Plumbing | Action Plumbing, HVAC, & Electric

Choosing the correct water heater for your house is an important choice that affects your comfort and energy efficiency. At Action Plumbing, we know how important it is to find a water heater that suits your needs. In this blog post, we’ll give advice on picking the right water heater for your Salt Lake City home. This will help you make a smart choice that keeps your showers warm and saves energy.

Assessing Your Hot Water Needs:

Begin by understanding your household’s hot water demands. Consider the number of occupants, daily usage patterns, and the simultaneous use of hot water in various appliances. This assessment will guide you in determining the appropriate size and capacity for your new water heater.

Types of Water Heaters:

Explore the different types of water heaters available in the market. Common options include tankless, storage tank, heat pump, and solar water heaters. Each type comes with its own set of advantages and considerations. Action Plumbing’s expert team can help you understand the pros and cons of each, guiding you towards the best fit for your home.

Energy Efficiency and Operating Costs:

Energy efficiency is a crucial factor in choosing a water heater. Consider the energy source – whether it’s gas, electricity, or solar power. Check the energy efficiency rating and yearly costs to make sure your water heater fits your budget and environmental goals.

Water Heater Services Near You:

If you’re searching for “water heater near me” in Salt Lake City, look no further than Action Plumbing. Our local team is ready to provide expert water heater services, including installation, maintenance, and repairs. We understand the specific needs of Salt Lake City residents, ensuring you receive prompt and dependable service.

Understanding Water Heater Costs:

Budget considerations play a significant role in your decision-making process. Action Plumbing offers transparent information on water heater costs, helping you make informed choices based on your financial parameters. Our goal is to provide cost-effective solutions that deliver long-term value.

Considering Maintenance and Longevity:

Factor in the maintenance requirements and expected lifespan of the water heater. Regular maintenance is essential to ensure optimal performance and longevity. Action Plumbing’s maintenance services are designed to keep your water heater running efficiently for years to come.

Professional Installation Services:

Once you’ve chosen the right water heater, it’s crucial to have it professionally installed. Action Plumbing’s experienced technicians are well-equipped to handle the installation process, ensuring safety, efficiency, and compliance with local regulations.

Contact Action Plumbing Today

Choosing the right water heater involves thoughtful consideration of your household’s needs, energy efficiency, costs, and maintenance requirements. Action Plumbing, Heating, Air, and Electric is your trusted partner in this decision-making process.

From expert advice to professional installation and ongoing services, we are committed to ensuring your home has a reliable and efficient water heating system. Contact us today for water heater services in Salt Lake City – where your comfort is our priority.

Showering without hot water? Washing dishes in a lukewarm abyss? The quest for the perfect home water heater ignites a fiery debate: gas or electric?

Both options heat your water, but understanding their key differences can help you crown the champion for your home:

Fueling the Flame:

Gas Water Heaters: These fiery warriors burn natural gas or propane to heat water directly. They offer faster heating rates and often come at a lower initial cost. However, installation can be more complex and gas lines require maintenance.
Electric Water Heaters: These clean titans utilize electricity to power heating elements submerged in the water tank. They’re more eco-friendly and easier to install, but typically have slower heating times and higher running costs depending on your electricity rates.

The Cost Conundrum:

Initial Cost: Gas water heaters generally have a lower upfront price, while electric models tend to be pricier.
Operating Cost: Gas water heaters usually boast lower running costs thanks to the efficiency of burning fuel. However, if electricity rates are low in your area, an electric model might be more economical.
Installation & Maintenance: Gas water heaters require professional installation and potential gas line maintenance. Electric models are easier to install but may require upgrades to your electrical system.

Choosing Your Champion:

Consider these factors to find your perfect water heater match:

Budget: Can you afford a potentially higher initial cost for an electric model or are you looking for a lower upfront price tag?
Energy Efficiency: Are you prioritizing eco-friendliness and potentially lower running costs with an electric option, or are you comfortable with natural gas or propane?
Availability: Is there a readily available gas line to your home, or are you limited to electricity?
Space & Installation: Do you have space for a larger tank that comes with a gas heater, or is the more compact size of an electric model preferable?

Need Back-Up?

Still unsure which water heater to choose? Don’t let this hot debate leave you in the cold!

Our skilled technicians can assess your needs. They can also discuss the pros and cons of each option. Additionally, they can recommend the perfect water heater for a comfortable home and enjoyable showers.

