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Winter preparations can prevent pipes from freezing

admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:57:50 +0000

As the temperature drops, water lines and pipes become vulnerable to freezing, which in turn can lead to cracks, costly leaks and possible water damage to homes. Homeowners are encouraged to take precautionary steps to ensure pipes do not freeze throughout the winter.

In a piece for Home Town Life, Lt. Denny Hughes from the Farmington Hills Fire Department in Michigan said the fire department is accustomed to responding to calls about water damage from frozen pipes. Plastic and copper water pipes can burst in the winter, and an eighth of an inch crack in a pipe can release 250 gallons of water into a home each day it is left untreated. Homeowners' furniture, floors, roofs and valuables can all be damaged from frozen pipes.

Therefore, Hughes recommends homeowners first locate where the master water shut off is in the house, in case of an emergency to stop water from entering the home during a leak. They also should proactively insulate their exposed piping with heat tape to prevent freezing. Leaving one faucet trickling during the cold months can also prevent water from sitting in pipes and freezing.

According to the Red Cross, another way to prevent pipes from freezing is to open cabinet doors to let warm air from inside the home circulate around the pipes to keep them warm.

The Red Cross also warns against water hazards on the road during winter months, as city water mains can freeze and crack. If inclement weather conditions make roads more dangerous, travelers should avoid driving. As a precaution, drivers should always have blankets, a flash light and other emergency tools in case they are on the road and a water hazard presents itself.

Sinkhole in road finally fixed

admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:05:17 +0000

A sinkhole on Patuxtent River Road in Edgewater, Maryland, destroyed two cars in September and created an obstacle for members of the community. The Department of Public Works recently finished fixing the sinkhole and repairing the surrounding area so the street can once again be open to the public.

The Edgewater-Davidsonville Patch reported the sinkhole developed after tropical storm Lee hit the town in September, which left large bodies of water on roads, county fields and local parks. When the sinkhole was discovered, the DPW said it would take several weeks to repair. Months after the storm, residents started to wonder when the road would be safe for travel again. But the sinkhole has been fixed and the DPW added a guardrail to the road for extra security in the future.

Another sinkhole was found in Plant City, Florida, causing costly repairs to the local community. Two years after the sinkhole was found, Plant City crews are being reimbursed for the associated costs, Tampa Bay Online reported.

Plant City commissioners approved an agreement between City Manager Greg Horwedel and the Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration for $727,286 for the repairs. The payment will cover all costs the city incurred when it shored up unstable soil from the sinkhole that depressed the pavement of a major street, the source reported.

Boiler leak at Montana aquatic center leads to replacement

admin — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:53:53 +0000

Residents who frequent the Bogert Pool in Montana will likely be glad to know a replacement boiler was installed after a leak in the pool center's previous boiler sprung a leak, and the facility will be open for the remainder of the summer, the Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports.

According to the newspaper, the pool will open in time for some of the warmest weather the state has seen this year after crews at the facility replaced the problematic boiler.

Bozeman Aquatic director Dan McCarthy told the Daily Chronicle staff needed time to train for pool safety, which forced officials to open the swimming pool two weeks later than planned.

While the boiler issue was fixed, more repair work is necessary for the pool, officials told the paper. At the end of summer, the pool's shell and gutters will be repaired as necessary to prevent issues, such as leaks and cracks.

Officials in Bozeman are more concerned with flooding issues, as the city and other nearby communities have dealt with high waters this year, due in part to heavy rains.

Burst sprinkler pipe floods Cleveland parking garage

admin — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 21:30:16 +0000

A failed air compressor in a Cleveland parking garage set off a chain reaction that caused a significant water leak, flooding the garage along with several cars that were parked inside.

According to WKYC-TV, a broken belt on an air compressor caused the garage's fire sprinkler system to malfunction. Then, cold temperatures ruptured a pop fitting, which dumped thousands of gallons of water in the garage, which completely flooded at least seven cars.

A tow truck driver who pulled the vehicles out of the water told the station that all of the electrical systems inside are probably damaged beyond repair.

