Brooks Plumbing Co. Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Olympia’

Services You May Need to Schedule for Your Drains

Friday, November 14th, 2014

One of the most common reasons people call on professional plumbers is to schedule drain services. Drainage systems are something that no homeowner wants to deal with on their own, as these are responsible for carrying wastewater out of your home. When you need professional drain services in Olympia, you need a quality experienced plumber with the right tools for the job, like the folks at Brooks Plumbing. Give us a call to schedule any of the following services.

Video Pipe Inspection: In general, it’s a good idea to have someone check your pipes from time to time to inspect for any leaks or major clogs that may end up causing backup to infiltrate your home. Leaks can be tough to detect on your own, as they won’t always cause a noticeable effect right away. By the time you discover a leak, it may be too late, as wastewater and sewage may have already infiltrated your property. What better way to inspect for leaks then with modern video inspection technology? A small video camera is fed through the pipes at the end of a cable, so that plumbers can locate the exact source of a leak as they view live footage of the camera’s path. You can do this as part of annual plumbing maintenance, or with drain cleaning service.
Drain Cleaning: When you have a major drain clog, sometimes a plunger just won’t do the trick. And those liquid drain cleaning solutions advertised on TV and in hardware stores can be toxic to the skin and eyes and may actually damage your pipes. Professionals know the tricks for clog removal and have tools that are safe for your drains, removing clogs completely and preventing future blockage from forming as well.
Drain Replacement: Unfortunately, no plumbing component can last forever, and this is certainly true of your drain pipes. A major block in the pipes can cause a pressure imbalance that allows a sewage pipe to burst. Tree roots or standard corrosion may also be responsible for a pipe’s demise. Whatever the case, don’t wait for repairs, as a drain pipe leak can mean severe consequences for your family’s health.

Call Brooks Plumbing today to speak with an experienced Olympia plumbers about drain services for your home today!

Tags: Drain, Olympia
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Tools Professionals Use to Clean Your Drains

Friday, November 7th, 2014

Chances are, you’ve had the misfortune to encounter a drain clog at some point in your life. If this happens in the shower, you’re left standing in a pool of dirty water. And if a drain clog occurs in a sink, even a small task like brushing your teeth becomes quite a chore. A lot of the time, homeowners rush out to buy anything that will make the clog disappear, including plungers and drain cleaning liquids.

While plungers are a great way to knock clogs loose from the drain and send them down the pipes, blockage further away from the drain opening may be too far for a household plunger. And chemical drain cleaning solutions are not safe for your pipes and are toxic to humans. Professional drain cleaning is the way to go for a particularly tough clog, using tools that won’t harm your pipes and take care of any type of obstruction. Let’s take a look at some of this equipment.

Small Drain Augers

For some clogs, a plumber will simply insert a drain auger into the drain opening in order to pull out the clog. These are long pieces of metal or plastic with a rigid or coiled end that will latch onto most types of clogs.

Large Motorized or Hand-Cranked Drain Snakes

Drain clogs that are located deep down in the pipes can affect multiple drains. Most plumbers are also equipped with large drain augers (or drain snakes) that can be fed through the pipes either via a crank or automatically with a motor. These may have a coiled end for clog removal, or additional detachable components. A plumber may decide to switch out the coiled end for a sharp tool to try and break up tougher clogs like tree roots and send them down the pipes.

Video Pipe Inspection

One of the most important pieces of equipment that professionals use is video pipe inspection. Before a plumber can begin to decide which type of tool to use, they must know the location and type of blockage. Technicians feed a long wire with a fiber optic camera at the end so they can view a live feed and decide on an appropriate course of action.

Looking for a quality plumber in Olympia? Call Brooks Plumbing for thorough professional drain cleaning services.

Tags: Drain Cleaning, Olympia
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How to Prevent Kitchen Plumbing Repair

Friday, October 31st, 2014

Waiting for a repair technician to fix your kitchen plumbing can be an unpleasant situation. Your plumber may try to show up as quickly as possible, but your dinner plans are already ruined, as you cannot properly drain wastewater, or because your kitchen sink does not provide adequate water pressure.

There are a few things you can do to keep things running smoothly in your kitchen. If you do find yourself in need of kitchen plumbing repairs in Olympia, call on the expertise of the skilled plumbers at Brooks Plumbing right away.

