Brooks Plumbing Co. Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Plumbing’

There’s No Such Thing as a “Minor” Plumbing Leak

Tuesday, September 9th, 2014

When water slowly leaks from your pipes, it may seem like a problem that can wait for repairs. However, there’s no such thing as a “minor” plumbing leak. Even the smallest of leaks can affect your bills, your home, the plumbing system, or even your health in the long-term. It’s important to call for professional plumbing services at the first sign of a leak. Not sure if there’s a leak in your pipes? You should consider scheduling leak detection services whenever you suspect there may be a problem. In this guide, we’ll discuss some of the ways a “minor” leak may affect you.

One major reason to take care of seemingly minor leaks as soon as possible is that even the smallest of leaks can drive up your water bills. In fact, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, even the smallest leaks may cost homeowners 10% more on their water bills. And leaks are a bigger problem for homes than many homeowners realize. In fact, 10 percent of homes waste 90 gallons of water per day because of leaks!

Additionally, if a leak drips onto the walls, floors, or ceilings, mold and mildew may build up, which can be hazardous to your health. If you notice water spots anywhere in your home, it’s important to call a plumber right away to avoid any negative respiratory effects.

Another problem with leaks is that they affect the pressurization of your system. Your water supply is kept pressurized so that it can easily move out of the faucets. But a leak may change the pressure of the system, which means you will feel lowered water pressure. In fact, a change in the water pressure can also seriously damage your pipes. If a “minor” leak is located in the sewer line, wastewater may backup into your drains, or even into a basement.

You should never neglect a seemingly minor leak, as it may turn into a larger leak that means major problems for your home. When you need professional plumbing services in Olympia, call the dependable professionals at Brooks Plumbing for leak detection services and repairs.

Continue Reading

Fix That Leaky Faucet! Here’s What It Could Be Costing You

Friday, August 22nd, 2014

A dripping faucet in your bathroom can keep you up at night, but this isn’t something that you need to find a way to “live with.” The same goes for a leaky kitchen faucet which you can ignore when you’re somewhere else in the house. What looks like a small inconvenience is actually much more. A leaking faucet is wasting water and costing you money, far more than you may think.

If you have one or more faucets leaking in your home and you can’t stop them, you need to call for a plumber to come out to fix the problem. Brooks Plumbing can take care of any leaky faucets in your home, as well as any plumbing problem that can plague your pipes and appliances. We’ve brought great plumbing service to the Olympia area for 20 years, and we strive for the highest quality in everything we do. If you need a plumber in Tumwater, WA, don’t hesitate to call.

The Unpleasant Truth about Leaking Faucets

The small size of the drips from faucets can easily trick people into thinking that a leaking faucet is no big deal—those drips can’t possible add up to enough water to make a difference. However, the actual numbers on the volume of water that goes down the drain from a leaky faucet show that theses drip make a big difference.

For example, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the leaks from an average household can equal 10,000 gallons of water each year, which is equivalent to 270 loads of laundry. For a single faucet that leaks one drip per second can waste 3,000 gallons each year, which equals approximately 180 showers. And at least 10% of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day. If you make the effort to have professionals fix basic leaks (not counting leaking in pipes), it will save you 10% on your water bills annually.

Take a look over your water bills for the last year and add them up. Now calculate what a tenth of that amount is: that’s how much you can waste every year if you allow leaky faucets to continue drip-drip-dripping.

Remember, this is not just an issue for your house, but an issue for water conservation in general. When you have a leaking faucet fixed promptly, you’re helping the planet along with helping your water budget.

You can call on Brooks Plumbing to help stop water leaks in your home. We’ll send a plumber who will also look to find other places in your home where you may be wasting water. We strongly recommend that you have new low-flow faucets installed to replace leaking ones; along with stopping the leaks, these new faucets will lower your water usage an additional 30%.

