Month: June 2019

Preparing Your Plumbing For Hurricanes

If you’ve lived in Florida for any length of time, you’re probably well-versed on hurricane preparation. You’ve stocked up on batteries, cut down tree branches (or dead/dying trees) so they don’t crash through the roof and taken care of all the other major precautions. But have you protected your plumbing if the big one hits this hurricane season?

Most people don’t consider plumbing as being at risk from a hurricane. After all, it’s underground, right? The common assumption is that pipes and drainage systems should be safe and sound. Unfortunately, this isn’t always true. Taking the following steps before, during and after a hurricane can help reduce the risk of water damage to your property.

Inspect your property for tree roots – Even when it isn’t hurricane season, tree roots can break through sewer pipes. Inspect your property for any roots that might cause problems with your plumbing. If ignored, there’s a chance roots can obstruct your pipes and limit the quality of your water flow. This could occur independently of a storm, but a hurricane could cause more extensive damage. A plumbing professional is capable of detecting problem roots that should be removed before hurricane season begins in earnest – which in Florida is mid- to late summer.

Clear slow or backed-up drains – Make sure you do not have sewer drain backups or slow drains prior to the storm. The heavy, prolonged rain that a hurricane produces will cause an even greater backup in your home.

You can test to see if your drains are working by pouring water through them and seeing how long it will take to drain. If your drains take longer than a few seconds to drain, use a commercial drain cleaning product. In the case of a more stubborn problem, call a professional. Routine maintenance to keep your sewer main line clean by an experienced plumber is key to preventing problems any time of year.

Check your home and yard’s drainage systems – Heavy rains can affect your gutter drain system. Inspect your roof gutters and downspouts to make sure they are securely fastened. Make sure your drains are completely clear of all debris. Drains that are clogged or cluttered with debris will not be able to handle the overload of rain and other debris that comes along with a hurricane. You do not want to deal with a home that’s flooded because you didn’t clear out the drains in and around your home. Also check your roadside curbs and swales and clear those of debris to prevent backup.

Take care of your septic tank – Our February 2019 blog post – “How Weather Affects Septic Tanks in Florida” – covers the risk that the sustained heavy rains a hurricane brings can flood your drain field and cause backups. If your septic tank is almost due to be pumped out, schedule it before hurricane season. Also take extra care about the demands your household places upon it.

Prepare your swimming pool – Hurricanes can drop a lot of water onto your pool deck and subsequently into your yard. The Sun Sentinel provides the steps to take to prepare your pool area for a hurricane.

The first step is to make sure as much water as possible drains from the deck as quickly as possible. Test how well your deck drains by using a garden hose to spray water on the deck and watching how quickly the water disappears.

During any test, make sure that the water runs unobstructed out the ends of the drain to low spots in the yard, flowing quickly away from the house and pool deck. Remove any grass, mulch or dirt that may block the end of the drain.

If you don’t have a deck drain, make sure high grass, dirt, mulch or stones do not block the edge of the deck. These obstacles can prevent water from quickly moving off the edge and into the yard. An easy solution for edges that don’t drain quickly is to dig a small trench directing the water to a low spot away from the house and pool deck.

If you know a hurricane will strike your area

Consider shutting off the water – It may be preferable to shut off your water just before the storm to prevent contaminated water from entering your water supply.

We recommend you have plenty of bottled water on hand – both for drinking and for use in flushing toilets. Using bottled water takes stress off your plumbing during the storm and may be your only option for a time.

Shut off the water heater – You will not need hot water during a hurricane. Switch off your water heater. Having it operate during a hurricane puts unnecessary pressure on your household plumbing system. The water stored in your water heater is safe to drink, should you need an extra source of usable water. 

If you need to evacuate

If you’re ordered to evacuate, shut off the main water supply before leaving. Doing so will help prevent flood water from contaminating your water supply. You can turn on a faucet, which allows air to enter your plumbing system. This protects your plumbing system from changes in ground saturation and pressure.

After the storm

From the plumbing perspective, you also need to know what you should do after the hurricane. When it is safe to do so, inspect your property and clear debris around the gutters, drains, or other drains so that your system can pump properly. Keep a close watch for leaks, cracks or discolored water.

The state-certified Master Plumbers at Adams and Son Plumbing can perform preventive maintenance to keep your fixtures and lines in top condition – and provide the experienced, industry-leading repair service that we’ve built our reputation upon over the past 60 years. Contact us and learn more about our services today.

 

The post Preparing Your Plumbing For Hurricanes appeared first on Adams and Son Plumbing Services.

