Earlier this year, we published a blog post in which we described a couple important factors to consider when remodeling your bathroom. This included considering practicality over elegance, and making the most of the space you have. We also briefly touched on why it’s so important to work with a qualified plumber. Below, we’ve shared a few common plumbing mistakes people make when they choose to forgo professional work.
Brooks Plumbing Co. Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Tumwater’
When DIY Bathroom Remodeling Goes Bad: Common Plumbing Mistakes
Monday, May 9th, 2016Beware of Bathroom Clogs
Monday, April 11th, 2016Tumwater, WA homeowners always need to keep an eye of their plumbing, particularly in the bathroom. We use out bathrooms more than any other part of the house, and with the toilet, sink and show located there in nearly every home, that can be ground zero for clogs in your pipes. The good news is that a trained plumber can take care of it for you, though you should always call one rather than trying to take care of a clog yourself in any but the most benign circumstances. By understanding what causes clogs in your bathroom, you can prevent them from forming in the first place, and save yourself a lot of trouble. Here’s a quick list:
Signs that You Need Professional Drain Cleaning
Friday, February 27th, 2015When you clean out your bathroom, you try to get every nook and cranny. You can scrub the grout, bleach each corner of the tub, and reach behind the sink faucets with a small brush, but there’s one area of the home that you may never reach on your own: the drains. The drains extend all the way to the sewer line, and there is likely debris clinging to the lining of your drain pipes that you cannot clean yourself.
It’s important to remember as well that typical drain cleaning chemicals sold in stores are not a viable solution for clogged drains. In fact, these chemicals are some of the most toxic things available for homeowners to purchase. They are very harmful to your health if ingested and may cause injury to the skin and eyes. Furthermore, they can damage pipes, and they really don’t get rid of most of the things that lead to clogs.
Cleaning Slow Drains
Slow drains or drains that will not work at all deserve professional attention if a plunger will not do the trick. Plungers are some of the only safe items sold for drain removal, while plumbers have much larger equipment for clogs that are located further along in the pipes. As soon as you notice that your drains are not working properly—especially if it happens in multiple drains in the home—professional drain cleaning is the best option to keep backup from occurring.
Plumbing professionals have drain snakes that reach deep into the pipes to pull out clogs or to break up the blockage so that it can move down the pipes. Many experts use video cameras to assess the pipes in order to determine what type of tool to use and where the blockage is located, to repair the problem more accurately and quickly.
Schedule a Drain Cleaning
You may also choose to schedule drain cleaning in order to take preventive action against clogs. When there are minor blockages in your pipes, it may not be immediately apparent. But experts will inspect your pipes in order to make sure that there is no major blockage that could lead to a big clog in the future, and remove any blockage they can.
Call us today at Brooks Plumbing for quality drain cleaning in Tumwater.
Signs that You Need to Replace Your Water Line
Friday, February 20th, 2015Since the advent of copper pipes in the mid-twentieth century as the primary plumbing material, the life expectancy for plumbing systems has increased to almost 100 years. This newfound resilience has been a great gift to homeowners, who don’t have to worry about their pipes rusting out from under them anymore.
Copper pipes are not immune to all damage, however, and there are still plenty of older homes that don’t use copper pipes. Let’s take a look at some of the signs that you need to replace your water line.
Discolored Water
Common in homes with iron, steel, or lead pipes. If you notice red or brown water coming out of your faucets, it’s a sign of advanced oxidization somewhere in your plumbing system. Rust that is this advanced is dangerous, because it increases the chance that a pipe will rupture. If you see discoloration in your water, call a plumber right away. Honestly, if you know that you have an older pipe system, especially if it’s lead, you should probably replace your pipes anyway.
Loss of Water Pressure
A loss of water pressure can be caused by a number of plumbing issues, one of which is a leak or blockage in your home’s water line. Obviously, neither of those things is good for the health of your system. Depending on the size of the leak (or blockage) it may be possible to repair the issue without replacing the line. However, it is often less expensive to simply replace the water line.