Continue Reading

Solutions for Strange Smells Coming from Your Sink

Tuesday, July 8th, 2014

The foul smell emanating from your kitchen or bathroom sinks… you know that can’t be right, and you also want it fixed as soon as you can. There are a number of reasons that sink odors can begin, and some of them are simple to fix, while others may require extensive plumbing excavation.

Below, we’ve listed some of the ways that you can solve the problem of a bad-smelling sink. The method that works will depend on the reason the problem started. When you feel in any doubt about what to do, call on Brooks Plumbing in Olympia, WA for fast, professional assistance.

Here Are Three Ways to Stop Those Sink Smells

  • Run water down a sink with a dry p-trap: If the sink that has the terrible odors coming from it is one that has not seen recent use—such as a sink in a guest room—then the reason for the bad smell is probably that the p-trap under the sink has dried up. The p-trap is the curved portion of the drainpipe, and it is designed to catch a plug of water inside it that prevents sewage gas from coming back up through the drain. If the p-trap water evaporates, nothing will prevent sewage gas from entering your home. All you need to do to is run water down the drain for a few minutes to restore the water plug.
  • Call plumbers for repairs to the drain vents: Drain vents are responsible for removing the sewer gases inside the wastewater system and releasing them up through openings on the roof. If these vents should become blocked from animal nests or debris, the pressure will force the sewer gases up through the drainpipes, even pushing through the p-trap (creating a noticeable gurgling sound). Do not go up to the roof to try to clear the vents; call plumbing professionals to safely handle the job.
  • Have drain cleaning performed: Odoriferous sinks can be suffering from excessive build-up of organic deposits. This not only leads to unpleasant smells, but also increases the chances of clogs and will cause a dangerous increase in water pressure inside the plumbing. To handle the job of cleaning drains, you need to leave the acidic and toxic store-bought chemicals on the shelves and instead call in experienced plumbers to handle full service drain cleaning that will give you sparkling clean plumbing once again.

An Important Caution about Sink Smells

If you are experiencing bad odors from many different drains at once, the problem might lie inside the sewer line—and this requires extensive and immediate repairs from professionals before it leads to sewage backup into your home. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking sewer smells from a sink are only a minor inconvenience! Call for local Olympia plumbers right away if the simple step of pouring water down a dry sink doesn’t solve the trouble.

Since 1994, Brooks Plumbing has taken pride in delivering “Quality in Everything We Do.” Whatever you need to fix your sink and drain troubles, we can handle it.

Continue Reading

What Happens When Your Plumbing Springs a Leak

Friday, June 27th, 2014

The municipal water system and wastewater disposal systems are the responsibility of the local utility company. When leaks spring up, the utility company will sends technicians to take care of the problem. But inside your house, the pipes are your responsibility, so when you discover a leak or suspect there’s one occurring, you need to call for professional plumbers to come to your assistance. As we’ll explain in this post, leaks are serious problems in more ways than one, and they need remedy as soon as possible.

When you are in need skilled plumbing services in Olympia, WA, contact Brooks Plumbing. Since 1994, we worked hard to provide the highest quality plumbing to our customers. We will locate and fix whatever leaks are endangering your plumbing.

Here’s what happens with leaking… and why it’s such a problem

If you spot a major water leak in an exposed pipe, like the pipes directly under a sink, you know that you have a major problem that needs repair immediately. Shut off the water main (make sure you know where it is ahead of time; in fact, go find out right now) and call for trained plumbers.

However, the leaks you don’t see—even the smallest ones—are also major dangers. The first problem they cause is water waste. A tiny leak in a water pipe that only drips three times a minute can still waste 70 gallons in a month! That will show up as a steep price increase on your water bills.

A leak will also begin to pool and cause damage to building material. The water will warp wood and encourage wood rot. Mildew growth is especially destructive, since it eats right through drywall. If you notice any spots of discoloration on your walls, shifted floorboards, or mold and mildew developing in corners, call for plumbers right away to find the leak and fix it before your home sustains damage.

