The Unclog Blog - HELP Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Electric

The Basics of Plumbing Safety

When attempting do-it-yourself plumbing projects, it is essential to follow the proper safety precautions in order to prevent injury. Before embarking on a plumbing project – even something relatively simple, like unclogging a drain – review the following plumbing safety basics.

Use a spotter

A spotter or helper will allow you to complete a plumbing project faster and more safely. In addition to a spotter providing the benefit of a spare hand as needed, some jobs, such as running a drain machine, are nearly impossible to complete without a second person to help.

Follow the directions

The importance of this safety essential cannot be overstated. Read and follow the directions for all tools, equipment, machines, chemicals, and other plumbing products. Misuse of tools and other plumbing equipment can cause injury or damage to your home. Also, make sure to maintain and check tools as specified in the user manual.

Wear protective equipment

Personal protective equipment is a must when working with plumbing. This includes wearing protective eyewear, gloves, and a facemask to protect your lungs. Eyewear is especially important when snaking a drain, hammering, using a drill, using a sawzall, or working on your back under a sink. Depending on the type of job, latex or leather gloves may be preferred. When sawing or sanding, a facemask is an important precaution.

Only work when alert

Do not work when you are sick, tired, or impaired by drugs or alcohol. These states can impair your reflexes or judgment, resulting in injury or property damage.

Use a tool belt, caddy, or box

Carrying tools in your pocket poses a risk of injury.

Follow the proper codes

These include all applicable building and plumbing safety codes and laws. Make sure you know these rules and have obtained the necessary permits before you start working.

If you’re not sure you can complete a plumbing job safely by yourself, consider calling a licensed plumber to complete the job.

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Written and published by Thompson Electric, Plumbing, Heating & Cooling.

Checking the Plumbing Before Buying a Home

When shopping for a home, people often fall in love with a property before the inspection -- and are later disappointed to find out that many costly repairs are needed. One of the main things you should check when deciding whether to buy a new home is the plumbing. For example, a plumbing system with low water pressure can cause frequent toilet clogs and other issues. Fortunately, there are some simple checks that you can do yourself to determine if the house has low water pressure, as well as other problems, like leaks and venting issues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Check all faucets for leaks, including all sinks and the shower. While checking the bathroom faucets, you shouldn’t smell any foul odors; this may indicate improper venting or a drain without a P-trap. Also note the water temperature and pressure, and listen for noisy or banging pipes when the water is turned on.

• Flush the toilet in every bathroom. If the water level drops or takes a long time to refill, this could indicate a partial blockage or low water pressure.

• Look around the house for wet spots that could indicate a leak.

• Check the water pressure at the farthest point from the main valve, and verify that pressure here is just as strong as at the closest point.

• Inspect the hot water heater. Check to see if there are signs of corrosion on the water heater’s elements; if there are, the appliance needs to be replaced. Also make sure the water heater is of an adequate size for your family and find out how old it is.

• Go to the main water shut off valve and make sure it is in working order. When the valve is shut off, no water should come out of any of the taps.

• Ask about the type of sewage system – septic tanks can have problems requiring expensive repairs, and they also need regular maintenance.

• Inquire about the material of the pipes in the home. Copper pipes are the most desirable, followed by brass, and then galvanized steel. As you may know, lead pipes are a safety hazard.

• Ask to see utility bills showing the monthly water usage and costs, or get this information from the utility/billing company if possible. See if the bill fits your budget and if there is any exorbitant usage that could indicate a leak. A good realtor should have this information on-hand.

Don’t be afraid to “nose around” and ask questions; an owner or realtor with nothing to hide will encourage this. Even though you will probably get an official inspection later, it is good to get a picture of what you’re dealing with before then so you can start thinking about negotiating a lower price. If you decide to purchase a home requiring plumbing repairs as-is, be sure to hire a reputable plumber to do the necessary repairs.

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Written and published by Thompson Electric, Plumbing, Heating & Cooling.

 

(Photo via Flickr)

Thompson Electric, Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Featured in Plumbing & Mechanical

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/11/prweb10177737.htm

Thompson Electric, Plumbing, Heating and Cooling President Wesley Holm talks water treatment services to plumbing trade magazine.

National award-winning electric, plumbing, heating and cooling company Thompson Electric, Plumbing, Heating and Cooling was recently featured in the September 2012 issue of Plumbing & Mechanical, a leading industry magazine in the plumbing industry.

The Plumbing & Mechanical magazine feature includes an interview with Thompson Electric, Plumbing, Heating & Cooling President Wesley Holm. Holm discusses Cleaner Fresher Healthier water with P&M, along with his company’s ProSystems whole-house water treatment systems, and how these services complement the company’s existing services.

Says Holm to Plumbing & Mechanical, “We improve people’s lives through the services we provide. We need to live up to that and educate our clients about what’s in their water.”

Holm goes on to explain, “People are more attuned to clean water than to clean air. They’re more concerned about what they drink than what they breathe.”

In particular, says Holm, young mothers are concerned about contaminants in municipal drinking water, which may include prescription drugs, bacteria, ammonia, and other chemicals.

Another chemical commonly found in drinking water is chlorine – Many utilities add chlorine to disinfect drinking water, though it negatively affects the taste and smell of the water, and also dries the hair and skin when showering.

Beyond eliminating bad tastes and dry skin, whole-house water treatment is about improving the health of every member of your household. It’s also about the health of Mother Earth. Holm tells P&M, “Treating water inside the home offers an added benefit to people who want to lead a green lifestyle.”

