Residential Plumbing Blog

How to Thaw a Frozen Pipe

January 15, 2021 By Action Plumbing

So, you’ve taken all the precautions you can think of in order to prevent your pipes from freezing, but alas, you’ve found yourself with a problem. You turn on the faucet in the bathroom or kitchen and … nothing. Not a drop comes out.

What to do now?

For starters, don’t panic. It’s time to get to work because your frozen pipes need to be addressed immediately in order to avoid damage.

Here’s some helpful advice on how to thaw a frozen pipe in your business:

Where’s is the Frozen Pipe?

The first thing you need to do is figure out exactly what pipe is frozen and where the problem area is. This is often easier said than done, particularly if you have a large business. Start with the most likely culprits … unfinished basements and attics are usually a good place to begin your search.

Once you locate your frozen pipe you need to apply heat utilizing one of the following methods:

A hand-held hair dryer is often the fastest and easiest way to thaw a frozen pipe. Just move the hot hair up and down the frozen area of the pipe evenly and consistently.
Place a space heater near the frozen pipe no closer than 3 feet and allow the hot hair to heat the pipe. Be sure your heater is no closer than the recommended safe distance to avoid a potential fire.
Apply heat tape (which can usually be purchased at any hardware store) to the frozen part of the pipe. Just wrap it evenly and plug it in to begin heating. Don’t forget to remove the heat tape when your thaw job is complete. Heat tape is NOT meant to be kept on your pipes all the time and doing so can cause a fire.

And remember, you should NEVER attempt to thaw your pipes using an open flame. Doing so can have a disastrous outcome, resulting in a life-threatening fire.

We’re Here to Help!

If you have questions or concerns about a frozen pipe in your business, Action Plumbing is here to help. Contact us anytime to talk with one of our experts. Our professional plumbing services are available anytime, day or night to give you the assistance you need when you need it.

4 Celebrity Plumbers You Never Would Have Known

September 24, 2019 By Action Plumbing

The glitz, glamour, and excitement of being a celebrity is a stark contrast to the life of a plumber. However, if you’re want to become famous, there’s a lot of work which needs to be done to get you where you need to be. Some of the world’s most notable celebrities have started their careers as famous plumbers or plumber’s apprentices. So, without further adieu, here is a list of some really famous celebrity plumbers you would have never guessed.

4 Celebrity Plumbers

Conor McGregor

The Notorious Conor McGregor must have been good working with pipes with arms like that! In a quote from a 2019 profile on McGregor in Business Insider they say:

Uninterested in school, McGregor took to plumbing as a trade and did what he could to make it a living for some time. There were times when he would work 12-hour days before heading to the gym to train as a fighter.

Incredible! To go from working as a plumber to one of the best fighters in our generation is an incredible jump.

Sir Michael Caine

One of the most well-known actors of our time. Understandably, Sir Michael Caine has been nominated for an Oscar in every decade since the 1960s. Caine has appeared in hundreds of motion pictures throughout his career. He has worked with Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Batman trilogy, Inception alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, The Italian Job, and many other monumental films. However, Alfred Pennyworth did more than just serve Bruce Wayne. He worked his way through life as a plumber before turning towards the big screen. As you can see, Caine is one of the celebrity plumbers who turned down a life of backflow certification in favor of French Riviera vacations.

Ozzy Osbourne

No, you are not on the Crazy Train. You read that right. Before rocking the world with smash hits like Iron Man, War Pigs, & other massive songs, one of the celebrity plumbers worked lots of odd jobs. As you can see, Ozzy had dropped out of school at the age of 15 opting to work as a laborer on construction sites along with serving as a plumbers apprentice.

After some trouble with the law and a prison sentence, Osbourne found himself meeting up with future bandmates after each of their first music ventures ended up failing. Their connection together ended up in their band, Black Sabbath, becoming cultural icons. And to think, it all started from Ozzy being a part of helping coordinate plumbing repairs.

Bob Hoskins

In case you’re not familiar with Bob Hoskins, the late actor and director got his start in the early 70s doing smaller roles. Eventually, Hoskins would catch his big break receiving British Film Awards, BAFTA nominations, & larger roles. However, his career wouldn’t be remembered as one of the celebrity plumbers. He played Detective Eddie Valliant in the Oscar-Winning film Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

You may have also seen him acting as video game plumber Mario in the universally pined Super Mario Brothers movie. What you may not have known is that, like Mario, Hoskins worked in plumbing. However, just before starting his acting career, he worked many manual labor jobs including being a plumber. Just imagine hydro jetting your pipes only to have Roger Rabbit come out the other end.

What Does This All Mean?

Some people just aren’t cut out for plumbing. There are even other plumbing companies that don’t perform quality plumbing work. It takes lots of hard work, training, and attention to detail to become a successful plumber. When you’re working for your business, you demand a certain standard of excellence. Therefore, you need a team of plumbers who will do the same for you. The team at Action Plumbing demands the same when we work for our clients. Contact us now for more information on how Action Plumbing can help your business.