Dispose of F.O.G. in a separate trash receptacle. Fats, oils, and grease (F.O.G.) can cause a lot of problems for your plumbing even though they may appear to be harmless. When grease cools down it solidifies, and it may become stuck to the insides of your pipes. As you add additional F.O.G. and food of the garbage disposal, they can become caught along with the sludge, until a major drain clog forms.
Don’t use chemical drain cleaners in case of a clog. Any plumber will tell you that chemical drain cleaners are dangerous and can have disastrous effects for the skin and eyes. Also, these liquid cleaners are simply incapable of dissolving every type of blockage that may affect your drain pipes. If a plunger does not dislodge a kitchen plumbing clog, you need professionals with drain augers and other tools to clear away blockage for good.
Do not throw non-food items, hard food items, or fibrous foods in the garbage disposal. Plastic, paper, glass, metal, and hard-food items such as meat bones do not belong in your garbage disposal. Your unit simply cannot process these types of items and may break down in the process, so that you’ll need to replace your entire unit to avoid clogs. Additionally, fibrous foods like corn husks and celery can wrap around the blades, impairing your unit.
Schedule plumbing maintenance every year. Finally, be sure to schedule plumbing maintenance every year for a thorough inspection of your pipes and fixtures. Plumbers will look for any leaks that could reduce the water pressure of your kitchen sink and will clean and adjust components of your plumbing as needed.

If you need a plumber in Olympia, call the friendly technicians at Brooks Plumbing today!

Tags: Kitchen Plumbing, Olympia
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When Is a Grease Trap Necessary?

Friday, October 24th, 2014

Experts advise that you throw out any type of grease, fat, or oil in a separate trash receptacle instead of pouring it down the drain in your kitchen. This is because these substances can cause major problems for your plumbing system and for the environment. Of course, when you rinse dishes and put food down the disposal, some fat and oil will undoubtedly make its way into the pipes. This is why many homeowners choose to install a grease trap and why most commercial kitchens are required to do so.

Why Is Grease Such a Problem for the Drains?

Fats, oils, and greases (FOGs) seem rather innocuous, don’t they? However, these substances can solidify as they begin to cool down. And as they do so, they can cling to the insides of drain pipes. As food scraps and other debris move through the pipes, they may become stuck on to the sludge that lines the pipes and cause blockage that will require a professional to remove. Furthermore, these oils can create problems in the septic tank or sewer main and allow sewage to release into the environment and pose a risk to public health.

What Types of Structures Require a Grease Trap?

Many cities require a grease trap in order to keep grease out of the sewer system. In many cases, you will be fined if you are found to be responsible for any sewer backup caused by a lack of grease interceptors in your commercial kitchen. The fact is that your commercial kitchen disposes of large quantities of FOG daily, and you need a system that can separate these substances from the wastewater. However, many experts also recommend grease traps for use in homes, especially if you do a lot of cooking and cleaning or if you tend to put greasy dishes in the dishwasher.

Choose Professionals for Grease Trap Installation

Grease trap installation is a job best completed by professional technicians. There are a couple of reasons you should not try this on your own. For one, a grease trap must be properly sized so that grease does not accumulate too quickly. Furthermore, an expert is the best person to keep you informed about how often to clean out the trap.

Need a plumber in Olympia for quality grease trap installation? Call Brooks Plumbing today!

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The Reason for Loud Noises from Your Water Heater

Friday, October 17th, 2014

Your water heater works hard to produce hot water for the tasks you rely on every day, so it’s important to take care of your water heater in return. This includes calling an expert for maintenance from time to time and calling for repairs whenever you notice a problem. Sometimes, problems with your water heater result in a total lack of hot water, which generally convinces you to call for repairs as soon as possible.

But another pressing issue to pay attention to is loud noises, which may mean your unit is at risk of failure or sudden leaks. Loud noises may indicate a couple of different issues, and we’ll go over each of them here. When you need water heater repairs in Olympia, be sure to trust the experts at Brooks Plumbing.

Some Causes of Different Noises

Noises from your water heater may indicate a couple of different problems. If you don’t call for repairs soon, these could worsen and cause your unit to break down.

Sediment in the Tank: A banging or rattling noise from the tank may indicate that sediment is loosely rattling around in there. If you have hard water in your home, minerals can build up inside of the tank. Often, this only means the tank needs to be drained, and a technician can ensure the proper procedure to flush the tank of any sediment. In some cases, this can cause blockages and increase the pressure in the tank.
Water on the Burner: Another common sound is sizzling, which may happen whether or not the water heater is in use. This usually indicates that condensation is dripping onto the burner of a gas heater. This may mean you don’t get enough heating, even though you continue to consume energy throughout the day.
High Pressure: Your water heater has components in place to monitor the pressure, but the sound of rushing water could mean this system has failed and the pressure is too high. You may need a new pressure relief valve. On the other hand, too much sediment in the tank increases the volume, which could cause irreparable damage, increasing the pressure. In some cases, this means you need an entirely new unit.

