Why Are Tree Roots So In Love With Your Sewer Pipes?

 

It’s February, and Valentine’s Day is here! That means that love is in the air! Love apparently is also in the ground, too, because when you go down in the basement, you are greeted with a horrifying sight. Water. Standing water near the drain.

As you bail out the water, you may think, “Why me? Why has my basement flooded? It was just a little rainstorm!”

Well, the answer to your questions is simple. Your trees’ roots just can’t keep away from those attractive sewer pipes of yours!

But don’t fret – this is a very common problem. As you may know, roots from any plant thrive on water and are determined to find it wherever they can, especially when there’s a lack of precipitation in your area. That only means one thing – those roots are gunning for your sewer pipes!

And what tree root WOULDN’T love sewer pipes? They offer all that a tree root could ever need and want – nutrients, oxygen, and of course, water! So beware – roots can do far-reaching damage to your sewer pipes if you let them!

So how do those sneaky tree roots find your precious sewer pipes? Trees have an extensive root system, especially the older trees, and those roots are a conductor for the tree’s nutrition, so they are always seeking out food. If you have pipes that are leaking (and by leaking, we mean pipes that have fissures or loose or damaged joints or cracks), then the water flow through the damaged pipes will produce a vapor that will escape through the warmer soil surrounding the pipe. Roots will take note and grow toward that source of vapor.

Here’s the scary part – if you leave those roots to their own devices, they will continue to grow inside your pipes. Eventually, they’ll block and break your sewer pipes, and as they grow, they will catch any form of matter they come in contact with. That includes things like hair, tissue paper, and grease.

Are you scared yet? No need to be! You can prevent those pesky roots from entering and damaging your sewer pipes! Here’s what you can do:

*Be aware of the location of your sewer pipes and cleanout. That’s half the battle!

*Don’t plant any trees, shrubs, or anything with large root systems near your pipes. A good rule of thumb to abide by is to plant your trees at least 10 feet away from the pipes and cleanout.

*Be sure to schedule regular maintenance to have your sewer pipes checked out. This sort of situation requires constant, thorough maintenance to function at a high level. If you fail to keep up regular maintenance and cleaning, you could have expensive repairs and a big mess on your hands.

Are you having trouble with your tree roots and sewer pipes? It’s not too late! Call us here at Tiger Plumbing at 1-866-TIGER70, and we’ll get you set on the right track.

Little Leaks Can Cause Big Problems!

 

Christmas has come and gone, and so has the holiday shopping season! You’ve sworn to not spend another penny for the next few months. You’re about ready to stock up on ramen noodles and pasta when you look at your water bill…

Thank goodness you were sitting down when you were looking at your bill because the price has drastically jumped and, oddly enough, for no good reason! Before you panic, take a look around your house. In fact, take a listen around your house, too.

Have you found any leaks in your home?

While individual drops of water won’t seem very wasteful at first glance, consider how much all those little drops of water can turn into. Wasted drops can easily turn into wasted gallons, which can also result into a lot of your money going down the drain.

Consider this: If you experience, say, 259,200 drops of wasted water from your leaky faucets per day, that equals 64 liters of wasted water (that is, 17 gallons) PER DAY. That will wind up turning into 6,248 gallons of water lost per year. That means that you’ll have wasted 124 baths each year! And don’t even think about the hundreds of dollars you’re losing per month. You can kiss those Christmas presents for your family good-bye this year!  (Oh, and just for fun, check out this cool water-waste calculator to see how much water you could be wasting right now.)

Another cost to consider is the damage that any leaks may do to your home. Water running down the drain is pennies wasted; however, water leaking onto your floor or into the walls may cause thousands of dollars in damage repairs. There’s no doubt about it – those leaks need to be fixed, STAT!

In fact, did you know that, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, an average American home wastes more than roughly 10,000 gallons of water every year? And guess what caused all the waste? That’s right – dripping faucets, dripping toilets, and other leaks around the house!

For the most part, leaks are easy to fix and can save you hundreds of dollars in wasted water.

