Action Plumbing, HVAC, & Electric

Your Local Plumbing, HVAC, & Electric Experts

385-509-4239 Utah
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Tag: plumbing services

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the basics on separating plumbing fact from fiction. A major part of basic home plumbing care among homeowners is understanding a few simple facts about their system, and also knowing which tips they’ve heard from friends or the internet are true and which might be harmful to their plumbing.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we’re here to help. Our plumbing services range from sewer line repair to water filtration, water softeners and various emergency plumbing services, plus numerous areas of expertise we’ve assisted homeowners with through the years. In today’s part two of our series, we’ll list a few other common plumbing statements and evaluate whether they’re true or false.

Bleach Use in Toilets is Okay, But Requires Care

FACT.

One common format some homeowners use to clean toilets is the bleach tablet, which is often sold at many home improvement stores. As many are aware, however, bleach can be harmful to porcelain and other surfaces in large enough quantities – does this mean you should avoid such tablets?

No, as long as you’re taking the proper care. Specifically, do not let bleach tablets soak into your toilet bowl for more than 10 minutes. It must be flushed before this period to prevent any future damage, and can be used consistently if you stick to this schedule. If you let bleach sink in for longer periods of time, however, you risk ruining parts of your toilet within six months or even less.

A Faulty Water Heater Will Explode

FICTION.

While older and worn-down water heaters may have some issues, we’re not quite sure where this explosion myth came from. Rather, certain rare water heater types may rupture after enough strain – but this rupturing will cause a crack in the tank, not an explosion of any kind. Modern tanks, on the other hand, have built-in relief valves that remove any danger of pressure buildup or explosion risk. While an improperly-maintained water heater may lead to several issues, from sediment collection to poor efficiency, explosion is not one of these risks.

Small Pests May Attempt to Invade Plumbing Pipes

FACT.

Homes have pipes that run from the sewer system to the roof or parts of the drainage system, and without proper attention these could serve as entry locations for small pests like mice or rats. This is highly uncommon, however, and can be easily prevented by installing basic screens that don’t block water from escaping, but do stop critters from entering the system through these areas.

For more on separating truth from myths within your plumbing system, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric today.

While there are certain plumbing components that are absolutely vital for any home and simply cannot be ignored, certain others may be present in certain homes but absent in others. A good example here is a plumbing element known as a sump pump, which some homeowners are intimately familiar with – but others have never even heard of.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical, our quality plumbing contractors offer numerous residential plumbing services, including informing you of the benefits of a sump pump and whether your home might require one. In this two-part blog series, we’ll dig into some of the basics of sump pumps, what they do, whether your home needs one and some basic selection and maintenance tips to keep in mind.

Sump Pump Basics

A sump pump is a device that’s installed in what’s known as a sump pit, an area dug into the single lowest point in your house (usually the basement or a crawl space). The device is submersible, meaning it can operate when underwater.

The majority of the time, your sump pump will sit idle in a standby mode. However, when rain or any other kind of moisture begins falling, groundwater will funnel toward the sump pit, filling it with water and activating the sump pump float switch, turning the pump on. The pump then drains water from this pit into a storm drain, well or detention pond nearby, stopping the water from rising to the level of your basement floor and risking a flood.

What Sump Pumps Help With

Here are some of the specific benefits associated with sump pumps:

  • Resistance against flooding in your basement
  • Protection of paint and other coverings from peeling or corrosion
  • Reduction of mold, mildew or fungus formation
  • Safeguarding basement appliances against corrosion and water damage
  • Improve indoor air quality
  • Limit risks of termites and other pest infestations
  • Helps home foundation remain intact
  • Meets basic requirements for homeowners’ insurance coverage of basement flood damage

Do I Need One?

So do you need a sump pump in your home? While the answer isn’t necessarily as simple as a yes or no, here are some of the conditions that often prompt homeowners to install a sump pump:

  • Flood-prone area: If your home is built on a plot with poor draining soil, low conditions or surrounding hills, it’s more likely to deal with flooding risks.
  • Heavy rain or snow: The same is true if your area receives heavy rain or snow.
  • Finished basement: Those with finished basements, even in low flood risk areas, often want to protect their space.
  • Previous water issues: If you’ve pad past flooding issues or regularly struggle with moisture levels, a sump pump could go a long way.

For more on sump pumps and whether one is the right choice for your home, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical today.

Art of junk in sewer meant to depict risk of causing main sewer line clogs

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the basics on why main sewer line clogs are different from other kinds of drain clogs in your home, plus some of the factors that may cause them. The main sewer line is your home’s entryway into the primary municipal sewer system, allowing your waste to pass into this system in the proper ways.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical, our detailed plumbing services include several sewer line maintenance areas, from trenchless sewer line repair to sewer line cleaning and assistance with any other issues you may have in this area. In today’s part two, we’ll go over a few additional potential causes of these clogs, plus some of the signs that may indicate you have such a blockage that needs to be addressed.

Improper Garbage Disposal Use

In part one, we went over some of the improper uses of toilet drains that can lead to main sewer line clogs – the garbage disposal is a similar concern in many homes, though often in different ways. Just like the toilet, however, the primary issue here is folks in the home believing the garbage disposal drain is meant for purposes that, in reality, it is not.