For professional water heater repairs in Olympia, call the experts at Brooks Plumbing today!

Tags: Olympia, Water Heater Repair
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Causes of Discolored Water from Your Water Heater

Friday, October 10th, 2014

If you turn on a hot water tap in your home and notice the water is not clear, don’t panic. If your water heater or plumbing system is well-maintained and is not yet due for replacement, there is a good chance that you simply have a small problem that requires repair. However, if you have an older water heater, one that was poorly installed, or one that is not well-maintained, brown or rust-colored water may indicate serious corrosion.

You need a plumber experienced in water heater repairs so that you can be sure you get the repair or replacement services you need. To schedule water heater repairs in Olympia, call the experts at Brooks Plumbing. If you want to know more about the possible causes of discoloration from hot water, take a look at the following list.

Worn Anode Rod: The anode rod attracts particles that cause rust and corrosion to protect your tank. If this rusts through, however, your water may turn a reddish-brown color, and, eventually, your tank may begin to rust. This is a small part that should be replaced from time to time, which is why it’s important to have a plumber inspect your water heater during a maintenance visit once a year.
Corroded Tank: However, if your anode rod is not very old and rust does begin to affect your tank, replacement is usually the only option. Most water heaters will last over 10 years with proper maintenance, so if your unit has not reached this point, discoloration could point to a different issue.
Excess Sediment: Your storage tank water heater stores water at all times, so minerals from the water supply may begin to settle at the bottom of the tank over time. Too many of these minerals may make the water appear yellow, which is why it’s important to have a professional flush your tank from time to time.
Rusty Pipes: If both the hot and cold water taps produce discoloration, the problem may unfortunately be in your pipes. Galvanized steel pipes will eventually rust through, and should be replaced with modern copper or plastic piping.

For plumbing service and water heater repairs in Olympia, call the friendly technicians at Brooks Plumbing today!

Tags: Olympia, Water Heater Repair
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Why Is Sizing Important for Water Heater Tanks?

Friday, October 3rd, 2014

When you need a large plumbing installation, such as a new water heater, it’s important that you let a trained professional handle all of the heavy work. One misstep can cause water to flood into your home, and faulty installation can mean you’ll end up with some large repairs early on.

But what’s also important is that you let a trained professional choose the proper size unit for your home. To some homeowners, this may not seem like a complicated task. If you have budgetary limitations, you may opt for a smaller system. Or, you may choose a larger unit to ensure you get enough hot water. But these assumptions can cost you money in repairs and on your energy bills over time. That’s why it’s important to let a professional help you through every step of the process.

Here’s why sizing a storage tank water heater is not a job for the inexperienced. And when you need water heater service in Olympia, trust one of the plumbing experts at Brooks Plumbing.

Sizing Storage Tank Water Heaters

Sizing a water heater depends on a couple of factors. For one, a technician must determine the amount of hot water used during the busiest hour of the day. This is referred to as the FHR, or first hour rating, because many households use a lot of hot water early in the first hours of the day. A technician may be able to make calculations based on the number of people in the home, but some homeowners have additional water heating needs to take into account.

The home’s FHR should match up to the unit’s FHR. However, you’ll also need to consider the EF, or energy factor. This number lets you know how much of the energy used by the water heater is used as hot water. When factoring the size of the unit into your budget, you should also consider this factor to help you choose a system that is cost-effective over time.

A system that is too small will not get the job done, but an oversized system will cost you a lot more every month. For water heater service in Olympia, let the professionals at Brooks Plumbing do the work for you. Call us today!

Tags: Olympia, Water Heaters
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Water Heater Repair FAQ: What Is a Heating Element?

Friday, September 26th, 2014

While your water heater allows you to do so many important activities around the home, such as cleaning floors, doing laundry, washing dishes, and taking hot showers, most homeowners generally don’t know about the various parts involved in this process. Of course, water heater repair is a complex job best left to experienced professionals, so it’s likely that you’ll never have to deal with the various components of a water heater on your own. However, the heating element is an interesting component of an electric water heater, relying on the principle of heat rising to provide hot water. In this guide, we’ll look at how the traditional storage tank water heater works and the role of the heating element in electric models, as well as what may go wrong.

Storage tank water heaters, the most common type of unit found in homes, use a fairly simple process to supply hot water whenever a hot water tap is turned on. First, cold water travels through a long dip tube at the top of the tank that leads all the way to the bottom. Water is heated at the bottom of the tank and naturally rises to the top over the denser cold water. Another shorter tube at the top of the tank allows water to enter into the pipes and reach your faucets.