If you want to fix your leaky faucet, be sure to first and foremost turn off the water under the sink or faucet and close the sink drain. You can cover the drain with a rag if need be. Before you get to fixing your leak, be sure to tape the jaws of your wrench with a layer of duct tape so you won’t scratch your fixture and figure out where you want to place your tools and parts. Before getting to the actual fixing, use distilled white vinegar and a soft scouring pad for removing any mineral deposits on the faucet parts.

When it comes to actually fixing your leaks, well, it gets a bit trickier. Depending on which type of faucet you’re tackling, you might have to go about repairing it in a different manner. There are only four types of faucets: compression-type, ball-type, cartridge, and ceramic-disk. Information on how to fix these types of faucets can be found nearly anywhere and can be done with relative ease.

And of course, while leaky faucets are usually easy to detect, a leak in your toilet might prove harder to find. A fun and effective test to run is to drop a little dye or food coloring into your toilet tank to see if it’s leaking water. If the color runs into the bowl without being flushed, you have a leak.

If you have any leaks and have questions or would rather trust the professionals with your water worries, call us at 1-866-TIGER70 or visit our website at www.tigerplumbingservices.com. You’ll not only be helping yourself out in the wallet, but you will also be helping the environment out!

Have the Wet Bandits Struck Again? Or Have Your Frozen Pipes Finally Burst?

Everyone at some point in his or her life has seen Home Alone, that Christmas movie in which 8-year-old Kevin McCallister (played by Macaulay Culkin) is left home alone while his family is in France, left to outsmart the antics of antagonists Harry and Marv – “The Wet Bandits.” These thieves, who’d rob vacant Chicago homes, would leave their “signature” after finishing the job – clogged-up sink basins, which would run freely with water until the owners would come back and discover that their home was practically turned into a swimming pool.

Unfortunately, in this time of year, it can be really easy for your home to do the same. While we may wish for an indoor swimming pool, this isn’t the best way to get one! Burst pipes can be very costly to you and your home. Only 1/8^th of an inch of a crack in a pipe can gush up to 250 gallons of water each day! This can cause flooding in your home, serious structural damage, and a huge, immediate potential mold! And besides, no one wants to bail water out in the dead of winter!

Luckily, you can prevent your pipes from freezing and bursting! All you have to do is pay extra special attention to your pipes this winter season.

It’s important to remember that pipes freeze for a combination of these three central reasons:

1.)  There are sharp drops in the temperature.

2.)  The pipes are poorly insulated.

3.)  Your thermostat is set too low.

 

Knowing the reasons pipes freeze, you can intercede for your pipes by doing the following:

Before the cold comes –

1.) Make sure that the pipes in your home’s attic and crawl spaces are insulated. The pipes that are the most susceptible to freezing are the ones that are exposed. The more insulation you use on your pipes, the better off they’ll be!

2.) Wrap your pipes with heat tape or thermostatically controlled heat cables. Even self-sealing, closed-cell polyethylene sleeves, which are available from home-supply stores, will do the job.

3.) Finally, seal all air leaks near the pipes’ locations. Look around your electrical wiring, dryer vents, and pipes for any unexplainable breezes. Use caulk or insulation to keep the cold out. Remember – even a teeny tiny hole can cause your pipes to freeze in severe cold!

Also, don’t forget to disconnect those garden hoses if you haven’t done so yet!

Mercury Falling – Preventing Frozen Pipes in Extreme Weather Conditions

When the weather turns mean and the cold wind howls wildly at your door, you can still do a few things to protect your pipes, let alone your home.

1.) Let warm water drip overnight, preferably from a faucet on an outside wall. A trickle of hot and cold water can actually keep your pipes from freezing!

2.) If you’re the kind who likes to turn the heat down at night while you sleep, listen up! Set your thermostat at same temperature during the day and night. Further drops in the temperature, which tend to occur during the night hours, can freeze your pipes if the thermostat is lowered!

3.) Open the cabinet doors so that heat can warm the exposed pipes under your sinks and the appliances near the walls.

Before You Leave

How great would it be to up and leave for Florida, Hawaii, or an exotic Caribbean island in the midst of winter? Well, maybe you’re one of the lucky people who plan to do so sometime this season. If so, you MUST make sure your pipes are protected against freezing, otherwise you’ll be greeted by a wet surprise when you return home!