Remember, choosing the right water heater is an investment in your comfort and home’s value. With the help of Action Plumbing, you can navigate the Great Water Heater Debate and crown the ideal champion for your needs. Let our expertise flow seamlessly into your home and ensure you never face a lukewarm future!

Contact Action Plumbing Heating, Air, & Electrical today and turn up the heat on your water heater happiness!

Anytime you’re moving into a new home, you naturally have a number of factors you’ll be thinking about. And when it comes to ascertaining the quality of the new home, one of the most important areas to keep an eye on as an upcoming homeowner is the plumbing system.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we’re proud to offer numerous residential plumbing services throughout Salt Lake City and other parts of Utah, including assistance to new homeowners looking to assess the state of their system and make any required fixes soon after they’ve moved in. While you’re still in the process of finalizing your home deal, the ability to spot potential plumbing concerns might allow you the time to ask the seller to remedy these concerns (or credit you money in exchange for you doing so), so it’s vital to keep an eye out. Even if you don’t have much plumbing knowledge, here are some basic methods to keep in mind when visually inspecting a new home to ensure the plumbing system is in good working order.

Common New Home Plumbing Issues

Firstly, let’s go over some of the most common plumbing issues found in new homes, or homes that have recently been purchased — including those that sellers may try to hide:

Leaking issues: Sinks, toilets, showers, and other home fixtures can be an indication of a larger leakage issue. In addition to these lesser-noticed leaks, check for any obvious signs of major water damage or moisture seepage in the basement or crawl space.
Fixture issues: You may also want to check out the overall condition of sinks, faucets, and toilets in various parts of the home. If you spot any fixture issues right after moving in, these can also be signs of a larger issue: For instance, if you find a toilet is running with every flush and wasting hundreds of gallons of water each week, this could signify that there’s an internal problem or blockage that will require professional assistance.
Potential signs of flooding or other significant water damage: As part of your overall inspection, you may also want to take note of any potential warning signs that an area has suffered major flooding in the past. For instance, if you notice mold on the walls at one point under the sinks or within a crawl space, this could be a sign that there was some sort of water damage in the past.

Our next several sections will go over some simple practices to help you identify these issues before it’s too late.

Visual Inspection

Whether it’s during an initial home tour or any other occasion, you’ll want to closely inspect your new home’s plumbing system. As part of this inspection, you should be looking for issues like rusting pipes, visible cracks or leaks, and other problems that could lead to water damage or severe malfunctions down the line. You might even take some time to familiarize yourself with your house’s various plumbing fixtures so you can detect any problems quickly during an initial walk-through.

Check for Water Leaks

One of the quickest ways to spot problematic pipes or signs of past leakage is to simply turn on all of your home’s faucets and take a peek at the areas around them for any telltale moisture seeping from the corners. This step is especially important to include in your initial walk-through, as you can’t be sure if there have been any recent basement floods or other issues that might lead to serious problems down the road — and if you do spot any moisture on your pipes or fixtures, this is a telltale sign that more work will be needed.

In addition to looking for suspicious wet spots on your home’s flooring (and ceilings), take some time to check for rust along the water lines as well as around your toilets and sinks. This corrosion is often a telltale sign of water damage, and it may be time to call in professional help.

Test Water Pressure

Another excellent way to ensure your home’s plumbing is in good condition is to actually test the water pressure. This can be done simply by turning on a faucet and letting it run for several minutes without interruption. You’ll want to make sure that water pressure remains at a strong level throughout the duration of its operation; if you notice any sudden drops during this test, there’s likely an issue with your home’s water system somewhere that will need to be addressed by a professional.

Look (and Listen) for Clogs

As you move through your house’s plumbing system, you might also want to take a look for any signs of blockage or clog in your sinks and toilets. In particular, if there aren’t any visible sources for this issue — such as visible buildup in the pipes — it may be time to call a plumber just to be safe.

You’ll also want to listen closely to the sounds that various fixtures make as you turn them on and off. We all know that toilets sometimes make weird gurgling or swishing noises when they’re operating, but if you hear any hissing from your sinks, it could be a sign that the water is leaking somewhere else in the line — and this will definitely need to be addressed by a professional.

Beware of Suspicious Odors

On a final note, it’s also important to be on the lookout for any strange smells coming from your home’s plumbing system. Now, the smell of natural gas isn’t anything out of the ordinary when it comes to homes with furnaces or other heating devices installed, but the smell of sewer gas or any other noxious odors could be a sign that your drainage system is having some trouble.