With a gas-powered water heater, water is heated with a burner located underneath the tank. For homes without access to a natural gas line, however, an electric water heater may be a better option. Electric units use small heating elements installed inside of the tank rather than burners to heat the water. These metal elements heat up via electrical resistance. There is a heating element toward the bottom of the tank and another at the top in order to help keep water thoroughly heated when the tank is not in use. However, because the bottom element takes on the bulk of the work, it may be more susceptible to breaking down. It’s important to have a technician assess the damage and ensure a replacement element uses the same voltage.

The best way to prevent damages to your water heater is by scheduling regular water heater maintenance with a professional. When you need maintenance or water heater repair in Olympia, call one of the experts at Brooks Plumbing today!

Tags: Olympia, Water Heater Repair
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How to Avoid Repairs for Your Sewer Line

Friday, September 19th, 2014

The sewer line is one of the most crucial parts of your home plumbing. The sewer line collects and removes all the waste water from the drains in a house out to the municipal sewer line in the street. If the sewer line develops leaks, blocks, or sustains damage, it will not only stop the drains in your home, but it could lead to a sewage back-up into the basement or the foundations, causing extensive damage. Making the situation worse is that repairs for sewer lines are often costly and time-consuming: you want to avoid these repairs if at all possible.

There are some ways to take care of the sewer line in your home to make repairs less likely. If you need plumbing services in Olympia, WA, call Brooks Plumbing. We handle multiple drain and sewer services that will help keep your sewer line in the best shape possible.

Ways to Avoid Sewer Line Repairs

Replace older galvanized steel pipes: This is major job, but as a preventive measure it is one of the best things you can do for your home’s plumbing. If your house is older than 1970, it may have galvanized steel pipes, which are prone to corrosion and will eventually fall apart. If the sewer line is an older steel pipe, you should arrange to have it replaced with a corrosion-resistant copper line and prevent numerous future problems.
Avoid planting trees and plants near the line: Tree root infestations are one of the principle reasons that sewer lines sustain damage and become clogged. The roots of trees grow naturally toward the moisture around the pipes and then seek the nutrients inside, forcing their way through gaps. The root growth is often enough to cause the pipe to break. To help avoid these problems, landscape your yard so that trees with deep roots are planted far from the sewer line area (you can ask a plumber to show you where this is) and the plants that are near it have shallow roots.
Do not dispose of oil, fat, or grease down kitchen drains: These food products look innocuous in liquid form, but when they cool down inside drains they turn into waxy solids that will quickly form tough clogs. If enough fat, grease, and oil coats the inside of a sewer line, it could end up cause a serious clog that will require extensive sewer cleaning services to eliminate. To help prevent this, place all fat, grease, and oil in a separate receptacle and remove them to the trash.

At Brooks Plumbing, our motto is “Quality in Everything We Do.” We have stood by this promise since we started in business in 1994. When you need professional plumbing services in Olympia, WA, make us your first call.

Tags: Olympia, Plumbing
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What Is the U-shaped Pipe Under My Sink?

Friday, September 12th, 2014

When you look at the pipes under your kitchen or bathroom sink, perhaps the most prominent feature you will notice is a curved pipe that looks like the letter U. Tilt your head to the side and you’ll notice that it also looks like the letter P. This is the origin of the word “p-trap,” the name plumbing professionals use to describe this portion of the plumbing, although some also call it a u-bend.

For some people, the design of this pipe may seem counterintuitive. Wouldn’t it be more logical for water to flow straight down into the drain pipes? Doesn’t a curved pipe only lead to clogging? The p-trap, located underneath every drain in your home, actually has an important function in plumbing. Let’s take a look at its purpose and some of the problems that may lead you to call for plumbing services.

The Reason for the P-Trap

Your kitchen and bathroom drains lead directly to the drain pipes that connect your home’s plumbing system to the public sewer or septic tank. The p-trap’s main function is to keep the smell of sewage out of your home. As water flows down any drain in your house, it collects in the p-trap, blocking sewer gas from ever reaching your drain. And while it may not have been designed for any other reason, the p-trap has another purpose; it can also catch valuable items like jewelry that may have fallen into the sink by mistake!

Common Problems

However, if a drain is not used for a period of time, the p-trap may dry out. If a sewer smell comes from one of your drains, try running the faucet. If the p-trap is dry, this should fix the problem right away. If not, you may need to schedule professional drain cleaning. Unfortunately, the shape of the p-trap makes it prone to clogging from hair, food, or other debris. If a plunger cannot loosen the clog, you’ll need to call for professional plumbing services. A plumber is equipped with a drain snake that is capable of pulling out tough clogs from the p-trap and from much further along in the pipes.

Do you need professional plumbing services in Olympia? Call the team of experts at Brooks Plumbing today!

Tags: Olympia, Plumbing
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