1.) Set your thermostat no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

2.) If possible, ask a friend or neighbor to check your house daily to make sure it’s warm enough to prevent pipes from freezing, especially if the weather proves to be particularly nasty.

3.) Shut off and drain your water system.

IF YOUR PIPES FREEZE:

Sometimes, our preventive measures aren’t enough to ensure safety for our pipes. If you turn on your faucets and find that nothing is coming out, then your pipes are more than likely frozen. Don’t panic, though – there are ways to fix your pipes before they burst!

*If you turn on faucet and nothing comes out, leave them turned on and call us!

*Don’t use electrical appliances in standing water! You can easily get electrocuted.

*Don’t try to thaw a pipe with a torch – it could cause a fire hazard.

*Rubbing pipes with warm damp rags could slowly thaw the lines.

*If you don’t have water for an extended period of time, turn off the gas to your hot water heater!

*If your pipes have burst, turn off the water at the main shutoff valve and leave the water faucets on.

Remember, frozen pipes, let alone burst pipes, are a big problem and should be fixed immediately. Be sure to call the experts here at Tiger Plumbing at 1-866-TIGER70, or visit us at our website at www.tigerplumbingservices.com!

Having Pipe Dreams? Snap Back to Reality With These 9 Plumbing Myths!

As children we eagerly pick up our parents’ advice, especially about the facets of life the typical person may not fully understand – cars, heating and cooling systems, and yes, even plumbing. Some of the advice passed down through the generations is sound, but other pieces of advice are oversimplified or just plain wrong. Check out the following nine myths about plumbing to see if you find yourself doing these things in your home!

Myth #1: Using common store-bought drain products will safely unclog and maintain the kitchen and bath sink drains.

Fact: Seriously, just say “No!” to Drano! Drain products sold over the counter are actually harmful to pipes! This is due in part because these products are manufactured with acid type chemicals that eat away at the interior surface of pipes, which make them brittle and sometimes can even burn a hole through the interior of the pipes. In fact, pipes can become so brittle that the next time a plumber uses a metal drain cable, the pipe can instantly crack under the house, which makes for a very expensive repair! And sadly, these products don’t even come close to opening the clog!

Myth #2: Picking up that single hair from the sink won’t help in preventing a clogged drain.

Fact: Actually, that one long hair does a lot to slow or stop up your drain. Be sure to pick up every single hair in your sink basin so you can prevent slow drainage or a clog.

Myth #3: Plungers are useless!

Fact: A plunger is actually one of the best things you can invest in for your bathroom. Consider it as your own personal plumber hiding in the corner behind your toilet! A good plunger, much like a good plumber, can save you hundreds of dollars in toilet clogs. The thicker and softer tissues and toilet paper that we use today can clog toilets more easily, and using a good plunger to push it through is the best way to keep costs down and efficiency up!

Myth #4: If I do everything myself, I’ll save tons of money!

Fact: With all the DIY shows on home network shows these days, it’s easy to assume that fixing up your home yourself is simple and cost-effective. The reality, unfortunately, is that homeowners who try to do it themselves always seem to end up making the problem worse than what it was. That means more headaches for you, the homeowner, and also more money going down the drain (no pun intended) to fix the damages. Before you try to fix anything yourself, be sure to call us first – you’ll save yourself, time, money, and aspirin!

Myth #5: There’s nothing I can do to stop my drains, pipes, toilets, and sewer from occasionally backing up, so I’ll only worry if I have a problem!

Fact: Did you know that up to 15% of the value of your property is tied into your plumbing system? That includes all the pipes, faucets, and fixtures that provide life-giving water for drinking, bathing, and cleaning whenever you want or need it. You should protect your investment with proper plumbing maintenance. Even if there are occasional back-ups, be sure to take precautionary measures to ensure your plumbing is in tip-top shape!

Myth #6: Putting lemon in the disposal to make it smell fresh is a great idea.

Fact: Sure, you might succeed in momentarily creating a fresh aroma, but the citric acid from lemons corrodes the metal inside your disposal. Instead, use ice to polish your disposal up inside; it may be noisy, but it works, and it won’t tear up your disposal.

