Brooks Plumbing Co. Blog

Plumbing Resolutions for the New Year

January 3rd, 2024
plus-size-woman-looks-out-window-holding-coffee-mug

As we usher in the New Year, it’s the perfect time to reflect on ways to improve our lives, including taking steps to care for our homes. One often overlooked aspect is the plumbing system—a vital component that ensures your daily activities run smoothly. 

Let’s go over some essential plumbing resolutions for Pacific Northwest homeowners to adopt in the coming year. By incorporating these resolutions into your routine, you can prevent costly plumbing issues and invest in your plumbing system’s health.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Plumbing | Comments Off on Plumbing Resolutions for the New Year

Plumbing Tips for the Ho-Ho-Holidays

December 18th, 2023
family-gathered-around-kitchen-table-for-holiday-meal

Christmas and New Year’s are just around the corner. It’s a busy time of year for many people who find themselves at home more, baking and cooking more, and having more guests over than at perhaps any other time of year.

All that extra activity means that your plumbing system will also be used a lot more than it usually is. From hosting out-of-town visitors, to cooking a huge meal for the family, the last thing you want is for your plumbing to suffer a major breakdown during the most wonderful time of the year.

Here are some tips on how to keep your plumbing system running smoothly during the ho-ho-holidays. In fact, these tips could be applied to just about any time of year.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Plumbing | Comments Off on Plumbing Tips for the Ho-Ho-Holidays

Efficiency Ratings on Water Heaters: Why It’s Important

November 6th, 2023
hot-steamy-water-coming-from-a-faucet

Did you know that water heaters account for around 18% of your home’s energy usage? It makes sense when you consider what a workhorse your home’s water heater is. It keeps you supplied with hot water for numerous everyday tasks, whenever you need it.

Because you rely on your water heater so much, it pays to do some research on water heater efficiency. Here are some things to consider if you’re in the market for a new water heater. Doing 5 to 10 minutes of research can pay off in the long run when you’re an informed homeowner.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Water Heaters | Comments Off on Efficiency Ratings on Water Heaters: Why It’s Important

6 Fall Plumbing Maintenance Tips

October 9th, 2023
A woman's hand holding a paper notebook and pencil against the yellow leaves in the soft sunlight. Autumn mood, empty space for text

Fall is officially here in the Pacific Northwest! That means it’s time to bust out your fall home maintenance checklist.

What’s that you say? You don’t have a fall home maintenance checklist? Well, now is the perfect time to start one! That’s because as a homeowner, you need to do everything you can to make sure your home sails through our extended season of cold, rainy weather and short, dark days. The last thing you want interrupting your enjoyment of fall is having to call a plumber for a burst pipe or a flooded basement.

Let’s go over 6 essential fall plumbing maintenance tasks.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Plumbing | Comments Off on 6 Fall Plumbing Maintenance Tips

7 Small Plumbing Issues That Can Become Big Problems

September 11th, 2023

When you’re a homeowner, your list of things to stay on top of is long. We know how much there is to do and how easy it is to overlook small things that aren’t causing any problems right now. However, the keywords here are “right now.” Just because a tiny problem isn’t causing chaos doesn’t mean it should be completely dismissed.

When it comes to your DuPont, WA home’s pipes and plumbing, what might seem like a minor inconvenience right now has the capacity to escalate into a costly, major repair. To avoid future disasters down the line, it’s wise to call for plumbing service before they worsen.

Here are seven plumbing problems that you shouldn’t ignore.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Plumbing | Comments Off on 7 Small Plumbing Issues That Can Become Big Problems

How To Waste Less Water in Your Bathrooms

August 7th, 2023
hand-under-shower

Here in the Pacific Northwest, we’re blessed with an abundance of freshwater sources. However, that isn’t a free license to waste water. In fact, many Washington State homeowners pride themselves on their low environmental impact. Part of “being green” in the Evergreen state means not being a water hog. Using less water has other benefits besides the environmental benefits: it will also reduce your water bills, something every homeowner will welcome.

We often receive questions from homeowners about ways to decrease the use of water in the home. Let’s focus on some of the ways you can decrease your water use in the bathroom. From showers, baths, and toilets, bathrooms are the biggest water hogs in a household, accounting for almost half of a home’s water use. Here are some easy ways to conserve water that’ll save you hundreds or even thousands of gallons of water a year.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Plumbing | Comments Off on How To Waste Less Water in Your Bathrooms

Common Summer Plumbing Problems in the Pacific Northwest

July 10th, 2023
father-and-son-barbecue

Summer is the perfect season for many fun activities we don’t do as frequently at other times of the year. Outdoor barbecues, camping, and beach trips are some things we enjoy here in the Pacific Northwest.

Summer also brings a host of plumbing issues that people don’t experience during other times of the year. Also, just having more family members at home during the day can make demands on your plumbing system that it isn’t used to.

Let’s go over four examples of summertime activities that might result in the need for drain cleaning in Olympia, WA.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Plumbing | Comments Off on Common Summer Plumbing Problems in the Pacific Northwest

Warning Signs of a Damaged Sewer Pipe

June 5th, 2023

If you were to think about how much your home’s drains and sewer lines get used on a daily basis, it’ll make you wonder how they last so long without developing problems. In a year, the average family drains thousands of gallons of water, sewage, paper products, and grease through sewer pipes. All of this combines to significantly raise the risk of damage to a sewer pipe or the creation of blockages.

Homes that were built in the 1970s or earlier are particularly vulnerable to damaged sewer pipes because these were often made using cast iron. Because sewer line issues are something that no homeowner wants to ever have to deal with, it’s important to know all the warning signs that your home has a damaged sewer pipe. If you ever suspect an issue, be sure to call us for plumbing services in Lacey, WA.

Continue Reading

Tags: , ,
Posted in Plumbing | Comments Off on Warning Signs of a Damaged Sewer Pipe

Why You Shouldn’t DIY Install A Water Heater

May 8th, 2023
Technician servicing an hot-water heater

So you want to DIY install a water heater. You’ve seen a few YouTube videos. You’ve got your eye on the model you want at the big-box hardware store. You consider yourself a fairly handy person. You’re thinking, “Why shouldn’t I install my water heater myself?” 

Well, we’re here to tell you the many reasons why DIY water heater installation is a bad idea no matter how many tutorials you’ve seen. From needing a permit to the many safety hazards, installing a water heater yourself is risky for several reasons.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Plumbing | Comments Off on Why You Shouldn’t DIY Install A Water Heater

4 Common Bathroom Plumbing Problems

April 10th, 2023
little-boy-in-bathtub-dad-with-bubbles-on-face

There are some bathroom plumbing issues that are easy to ignore. A running toilet and a leaky faucet are some things you may be tempted to put off having fixed for as long as possible. 

However, there are some types of problems with your bathroom plumbing in Olympia, WA that shouldn’t be ignored. Unless they’re addressed soon, they can quickly become big problems. Let’s look at four of the most common bathroom plumbing problems so you’ll know which can wait and which should be fixed as soon as possible.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Plumbing | Comments Off on 4 Common Bathroom Plumbing Problems