For more on how to inspect the plumbing system of a new home to ensure there aren’t major issues lurking beneath the surface, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services in SLC or other parts of Utah, speak to the team at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric today.

No one wants to deal with issues related to their toilet, and one of the most common is also one of the most frustrating: The toilet simply won’t flush. Especially when you’ve gone through a simple checklist for minor issues that might be the cause, such as plunging the toilet to remove clogs for instance, and haven’t resolved the concern, this can be a frustrating issue.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we’re here to help with a variety of toilet repair needs, including for toilets that just won’t flush no matter what you do. We’ve seen every issue that might lead to a toilet flushing problem, and we know what to do to handle it. Whether on your own or with the assistance of our plumbers as-needed, here are some of the steps that should be taken to determine the cause of a non-flushing toilet, plus what can be done once the problem has been identified.

Concealed Clogs

As we touched on above, clogs are perhaps the single most common cause of toilets that won’t flush. While toilet paper generally won’t cause issues here, other items can, such as children’s toys, small items of clothing, and more. If you have a concealed pipe below your toilet – meaning one that runs from the floor up through the wall – this is where clogs are most likely to be found. Of course, every toilet is different here, so what works for one might not work for another.

Generally, though, using a quality plunger – either a cup plunger or an accordion-style – is the best course of action. If you’re not sure which to use, ask our plumber as needed. In addition, if your toilet has a pop-up stopper at the top that needs to be lowered before using a plunger, do so by pushing it from its handle at the side or from below, not from the top. Otherwise, you run the risk of damage to the stopper and a broken seal between it and your toilet flange – which can be a costly repair.

Draining Toilet

If plunging doesn’t work after a few tries, you might need to try draining your toilet. Make sure it’s safe to do so by first checking the water level in your toilet tank. If it’s too high or is becoming too high, shut off the water supply to your toilet. The shut-off valve is generally located either directly behind and above it (this might be a knob where you can twist and/or turn), or along the wall next to the floor behind and below the toilet tank.

Once you’ve ensured it’s safe to do so, flush your toilet and hold the handle down. This will cause any existing water left in the tank or bowl to drain into the waste pipe below, which can help allow for better plunging when you’re done. To finish, turn the water supply back on and try flushing again.

Toilet Tank

If that fails, you might have to remove the toilet tank itself. First, disconnect its water supply line at either the valve behind and above it or by releasing it from the wall where it’s attached near the floor. Then, detach the tank from its bowl by lifting straight up. If you have any problems here, ask our plumber for assistance.

Once the tank is out, you can try using an auger to clear any clogs in the waste line or by removing the one-way valve in the toilet’s supply line to see if that helps move things along. Keep in mind that it shouldn’t be removed if your system freezes in winter, however, as doing so will make it impossible to refill your toilet tank in time for use.

Handle and Chain Mechanism

Another possible issue that can be identified when lifting your toilet tank is the handle and chain mechanism that runs between the tank’s handle and flapper valve. If this sight causes you to see corroded metal or other signs of wear, it might be time to replace it with a new one. To install replacement parts, refer back to your owner’s manual for guidance, or just ask our plumber as-needed.

Flapper Concerns

The flapper is an inlet valve that’s responsible for moving water from the tank into the bowl of your toilet, but it may have worn out. If its chain is stretched, corroded, or broken, it might not move properly to open and close the flapper when needed. This can be cause for concern if you notice water leaking from the tank into the bowl below while your system is in use.

If you choose to replace a flapper on your own, be sure you turn off the water to your toilet by first shuttering the one-way valve until it’s completely closed. Then, use a wrench to remove its handle and/or screw cap to access the flapper inside. From there, you can simply put the new part in place of the old one, then adjust its position as necessary before replacing its handle or screw cap.

Overflow Tube

Finally, in some cases a cracked or otherwise damaged overflow tube can cause your toilet not to flush properly. This is due to the fact that the tube drains excess water from your tank in case it doesn’t get moved into the bowl, which can keep your system from overflowing onto the floor if you have a leaky flapper or other internal issue.

If this sounds like what’s going on with your toilet, just replace the broken overflow tube with a new one that’s been designed to fit your specific toilet. If you need help finding the proper part, just ask our plumber for guidance as-needed.

For more on how to handle flush-related plumbing issues in your toilet, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric today.

