Showing posts with label pipe bursting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pipe bursting. Show all posts
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Preparing Plumbing and Pipes for Winter
Before the Mercury Plummets, Take Some Preventive Plumbing Action!Winter time can wreak havoc on your home's pipes and plumbing system, especially in Horizon Services' service area of Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland where temperatures can yo-yo between moderate to sub-zero and back all within a week...and often do. Freezing and fluctuating temperatures can cause pipes to crack. Melting snow and ice can lead to leaks, flooding and structural damage all over your house.
Fortunately, there are many things that homeowners can do themselves to prevent damage and ensure that their home plumbing systems continue to work as efficiently as possible. A regular round of checks that can be easily carried out will help maintain the long-term optimal working of the plumbing system and save on costly plumbing repair bills.
Especially as winter approaches, make sure that any outside hose pipes are disconnected from faucets and that the water leading out to these faucets is turned off. If water in the pipes or hoses freezes, it will expand, causing hoses and pipes to crack or even burst. This can lead to very serious leaks and flooding. This can happen to plastic pipes as well as metal.
The shut-down of external pipes can be made easier if your home has shut-off valves installed, which will close them down and drain the water off. Once effectively disconnects, the exterior faucets can then be protected from the cold weather with lagging.
If you have pipes situated in areas of the home that are not heated, such as basements, attics or garages, these can be insulated from temperature extremes using heat tape or foam insulated sleeves. These materials are available at most hardware stores.
It's also important to keep as much heat inside your home to prevent pipes from freezing, especially in those cold rooms. To increase energy efficiency, seal doors and windows from drafts using materials you can buy in any home centers.
Water heaters work extra hard during the winter, so check yours to make sure that it is performing up to speed. Flushing it out periodically to get rid of any build-up of sediments, as these cause corrosion and greatly effect efficiency and longevity of the unit. Drain off a few gallons using the faucet situated near the base of the unit. Also check the pressure release valve, which should snap smartly back into place when lifted after allowing a spurt of water to the drain. If it is slack, get somebody in to replace it.
The water heater’s thermostatic control should be set according to the season. In winter you’ll want optimum performance, of course, at about 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Going away for a couple days over the winter? If you're not regularly running water, it can collect in pipes and freeze, especially if you lose power or the temperature takes a nosedive. It's a good idea to leave some warm water running at a slow drip...just so it keeps moving through your pipes. If you have a programmable thermostat, you can set it to turn on periodically while you are away to make sure that no room gets too cold.
In addition, you may also have to clean debris such as dead leaves from gutters and around the downspouts to allow for better drainage after the coming thaw. Clear ice and snow away from outside walls to prevent snow melt from getting inside your home. Make sure snow doesn't accumulate near vents. And if you can, try clearing ice and snow from roofs before it accumulaes too heavily. Many hardware stores carry telescoping rakes that can reach rooftops without having to use a ladder. You can also toss a few thermal cakes up onto your roof to chemically stimulate snow and ice melt.
To winterize your plumbing, you need only a very basic set of tools to maintain your home plumbing system, available from any home center. A pipe wrench is probably the most important, enabling you to get a good grip on pipes and fittings. A pair of pliers will help you to adjust nuts and bolts, but these can damage fittings if you slip up, so get some smooth sleeves to fit. These tools are fine for the small maintenance jobs you’re likely to be carrying out, but for bigger home plumbing jobs it’s best to get the professionals in, otherwise things could take a turn for the worse.
Related Plumbing Information from Horizon Services...
Friday, February 5, 2010
Prevent Frozen Pipes Now!
Each and every winter, thousands of households across the country have their homes ruined and their lives disrupted by frozen, cracked and burst water pipes. At Horizon Services, we get dozens of calls per day related to frozen pipes and plumbing during the winter months. It's not just copper and metal pipes that can freeze and burst -- even the more modern plastic and PVC pipes can become victims of the cold weather.Frozen pipes can mean extremely expensive and extensive repairs...and not just from a plumbing perspective. Even a small crack can spew hundreds of gallons of water a day, and that can cause extreme damage to ceilings, walls and floors.
These kinds of plumbing disasters don't have to happen. By taking these simple preventive measures, you can save you a lot of money and heartache
Before Winter Weather Sets In...