Restaurant Grease Traps: How Grease Traps Work

Restaurant Grease Traps

A well-maintained, properly functioning grease trap prevents restaurant grease waste from contaminating the municipal water system. If grease enters the city water system, it can cause serious problems. According to the EPA, blockages in sewer pipes cause the majority of the 400,000 sewer backups that occur annually in the United States. The EPA has also determined that the leading cause of sewer blockages is grease. Since restaurants produce a significant amount of grease waste, it is necessary that restaurant grease waste is disposed of properly. That is what a commercial grade grease trap and a reliable grease trap company in Hollywood, FL can do for you.

What is a Grease Trap?

Essentially, a grease trap (also known as a grease interceptor) is a large underground container designed to collect liquid waste and facilitate passive separation of fats, oils, and grease (FOGs) from other liquid waste. A standard passive grease trap is comprised of two separate compartments, called tanks. A crossover pipe, positioned at an angle connects the primary and secondary tanks. The secondary tank has an outgoing pipeline that connects to the city sewer lines.

How Does a Grease Trap Work?

All the waste collected from the restaurant drains are deposited into the first, or primary tank of the trap. In this tank, the FOGs in the waste separate from the water and float to the top. There may also be small food or other solid particulates that will gather at the bottom of the tank. The liquid waste from the primary tank transfers to the secondary tank via the crossover pipe. Though most of the FOGs remain behind in the primary tank, the secondary tank provides another opportunity for any remaining FOGs to separate out. From the secondary tank, the liquid waste then enters the city sewer system through the outgoing pipe.

Grease Trap Maintenance and Services

While the separation of FOGs from restaurant waste happens passively in the grease trap, the remaining grease waste must be emptied and disposed of safely. Even with regularly pumping out the grease trap, residual grease can adhere to the walls of the tank and pipes and build up over time. As a result, a restaurant grease trap needs to be cleaned and serviced regularly to ensure long-term reliability.

At A to Z Statewide Plumbing, we understand the importance of keeping restaurant grease waste collection out of our municipal water systems. When we service your grease trap, we don’t just skim off the grease. At each service, we will scrape residual grease off the trap walls and power-wash your entire grease trap including the sidewalls, bottom, inlet and outlet pipes, and trap baffles.

We provide much more than standard pumping services and will work with you to keep grease waste from causing sewer blockages and backups in our local sewer systems. If you are looking for a grease trap company that is committed to comprehensive grease waste management, contact A to Z Statewide Plumbing today.

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This post first appeared on http://www.atozstatewideplumbing.com

Do I Really Need to Flush My Water Heater?

Most property owners rarely flush their water heaters regularly while others neglect this vital task. Manufacturers of water heater systems recommend flushing out mineral scale buildup, silt, and sediments from tanks every once a month. Here are more reasons why you need to flush your water heater.

It Extends The Lifespan Of The Equipment

Allowing scale buildup in your water heater will cause it to fail. For the gas variety of water heaters, the accumulation becomes an insulation between the water and the heat source. As a result, the metal at the bottom gets hotter than usual, increasing stress inside the tank that can either cause leaks or failure. In an electric heater, these scales lead to premature failure of electrodes and hot water will be unavailable.
Flushing your water heater will prevent such occurrences and save you replacement cost.

It Reduces Noise

The presence of scales inside the tank will cause the water heater to produce banging, popping, or crackling sounds. Though they may fade at some point, you need to take action. When the noise ceases, it is an indication that these scales have solidified, making it hard for water to percolate through. Call in a plumber to descale the tank once you notice the noise.

It Reduces Operational Costs

Failure to flush your water heater implies that more energy will be required to heat the water, thereby increasing your utility bills. Besides, you may have to spend more on repairing parts destroyed by corrosive scale deposits or clogging sediments. By flushing the system, you are protecting yourself from these unplanned expenditures, which can strain your finances.

It Improves Heating Speed

The heat transfer process takes longer when there is build up of foreign material on the electrodes of an electric water heater, and at the bottom of the tank. As such, you will have to wait for lengthy periods before the water heats to desirable temperatures, and running out of hot water becomes a norm. Once you flush your water heater, heating speed will improve.
It costs more to repair faulty parts or replace your water heater system as a whole, than what you will pay to get it flushed. Since this is an expense you may not be prepared to incur, plumbing services become a sustainable option.

If you need to flush your water heater – please contact A to Z Statewide Plumbing at 954-981-2133. We are open 24/7.

