Showing posts with label plumbing emergency. Show all posts
Showing posts with label plumbing emergency. Show all posts
Monday, December 20, 2010
Protect Your Plumbing This Holiday Season!
Plumbing, Drain and Sewer Line Disasters = A Not-So-Merry Christmas and Unhappy New YearThe holidays are upon us, and along with all the joy comes an increased risk of serious plumbing emergencies. The sudden influx of people visiting your home can put unexpected pressure on your plumbing system – more washing, more bathing, more flushing, and more things going down the drain or garbage disposal.
Winter is usually a busy season for plumbers. On the day after Christmas alone, plumbing contractors in the Delaware Valley -- including Horizon Services, Inc. -- report a jump in business of 20 to 40 percent over a normal day. We get so absorbed in holiday celebrations that we often don’t consider the strain that these parties and out-of-town guests can put on our home’s plumbing.
By taking a few simple precautions, you can dramatically reduce the chances that your plumber will be the guest of honor at your next holiday party. Here's what you can do to minimize the likelihood that you will have a plumbing, drain or sewer line emergency in the midst of your holiday celebrations:
Plumbing Precautions In the Kitchen
Don’t pour grease or cooking oil down the drain or into the garbage disposal. These fats can solidify in your pipes and cause clogs that can back up drains. Wipe grease from pots and pans with a paper towel, and put the towels in the trash. You can also drain grease into a clean, empty can and throw it away.
Don’t put things like celery, poultry skin, pumpkin pulp or potato peels into the garbage disposal. Stringy, fibrous items like these aren’t easily broken down by the disposal blades and may cause clogs.
Run some cold water for about 15 seconds before and after using the garbage disposal. This helps flush waste out to the main sewer line.
Be sure the disposal is running when you put food into it, instead of filling the sink and then turning it on.
Run your washing machine and dishwasher at night to help conserve hot water and water pressure so your guests can shower in comfort whenever they wish.
Plumbing Precautions In the Bathroom
Plan ahead and try to schedule showers if you are expecting company, waiting at least 10 minutes between showers. This gives drains a chance to empty fully and lets your hot water heater refill for the next person.
Turn up the heat on your water heater slightly to help increase its capacity. Be careful not to turn the temperature higher than 125 degrees, though, to avoid scalding your guests.
Put a trash can in each bathroom and empty them frequently so your guests won’t use the toilet to dispose of garbage like used tissues, cotton swabs, facial scrub pads, hair, napkins and disposable hand towels.
Stock each bathroom with a plunger and put it where it can be reached easily if it is needed.
Keep a chemical drain cleaner handy in case of emergency. Most minor kitchen or bathroom clogs can be resolved with these products, and if you watch for slow drains you can usually catch most problems before they require the expertise of a professional. If you do need to use a chemical drain cleaner, be sure to follow the instructions carefully and use only in a well-ventilated area.
When Holiday Plumbing Disasters Strike
As proactive and precautionary as you may be, you may still find yourself in the throes of a plumbing emergency. May be when you're wrapping presents. Or entertaining guests. Or trying to enjoy some cookies and eggnog. If a plumbing situation arises in the middle of your holiday preparation and celebration, take comfort in knowing that the plumbing and drain professionals at Horizon Services are just a phone call away. Our customer service representatives and plumbing and drain technicians will be available morning, noon and night throughout the holiday season...including Christmas Eve and Day and New Year's Eve and Day!
If you need emergency plumbing, drain or sewer line service any time over the holiday season, Contact Horizon Services -- 24/7!
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a Joyous Kwanzaa to everyone from The Horizon Comfort Zone!
Related Holiday Plumbing and Drain Information from Horizon Services...