Efficiency and energy savings are important concepts for many homeowners, but how you accomplish them may differ somewhat between the time of year. Especially in place like Utah, with such varying temperatures and climate conditions throughout a given calendar year, knowing how to adjust your system for maximum efficiency in every season is valuable.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we’re here to help. We offer year-round HVAC services that will help keep your system efficient and operating at peak capacity, from air conditioner and furnace maintenance and tune-ups through major system replacement, smart thermostat installation and more. As we enter the fall season, one that’s traditionally used by homeowners to transition their space from the hot Utah summer into the cold, snowy winter, what are some general tips we offer our clients on keeping their systems functioning efficiently? Here are several.

Change Thermostat Settings

When you’ve decided the time is right, one of the big transitional themes during the fall period for your HVAC system is changing your thermostat settings. This takes very little time, requires no HVAC service or maintenance and will save you money on your utility bills.

If you have a programmable thermostat, make sure to change the “hold” function that’s in effect during the summertime. This will keep your system from constantly running when you’re at work or too far away to notice it. If this was not done, and you notice your system is still running during the hours you’re away, even though it’s warm outside and there’s no one home to benefit from it, simply push “hold” for as long as necessary until your next programming session.

If you don’t have a programmable thermostat and would like to invest in one, you’ll receive ongoing energy savings by programming it to adjust the temperature in your home when you’re not there. If you work during the day or tend to be away for long stretches of time, this is a great way to cut big costs on your utility bills.

Change Air Filter

Another huge factor in HVAC efficiency, one that’s present throughout the year, is the presence of clean, high-quality air filters. If one is already present, make sure it’s in good condition and replace it if necessary. Filters do a great job of preventing dust, airborne allergens and other contaminants from entering your system and creating problems for its operation, which will cost you money at best and cause serious damage at worst.

The type of filter you use is also a big consideration. High-efficiency filters will catch more contaminants and reduce the number of times your system must work harder to make up for them, saving you money on maintenance costs over time.

Ductwork Upkeep

If your ducts have not been inspected or cleaned for several years, the fall is often the ideal time to do it. Dust accumulates faster during the fall months, when your system is working harder to cool down your house before winter arrives, and doing this work on a regular basis can save you hundreds on energy costs over time. Call one of our technicians today for more information about scheduling ductwork maintenance.

Baseboard or Radiant Heater Prep

If your home utilizes baseboard heating, radiant heating or any other method that uses something other than traditional air ducts for late fall and winter heating, the early fall is ideal for adjusting your system settings to accommodate the temperature drop. This mostly means ensuring there are no blockages or dirt buildups in important vent areas — remove furniture or any other potential blockers that might interrupt the flow of warm air once the cold weather eventually hits.

Close Fireplace Flue

If your fireplace flue wasn’t already closed during the summer season, it’s important to do this on a regular basis, especially during the fall months. Keeping the flue open is a safety hazard and ensures all heat is lost up into your chimney instead of your living space — meaning you won’t feel as comfortable as you should due to the fact that some of your heat will be escaping, a factor that also puts a strain on your HVAC system and raises your monthly utility bills.

Lower Dishwasher and Washing Machine Temperatures

As the weather gets colder outside, systems that use hot water — such as your dishwasher, washing machine and others — have to work harder. This is because the water they’re pulling into your home begins at a cooler point than it would during summer, causing your HVAC system to heat it as a supplement. If your dishwasher and washing machine aren’t set to lower temperatures, these tough-working systems will have to burn more energy to manage the load.

For this reason, it pays to lower the temperatures for these machines by just a few degrees once the weather turns cold. You’ll still get the same amount of cleaning results while also helping your HVAC system maintain its energy consumption.

Professional HVAC Maintenance

Finally, the fall is a perfect time to have your HVAC system inspected and maintained by a professional. Ensuring your system is in good working order and fully prepared for the temperature drops and changing weather conditions of winter ensures that you’ll end up saving on energy while also enjoying more comfortable living conditions.

To learn more about HVAC fall energy savings or schedule a visit from our team of service technicians, all you need to do is pick up the phone and call us right now. Call the pros at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric today.

As any plumber or even most experienced homeowners can tell you, proper care for your home’s plumbing system involves knowing what not to do just as much as knowing what to do. There are a variety of mistakes some homeowners might make with their plumbing system, even some where they assumed they were doing the right thing — but with a little bit of knowledge, you can avoid these errors and keep your system in great shape.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we’re proud to offer a wide range of plumbing services, including 24/7 emergency plumbing solutions in Lehi — but also numerous programs or concepts that will help your home or building avoid any plumbing emergencies or major issues altogether. What are some of the most common mistakes we see made by our clients within their plumbing systems, and how can you avoid these risks through some simple understanding of how your system works? Here’s a primer.

