Posts Tagged ‘professional plumber’

Frozen pipes can happen during the wintertime. It is important to take precautions to prevent this from happening. However, if it does happen to your pipes, even after winterizing them, there are things you can do with your Utah plumbing to fix the problem.

Water that freezes in your pipes tries their best to expand inside the pipeline. Frozen water then pushes up against the sides of the pipes and move through the seams to the valves and faucets. This action can rupture the pipe.

When your pipes freeze you need to take action. Because trying to fix anything be sure that you open up the faucet first. The steam that is created from trying to heat a pipe can cause the pipe to burst as well.

An easy way to heat a frozen pipe is to use electric heat tape. Simply wrap the pipe and wait for the pipe to eventually thaw out. Since it is a slow-moving process there is less chance of wear and tear happening with your pipes.

Use a “piping hot” machine. A piping hot machine has spring-loaded clamps that are attached to a certain area of your pipe. The clamps are connected to the pipe, and the machine heats the portion of the pipes that are connected to the clamps. Piping hot machines can be rented through your Utah plumbing company.

Another common way to add heat to the pipe is to wrap it in layers of cloths and then pouring hot water over it. The process has to be repeated several times for it to be successful. You can use a bucket to catch water for higher pipes.

Heat guns or hair dryers are also commonly used tools. They allow you to add heat to a pipe. Avoid getting electrically shocked by not standing in any watery areas.

Once you heat the pipes and unfreeze them, make it a priority to set up preventative measures with your Utah plumbing.  Protecting your pipes doesn’t have to take a lot of time or effort. And you will really appreciate it in the future.

Water can easily get frozen during the winter months. Frozen water can cause a lot of issues for your Utah plumbing. Frozen water is the most common cause for pipes breaking down.

The good news is that frozen water in pipes can be prevented. There are things you can do to prevent water pipes from getting busted because of water. This is true even in the coldest parts of Utah.

The best way to prevent frozen pipes is having pipe insulation. Pipe insulation can come in a few different styles and sizes. Find pipe insulation that is the correct size for your pipes.

You can find pipe insulation at hardware stores or Utah plumbing stores. Most home improvement stores will also have insulation for you to purchase. You will want to buy enough to wrap all your piping.

Pipes should be wrapped with the pipe insulation that you bought. Foam pipe insulation usually has a split down the middle that helps it fit over the pipes. The pipes should be completely wrapped with the insulation.

Wrap heat tape around your pipes. Heat tape is tape that has an electrical wire that protects areas of pipes that are more prone to freezing over. Heat tape is plugged in to an outlet and turned on that way.

Heat tape is relatively inexpensive and does a great job with preventing water from freezing over in your pipes. Many Utah plumbing shops will carry heat tape. You can find in a variety of lengths and sizes. They are easy to install, since all you have to do is wrap the tape around the pipe you are insulating and then plug it in.

Good locations to use heat tape at are places where pipes have a higher chance of freezing over. Both insulation and heat tape have a good history and last a good amount of time. They only need replacing when there are signs of decay.

Water leaks come with out warning. They can happen for a number of different reasons. When water leaks happen the floors of your home can become flooded very quickly. Utah plumbers are needed to repair the issue, but that is only one part of the problem. A lot of water damage can happen during water leaks – and that is nothing that Utah plumbers can easily fix.

Water can cause a lot of damage. The repairs and clean up can be expensive. Catching the leak as quickly as possible can save you from having a lot of damage happen to your home. Water leak detectors are useful for this.

Water leak detectors are small alarm systems that are put next to a main water line. They can be put on the floor, wall, or anywhere that would be near a water leak. When the alarm comes in contact with water the detector goes off to alert you of a possible water leak.

Water leak detectors usually work off of batteries. They normally are designed to be water-proof and can float on water if needed. That way you can still hear the alarm going off as the water leaks out and fills the room.

