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When customers call to schedule a camera scope, snake, or hydro jetter, I usually end up asking them the same question: “Is there a cleanout?” Oftentimes this question is met with “What is that?” The fact about the matter is, cleanout drains are extremely handy. Not only can a cleanout make your local Tacoma plumber’s job easier, but having one installed can also save you money in the long run.

A cleanout is a location (usually on the side of the house or in the basement) where your sewer can be accessed to clear out clogs, or scope the line. Here in Tacoma, many people have cleanouts located in their basements. While this is a common occurrence, this is not always the most convenient place for a cleanout.

When your plumbing system gets backed up, the cleanout in your basement will be full to the brim with water and sewage. If you were to remove the plug in your basement cleanout while the sewer is blocked up, all that water and debris will come bubbling on the top and into your home. This is why it is recommended to have a cleanout (or even better, a two-way cleanout) installed along the side of your home.

Whether your sewer is blocked, or you are just scheduling a routine camera inspection, the presence of a cleanout will keep your life easier and your wallet fuller. For example, when we go to do a camera inspection with a cleanout we can show up, put the camera through, and locate the problem area just like that. Without a cleanout our technicians will either need to go through a roof vent or pull a toilet, which is more expensive. Overall, having outside access to your sewer line is highly recommended.

While most homes in Tacoma are built with a cleanout, they can sometimes be covered up in new renovations. They might get lost in drywall, or covered by other new home additions. This can make it extremely hard to gain access to your plumbing in the event of an emergency. If you cannot find your cleanout, or suspect that you do not have one we recommend you either have a technician come out and locate it for you, or have one installed.

SEWER CLEANOUT INSTALLATION IN TACOMA, WA

A cleanout is an extremely important and convenient thing to have as a part of your sewer system. If you would like to have a cleanout installed or are unsure if you have one, give a call to (253) 331-1206 and we will have one of our skilled technicians out to you in no time! If you are experience a different plumbing issue, such as a clogged drain, one of our techs can come diagnose the issue - just pick up the phone and schedule an appointment!

What Is a Cleanout and Why Should You Have One?

In the quest for readily available hot water, there is one phrase that seems to come up more than any other: “tankless water heater.” Just what are tankless water heaters, and why are they so sought after? When you really think about it, you try to keep everything in your life modern and up to date. That goes from kitchen appliances, to cars, to phones. Why should your water heater be any different? Let’s take a moment to look at some of the advantages that switching to tankless heating has to offer.

1. TANKLESS WATER HEATERS CAN SAVE YOU MONEY AND ENERGY

These days we should be doing everything we can to do right by our environment, and our families. That includes conserving energy whenever and wherever we can. This becomes especially easy when you consider that conserving energy and saving money go hand in hand. Tankless heating means no “standby heat loss” which means you can save a large amount of electricity! The average tankless water heater can potentially save you about $80 per year. However, some of the more efficient models can take your savings even higher! Each situation is different, but with a little time and planning you can figure out just how much energy and cash you will be able to save.

2. TANKLESS HEATERS OFFER UNLIMITED HOT WATER!

For many people, the promise of unlimited hot water is enough to justify the switch. Because of the way they work, tankless heaters are able to fulfill this promise. The heating elements in a tankless heater allow the cold water that flows through them to heat up as soon as you turn on your hot water. Depending on the heater, this could be electric or gas powered. The rapidly heated cold water is then transferred to your water fixtures resulting in hot water on demand! Because of this, the heater can continuously create hot water for all your devices.

3. TANKLESS HEATERS HAVE A LONGER LIFESPAN

The advantage of a longer lifespan for tankless water heaters is pretty much self explanatory. While a conventional water heater has a lifespan of about five to ten years, a tankless water heater will last from about ten to twenty depending on the model. Some of the electric models even come with a lifetime warranty when properly installed!

Big, bulky, space consuming classic water heaters are no match for the new tankless models. With a tankless heater, there will be no more gigantic eyesore water tanks down in the basement. Tankless water heaters are small and slim, some about the size of a large book or dictionary. Most of them can be mounted to a wall, or even installed outside through the use of an anti freeze kit. This opens up space in your basement for you to use for whatever you would like!

