sewer repair tulsa

Plumbing

Save Water With These Plumbing Fixtures

Save Water With These Plumbing Fixtures

A plan for residential water efficiency and conservation should include the installation of water-saving plumbing fixtures.The following list includes some of the more common types of these fixtures and what you should look for when choosing water-saving plumbing equipment for your home.

WaterSense Certification

The WaterSense program is administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and exists to help consumers better understand water efficiency and conservation. Any plumbing fixtures with WaterSense certification have been tested and proven to be water efficient. By using these fixtures you'll be able to reduce your monthly household water consumption and, at the same time, trim your water bill.

Hands-free Faucets

Hands-free faucets do not have standard on-off handles. Instead, they contain a sensor that activates the fixture when you place your hands under the faucet. Water continues to run while your hands are in place. When you remove them from the faucet's proximity, the faucet shuts off in just a few seconds. This helps prevent wasted water and ensures the faucet won't be left on by small children or others who may forget to shut the water off.

Dual-flush Toilets

Dual-flush toilets give you two levels of water use for flushing. The low-water option uses less water and is intended primarily for flushing liquid waste. The higher-water option needs more water to effectively remove solid waste. By using the low-water option more frequently, you'll save water by not being required to use the same amount of water each time the toilet is flushed.

High-efficiency and Low-flow Fixtures

Faucets and toilets are available in styles that automatically use less water than standard models. They provide enough water for the task, but use significantly less of it. Low-flow fixtures, such as aerators and showerheads, restrict water flow, reducing the amount of water available for bathing, cleaning, or similar tasks.

Tulsa and Broken Arrow residents can count on Air Assurance for professional heating and cooling services, including sales, installation, maintenance, and repair. Contact us today for more information on how installing water-saving plumbing fixtures can save substantial amounts of water in your home every month.

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 TOPIC and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “OpenClipart-Vectors/Pixabay”

Plumbing

Tulsa Sewer Drain Clog -- Tame the Roots

Prevent Sewer Problems -- 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”