Source Links

Sue Crawford (2003), “Ozzy Unauthorized”; ISBN 978-1-84317-016-7

How Clogged Gutters Can Cause a Flood

October 30, 2017 By Action Plumbing

Whether you’ve just climbed up a ladder to start working on those Christmas lights or you’re admiring the handiwork of that one neighbor who always manages to get his lights up before you’ve even thought about it, chances are you’ve noticed a few (or more) of those pesky leaves poking out of the gutters. Not only are those clogs unsightly, but they can lead to some serious damage that can take a sizeable chunk out of your holiday budget.

Cleaning your gutters may seem like a pain, but it’s well worth it in the long run. You’d be surprised to find out what’s really hiding in there, including common (and not-so-common) things like:

Leaves
Twigs
Rocks
Plastic bags
Nests
Other Miscellaneous garbage

Most people are concerned about a hard rain, but clogged gutters actually allow the water to pool, creating the potential for serious water damage. The first thing at risk is your roof, affecting your roofline, shingles, and fascia. And if you’ve ever had to pay for a roof repair in the past, you already know how costly it can be.

When it does pour, these clogged drains quickly overflow, flooding the areas right next to your business’s foundation. Repeated instances of such flooding can carve out trenches in the ground and cause damage to your foundation, which inevitably leads to basement flooding.

The good news is … it doesn’t take a lot to maintain your gutters. With just two regular cleanings a year you can keep the extra debris to a minimum. The bad news is … cleaning your gutters can be a messy, dangerous job, especially for those who aren’t comfortable with heights or unable to climb tall ladders. This is why so many people hire a professional to come in and get the job done.

If you’d like to find out how Action Plumbing can assist you with your regularly scheduled gutter cleanings, reach out to a one of our representatives today. We’re here to help you keep your plumbing on track anytime of year!

How to Maintain Your Sump Pump

September 30, 2016 By Action Plumbing

Many areas in our region have experienced record rainfalls this summer, which has homeowners concerned about unexpected basement flooding. Using a sump pump may be enough to keep your mind at ease, but it’s important to take the time to find out whether it’s in the best condition to perform efficiently if and when it’s needed.

Unfortunately, many homeowners assume that their sump pumps are in perfect working order, only to discover a basement flood that could have been avoided if their pumps had been maintained properly. Luckily, there are some things you can do to make sure your sump is ready to do its job.

Regular Check-Ups

Don’t just assume your pump working properly, especially during the times when you’re most at risk for flooding. Remember you need to give it a visual inspection at any point of the year when flooding is likely. This especially includes everything from a sudden warm winter day that causes significant snowmelt to a heavy Spring time downpour. Also give your sump pump a once over every few weeks, as checking regularly will help you find a potential problem early before you end up with a huge mess.

Pump Clean Up

Regular sump pump maintenance also involves giving it a good cleaning. You may not realize that your pump is clogged by built-up debris, like small rocks, dried leaves, or other runoff. Don’t just clean the pump filter. While you’re at it, be sure to check the entire pump and pit to make sure there’s nothing that’s preventing the pump from working correctly.

Replace Old Pumps

Most pumps last anywhere from 7-9 years, and while it’s a good idea to make the most out of your pump’s longevity, don’t risk a flood by relying on an old or damaged sump pump. Although maintaining your pump will help to extend your pump’s life, you need to recognize that any signs of failure could lead to an unfortunate and costly disaster.

Do you have any additional suggestions on how to maintain your sump pump? If so, please feel free to share your ideas in the comments below. If you are need any expert advice on maintaining your sump or cleaning your sump pump, feel free to contact Action Plumbing today.

What is an Anode Rod?

September 25, 2016 By Action Plumbing

Have you ever took a peek inside your hot water heater? If so, you may have noticed a metal rod wondering why it’s there in the first place. It obviously serves a purpose, but it’s unclear to many what that purpose is.

Surprisingly, that little metal rod is there for an important reason. As you can see, it actually prevents your water heater from rusting. Additionally, its usefulness stems directly from its simplistic design.

What is an Anode Rod and Why Do I Need One?

We call that item an anode rod. As you can see, this small device has a steel wire center. Metals like zinc or aluminum are surrounding the anode rod’s center. Additionally, we install the anode rod carefully through an opening in your heater. As you can see, we make a connection between your tank’s inner walls and the rod itself.

When metal erodes, there is a natural process of oxidation that results in the deterioration of the metal. This metal loss occurs when electrolytes carry away electrons from the metal, which can cause serious rust issues. Although you can’t avoid this process completely, the anode rode minimizes the damage. This is because the erosion process is focused on the more active metals of the anode rod instead of the less active metal making up the water heater.

Although the anode rod does a great job of protecting your heater, eventually it will rust away completely, putting your hot water heater at risk. This is why it’s important to maintain your water heater and have it inspected at least once a year to determine whether your anode rod is ready to be replaced.

There are a variety of anode rods currently in use, which include:

Magnesium anode rods
Aluminum anode rods
Zinc anode rods

Of the three options, magnesium rods are the most common but are extremely susceptible to hard water which causes faster deterioration. Both aluminum and zinc anode rods are typically more resistant to hard water, however, there are some health risks associated with each, and it is recommended that you avoid drinking hot water from your faucet which has been heated by your hot water heater.

If you have questions about maintaining your anode rod or would like to find out more about the type of anode rod used in your hot water heater, feel free to contact Action Plumbing to talk with one of our specialists.