In part one of this multi-part blog series, we went over some basics on how to spot potential pipe bursting signs in your home’s plumbing system. A burst pipe is commonly a serious plumbing incident, and you’ll begin to notice signs that it’s taken place pretty quickly in most cases.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we’re happy to offer 24-hour emergency plumbing services for severe cases of burst pipes and other potential issues, along with numerous other plumbing repair and maintenance solutions. Today’s part two of our series will go into some more of the red flags you might notice that often signal a burst pipe somewhere in your system, while our subsequent sections will go over how to respond if you’ve confirmed a burst pipe present in your home.

Strange Noises

In many cases, a burst pipe will cause unusual noises to start emitting when you use various plumbing fixtures – or even sometimes when you aren’t using them. For instance, you may notice certain appliances or drains making a bubbling noise even when they aren’t in use; this is due to air finding its way into the sewer system because of a leak due to the burst pipe.

In other cases, supply lines will have been dented, leading to a whistling sound. This is because water is trying to force its way through the dented section. In still other situations, you may hear dripping behind a wall due to a burst pipe leaking water.

Water Bill Increase

Have you noticed major increases in your monthly water bill compared to recent months or the same month in a prior year? If this has happened despite no big changes to your water usage habits, it could be due to water leaking somewhere in the system – and a burst pipe could be one of the culprits. One way to confirm this is to turn all your faucets off, then check your water meter; if it’s running still, you know you have a leak or burst pipe issue.

On-Pipe Signs

For certain exposed pipes, such as those under your bathroom sink or in your basement, you may see some visible signs of bursting. One of the most common, especially during the current winter period, is condensation, ice or frost forming on the pipe – this could be an issue of freezing, but it’s also often compounded by leaks or a bursting issue that allows water to collect on the outside.

In other cases, you may see a bulge forming in your pipe. This is a sign that the pipe is frozen and is at major risk of bursting, causing huge amounts of damage – in this case, call our team right away to remedy the issue before the burst takes place.

For more on the signs that may indicate a burst pipe in your home, or to learn about any of our plumbing repair or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric today.

There are a few plumbing events that may qualify as emergencies depending on their severity, and one of these is a burst pipe in your home. From potential water damage and flooding to risks of damage to various appliances or electronics, a burst plumbing pipe is a serious issue that requires immediate attention if it takes place.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we’re proud to assist clients with a variety of emergency plumbing services, with unmatched response times for our 24-hour solutions. We’ll help you with instructions over the phone for mitigating the damage while our plumbers are on the way, then perform numerous detailed services to address and remedy any plumbing emergencies, including a burst pipe. This multi-part blog series will go over everything you need to know about burst pipes – we’ll start with the red flags or signs that a burst pipe might be present in your home, then move to how you should react and respond in any situation where this has happened.

Water Pressure Alterations

In many cases, one of the first signs that a pipe has burst in your plumbing system is significant changes to your water pressure in areas like the faucets and shower. You might also notice clogs cropping up in the sink or toilet, the result of reduced water pressure that isn’t powerful enough to push waste down the drain.

In cases where no water is coming from a faucet or shower, this isn’t likely a burst pipe – it’s more likely to be a frozen pipe issue, especially if it happens during the winter. But if pressure changes significantly while water still comes out, that’s a sign.

Standing Water

In other cases, you may notice drips, puddles or even entire pools of water in a given area, usually lower parts of the home like the basement or a crawl space. Sometimes the water will be closer to the actual leaking area, such as if you notice a sinkhole near some of your exposed pipes.

Water Marks or Discoloration

Most of your home’s pipes, however, run behind your walls where you can’t see them. If this pipe bursts and begins to spew water, it will often leave dampness or marks on the wall that signal the issue.

In other cases, water coming from your faucet or shower will simply look discolored. This is likely due to a supply pipe that’s burst, allowing rust in that turns water a brownish color.

Odors

Have you begun to notice foul odors from your pipe area? This could be due to a burst pipe that’s making it difficult for the plumbing network to drain sewer waste out from your home – not only is this a problem on its own, it will often lead to additional clog issues.

For more on signs you may have a burst pipe in 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.

In previous sections of this multi-part blog series, we’ve gone over a number of details pertinent to preventing flooding concerns on your property, namely in your basement. Whether due to faulty plumbing fixtures or a variety of other potential causes, including slope and flood zone concerns, home flooding needs to be prevented not only for personal safety, but also for home value.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we’re happy to offer numerous emergency plumbing response services, including for flooding and related concerns taking place in your home or building. While our previous sections of this series have been about preventing these kinds of issues through several basic techniques and behaviors, today’s final section will dig into how you should proceed if you discover a flood has already begun to take place in your basement or any other area of your property.

