Brooks Plumbing Co. Blog: Archive for the ‘Plumbing’ Category

Plumbing FAQ: Tank or Tankless Water Heater?

Friday, May 24th, 2013

There are few appliances that have as direct an impact on your day to day comfort and convenience as your water heater. Access to dependable hot water is luxury that many of us may take for granted, but when there is a problem with your water heater it becomes pretty clear, pretty quickly, just how important it really is. It makes sense, then, that you should want to find the water heater most appropriate for your home and personal needs. Speak with the Olympia, WA plumbing technicians at Brooks Plumbing today to discuss your water heater options.

The big decision that must be made when shopping for a new water heater is whether you will opt for a traditional tank water heater or whether a tankless on-demand water heater is right for you. Both have their benefits. The input of a qualified Olympia, WA plumbing professional is a great benefit when making the decision.

Standard tank water heaters are still the most common option. These water heaters store a reservoir of hot water and continually heat it so that it is always ready to go. While this is an effective method of ensuring you have hot water when you need it, it also allows for a certain amount of standby energy loss. This happens when heat radiates through the storage tank, meaning that your water heater must in turn replace the lost heat, resulting in more energy consumption. A well-insulated tank is a good way to minimize this energy loss.

If you are interested in avoiding standby energy loss altogether, eliminating the storage tank is a step you must take. A tankless on-demand water heater allows you to do this. These water heaters superheat cold water as it passes through when called for at a point of use. They are much smaller than tank models and can be installed in closets or other tight areas. If you are short on space, going tankless may be a good idea. These systems are more prone to being overwhelmed than their traditional tank-model counterparts, though.

Ultimately, it is up to you whether a tank or tankless water heater is right for your home. Make sure that you are able to make an informed decision. At Brooks Plumbing, our Olympia, WA plumbing professionals can help ensure that you wind up with the right water heater for your home.

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Plumber Tip: Common Kitchen Plumbing Problems

Thursday, May 16th, 2013

Indoor plumbing is one of the truly outstanding modern luxuries that homeowners enjoy. It is difficult for most of us to imagine living without running water and a piping system to dispose of wastewater. Every time you wash your hands, take a shower, do the laundry or use the toilet, you depending upon the success operation of you plumbing system. Like any other system in your home, your plumbing system is going to experience problems from time to time. Your kitchen plumbing in particular is heavily used and, frequently, abused. Here are some of the common kitchen plumbing problems that your Olympia, WA Plumbers at Brooks Plumbing deal with frequently.

Clogged kitchen drains are an extremely common problem that many homeowners have to deal with. In many cases, the causes of clogged drains can be traced directly back to improper use of those drains by the homeowner. It is very important to be mindful of the types of materials you allow to go down your kitchen drain. One important rule to remember is that not everything that is liquid can be safely poured into your kitchen sink. Grease and fat, for instance, are liquids when they are hot. When they get into your drain system, though, they will cool down. When they do, they coagulate and can trap other debris and food particles within your drain. This is a very common cause of clogged drains, and a frequent cause of unpleasant drain odor.

Another problem that many homeowners encounter with their kitchen plumbing is a broken down garbage disposal. Again, simply being a bit more mindful of what you attempt to put through your garbage disposal can help avoid this problem. In addition to grease and liquid fats, avoid putting very fibrous foods, such as celery and cornhusks, through your garbage disposal. They can tangle up in the blades and damage the motor. Very hard items, such as animal bones, should also be avoided.

If you have any issues with your kitchen plumbing, or if you have any questions about your plumbing in general, contact Brooks Plumbing today. A professional Olympia,WA Plumber on our team will be glad to help. Call us today for more details.

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Tips from Plumbers: Benefits of Low-Flow Fixtures

Monday, May 6th, 2013

More and more, homeowners are paying more attention to the impact that their day to day life has on both their budgets and their environmental impact. It may seem impossible to balance the modern conveniences and luxuries we love with our desire to reduce consumption of resources, including water. By taking advantage of modern innovation, though, you can enjoy the same great convenience and luxury as always, while saving resources in the process. Consider the many benefits of low-flow plumbing fixtures in your home. Here is some information from the trustworthy plumbers in Olympia WA at Brooks Plumbing.