Insulate all pipes throughout your home -- particularly in crawl spaces and attics (these exposed pipes are most susceptible to freezing). The more insulation you use, the better protected your pipes will be. A variety of insulation materials are available at your hardward store including insulated sleeves, heat tape and thermostatically-controlled heat cables. Be sure to use products approved by an independent testing organization, such as Underwriters Laboratories Inc., and closely follow all manufacturers' instructions for installation and use.
Look for and seal all leaks that allow cold air inside near where pipes are located, especially around electrical wiring and vents.Use caulk or insulation to keep the cold out and the heat in. With extreme cold temperatures, even a tiny opening can let in enough cold air to cause a pipe to freeze.
Disconnect outdoor garden hoses. Shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets. A freeze in these pipes on the outer perimeter of your house could quickly spread throughout the entire home.
When the Temperature Does Hit The Freezing Point...
Try not to let your plumbing go idle. Each day, try to run at least some water from as many fixtures -- sinks, toilets, tubs -- as you can. Even a trickle of hot and cold water running through all of your houses pipes might be all it takes to keep your pipes from freezing. It's a good idea to let a little bit warm water drip overnight from faucets. If you have any uninsulated pipes that are hidden under sinks or in closets, open up cabinets and doors to allow room heat to get to them.
If you leave your home for a few days or take a winter vacation, keep the heat on. Make sure you set the thermostat no lower than 55°F. Ask a friend or neighbor to keep an eye on your house to make sure it stays warm and pipes aren't freezing. If you're going to be gone for a real long time, it may also a good idea to entirely shut off and drain your home water system (including any fire sprinkler systems).
What To Do If Your Pipes Do Freeze...
If you turn on your faucets and nothing comes out, leave the faucets turned on and then call a professional plumber. If you suspect or know that your water pipes have frozen and burst, turn off the water at the main shut-off valve and leave the water faucets turned on.
If you suspect your pipes are frozen or actually see ice forming on your pipes, NEVER try to thaw a pipe with a torch or other open flame; not only can you cause further damage to your plumbing, you risk setting your house on fire. Instead, try to thaw a frozen pipe with the warm air from a hair dryer. Start by warming the pipes that are closest to the faucet and work your way toward the coldest section of pipe. Do not use a hair dryer or any electrical appliances in areas where water has leaked or collected -- you could be electrocuted.
Related Plumbing Information...
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Signs You May Have a Broken, Damaged or Obstructed Sewer Line
Your main sewer line is the largest drain in your home. All other household drains lead into this line which runs underground from your house and connects to a city sewer line or a septic tank. Your home's sewer line might have been placed properly at the time your house was built, but over time, it can become subject to a wide variety of damage, including:- Breaking, cracking, collapsing due to shifting soil or frozen ground.
- Clogs and blockages due to household waste, debris, grease and foreign objects.
- Corrosion and leaky joints and seals due to age
- Obstructions caused by tree root infiltration.
Here are the major signs of a damaged or obstructed sewer line:
- Slow-running or backed-up drains (sinks, tubs, toilets)
- Frequent back-ups of basement drains or laundry tubs
- Gurgling drain noises
- Toilet bowl water levels rise and fall
- Sewage odor inside, outside and around your house
- Raw sewage on ground surface
- Rats or rat holes in your yard
- Sink holes or soggy wet areas on your property
- Water stains around the floor drain in the basement
- Cracking and structural damage along walls, floors and foundations
If the problem is just due to a simple blockage, your sewer line technician can cut through the clog with a rooter machine and clear the sewer line down to its inner walls.
If your sewer line technician identifies more serious damage to the main sewer line, it will need to be repaired or replaced. In the old days, that meant digging up your entire yard and destroying your landscape. Today, companies like Horizon Services employ a trenchless method of sewer line repair and replacement that is quick, inexpensive and requires no or little excavation. There are two major ways he can accomplish this.
- Pipe Bursting: With this method, your sewer line technician makes small access holes where the damaged pipe starts and ends. Using your damaged sewer line as a guideline, he uses a hydraulic machine to pulls a long-lasting replacement pipe through the old sewer line path, breaking up the old damaged pipe as it moves into place.
- Pipe Relining: Here your sewer line technican places a fiberglass liner into the damaged sewer pipe -- ie. a pipe within a pipe. This creates a durable, damage-resistant inner wall that restores all flow and function to the line.
More Info...
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