Stay Calm

First and foremost, like with any natural disaster or serious issue, do not panic. Even if you walk into the basement and discover multiple inches of water covering the entire space, freaking out and panicking will not improve the situation.

Rather, take a few deep breaths and consider the steps you should be taking. The first one: If there is any danger risk, namely electrical power sources that are near the standing water in a flood, evacuate the area of all people and pets immediately. Only once you’ve determined there are no such risks should you remain in the area.

Who to Contact

Now it’s time to get in touch with a few different parties:

  • Local municipality: Your city’s engineering department should be notified if your basement floods, as they manage storm sewers, stormwater and drainage issues. In cases where area-wide flooding is taking place, your municipality will inform you if you’ll be affected.
  • Our plumbers: For a home plumbing inspection and assistance with sealing and improving the system.
  • Insurance agent: You’ll also want to review your homeowners’ insurance coverage to see whether flooding concerns are covered, which may also involve speaking to your insurance agent.

Future Prevention Themes

If a flood does take place, there will be a few important reminders you’ll likely be given during cleanup and remediation to prevent a repeat issue in the future:

  • Plumbing inspection: As we noted above, we strongly recommend an inspection from our plumbers to help determine the source of the flood and repair it so these concerns are not present in the future.
  • Install a sump pump: We went over this in previous sections.
  • Limit water usage during heavy rain: During heavy rain or snowfall, doing laundry or running the dishwasher may overload the sewer system and increase flood risks, especially in homes that are already susceptible here.

For more on how to prevent flooding issues on your property, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric today.

In parts one and two of this multi-part blog series, we’ve gone over some of the basic methods for homeowners to take – often with the assistance of our plumbers – to prevent significant flooding risks. Both in plumbing-specific areas and many others to do with your property, including issues like sloping, flood zones and related concerns, preventing flood risks is important not only for basic occupant safety, but also for home value.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we’re happy to provide immediate response services to any plumbing emergency, including those featuring flooding risks or related themes. Today’s part three of our series will focus on some final areas you and our plumbers may choose to focus on when it comes to limiting these risks, then part four will finish up by digging into how you should respond in a situation where a flood has already begun taking place in your home.

Perforated Drain Pipes

One addition to some homes that have had flooding issues in the past are known as perforated drain pipes, also called weeping tiles in some circles. These are perforated drainage solutions that collect water and then redirect it out to a suitable location away from the property.

Now, perforated drain pipes are not an inexpensive addition to the home. But when compared with the cost of water damage due to flooding, the cost is actually really low. This is mostly an installation we won’t recommend unless the property has had previous flooding issues in the past or shows major such concerns currently – but if so, it’s a great method for reducing water buildup in any area.

Storm Windows

For areas that experience major storms, from snow buildup to other related concerns, one item you might consider installing is the storm window on all your basement window openings. The storm window has a drainage layer that can extend all the way to perforated drain pipes, if you’ve also installed these – between the two, the chances of significant water buildup from any source taking place in your basement will be very low.

Reverse-Slope Driveways

Finally, for homes with reverse-slope driveways, flooding can be a larger concern since water flows toward your home instead of away from it. Some capable homeowners combat this by choosing to build or small a rise that will raise the slope so it goes the other way; there are other construction alternatives here with local contractors that our team will be happy to inform you of. And if you’re looking at new homes and don’t want to deal with flooding risks, we strongly recommend avoiding any properties with reverse-slope driveways.

For more on how to prevent plumbing-related and other flood risks from impacting your property, 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 multi-part blog series, we went over some of the basic homeowner responsibilities when it comes to limiting flood risks in their home. Both with regard to plumbing fixtures and several other features of the property, even including elements like flood zones and maps that many consider while purchasing or building a new home, limiting flood risks is important not only for safety, but also for property value and quality.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we’re happy to offer numerous emergency plumbing services, including those that help our clients deal with flooding issues or other plumbing problems that may lead to these issues over time. Part two of our series today will dig into several other homeowner areas to consider for preventing or avoiding flood risks, including those our plumbers will be happy to assist you with.

Water Flow Routes

One simple way to prevent any possible exterior flood risks from impacting your home is by diverting what are known as water flow routes. This involves sloping the surface of the ground away from the foundation of your home, something that should be done by a strong building contractor during any new home build today – but can also be done later on existing homes.

This process is known in the construction industry as “positive lot grading,” and is vital. But it’s also vital to check this slope and water routes at least once a year, as they may be altered by the elements over time.

Sump Pit and Sump Pumps

If your home is in any swampy or generally wet area, or even one that receives lots of precipitation, installing a sump pit and sump pump is another move that will help prevent plumbing risks. A sump pump removes water that accumulates in its basin, or pit, and will be placed in the basement since this is the area that’s at the greatest risk here. If you’ve had any leak or flood issues in your home in the past, installing a sump pump is a good move and relatively inexpensive.