As with any investment in your home, there is an upfront cost that comes with upgrading your plumbing fixtures. Once the plumbing installation is completed, though, you can begin to enjoy the potential savings that using less water allows. If you have an old toilet, for example, you may be using more than twice the amount of water per flush that a new low-flow model would use. In order to qualify as low-flow, a toilet must use less than 1.6 gallons of water per flush. When you compare that to the 3.5-7 gallons of water that many older toilets use, it is clear to see that there are a lot of savings to be had. Plus, reducing your water consumption is a great way to make your home more environmentally friendly.

Your toilet is not the only fixture in your plumbing system that can benefit from a low-flow replacement, though. Sink taps and shower heads are other areas where you can greatly cut down on the amount of water that you use. By using aerators add air into the water dispensed, you can enjoy the same great performance from your sinks and shower while cutting down on the amount of water used.

Speak with the professional plumbers in Olympia, WA that you can count on with all your plumbing service needs. Call Brooks Plumbing today. We are happy to help you enjoy greater water efficiency in your home. Do not sacrifice convenience for environmental awareness. With low-flow plumbing fixtures, you can have both at the same time.

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Plumbing FAQ: How Can I Use Water More Efficiently?

Tuesday, April 30th, 2013

Homeowners throughout the Lacey, WA area are always looking for ways to improve their energy efficiency. As one of the leading plumbing companies in the area, we are often asked how to use water more efficiently throughout the home. While repairing any leaks is a first step, there are further steps you can take as well. We’d like to review a few of these in this week’s post. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. For professional Lacey, WA plumbing services, call the experts at Brooks Plumbing today!

  • Install a low-flow toilet. Also known as a low-fllow toilet, a low-flow device can save you substantial amounts of water. Your toilet is responsible for nearly one-third of your water consumption. As one of the most used plumbed appliances, it tends to use a lot of water; a standard toilet uses about 3.5 gallons of water per flush. Take a minute and think of dumping even 3 plastic gallon containers down the drain every time you flush. If it seems like a lot (and it is), consider a low-flow toilet. It cuts your toilet water usage in less than half, down to 1.7 gallons per flush. Considering how much you use your toilet, installing a low flow appliance may end up saving you significant money in the long term.
  • Fill up your dishwasher. Running your dishwasher when it’s only partially full not only increases the wear and tear on your device, it also wastes water that could be used elsewhere. Taking simple steps such as this throughout the household can help you eliminate water inefficiency.
  • Install low-flow showerheads and faucets. Make sure you’re getting the most out of your plumbed appliances by using energy efficient attachments and modifications. Their combined use can greatly improve your water efficiency throughout the household.

Saving water is not only good for your utility bill, but also for the surrounding environment. If you’d like to learn more about how to improve your energy efficiency throughout the home, call the Lacey, WA plumbing experts at Brooks Plumbing today! Contact Brooks Plumbing today!

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Plumber Tip: How To Prevent Plumbing Clogs And Other Common Problems

Monday, April 22nd, 2013

Nothing shuts your home down quite like a plumbing problem. Whether it’s a collapsed sewer line, or a major drainpipe blockage, your home can quickly become a health hazard during a clog. While some problems are inevitable, there are some major preventive steps you can take to reduce the change of a clog blocking your wastewater plumbing system. In this post, we’d like to share with you some ways you can prevent plumbing clogs and other common problems. For more info, or to make an appointment with an Olympia, WA plumber, call Brooks Plumbing today!

  • Install a grease trap. Grease, as well as fats and oils, is a major source of plumbing problems in the majority of homes. When we wash our pots and pans in warm water, the grease appears to be liquid, but as it cools, grease solidifies into a gel-like substance, which can quickly accumulate within the interior of your pipes. Installing a grease trap just after the drain to your sink or dishwasher is a great way to reduce the risk of clogging your drains with grease. If you cook a lot, or are otherwise concerned about your kitchen drainpipes, consider a grease trap.
  • Schedule a drain cleaning. Professional drain cleaning is the best preventive measure you can take against the risk of plumbing clogs. A qualified Olympia, WA plumber will have the right equipment and skill-set to approach drain cleaning carefully, avoiding the use of harsh chemicals to ensure that your plumbing remains structurally sound and working well.
  • Install a sump pump. If you’re at all concerned about whether the contents of your basement are safe from water, consider installing a sump pump. Moist and flooded basements are common problems for many homes. A sump pump sits either submerged or upright in a pit at the lowest part of your basement. It’s a great way to protect your belongings, or your basement itself if it’s unfinished.

These are just a few ways you can prevent plumbing clogs and other problems from damaging your home. For more information, or to hire an Olympia, WA plumbing expert, contact Brooks Plumbing today!