Myth #7: “In tank” cleaners will keep your toilet sparkling and smelling great!

Fact: The fact of the matter is these products bleach smelly build-up white but don’t get rid of it. Eventually, the build-up will ruin your toilet. Vinegar is a better alternative – it removes smelly build-up that can damage the flow of your toilet for a fraction of the cost. And besides, a nice, healthy scrubbing never hurt anyone (or any toilet)!

Myth #8: Running water while using the garbage disposal will help things run smoothly.

Fact: This is something we’ve all done (or still do!). Oddly enough, though, running the water with the garbage disposal doesn’t help if the blockage has already happened before the water shows up! The better solution is to fill the sink basin with a 4 to 1 ratio of water to waste so that the waste is separated and flows easily down the drain.

Myth #9: As long as everything is going down the drain, everything is working just fine.

Fact: Even if you can’t see it, certain foods like pasta and rice will bloat in pipes and cause clogs. Without the right amount of water to rinse it down, waste builds up in the pipes and makes drainage inefficient. Prevent blockage and clogging problems by using your sinks, toilets, and showers correctly! Make sure to fill basins with water before draining, and place a hair screen in the drain to reduce blockage in your shower.

Remember – when in doubt, call us out! We’d be more than happy to look at whatever problem or concern you may have. Give us a call at 1-866-TIGER70 or visit our website. Let us save you more money in the long run with our professional plumbing proficiency!

“It’s A-Me, Mario!” – When You Can Play Plumber in Real Life Vs. When You Need a Professional

Halloween is just around the corner, but just because you’re dressing like Mario or Luigi from Super Mario Bros. doesn’t quite mean that you are a real plumber (unless, of course, if that happens to really be your profession!). There are some things you can fix yourself at home, but there are also some things that you can fix by setting down your wrench, stepping back, picking up the phone and calling us here at Tiger Plumbing!

So when DON’T you need to call us? You can grab your tools and get to work yourself for these following piping problems:

Running Toilet: Hey, is your toilet running? Well, you’d better go catch it! Just kidding – toilets can’t move! A running toilet is one of the most frequent issues that occur in the home. If your toilet is running, the problem can be solved by replacing a faulty flapper or ball assembly in the toilet’s tank. Some cases, though, will require you to clean mineral deposits from the tank itself. If you’re determined to do it yourself, try using boiling water, baking soda, and vinegar to clean it.

Backed-Up Toilet The only thing worse than clogging a toilet is clogging someone else’s toilet. As a quick note – if you flush once and the water rises dangerously high, DO NOT flush again! Instead, you should quickly remove the tank lid and push the tank ball down to close the flush valve.

You’re pretty much okay to fix a backed-up toilet if only the toilet and/or the sink back up as the blockage is relatively close to the site. You can do this by using a plunger or to dislodge anything that may be trapped in the toilet bowl drain (make sure there is about a gallon of water in the bowl before you do anything – no more, no less!). For major clogs, though, you’ll probably want to use a closet auger, which is specifically designed for toilets.

Please note, though, that if you have drains elsewhere in your house backing up, it’s best to call us as that denotes that there is probably a problem somewhere in the sewer line!

Noisy Pipes Banging, hammering, high-pitched squeaking – your water pipes can make so many different sounds that you may start believing that your house is haunted. The trick to solving this problem is to identify the specific sounds and where they’re coming from.

Pipes are usually anchored with metal or plastic straps every 6 to 8 feet for horizontal runs, or 8 to 10 feet for vertical. If you hear banging pipes, that usually means your pipes are loose. You can fix this problem by adding more straps to anchor the pipe. Cushion the pipes from the straps with a rubber blanket.

If your pipes are squeaking, the solution is the same as fixing a banging pipe. Remember, only hot water pipes squeak.

If you hear water hammer in your pipes, all you need to do is turn off the water at the main shutoff valve, then open all your faucets to drain the entire system. Close the faucets and turn on the water again. This should solve the problem.

Flooding Several different situations can cause flooding, including seepage from cracked pipes, a corroded water heater, or an overflowing faucet or toilet. In any instance, you should take immediate steps to shut off the water. If necessary, contact us to identify and repair your problem!

