Commercial plumbing differs widely from residential plumbing, both in terms of the amount of use it sees and in the uniquely complex needs of each individual business. For businesses in Olympia, WA, that means dealing with specific problems that differ in many ways from residential plumbing. The plumbing problems themselves aren’t all that different – leaks, clogs and defective pipes are the norm just as they would be in a home. But the solutions require a plumber to take careful measures befitting the system in question, instead of applying the same techniques used to solve residential plumbing problems. Common problems with commercial plumbing can be resolved quickly, but they require a special touch.
Brooks Plumbing Co. Blog: Archive for the ‘Plumbing’ Category
Common Problems With Commercial Plumbing
Monday, July 13th, 2015When Do Pipes Need Replacing?
Monday, July 6th, 2015Pipes in your plumbing system are designed to last for many years, but like any other component of your home, they will wear out sooner or later. Olympia, WA is a rainy community, and rust and corrosion can seep into even the toughest plumbing systems. If you’re a homeowner in the area, you should be prepared to replace pipes when needed by calling on a reputable plumber who knows how to do the job right. But when do pipes need replacing? Here’s a few tips to help you answer that question.
Why Should I Use Professional Plumbing Services for Clogs?
Monday, June 29th, 2015Plumbing clogs are a common occurrence and residents of Olympia, WA may be tempted to address them with a store-bought solution. Most hardware stores sell drain snakes, for instance, and chemical cleansers are available in any supermarket. Unfortunately, those products adopt a one-size-fits all approach which doesn’t always solve the problem and may even create new ones. A professional plumber armed with specialized drain snakes can address your clog the right way and ensure that your pipes are functioning exactly as they should.
3 Differences Between Commercial and Home Plumbing Systems
Monday, June 15th, 2015In some ways, commercial plumbing differs little from the plumbing you use at home. There are pipes, there are faucets and fixtures, and there’s a need for both hot and cold water on demand. But beyond the fundamentals, the two types both respond to vastly different needs. A good plumbing service should be able to respond to both types of plumbing, and that starts with knowing the differences between commercial and home plumbing systems. Here in Olympia, WA, that distinction can determine how successful your plumbers are at doing the job assigned to them. Here are some key differences between the two types of system that you should be aware of.
Signs That You Need Water Heater Repair
Monday, June 8th, 2015Your water heater is one of the great unsung heroes of your household, tirelessly doing its job year in and year out without complaint. That lets a lot of homeowners take their water heater for granted, which can catch them by surprise when problems arise. That doesn’t need to happen to you. In Olympia, WA, trained professionals are on hand to help repair any problems with your water heater quickly and efficiently, and when you spot the signs that you need water heater repair, you can call them in before it becomes a major issue. Here’s a quick list of red flags you should keep an eye out for.
Signs of a Leak in Your Plumbing
Monday, June 1st, 2015Plumbing leaks can stem from a variety of causes, but unless they involve something very obvious – such as water spreading across your kitchen floor or a lack of water pressure when you turn on the faucet – the chances of your being able to detect it are fairly small unless you know what to look for. Quiet drips and pinhole leaks can go undetected for years, and with the amount of rainfall we get in Olympia, WA, stray outdoor water is apt to get overlooked. Luckily, an astute homeowner can still pick up on signs of a leak in their plumbing, then summon a qualified service professional to take care of the job. Here’s a brief list of some of the things to watch for.
3 Reasons Not to Repair Your Own Plumbing
Monday, May 25th, 2015We’re used to doing things on our own here in Olympia, WA. That often extends to plumbing problems, which many people feel they can solve themselves with store-bought tools. Nothing can be further from the truth. Homeowners hoping to perform repairs themselves often cause more damage than they solve, and can turn relatively minor problems into very large ones. Here are 3 reasons not to repair your own plumbing, which you should seriously consider before climbing under your sink.
How Do Plumbers Conduct Sewer Line Inspections?
Monday, May 18th, 2015Inspecting a sewer line used to be a serious operation, involving heavy equipment, burly construction teams and your front yard transformed into a muddy pit. Considering our wet weather in Olympia, WA, the process becomes all the messier whenever the next rainstorm rolls in. But those days are long gone. Thanks to advancements in technology, plumbers can conduct sewer line inspections cleanly and efficiently, and determine the problem with your line without having to excavate it. How do they do it? Techniques vary, but the basics come down to one factor: video cameras.
When Is It Time to Call for Commercial Plumbing Help?
Monday, May 4th, 2015No building can operate without a properly working plumbing system, and this is especially true for commercial properties. While many commercial property owners are handy, or have staff that are, it is always best to call for trained commercial experts when you need help with your business’s plumbing. When is it appropriate to call for help? Here are some examples of when it’s time to contact your Brooks Plumbing expert:
Benefits of a Low-Flow Toilet
Monday, April 6th, 2015If you’ve been looking for ways to save water in your Olympia, WA, home, we may have a very easy solution for you: consider the installation of a low-flow toilet. Why? It all comes down to water usage, and if you have a toilet or toilets that aren’t low-flow, then these toilets comprise over 25% of your home’s total water usage. Putting this another way, if you have a toilet that is a 5 or 7 gallon toilet, and you average 5 flushes a day, your toilet uses between 9,000-12,000 gallons of water per year. Low-flow toilets use a maximum of 1.6 gallons, cutting this amount down to just over 2,900 gallons of water per year – an amount 3-4 times less that of 5-6 gallon toilets.
How do low-flow toilets manage this? First, they have some simple yet key design differences from higher-flow toilets, starting with the bowl outlet hole. In a regular toilet bowl, the outlet hole is located toward the back of the bowl; in a low-flow toilet, the outlet hole is located in the center of the bowl so that waste can more easily and directly exit the bowl. Another modification that you’ll find with a low-flow toilet is that the balance of the water in the bowl is toward the front of the bowl; this helps move waste quickly and effectively. The last difference you’ll find between a low-flow toilet and a regular one is that the flush valve is larger. Having a larger flush valve creates a stronger flush, which helps push waste out of the bowl and into the outlet pipe.
Now that you know the differences between a low-flow toilet and a regular one, let’s take a look at the benefits:
- Water conservation – as we discussed in the top paragraph, you can save a great deal of water by switching to a low-flow toilet
- Space-saving – because low-flow toilets use less water, most are smaller in size, particularly the tank area
- Easier installation – a smaller toilet means a less cumbersome toilet, so low-flow toilets can be easier to install
Interested to see what a low-flow toilet can do for your home? Call the plumbing experts at Brooks Plumbing today!