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This post first appeared on http://www.atozstatewideplumbing.com

Why You Need a Professional Plumber for Your Bathroom Drain

Drains normally get clogged from time to time. You will note that if your drains are clogged waste materials might not flow away from your home more effectively.

This can actually make your home to have a bad odor. It might be very difficult to stay in your house. In this case, you should unclog your drains so as to avoid this problem.

One of those drains that get clogged regularly is the bathroom drain. A lot of things can cause this.

According to Direct Energy, “Most bathroom drain clogs result when dirt, skin flakes, and especially hair binds to soap scum on the walls of drain pipes. Over time, this gunk accumulates and reduces water flow.”

If your bathroom drain is clogged, you might not be able to utilize your bathroom. There are many things that can clog your bathroom drains.

These include; hair, soap and other foreign objects that might find their way to your bathroom.

If you notice that your bathroom drain is clogged, you should not hesitate to hire a professional plumber to help you out. You will note that this expert is well trained on how to unclog different bathroom drains out there.

The following are the advantages of hiring the services of this expert to

unclog the bathroom for you:

  1. Availability of tools

You will note that few homeowners usually have the right tools that can help to unclog their bathrooms. If their bathroom drains is clogged, you will realize that most of them usually hire tools out there.

This might seem to be a good idea but it can have its own repercussions. You will note that you need to know how to utilize these tools in order to mitigate this situation.

In this case, it is advisable that you hire the services of a professional plumber so that you can fix this issue. The good news is that this expert is always well-equipped with the right tools that can help to get the job done fast.

This has actually worked well for many homeowners. Hiring the services of this expert has proved to be very helpful.

 

  1. Expertise.

Have you ever dealt with a drainage clog in the past? You will note that this undertaking is normally very cumbersome. Sometimes, you might not be able to achieve the desired results.

You might even spend several days trying to unclog your bathroom drains. In this case, it is advisable that you get a plumber to help you out.

You will note that this expert is well-trained on how to unclog various drainage systems out there. He or she is more competent in this area.

This can actually assure you that you will get quality plumbing services after hiring him or her.

 

  1. Enable you to save more time.

Some homeowners usually work during the day. If you are keen, you will note that most of them usually leave their houses early in the morning and come back late in the evening.

In this case, they might not be able to unclog their bathroom drainage in good time. If you are a busy homeowner, you might opt to postpone and do it on a weekend. However, this is not a good idea.

The situation might get worse. You might not be able to enjoy a good shower in your bathroom. It is therefore advisable that you hire an expert to help you to fix your drainage issue.

This plumber can help you to save more time in the long run.

You can trust that you can attend to your customers in your business while this plumber works on your bathroom drain. This makes it more important to get a professional to unclog bathroom drain for you.

 

  1. Permanent solution.

You might choose to unclog your bathroom drain on your own in order to save money. Sometimes, you might be lucky to get this job done.

However, your bathroom drain might get clogged again. This can frustrate you. If you want to get a permanent solution, you should invest in the services of a professional plumber.

You can trust that this expert can help you to diagnose the problem and then fix it more professionally. This can assure you that you will not experience this problem in the near future.

 

  1. Can handle emergency cases.

Sometimes, your drains might get clogged when you want to take a shower. The situation can be worse if you have visitors in your home and they still want to take a shower.

In this case, you should hire this plumber to fix this issue for you. This expert can offer emergency plumbing issues in your home.

You just need to contact him and tell him the address to your home. You can trust this professional will be there within a short period of time.

 

  1. Help you to save more money.

If you try to unclog your bathroom clog on your own, you might end up causing more damages to your drainage pipe.

You will note that some homeowners have ever poured harsh chemicals in their drainage pipes in order to mitigate this problem in the past. This can be detrimental. Your drainage pipe might get affected.

You might cause other damages to your bathroom. This can make you spend more money repairing it.

If you want to avoid such issues, you should hire a plumber to help you unclog your bathroom for you. This can help you to save more money in the long run.

 

  1. Safety issues.

You might get injured when trying to unclog your bathroom drainage system. Involving your loved ones in this undertaking might be very risky too.

It’s important that you get a plumber to help you solve this issue. This can help

to prevent accidents in your home.

You will note that this expert is more conversant with these issues and can, therefore, mitigate this problem for you within a short period of time.

 

  1. Professional advice.

Besides offering professional services, this expert can offer professional advice to you regarding your bathroom drain.

This can help you know what could lead to this problem in the future.

You can also ask him several questions regarding how you can improve your bathroom and so on. This can help you know how to prevent drainage clogs in your home.