Water detectors do not prevent water leaks from happening. They do not shut off the water valve or stop the leak from continuing. You will still need to do that yourself and call a Utah plumber to come assess the plumbing issue. A water detector is an alarm that alerts you that a water leak is happening.

Water detectors, just like any alarm, should have their batteries replaced annually. This will ensure that it is working properly. Alarms only go off when they have properly charged batteries.

Some water detectors have remote sensing capabilities. That means sensors are placed around the home so when a leak happens at any of the locations only one alarm will go off on the main floor. Other water detectors are able to be connected to home alarm systems so the home security company is alerted as soon as a leak happens. There are also other water leak detectors that call to your cell phone to let you know of a possible leak. This comes in handy when you are away on vacation especially.

Water leak detectors can protect your property from getting damaged. It can be a lot less expensive to buy a water detector than face the thousands of dollars in repair costs. Having a water leak alarm can give you the peace of mind that your home is safe from water damage.

Is the temperature in your home fluctuating a lot recently? No matter where you set your thermostat to you never feel the heat or the air conditioner working? You are probably suffering from a broken thermostat.

Thermostats are one of the great inventions of our day. Think about it, you can actually put the exact degree that you want your home to be at, and it automatically goes to it. As amazing as it is, it can be very frustrating when they don’t work.

If your room temperature is changing, it might not always be your thermostat causing the problem. Another good indicator that it is the thermostat is if the thermostat itself is acting strange by turning on and off and or other strange things. If you don’t think it is the thermostat call a professional for heating repairs or air conditioning repairs.

If you are positive it is the thermostat you can go two ways with it. If you are experienced yourself, go ahead and try to fix or replace it. Always keep in mind that replacing it can be complicated depending on your system.

If you don’t feel like you have very much experience than call a local professional to come in and change it for you. Sometimes this can be the wisest decision for you because they can make sure that it is working correctly and that it stabilizes perfectly.

If you work with an outside professional to fix your thermostat, make sure that they can come, examine, and give you the exact price upfront. There is nothing worse than getting an ‘estimate’ just to find out the estimate was far off and additionally you have to now pay other hidden fees.

When you double check things yourself, pull off the cover and make sure that all the switches are stabilized. Also, check and make sure that your timers or heat-anticipators are exactly where you want them to be.

Because every thermostat and air conditioner and heating system are so different, look up a local trusted company to help you figure out exactly what needs to be fixed and the easiest way to accomplish it.

The summer has passed us by and now as we enter into the colder months it is best that we prepare our home and ourselves for the winter. The wintertime can be particularly harsh on our plumbing. That is why it is so important that we make sure that we are doing our prevention work before it is too late.

Some of the problems that can arise during the winter are oil line freezing, noisy pipes, outside kitchen sink freezing as well as other exposed pipes freezing, and heating the house appropriately. There are some simple things that we can do to make sure that our plumbing is all ready for the winter and the cold

Oil lines can freeze because of the water that is in the pipes, and to prevent this might be a pretty big and messy job so you might want to hire professional plumbers to help out. You want to make sure that your oil tank doesn’t have any water or residue in it, as well as make sure that your pipes are properly insulated.

If you live in a pretty cold climate it is always best to talk to your plumbers about pipe insulation. Most of the time this is done when they are first installed but it might be smart to call in a professional to make sure that the insulation is good and that it will continue to prevent the pipes from freezing.

Sometimes it is hard to identify why your pipes might be noisy. A plumber would be able to inspect your plumbing before the winter to make sure that everything is working properly and that their aren’t anything like steam traps causing it.

Most homes have sinks positioned under or by a window so that you can look out and see your backyard. This can actually increase your chances of your sinks freezing. Sometimes a simple solution to this is opening your cabinet door to allow the heat from your home to heat the pipes and prevent freezing, but if this doesn’t help you might have to call in a plumber to see what further things can be done.