So when DO you need to call us? Pick up the phone and call us pronto if you see one (or more) of the following issues with your piping:

If you’re thinking about remodeling your bathroom, moving any existing plumbing, replacing your tub, or replacing your shower valve, give us a call! Those are super heavy-duty jobs that only professionals should handle. If you find that you have big issues such as main line stoppage, any problems with your water heater, severe clogged drains, or sump pump problems, let us handle it all for you. And of course, if gas lines are involved, please give us a call, no matter what. Gas lines should be handled by professionals only.

If you’re reading this and have a plumbing issue, big or small, pick up the phone right now and call us here at Tiger Plumbing at 1-866-TIGER70. We’ll take care of any and all plumbing issues for you!

Nine Essential Tips for Preparing Your Plumbing For the Autumn and Winter Months

Fall is just around the corner here in the Metro St. Louis area, and people everywhere can be seen decorating their homes with autumn leaves, pumpkins, and wreathes made of fake berries and leaves. What some people tend to forget to do for their homes for the fall is to check their plumbing before winter sets in.

Do you usually focus on the outer beauty of your home and neglect the inner beauty? Never fear! Here are nine essential tips to help you in preparing your pipes for the imminent wild winter weather:

Safeguard Those Pipes! What’s the easiest way to prevent pipes from freezing or bursting? Why, vigilance, of course! Be sure that your pipes (and even the wall cavities in which they reside) are well insulated. If you’re not sure if your pipes are well insulated or not, give us a call, and we’ll inspect your pipes for you!

Leaky Faucet? Fix it!  If there were an opportune time to fix any and all leaky faucets in your home, now is the time! You’ll want to check those pipes out before the temperatures dip into the low, bone-chilling, slightly-above-freezing level. Check out all faucets in the kitchen, bathroom(s), and any utility room locations. If they’re leaking, tap into your inner handyman to fix it! If you’re not able to or don’t know a family member who can help, we here at Tiger Plumbing would be more than happy to lend a hand or two!

Drain Your Hot Water Heater: This is especially necessary if you happen to live in an area that uses hard water. When your hot water heater isn’t drained enough, extra amounts of sediments could build up in the tank, and rust could begin to develop in the tank. Fall is the PERFECT time to drain your hot water heater! If you find that your hot water heater is too old or is rusting, you should probably consider getting a new one. You don’t want to go throughout winter taking cold showers!

Disconnect Outside Water Hoses:  Remember when you used to go outside to fill up the kids’ pool or wash your prized car in the summertime, thanks to your trusty outdoor water hose? Well, now’s the time to disconnect your beloved water hose and put it away until springtime. If you leave your outdoor hose connected to the faucet, the water that’s still left in the hose can freeze and expand during the fall and winter months, which can cause your faucets and the connecting pipes inside your home to freeze and, ultimately, freeze. Not only will you be hindered from your future summer outdoor activities in the coming year, but you will also have to foot a hefty repair bill if you neglect to disconnect the hose!

Your Outdoor Faucets Matter, Too! While you’re caring for your indoor faucets and piping, don’t forget about your outdoor faucets! Make sure they aren’t dripping or leaking; if they are and aren’t fixed, this could lead to some nasty accidents in the future, especially when the temperature goes below the freezing point.

Close and Drain Shut-Off Valves Leading Outside: If your house is furnished with interior shut-off valves leading to any outside faucets, be sure to close them and drain the water from the outside lines. If the water remains in the lines and freezes, it could cause a good amount of damage and could cost you a pretty penny to repair.

Inspect and Clean Sump Pump and Pit: Before you feel the autumnal chill in the air (or, at the very latest, see snowflakes!), it would be very wise to inspect and clean your sump pump and the pit in which it’s situated. When your sump pump is exposed to extreme cold, it can freeze, which in turn prevents the pump from operating. Without a properly working sump pump, water can enter your basement and can easily cause flooding, especially when precipitation is high.

Got Outdoor Pipes? Wrap ‘Em Up! Do you have any pipes that are not within an insulated area? Wrap them in heat tape before the weather grows cold so they will operate properly and be less prone to freezing or bursting. Uninsulated garages and beneath mobile homes are good examples of places where pipes can be without being insulated.

