Brooks Plumbing Co. Blog

“Are My Pipes at Risk of Freezing?”

February 1st, 2021

icicles-dripping-from-pipeWe don’t exactly live in the artic. In fact, if you compared us to our friends in the Midwest or Northeast, they’d probably laugh at our ideas of “cold.” But while we can sometimes exaggerate the word “freezing,” the fact of the matter is, we do get freezing temperatures here in the Pacific Northwest. Anything below 32°F is, in fact, considered freezing and can subsequently lead to frozen pipes.

So to answer the question this post poses, yes, your pipes are at risk of freezing! Read on to learn more.

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The Top 3 Bathroom Remodeling Mistakes to Avoid

January 4th, 2021

concept-drawing-of-new-bathroom-fixtures-with-hands-held-up-in-forefrontYour bathroom either doesn’t function or doesn’t look the way you want it to, right? That’s why you’ve decided to read a blog post dedicated to bathroom remodeling, we’d guess. Bathroom remodels are big jobs, and can be really fun when you start seeing the results! As the most used room in the house next to the kitchen, it makes sense that you want to spruce up the space.

But when it comes to the plumbing fixtures within your bathroom, it really pays off to work closely with an experienced and qualified plumbing contractor. The level of care we can help you take in planning and prepping for your remodel will make a huge different in the results. In fact, it can ultimately help you save money.

Homeowners who forgo the professional route for a DIY method unfortunately tend to run into a few problems if they’re not well prepared. Read on as we uncover the top 3 mistakes we see folks make when it comes to their bathroom remodeling job.

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Winter Water Heater Woes: Protect Your System!

December 7th, 2020

technician-servicing-hot-water-heaterEncountering trouble with a water heater during the wintertime is actually pretty common. True, we don’t have as frigid temperatures as our neighbors in the Midwest and Northeast, but our winters still pack quite the punch. And if you’re noticing that you have to wait longer for warm water to come out of your faucets this winter, then the weather is probably to blame.

Read on as we uncover what happens to your water heater in the winter, and what you can do about it. If you’re experiencing trouble that goes beyond what you can handle, please give our professionals a call. We are highly trained and experienced when it comes to this service, and ready to help!

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How to Prevent Frozen Pipes This Winter

November 9th, 2020

pipe-with-icicles If you’ve lived in our area for even just a year, then you know it’s never really that warm. Wintertime is downright chilly! You also probably know that while we don’t get the blizzard type weather that those on the east coast get, snow and freezing temperatures are still a thing!

This means you have to take steps to make sure your home is protected against inclement weather, ice, and snowmelt. Have you checked to see that your drafty doors and windows are sealed up? Is a humidifier investment a good idea for you to protect your property and your family’s health? Are your plumbing pipes protected from freezing?

Too few homeowners think about that last point! Read on to learn why this is a problem and what you can do about it.

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Do You Need Hydro-Jetting Help?

October 12th, 2020

water-flowing-down-a-drainHow often do you think about the drain and sewer part of your plumbing system? If you’re like most homeowners, probably not much! You may think about it a little when you have a drain clog, but maybe you just reach for a bottle of liquid drain cleaner you got at the hardware store, and call it a day.

We could write an entire blog post on why you shouldn’t use these chemical “solutions” (in fact, we have!) The bottom line is, they are caustic and eat away at the lining of your pipes, ultimately doing more harm than good. Plus, if your clog originated from a blockage or problem in your sewer line, then a little bit of liquid drain cleaner isn’t going to resolve the problem.

For this, you will likely need the help of a hydro-jet, a type of drain snake that has an omnidirectional sprayer head on it that scours the lining of your pipes with a high-pressured stream of water. This not only removes whatever is sticking to the inside of your plumbing, but prevents clogs from happening in the future, too. Read on to learn how to tell when you may have a sewer line blockage and need this service!

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The Danger of Store-Bought Drain Cleaners

September 14th, 2020

water-running-down-a-drainIf you’re like most homeowners, then your first instinct when you encounter a clog or backup in a sink within your home is likely to reach for that bottle of store-bought drain cleaner you keep on hand. This seems like a good idea in theory, and will probably solve your problem, for a while, anyway. However, it won’t get to the root of the problem causing the clog, and may actually do more harm than good!

Look, we get it. The way that these drain cleaning “solutions” are marketed to homeowners makes it sound like they’re the best and most obvious resolution there is for drain clogs. But no professional plumber would ever recommend this. Read on to learn why.

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“Does My Tankless Water Heater Really Need Maintenance?”

August 17th, 2020

tankless-boiler-water-heaterThe short answer to this is, “Yes.” Of course, we’ll elaborate on that more below.

Look, we understand why you may not think a tankless water heater needs servicing just like a tank system would. While tank systems are large, sometimes fairly noisy, and have a pretty obvious presence in or on your property, a tankless system is just a small addition to the home.

But yes, they do need maintenance, and actually that maintenance is pretty similar to what a conventional storage tank system needs!

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Beware These Signs That Repiping Is in Your Future

July 20th, 2020

plumber-working-on-sink-pipeWhen it comes to plumbing problems, hearing that you need repiping services can be pretty daunting. After all, in some cases, repiping is necessary for the entire home. It’s an unfortunately common problem as the homes in our area continue to age, and their plumbing systems age with them. The good news is, once you have your home repiped, you don’ have to worry about it again for decades.

Before repiping can happen, however, you would need to know the signs that it’s even necessary, right? This can be a hard thing to spot since, after all, your plumbing system is mostly hidden from view behind walls or in your crawlspace. There are symptoms you can watch out for though, which we’ve covered below.

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How Not to Treat Your Kitchen Sink

June 22nd, 2020

woman-and-little-girl-washing-veggies-at-kitchen-sinkHave you ever tried to throw a banana peel down the drain, hoping your garbage disposal will grind it up? You might have been unpleasantly surprised…

Garbage disposal systems certainly are very convenient and easy to use, but they were not designed to chew up all types of garbage or uneaten scraps. In fact, there are quite a few things that homeowners throw down their kitchen sink that could damage the garbage disposal or even the drain itself.

So, we thought we’d provide you with a little guide below about what it is that shouldn’t go down your kitchen sink. 

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Ready to Remodel Your Bathroom? Here’s What You Ought to Know!

May 25th, 2020

kids-in-bathtubDeciding to remodel your bathroom can be both exciting and stressful. You are excited to have a beautiful, new bathroom, but you might not be sure how to get there. Hiring the right contractor for your home project can make a world of difference in saving you both time and money. We understand that doing it yourself might seem like the cheaper route, but trust us, a major project such as a remodel is best left to the professionals.

We recognize that you want your bathroom to be functional and comfortable, which is why we are here to help make that possible. Below, we have outlined some tips to help make remodeling a breeze! All you need to do is keep reading to find out more, and of course, remember to call us when you need a plumber in Olympia, WA. 

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