The Dangers of Polybutylene Pipes
If your home or office was built in the 1980’s, it’s likely that polybutylene water pipe was used. It was a popular material because it was a faster and cheaper alternative to copper or PVC pipe. It is suspected that the rate of failure was high in homes with this type of piping because oxidants like chlorine used in municipal water supplies reacts with the pipes and fittings, which then causes the material to scale, flake and become brittle. This can result in breaks or leaks that compromise the integrity of the entire system and could possibly flood your home.
5 Things You Should Never Flush Down the Toilet
Are you a flushing offender? Do you play by the public bathroom rules or do you ignore the signs? The signs that kindly ask us NOT to flush certain products down the toilet. Just because it goes down the drain, doesn’t mean it is meant to be. Constant use, paired with short water supply and…
If Your Garbage Disposal Could Talk
Whoever invented the garbage disposal was a genius, am I right? It simplifies our lives and provides an easy way to dispose of food scraps. The problem is, not everything should be put down a garbage disposal. If a garbage disposal isn’t used properly, the chances are pretty good that it will break down or…
Is your home ready for spring?
Whether your home is a year-round delight, vacation rental or your very own slice of paradise in the summer, you want to be ahead of the game when it comes to preparing your home for the warmer months. Similar to spring cleaning, spring is the best time to give your home a quick once-over to…
All About Septic Tanks
“Private Sewage” means you have your own septic or sewage system. Essentially a septic tank is a large concrete vault that measures 8’x4’x4′. It is normally buried 4″ to 24″ below the surface of the ground. The tank is divided into two chambers which performs a separation of solids from liquids. Water or effluent enters…
Tips for Saving Energy and Water
There are various ways to conserve energy and water around your home. Take a look at some of our top tips: Low volume toilets: An average toilet is used 6 times a day; using water saver toilets can save up to 13 gallons a day verses units installed before 1994. A leaking or “running toilet”…
Winterizing your Plumbing System
It gets cold on the Outer Banks, freezing cold! Some folks believe that it is too warm to freeze here, this is a misconception. It can and does freeze in these areas, that is why we highly recommend winterizing your home for the winter months. We offer winterizing for plumbing systems. Winterizing plumbing systems: Shut…
Ins and Outs of Polybutylene Piping
Polybutylene piping, also known as “poly” or “quest” piping is a plastic piping system used for water distribution systems in houses and some commercial buildings. Popular in the late 70’s through the mid 90’s, this product offered quick, clean, low skill installation. It greatly cut down on building plumbing cost. Turns out, there were problems….