Backwater Sanitary Valves

For drains flowing away from your home, namely your main sewer line, one item that will prevent any backflow flood risks is the backwater sanitary valves. This is a valve that only allows water to flow in one direction – when water levels rise on the downstream side of the valve, it closes, blocking water from flowing in the opposite direction. These are especially useful for homes that have a reverse-sloped driveway, which will increase flood risks in normal circumstances but won’t really affect you if you have these valves installed.

For more on how to prevent flood risks from taking place in your home, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric today.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, one of the most immediate and important services we provide for clients throughout Utah is emergency plumbing. There are several varieties of plumbing emergency that may take place, but a relatively constant result of most of these is one homeowners everywhere are looking to prevent: Flooding.

No one wants flooding anywhere in their home, particularly in the basement, where most early flooding signs will be seen. As a homeowner, you have certain basic responsibilities here in terms of preventing flooding; as plumbers, we assist with several important areas here as well. This is a detailed and complex area, featuring concerns ranging from broad areas like flood zones and area maps to the specifics of your home and its plumbing system. As such, this multi-part blog series will go over a number of areas in terms of preventing basement flooding due to plumbing and related concerns: Which areas you should be handling as a homeowner, how can our plumbing staff help, and what are the steps you should be taking if significant flooding is taking place in your home? Let’s dig in.

Homeowner Responsibilities

For starters, you as a homeowner play a significant role in protecting your home from major flooding risks. For starters, you’re responsible for what you put down your various drain lines – it’s your job to ensure that non-approved items like tissue paper, food products or feminine hygiene products are not flushed down, as they can cause major sewer line clogs that often lead to flooding concerns.

In addition, you can take a number of steps – often in coordination with our plumbers – to prevent flooding risks in the future. Our next several sections will go over many of the important areas here.

Fixtures, Connections and Gaps

There are several connected areas to keep in mind when it comes to various home fixtures and components:

  • Crack sealing: Seal any cracks inside your basement and on the exterior of the foundation, including seeking professional assistance if needed.
  • Clean your rain gutters and ensure both the gutters and their downspouts are aligned properly.
  • Check wall and floor panels for any deterioration or settling that may cause cracking and leaks.

Catch Basins

Have you ever wondered what those large sewer grates are on the road near your home? Those are called catch basins, and they’re responsible for drainage into the storm sewer. But if these basins become blocked or obstructed – something that often happens during spring in Utah as the snow melts away – big issues can take place, including concerns where drainage overflows and risks major flood concerns on your property. If you’ve had issues of this sort in the past, speak to your city’s engineering department about installing a yard basin to prevent it.

For more on how to prevent basement flooding issues in your home, 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 of the common mistakes made by homeowners during the winter as they look to heat their homes. While many of these are well-intentioned or based on understandable gaps in knowledge, they can lead to issues ranging from spiking heating bills up to long-term stress and damage to your HVAC system.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we’re here to help not only provide your home with proper HVAC equipment like furnace installation and repair, but also offer expertise on the use and maintenance of these components. What are some of the other common mistakes we help our clients avoid as they look to heat their home both affordably and comfortably this winter? Here are a few to keep in mind.

Curtains and Window Concerns

Curtains and window dressings are an area where homeowners should be proceeding in the opposite manner from the summer period. During warm season, keeping blinds or curtains closed during the heat of the day is a great way to limit the home’s interior temperature – during the winter, on the other hand, these should be opened during the day to allow the sun to assist in warming the home. This is free heat you should not avoid.

In addition, always ensure windows are properly closed and locked. You might be shocked how much harder your furnace and HVAC system will have to work to heat the home if even a small gap is present in certain windows, allowing air out when it should be kept in.

Vent Closing

Some homeowners assume that closing all vents in rooms that aren’t being used is a way to save on heating costs. This is not true – ducts in your home are meant to heat the entire area evenly, and will stop working correctly if you close vents unevenly. HVAC professionals recommend keeping all vents in the home open even if you aren’t using certain areas or rooms.

Leaks or Drafts

If you notice any drafts of cold air where there shouldn’t be, or especially if you find leaks, gaps or full-on cracks in your entryways, door areas or similar locations, these should be attended to right away. Leaving them alone will only cause them to worsen, and as we noted above, even small gaps leading to air loss will cause enormous strain on the furnace – and a rise in your heating bill simultaneously.

Regular Maintenance

Finally, perhaps the single largest mistake you can make this season is putting off annual HVAC maintenance. Best done twice a year, during the fall and spring, this maintenance allows us to ensure your system is in good shape headed into a new season – we’ll inspect the entire setup, ensure there are no minor issues that require repair and set you up for the season ahead.