When In Doubt… call us out! We here at Tiger Plumbing would be happy to help inspect or repair any pipe problems you may have.

Remember, inner beauty is just as important, if not more so, than the exterior beauty – and this applies to your home!  Call us here at Tiger Plumbing at 1-866-TIGER70 for all of your pluming needs!

Plumbing Terms to Know

At Tiger Plumbing Services we know sometimes clients don’t understand our “plumber lingo”. What is common knowledge to our plumbing experts may not be common knowledge to you. (Just like if we were talking to a rocket scientist…well, we’d probably be lost in their terminology!)  That’s why we’re here to break it down for you …whether you’re talking to a Tiger Plumbing expert or just reading a DIY how-to, here are some common plumbing terms to help you out (and will give you a leg up in that next trivia tournament with your friends!):

If you come across some plumbing jargon not listed below, feel free to give us a call and ask us at 1-866-TIGER70

• Air Chambers: Pressure absorbing devices that eliminate water hammer. They should be installed as close as possible to the valves or faucet and at the end of long runs of pipe.

• Air Gap (Drainage System): The unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere between the outlet of a water pipe and the flood level rim of the receptacle into which it is discharging.

• Air Gap (Water Distribution System): The unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere between the lowest opening from any pipe or faucet supplying water to a tank, plumbing fixture, or other device and the flood level rim of the receptacle.

• Air Lock: An air lock is a bubble of air which restricts the flow of water in a pipe.

• Backflow: The flow of water or other liquids, mixtures, or substances into the distributing pipes of a potable water supply from any source or sources other than the intended source. Back siphonage is one type of backflow.

• Back Siphonage: The flowing back of used, contaminated, or polluted water from a plumbing fixture or vessel into a potable water supply due to a negative pressure in the pipe.

• Branch: Any part of the piping system other than the main, riser, or stack.

• Branch Vent: A vent connecting one or more individual vents with a vent stack.

• Building Drain: The part of the lowest piping of a drainage system that receives the discharge from soil, waste, or other drainage pipes inside the walls of the building (house) and conveys it to the building sewer beginning 3 feet outside the building wall.

• Cross Connection: Any physical connection or arrangement between two otherwise separate piping systems, one of which contains potable water and the other either water of unknown or questionable safety or steam, gas, or chemical whereby there may be a flow from one system to the other, the direction of flow depending on the pressure differential between the two systems. (See Backflow and Back siphonage.)

• Disposal Field: An area containing a series of one or more trenches lined with coarse aggregate and conveying the effluent from the septic tank through vitrified clay Pine or perforated, non-metallic pipe, laid in such a manner that the flow will be distributed with reasonable uniformity into natural soil.

• Drain: Any pipe that carries waste water or water-borne waste in a building (house) drainage system.

• Flood Level Rim: The top edge of a receptacle from which water overflows.

• Flushometer Valve: A device that discharges a predetermined quantity of water to fixtures for flushing purposes and is closed by direct water pressures.

• Flush Valve: A device located at the bottom of the tank for flushing water closets and similar fixtures.

• Grease Trap: See Interceptor.

• Hot Water: Potable water that is heated to at least 120°F and used for cooking, cleaning, washing dishes, and bathing.

• Unsanitary: Contrary to sanitary principles injurious to health.

• Interceptor: A device designed and installed so as to separate and retain deleterious, hazardous, or undesirable matter from normal wastes and permit normal sewage or liquid wastes to discharge into the drainage system by gravity.

• Leader: An exterior drainage pipe for conveying storm water from roof or gutter drains to the building storm drain, combined building sewer, or other means of disposal.

• Main Vent: The principal artery of the venting system, to which vent branches may be connected.

• Main Sewer: See Public Sewer.

• Pneumatic: The word pertains to devices making use of compressed air as in pressure tanks boosted by pumps.

• Potable Water: Water having no impurities present in amounts sufficient to cause disease or harmful physiological effects and conforming in its bacteriological and chemical quality to the requirements of the Public Health Service drinking water standards or meeting the regulations of the public health authority having jurisdiction.

• P & T (Pressure and Temperature) Relief Valve: A safety valve installed on a hot water storage tank to limit temperature and pressure of the water.