Visible Corrosion
While most of your home’s plumbing is installed out of sight, there are many homes that have water lines that are at least partially visible. If you have any part of your plumbing system that can be visually inspected, make a habit of doing so at least once a year. You’ll want to look for any signs of corrosion, which often manifests as a white, chalky substance on the pipes. Depending on how widespread the corrosion is, you may have to replace the water line. Copper pipes are vulnerable to this condition, so be sure not to skip checking them as well.
If you think you may need to replace your water line, call Brooks Plumbing. We provide plumbing repair throughout Tumwater.
Fix That Leaky Faucet! Here’s What It Could Be Costing You
Friday, August 22nd, 2014A dripping faucet in your bathroom can keep you up at night, but this isn’t something that you need to find a way to “live with.” The same goes for a leaky kitchen faucet which you can ignore when you’re somewhere else in the house. What looks like a small inconvenience is actually much more. A leaking faucet is wasting water and costing you money, far more than you may think.
If you have one or more faucets leaking in your home and you can’t stop them, you need to call for a plumber to come out to fix the problem. Brooks Plumbing can take care of any leaky faucets in your home, as well as any plumbing problem that can plague your pipes and appliances. We’ve brought great plumbing service to the Olympia area for 20 years, and we strive for the highest quality in everything we do. If you need a plumber in Tumwater, WA, don’t hesitate to call.
The Unpleasant Truth about Leaking Faucets
The small size of the drips from faucets can easily trick people into thinking that a leaking faucet is no big deal—those drips can’t possible add up to enough water to make a difference. However, the actual numbers on the volume of water that goes down the drain from a leaky faucet show that theses drip make a big difference.
For example, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the leaks from an average household can equal 10,000 gallons of water each year, which is equivalent to 270 loads of laundry. For a single faucet that leaks one drip per second can waste 3,000 gallons each year, which equals approximately 180 showers. And at least 10% of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day. If you make the effort to have professionals fix basic leaks (not counting leaking in pipes), it will save you 10% on your water bills annually.
Take a look over your water bills for the last year and add them up. Now calculate what a tenth of that amount is: that’s how much you can waste every year if you allow leaky faucets to continue drip-drip-dripping.
Remember, this is not just an issue for your house, but an issue for water conservation in general. When you have a leaking faucet fixed promptly, you’re helping the planet along with helping your water budget.
You can call on Brooks Plumbing to help stop water leaks in your home. We’ll send a plumber who will also look to find other places in your home where you may be wasting water. We strongly recommend that you have new low-flow faucets installed to replace leaking ones; along with stopping the leaks, these new faucets will lower your water usage an additional 30%.
Why You Should Never Conduct Plumbing Repairs Yourself
Thursday, March 27th, 2014When it comes to home plumbing, many people fancy themselves DIY experts because they have a box of wrenches, some extra gaskets, and the willpower to get jobs done inexpensively on their own. Self-sufficiency and economy are admirable goals… but there are some important reasons why you need to leave plumbing repairs any more complex than using a sink plunger to trained professionals, as we’ll explain.
Finding dedicated and skilled plumbers to handle any repairs for plumbing in Tumwater, WA is simple: call up Brooks Plumbing, where our skilled team has helped keep plumbing healthy since 1994. We aim for “Quality in Everything We Do.”
Why you must leave plumbing repairs to professionals
- Professionals have the right tools: A box of different-sized wrenches does not a professional plumber make. Contemporary plumbing requires a range of high-end equipment that goes beyond wrenches. For example, professional plumbers use hydro-jetters and mechanical drain snakes to handle clogs, and to locate leaks they use intricate sound equipment and pressure sensors. All of this equipment is expensive and difficult to operate, so you should only trust professionals when it comes to repairs.
- Professionals have the time and dedication: Unless you are a professional plumber, you won’t have the time and focus necessary to handle important plumbing tasks. (Not to mention that, without proper training, it will take you much longer to do any repairs.) Professional plumbers will dedicate their time and effort to making sure you have the best repairs necessary.
- Professionals will protect your home: Amateur plumbing repair poses a major risk to your home if it goes wrong. Plumbing errors can lead to leaking and even flooding, causing a chain reaction of problems that will cause you to need to call up professionals eventually. Avoid potential catastrophes in your plumbing and bring on the experts from the beginning.
