether this requires expanding the footprint of the room slightly, or simply moving the shower and toilet to a different area of the room. This involves moving the supply and wastewater piping, but it may be worth it if you feel as though your bathroom should have been designed better in the first place, or it has become inhabitable for a growing number of family members.
  • Because the bathroom has become gross. This is not an uncommon reason to gut the bathroom and start over, or simply replace a few key components, such as the flooring or shower. Whether due to ventilation problems, or simply because of the frequency with which it is used on a daily basis, your bathroom fixtures and infrastructure can become problematic. They can develop mold and mildew not only on the surface, but also behind walls and under fixtures that can begin to eat away at the infrastructure of the home. Allowing such problems to fester can lead to serious water damage.

Call Brooks Plumbing if you’re interested in what we can do for your bathroom remodeling project in Tumwater, WA. We can guide you every step of the way.

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