Brooks Plumbing Co. Blog: Archive for October, 2014

How to Prevent Kitchen Plumbing Repair

Friday, October 31st, 2014

Waiting for a repair technician to fix your kitchen plumbing can be an unpleasant situation. Your plumber may try to show up as quickly as possible, but your dinner plans are already ruined, as you cannot properly drain wastewater, or because your kitchen sink does not provide adequate water pressure.

There are a few things you can do to keep things running smoothly in your kitchen. If you do find yourself in need of kitchen plumbing repairs in Olympia, call on the expertise of the skilled plumbers at Brooks Plumbing right away.

  • Dispose of F.O.G. in a separate trash receptacle. Fats, oils, and grease (F.O.G.) can cause a lot of problems for your plumbing even though they may appear to be harmless. When grease cools down it solidifies, and it may become stuck to the insides of your pipes. As you add additional F.O.G. and food of the garbage disposal, they can become caught along with the sludge, until a major drain clog forms.
  • Don’t use chemical drain cleaners in case of a clog. Any plumber will tell you that chemical drain cleaners are dangerous and can have disastrous effects for the skin and eyes. Also, these liquid cleaners are simply incapable of dissolving every type of blockage that may affect your drain pipes. If a plunger does not dislodge a kitchen plumbing clog, you need professionals with drain augers and other tools to clear away blockage for good.
  • Do not throw non-food items, hard food items, or fibrous foods in the garbage disposal. Plastic, paper, glass, metal, and hard-food items such as meat bones do not belong in your garbage disposal. Your unit simply cannot process these types of items and may break down in the process, so that you’ll need to replace your entire unit to avoid clogs. Additionally, fibrous foods like corn husks and celery can wrap around the blades, impairing your unit.
  • Schedule plumbing maintenance every year. Finally, be sure to schedule plumbing maintenance every year for a thorough inspection of your pipes and fixtures. Plumbers will look for any leaks that could reduce the water pressure of your kitchen sink and will clean and adjust components of your plumbing as needed.

If you need a plumber in Olympia, call the friendly technicians at Brooks Plumbing today!

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Plumbing | Comments Off on How to Prevent Kitchen Plumbing Repair

When Is a Grease Trap Necessary?

Friday, October 24th, 2014

Experts advise that you throw out any type of grease, fat, or oil in a separate trash receptacle instead of pouring it down the drain in your kitchen. This is because these substances can cause major problems for your plumbing system and for the environment. Of course, when you rinse dishes and put food down the disposal, some fat and oil will undoubtedly make its way into the pipes. This is why many homeowners choose to install a grease trap and why most commercial kitchens are required to do so.

Why Is Grease Such a Problem for the Drains?

Fats, oils, and greases (FOGs) seem rather innocuous, don’t they? However, these substances can solidify as they begin to cool down. And as they do so, they can cling to the insides of drain pipes. As food scraps and other debris move through the pipes, they may become stuck on to the sludge that lines the pipes and cause blockage that will require a professional to remove. Furthermore, these oils can create problems in the septic tank or sewer main and allow sewage to release into the environment and pose a risk to public health.

What Types of Structures Require a Grease Trap?

Many cities require a grease trap in order to keep grease out of the sewer system. In many cases, you will be fined if you are found to be responsible for any sewer backup caused by a lack of grease interceptors in your commercial kitchen. The fact is that your commercial kitchen disposes of large quantities of FOG daily, and you need a system that can separate these substances from the wastewater. However, many experts also recommend grease traps for use in homes, especially if you do a lot of cooking and cleaning or if you tend to put greasy dishes in the dishwasher.

Choose Professionals for Grease Trap Installation

Grease trap installation is a job best completed by professional technicians. There are a couple of reasons you should not try this on your own. For one, a grease trap must be properly sized so that grease does not accumulate too quickly. Furthermore, an expert is the best person to keep you informed about how often to clean out the trap.

Need a plumber in Olympia for quality grease trap installation? Call Brooks Plumbing today!

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Plumbing | Comments Off on When Is a Grease Trap Necessary?

The Reason for Loud Noises from Your Water Heater

Friday, October 17th, 2014

Your water heater works hard to produce hot water for the tasks you rely on every day, so it’s important to take care of your water heater in return. This includes calling an expert for maintenance from time to time and calling for repairs whenever you notice a problem. Sometimes, problems with your water heater result in a total lack of hot water, which generally convinces you to call for repairs as soon as possible.

But another pressing issue to pay attention to is loud noises, which may mean your unit is at risk of failure or sudden leaks. Loud noises may indicate a couple of different issues, and we’ll go over each of them here. When you need water heater repairs in Olympia, be sure to trust the experts at Brooks Plumbing.