5. TANKLESS WATER HEATERS ARE SAFER AND CLEANER THAN CONVENTIONAL ONES

With conventional heaters, there is always the potential for a rupture. That means that any valuables that you may have down in your basement are susceptible to major water damage. As water heaters get older, their casings become rusty, weakened and prone to cracking or breaking. This increases your chance of your basement flooding. With a tankless water heater, this is no longer a risk. This is because the water is only heated as it is needed, and there is no water stored in a tank. This also means that the water coming through the tankless heater is cleaner than what would come out of a conventional one. Since the hot water isn’t sitting in a tank full of rust and scale, the quality will be far superior. Tankless water heaters also have temperature monitors that will prevent scalding hot water from reaching your faucets, keeping your family safe from being burned.

All of these reasons listed above can be taken into consideration when entertaining the idea of switching from a conventional water heater to tankless. Although it is a bit of a monetary commitment to start, in the long run tankless water heaters are the way to the future, and will definitely save you money and energy over time!

If you have any questions about tankless water heaters, or brand recommendations, please give us a call at (253) 331-1206 and we will send one of our skilled technicians out to you in no time!!

Why Are Tankless Water Heaters So Popular?

When it comes to sewer and drain issues, most people think of clogs, cracks, or roots, but seldom stop to consider that the joints of their pipes may be offset. Because certain types of sewer pipes are installed in joint sections, these joints have the potential to shift, or sink causing them to become unaligned with the rest of the pipe.

If this should ever occur within your sewer line, it is good to know the problems it may cause, and the way you can solve those problems, in addition to what can cause an offset joint in the first place to avoid future issues.

1. OFFSET JOINTS MAY HAVE A NUMBER OF CAUSES

The most common cause of an offset in a sewer line is, without a doubt: roots. Roots from trees and bushes that have an opportunity to invade your sewer line and potentially cause blockages also grow all around the outside of the pipe. The same way roots can shift, move, and break up a thick concrete sidewalk, they can also do the same to your pipes.

Depending on what type of pipe you have, they may be more or less susceptible to root problems. For example, clay pipes will be much more vulnerable to roots and therefore, much more likely to have to offset joints caused by them. Cast iron, while a bit more sturdy than clay pipe also has the potential to incur offset joints through root damage. Even the smallest, most microscopic pinhole in a pipe leaves them vulnerable to roots. The roots will follow the moisture, making their way in and around the pipe. Eventually, they will break it, causing it to become offsets.

Shifting or settling of the dirt surrounding the pipe can also cause offsets. This is more common in clay pipes, as cast iron pipes will stick together and therefore, cause a “belly” as opposed to an offset when shifted.

2. OFFSET JOINTS CAN CAUSE A VARIETY OF ISSUES

The most common problem caused by offset joints is the bottlenecks they can create. This means that anything flowing through your pipes will get caught up on the lip of the offset, and eventually cause a bigger clog. With the presence of lips in your sewer pipes, there is also potential to catch a snake blade. This can cause it to get stuck, which creates further complications with trying to clear the line.

Another common sewer repair issue is the root factor. With gaps and offset joints in your sewer line, that leaves openings for roots to get through. Especially if the roots are the cause for your offset, that means that they were pushing your pipes apart to make room to grow. Roots will chase the fertilizer (sewage) into your pipes and use them as nutrients to grow. If you continue to let them grow they will, and eventually will reach a point where they cannot be cut out by traditional methods.

Something else to keep in mind: as long as there is a gap or hole in your pipe, there is sewage exiting the pipe. This sewage is not only leaking into the ground, but it is also taking soil along with it. As the water in the pipe picks up dirt, it washes it away, which can create sink holes.

3. ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, OFFSETS CAN BE FIXED!

This may seem obvious, but the first thing to do before repairing an offset finds out if you have one. An experienced plumber may be able to feel an offset in your piping while cabling. This is because an offset feels different than a normal blockage. You should also be able to tell if there is an offset in your pipes based on the size of the roots a cable pulls out, or if the cable pulls out mud.

Ultimately, you should always keep in mind how valuable running a camera through your sewer line can be. Getting a camera inspection done is generally inexpensive, and can save you all kinds of time by identifying exactly what type of sewer repair you need.

