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

How Can I tell if I Have a Broken Main Water Line?

Monday, November 12th, 2012

A broken water line is one of the most dreaded repairs for many homeowners in Lacey. The reason is because water lines are normally buried in the ground under your home. The process for fixing the break is inconvenient and expensive. Compounding the problem further is the face that because the pipe is in the ground, detecting the leak can be very difficult. We thought that it would be helpful for our customers in Lacey if we put together a short list of symptoms that might indicate that you have a broken water line. However, you should never attempt to fix a broken water line in Lacey on your own. If you suspect that your water line is broken, call the expert plumbers at Brooks Plumbing immediately.

What Causes Broken Water Lines

It could be helpful to know what some of the common causes of water line breaks.

  • Tree roots – This is probably one of the most common culprits for a break in your water line. Tree roots can slowly work their way into the pipe joints in their search for water. Over time, this can break your pipes or clog them.
  • Natural disaster – Natural disasters can be devastating to your water line.
  • Rust and Corrosion – Over time, mineral deposits and rust can eat through your water line. Even if the pipes are made of plastic, eventually they will just get old and break.

Sudden Increase in Water Bill

You probably don’t enjoy opening your water bill. But if you peel open that envelope one day and discover a huge spike in your bill, it could be a sign of more than just increasing water prices—it might mean that you have a broken water line.

Soggy Spots

If you start to notice soggy spots in your yard, this could mean that the water line below is leaking. The water is saturating the dirt beneath your yard making it wet and soggy.

Strange Bumps

Depending upon the type of dirt that’s in your yard, the leaking water from your main might not make it soggy. It could actually push the ground upwards. If you start to notice any cracks in your home’s slab or strange bumps in your yard, you may want to call a professional plumber.

If you’ve started to notice any of these things at your home in Lacey, call the professional plumbers at Brooks Plumbing. We can get to your home quickly, diagnose the problem and then offer a reasonable solution.

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Issues with Your Storage Tank Water Heater

Monday, October 29th, 2012

The good news about water heaters that use a storage tank is that they are fairly simply contraptions. They hold a bunch of water, heat it and distribute it the rest of your home. But like everything else in this world, things go wrong. Eventually, you’ll start to have problems with your water heater and you’ll need water heater repair services for your home in Olympia. You should always consult with a professional heating technician about any issues that you’re having with your water heater. While they are fairly simple devices, you could do irreversible damage to your system. Here are a few of the common water heater problems that we see in Olympia.

Water Temperature

If you don’t have any hot water or if the water coming out isn’t hot enough, there are a few things that could be wrong. This could be an issue with the thermostat on the tank. It may have been turned down accidentally or it could be faulty. The other issue could be that the heating element (for electric heaters) or the pilot light (for gas heaters) could be at fault. For a pilot light, it could be that it is dirty. The electric heating element could be broken or the water heater could be unplugged.

Rust Colored Water

If you turn on your hot water faucet and rust colored water comes out, this might be a huge problem. Inside your water heater is a “sacrificial rod”. This rod is made out of some metal, normally magnesium or aluminum, and it sacrifices itself for the sake of your water tank. The rod attracts the tiny electrical current in the water that would normally erode your water tank. But when the rod is consumed, the inside of your tank will start to rust. By the time you start to see the rust flowing out of your water heater, the damage is most likely done. You will probably end up having to replace your water heater.

Stinky Water

If your hot water starts to smell like rotten eggs, this could be caused by a bacterial infection in your water. Sometimes, bacteria can start to grow as they feed on the hydrogen released from your anode rod. If this is the case, a professional heating technician can drain your water heater and clean it to remove the smell.

Noise in the Water Tank

If you start to hear noises inside the water heater tank, this could be due to sediment or mineral build up at the bottom of the tank. As it heats up, it produces popping sounds. A professional heating technician can also help you fix this problem.

If you’re experiencing any of these water heater issues in your Olympia home, call Brooks Plumbing today. We have years of experience offering high quality plumbing services in olympia and would be happy to help you as well.

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FAQ: What to Look for in the Different Options for Repiping Materials?

Monday, October 8th, 2012

So you’re thinking about repiping your Olympia house. Whether your current pipes have already stopped working or if you’re doing some preemptive maintenance, choosing the repiping material for your new plumbing system is a big decision. There are a number of different materials to choose from and depending upon your budget and your long-term goals, one may be better for you than the other. Here we talk about 2 of the more popular materials to give you some things to think about as you get started.