- Professionals will save you money: In plumbing, DIY will rarely cut down on your costs—it will create more costs because of the need for additional repairs, the drain on your time, and the potential to waste water from improperly executed work. Hiring a professional will cut down on later expenses.
So when you need leaky pipes fixed, a water heater replaced, or a tough clog cleared, don’t reach for a tool belt… reach for the phone instead and call Brooks Plumbing. We can perform repairs for your plumbing in Tumwater, WA that will keep your water flowing.
Should I Install a Tankless Water Heater?
Tuesday, January 14th, 2014Tankless water heaters stand as a viable alternative to traditional tanked models, getting rid of the large, cumbersome tank in favor of a system that heats the water instantly. As the water passes through the heater on the way to your faucet or shower head, it is instantly heated via a series of electrical coils or a gas heater. That spares you the expense of maintaining gallons of hot water in a tank, though installation costs for a tankless heater can be larger and the system works better in some circumstances than others. Here in Tumwater, tankless water heaters are a solid option, but the question remains: “should I install a tankless water heater?” The answer depends on your circumstances.
The first question comes with the number of people in your household. Tankless water heaters can become overwhelmed if they are saddled with too many demands at the same time, which means that smaller households benefit from it more than larger households. That also counts for the number of fixtures a tankless water heater needs to supply. If you have a lot of sinks, you may need to install multiple units in your home, which will increase the overall installation cost significantly.
Then there’s the question of amount of use. A tanked heater can be very expensive to maintain in a second home or a vacation home, as well as requiring regular maintenance in order to keep ahead of general wear and tear. A tankless system can mitigate that, since it doesn’t rely on standing water and can usually be activated instantly. That makes them quite desirable for homes that are left unoccupied for certain parts of the year.
And of course, you need to consider the savings over time versus the initial cost of installation, which can be influenced by your present circumstances and needs. A good advisor can help you with all of that, then set up an installation schedule that meets your specifications. In Tumwater, tankless water heaters can be installed by the experts at Brooks Plumbing. Our staff of trained professionals is on call to answer any questions you may have. If you’re asking “should I install a tankless water heater?” contact us today. You’ll be glad that you did!
Common Problems with Garbage Disposal Units
Monday, December 9th, 2013Garbage disposals are one of the best conveniences in modern kitchens, but with all the work that they need to do, they can occasionally malfunction. Here are a few problems with garbage disposals that we often encounter in our work. Call Brooks Plumbing when you need assistance with a malfunctioning garbage disposal unit. We handle all types of plumbing repair services in Tumwater, WA.
Before getting started, keep in mind The Golden Rule of Garbage Disposal Problems: Thou shalt never stick thy hand down into a garbage disposal. If you can’t solve the problem from outside the disposal unit, call a professional to handle the trouble.
Some common garbage disposal problems:
- Clogs from grease, oil, and fat: You may have heard warnings to never pour liquid oil, grease, or fat down your kitchen drains. Unfortunately, people often misinterpret this advice to think that it does not apply to garbage disposals, because they are supposed to process food. But garbage disposals still link to a drain pipe, and so when those liquids cool and solidify into a waxy substance, they can still end up clogging the pipes. They can also jam the moving parts inside disposals, causing them to overwork and eventually trip their circuit breakers.
- Jams from solid objects: Here’s a good rule of thumb for what should and should not go down a garbage disposal: If you can’t chew it, your garbage disposal can’t chew it either. Put food leftovers like animal bones into the garbage, not the disposal. The same goes for un-popped popcorn kernels. In general, avoid treating the garbage disposal like an actual garbage. Non-food waste products—like glass, metals, and paper—should never go down there, or else or disposal could end up with a serious jam that will require a professional plumber to repair it.
- Leaks: If your disposal is an older unit, loose screws and corroded gaskets can cause it to start leaking. In some cases, a repair technician can refasten the unit, apply sealant, or replace the gaskets to stop the problem. However, if the unit is extremely old, it may be better to replace it entirely rather than making numerous repairs.