If you have exposed pipes they can do more than just freeze over, you also have a large chance that they will burst. Something you can do yourself is to make sure that you have all the seams taped up and try to cover what you can of them, you can even find heat tape for them. You’ll also want to bring in a plumber to make sure that the pipes are properly insulated.

Depending on what type of heater you have, you can do a lot of different things to make sure that they are working and ready for the winter. Bring in a professional to make sure that all the maintenance work is done and that your heater is up and running.

Lindsay parker

Whenever I hear or see a home or business owner complain about having to perform their annual backflow device testing I like to take the time to explain what backflow devices are for and why they are so important.

Backflow devices protect a water source from being contaminated by whatever the backflow device is connected to. This can be important for obvious reasons, especially when the water source is connected to hazardous equipment.

Our water systems are needed to protect the health and welfare of the general public, so backflow prevention devices are put in place to ensure that when there is a problem with the water line, or a cross connection, that the drinking water cannot be contaminated by it. These devices prevent water from flowing back into the water mains and keep them clean.

There are different types of devices which can be installed, depending on the water system or potential hazard that can occur. A simple device can be installed on your outside faucets for under $5, while a more complext device can be installed on your water connection for over $300.

For the owners that have to pay for a more complex device it can be an added annoyance to have to pay for the device to be checked annually. They may feel that they have taken preventions against contamination and that is enough. Unfortuantely, even with all these preventions to cross connection and water contamination there are still over 10,000 reported cases of backflow contamination every year, with some cases being fatal.

It is understandable for owners of these devices to become frustrated by the constant testing that occurs. Since many of these devices are tested annually they mostly don’t worry about the consequences that may happen if it weren’t working correctly. It is important to realize that there are still over 10,000 reported cases of backflow contamination each year.

If you own or are responsible for a backflow device, you need to know that backflow devices are prone to failure. The reasons for these failures range from the condition or the piping or divice, to the equipment connected to it.

Backflow devices are required by law where needed and must be installed in accordance with plumbing and building codes. A backflow assembly must be tested when installed to make certain it is operating correctly.

If a backflow device is not working properly (fails to operate) it will need to be repaired or replaced. A good tester will be able to determine why a device is malfunctioning or seeming to malfunction. Digital equipment is now used to aid in diagnosing any problems that arise.

If you have a dishwasher it will probably require repair work at some point during the life of the appliance.  Perhaps if you have an older model, your dishwasher has already had problems.  When a household experiences dishwashing trouble, the first step is usually to call a Utah plumber.  But what might happen if just this once, you decide to check into the problem yourself?

Doing your own dishwasher repair is not as scary is it might sound.  There are many things you can do at home without any training at all.  Use these next tips to solve some of the most common dishwashing problems.

First, we will identify the most common dishwashing dilemmas.  You may have a dishwasher that isn’t washing properly.  Or your dishwasher may not drain. Most people have experienced one or both of these issues, so everyone would benefit from learning repair tactics for these issues.

So let’s start with the first most common problem: the dishwasher that won’t wash.  If your dishes aren’t clean after a washing cycle, there may not be enough water running through the system.  Start then by checking your sink’s shut-off valve to make sure water is getting into the dishwasher.

If you check the valve and find that water is available, then your dishwasher’s cleaning troubles may come from a clogged spray hole, hard water, or a faulty internal water valve.  If your internal water valve is faulty, you may need to call that Utah plumber after all!  But if your problem is clogged ducting or spray arms, or hard water you can repair those things yourself.

Start by checking each spray hole manually.  You may need to clear out anything that is blocking the water’s way.  But if everything seems clear and your dishes still come out cloudy and/or dirty after a full cycle, then you may need to look into a cure for hard water.  There are many marketed products that can clean your dishwasher’s hard water buildup.  Check to see if your washer’s manufacturer recommends a specific brand of hard water resolving.  Just doing this can bring your dishwasher back to a fully functioning unit.

