Before Your Home is Under Water Learn to Prevent Water Damage

Water damage is the biggest culprit behind a weakened foundation in your Broken Arrow home. Oklahoma homes that have extensive water damage can find that the very core of their home has become compromised. You know about core strength for your body? When water damage penetrates the core strength of your home, you are left with serious structural damage. Damp wood is attractive to wood-eating carpenter ants and termites, and creates an environment highly suitable for mold and mildew growth.

To prevent water damage from occurring in your home, consider the following key steps:

1. Ensure good drainage. Water that doesn't properly drain will settle in undesirable locations, causing cracks, weakening your foundation, and creating liquid pathways into your home. Ensure water properly drains by:

   • Regularly cleaning gutters.

   • Be sure downspouts direct water at least 5-10 feet away from your home.

   • Your yard should be sloped a minimum of 6 inches over a 10-foot span from your home. This natural sloping prevents water from seeping next to your foundation.

2. Regularly test your sump pump. This is especially important in late spring and early summer, when afternoon heat build-up creates the conditions prime for heavy thunderstorms. It's important to have a correctly working sump pump when those storms bring about heavy rainfall in order to prevent water damage to your home. To test your sump pump:

   • Fill your sump pump pit slowly with water. The "float" should begin to rise and automatically turn on the pump. The water left should begin to fall.

   • Unplug your main pump and check the backup unit.

3. Check for water leaks and repair as needed. Persistent and unresolved leaks lead to foundation rot, mold and mildew, and wood-loving pests like termites and carpenter ants. The quicker you fix a leak, the lower your risk for long-term damage. Check for leaks by:

   • Inspecting for for dark spots underneath plumbing, ceiling stains, drips and rocking toilets.

   • Annually inspecting your roof for any damaged shingles and/or deteriorating caulking.

To learn more about how to prevent water damage, contact Broken Arrow and surrounding Oklahoma Broken Arrow  HVAC experts at Air Assurance.

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).

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Top 4 Plumbing Emergencies and How to Prevent, Fix Them

Some of the most common plumbing problems can be prevented or fixed by the average homeowner. Here are the top four plumbing emergencies that you can handle on your own.

Clogs

A simple plunger can be used to force most clogs down a toilet, sink or tub. The key is suction. For a toilet you simply have to place a plunger over the drain and pump until the clog is clear. For sinks and tubs, you need to block the air escapes with a wet towel to ensure a vacuum is created. If the clog can't be dislodged with a plunger, you can use a hand cranked snake to cut through the clog material. If it is a sink, you can remove the drain trap beneath the sink and clear it manually.

Leaky Faucet

Faucets generally leak from the handle. This is a sign that the o-ring is broken. Turn off the water to the faucet and remove the cover from the faucet. Pull out the faucet stem assembly to reveal the o-ring. Remove the o-ring and replace it with a new one. Replace the stem assembly and faucet cover.

Leaky Toilet

Toilets can leak from the base or from the reservoir tank. A leak at the base indicates a broken wax seal. To replace it, turn off the water to the toilet, take out the two screws that hold the base down and lift away the toilet. Scrape away the remaining wax and place a new wax ring. Then replace the toilet and re-tighten the screws.

A leaking reservoir is usually due to a bad flapper seal. This is the seal that is attached to the flush mechanism. Clean the area around the flapper. If the flapper is damaged, you'll have to install a new one. Most just snap in place.

Broken Pipes

Broken pipes will need to be professionally replaced but you can stop the leak until the repair is done. Wrap the leak in duct tape or a pipe patch kit.

If you have larger plumbing emergencies, or just want a professional to take care of these for you, contact Air Assurance, satisfying our Broken Arrow customers 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). 

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

Sewer Problems? Check Out the Top 3 Reasons

Sewer Problems? Check Out the Top 3 Reasons

Water leaks and backed up water are among the most common sewer problems in Oklahoma homes. If you try to use your tub, toilet or sink and find that water isn’t draining the way you expect it to, one of these top three reasons could be the cause.

Drain blockage

This is the most common cause for all sewer problems. A blocked drain is most likely the reason behind backed up water if the issue affects an individual drain. Your options include clearing the blockage yourself or seeking the help of a professional plumber.

Help prevent drain blockage in the future by doing the following:

• Only flush human waste and toilet paper (even tissues and paper towels can clog the toilet)

• Never pour grease down the drain

• Place strainers in tub drains and sinks without garbage disposals

Cracked or collapsed lines

Old pipes have a tendency to crack or even completely collapse. Sewer problems generating from this cause require professional help. While images of digging equipment in your yard may come to mind, look into no-dig technology to fix the problem.

Tree roots

Finicky toilets that clog for no reason or sinks that always drain slowly could be caused by tree roots. Over time, roots can wreak havoc on a sewer system by growing around pipes and crushing them. They can even grow through pipes and cause clogging and backed up water.

Only trust a professional plumber to take care of tree root problems. Ask for a thorough investigation of the sewer problems, which may include video inspection, so you can make an informed decision regarding what types of repairs are necessary.

Be sure the professionals you hire understand that it’s only appropriate to remove roots in late winter/early spring before the trees bud. After all, haphazard cuts could damage or kill the trees on your property.

To learn more about identifying and solving sewer problems, please contact Air Assurance in Broken Arrow today. We opened our doors in 1985, and today we’re proud to serve the Tulsa metropolitan area with our team of more than 60 qualified members.

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).  Image courtesy of Shutterstock

Plumbing Problems: Find Yours on This List

Plumbing Problems: Find Yours on This List

There’s no good time to have plumbing problems, and chances are one will strike at the least convenient time possible. If you’re experiencing a problem in your Oklahoma home, you should contact a plumber right away. However, what do you do before the plumber arrives? Browse this list of plumbing problems to see how to immediately handle the situation.

• Smell of natural gas: Evacuate your home immediately without using a phone or any other electrical source, as this could cause a spark. Only call the gas company once you’re safely outside.

• Leak in the yard: Locate the water meter and shut off the valve on the outlet side.

• Leak from an unknown interior location: Until you identify exactly what’s causing the leak, shut off the water to the house. Since a condensate drain overflow could cause the problem, turn the air conditioner up to 82 degrees to minimize operation until the plumber arrives.

• Leak from the water heater: Shut off the inlet valve on the water heater, and turn off the gas or electricity providing power to the water heater.

• Toilet overflowing: Shut off the inlet valve behind the toilet and open the sewer clean-out plug on the outside of your home. Remove any soiled rugs and mop up the mess as best as you can with rags.

• Bubbling sounds from first-floor drains: Do not operate any water fixtures upstairs, since it’s possible a sewer or drain stoppage is what’s causing the problem. Open the sewer clean-out plug outside the home and await a plumber’s instructions.

• Kitchen sink stopped up: If the disposal is broken and the kitchen sink is backed up, open the clean-out plug outside your home and wait for the plumber to arrive.

• Flame or char marks visible on your gas water heater: Shut off the fuel source and discontinue hot water usage until the problem is addressed.

If you’re experiencing these or other plumbing problems, please contact Air Assurance Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing today. We have proudly provided exceptional HVAC services to the Broken Arrow community 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).  Image courtesy of Shutterstock