Posts Tagged ‘Stroudsburg’

When to Call Your Wilkes Barre Plumber

Monday, April 9th, 2012

Many aspects of plumbing around simple fixtures are easy repairs for the homeowner who likes to be handy.  Videos on the internet have made most simple repairs even easier by showing step-by-step processes to get them done.

Some projects obviously are more complicated and require the special skills and knowledge that only years of experience can provide.  Especially when water is gushing out and you don’t know where the main shut-off is located, the damage that can intensify minute by minute should be mitigated by calling in the expert Wilkes Barre plumber.

A Fix in Time

There are some repairs that are simple enough for the average homeowner to handle. If you have had a little experience with plumbing repair, you might be able to fix a leaky faucet and clogged garbage disposal. You should alsoWilkes Barre Plumbing Repair know how to shut off your main water supply in case something starts to flood your home.

Slightly more experienced DIY homeowners can replace their own toilets, install an under the counter water filtration system, or put on a new shower head. As long as you can follow instructions and have some basic tools, these tasks can be accomplished without too much trouble. But for the more complicated projects or if you haven’t had a lot of experience fixing your own plumbing, calling a plumber is almost always the best option.

When to call a Wilkes Barre Plumber

When something has broken and is causing serious flooding, whether or not you can find the main shut-off, it still probably makes sense to call a Wilkes Barre plumber to get the repairs made quickly and correctly.  For much less emergent situations, plumbing can still be a tricky sport to find the right size fittings so getting a plumber with a truck full of odd parts can cost a little money but save a lot of aggravation and return trips to the local hardware store to exchange the 5/8 male coupling with gasket you expected it to be for the 3/4 female that was needed.

For any project that requires a permit, a licensed plumber makes good sense who knows the proper codes and intricacies of supplies, drains and venting so the work will pass inspection.  Replacing larger items like a hot water heater, shower unit or sink are far simpler for professionals to wrestle.

Any problems with the hot water baseboard or radiant heat systems are better left to plumbers to fix who know how to properly bleed and refill the pipes to flow without air bubbles.  If there is a problem with the sewer main inside or outside the house, a plumber will be better equipped to cut and repair the pipes (as well as deal with the mess).

Because of their lethal risks, gas lines to appliances must be installed and connected by a certified technician which many plumbers are.

Ultimately, if you have any doubt about your abilities, even though you’re playing with water, a mistake can make a big mess.  Call Resolve Rooter if you are having problems with your home’s plumbing!

Photo from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/herzogbr/2869244594/

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Wilkes Barre Sump Pump Installation Tip

Wednesday, March 21st, 2012

Many homes in the Wilkes Barre area require sump pumps to keep their basements dry. Wilkes Barre sump pumps are placed in pits or “sumps” in the basement floor. When the basement floods, it starts at the lowest point, which is the sump. As the sump fills with water, the pump is automatically activated and begins to suck the water out of the sump and discharge it to a drain or a line leading away from the house before it can flood the basement.

 How Sump Pumps Work

The pump’s base has openings to allow water to flow into it. When water fills the sump it also fills the interior of the pump. When the water reaches a certain level it triggers a floating switch that activates an electric motor. The motor spins a metal shaft immersed in the water at the bottom of the pump. The shaft is attached to an impeller, which resembles a small, sideways water wheel.

As the impeller spins at high speed it whirls the water away from the center of the pump, forcing it into a discharge pipe that rises up out of the sump. The discharge pipe connects to a length of hose or pipe that empties the water into a sink or outside the foundation of the house. As the water is forced out of the pump it creates a vacuum that pulls more water into the pump and out of the sump. The impeller keeps spinning and pumping water into the collecting pipe until the water level inside the pump – and the sump – allows the float switch to drop low enough to shut the motor off.

 Types of Sump Pumps

There are pedestal sump pumps and submersible sump pumps. In pedestal pumps, the motor assembly is above the base of the pump and the impeller, and doesn’t contact the water. The activation switch for the motor is attached to a long shaft with the float on the other end that drops into the water. As the water rises, it pushes the shaft up and activates the switch. Submersible pumps are smaller units with the motor, activation switch, and impeller all on one level. The motor compartment is waterproof. Either style pump is usually connected to the house electric circuit. But some Wilkes Barre homeowners connect them to backup battery power supplies so the pump will work in the event of a severe storm and power outage.

Which Wilkes Barre Homes Need Sump Pumps

Every homeowner in should understand the concept of the water table. Simply put, the water table is the permanently saturated layer of soil, sand, or rock below most of the surface of the Earth. In some places it’s hundreds of feet below the ground, but in most areas it’s much closer to the surface. In temperate or seasonal areas, the depth of the water table can rise and fall.

The foundations of homes in the Wilkes Barre area are built above the water table. But seasonal fluctuations and heavy precipitation can cause the water table to expand upwards. If a basement isn’t completely waterproof, and few basements are, the water will seep in. Land near rivers, streams, and wetlands tends to have a very high water table, so homes built in those areas are particularly susceptible to flooding.

Although most basements are not waterproof, they should be able to withstand an occasional increase in the saturation of the soil around and beneath the house. A permanently damp basement could indicate that the foundation is close enough to the water table to prevent the basement from ever completely drying out. Rather than installing a dehumidifier, installing your Wilkes Barre sump pump may provide a better solution.