For more on avoiding common heating mistakes during the winter, or to learn about any of our HVAC or plumbing services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric today.

The temperatures have dropped, the leaves are gone from the trees, and winter is here for Utahns. For homeowners this means preparing a few important areas, including your furnace or other heater setup to ensure the home remains warm and comfortable throughout the winter.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we’re here to help. We provide a wide variety of furnace repair and replacement services for those who need equipment tweaks or upgrades headed into the cold season, but we’re also on-hand to offer important expertise on how to properly utilize your heating system – and related home components – for a comfortable home that comes without a crazy heating bill at the end of each month. As much as anything, accomplishing this involves avoiding common errors many homeowners make while trying to heat their homes – this two-part blog series will evaluate these common mistakes and help you avoid them.

Cranking the Thermostat

When the home is cold, perhaps after you’ve just woken up or gotten home from a day of work, there may be an impulse to simply crank the thermostat up really high. Some assume this will cause the home to heat up faster than just raising the temperature to the desired range.

This is a mistaken assumption. Not only will this technique fail to heat the home faster, it will also put more strain on the system that leads to not only higher bills, but also an inefficient heating setup where the unit works much harder than it needs to. The best move here is to slowly, gradually increase the temperature so the system runs optimally.

Heating Empty House

If your home sits empty for large chunks of the day while its occupants are at work or school, why waste money on heating it during these hours? You could be wasting countless dollars on energy costs that are simply serving no purpose.

For those with older thermostats, this area is a major reason to consider an upgrade. Programmable or smart thermostats allow you to set temperatures based on your daily schedule and related factors, optimizing the heater’s use so it’s only working when it’s truly needed.

Space Heaters to “Save Money”

Some assume that they’ll save money by using space heaters for direct heating needs, but the opposite is actually the case. Space heaters simply add to your energy costs – and not only this, but they also may create safety issues or even fire hazards when connected to improper power sources.

Filter Concerns

Finally, an HVAC concern throughout the year that remains vital in the winter is changing or cleaning filters regularly. Clogged filters will not allow for air to pass through as easily, which will limit your heating capacity while also raising your bill. Ensure that you follow manufacturer guidelines for frequency of changing or cleaning filters, or even exceed them if you have pets or other home factors that increase your dust, hair or debris content.

For more on how to avoid common heating errors during the winter, or to learn about any of our HVAC or plumbing 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.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we’re well aware that home services like our plumbing solutions are a partnership with our customers. Homeowners will often perform basic upkeep or maintenance areas here, such as plunging a backed-up toilet, for instance, but then there are also areas where leaving an issue to our trained plumbers is the right move, both for your safety and for the quality of your plumbing – such as a trenchless sewer line repair.

For the involved homeowner who cares about the quality and long-term value of their property, there’s another area here: General education and knowledge. While there will always be certain advanced plumbing jobs untrained homeowners should never attempt, increasing your body of knowledge in general plumbing areas will help you understand and manage your system more effectively on a day-to-day basis. One piece of education many homeowners can benefit from: Knowing the different kinds of pipes that might be present in your plumbing system, plus whether they’re right for the purpose they’re serving and whether you should perhaps consider a replacement in certain areas. This two-part blog series will go over all the primary plumbing pipe variations.

PEX Pipes

One of the most common forms of piping used today for both homes and businesses is PEX piping, or polyethylene piping. PEX piping has several benefits, the largest of which in many circumstances is its flexibility – it’s not as rigid as other pipe types, making it simpler to both install and maintain.

In addition, PEX pipe is highly heat-resistant and corrosion-resistant, plus durable and long-lasting. It also requires virtually no regular maintenance, plus saves energy through heat conservation. This means that installation costs tend to be somewhat high up-front, but this cost is generally recouped quickly due to the quality of these pipes. It’s one of the first choices for new buildings today.

Rigid Copper Pipes

There are two different copper pipe formats that might be utilized in plumbing. The first is rigid copper, which is most common for water supply lines in homes and other buildings. This pipe does bend slightly despite its name, but is relatively solid. It does well against heat and pressure, plus is easy to recycle.

On the flip side, rigid copper pipe is tough to install and can be expensive. It’s also susceptible to corrosion or pinhole leaks over time without proper maintenance.

Flexible Copper Pipes

Flexible copper pipe, on the other hand, is a pipe or tubing format used to connect to fridges, water heaters and certain sinks. It’s only for short runs, fitting in small spaces and coming with a high heat tolerance. Like rigid copper, it’s expensive and may be prone to structural risks if it’s not well-maintained.

For more on the kinds of pipes often found in homes and buildings today, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric today.