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Plumbing FAQ: How Does Professional Drain Cleaning Work?

Monday, April 15th, 2013

We rely on our wastewater disposal systems to keep our homes clean and hygienic. Unlike the pressurized water supply systems, our wastewater system relies on gravity to transport organic waste from the drainpipes in our homes into the sewer line and into the septic tank or municipal waste management system. Over the course of their service life, our drain systems accumulate waste and debris. When this builds up on the inside of our pipes, it can present all sorts of problems. Even minor blockages can eventually become serious clogs that require  Lacey, WA plumbing professional to remove. That’s why routine drain cleaning is so important: it allows your drains to operate as they should. For more information, or to schedule drain cleaning in Lacey, WA, call Brooks Plumbing today!

Let’s take a look at the process of professional drain cleaning. Your Lacey plumber will use a variety of tools and techniques, depending on the application, but let’s look at two steps, and then review the benefits:

  • Video pipe inspection. While this is not strictly part of the cleaning process, it is often a necessary aspect of professional drain cleaning. Knowing where the problematic areas of your drains are allows your plumber to concentrate his efforts and target specific blockages. It’s an excellent technology that removes much of the guesswork. By offering a first-person view from within the internal view of your pipes, you’ll be able to know exactly what’s going on.  If necessary, your plumber may recommend repair or replacement if it looks as though your sewer line is cracked.
  • Drain snake. You’re probably getting drain cleaning due to a partial or even complete blockage. Removing deep clogs is no job for a plunger. You need a drain snake. This is an augur attached to a long cable that usually has some kind of attachment at the front that allows for breaking up blockages
  • Benefits.  Rapid wastewater disposal leads to extended pipe life, odor elimination, and any discomfort caused by blocked and slow drains. The greatest benefit is preventing major and sometimes costly repairs and replacement.

For more information about professional drain cleaning and how it works, contact the Lacey, WA plumbing experts at Brooks Plumbing today!

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Plumbing Tip: How to Maintain Your Garbage Disposal

Monday, April 8th, 2013

Your garbage disposal grinds up food particles so that they can be added to your waste water disposal system, instead of being thrown in the trash. They were designed to reduce the amount of trash in landfills, and to create a more environmentally friendly way to dispose of food waste. But they cannot handle all types of food waste and they should only be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Because of what they’re used for and how much use they get, garbage disposals need routine maintenance just like any other system in the home. We’ve compiled a list of maintenance tips so that you can maintain your garbage disposal at home. If you need professional Olympia plumbing service, however, don’t hesitate to call the experts at Brooks Plumbing today!

  • Avoid certain materials. Don’t thrown bones, eggshells, coffee grounds, and other prohibited substances down the garbage disposal. Compost them or throw them in the trash. Also, make sure that no non-food items such as silverware or bottle caps are in the sink when you turn on the disposal. These can get stuck within the unit. The first step to maintenance is proper usage.
  • Freshen with citrus. Use lemon or orange peels to freshen up the garbage disposal occasionally. This will help eliminate foul odors from invading your kitchen.
  • Clean the blades. Throw a couple handfuls of ice cubes and a bit of rock salt into your disposal, and run it with cold water to clean the blades. You can replace distilled white vinegar for the rock salt if that’s closer to hand. This helps to remove debris from the blades so that it can operate effectively.
  • Use it regularly. A garbage disposal needs to be used on a regular basis to ensure that it works properly. Because of their proximity to water, unused moving parts have a tendency to rust and corrode when not used regularly.

Cleaning and unclogging your garbage disposal can be dangerous. It’s always better to have a professional come take a look at your disposal unit if you think there is something seriously wrong with it. For professional Olympia, WA plumbing, including garbage disposal repair, call Brooks Plumbing today!

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Kitchen Remodeling Tip: How to Plan for a Kitchen Remodel

Monday, April 1st, 2013

Remodeling your kitchen is a great way to make the house you live in feel more like a home. When you move into a home, you are not necessarily going to love every aspect about it. Even if you have remodeled in the past, tastes and styles change with the times. If you are considering scheduling kitchen remodeling service, contact the Olympia kitchen remodeling professionals at Brooks Plumbing Company. We will work closely with you to ensure that your new kitchen is exactly what you wanted. Here are tips for planning ahead to make your kitchen remodel a resounding success.