Improper Toilet Usage

One of the single most common plumbing mistakes made in homes today is one that can be made by anyone who lives there: Improper usage of the toilet drain, especially to flush down items that are not approved to go down the toilet.

The most common item we see flushed down toilets is paper towels, which can either get stuck in the system and reduce water flow to the bowl or even get caught up in the flapper and cause it to stop working properly. Paper towels are followed closely by feminine products, which can also create blockages when they catch on tree roots that grow into the line.

The other major issue with flushing items like this comes in the form of drain flies or fruit flies — since their breeding area doesn’t necessarily get cleaned out regularly when flushing things down the toilet, drain flies become an issue where your plumbing system is concerned.

To avoid any of these issues, use the proper toilet flushing-approved items like human waste and toilet paper down the drain. Don’t put anything else in there, no matter how innocuous it might first appear to you. Also make sure that your household members are aware of these rules — especially when you’re away from home and can’t be there to note if someone flushes an inappropriate item.

Chemical Drain Cleaners

While the occasional use of a chemical drain cleaner for a minor clog or blockage is usually okay, you don’t want to make this a regular habit. This is because chemicals can cause problems with the materials used to build your plumbing system over time, causing corrosion or even chemical burns to the skin if you come into contact with them.

If your drains are starting to clog up quite frequently, make sure they’re fully clear before attempting drain cleaners of any sort. You can do this with a plunger or even a handheld auger for minor blockages, but if you want to go the chemical drain cleaner route make sure your drain is clear first.

If you’re starting to notice corrosion issues with your plumbing system, it’s time to call in a plumber. Corrosion can be sign that there are serious organic or other issues going on with your system, and if left unchecked these issues can cause leaks or major damage.

Attempting Fixes You Aren’t Qualified For

While there are certain very basic plumbing areas where you can attempt a DIY fix, such as using your plunger to try and unclog your toilet, there are many other fixtures or components that require professional attention. For this reason, you want to be very specific with what you attempt to fix on your own and what you call a professional for.

For example, you wouldn’t want to try and fix your garbage disposal unit on your own, or even attempt to replace a water heater that’s more than 15 years old. On the other hand, you might be able to change out an older spigot for a new one with relative ease, especially if all it requires is the loosening of some nuts with your fingers.

Leaving Water on Or Dripping

You might not realize just how much water will be wasted if you leave water running in your sink or tub at all times, even if it’s an infrequent event. This is because the average faucet can drip a steady flow of between one and three gallons per minute.

If you notice a draining issue with your toilet, make sure to shut off the water supply before embarking on any repairs. Just to be safe, you might want to leave the water turned off for several hours after your repair is completed just to make sure it’s actually fixed.

In other cases, water losses will be due to cracks or other leaks that aren’t as visible as a small drip from a leaky faucet. If you notice any leaking around your shower, toilet, or sink, turn the water off immediately and call a plumber.

No Plumber On-Hand

Finally, another common plumbing mistake homeowners make is not maintaining a connection with a quality local plumber in case of issues. Even if your plumbing system is currently in tip-top shape, you never know when an emergency might happen — and if you don’t have a plumber on standby you could be in for a world of hurt.

If you need to find a reliable and trustworthy local plumber in Lehi or any nearby area, make sure to contact the professionals at Action Plumbing today.

One of the most common potential plumbing concerns out there is a leak to one of your components, and faucets are a particular type that’s often impacted. While that slow drip from your faucet might not seem like a big deal, it’s wasting more water than you might think — and also may be signaling a larger concern that could eventually pose a much larger problem.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we’re happy to help with a variety of plumbing services, including faucet repair and several related themes. We’ll also provide expertise on the initial causes of many faucet leaks we see, plus what you can do to avoid these risks ahead of time. Here’s a primer on leaking faucets, how they come about, why they’re a problem, and what you can do about them.

Why Are Leaking Faucets a Problem?

An old saying in the plumbing world is that a quarter-turn of the handle means a quart of water goes down the drain. That’s not an exaggeration — even slow leaks can waste water and money. That said, you may never know you have a leak if it doesn’t make any noise or create any other telltale signs. That could lead to some expensive surprises when a hidden leak starts causing other problems, such as mold or peeling wallpaper from excess humidity.

