Pipe Gripes - HELP Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Electric

What is America’s Biggest Public Health Threat?

According to water experts, including microbiologist and water research scientist Timothy Ford, America’s drinking water infrastructure is in need of some serious repairs.

Ford, Professor and Department Head of Microbiology at Montana State University, says that despite the many precautions taken to purify the nation’s drinking water, our outdated water distribution systems – underground networks of metal pipes – pose a major public health risk for Americans, even greater than that of a possible terrorist attack.

In accordance with the rigorous water purification standards set by the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, cities and towns across the country spend over $50 billion a year to clean water sourced from lakes, rivers and underground aquifers. 

However, investigations carried out by the National Research Council indicate that efforts to clean up our water supply are not that effective in the absence of a clean water distribution system. The NRC’s research has determined that old, rusty water pipes, especially those in older cities like Boston, Denver, New York and Philadelphia, have the potential to cause chemical or microbial disease outbreaks.

Americans have grown wise to the poor quality of their drinking water: currently, approximately 40 percent of Americans use drinking water filtration products, while many others drink bottled water instead of water from the tap.

Unfortunately, a nationwide water infrastructure overhaul would not be cheap – the estimated cost to replace U.S. water systems ranges from $250 - $350 billion. If we did make these improvements, the price of water would probably rise substantially. Nevertheless, as these systems continue to deteriorate over the next 10 to 20 years, we’ll likely see significant investments to improve our drinking water infrastructure.

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Pipe Gripes is written and published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling

When to Test Your Water

Most of the time, water runs out of our household faucets nice and clear. However, perhaps there has been a time or two that it appears orange or brown. Is it safe to use? Is it okay to drink or take a shower in? It all depends on the reason it’s changed color. Check out the tips below to see if the color of your water is a sign of a bigger problem. 

Brown, red, or yellow water usually comes from rust in the water. Rust in the water can  either come from the water mains or water pipes. Despite what you may think, rust in the water isn’t a threat to your health. However, you might want to be careful when doing laundry, or use a rust stain remover when doing so.

While it isn’t a health hazard, it is a sign the pipes could be corroding and could soon leak.

If the water from the faucet is cloudy or milky looking, there’s a large chance there’s air in the water. To test it, fill a clear glass with water and observe it for a few minutes. If it clears, from the bottom up, it’s because of air in the water. If it doesn’t clear, it’s time to call a professional.

If the water is green, chances are it’s from copper plumbing corrosion. This can be verified through testing. Green water can also be caused by bronze alloys found in pumps or valves, and can be tested for zinc. Another cause for green water could be algae if the water supply is near a river.

Blue water is a sign of extreme copper plumbing corrosion and should be tested.

By this color code, you’ll be able to identify a simple water color change versus a problem that needs to be addressed by a professional.

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Pipe Gripes is written and published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling

Preventing Frozen Pipes

If you’ve been lucky enough to avoid ever having frozen pipes during the winter months, or worse, having a pipe burst because of freezing, you might be doing something right. However, it’s a good idea to put a few things in place to assure that you’ll never have to deal with frozen pipes.

The main causes for frozen pipes are quick drops in the temperature, poor insulation, and thermostats set too low. Keep those things in mind when prepping your pipes for the colder season.

Before the weather starts to turn cold, it’s a good idea to disconnect outdoor hoses. If possible, use an outdoor valve to shut off and drain the water from any pipes leading to the outdoor faucets.

Look for any air leaks around wiring, dryer vents, pipes, or any place that cold air could get in around pipes. Use caulk to seal the air leaks and prevent cold air from causing problems.

Next, insulate pies in the crawl space or the attic, as they are the most susceptible to freeze. Insulation comes in a form that’s easy to wrap, and will protect your pipes from the worst.

If you hear that the temperature is expected to drop, let warm water drip from the faucets along the outside walls of your home. A trickle will keep your pipes from freezing.

Open any cabinet doors that house un-insulated pipes to allow heat to get to them.

Lastly, keep the thermostat set at the same temperature during day and night. Further drops in the temperature, especially overnight when you might not notice, are likely to freeze the pipes.

Following these easy tips will ensure you won’t have to deal with a frozen blockage or a burst pipe this winter.

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Pipe Gripes is written and published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling

Grab a Wrench and Celebrate Fix a Leak Week

That leaky faucet or running toilet is a bigger deal than you think – according to figures from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, over the course of a year, an American household can waste 10,000 gallons of water from running toilets and household leaks. Talk about an expensive and wasteful problem!

To spread awareness about this problem of household leak-related water waste, WaterSense, an EPA partnership program, is promoting the fourth annual “Fix a Leak Week,” which takes place this week, March 12th to 18^th.

Participating in Fix a Leak Week is as easy as taking the pledge on the WaterSense website and following these three simple steps: check for leaks around your home, tighten pipe connections, and replace any leaky fixtures.

Not sure how to check for leaks? Here are some tips:

• Put a couple drops of food coloring in your toilet tank. Wait 15 minutes and check the bowl – if the food coloring has made its way in there, you have a leak.
• Take a look at your winter water usage. If your family of four uses more than 12,000 gallons a month, a serious leak problem is indicated.
• Check your water meter before and after two hours of no water usage. If the meter reading is different the second time you check it, you probably have a leak.
• Get more advice on leak detection from the WaterSense Fix a Leak Week website.

So, you’ve determined that you have a leak. What next?

Well, some leaks can be fixed with inexpensive DIY projects like replacing a worn faucet washer, installing a new toilet flapper, or tightening up your showerhead connection with a wrench and some pipe tape. If you can’t figure out how to fix the leak, can’t find the source of the leak, or you’re not really a DIY kind of person, have a reputable plumber come and check things out.

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Pipe Gripes is written and published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling

The Benefits of Copper Plumbing

While plastic and galvanized steel pipes are cheaper choices for your home plumbing system compared to copper pipes, you can’t beat copper when it comes to quality. Moreover, opting for copper pipes can actually save you money over the long-run.

So, what makes copper pipes so great?

• Copper pipes are durable and fire resistant (unlike plastic pipes).
• Copper resists bacteria growth.
• Virtually every building code accepts copper plumbing.
• Copper pipes are earthquake-tolerant.
• Copper is pliable and can be made to fit just about anywhere.
• Copper pipes increase the resale value of your home.

If you’re contemplating which kind of pipe material is best for the plumbing system of your new home, consider copper. While it costs a little more than plastic or galvanized steel upfront, copper’s durability and other benefits make it the most cost-effective choice in the long run.

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Pipe Gripes is written and published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling