What every homeowner should know about their plumbing system - Part 1.

As a homeowner what should you know about your plumbing system? Part 1.

1. Plumbing Emergencies are almost 100% avoidable. 

How so? With a yearly inspection by a professional plumber; you can just about eliminate any hidden surprises. A visual inpection of your plumbing system can reveal any potential disasters before they occur. 

2. High water pressure is the #1 cause of all plumbing problems. 

High Water Pressure causes the majority of plumbing failures. The higher the water pressure; the more plumbing problems you will have. High water pressure places too much stress on fixtures, faucets, appliances, and pipes. Your plumbing system wasn't designed to withstand water pressure above 80psi. 

In fact, Uniform Plumbing Code 608.2 mandates that any time the incoming water pressure exceeds 80psi - a pressure reducing valve must be installed. 

Your plumber isn't trying to upsell you when he checks your water pressure. In fact, he is seeking to help you avoid future problems. Isn't that what you expect of your plumber? Help

3. Thermal Expansion. What is that and how come I've never heard of that before? 

Thermal Expansion occurs when your water system is closed, and your water heater - heats water. 

Several things can create a closed water system - a pressure regulator, in line check valve, or backflow assembly can place your water system into a closed water system state. Once in a closed state - every time your water heater heats water, pressure increases within the system; due to the steam building up (similar to a tea kettle heating water). This additional pressure has no where to go due to the closed water system, and your water system pressure rises. 

So even if you thought you were protected against high water pressure - you may not be protected against it during the water heating cycle. 

What can you do to fully protect your water system? Have your plumber install a thermal expansion tank or similar device. It's easily installed and will give you 100% protection against high water pressure. 

How is it that you've never heard of thermal expansion? 

1. As the efforts to protect our drinking water increases; we are seeing more and more in-line check valves installed by the water companies. These check valves allow water to be delivered to your property with no return. The check valve prevents water and pressure from being absorbed back into the water purveyors system. Thus creating a closed water system. 

2. In days past - new construction plumbers used to install water systems with air chambers (pipe extensions of 12in with a cap at each fixture - on both the hot and cold sides). These air chambers would serve as a place for the expansion to be absorbed. This practice is rare since copper piping systems started being installed. Thus, thermal expansion has become a more prolific problem, and one that your average "new plumber" doesn't quite understand. 

To be continued: For more information please visit our website at www.aap-allamericanplumbing.com 

Foul Sewer and Drain Smells?

Sewer Odors! Yesterday we performed a smoke test within a large multi-tenant building in order to find the hidden breaches of their sewer system: that caused foul odors.

How does a smoke test work? We seal the pipes and induce smoke into the drain and sewage system. The smoke will fill the system and escape through any breaches. We trace the smoke down to the source and correct as needed. The test is repeated until we achieve a sealed tight system. 

Smoke tests can be complicated at times due to logistics and the fear triggered by the appearance of smoke. Therefore, it's always wise to inspect for the obvious:

1. Loose toilets. Toilets are supposed to be mounted sealed tight. If the toilet wobbles or has rust signs at its base; it may have a breached seal. Pull and reset the toilet to correct. 

2. Dry trap ways (due to lack of use). If a fixture or faucet goes unused for a couple of weeks; the water will dissipate from the trap (designed to prevent sewer smells), thus, allowing sewer gases to escape. Always keep your plumbing fixtures active by running a little bit of water into them at least once every couple of weeks. 

3. Loose or missing clean out plugs or caps. Often times, drain cleaning technicians with limited experience will fail to secure the cap or plug back on after a simple drain cleaning service. Unaware that they just left the vent system breached: sewer smells are left with an easy path into the building. 

4. The most common source of sewer smell and odors into buildings has to do with plumbing vents, air conditioning systems, parapet walls and wind patterns. Use of carbon filtered vent caps will immediately correct such issues.

Sewer smells aren't normal, nor are they healthy to be exposed to. They do indicate a problem with your plumbing system that must be immediately corrected.

For more info visit our website at www.aap-allamericanplumbing.com or give us a call 1-855-893-3601

What causes plumbing problems?

Plumbing, everybody fears the plumber... The high cost, the mess, the intrusion of ones personal space. The stress involved during a plumbing problem can be enormous! Water everywhere, sewage flowing out onto the floors or through the walls - MOLD! Ughh, mold and mildew.

Why do we hear of so many people having had some sort of plumbing disaster? LACK OF MAINTENANCE.... We take our cars for regular check ups. We check and protect our computers. We go to the doctors for our yearly physicals. But, we don't call a plumber until its absolutely necessary - usually, when the disaster is upon us.

How can one protect the home and wallet from a plumbing disaster? Simply put, with a little bit of preventive maintenance. You see, most of all plumbing problems fall into 1 of 4 categories.

1.High Incoming Water Pressure: What is the first thing your doctor checks upon seeing you? Your blood pressure. Why? Your blood pressure levels can directly affect your well being is so many ways. The same is true within your plumbing system. High water pressure (deemed as any pressure above 80psi) can and will destroy your plumbing system. http://www.watts.com/pages/learnAbout/reducingValves.asp?catId=64

2.Thermal Expansion: What is thermal expansion? The best way to describe thermal expansion is - water expands when heated. Similar to what occurs when boiling water in a tea pot. The expansion created by the steam blows the whistle. The same can occur within your plumbing system whenever the water heater is heating water and the expansion has no where to go. http://www.watts.com/pages/learnAbout/thermalExpansion.asp?catId=64#generalinfo_plumbingcode

3.Bad Water Quality: Those hard white spots and grime surrounding your faucets, sinks and shower doors aren't a good thing. If that sort of build up occurs within the surface of items that rarely have water on them; can you imagine what the inside of the pipes and water heater looks like? Hard water will most definitely lead to premature failure of your faucets, dishwasher, toilets and more.http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/waterquality.html

4. Poor workmanship: Poor workmanship, either by way of original construction and/or previous repairs made by handymen, weekend warriors, and the likes - to be inferior and not withstanding the local plumbing codes or better practices. It is always best to ensure good quality by way of requiring all work performed within your home or place of business be permitted with the local governing agency. Albeit, this will not ensure or absolve one from poor workmanship - it will definitely curb 95% of it. http://www.cslb.ca.gov/consumers/hireacontractor/BuildingPermitRequirements.asp

So what does all of this mean and what must one do to protect themselves from plumbing disasters?
1. Check the incoming water pressure yearly.
2. Check for Thermal Expansion
3. Invest in the appropriate water treatment device that best suits your locale
4. Maintain a level of security by requiring your plumber to secure permits on all of your projects

Visit our website for more information at www.aap-allamericanplumbing.com