Leaking faucets also cause sanitary problems, as they allow bacteria to collect along the edges of your sink and countertops while leaving behind mineral deposits on your fixtures or tubs. All these risks combined should be enough to convince you that getting help with a leaking faucet is more than worth the time and expense.

Our next several sections will go over the most common causes of leaking faucets.

Damaged or Worn-Down Parts

Leaks are usually caused by worn-out or damaged parts. In a faucet, that could include the O-rings or gaskets that keep water from leaking out of your fixture, or possibly the packing nut underneath the handle or knob and other various nuts, washers, seals, springs, and other parts that connect to one another.

As your faucet ages, these parts wear out and need to be replaced. You can also tighten or lubricate most of these parts, but in some cases you might have to replace them outright. If you’re dealing with one of the tougher fixes — like a gasket replacement or something else that requires specific training — Action Plumbing is happy to help out to ensure the part is replaced properly.

High Water Pressure

In other cases, the cause of a leaking faucet can be traced back to water pressure that’s too high. Water pressure is a factor in how well your faucet seals around its O-ring or gasket to prevent leaks. The higher the water pressure, the tighter it’s going to need to be for proper operation and efficiency.

How do you know if your water pressure is too high? There are several ways, but one common method is to see if you can feel the water pressure behind your faucet’s handle or knob. If the water feels too forceful — as in it’s pushing back noticeably against your hand when you turn on the faucet — it could be causing a leak by stressing out your plumbing fixture and its parts.

Many faucet pressure issues will require the assistance of a plumber, especially if pressure needs to be restored to a previous level. If you’re unsure about any part of this process, leave this job to us.

Cracks in Faucet Plumbing

In rare cases, a faucet leak can be traced back to a crack in the plumbing lines that are connected to your sink or tub. That usually means you’ll see water leaking down from above your fixtures and dripping off the walls or ceiling near your faucet, which is an obvious sign you’ve got problems.

Once again, this is a job best left to the professionals. Do not try to repair these lines on your own, as they can be hard to reach and even harder to seal correctly.

Problems With Ignoring Faucet Leaks

Perhaps the single most common error among homeowners when it comes to this realm: Ignoring a small faucet leak, simply assuming that because it’s only a small drip, this isn’t really much of a problem.

Simply put, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Even a small drip from your faucet can waste a surprising amount of water over time. For instance, if your faucet is leaking at the rate of just 1 quart (32 ounces) every two hours, that totals up to 748 quarts of wasted water per year.

The cost for this kind of leak doesn’t look quite as frightening until you put it in those terms. At a typical cost of $3 per 1000 gallons of water, a faucet leak that’s dripping at 1 quart every two hours wastes as much as $2165 per year on just water bills — probably enough to pay for most repair or replacement jobs in the first place!

This is why it’s so important for faucet leaks to be addressed immediately, either by the homeowner, a plumber or some combination therein. We’re happy to help with any and all faucet issues as soon as they arise, so do not delay in calling us.

For more on the culprits in a leaking faucet, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric today.

There are a few possible plumbing issues in your home or building that may require both immediate action and some long-term care approaches, and a good example here is a concern no one wants to deal with: A toilet that’s overflowing water. There are some early steps you should take here to prevent immediate risks like flooding and water damage, but once you’ve managed to stop the actual overflowing from happening, there are also a few general steps – including those involving professional plumbers – that are required to fully remedy the situation.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we’re here to help. We offer not only a wide range of toilet repair services from the best plumbers in Salt Lake City, but also 24/7 emergency plumbing services in cases of toilet overflow or other forms of water damage you’re having trouble mitigating. Whether on your own or with the assistance of our plumbers, what are the basic steps to stopping a toilet that’s overflowing, plus what should you do once you’ve managed to stop the overflow effect? Here’s a primer.

Lid Removal

Before we dig into the specifics here, we wanted to drive home one big theme: Immediate action is very important when you notice an overflow toilet. This is not an issue that can be left until later, as it risks major flooding and water damage in both the bathroom where the toilet is located and the rest of your home, particularly the areas below that bathroom.

The first step to take when a toilet is overflowing is to carefully remove the toilet lid from the tank. This requires no screwdrivers or nails – all you have to do is lift it up. Simply set it aside in a secured location, but don’t worry about laying it down on towels or any other laborious process, as this will just waste time.

Flapper Valve

Next up, you need to reach down into the toilet tank and press down on the flapper valve. This refers to a rubber piece, usually black or dark-colored, that sits in the bottom-center of your tank. The flapper is what opens and closes to allow water into the bowl – by holding it down, you will be stopping more water from entering and, therefore, overflowing.