Finally, leaks are insidious: they spread. Once leaking starts, it will change the pressure in the pipes and cause more leaks to follow. Plumbers who come to fix leaking issues will always take the time to see if additional leaks are occurring elsewhere—they know how fast the issue spreads.

What to do if you suspect a leak

Whether you know you have a leak or suspect that you do, first shut off the water main and then open up the taps near the leak (this is to reduce pressure which will help prevent flooding). Place towels where necessary to absorb the escaping waste. Now… leave the tools in the garage and instead call for professional plumbers. If you have leaks in your plumbing in Olympia, WA, call Brooks Plumbing and let our 20 years of experience take care of the problem.

Continue Reading

See our ad in ValPak

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2014
Check your mailbox for your Valpak coupon envelope! Look for our coupon with exciting offers for your plumbing needs.
We specialize in residential plumbing repairs and installations. This includes the replacing or fixing of faucets, toilets, and water heaters. We are also experts in whole house pipe replacement, including clear and repair drain systems.
Brooks ValPak

ValPak Coupon (sample image)

Continue Reading

3 Protections for Your Plumbing Against Flooding

Wednesday, March 19th, 2014

In a city that receives as much rain as Olympia, flooding in your basement or ground floor of your house is always a frightening possibility—especially if you live on land with a high water-table. Even minor flooding can cause extensive property damage, ruin items in storage, and lead to structural weaknesses.

You do have options to help protect against flooding, however. Along with a number of home improvements recommended by the EPA, you can have protections added to your plumbing in Olympia, WA that will remove flood waters from your home and prevent wastewater from entering through your pipes. Contact Brooks Plumbing today to learn about the ways we can protect you from flood damage.

3 plumbing protections from flooding:

  1. Pedestal sump pump: Sump pumps are one of the main ways you can protect your basement from flooding and excess water seepage. (They can do wonders in non-catastrophic situations as well, removing moisture that can lead to damaging and unhealthy mold and mildew.) Sump pumps are motorized pumps that remove gathered water from a sump (a depression made to collect water) and remove it to a waste line. A pedestal sump pump sits above the sump and draws up the water through a pipe when a float detects a rise in water level.
  2. Submersible sump pump: The other popular option for sump pumps is a submersible model. These pumps sit down in the sump itself and draw water directly into their intakes. The water-tight motor then pumps out the excess water. Submersible pumps are generally more efficient and powerful at water-removal, but require more stringent maintenance because of their exposure to water. A good sump pump, whether pedestal or submersible, should last you about 10 years.
  3. Check valves in drains and pipes: Have plumbers install non-return valves, or check-valves, onto drains in the ground floor. These will prevent wastewater from flowing back into your property through the sewage pipes.

Whatever method or methods you choose to use, have professionals help you with the installation. It’s important that sump pumps remove their water to a place that will not cause flooding elsewhere, and professional plumbers will help make sure of this during installation. You will also need professionals to check and maintain your sump pumps to make sure they are not suffering damage because of acidic or dirty water.

Brooks Plumbing can help you install a variety of flood protections, and we offer maintenance and repairs for pedestal and submersible sump pumps. When it comes to protecting your plumbing in Olympia, WA, you can trust our thirty years of experience.

Continue Reading

What Is a Sump Pump and How Does It Help My Plumbing?

Monday, January 27th, 2014

In a place that receives as much rain around the year—especially during the winter months—as Washington State, one of the potential problems that homeowners face is basement flooding. But even if your home does not experience major flooding issues, water can slowly seep into the basement and become a chronic problem. It doesn’t take much water to cause thousands of dollars of damage

This is where a sump pump can become one of the most useful appliances in your home. To contact a plumber in Olympia, WA who can install a sump pump to remedy your flooding and water problems, look to Brooks Plumbing. We’ve served the Olympia area since 1994… 20 years of excellent service.

