Brooks Plumbing Co. Blog: Archive for June, 2014

What Happens When Your Plumbing Springs a Leak

Friday, June 27th, 2014

The municipal water system and wastewater disposal systems are the responsibility of the local utility company. When leaks spring up, the utility company will sends technicians to take care of the problem. But inside your house, the pipes are your responsibility, so when you discover a leak or suspect there’s one occurring, you need to call for professional plumbers to come to your assistance. As we’ll explain in this post, leaks are serious problems in more ways than one, and they need remedy as soon as possible.

When you are in need skilled plumbing services in Olympia, WA, contact Brooks Plumbing. Since 1994, we worked hard to provide the highest quality plumbing to our customers. We will locate and fix whatever leaks are endangering your plumbing.

Here’s what happens with leaking… and why it’s such a problem

If you spot a major water leak in an exposed pipe, like the pipes directly under a sink, you know that you have a major problem that needs repair immediately. Shut off the water main (make sure you know where it is ahead of time; in fact, go find out right now) and call for trained plumbers.

However, the leaks you don’t see—even the smallest ones—are also major dangers. The first problem they cause is water waste. A tiny leak in a water pipe that only drips three times a minute can still waste 70 gallons in a month! That will show up as a steep price increase on your water bills.

A leak will also begin to pool and cause damage to building material. The water will warp wood and encourage wood rot. Mildew growth is especially destructive, since it eats right through drywall. If you notice any spots of discoloration on your walls, shifted floorboards, or mold and mildew developing in corners, call for plumbers right away to find the leak and fix it before your home sustains damage.

Finally, leaks are insidious: they spread. Once leaking starts, it will change the pressure in the pipes and cause more leaks to follow. Plumbers who come to fix leaking issues will always take the time to see if additional leaks are occurring elsewhere—they know how fast the issue spreads.

What to do if you suspect a leak

Whether you know you have a leak or suspect that you do, first shut off the water main and then open up the taps near the leak (this is to reduce pressure which will help prevent flooding). Place towels where necessary to absorb the escaping waste. Now… leave the tools in the garage and instead call for professional plumbers. If you have leaks in your plumbing in Olympia, WA, call Brooks Plumbing and let our 20 years of experience take care of the problem.

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Why You Should Replace Your Plumbing During a Bathroom Remodel

Monday, June 23rd, 2014

Remodeling a bathroom involves different stages and tasks, from the more mundane jobs of removing old fixtures and attaching the plumbing connections for the new ones, to the exciting design choices for new floor material and sink and shower types.

There’s one part of a remodeling job that isn’t mandatory, but which we highly recommend you integrate into you Olympia, WA bathroom remodel when you schedule it: full plumbing replacement.

Does this sound like an unnecessary hassle in an already large-scale job? It isn’t as time-consuming or difficult as you imagine, especially with expert plumbers and bathroom remodeling specialists like the team at Brooks Plumbing handling it. And there are some very good reasons to decide to make pipe replacement one of the essential steps.

Reasons pipe replacement is a good idea during a remodel

Keep in mind the age of the plumbing in your home. If you are at the point where you need to have a bathroom remodeled, it’s probably because you have an older house that needs upgrades. For a home older than 1970, the pipe material is likely aged and in need of replacement. Homes built before 1970 often used galvanized steel pipes instead of copper, CPVC, or PEX pipes. Galvanized steel is durable, but also prone to corrosion over time, and you should have it replaced at any opportunity you can. Since a remodel in your bathroom will expose the pipes, it is much easier and less time-consuming to have the replacements done as part of remodeling.

Another reason to replace plumbing is that it frees up the design process for the remodel. If the remodelers have to work around existing pipes, it limits their options for rearranging the bathroom and putting fixtures in different locations. If the remodelers can change out the plumbing entirely, it opens up the process to more extensive re-design concepts.

Working with plumbing remodelers

The bathroom remodeling team at Brooks Plumbing will work with you from the earliest planning stages of your remodel all the way to the finishing touches. You can also call us to talk about the basics of having a bathroom remodel in Olympia, WA to get you started with your project. Whatever you need to create the new bathroom your home needs, you can rely on the professional and experienced staff at Brooks Plumbing. And if you are planning on replacing the plumbing are part of the remodel, keep us in mind, because we have years of work performing whole-house repiping jobs.

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What Is Water Hammer and Is It Reason for Plumbing Repair?

Monday, June 16th, 2014

The name “water hammer” sounds vaguely threatening, perhaps even intimidating. It refers to a phenomenon that can occur in your plumbing that creates a distinct sound—it doesn’t refer to any knocking sound that your plumbing might make, contrary to popular belief.

Although water hammer is a surprising noise to hear, is it a reason for you to be concerned? Should you call for repairs on your pipes when it happens? We’ll take a look at these questions more closely in this post.

Whatever is causing water hammer in your pipes, you can find reliable plumbing repair in Olympia, WA from the experts at Brooks Plumbing. We’ve served the Olympia area since 1994, and we stand by our motto: “Quality in Everything We Do.”

Water Hammer: What It Is, What It May Mean

Water hammer occurs when an open tap abruptly shuts and the rapidly-moving water comes to a sudden halt inside the pipes. The water creates a shockwave that produces a noticeable sound like someone hitting the inside of the pipes with a hammer.