For more information about having a sump pump installed in your Wilkes Barre home, please give Resolve Rooter a call today!

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Stroudsburg Plumbing Repair Guide: Common Toilet Problems

Monday, February 6th, 2012

The toilet is one of our most important parts of your Stroudsburg home’s plumbing. But it also prone to its fair share of problems. Let’s take a look at some common toilet problems and how to fix them.

  1. Running
    Perhaps the most common of toilet annoyances is the constantly running toilet. Not only is the sound irritating, but it can result in high water bills and cause your septic tank to overflow.  Fortunately, it is simple to diagnose and fix. Just look into the tank at the flapper. If it is not seated properly, adjust the chain to give more slack. If that doesn’t solve the problem, the flapper may be worn and need to be replaced.
  1. Slow draining bowl
    A weak flush is usually caused by clogged flush holes, which are underneath the rim of the bowl. Clearing these holes will fix the problem.
  1. Phantom flush
    Although it won’t actually flush, sometimes you may hear the tank spontaneously start to refill as though someone has just flushed. This just means the water is leaking out of the tank, which can usually be fixed with a new flapper, as with problem #1.
  1. Suction sounds
    If you flush the toilet and hear sucking or gurgling sounds emanating from the tub or sink, that usually indicates a clogged vent pipe. Such clogs usually originate in the roof, such as a dead bird falling into vent pipe up there. You may be best served by calling a plumber to fix this one, in order to avoid making the problem larger.
  1. Clogged or overflowing
    Lastly, of course, is the clogged or overflowing toilet. While wearing gloves and holding your nose, use a plunger or pipe snake to clear the drain. If that doesn’t get it done, the clog may be too large to handle without professional equipment, so you had better call a plumber.

For any problems with your plumbing, call Resolve Rooter today for expert plumbing repair!

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Why You Might Need Video Inspection for Your Stroudsburg Home’s Water or Sewer Line?

Wednesday, November 30th, 2011

When you suspect a problem in your pipes, the first thing you should do is call for an inspection. Never assume you need a new pipe line installed or that your Stroudsburg house is about to be flooded. It could be as simple as a small crack that can be sealed easily or a clog from excess food and grease being put down the drain.

In the past, inspection was a hit or miss process. Using trial and error a plumber would attempt to determine the source of the problem. However, with modern trenchless technology and the low cost of video equipment, it is now possible to look inside the pipe and see what the problem is directly.

How Video Inspection Works

The process varies depending on the length of pipe that needs to be inspected. For instance, for a sewer line or water line, a small hole is dug to access the pipe. However, inside this may not be necessary depending on where your plumber suspects the problem originates.

That said, pipe inspection is most commonly needed for underground lines that cannot be accessed without some digging. Instead of digging up the pipe completely, a video line can be used to check for specific problems.

Once your plumber has access to the pipe line, they will insert the video inspection unit and check for things like roots, clogs, leaks, and cracks. This is such a powerful tool because instead of guessing where the problem is located and repairing based on those assumptions, your plumber can now be 100% sure of the problem and solve it accordingly.

The process is relatively simple and it saves a tremendous amount of money when pipe replacement is not needed. In some cases, a simple repair or high speed jetting solves the problem and the homeowner is left with a modest bill instead of a five figure punch to the gut. Whether a video inspection is right for you depends on the problems you are having, but the only way to be sure is to call a professional and discuss your observations.

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Sump Pump Maintenance: Some Pointers from Stroudsburg

Friday, October 28th, 2011

A good sump pump is the only thing standing between you and a basement full of water, so it makes sense to implement a good maintenance plan for your pump. A lot of Stroudsburg homeowners don’t even think about their sump pumps, however, probably because they are buried out of sight, but the only way to know for sure that it will work when you need it most is to keep it in good operating condition. Here are some tips to help you do just that:

  • Check the GFCI – Your sump pump should be plugged into a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI). This is a special outlet that keeps the system from getting waterlogged. If it gets damp, it shuts down, turning off your sump pump. Unfortunately, GFCIs can be faulty or break, so check it regularly to make sure it is always on.
  • Upright Operation – If you have a standing sump pump, make sure it stays upright and doesn’t fall over when operating. These things can move a lot and if they do fall over, they may not pump properly.
  • Test it Regularly – Pour water into the sump pit when empty to make sure it will work when needed. Most people who need emergency service could have pinpointed the problem weeks or months earlier if they had known the system was broken.
  • Check the Outlet Pipes – Check the outlet pipes regularly for leaks or damage. If they start leaking back into the foundation, they can cause damage or leakage into the basement.
  • Clean the Grate – Submersible pumps are often left to sit in their pits for months or even years without cleaning. At least once a year, remove the sump pump from its pit and clean away any gunk that’s built up. Stones or debris in the pump can break the motor if left unchecked.

A good sump pump is all that stands between your home and a boat load of water whenever it rains. To keep your home clean and dry, check your pump often and if necessary, call someone for routine maintenance.

Most of the problems that pop up with sump pumps can be avoided entirely if they are maintained on an annual basis. Sometimes you may need to call a professional for advanced cleaning or part replacement. If so, try and do so before the raining season starts.

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