Sump pump basics

A sump pump is a water pump that is installed in your basement, where it takes excess water from flooding or chronic seepage and then uses a motorized pump to remove it out into a drainage system. There are two basic types of sump pumps: the submersible sump pump and the pedestal pump. A submersible pump sits down within a depression (sump pit) where the water collects and stays beneath the water. It draws water into an intake and them pumps it out. A pedestal sump pump sits above the sump pit and uses a float to determine when the water level is too high. It then turns on and pumps out the water until the level is restored.

If you have a sump pump with the power correctly matched to the amount of water entering into your basement, you won’t have to worry about water build-up that can damage your home’s foundations or enter other parts of the house. Keeping water out of the basement will also prevent the growth of mildew and other unwanted bacteria.

According to the American Society of Home Inspectors, more than 60% of homes in the U.S. have below-ground wetness, so a sump pump is an important addition to assisting plumbing for many homes. The percentage of homes with dampness issues is much higher for a place like Olympia with our frequent rains, so you should consider a sump pump installation to help keep your home dry, safe, and free from unnecessary developing repair needs.

Call Brooks Plumbing today to speak to one of our Olympia, WA plumbers who has experience with sump pump installation. The plumber will be able to tell you all the details you need to know about sump pump installation and maintenance. There are few better additions to your plumbing than a sump pump, and few places better suited to installing one than Brooks Plumbing.

Continue Reading

What Is a Drain Snake and Why Do We Like Them So Much?

Monday, December 2nd, 2013

A typical scene between a homeowner and a plumber in Lacey, WA, courtesy of Brooks Plumbing:

Homeowner: I’m glad you’re here. This clog in my kitchen sink… I just can’t get rid of it.

Plumber: You’ve already tried a plunger, I assume.

Homeowner: Yes. It didn’t work. It must be a thick clog.

Plumber: You didn’t pour any chemicals down the drain, did you?

Homeowner: Oh, no! I paid attention to your advice from the last time. I know those cleaners are full of acids that can damage my pipes. And I don’t want that stuff accidentally splashing onto my skin or my eyes, or leaving fumes in my home.

Plumber: Good. You did the right thing by calling a professional for the job. I have just the tool to solve the problem.

Homeowner: What’s that? It looks a bit like a rolling vacuum cleaner.

Plumber: This is a powered drain snake. Sometimes we call them augers. Whatever the name, most plumbers really love them. They can get rid of tough clogs quickly and without damaging the pipes.

Homeowner: I’ve heard of drain snakes, but never understood how they worked.

Plumber: I’ll explain. A drain snake works something like a more powerful corkscrew on a long line. It’s a wound metal coil that rotates so it can pierce into a clog that’s blocking up the drain. The line is flexible so it can reach down far into your piping until it encounters the clog. The motor turns it so it screws into the clog. Then the snake can draw out the clog, or force it to crumble and break apart. Either way, it gets the drainpipe cleared away and can attack tough clogs of both organic or inorganic material.

Homeowner: Wait, aren’t there drain snakes that don’t need motors? And can’t I just buy one from a hardware store and do the job myself?

Plumber: Yes, there are manual drain snakes. And professional plumbers sometimes use those as well for simpler clogs. However, I don’t recommend you try to use them on your own. A drain snake, handled improperly, can end up causing damage to your pipes because of scratching. You should always call on a professional plumber in Lacey, WA when you’ve got a clog that’s too tough to handle. Besides having the best tools and knowing how to use them, we can also detect if there’s something else wrong with your plumbing that has caused the clog, such as a break in the sewage line.

Homeowner: Then I’m glad I called Brooks Plumbing.

Plumber: You can always trust us to deliver quality in everything we do. Now don’t worry, the drain snake will have your kitchen drain clear in no time at all…

Curtain

Continue Reading

5 Characteristics of a Great Plumber

Monday, November 18th, 2013

To protect the plumbing in your home, you need to have a great plumber keeping it in good shape. Entrusting repairs and maintenance to an amateur or to a “professional” plumber who lacks training and experience will end up costing you money for further repairs and leave you with constant worries about whether the work will get done correctly.

