Prevent Drain Pipes From Freezing

prevent frozen drains - tulsa ok

If you have any property in the northern climate zones, that are going to be left uninhabited during the winter months, you must drain pipes to prevent freezing. Although not a very difficult task, it can be a bit tedious because you have to be sure that most, if not all, of the water has been purged to prevent damage to the pipes.When you drain pipes to prevent freezing, make sure the main water supply valve has been turned off first, and it is usually located in the basement or a crawl space next to the water meter. Once the water has been turned off, you can proceed.

• Always start on the top floor. Water runs down with gravity, so drain pipes to prevent freezing on the upper floor first.

• Turn on all faucets. Any leftover pressure will force water out of these fixtures.

• Drain toilet tanks and bowls. Flush the toilets repeatedly until all of the tank water is drained. If possible, scoop out as much of the toilet bowl water that you can. If that can't be done, pour in a cup of biodegradable RV anti-freeze into the bowl. This will keep the left over water from freezing.

• Drain your hot water tank. Turn off the gas or electric power first, than drain the tank fully. A siphon effect will pull out most of the leftover hot and cold water from the pipes.

• Drain pipes. There are two things you can do for drain pipes. You can send compressed air into each drain to force the water out. If you don't have an air compressor, you can pour biodegradable RV anti-freeze into each drain. Doing either one of these will ensure that your drain pipes won't freeze and rupture.

By following these simple tips, you'll have peace of mind knowing that your pipes will be intact and problem free next time they are used.

If you need more information about draining your pipes, please feel free to contact Air Assurance. We've been serving the  Broken Arrow and Tulsa area since 1985.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Paul-Tessier/Shutterstock”

Tulsa Water Heater Repair & Replacement Services

TULSA WATER HEATER REPAIR SERVICES

If your water heater doesn’t seem to be delivering as much hot water in the winter, it may not have anything to do with cold temperatures. Fresh water does cool off in the winter, but if your water heating appliance is fully functional, the incoming temperature shouldn’t matter .Most problems with heating water occur when the heater:

Needs flushing.

The most common cause of high water heating bills and premature tank failure are the hard water deposits that collect at the bottom of the tank. A few won’t interfere with water heating, but if there are too many, the heating process will slow, especially in gas water heaters. A gas water heater heats from the bottom only, and when that surface is covered with hard water deposits, there won’t be as much hot water.Most electric units have two heating elements. One sits close to the bottom of the tank and the other near the top. If the bottom is covered with solids, the water won’t heat as well. One of the heating elements may also not be working and needs replacing.

Has a broken dip tube.

The dip tube is made from plastic that can become brittle and break over time. This tube connects to the cold water inlet and sends the water to the bottom of the tank where it heats up. If it’s broken, the cold water stays at the top of the tank and the water you get won’t feel as hot.

Needs insulation to combat cold temperatures.

If the tank feels hot to the touch, consider wrapping an insulation blanket around it to keep the heat inside longer.

Is too small.

If your family size has changed, someone’s taking longer showers, or you’re washing more clothes in hot water might force you to install a bigger water heater.Some of these water heater maintenance tasks might be better done by a pro. If you’d like assistance, contact Air Assurance, providing HVAC and plumbing services for Broken Arrow.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

Tulsa Sewer Drain Clog -- Tame the Roots

Sewer problems come from two sources, broken sewer lines and clogs. Both of these can be caused by tree roots infiltrating your existing lateral line (the pipe that connects the house to the main city sewer line). Prevent sewer problems by keeping tree roots out. This will virtually eliminate clogging.

Tree roots naturally seek out water underground. Since lateral lines are a constant source of water, it's no surprise that they find their way into the pipes. Older lateral lines were made of clay pipe that is very easy for tree roots to grow through. These lines also had joints where roots didn't have to work nearly as hard to enter. Newer lateral lines are made from fewer pieces and are composed of UPVC (unplasticized  polyvinylchloride) which is almost impenetrable by even the strongest willow roots.

Replacing your current sewer line with a UPVC one to prevent sewer problems is the best choice. A trenchless sewer replacement will destroy the existing sewer line and replace it without digging up your yard. There is just one hole at the lateral line junction with the main city line and one at the exit point of the house. The old pipe is broken and pushed into the surrounding soil with a bursting head and the new one is drawn into the void. It takes a few hours and leaves no sign it was done.

If you can't afford a full trenchless sewer replacement to eliminate your root issue, there is another option. You can use a chemical root retarder (copper sulfate or potassium hydroxide) to prevent root growth. Some plumbing companies also offer a proprietary blend of their own that does the same thing.

When you are considering landscaping, plant large trees at least 30 feet away from your drain line. This will prevent roots from seeking out your sewer line.

A bit of knowledge and some pre-planning can help you prevent sewer problems in the future. If you are currently having sewer issues, please contact Air Assurance in Broken Arrow today. We can help you get your drains running fast again.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Viktor Gladkov/Shutterstock”