“We drink cases and cases of bottled water, and our landfills are full of water bottles,” Holm continues. “Petrochemicals are used to make the water bottles, so there are repercussions for our dependence on foreign oil as well.”

Read the three-page spread on Thompson Electric, Plumbing, Heating and Cooling, “A natural fit,” in Plumbing & Mechanical online, or visit the publication’s website (pmmag.com) to order a copy of the September 2012 issue and/or subscribe to Plumbing & Mechanical.

About Thompson Electric, Plumbing, Heating & Cooling

With over 80 years of service, Thompson Electric Plumbing Heating & Cooling is among the most trusted and reputable electric, plumbing heating and cooling companies in the greater Cincinnati area. Thompson has received numerous other national awards and recognitions over the years, including recognition from Airtime 500, an elite HVAC contractor association. Thompson bears the Technician To learn more about the award-winning services of Thompson Electric, Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, or to schedule a service today, visit 333help.com or call 513-333-HELP. You can also follow Thompson Electric, Plumbing, Heating and Cooling on Twitter at @ThompsonPHC.

 

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Written and published by Thompson Electric, Plumbing, Heating & Cooling.

What are the solutions for hard water? Part 2

If you don’t want to have your hard water treated, there are a few adjustments you can make to improve things around the house. If the main problem is simply drinking water or making coffee, consider bottled water or a pitcher-filter system. For laundry, look for detergents that are made for hard water. Since hard water is affected by heat, reduce the heat of your boiler to 55 degrees Celsius. This will allow enough hot water for showering, but will still reduce the amount of lime buildup in your pipes and appliances. Consider purchasing a rinse agent to help clean dishes and the dishwasher. Placing a cup of white vinegar in the dishwasher will also help remove spotting from hard water.

Many residents of rural areas have water-softening systems. People who use “city water” have had their water already processed, which usually includes softening and the addition of chlorine and fluoride. Although hard water isn’t the ideal plumbing situation, there are many solutions to choose from in fixing any household problems.  If you have questions, you can always contact your local plumbing company.

What are the solutions for hard water?

As mentioned, hard water is not a health hazard. Drinking hard water does contribute a small amount of calcium and magnesium to the human body. However, hard water can be treated in many different ways including water softeners, electromagnetic water conditioners, and water filters. 

Hard water can be treated, or softened. Its minerals can be removed by treating it with lime or by passing it over an ion exchange resin made up of complex sodium salts. Water flows over the resin surface, dissolving the sodium. The calcium and magnesium precipitate onto the resin surface. Sodium goes into the water, but the other positively charged ions stay with the resin. Very hard water will end up tasting saltier than water that had fewer dissolved minerals. Most of the ions have been removed in soft water, but sodium and various negatively charged ions still remain.

Magnetic water conditioners are permanently installed in plumbing systems to alter calcium ions, preventing them from causing lime scale. The water is good for drinking and keeps the calcium intact, which is good for diet.

Purchasing a water filter may be the easiest way to make sure your drinking water is free of minerals. There are portable water filters that can be used in water jugs. They are the simplest type of filter; however they have a short lifespan. Carbon water filters are built-in to the water supply in the house.

How does hard water affect my home and family?

Although hard water is not a health hazard, it does affect daily tasks and the lifespan of household appliances. Hard water reduces the cleansing power of soap and produces scale in hot water lines and appliances. Hard water can affect everyday household chores such as laundering, bathing, and dishwashing.

Clothes washed in hard water might look worn or feel scratchy. The minerals in the water combine with soils in the clothing to form insoluble salts, which makes them very difficult to remove. Washing clothes in hard water continuously can damage fibers and shorten the lifespan of the clothing items.

Bathing in hard water, using soap often leaves a soap film on skin. While detergent soap will lather in hard water, often body soap won’t form a lather. The film may prevent removal of bacteria and disrupts skin’s normal condition, possibly leading to irritation. Soap film left on hair may make it dull and difficult to manage.

Hard water can affect washing dishes, especially in a dishwasher. Washing in hard water may cause spotting on dishes, cups, and silverware. When the minerals in hard water come in contact with heat, they are released faster, causing spotting.

While the hard water alone may not taste different, it might affect your coffee or tea. Coffee is known to develop a bitter undertone when brewed with hard water. Delicate green teas can take on a new flavor all together when made with hard water. Build up in coffee or espresso makers could occur as a result of the lime scale.

Minerals in hard water can also have an effect on the appliances in a home. When hard water is heated, it forms lime scale deposits that can disrupt the operation of water using appliances. Even pipes may clog with the lime scale, which reduces water flow and may require pipe replacement. The presence of lime scale could increase an energy bill up to 25 percent. A similar buildup can also occur in solar heating systems, which are often used for heating swimming pools. The buildup will reduce the efficiency of the electronic pump, which decreases the overall performance.

What is hard water?

The term hard water refers to any water containing a high level of dissolved minerals such as calcium, magnesium, among others. These are minerals in the ground that came into contact with the water. Water from a well is very likely to be hard because it is drawn directly from the ground with no processing.

Water is a good solvent, which means it dissolves other substances easily. However, it also picks up impurities easily. So as water moves through rock and soil, it dissolves small amounts of minerals and holds onto them, making it hard water. The degree of hardness becomes greater as the amount of mineral content increases.

On the other hand, soft water is treated water that only contains the positively charged ion of sodium. Rainwater has no minerals, so it is naturally very soft.  Often, hard water has a characteristic taste from the minerals and soft water may taste salty.