However, what if your problem is with draining? You may just need to check your sink’s air gap.  That is the device next to your faucet.  If the air gap or the drain hose (that is connected to the air gap) is clogged, you simply clean them out by hand and retest the dishwasher’s drainage.  Doing these simple things will solve most dishwashing drainage troubles.

Now you know how to diagnose and solve a few of the most common dishwashing problems.  Next time your dishwasher goes haywire, try these tips out.  You will be amazed at the money you save in refraining to call the Utah plumber and fixing appliances yourself.

In today’s world economy consumers want to stretch their dollar. One way to do this is to find an energy efficient air conditioning system through the right Salt Lake cooling and air company.  Below are a few ideas of things you should consider when looking for the right Salt Lake cooling and air company.

Since Salt Lake has both a very cold winter and a hot summer, energy usage is happening both with gas furnaces and electric air conditioners. To conserve energy it is important to find a Salt Lake cooling and air company that understands economic ways to cool down a home. One of those ways is to find an energy efficient air conditioner, though there are other ways to cool down a home.

Twenty years ago the U.S. Department of Energy issued regulations to add more cooling efficiency in homes in the Southern States of America. They noticed that having ceiling fans and stand-alone fans helped the air in the home circulate. Circulated air got rid of stale, flat, hot air and helped cool the home down.

Homes that were equipped with vents also did much better with cooling down homes. Vents could be installed to use outside air during the cool night and be brought inside during the night to cool down the home. This was all done through duct-work, with no energy used.

The right Salt Lake cooling and air company can help you with these types of options. Finding the perfect cooling system for your home depends on much more than just the air conditioning unit that you use. It also depends on the type of vent work is already in your home.

You can lower your energy bill even further by finding an energy efficient cooling unit. Many older AC models guzzle up energy. Energy efficient air conditioning units may cost a little more upfront than other AC units, but the long-term savings you can receive through lowering your utility costs will be worth it.

It may be worthwhile for you to replace your old system with a newer AC model. Look at the SEER rating on the units. The higher the SEER number rating, the more energy efficient the unit will be.

Ask your Salt Lake cooling and air company to come to your home and do an inspection of your home’s cooling needs. Have them analyze what size air conditioner you would need for your home. Be sure to ask for sensible recommendations on how you can keep your home cooler in an economical and energy efficient way

Broken pipes and other plumbing emergencies can be a real handful for homeowners who do not know how to handle them. When a plumbing disaster does strike, knowing where the cut off valve can really help lesson the damage that can happen. Here are a few examples of situations when a cut off valve is important, and where you can usually find the cut off valve at.

Your home usually has one main cut off valve switch. This is the switch that professional plumbers use when working on certain pipes in your home. Usually this valve is near the water meter or your water’s pressure tank.

Sometimes, especially in cold climates, the valve is inside where it will not freeze, such as in your basement. If you are having a hard time locating the main cut off valve you can ask your professional plumber for assistance. They know the general location of main valves in your climate.

There should also be an easy to access valve inside your home. Many sinks have cut off valves directly underneath them. Look in the cabinet underneath the sink for the valve.

Toilets are notorious for plumbing issues. They have a shut off valve, usually at the back of the toilet, to stop water flow. Turning off the valve will stop the water flowing in to the toilet, and stop it from overflowing on to your floor if your toilet is clogged.

Washing machines have a cut off valve near them as well. Sometimes washing machines can get plugged up drains which can cause a lot of water damage to your home when water starts to overflow from it. The cut off valve is usually located behind the washing machine.

Irrigation systems should also have cut off valves. During the winter time in cold climates it is important to drain water from the pipes to prevent them from expanding and bursting. If you have an irrigation system water cut off valves are usually inside where they cannot be frozen over.

Water can quickly ruin items, so it is important to know where you cut off valve is located. Many plumbing emergencies, such as a clogged toilet, can be fixed by you – but can be impacted if you do not turn off the water supply. Professional plumbers should be called if there are serious plumbing emergencies.