Posts Tagged ‘East Brunswick’

Doylestown Plumbing Tip: Sump Pump Maintenance is Easy in the Spring

Monday, April 30th, 2012

For those of us who own sump pumps in Doylestown, their maintenance is one of the most important things to make a little time for on a regular basis.  If a sump pump is not working properly it could mean flooding of a home or office building that sits below the water table level, or that had a basement waterproofing system in place.  Flooding can mean excessive damage to not only the basement, but to any other lower floors, and even foundation damage which will all then need to be repaired or replaced completely.  With such simple precautionary steps as performing a few quick maintenance checks it is easy to keep that sump pump running properly without such damage.  A good time to go about sump pump maintenance is during the springtime prior to the rainy season when the weather changes once again and other areas of the home or building are being checked as well.

  • For electric sump pumps: Ensure the sump pump is plugged into a working outlet, and that the cord is in good shape.  Due to the damp, the breakers on these outlets can trip more easily, which then shuts off the sump pump.  This is a simple fix as the breaker just needs to be reset.
  • For battery powered sump pumps: replace the battery as often as is recommended by the manufacturer.  On back-up battery powered pumps, replace the battery every two to three years.
  • Check that the sump pump is standing upright.  Since sump pumps vibrate they can fall to one side, which can jam vital parts, causing it not to activate properly.  While upright, all working parts should be free to move as necessary.
  • Pick up submersible pumps to clean the grate on the bottom.  Ensure that there are no small stones in the grate which could block the inlet or damage the pump.
  • Check that outlet pipes are tightly joined together, check that their outlet is at least twenty feet from the foundation of the home or building, and that when the sump pump is on it is actually removing water through the pipes.
  • Clean the vent hole in the discharge pipe, remove any debris which was stuck in it.

Besides performing maintenance on your Doylestown sump pump annually, it is good to check it again after heavy rains to ensure that it is still removing water properly.  Also check it after longer dry spells by dumping a bucket or two of water near the machine to make sure it starts up automatically and that it drains efficiently.  While most new models have indicators which alert you when the pump is not working properly, it is still good to physically check the machine periodically to ensure it is running properly.  With proper sump pump maintenance your sump pump will give you great service for a long time, so give Resolve Rooter a call today if you would like to schedule an appointment!

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Bathtub Replacement: Why You Should Call a East Brunswick Contractor

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

A bathtub replacement in your East Brunswick home is not something you will have to worry about every day. However, there will likely come a time when you do need to get rid of your old tub and put in a new one. Whether your old tub is simply beyond repair or you just decided that it was time for a change, putting in a new bathtub is a significant undertaking.

Even if you have considerable plumbing skills, you would do well to hire an outside contractor to take care of a bathtub replacement or installation project. There are a lot of factors to take into account when you are installing a bathtub in your home, and experienced contractors know what to look for and how to adjust to the various situations that can arise.

For one thing, you will probably have a very hard time physically moving both the old tub being replaced and the new on that needs to go in. And even if you are physically capable of moving this type of heavy equipment, you will still run the risk of damaging other parts of your house in the process. A skilled contractor with a team can much more easily get an old tub out and a new tub in place.

Plus, when you hire a contractor for this type of work, you will most likely not have to worry about how to dispose of your old tub once you are done with it. The majority of contractors will take care of this type of disposal for you, which is a big help since you probably do not want an old bathtub sitting in your yard indefinitely.

Another thing to consider is that the plumbing work needed to properly put a bathtub in place is rather complicated. You need to have relatively advanced plumbing skills in order to carry it out properly. And if you do not manage to complete a proper installation, you will have no end of problems later on. It is well worth the investment to have Resolve Rooter come in and install your bathtub when the alternative is paying for more costly repairs later on.

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Plumbing Basics: Some Pointers from East Brunswick

Friday, November 4th, 2011

There are a lot of pipes, drains, fixtures and appliances in your East Brunswick home carrying out some pretty incredible tasks. For most people, plumbing is just another system that makes their lives easier. But, if something goes wrong, it’s important that you know exactly what to do and for that, you need to know how your system works.

Fundamental Plumbing

Plumbing is based entirely on the properties of gravity and water pressure. A plumbing system has two basic systems – one that brings water in and one that removes that water once you’ve used it. To bring water into your home, it is pressurized. With enough pressure, it can travel against gravity, rising in the pipes to your fixtures.

Every fixture in your home has a valve on it that allows you to shut off the flow of water when making repairs or if there is an emergency. If the emergency is big enough, you can turn the main water supply valve off outside your home as well.

Drainage Systems

While the water coming into your home is relatively simple – pressurized cold water goes directly to the fixtures and hot water comes from your hot water heater – the drainage system is slightly more complicated.

Once water has exited the faucets in your fixtures, it is no longer pressurized so gravity is needed to remove it. Each drain consists of a few basic parts – the flange, tail piece, trap, and drain extension. When you put water down a drain it goes into the trap and flows into the drain extension, eventually to the sewer line.

The trap is designed to always hold a small amount of water so that sewer gasses cannot back up into your fixtures. Vents are installed in your home as well to ensure there is always air in the plumbing system. That air ensures a vacuum doesn’t generate. If it did, water couldn’t flow out of the house. It’s the same as pouring from a small hole in a can – if you poke a hole in the opposite side, it flows much faster because air enters the can to displace the liquid.

Fixing Your Problems

A plumbing system is surprisingly simple to work on if you understand the basics. But, that doesn’t mean a professional isn’t needed for most major jobs. Because a single fixture or pipe can have an impact on the entire system and because water leakage can be incredibly damaging, it is best to call a professional whenever you need a second opinion or are unsure you can handle it on your own.

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