Some Causes of Different Noises

Noises from your water heater may indicate a couple of different problems. If you don’t call for repairs soon, these could worsen and cause your unit to break down.

  • Sediment in the Tank: A banging or rattling noise from the tank may indicate that sediment is loosely rattling around in there. If you have hard water in your home, minerals can build up inside of the tank. Often, this only means the tank needs to be drained, and a technician can ensure the proper procedure to flush the tank of any sediment. In some cases, this can cause blockages and increase the pressure in the tank.
  • Water on the Burner: Another common sound is sizzling, which may happen whether or not the water heater is in use. This usually indicates that condensation is dripping onto the burner of a gas heater. This may mean you don’t get enough heating, even though you continue to consume energy throughout the day.
  • High Pressure: Your water heater has components in place to monitor the pressure, but the sound of rushing water could mean this system has failed and the pressure is too high. You may need a new pressure relief valve. On the other hand, too much sediment in the tank increases the volume, which could cause irreparable damage, increasing the pressure. In some cases, this means you need an entirely new unit.

For professional water heater repairs in Olympia, call the experts at Brooks Plumbing today!

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Water Heaters | Comments Off on The Reason for Loud Noises from Your Water Heater

Causes of Discolored Water from Your Water Heater

Friday, October 10th, 2014

If you turn on a hot water tap in your home and notice the water is not clear, don’t panic. If your water heater or plumbing system is well-maintained and is not yet due for replacement, there is a good chance that you simply have a small problem that requires repair. However, if you have an older water heater, one that was poorly installed, or one that is not well-maintained, brown or rust-colored water may indicate serious corrosion.

You need a plumber experienced in water heater repairs so that you can be sure you get the repair or replacement services you need. To schedule water heater repairs in Olympia, call the experts at Brooks Plumbing. If you want to know more about the possible causes of discoloration from hot water, take a look at the following list.

  • Worn Anode Rod: The anode rod attracts particles that cause rust and corrosion to protect your tank. If this rusts through, however, your water may turn a reddish-brown color, and, eventually, your tank may begin to rust. This is a small part that should be replaced from time to time, which is why it’s important to have a plumber inspect your water heater during a maintenance visit once a year.
  • Corroded Tank: However, if your anode rod is not very old and rust does begin to affect your tank, replacement is usually the only option. Most water heaters will last over 10 years with proper maintenance, so if your unit has not reached this point, discoloration could point to a different issue.
  • Excess Sediment: Your storage tank water heater stores water at all times, so minerals from the water supply may begin to settle at the bottom of the tank over time. Too many of these minerals may make the water appear yellow, which is why it’s important to have a professional flush your tank from time to time.
  • Rusty Pipes: If both the hot and cold water taps produce discoloration, the problem may unfortunately be in your pipes.  Galvanized steel pipes will eventually rust through, and should be replaced with modern copper or plastic piping.

For plumbing service and water heater repairs in Olympia, call the friendly technicians at Brooks Plumbing today!

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Water Heaters | Comments Off on Causes of Discolored Water from Your Water Heater

Why Is Sizing Important for Water Heater Tanks?

Friday, October 3rd, 2014

When you need a large plumbing installation, such as a new water heater, it’s important that you let a trained professional handle all of the heavy work. One misstep can cause water to flood into your home, and faulty installation can mean you’ll end up with some large repairs early on.

But what’s also important is that you let a trained professional choose the proper size unit for your home. To some homeowners, this may not seem like a complicated task. If you have budgetary limitations, you may opt for a smaller system. Or, you may choose a larger unit to ensure you get enough hot water. But these assumptions can cost you money in repairs and on your energy bills over time. That’s why it’s important to let a professional help you through every step of the process.

Here’s why sizing a storage tank water heater is not a job for the inexperienced. And when you need water heater service in Olympia, trust one of the plumbing experts at Brooks Plumbing.

Sizing Storage Tank Water Heaters

Sizing a water heater depends on a couple of factors. For one, a technician must determine the amount of hot water used during the busiest hour of the day. This is referred to as the FHR, or first hour rating, because many households use a lot of hot water early in the first hours of the day. A technician may be able to make calculations based on the number of people in the home, but some homeowners have additional water heating needs to take into account.

The home’s FHR should match up to the unit’s FHR. However, you’ll also need to consider the EF, or energy factor. This number lets you know how much of the energy used by the water heater is used as hot water. When factoring the size of the unit into your budget, you should also consider this factor to help you choose a system that is cost-effective over time.

A system that is too small will not get the job done, but an oversized system will cost you a lot more every month. For water heater service in Olympia, let the professionals at Brooks Plumbing do the work for you. Call us today!

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Water Heaters | Comments Off on Why Is Sizing Important for Water Heater Tanks?