- Horizon Plumbing Services
- Horizon Drain Cleaning Services
- Horizon Sewer & Water Line Repair/Replacement Services
- Horizon Services & Operation Warm Winter Coat Drive & Distribution for Needy Kids
- Make Sure You're Covered for Sewer Backups
- Fast and Easy Dishwasher Care and Maintenance
- Emergency Hot Water Heater Shutdown Procedures
- How To Properly Use a Plunger to Unclog a Toilet, Sink or Tub
- Winter Plumbing Maintenance Tips
Monday, October 11, 2010
The Importance of Pipe Insulation
Winter's Coming...Are Your Pipes Protected?Pipe insulation is probably something you never think about as a homeowner. The fact is, though, that most home builders don’t think about it much either. Skimping on pipe insulation is one of the first places that shady contractors look to cut corners in order to present customers with a more attractive bottom line. However, proper pipe insulation is one of the most important facets of your home’s infrastructure; not only does insulation improve the performance and life of your plumbing, it also protects them against damage from extreme temperatures or weather.
If you feel that your home’s plumbing system is not properly insulated, you should consult a plumbing professional immediately. Here are some important things you should know about pipe insulation:
Frozen Pipes
The most serious threat to poorly insulated pipes is freezing temperatures. When the mercury drops, standing water left in pipes can freeze and expand, causing tiny cracks that may break open or burst altogether. It is essential that exposed pipes are properly insulated, especially in areas prone to below-zero temperatures. The cost of additional insulation is minute when you think about the cost of repairing damages caused by a burst pipe.
Obviously, outdoor pipes should be insulated, but even exposed pipes in your home can freeze if the temperature gets low enough. Be sure to look over pipes in the basement, attic, crawl spaces, under sinks, in utility rooms or garages, and in the laundry room and insulate them. If you should lose power during a winter storm or go on vacation during a cold snap, you could be forced to deal with the consequences of frozen or burst pipes.
Energy Costs
Believe it or not, insulating pipes can significantly impact your overall energy consumption. As utility costs rise and amid growing concerns about the environment, homeowners all over the country are paying more attention to how they use energy. Proper insulation around pipes limits heat transfer and provides a vapor barrier against moisture, which improves the thermal efficiency of your home and saves you money.
Water Damage
Poorly insulated pipes allow water to condense, which leaves pipes susceptible to standing water that can freeze in cold weather. This can cost you thousands of dollars in water damage to walls, ceilings, floors, and furniture. Condensation can also speed the deterioration of pipes, causing erosion, leaks, cracks, and gaps. By adding a bit of extra insulation, you can eliminate the potential for water damage from burst pipes and erosion.
Insulation Materials
The biggest problem with pipe insulation is keeping it dry. Traditional pipe insulation includes materials like fiberglass and minerals; these have been joined by flexible and rigid closed-cell glass products. Glass insulation provides a better barrier against moisture, helping pipes stay dry. Some contractors also use a wicking material that wraps around pipes to help absorb moisture and carry it away from the insulation jacket, where it evaporates. For underground pipes, most new insulation is made from polyurethane foam, which offers excellent protection and limits moisture accumulation.
Related Information from Horizon Services...
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Get To Know Your Sump Pump!
If you own property situated on land with low elevation or in an area with a high water table, chances are you’ve experienced flooding at some point. Homes located on floodplains are at greater risk for yard and basement flooding after heavy rain or snow melt, and it certainly doesn’t take much water to cause serious damage. Just a few inches of stagnant water in a basement or near a home’s foundation can result in thousands of dollars in repair, clean up and restoration costs.The most effective way to prevent this kind of flooding is to invest in a good, quality sump pump.
Most homes have tile drains that wrap around the house and collect excess water from rainfall or melting snow. If the tiles become deluged the surplus water is diverted and collected in a sump, a small well or pit in the floor of the basement.
If the sump becomes too full, the well could overflow into the basement or seep through cracks in your home’s foundation due to the still-submerged tile drains surrounding the house. This is how basement and low level flooding happens.