 

  1. More comfort.

If your bathroom drain is clogged, you might not be able to enjoy more comfort in your home. You might choose to take a shower from elsewhere. This can inconvenience you.

In this case, it is advisable that you invest in the services of this professional so that you can enjoy more comfort and convenience in your home.

You should not allow your bathroom drainage to remain clogged. You should hire a plumber to help you fix this issue. You will note that this expert is always available to serve you.

In addition, this expert is normally certified to offer these services.

This can assure you that you will get the value for your money. Invest in the services of this expert will not be disappointed. The services of this expert are truly the best.

 

  1. Run Plumbing Diagnosis

It doesn’t matter how skilled you’re at maintenance in the home, you need to humble yourself and allow only a professional plumber, from a certified plumbing company, to do the technical stuff.

With their wealth of expert knowledge on plumbing systems, they can effectively run plumbing diagnosis and carefully inspect your home and drain lines and decide on the right tools needed to fix the issue.

So don’t go messing around and troubleshooting with your plumbing systems and drains, allow a professional who knows exactly where to start looking and how to fix it.

These plumbers are usually licensed and insured service professionals, which means that any damages they caused will be effectively handled at no extra charge. You’ll get your system repaired, no matter what.

 

Conclusion

All in all, professional licensed Plumbers are in a better position to find where the leaks in your home originate, as well as the main cause of the bathroom drain.

If this leak results in full-blown flooding which, in turn, clogged the drain, they will know where to start fixing the problem.

When you hire a professional plumber, you’re saving yourself from imminent issue associated with clogged bathroom drains, it also means that the job is done efficiently, without wasted time and money.

Now that you know the reasons why you should hire a professional plumber from a professional plumbing company to handle your bathroom drain and entire plumbing issue, it’s time to relax knowing that your bathroom is in good hands.

This post first appeared on https://blog.antaplumbing.com

Plumbing Tips for Spring

springtime plumbing tipsPlumbing tips bring benefits any time of the year. But, after a long winter, they are especially helpful. Concerned about springtime plumbing problems? You are not alone. In many places, spring brings with it a welcome release from the cold and dangerous conditions of winter. In addition, it brings an opportunity for homeowners to take a good inventory of any damages caused by winter’s wrath. Here are some springtime plumbing tips to help you make sure your pipes are up to dealing with the rest of the seasons.

 

Outside plumbing tips

The best place to start with your spring plumbing check is outside. By ensuring the proper drainage of rainwater away from your home, you will protect your foundation. Make sure you look for signs of leaking pipes, as well.

 

Gutters

Gutters take the brunt of winter’s storms. By spring, gutters are often choked with dead leaves, twigs, and other debris deposited by winter winds. Clogged gutters and downspouts allow rainwater to sheet down the walls of your home and seep into the foundation. Clean out the gutters and be sure to replace any damaged or broken sections. And remember to blast water through the downspout to clear it, as well.

 

springtime plumbing tipsOutside faucets & pipes

Even insulated pipes can freeze in some winter conditions. Leaving your hose on the hose bib and connected to the faucet can also cause your pipes to break if water freezes in them. Check your outside faucets and pipes and make repairs or replacements as needed.

 

 

Mainline & sewer line

Standing or puddling water in the yard may indicate a break in a buried pipe, such as the main line or sewer line. If you suspect this is the case, call a professional immediately.

 

Inside plumbing tips

Problems inside the house can also represent plumbing issues. A number of these problems can be dealt with using DIY techniques. Some, however, need the trained touch of a professional plumber.

springtime plumbing tipsSlow drains

Winter parties, hosting guests and being cooped up inside all lead to extra usage of your plumbing system. Drains take a particularly big hit during this season. If you find your drains working slowly, you can try non-chemical DIY fixes. Many chemical-based DIY fixes end up seriously damaging pipes and requiring much more time and money to repair. Some people clear clogged drains by simply using a smaller form of a plumber’s snake. If your drain resists your efforts to remove or dislodge the clog, call in a professional.

 

springtime plumbing tipsSump pump

The next item you need to inspect dwells in probable obscurity in your basement. Your sump pump provides your main line of defense against basement flooding. You will want to make sure it is in prime condition before you need it. Check this appliance by pouring a few buckets of water into the sump pit. The pump should start within a few minutes. Watch to be sure the water flows out and the pump cycles itself off. If any problems arise, you will need to contact a professional to conduct repairs or replacement.

 

Conclusion

Don’t let plumbing problems drag you down this spring. Follow our springtime plumbing tips to safeguard your pipes and your home. Remember to call Knoxville Plumbing for all your plumbing needs!

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