Copper

Copper is the oldest and most popular material for repiping purposes. Copper pipe is classified by the thickness of the pipe walls. There are three different classes: M, L and K. Type M is very common and has the thinnest walls. This type is popular for large housing developers because it is less expensive. Type L is most common for single-family homes and usually lasts for 40 to 50 years. Copper is very durable and is very good at resisting bacteria growth and corrosion. However, it is very expensive and over time does corrode and can cause your water to have a metallic taste. Copper pipes are also very susceptible to freezing under cold conditions or breaking during earthquakes.

PEX Piping

PEX piping is a relatively new material that has become very popular with plumbers. PEX stands for crosslinked polyethylene. It is a flexible, plastic-like material that is non-toxic, doesn’t freeze, can flex during earthquakes, doesn’t corrode and doesn’t require soldering or joints. It can also last up to 100 years and is completely recyclable. A big drawback, however, is that PEX cannot be used outside or in direct sunlight as ultra-violet light can damage it.

Other Repiping Materials

There are several other repiping materials that are available. Kitec, galvanized and CPVC are just a few of them. Galvanized in particular is an older kind of piping material that is still in use in many homes and is often replaced. Kitec and CPVC were popular choices for plumbers but have fallen out of favor because of their high rate of failure.

Brooks Plumbing has experience repiping homes in Olympia and can help you decide if it’s time to repipe and what material are right for your particular home. Call us today!

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Plumbing Question: How Do I Know if I Have a Leak in My Plumbing System?

Monday, October 1st, 2012

Some leaks in your Lacey home’s plumbing are quite obvious, especially if they occur very near the fixture. For instance, if the pipe leading from your kitchen sink drain is leaking, you’ll quickly see water spilling out onto the floor. But because your pipes crisscross your home mostly out of sight, there is always the possibility that a leak will develop in a less-obvious and accessible area.

In fact, it’s often hard to know you have a leak at all, but there are a few tell-tale signs to watch for that can indicate a problem in your plumbing system. If you notice any of these signs, it’s important to call a Lacey plumber immediately to find the source of the problem and minimize the damage from the leak. These signs include:

  • Lower Water Pressure – Of course, your home may naturally have low water pressure. But any sudden reduction in the pressure of the water coming from taps in your entire home or just in one area indicates a problem somewhere along the line. Even if you see no other outward signs of a leak, be sure to get professional attention right away.
  • Higher Water Bills – If you notice that your water bill has increased without a corresponding increase in your water usage, there’s a good chance that extra water you’re paying for is leaking out of a pipe somewhere.
  • Dampness and Unexplained Puddles – Dampness in any area of your home can indicate a leak as well. And a leak in the main water line leading into your home can often cause puddles to develop in your yard even when it hasn’t rained. If you notice this type of pooling, or if any of your walls or floors feel damp, you should suspect a leak and call a professional promptly.

For any plumbing repairs in the Lacey area, give Brooks Plumbing Co. a call!

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Plumbing Tip: How Sump Pumps Work

Monday, September 24th, 2012

In areas like Olympia, WA, a sump pump acts as a primary line of defense against water getting into your home and causing damage to your basement, garage or bottom floor. These devices are actually quite simple to operate and relatively affordable to have installed, so they represent a very effective, highly recommended option for anyone with water issues in their Olympia home.

If you are having such a problem and are interested in learning more about what a sump pump does and why it is such a good investment, here are a few more details about them and how they work.

Sump Pump Technology at Work

A sump pump is exactly what it sounds like – a pump installed in the bottom floor of your home or basement, if you have one, that removes water before it can back up and create a problem. When the system is installed, a secondary drainage system is usually installed that will funnel water into a pit somewhere in your basement. As water fills this pit, a float rises and eventually triggers a switch on the sump pump.

The sump pump then turns on and starts removing water from that pit, pumping it into a drainage pipe or sewer line (depending on your municipal regulations regarding sump pump installation). The result is no water in your basement and a very efficient means of removing the water from your home.

Because the system consists of nothing more than a simple pump and some drain tiles to funnel water into the pit, it is relatively affordable to install and requires minimal maintenance – usually just a quick inspection once a year and a test during dry months of pouring water into the pit to ensure it comes on. Not bad for a device that will actively keep water out of your home for years to come.