For starters, the presence of grease, oils and other cooking liquids in the drain is a big no-no. This will lead to hardening further down in the drain system, often in the main sewer line itself. The same goes for larger food particles – even if you think the disposal would do fine breaking them up, we highly recommend throwing away larger food debris separately and placing less strain on the garbage disposal.

Sewer Line Damage Issues

In other cases, clogs in the main sewer line take place because the line itself has become damaged over time. Cracking, sagging, corroding and general breakage are all possible in older pipes, especially those that have been present for multiple decades. This will not only allow in dirt and other debris, but will also prevent wastewater from flowing properly.

Signs of Main Sewer Line Clogs

Here are some of the primary signs that indicate you may have a main sewer line clog and should immediately contact our plumbers about remedying the issue:

  • Your toilets are all gurgling or bubbling at the same time
  • Smells of sewage and other foul plumbing odors are coming from multiple drains in the home
  • More than one drain in the home is having drainage issues
  • Wastewater begins to back up in one plumbing fixture while another is in use, and vice versa
  • Strange wet patches begin to show up in your back yard above the main sewer line, even when the weather itself is dry

For more on identifying and remedying main sewer line clogs, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical today.

Art depicting idea of plumbers working on main sewer line

There are a few different clog or blockage types that are possible within a given plumbing system, and they are not all created equal. And on the more severe end of the spectrum here, at least in most cases, is a clog or blockage in your home’s main sewer line.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical, our plumbing services include a wide range of solutions for main sewer line issues, including sewer line cleaning and trenchless sewer line repair. While many homeowners have dealt with a basic toilet clog or some other simple drain blockage issue, the main sewer line is an entirely different animal. This two-part blog series will dig into what makes sewer line clogs different from others, plus what causes them and how you can recognize their potential signs.

Sewer Clog Vs. Standard Clogs

So why are sewer line clogs different from a basic toilet backup or something else you can handle with a plunger? Well, because the sewer line is the central one that connects all the other main plumbing lines in your home.

A single clog in a sink drain, toilet or some other area can usually be remedied simply enough, whether via a plunger, drain snake or some other tool. During main sewer line backups, however, every drain in your home can become blocked all at once as the main system floods, leading to major concerns that typically can’t be solved so easily.

Our next few sections will dig into the common causes of main sewer line clogs and backups, plus how they can be avoided so you don’t run into these issues.

Tree Root Concerns

As the home’s primary feeder to the municipal sewer system, your main sewer line typically runs out of your house and through your back yard in piping below the ground’s surface. In cases where your sewer line is damaged in any way, or even in some situations where it isn’t, tree roots from nearby trees may grow into the area and even directly into the pipes as they reach out in search of water sources. This blocks the flow of wastewater, and the issue only increases with time as the roots expand.

For this reason, it’s important to understand where your main sewer line is and manage tree roots in the area. If you’re considering planting new trees, know your sewer line location and avoid it entirely.

Toilet Usage and Items Flushed

Another possible cause of main sewer line blockage: Materials being flushed down the toilet that do not belong there. This includes literally anything other than human waste and toilet paper, even certain wipes listed as “flushable” on the packaging – you still shouldn’t flush these. Toilet paper is made to break down within sewer lines and avoid clogging risks, which is why it’s the only approved material to flush other than your own waste.

For more on clogs in your main sewer line, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical today.

With September now in swing, Utah homeowners can see the outlines of fall making its way into town. And as those who have lived here for years are well aware, the fall period often doesn’t last long before it gives way to winter, meaning it’s important to prepare the home in a few vital areas, namely plumbing, before the freeze hits.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we’re here to help. Our various plumbing services, from water heater repair or replacement to drain cleaning, water filtration and many others, will help prepare you for the upcoming winter as needed, with expert plumbers on hand who can spot any issues that might be problematic once the temperatures drop. Here are several areas we recommend taking a close look at this time of year, including several where our team is happy to assist you.

Hoses and Outside Faucets

One of the primary areas to ensure you’ve got covered is protecting any water source that could risk freezing during the winter, and outside hoses and faucets are a good example. If any water is left in such hoses, it can freeze and expand, damaging the hoses themselves as well as faucets and connecting pipes.

Ensure all water is removed from these areas and these hoses are turned off. Make sure there are no drips or leaks in these areas – our pros can assist with basic repairs if there are. If your home has interior shut-off valves that lead to these outdoor faucets, close them and drain all water from these lines.

Insulation and Sealing

Another anti-freezing technique to consider, both in exterior areas and throughout the home, is insulation. Cover all outdoor faucets with an insulation kit, the kind you can buy at any home improvement store. In addition, consider insulating your pipes in unheated areas of the home where freezing within the pipes might be a concern.

Down similar lines, seal off any leaks around your doors or windows. This will stop cold air from making its way into the home.

Water Heater Maintenance

The water heater will do a lot of work during the upcoming winter, so it’s good to prepare it. Flush it out and remove any sediment buildup – our team can help if you require it. We’ll also assist you with testing the water heater’s pressure release valve, plus replacing it if it’s gone faulty since last winter. Finally, ensure the temperature is set right around 120 degrees Fahrenheit for the best performance.

Gutters and Downspouts

Ensure your outdoor gutters and downspouts are cleared and clean in preparation for winter drainage. This kind of drainage is vital due to water freezing risks, which can pose a danger if water is draining improperly and remaining on or near the structure.

For more on how to prepare your home’s plumbing for the upcoming winter, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric today.

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