But this doesn’t happen every time you suddenly shut off a tap; there is a specific reason that water hammer is unusual. Plumbing contains air chambers inside it, and this cushion of air softens the impact of the movement of water so that hammering doesn’t occur. If water hammer suddenly starts to sound in your pipes, then something might have gone wrong to eliminate the air chambers. To prevent water hammer, these water-logged air chambers will need to be drained, after which they will re-fill with water.

One of the reasons that air chambers become clogged is that build-up of limescale or chemicals inside them will prevent the chambers from properly draining. In situations like this, you need to call for plumbers. Professionals can clean out the chambers and find the source of the limescale and chemicals.

You cannot allow water hammer to continue, thinking of it only as a mild inconvenience. These shockwaves are damaging to plumbing, causing the failure of fittings or creating burst pipes. Keep in mind that without the air chambers, the water pressure inside the pipes will be too high, and this will lead to numerous problems inside the plumbing.

Professional plumbers will find ways to reduce the pressure inside the pipe of your home; sometimes this involves installing air chambers or globe valves. Plumbers are accustomed to these repairs, so they will find the source of the issue quickly and have it taken care of.

Brooks Plumbing can remove your troubles with water hammer. For plumbing repair service in Olympia, WA, trust to our skilled staff of plumbers to handle it.

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Don’t Trust Store-Bought Solutions for Drain Cleaning

Monday, June 9th, 2014

It’s unfortunate that the bottles of chemicals on store shelves advertised for use on drains are called “liquid drain cleaners.” That makes them sound like legitimate methods of cleansing your bathroom and kitchen drains of clogs and any other obstructions. But ask any plumber for his or her opinion on these store-bought chemicals and you will hear the same answer: liquid “drain cleaner” should never actually be used on drains. Instead, other professional tools like plungers, drain snakes, and hydro-jetters should be brought in to do the job.

We’ll go into detail about why you should leave the drain cleaning bottles on the shelf and instead call for professionals to handle drain cleaning in Olympia, WA. If you want fast and dependable service, make your first call to Brooks Plumbing, where we take pride in “Quality in Everything We Do.”

The problems with chemical drain cleaners

  • They can damage your plumbing: To break through various kinds of clogs, these chemicals must have very acidic action, and it is strong enough to corrode pipes. Older pipes are especially at risk; however, newer PVC pipes are in danger of softening and eventually breaking apart. A single application may not hurt, but this is a problem that accrues over time. Residual amounts of the chemicals will remain in your drains even after you wash water down them, and the heat they release can boil the water in the drains. Drain cleaners may cost very little to purchase, but the eventual costs to repair the damage they create can be steep.
  • They can expose you to toxic gases: When you dump a whole bottleful of chemicals down the drain, it releases toxic gases that you may not initially notice except as a powerful antiseptic smell. These gases can contain chlorine and chloramine, which are poisonous and can cause damage to your respiratory system.
  • They are poisonous: Keep in mind that these bottles are huge containers of very powerful poisons. If you aren’t careful when using them, they can cause damage to your skin and eyes. Only a small amount left on the floor can harm your pet if it licks it up. And the warnings on the sides of the bottles that they should be kept out of reach of children… if you don’t have to have these bottles in your house, why would you?

Let plumbers handle the job safely and effectively

When you call for a plumber to perform your drain cleaning in Olympia, WA from Brooks Plumbing, you’ll have the work done with safe and clean tools like motorized drain snakes and hydro-jetters. These methods are proven effective and will cause no harm to your plumbing—or to you. Trust to the plumbing name that has served Seattle and Olympia since 1994.

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Signs of Trouble with Your Water Heater

Thursday, June 5th, 2014

You don’t want to be caught on a Monday morning with a shower that suddenly can’t produce enough hot water—or perhaps any hot water. When a water heater fails, it can mean a few days of discomfort for you and your family until a new one is installed.

Luckily, water heaters usually send warning signs that they are experiencing problems that call for immediate repairs to prevent a full failure. If you notice any of the problems below, get in contact with a repair specialist right away. You will be glad you took action sooner rather than later.

Since 1994, Brooks Plumbing has installed, repaired, and maintained water heaters. You can trust us with whatever problems you have with your home’s hot water supply and your water heater in Lacey, WA.

Warnings of a water heater that might be in trouble

  • Discolored water: If you turn on a hot water tap, and rust-colored water flows out, similar to what you might see after a long vacation, then the heater is either developing rust or has a build-up of sediment inside its tank. Rust needs to be remedied as soon as possible, or the whole water tank will need replacement. Excess sediment will require that technicians flush out the tank. If the sediment remains, it could start to block the valves in the tank.
  • The water isn’t as warm as before: When you notice that the water coming out of a hot water tap is lukewarm and not up to the temperature level you expect, a number of problems might be afflicting the water heater, such as reduced gas power to the jets or a broken mixing valve. These problems will almost always worsen, so have professionals on the job as soon as possible.
  • The hot water runs out too fast: On occasions when the hot water supply cuts off before it should, the issue is often due to a broken dip tube inside the tank, which will deposit cold water near the top of the tank and mix it with the hot water that the circulator pump sends out to the taps. The technicians can fix the dip tube and restore your hot water to its regular amount.

For any of the above problems, it’s possible that the heater has simply aged past the point where it can work efficiently and effectively, and the only “repair” that will stick is to replace the system with a new one. Your water heater repair technician will give you a set of options and help you select the one that will benefit your home and budget the most.

For honest answers and quality work for your water heater in Lacey, WA, call Brooks Plumbing today. We service both storage and tankless water heaters.

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