If you’d like to install a sump pump in your home’s basement, call Brooks Plumbing today! Our Olympia, WA plumbing technicians are experts in sump pump installation and repair.

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Plumbing Question: What is a faucet aerator?

Monday, September 17th, 2012

Your Olympia home is filled with little things that you don’t even think about – technologies that have been developed to save us money or reduce energy consumption that, when not present, can have a very negative impact. One such thing is the aerator on your sink faucets. If you don’t have an aerator on your faucets, or if you have a clogged aerator, it’s important to know what these little things are and why they are so important.

What Is an Aerator?

Put very simply, an aerator is a screen installed at the end of your faucet. When you turn on the water, the aerator blocks part of the water flowing from the water line by splitting the flow. This does a few things. First, it ensures your water flow is not too powerful – wasting a large volume of water. Old faucets, installed in Olympia Homes before the 1992 law that required a certain level of efficiency, would use between 4 and 7 gallons of water per minute (gpm). With an aerator, a modern faucet uses 2.5 gpm or less.

Second, this ensures that the decreased water flow isn’t noticeable. When you wash your hands, plenty of water comes out to rinse your hands of soap, and unless you need to really fill up the sink fast, you’ll rarely, if ever, notice the decreased water flow.

Problems with Aerators

If you have high levels of minerals in your water supply, the aerator on your faucet can eventually get clogged. This happens slowly over time, so you will not notice at first, but eventually water flow will slow to the point that your faucet will either seem to slow or stop temporarily. This can be fixed easily enough by removing and cleaning your aerators, though it is also good to have your water supply checked to ensure the mineral levels are not too high. A water treatment system can help with this.

An aerator is an important component in your Olympia home’s plumbing – a simple little screen that saves you $100 or more per year on your water bill and helps you do your part for the environment by reducing wasted water.

If you have any questions or are in need of plumbing repairs, call us today! Brooks plumbing has been a trusted provider of quality services throughout the Olympia area since 1994.

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Plumbing Question: How Does a Drain Tile System Work?

Monday, September 10th, 2012

Drain tile systems seem to be the most common solution to problems arising from basement dampness and flooding. An increasing number of people inLacey are switching to these systems. But before you can do the same, it can be helpful for you to know how these systems work.

The technology that drain tile systems use was first put to its modern use in the United States in 1838. The main principle of this system is the use of special perforated tiles to absorb water and direct it away from the foundation of your home.

These drains are used for several purposes. When used as a farm draining system, they help prevent over saturation of water in fields. These tiles can also be used in irrigation systems for the transport of water. On the other hand, a drain tile system can be used domestically to drain yards as well as regions around the foundation.

Drain tiles are perforated (they have tiny pores) to allow the water in. When used in drainage systems, these tiles are immersed in a bed of loose stones, which allows the drain to lead to the piping. You can find various kinds of stone for this purpose. However, the three or four inch washed gravel allows for the best kind of water flow. These pipes are usually cylindrically to follow convention. However, even the cubical ones serve the same purpose as their shape has no effect on the flow of water.

Depending on your requirements, you can go for piping ranging from a diameter of two inches to 18 inches. Most people using these systems around their foundations prefer the 4” variant as a standard size. The pipe used for draining could be made from plastic or PVC. Any standard type of pipe can be used in this purpose. However, the pipe must be connected to the system well so no water is lost when draining out.

So there you have it. Drain tile systems are efficient and tested to absorb excess water from any area and help it flow out in an efficient manner. This is quite a popular and effective method that has been in use for many years now and continues to serve the purpose in agriculture as well as for domestic purposes. For more information about installing a drain tile system in Lacey, give Brooks Plumbing a call today!

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Plumbing Question: What is Commerical Plumbing?

Tuesday, September 4th, 2012

If you own a commercial building in the area and need an Olympia plumber to visit and perform part or all of an inspection on your pipes and fixtures, it is important that you hire someone with specific experience working on commercial systems. There are a number of reasons for this, not the least of which is that commercial systems are significantly different from residential systems and therefore need a different kind of attention than the systems you would find in a typical home.

 Larger Scale

A commercial plumbing system works on a much larger scale meaning many more things need to be taken into consideration. In a residential setting, water flow, water pressure, and even construction materials used are generally the same from one home to the next. In a commercial setting, you’re going to find that the type of pipe material present, the layout of those pipes and much more will depend almost entirely on the function of the building being serviced and the type of plumbing that is used.