Although you should have no trouble detecting an amateur plumber, how can you pick out a truly great one from among the many who advertise as professionals? Here are 5 characteristics to look for in a plumber to help you make the best choice.

For a plumber in Olympia, WA who meets all these qualifications, look first to Brooks Plumbing.

1. PHCC Membership

Make sure that your plumber belongs to the PHCC, the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association. This is the premiere trade group for plumber and HVAC professionals, and membership shows a plumbing contractor’s dedication to quality service.

2. Offers a variety of plumbing services

A plumber who works on more than leaky pipes is a plumber who can bring a wide number of experiences to play when it comes to figuring out your specific repair needs. Look for contractors who also handle whole-house repiping, sump pumps, kitchen remodeling, and other installations. If the plumber also handles commercial plumbing, that’s an additional plus.

3. Many years in the business

You should make sure you hire a plumber with at least 10 years of experience in the field. This not only indicates a plumber with plenty of hands-on-training, it shows community trust and customer satisfaction.

4. An active website

A nice looking website doesn’t mean much in today’s business world: anybody can pay for a decent web presence. But if a plumbing contractor’s website features numerous pages describing various plumbing services, a frequently updated blog, and current promotions, it’s a good sign of a busy and highly professional company.

5. Has many positive customer reviews

With today’s Internet technology, you can quickly discover what other people are saying about a plumbing contractor. Check for links to reviews from the plumber’s website and find out if there are many satisfied customers.

Brooks Plumbing fits all of the above criteria. We’ve been in business almost twenty years, can handle plumbing from small leaks to remodeling, belong to the PHCC, and have a catalogue of many satisfied and loyal customers. If you’re looking for a quality plumber in Olympia, WA, make Brooks Plumbing your first call.

Continue Reading

What Causes a Pipe to Freeze?

Monday, November 11th, 2013

It’s one the great nemesis that your plumbing faces during a particularly cold winter in Washington, State: frozen pipes. Not only do frozen pipes block up the flow of water, but they can easily cause pipes to break and shatter because ice takes up more volume than liquid water. Although Washington has less harsh winters than other northern states, it only takes a few days of below freezing temperature to give your pipes serious grief.

If you have emergencies from frozen pipes, or from any other trouble that winter can throw at you at your plumbing, you need a company with a reputation for professionalism and quality work to take care of the repairs. Brooks Plumbing is ready to help you with professional plumbing services in Tumwater, WA.

The temperature at which pipes are in danger of freezing varies, but field tests from the Building Research Council at the University of Illinois put the average alert temperature at 20°F or below. Water resting inside pipes will start to freeze at this point. (For this reason, we suggest occasionally running water through faucets that don’t receive much use, since water flow helps ward off freezing.)

In Washington State, most of our plumbing is inside our homes instead of outside them, so they are less susceptible to freezing during cold weather. But if there are insulation leaks in your home, especially in areas that contain exposed pipes like the basement, then temperature drops will put your plumbing at risk. One of the first steps to take to see that your pipes don’t freeze is to take care of major heat leaks in your home. Cold air will also escape through holes in walls where cables and phone lines go to the outside: watch for trouble with pipes in these areas.

Pipes with poor insulation are particularly in danger from freezing. Exposed pipes should have effective insulation, such as sleeves, to keep heat from escaping from them and causing the water inside to freeze. There are also options for electric heating from cables along pipes, but you should never attempt to install this yourself. In general, when it comes to pipe insulation, leave the job to professional plumbers.

If you think you have piping in your home that is in danger of freezing during the coming winter, don’t wait to find it out on the coldest day of the year: contact Brooks Plumbing for expert advice on how to protect your plumbing in Tumwater, WA. We can locate where your pipes might be in danger and find solutions that will keep the water flowing through them the whole winter.

Continue Reading