Pipes and Drains Archives | Page 3 of 3

Home Waterline Maintenance

July 28, 2015 By Action Plumbing

Remember the last time you saw your local water department working on fire hydrants in your neighborhood in order to flush water lines? Although this gushing, brown, flood of water may seem incredibly wasteful, in reality, it is an important routine activity necessary for maintaining the integrity of your community water system.

Generally speaking, degraded water quality is often the direct result of stagnant water which has collected in lesser-used parts of the distribution system, which is made up of a complex network of storage reservoirs and pipes. Over time, deposits and sediments can accumulate, and contribute to water quality deterioration, discoloration, odor, and taste problems if not removed.

Whenever you see your local water department or fire department flushing hydrants, there are a few things you need to be aware of in regards to your home tap water:

If you turn on your tap water and it is discolored and/or contains sediment, turn it off immediately and wait a few minutes before turning it on again.
Once you turn the water on again, allow it to run for several minutes so you can evaluate if it is completely clear. Be sure to let cold water run for a bit, giving the new water time to work its way through the pipes.
If the water is still unclear, turn it off and wait a few more minutes before trying again
You may notice slight discoloration for a few hours after flushing, but this discoloration does not affect the quality or the taste of your tap water.

Now that you understand the steps to making sure you’re tap water is drinkable after a community flushing, you should also know that this type of routine maintenance is important for your home as well. To ensure the quality of the water inside your home is excellent, your home’s water heater should be drained and flushed on a regular basis. This will help to keep it working efficiently and save you on costly repairs.

We typically advise that you follow the manufacturer’s recommendations on often your home water heater should be drained and flushed. If you have any questions regarding community hydrant flushing or are in need of assistance with flushing and draining your home heating system, contact Action Plumbing today.

How to Prevent Clogged Drains

July 18, 2015 By Action Plumbing

There’s no denying that clogged drains are a complete pain. A clogged drain always seems to occur at the absolute worst time, and it can be really time-consuming to fix. The good news is there’s a lot you can do to prevent clogged drains in your home.

Keeping Drains Clean

The best preventative measure you can take to prevent a clogged drain is to keep it clean. This may sound really obvious, but the reason many drains become clogged is simply that they aren’t at the top of the priority list when it comes to cleaning kitchens and bathrooms. Clean drains are just as important to your family’s health as clean countertops, toilets, and floors.

Keeping Drains Debris Free

Tip One – Pay Attention: The first step to keeping drains debris-free is to be aware of what’s being put into them in the first place. Avoid washing foods, fats, or grease into the drain where they can easily clog up your waterways.

Tip Two – Brush your Hair Before Showering: Before you hop into the shower, make sure you give your hair a thorough brushing to remove loose hair. This will greatly decrease the amount of hair that goes down the drain and help prevent clogs and unpleasant smells.

Tip Three – Use Mesh Screens: Many people use mesh screens in their kitchen drains, but placing mesh screens in all of your home’s drains can really help decrease drain clogging debris. Food particles, hair, and other unpleasant gunk will get caught up in the drain and prevent a major headache.

Tip Four – Wash Pets Outdoors: Pet hair is always a major contributor to clogs, so consider washing your pets outdoors when the weather permits. If you must wash Fido in the tub, lay a washcloth over the drain to minimize fur and dander clogs.

Even after taking all the precautions mentioned above, chances are you will still experience a clog from time to time. Having a quality plunger or auger on hand will help you in a pinch; and if you have a more serious clog you need help with, call Action Plumbing. We’re available to help you with clogs or any plumbing issues you may be facing, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Replacing Orangeburg Pipes

June 16, 2015 By Action Plumbing

Orangeburg Pipes are a fiber conduit pipe that was in use anywhere between the 1870s and 1970s. These fiber conduit pipes have a shelf life of around 50 years. As you can see, with a piping system this old, it’s about time to consider replacing Orangeburg pipes immediately. But first, you may be wondering, “What are Orangeburg pipes, and are they located on my property?”

What Are Orangeburg Pipes?

Before you think about replacing them, we should understand what they are and why you need to replace them. These type of This type of pipe materials are the construct of layers of wood pulp and pitch fibers. As you can see, these pipes were extremely popular back in the day. Firstly, parts of the pipes (even the joints) would seal up quite easily. Above all, this means it would help construction projects tight on a deadline finish up much quicker than previously thought.

The Problem with Orangeburg Pipes

Many people believed they would last up to 50 years. However, there are a significant amount of cases where these pipes took less than 10 years to fail. Although they were relatively stable, they wouldn’t stand more pressure than intended. As you can see, when pipes fail they cause lots of damage. When something causes damage, you need to shell out more money for repairs.

Do I Have Orangeburg Pipes?

If there’s a history of Orangeburg pipe usage in your area, chances are good that you may have Orangeburg pipe on your property as well. Some areas that commonly have Orangeburg pipes are Cherry Hill, NJ and Willingboro, NJ.

There are several signs you should watch that may provide hints that there are Orangeburg pipes on your property including, lines that are clogged frequently, tree root invasion, or total and complete collapse.

What Should I Do About Orangeburg Pipes?

If you suspect that you have Orangeburg pipes on your property, the first thing you should do is contact Action Plumbing immediately. We offer a professional service to inspect and determine if Orangeburg pipes are currently being used on your property, and we have the technology needed to make inspections and replacements without causing further property damage.

For more information about replacing Orangeburg Pipes, contact Action Plumbing today. We’re available 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week.