• P Trap: A trap with a vertical inlet and a horizontal outlet.

• Public Sewer: A common sewer directly controlled by public authority.

• Relief Vent: An auxiliary vent that permits additional circulation of air in or between drainage and vent systems.

• Septic Tank: A watertight receptacle that receives the discharge of a building’s sanitary drain system or part thereof and is designed and constructed so as to separate solid from the liquid, digest organic matter through a period of detention, and allow the liquids to discharge into the soil outside of the tank through a system of open-joint or perforated piping, or through a seepage pit.

• Sewerage System: A sewerage system comprises all piping, appurtenances, and treatment facilities used for the collection and disposal of sewage, except plumbing inside and in connection with buildings served and the building drain.

• Soil Pipe: The pipe that directs the sewage of a house to the receiving sewer, building drain, or building sewer.

• Soil Stack: The vertical piping that terminates in a roof vent and carries off the vapors of a plumbing system.

• Stack Vent: An extension of a solid or waste stack above the highest horizontal drain connected to the stack. Sometimes called a waste vent or a soil vent.

• Storm Sewer: A sewer used for conveying rain water, surface water, condensate. cooling water, or similar liquid waste.

• Trap: A trap is a fitting or device that provides a liquid seal to prevent the emission of sewer gases without materially affecting the flow of sewage or waste water through it.

• Vacuum Breaker: A device to prevent backflow (back siphonage) by means of an opening through which air may be drawn to relieve negative pressure (vacuum).

• Vent Stack: The vertical vent pipe installed to provide air circulation to and from the drainage system and that extends through one or more stories.

• Water Hammer: The loud thump of water in a pipe when a valve or faucet is suddenly closed.

• Water Service Pipe: The pipe from the water main or other sources of potable water supply to the water-distributing system of the building served.

• Water Supply System: The water supply system consists of the water service pipe, the water-distributing pipes, the necessary connecting pipes, fittings, control valves, and all appurtenances in or adjacent to the building or premises.

• Wet Vent: A vent that receives the discharge of waste other than from water closets.

• Yoke Vent: A pipe connecting upward from a soil or waste stack to a vent stack for the purpose of preventing pressure changes in the stacks.

We hope you found these terms helpful and just a little interesting.  Let’s face it, when you’re in the middle of a plumbing emergency it’s always nice to be armed with useful information – and we love knowledgeable clients!

Blue Man Group Loves Leftover Plumbing Supplies – And So Should You!

Have you ever tried a do-it-yourself plumbing job only to give up and call a professional like Tiger Plumbing?  (C’mon, it’s okay to admit it!)  Well, those ventures usually result in all kinds of leftover materials that leave you saying, “What do I do with all this stuff?!”

Believe it or not, there’s an opportunity to take these plumbing-related materials and add both a unique touch to your décor while “going green” in the process.  That’s right, you can save your hard-earned green by reusing plumbing materials such as copper pipes, PVC pipes, and toilet paper rolls.

Repurposing old things is a great way to protect the environment (and your wallet!)  Maybe the crew at Tiger Plumbing is a bit biased, but we think nothing makes a cooler looking wind chime than some leftover copper pipes.

But, aside from our copper pipe wind chimes, one of the most amazing things we’ve ever seen done with PVC piping was at the Blue Man Group show. The BMG is a live-show where the actors rely on a lot of pipes (and paint). Check out them using an adjustable pipe as a drum: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOL8-qIYemg&feature=related  Pretty awesome, right?

If you surf the web, you’ll see people who have done all sorts of inventive things like making in-car laptop tables using PVC (we want one!), toilet paper holders made from copper, wine racks made of PVC pipes, and we even found a woman who makes mini-photo albums out of leftover toilet paper rolls.

Oh, and if you have a hedgehog you can reuse your toilet paper rolls as toys for your pet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIhA-hMsuGQ.

In this day and age we’re all a little more frugal than our parents’ generation.   Saving money by repurposing things is an inventive and cost-effective way to save money and give life to something that would’ve otherwise found its way into a dumpster.

Do you have any ideas for reusing plumbing materials?  We’d love to hear your ideas!

