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

Plumber’s Guide: Slab Leaks and the Damage They Cause

Monday, August 6th, 2012

If you are a Lacey homeowner and you don’t know what a slab leak is, consider yourself lucky. There are few problems that your home can suffer from that are more inconvenient and worrisome than a slab leak. At Brooks Plumbing we believe that the best way for homeowners to be prepared for problems is to keep themselves informed. With that in mind, here is some information about slab leaks and the potential damage they can inflict on your home.

Slab leaks are extremely problematic due to the fact that they are notoriously difficult to detect. They occur beneath the concrete foundation of your home and can cause serious structural damage. Because of their location beneath your home you will not see a slab leak, but there are some warning signs that you can look for to identify a slab leak. Indicators include:

  • Unexplained spikes in your water bill
  • Unusually low water pressure
  • Sounds of running water with no identifiable source
  • Dampness in carpeting or water stains at base of walls

If you are experiencing any of these problems it is important that you contact a professional plumber immediately. By the time you suspect a slab leak it may have been there for some time, and the damage it can cause will only get worse. Slab leaks can occur in your sewer line or potable water line. The potable water line can cause even more damage as the water is pressurized.

Because this type of leak occurs beneath concrete is important to pinpoint the location before any work is performed. You don’t want to tear up the entire floor of your home to find the source of your leak. A professional Lacey plumber will utilize special equipment as well as their training and experience to make the repair process as painless as possible. If you have any reason to suspect a slab leak in your Olympia area home, call Brooks Plumbing Company immediately. We’ll do everything possible to ensure that the structural integrity of your home is not compromised by the slab leak.

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Garbage Disposal Repair: Why is My Garbage Disposal Making Noise

Monday, July 30th, 2012

When you are looking for garbage disposal repairs in Olympia, call Brooks Plumbing Company. One of the more common service calls we get for kitchen plumbing repairs is a broken garbage disposal, particularly for “humming” garbage disposals. A humming garbage disposal can mean there are a few possible scenarios happening, but first, you’ll need to know what signs to look for.

A humming garbage disposal usually means that when you flip the switch to turn the disposal on, it doesn’t grind the food. Instead, it just makes a humming noise instead of the normal noises of a fully-functioning garbage disposal. This typically means that the blades are not working to chop the food waste. Here are a few reasons why this may have occurred and why you could need a repair service.

The first potential reason for a humming garbage disposal is a stuck flywheel. The flywheel is located just above the lower hopper chamber, and it is the device that turns the blades. The humming noise could mean that the blades are not turning because the flywheel is stuck. This is an easy repair that our technicians can take care of fairly quickly.

If the garbage disposal does not work after we fix the flywheel and reset it for you, the humming could be caused by a seized motor or a frozen bearing. In most cases, a seized motor or bearing means that the unit will need to be replaced. Before you try to repair or replace a garbage disposal yourself, it is best to call Brooks Plumbing Company to schedule an appointment.

Whether or not you need a replacement, Brooks Plumbing is the plumbing contractor to call for garbage disposal repair and replacement services in Olympia. If you decide that you want us to install a new garbage disposal, we can remove the old unit and replace your disposal with any number of new models to suit your needs and your budget. We carry a large selection of the latest models, and our technicians make it a priority to provide expert service for any plumbing job. Call today!

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