Some choose to wear gloves while doing this, but this technically isn’t really necessary. While it’s true that sanitation is always important around the toilet, the upper toilet tank contains clean, sanitary water that has not been exposed to any human waste.

Tank Fill Valve

From here, once your flapper valve is secured and will stay closed, you need to lift up on the float that operates what’s known as your tank fill valve. This is the main water supply to the tank itself, and the water levels inside your bowl will change in coordination with this feature. When this water source is cut off, the bowl should begin to see a slow drop in water level.

If this happens within 60 seconds or so, you can usually release the tank fill valve float and let the bowl refill naturally – the issue is usually solved here. However, in other cases, the water level will not drop here; in this case, you need to continue to hold the float while you use the toilet supply valve – which is near the floor or the wall behind the toilet – to completely turn off the water supply. This is done by turning the toilet supply valve as far as you can clockwise. You may need someone to help you with this, as some toilet supply valves will be far enough away that you won’t be able to twist them while also holding down the float.

Actions Once Toilet Stops Overflowing

Once you’ve managed to get the toilet to stop overflowing, meaning you’ve mitigated the immediate flooding and water damage risks that were present, you can move toward diagnosing the actual issue that caused the overflow to begin with. Again, this is often a concern where homeowners will call on our plumbers to assist them with – but if you’re particularly handy and want to take a shot at this process yourself, here are some basic areas to attend to:

First and foremost, stop the use of all plumbing fixtures (sinks, toilets, laundry machines, etc.) while you look to diagnose the issue. You may have solved the flooding concern in the toilet in question, but it’s possible the larger culprit that caused it is still present within your system. Let everyone in the home know they should not use any fixtures for now.
One of the most common issues that may cause this sort of overflowing is a blockage somewhere in the drain – for this reason, a first step here is to use a plunger or drain snake to attempt to clear the clog, especially if gurgling noises or other clear signs of a blockage are present.
If a toilet clog is not the problem, start moving from fixture to fixture in the home. Start on your fixtures in the bathroom and then work your way upward in the home – if possible, have another person present to see if anything happens on the lower floors while you’re looking at upper-floor toilets and drains.
In some cases where these initial methods aren’t solving the problem, you may have a backup in your system drain, a failing septic field, or other issues with your main sewer line. In these cases, you’ll need to contact our plumbers for a more involved remediation.

For more on how to remedy an overflowing toilet, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services in Salt Lake City, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric today.

While you may not think of it in the same ways necessarily, your home’s garbage disposal is absolutely part of your plumbing system – and requires care just like other elements of this system. In particular, a simple task homeowners can attend to on a regular basis is cleaning their garbage disposal, but many homeowners aren’t sure how to do this or how often it should be done.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we’re proud to offer numerous residential plumbing services and areas of assistance, including with basic maintenance and cleaning of any important plumbing component. We’ve helped clients with a variety of garbage disposal needs, including those who are wondering about simple upkeep and cleaning. Here’s a primer on how often this should be done, the equipment you’ll need, and a couple different well-known methods for DIY cleaning on your home’s garbage disposal.

Garbage Disposal Cleaning Frequency

First and foremost, how often should a garbage disposal be cleaned anyway? This is a tougher question than you might think to answer, in large part because part of a garbage disposal’s basic operation involves self-cleaning – by chopping up food and other particles, the disposal itself prevents too many buildups or other issues from taking place.

That said, some problems may develop over time. For instance, a form of slime may be found on the areas that are not involved in the grinding action of the disposal, such as underneath the rubber drain baffle and on the smooth slope at the top of the grinding chamber. If you use the disposal regularly, we recommend cleaning these areas roughly once a week, then deep cleaning once every few months.

Equipment and Materials Needed

Here are all the items you’ll either definitely or potentially need for a basic DIY garbage disposal cleaning:

A sink stopper
Rubber gloves
A kitchen sponge that has at least one abrasive side
Dish soap
Ice (for one particular method)
Half-cup of both baking soda and vinegar (optional, used for a specific method)
Full cup of rock salt (optional)
Third-cup of bleach (optional)

Sponge Cleaning Method

First off, we’ll detail how to clean your garbage disposal using nothing but the simple materials above, primarily your dish sponge. This is usually considered the simplest method, and the one you should take as your primary cleaning method for weekly or standard cleaning. Here are the basic steps:

Power off: This is a safety theme – you need to turn the power to the garbage disposal off so there’s no chance of injuring yourself by turning it on while you’re reaching down it. Don’t simply rely on your ability to not hit the button; accidents happen, and the results here could be horrific. Unplug the disposal from under the sink, or turn off the disposal’s circuit breaker in your electrical panel.
Baffle cleaning: Apply soap to your baffle, or the plastic element that sits in the disposal drain. Rinse the sponge regularly as you pull out sludge and grime.
Grinder cleaning: Next, move your sponge carefully around the top of the grinding chamber, continuing to clean it and rinse it off regularly. Continue doing this until the sponge is no longer dirty when you pull it out, a sign that you’ve properly cleaned the interior.

Now, for general weekly cleaning needs, you can stop after you’ve finished these three steps. However, for deeper or periodic cleanings, there are a couple additions you can make to this process that will not only keep the disposal clean, but will also remove odors, clean the drainpipe and perform a more comprehensive cleanup overall.

There are two such methods, described in our next two sections.

Baking Soda and Vinegar

This method involves two simple household items that you’ll usually have around. It follows the steps above, with basic phases that go as follows:

Pour a half-cup of baking soda into the garbage disposal, then slowly but surely pour in a half-cup of vinegar to follow it up, coating the entire disposal interior.
Place your sink stopper over the opening of the drain and ensure it’s created a good seal. After a period of time, the baking soda and vinegar will combine, fizzing up and beginning to eat away at clogs or buildups – and your sink stopper will ensure none of these reactions take place near you or your skin.
After a few minutes once the reaction has subsided, you can pull the sink stopper off and flush the disposal with hot water from your sink. Simultaneously, you should be running the disposal several times to clear any remaining debris.

Ice and Rock Salt Method

If you prefer it, you can use ice and vinegar or rock salt for this cleaning process instead. Here’s how to do it:

Fill your disposal up with ice cubes from your ice machine.
Pour a full cup of either rock salt or vinegar into your disposal.
Run the disposal for several seconds with water turned on, allowing it to grind up the ice. If needed, repeat this process several times.

Smell Concerns

If you’ve tried the above methods and you’re still dealing with poor smells coming from the garbage disposal, bleach should be your next resource. Combine one part bleach with two parts warm water (never using more than one-third cup of bleach total), then wear gloves and pour this solution into the drain. Then run hot water down it for several seconds.

For more on how to clean and maintain your garbage disposal, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric today.

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some basics on the common pipe materials you’ll find in your home or building’s plumbing system. Plumbing pipes come in a variety of materials, plus have differing purposes or uses that are often determined by this material quality.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we’re happy to help with all your plumbing needs, from basic services like understanding your pipe material or simple drain cleaning up to advanced projects like tub or shower repair. We’ll inform you of the qualities of any of your home or building’s pipe materials, plus any issues that might arise from it or suggestions we have on replacing certain older materials with better new ones. Today’s part two of our series will go over a few other popular types to be aware of.

PVC Piping

PVC piping, short for polyvinyl chloride piping, is a versatile piping option that’s used across several applications. Some of the most common are for sending water into fire sprinkler systems, vital components in many commercial buildings. It’s also used for various sewage applications.

PVC piping is highly cost-effective, and has quickly begun replacing many lead pipe formats around the globe. It’s incredibly durable, often lasting for up to 100 years, and is available in varying levels of thickness depending on the need. When required for drinking water situations, another common use, it can be specifically designed to meet local health requirements – and it’s also environmentally-friendly and easy to recycle.

Galvanized Pipes

Galvanized pipes, on the other hand, are made of steel that’s been dipped in a molten zinc coating for protection. The primary quality of galvanized pipes is their rust and corrosion resistance, which is created by this zinc coating, making these pipes enormously popular in areas where rust or other corrosion commonly take place.

Galvanized pipes, which became popular just after World War I, are less expensive and more durable than copper pipes. However, over many years, their corrosion resistance may wear down, allowing bits of rust into water – this must be an area you keep a careful eye on with assistance from our plumbers.

ABS Pipe

Finally, there’s ABS pipe, or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene pipe. This is most often found in various vent and drain line setups. ABS pipe is similar to PVC pipe, but is known to be stronger and also a bit softer in texture. It’s ideal for underground use and also for use in cold temperatures – however, on the flip side, certain building codes prohibit ABS pipe. In addition, it may warp or deform at certain high temperatures.

For more on the different kinds of pipe available for your plumbing needs, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric today.