Go Green: Tips to Conserve Water & Save a Little Green

Lately if you’ve been following us on Twitter, you would have noticed that we have been posting a lot of water-conserving tips for our followers. Why? Because we like to save our customers money, and water is slated to be the next “oil boom.” What does that mean? It means that pain you feel at the pump will within a few decades be felt when you pick up your water bill.

So to keep your costs low and your wallets full, we have put together this list of water-conserving and money-saving tips:

• 1) Routinely check your Toilet for Leaks: Put dye tablets or food coloring in the tank. If the dye is showing in the toilet bowl without flushing, then you have a leak. A leak which can be wasting up to 400 gallons a month.
• 2) Water Your Yard in the Morning: The cooler temperatures lead to less evaporation and more water for your lawn. Don’t water them at night though; it can cause bacteria and fungi growth on your grass and plants.
• 3) Turn off your tap: You’ve heard it a thousand times; turn off the faucet while you’re brushing your teeth. Every minute you leave the faucet on you’re wasting two gallons a minute. The same goes for when you’re shaving, washing dishes, and anything else that involves a faucet.
• 4) Go to a Pro-Car Wash: Sure it seems cheaper to wash your car in your driveway, but commercial car washes use water more efficiently. These car washes use 45 gallons on average per car whereas the typical DIY-washer uses between 80-140 gallons. Big difference! If you do wash your car at home, park it on your lawn and knock two birds out with one stone by watering your lawn and washing your car at the same time!
• 5) Low-Flow is the Way to Go: Low-flow toilets and showerheads are fantastic, because they do the same job as say… A regular showerhead or toilet but with less water. A low-flow showerhead can cut your bathing-water usage down over 50%. A low-flush toilet only uses 1.5 gallons of water per flush. Just think of all the savings!
• 6) Fix that leak! Sure you can tune out the sounds of a leaky faucet, but you’ll regret not fixing it sooner when your water bill comes around. A leaky faucet can waste around 3 gallons of water a day! Every drop adds up, and if you need help fixing your leaks don’t forget Tiger Plumbing services has you covered from Belleville to Alton and everywhere in between.

Follow even just a few of these six tips and your water bill should be cut down sooner than you know it, and when (or if) water becomes more expensive than oil; you’ll already be in the habit of water conserving activities. As usual, if you need any more tips or help installing a new low-flush toilet or low-flow showerhead just call us at Tiger Plumbing Services (1-866-TIGER70).

Summer Tips to Keep the Plumbers at Bay

The kids are in the backyard playing, you’re making lemonade for the neighbors… Why, when it is summertime and the living’s easy, it is common to forget to check up on your home’s plumbing. But no worries my friend, Tiger Plumbing has you covered for the summer with these simple tips. And if you want one of our specialists to inspect your home for you, don’t forget to call us at 1-866-TIGER70. When you want ghosts removed you call the Ghostbusters, when you want your plumbing system in tip-top shape you call Tiger Plumbing – Simple as that.

• Are you jet-setting around the country this summer? We know traveling can get pricey, and there’s nothing everyone loves more than some spare cash to spend (or save). So before you leave turn down the temperature on your water heater. Turning your water heater just 20 degrees lower can save 10% or more off of your electric bill. And in the summer, who says you need water that hot? Keep it down and save even more cash!

• After being holed up in the house all winter, you’re bound to soak up as much sun as you can. For you, that might mean lounging poolside; but if you have kids (or you’re a kid at heart) this can mean muddy and grass-stained clothes to wash. With more clothes to wash, make sure your water hoses are free of bulges, leaks, or cracks. And even though the nice weather tempts you to go out exploring, never leave your house while your washer is running.

• There’s something magical about the first time you bring out the grill for the summer. Why? Because it officially means it is BBQ season. For those of you with kitchen disposals, while your tummy might be begging for some more food, your drains certainly aren’t.  BBQ staples such as cornhusks, celery, and banana peels are among the fibrous and stringy foods bound to clog up your drain. Make sure you run cold water 15 seconds before and after you use your disposal.

So follow our tips, and enjoy your summer. Don’t forget if you need us, we’re here and if you don’t need us… Well, we will be around just in case.