- Disposal won’t run: First make sure that the unit hasn’t become unplugged. Then check the reset switch along the bottom of the unit to see if it has popped out. If you reset this and attempt to turn the disposal on again, and it still won’t run (only producing a humming noise until the reset switch pops out again) then the flywheel is stuck. Call a plumber to help you dislodge it—don’t put your hand down into the disposal to try to loosen it.
Although you may get through a few days without a disposal, it’s a major inconvenience, and it will also mean that food particles will start going down your regular sink, leading to it clogging. If you can’t figure out how to safely get your disposal working once more, call for plumbing experts. Brooks Plumbing can provide you with the right plumbing repair in Tumwater, WA.
What Causes a Pipe to Freeze?
Monday, November 11th, 2013It’s one the great nemesis that your plumbing faces during a particularly cold winter in Washington, State: frozen pipes. Not only do frozen pipes block up the flow of water, but they can easily cause pipes to break and shatter because ice takes up more volume than liquid water. Although Washington has less harsh winters than other northern states, it only takes a few days of below freezing temperature to give your pipes serious grief.
If you have emergencies from frozen pipes, or from any other trouble that winter can throw at you at your plumbing, you need a company with a reputation for professionalism and quality work to take care of the repairs. Brooks Plumbing is ready to help you with professional plumbing services in Tumwater, WA.
The temperature at which pipes are in danger of freezing varies, but field tests from the Building Research Council at the University of Illinois put the average alert temperature at 20°F or below. Water resting inside pipes will start to freeze at this point. (For this reason, we suggest occasionally running water through faucets that don’t receive much use, since water flow helps ward off freezing.)
In Washington State, most of our plumbing is inside our homes instead of outside them, so they are less susceptible to freezing during cold weather. But if there are insulation leaks in your home, especially in areas that contain exposed pipes like the basement, then temperature drops will put your plumbing at risk. One of the first steps to take to see that your pipes don’t freeze is to take care of major heat leaks in your home. Cold air will also escape through holes in walls where cables and phone lines go to the outside: watch for trouble with pipes in these areas.
Pipes with poor insulation are particularly in danger from freezing. Exposed pipes should have effective insulation, such as sleeves, to keep heat from escaping from them and causing the water inside to freeze. There are also options for electric heating from cables along pipes, but you should never attempt to install this yourself. In general, when it comes to pipe insulation, leave the job to professional plumbers.
If you think you have piping in your home that is in danger of freezing during the coming winter, don’t wait to find it out on the coldest day of the year: contact Brooks Plumbing for expert advice on how to protect your plumbing in Tumwater, WA. We can locate where your pipes might be in danger and find solutions that will keep the water flowing through them the whole winter.
How to Tell if You Need Whole House Repiping
Monday, November 4th, 2013Plumbing is perhaps the most important component in your house: providing you with clean, safe water for bathing and cooking. Your system of pipes needs to be dependable day in and day out, and with durable components, you can expect your plumbing system to last you for many years. Sooner or later, however, everything wears out, and the time may come when you need to replace your existing system with an entirely new one. In towns like Tumwater, plumbing installation means factoring in seasonal rains and other local conditions, as well as the inherent logistics of getting a new set of pipes put in your home in a timely fashion. Before you undertake such an installation, you need to determine if the need is there. Here’s how to tell if you need whole house repiping.
The facts of the matter won’t arrive all at once. Even a large repair may only stem from a single problematic pipe, not your entire system. In all likelihood, then need for a whole system replacement will arise only over time, as costs build up. You may notice that you need frequent repairs over multiple parts of the house, for example, or your home may have chronic leaking problems that recur in the bother, kitchen and anywhere where you have sinks.
Similar signs may not be as dire, but definitely suggest a problem in need of addressing. For instance, notice your water pressure if you turn on the pipes. Has it been going down over time? If so, it may suggest a lingering problem with the pipes. You might also notice it with a spike in your monthly water bills, especially if you’re not using any more water than normal.
Whatever the signs, you should probably speak to an expert first. He can determine if you simply need a plumbing repair, or whether something more extensive is in order. If you know how to tell if you need whole house repiping and you’ve decided the time has come, call on Brooks Plumbing to help. We handle plumbing installation service in Tumwater and issues of all varieties and we are standing by to give you a hand. Pick up the phone and contact us today.
