Brooks Plumbing Co. Blog: Archive for December, 2014

Why Do We Hang Up Mistletoe?

Thursday, December 25th, 2014

Of course, you probably know part of the answer to this question already. You hang up mistletoe so that the people standing underneath can share a romantic holiday kiss! But what you may not realize is that the origin of this longstanding ritual predates many of the other holiday traditions we celebrate today. Why would a plant that has many poisonous varieties (most types sold for use in the home have few negative effects, but you can wrap it in netting to prevent children from consuming any fallen berries or leaves) be used as a symbol of holiday affection?

There are a couple of ways to explain the positive associations of (potentially hazardous) mistletoe. For one, this semi-parasitic plant has long been hailed as a treatment for illnesses and pain. The ancient Greeks and Romans used it to cure cramps, epilepsy, and more. Even today, mistletoe extracts are one of the leading alternative medicines studied for their effectiveness in killing cancer cells. And because the early Celtic Druids saw it as a sign of healing and life, they may be the first to bestow upon the plant its romantic associations, deeming it worthy of treating the infertile.

But it is Norse mythology that is likely responsible for a majority of the modern traditions associated with this small hanging bunch. One of the powerful Norse god Odin’s sons, named Baldur, was said to be invincible due to an oath his mother took to protect him from harm. But Loki, a god who often set out to make trouble for the gods, set out to find the one thing that could do some damage, and eventually discovered that Baldur’s mother Frigg had never included mistletoe in her invincibility oath. When mistletoe was finally responsible for her son’s demise, the grieving Frigg vowed that the plant would never again be used to hurt another living thing, and that she would plant a peaceful kiss upon anyone who walked underneath it.

And that is one of the reasons that, today, kissing under the mistletoe is viewed as a source of good luck. From our family to yours, we wish you a safe holiday season, and we hope that you and your family are full of joy and good fortune—mistletoe or not! Happy holidays from Brooks Plumbing!

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Is a Tankless Water Heater Worth the Cost?

Friday, December 19th, 2014

More and more people in the United States are discovering the many benefits of tankless water heaters. Tankless water heaters were designed in order to alleviate the energy loss that comes along with owning a standard storage tank water heater. Storage tank water heaters use up a lot of energy throughout the day, resulting in high utilities and wasted natural resources. But with a tankless water heater, you won’t run into these problems, and you’ll save some money in the meantime.

But every now and then, someone raises the question of whether a tankless unit is really worth it. Tankless units tend to be higher in cost than storage tanks because they have more complicated machinery for operation. Traditional units, on the other hand, work under the simple natural principle that heat rises. Water feeds into the tank from the top through a long tube that leads to the bottom. A gas burner or electric heating element heats up the water, which then rises above the denser, colder water and reaches your faucets through a tube at the top of the tank.

But this means you have to leave the heat running all day even though you only use hot water every so often in the course of a day, an issue known as standby energy loss. With a tankless unit, a computer simply communicates to the unit when a hot water tap in the home has been turned on. Water heats up as soon as it passes by the heating element, and the heat shuts off immediately afterwards.

Yes, a storage tank water heater will eventually offset the cost of installation, and many feel that the initial investment is 100% worth it. However, a standard storage tank unit is still right for many homeowners. For some people, initial cost is simply too important a factor for them to worry about the future energy savings, especially since it will take many years to compensate for the expense. Besides, tankless units have been known to struggle when it comes to heavy heating loads in larger households, and you may find yourself needing multiple units at an even greater cost.

You don’t have to make the decision on your own. Call Brooks Plumbing to discuss tank and tankless water heaters in Olympia and to schedule professional installation or service.

Tags: Olympia, Tankless Water Heaters
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How Can I Tell that I Need Video Pipe Inspection for My Plumbing?

Friday, December 12th, 2014

Honestly, this question is best left up to the professional that responds to your home. He or she will be able to judge the situation and whether or not it needs any given solution. That being said, it’s never a bad thing to know more about your plumbing system, and the problems associated with it. Let’s take a look at what video pipe inspection is, and when it is most appropriate.

Video Pipe Inspection

Video pipe inspection is a type of visual inspected conducted by remote. It utilizes a small camera, equipped with lights and motors that allow it to see and rotate. Additional equipment may be attached, depending on the needs of the technician. These cameras are attached to a long cable, which often connects to a power source in the service truck.

During the pipe inspection, the camera is lowered down the pipe. Rollers are often used to improve the camera’s mobility. Once the camera is in place, the camera operator uses a computer to view the feed and remotely control the camera’s movement.

Why Use Video Pipe Inspection?

Video pipe inspection is commonly used to gain more information about blockages in your home’s pipes. Without knowing what exactly is causing the blockage, the technician is operating at a disadvantage when trying to remove it. It could be a tangle of hair, or food waste, or lime scale. It could even be a tree root that’s grown into the pipe. If the technician tries to remove a tree root, believing it to be hair, he or she can damage equipment and waste time. For this reason, video pipe inspections are used to verify what exactly the problem is before a solution is decided.

Video pipe inspections are not limited to blockages. In areas where the pipe is inaccessible any other way, video pipe inspections can find leaks and other damage that would otherwise be difficult to address.

If you need help with your plumbing, call Brooks Plumbing to schedule professional plumbing services in the Olympia area.

Tags: Olympia, Video Pipe Inspection
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Repairs You May Need for the Kitchen Sink

Friday, December 5th, 2014

It’s pretty hard to do anything in your kitchen without a properly-working kitchen sink, which is one of the reasons why problems with your kitchen can be such a nuisance. Unfortunately, problems don’t resolve themselves, so if you experience any of the following kitchen plumbing issues, call a Brooks Plumbing expert for help:

Leaky Faucets

Leaky faucets can waste a great deal of water and if left to drip for a long period of time, can erode and/or rust the area on which it is dripping. You can check the faucet aerator yourself by unscrewing it; if there is debris in the aerator, wash it out and screw the aerator back on. If your faucet continues leaking, call for an expert.

Clogged Drain

It isn’t unusual for food to lodge in your kitchen sink, or for grease to build-up inside the piping. These things and other issues can cause your kitchen sink to clog. You can try to plunge your sink, but if that doesn’t resolve the problem, call for help. Note: do NOT use chemical drain cleaners. These products have very harsh chemical that can damage your plumbing and many times do not resolve the issue.

Issues with Garbage Disposal

Garbage disposal can be misused, with items like plastic and glass being flushed down the sink. Garbage disposals are not for garbage; they are made to reduce food waste only, so only food should be washed into them. Most garbage disposals have a reset button on the motor, so if your disposal isn’t working, you try that first. If your disposal still doesn’t work after pressing the reset button, it’s best to call for assistance.

Trained and experienced plumbers have the right tools, knowledge and expertise to fix your plumbing problems quickly, correctly and efficiently. If you are experiencing problems with your kitchen sink, or have any other kind of plumbing problem, call Brooks Plumbing today and schedule plumbing repair in Olympia with one of our expert plumbers.

Tags: Olympia, Plumbing Repair
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