"We will be working with each of [the affected residents] individually to make sure that they are made whole as quickly as possible," the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority's CEO, George Phillips-Olivier, told the station.

The station says the problem was first reported by a resident early Thursday morning. It's unknown exactly when the pipe failed.

More similar issues may be popping in the city over the next few days. Wednesday, meteorologists told Reuters that the area would likely see temperatures about 15 to 20 degrees colder than normal for at least several days.

Water Infrastructure: The Unseen Crisis

Josh Butler — Tue, 25 May 2010 17:56:36 +0000

As we see the obvious disasters occur, such as the BP oil spill, or the ash clouds from the Icelandic volcano, it seems that we have so many crises inundating our mass consciousness on a daily basis. What about the under reported, the de-prioritized (by the MSM) issues? Are they still relevant? Are they still tremendously impactful to our way of life? Check out the excerpt below to learn a bit more about our unseen crisis.

Steven R. Loranger – Chairman, President and CEO, ITT Corporation

Simply put, the world is running out of water – and people are feeling the impact, and the consequences. Although clean, drinkable water is among the most fundamental human needs, less than 1 percent of the world’s water is safe to drink. Freshwater withdrawals are predicted to increase by 50 percent in developing countries and 18 percent in developed countries by the year 2025. In a world where every drop counts, we must invest in the infrastructure needed to conserve clean water and prevent what is already a global shortage from becoming a crisis.

Typical problems that cause bad odors in buildings include

Josh Butler — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:40:29 +0000

construction default
no existing tie-ins
bad wax rings on toilets
cracks in pipe
poor seal on cleanout caps

Do you have any of these problems?

Blocked or collapsed sewer line
Root intrusion
Location of sewer line or septic tank is unknown
No sewer line clean out
Continuous foul sewer odor in your building

Pipeline Video Inspection

Pipeline video inspections identify which issue you may be having. If your sewer line is blocked, we can find out what the source of the problem is, and provide video documentation to you.

Can my large pond be tested for leaks?

Josh Butler — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:10:27 +0000

Absolutely. Modern leak detection technology has made it possible to test even large water holding structures such as ponds and fountains. Not every company is equipped or experienced enough to handle large pond leak detection work, but there are companies out there that specialize in this kind of work.

Depending on the amount of water loss, the size of the recirculating system, and the condition of the pond interior, a good leak detection company should be able to give you a summary of all the work involved and a reasonable estimate for the leak detection.

Should you have your plumbing repiped?

Josh Butler — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 16:10:04 +0000

While it is true that plumbing can deteriorate with time, we do not generally recommend replacing all of the plumbing in your home due to the cost. When you talk about repiping a home, you have to consider that you will spend a considerable amount of money on the repipe work alone. In addition to the cost of the repipe, there is additional expense associated with the restoration work that is required on the walls that the pipes are plumbed in and through. Locating and repairing the leak is more typically around $1,000, much less than a repipe.

There are occasions when a full repipe is a good choice. For instance, we would strongly consider a repipe if there had been several leaks on the same line in a short period of time. The objective of quality leak detection is to identify the problem first and proceed to choose the best, most cost effective, and least destructive repair method.

If you want to make the best choice, you should have all of your options before you. What if the leak is outside the home? By taking incomplete advice, you might pay for a repipe of the indoor plumbing and still have the leak problem. If a company is not willing to provide you with accurate, valid information about the leak location and some reasonable repair offers, you should be concerned with the soundness of their advice.

Leak Expert Says, “Every Drop Counts”

Josh Butler — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:14:29 +0000

Leak Expert Says, “Every Drop Counts”: American Leak Detection recognizes Earth Day by showing people how they can conserve water in their homes

Palm Springs-based Company Offering Non-invasive Pipe Protection to Home and Businessowners

Josh Butler — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 20:16:24 +0000

Palm Springs-based Company Offering Non-invasive Pipe Protection to Home and Businessowners: American Leak Detection Adds Innovative e-PIPE® Technology To Menu of Services