First of all, you must have a crystal clear idea as to why you are remodeling your kitchen. Is it a purely aesthetic change? If so, the installation of new fixtures, appliances and even countertops should do the trick. However, if there are problems you have with the functionality of any aspect of your kitchen, now is the time to address them.

If you intend on having new fixtures installed, do you want to upgrade them at the same time? If you want to incorporate a garbage disposal into your kitchen then you must bring that up beforehand. Are you planning on purchasing a new refrigerator? That’s fine, but if part of the reason you are doing so is for the convenience of an icemaker then you may need a water line connection. Depending on your vision for your new kitchen remodel and the condition of your existing pipework, some repiping may even be necessary.

It can be easy to get overwhelmed during this process. Remember, just because you should have a clear idea of the changes you want to make, the timeframe you have in mind and the budget you have available, you do not need to have all the answers. Working with a qualified, professional plumber will help you make the right choices. Contact us today to get started.

The kitchen remodeling pros at Brooks Plumbing Company want to you feel at home in every area of your house. That is why we are so proud of the remodeling services we offer. Give us a call if you are thinking about undertaking an Olympia kitchen remodeling project. Call Brooks Plumbing Company today!

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Plumbing FAQ: Does my home need a grease trap?

Monday, March 25th, 2013

When you think about grease traps you likely think about commercial restaurant and kitchens that need to dispose of lots of fats, oils and grease—sometimes called FOG for short. These types of food waste don’t break down and can form terrible clogs. In fact, in some municipalities it used to be illegal to dump FOG down your home drain because it required extra maintenance and treatment from the water utility to remove them and remove clogs in city pipes. Homeowners had to install grease traps and get them regularly maintained, cleaned and sanitized. Because garbage disposals are so prevalent now grease levels in city water are likely rising again. Contact the Lacey, WA plumbing experts at Brooks Plumbing

if your home has constant clogs from fats, oils or grease. We can help you figure out if a grease trap is right for you. Here are few things to consider before that.

Why Install a Home Grease Trap?

Unless you’re opening a donut store in your home or if you do a lot of frying your home probably doesn’t need a grease trap. However, if you do find yourself doing a lot of frying in your home or if you’re trying to start a small restaurant then it could be a good idea to install a grease trap. This will protect your plumbing system and help you keep your plumbing system working well. Contact the Lacey, WA plumbing experts at Brooks Plumbing if your home is having any plumbing issues.

However, if you are concerned about the amount of treatment that has to be done to your city’s water supply then doing your part to remove your fats, oils and grease from the sewer system could be a good idea. A grease trap can be installed at your home near your sink drain. You can either get it regularly serviced by a company or use bacteria to keep the trap clean and to avoid the foul odors commonly associated with grease traps.

For all your Lacey, WA plumbing services, including plumbing repair and plumbing installation, contact Brooks Plumbing.

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Plumbing FAQ: Common Sump Pump Problems

Monday, March 18th, 2013

Sump pumps protect our basements from flooding. Because our basements are below ground, they are prone to flood first in the event of a rapid increase in the level of water in the ground. A sump pump is a simple device that removes water from your basement and sends it to a drainage system. Because they are placed at the lowest spot in the basement, in a small pit, they are able to handle water first before it reaches the rest of the basement floor. We depend on them to protect our basement from water damage. Like any other mechanical device, however, your sump pump can require repair at some point in its life. We’ve gathered together a list of some common sump pump problems that may help you. If you need a plumber in Olympia, WA, call Brooks Plumbing Company.

  • Insufficient pumping. Occasionally, your sump pump may be overwhelmed by the amount of water flooding into your basement. It may not be powerful enough, or it may be old and at the end of its service life. It’s important to install only high quality sump pumps and to make sure they are professionally installed. That way, you can be prepared for flooding.
  • Clogged. If your sump pump does not have a lid, dirt and debris can easily begin to fill that space and cause the unit to clog. Alternatively, if your sump pump sits directly on the bottom of the pit, it is prone to clogging.
  • No power. If your sump pump has no power, then it cannot hope to prevent flooding. Your circuit breaker may have tripped or you may have blown a fuse. Maybe you unplugged the sump pump by accident. It’s probably a good idea to install a battery backup for your pump, so that it can continue to work if this happens again.

These are some of the most common plumbing problems. Remember, it’s important to take care of any problems so that your home is prepared for the worst. It’s often impossible to know when flooding is going to occur, so make sure your sump pump is always in good working order. Need a plumber in Olympia? Call Brooks Plumbing Company today!

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