Once you know whether you have an offset, there are essentially two ways to go about fixing it. The most common fix is to excavate, and replace the affected section of pipe. This process would need to uncover enough pipe to ensure the new section can be installed properly. Additionally, if a leak in the pipe has caused issues with the grade of your pipe a bit more it may need to be uncovered to correct the grade.

If it turns out that you need a larger section of pipe repaired, or a new sewer line all together, you might consider a trenchless method of sewer repair such as “pipe bursting.” With pipe bursting, the sewer line can be replaced or repaired without trenching up your entire yard.

Three Need to Know Facts About Offset Joints and Sewer Problems

For most, any work done within the city involving building or plumbing in Tacoma, you will need a permit. Permits are something that is applied for and then granted by the city to ensure that any building or digging can be done up to code. When you’re digging within the city (which is usually required with plumbing work especially) it is important to make sure you know exactly where everything is under the ground. This requires several different inspectors to come out and locate various lines, including gas, power, cable etc. This will ensure that nothing is broken or severed during the required work.

The permit pulling process can either begin at the Tacoma Municipal court or online at aca.acela.com/tacoma. Once you know fully what type of job you will be doing, what materials it will require, and what sort of traffic plan (if any) you will need, you can begin filling out a permit application. This way, the city will know exactly what the speculations of your project are.

The permit application process is relatively simple. It will ask you a few questions about the work you need to get done. These questions will be about what exactly the project is, what types of materials are to be used, whether you need right of way or traffic etc.

After you have submitted your application, it will be sent to the permit office for review. It is a good practice to e-mail the permit office after applying. You should let them know the permit number, and that you have submitted an application for it.

There are two different ways you can obtain your permit once it has been approved.

. This is by far the easiest way to get a permit because you can print them online in the comfort of your own home or office.

2. The other way to obtain your permit is to take a trip to the Tacoma Municipal Court and visit the permit office on the second floor. Everyone there is extremely helpful, and if you provide your permit number, they will be able to assist you in obtaining a physical copy. For most jobs, you must have a permit with you on site at all times.

All in all, obtaining a permit for a job is an extremely easy and painless process. Here at Harts, if a permit is required in a job, we take the initiative to go obtain it for you. That way you don’t have to worry about any hassle at all. We take care of everything!

If you have any questions regarding the process of obtaining a permit, you can call the permits and inspections office for Tacoma at (253) 331-1206.

Water and Sewer Permit Cost and Process in Tacoma

Anything you need to keep water flowing through your home or business facility, our plumbing company can handle it! Why do any of the dirty work yourself when there are skilled, experienced sewer pipe experts right in your backyard? Our company provides sewer pipe repair, maintenance, and installation, as well as 

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Customer service and answered the phone was pleasant and helpful. Person who came on site to discuss the work was thorough, gave great advice, and made suggestions for future planning.

Hart's Services got here about 3 hours after calling them. Very courteous and helpful with going over my options for all of my plumbing needs. They are getting our emergency repair work completed for a reasonable rate.

Very friendly, very knowledgeable. Made replacing my whole sewer line as painless as possible.

Quality Plumbing Services in the Tacoma Area

At Harts Services, our #1 priority is your utmost satisfaction. We won’t just show up at your location and provide easy fixes that will eventually come undone, causing you more aggravation and costing you more money. Our plumbers provide lasting results at affordable prices, holding themselves to the highest standard for excellence in every job they undertake. We also offer peace of mind inspections, maintenance plans, and customer education to ensure complete peace of mind today and in the future.

When Others Say They Can't, We Say We Can!

Harts has amazing customer service and responded promptly to our plumbing emergency! Chris has been to our home in the past and is very knowledgeable and professional. Harts is a great local company to work with.

I was so happy to finally get my faucets outside my house fixed. Anytime I turned them on they dripped, dripped, dripped. Now I have frost free hose bibs and no drips! Thanks Harts!

Harts Services is a very professional company. We called because our sewer was backing up into our home and they had someone at our house within the hour.

Fast service, excellent follow-up, and Tim who performed the service was excellent and easy to work with. Will definitely use again if needed.

Thank you Chris McAlister from Harts Services. The service was professional, quick but thorough. Thank you

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