Certain buildings have special water needs and others must follow particular sanitation guidelines because of what is done there. It is important that you hire a plumber who knows these guidelines and can meet them on the scale that is required.

 Quick and Efficient Service

A commercial plumber in Olympia must be able to quickly and effectively make repairs and service your plumbing system – something that may need to be done during off hours or that will require special equipment due to the larger configuration of your plumbing system. Ideally, they will also have training in those particular configurations and with those specific commercial tools.

It is important to hire a commercial plumber for all of your building’s plumbing needs, whether that means finding someone to perform a routine pipe inspection or to replace large lengths of pipe. If you’re interested in making this a part of your routine maintenance, call Brooks Plumbing Co. today.

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Plumbing Tip: When to Call for a Garbage Disposal Repair

Monday, August 27th, 2012

Normally when something goes wrong with you Lacey home’s garbage disposal it is quite obvious .  Any if you notice any of the following problems, it can be an indication that a call for garbage disposal repair is needed in order to get it back up and in working order.

  • Bad Smells:  When a bad smell happens, it is great to try the easy fixes like putting lemons down the disposal.  However, when those home remedies don’t really do the trick, it’s likely a garbage disposal problem exists under the surface, such as the unit not properly chopping food any longer.
  • Jammed Disposal:  When a disposal jams on something, it is often an item that should never have gone down the drain in the first place.  The force of the disposal stopping abruptly during use while the motor continues to grind on can cause damage that you could never see and which should be addressed by a trained professional.
  • Water Leaks:  When water leaks from a disposal it can either be a broken seal near where the top of the disposal connects to the sink, or it could be a malfunction within the disposal that requires a repair or replacement.
  • Noisy Disposal:  When there is more than normal vibration or humming coming from the unit, it could be a stuck flywheel, or a locked u p or broken motor.  If this noise continues for too long it could permanently damage the disposal, causing need for a replacement.
  • Clogged Drain:  A drain clog below the disposal could mean that the disposal is no longer properly grinding up food.  If simple fixes such as sharpening the blades with a few cups of ice cubes doesn’t work, then there could be a broken blade or something more causing the disposal not to work.
  • Stops Working Altogether:  When your disposal won’t start and pushing the reset button doesn’t fix the issue, there could be an electrical problem, or a problem with the motor itself.

Hiring a qualified Lacey plumber such as those at Brooks Plumbing  will ensure you get the garbage disposal repair you need quickly and professionally.  Contact Brooks Plumbing today!

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Plumbing Tip: Reduced Water Flow from Showerheads

Monday, August 20th, 2012

If your showerhead or other plumbing fixtures suddenly have reduced water flow, call the Olympia plumbing experts at Brooks Plumbing to take a look at your showerhead and provide the right solutions.

Causes of Reduced Water Flow

When reduced water flow occurs throughout a home, it can indicate that a serious plumbing problem has sprung up which needs to be addressed quickly.  However, if water pressure remains normal throughout your home, and there’s only reduced water pressure in the showerhead itself, it is usually due to one of a few simple causes. The two main causes are lime-scale build-up or a clogged water screen.

  • Lime-Scale Build-Up:  There could be an accumulation of lime-scale, which is actually calcium, a by-product of hard water.  Vinegar is a simple cleaning substance that can take care of most blockages due to calcium build-up.  Specific calcium cleaning agents can also be purchased at the store, but avoid using harsh chemicals, as they can damage the showerhead.
  • Clogged Water Screen:  There could also be a build-up of gravel or other substances in the water screen within the faucet head.  In this instance the showerhead would need to be removed.  The screen should be able to be cleaned and all debris removed so that water flows freely once again, but if the screen is no longer usable even after cleaning, it may be time to replace the screen or for a showerhead replacement.
  • Showerhead Pipe Problems:  If cleaning off calcium build-up and removing clogs from the water screen to not help the low pressure problem, there is likely something wrong with the pipes leading to the showerhead.  In this case, call an experienced plumber to properly diagnose and resolve the problem.

Brooks Plumbing has a team of experienced Olympia plumbing professionals who can help you out with a wide range of low water flow problems. We also find the best solution to resolve the issue. Contact Brooks Plumbing today!

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