What are the benefits of a pump station? Should you have one also?

This week we were called out to investigate a possible issue with a pump station. The customer made us aware that the pump seemed to be full and possibly leaking. What is a pump station and why would you need one?

A pump station is a tank where your drains go which will pump sewage uphill to a city tap. Why are these used? These are used when a home sits lower than the city sewer. At times, you cannot rely on gravity for your sewage to flow into the city system.

These pumps on average can last between 10-20 years. Annual maintenance, inspection and grease breakup are also beneficial in extending the life of a pump station. Below are some before and after pictures of replacing the pump station.

Improvise, adapt and overcome

We had a customer reach out to us with complaints about issues with not getting hot water. Our technician arrived and was quick to diagnose the issue. The issue was their tankless water heater’s computer board was fried. So, what’s the next step if this is the case?

Our technician found that replacement was the best option. However, the new unit was not going to fit into the original box that was built for the old tankless heater. Our technician had to adapt and mount the new unit over the box to restore the hot water in the home in a timely manner. Our technicians are always willing and able to improvise, adapt and overcome.

Tropical Storm Debby Closing

Due to the onslaught of heavy rain that Tropical Storm Debby is bringing to our area, we are making the preemptive decision to close our office today Thursday August 8, 2024. We plan to do our part and stay off the roads in light of this torrential rain. No reason to place our employees, equipment and others at risk. Flooding and power outages are to be expected.

We will be accepting calls for Emergency Services ONLY. This means if you are unable to use your bathroom facilities, or have an interior uncontained water leak, and the water is unable to be shut off.

  • Clogged kitchen drains, tub drains, washing machines are NOT emergencies.
  • No hot water, is NOT an emergency.

All non-emergent calls will be scheduled for Friday or next week. We do hope that you understand.
We also hope that you and your families remain safe.

Our office will reopen at 8:00 AM on Friday August 9, 2024.

Rerouting back wash? No problem!

A customer wanted his water softener to flow into the woods instead of the septic or the ground next to the house. Why did he decide to make this change? He had discovered that the discharge was killing the grass. Did you know that discharge can also affect your septic system? This water could kill beneficial bacteria that is in your septic tank. Look at the pictures below. As you can see this required a lot of digging for our guys, but of course they are always up for the challenge.

Water Heater Maintenance

Is having your water heater inspected yearly important? The answer is: yes! It’s important to have your water heater inspected and flushed yearly, especially tankless water heaters. Why is this important? Age and moisture over time can cause corrosion. What issues can moisture corrosion cause? Moisture corrosion can cause several different issues; one being water leaks. Leaks/flooding can cause further damage to your home especially if your water heater is in an attic or in another area of your home. Hot water failure as well as electrical fires can be caused by moisture corrosion. Gas water heaters should also be checked yearly to ensure proper ventilation. Proper ventilation is a must to ensure that you avoid possible carbon monoxide from entering your home. Take a look at the photos below. These are examples of water heaters that have corroded or have started leaking. Call our office at 704-857-1600 to schedule your yearly water heater maintenance.

Old Sewer Lines Create Sewer Backups

Some older homes still have red terra cotta clay tile piping for their sewer drain system. This can create quite a problem as the piping deteriorates with age. Also, with so many joints, it leaves gaps for roots to grow in continuously. This home had just such a case. Just about every joint on this clay sewer line was filled with invading roots. Thankfully, we now have products like PVC piping that has a lifespan of up to 100 years!!

That’s exactly what this customer received. A new PVC sewer line. Problem free for years to come!