A sump pump is a device specifically designed to draw excess water out of your home. When water that’s collected in the sump well reaches a perilous level the sump pump kicks in to flush it out through a pipe connected to your city’s storm drain system. The liquid is channeled away from your home, virtually eliminating the risk of flooding.
Sump pumps work on a float system, kind of like a toilet in reverse. In a toilet tank, the float detects when water in the tank has reached a certain level and stops the commode. A sump pump float senses when water has risen to a particular level and turns on the pump. There are a few different types of sump pump systems to choose from.
Pedestal sump pumps are placed over the well. The pump motor is out of the water where it can’t get wet, which makes the machine run much louder but also helps the motor last longer because it’s not submerged in water all the time. Pedestal pumps are usually the most cost effective option.
Submersible sump pumps sit inside the sump well and are covered over by water as it rises in the pit. The motor is sealed and completely waterproof, making it relatively durable and dependable. These types of sump pumps tend to be more expensive—about $300—but are usually the most highly recommended model for installation in finished basements.
Battery back-up sump pumps allow for continued operation even during a power outage. If you live in an area of the country prone to serious storms or frequent blackouts, a batter back-up pump ensures that water continues to be diverted away from your home even if you have no electricity. Having a batter backup system offers valuable peace of mind for homeowners who travel often or maintain seasonal residences. These models can be very expensive—$700 or more—but are able to handle thousands of gallons of water without needing a battery charge.
Related Information...
Monday, January 18, 2010
Plumbing Emergencies: When a Clogged Drain Backs Up Into Your Home
"Help! My toilet is overflowing onto the floor and it just won’t stop! I tried shuting the water off underneath the toilet and it helped a little, but it still keeps flowing. I'm up to my ankles in sewage! What do I do?"You have no idea how many times we at Horizon Services have received that phone call from frantic homeowners! If your toilet starts to back up and overflow, don't panic. The important thing is to get the overflow under control and to identify the source of the problem. That means keeping a cool head and taking an analytical approach.
First off, whenever your toilet overflows, it is a good idea to turn off the water to the toilet because it eliminates any more water from being used until the problem is fixed. The shut off is beneath the bowl, usually on the left side.
Did the overflow begin when you flushed the toilet? When your toilet overflows right after you flush it’s usually a sign that the toilet itself has a blockage. If it turns out that the clog is in the toilet itself, you could try using a toilet plunger to move the blockage through the toilet. That may be all you need to rectify the situation. Give it a few plunges to see if clears the clog. If not, don't continue -- it will probably just make things worse. Call a plumbing and drain professional; they can unclog the toilet quickly, inexpensively and safely.
What if your toilet keeps overflowing even when you haven’t flushed it? Usually this means the clog is in a drain pipe, possibly your main drain pipe or sewer line. If this is the case, when you run water from any fixture such as a shower, the water will back up from the main drain pipe and come out of your toilet bowl because it is the lowest point in your drain system. Of course, this makes it seem like the toilet is the problem, when in fact it’s your main drain pipe or sewer line that isn’t letting water go down. If you stop using water at other fixtures, the toilet will stop overflowing.
If it appears that your main drain or sewer might be clogged, call a drain cleaning professional as soon as possible. Powerful drain clearing equipment is required to unblock a main drain.
If you have a private septic system, the problem may be that your septic tank is full and is causing your main drain to back up into your home. If your septic tank has not been pumped within the last eighteen months, you should have it done to see if this is the cause of your problem. Even if you discover the problem was not in the septic tank, taking care of past due maintenance on your septic system is money well spent.
It's also very possible that the problem is not on your end. If you are on a town sewer system it is possible that the city sewer is blocked and sewage from your home and or your neighbors’ homes is backing up into your home. Check with your neighbors to see if they are having any problem with their main drains. If they are, be sure to call your town sewer department. If your neighbors or town say they are having problems, your town will take care of unclogging the sewer pipe. If raw sewage has backed into your home, you can call a professional cleaning company to handle the clean up and properly sanitize your home.
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