Top 3 Methods of Cracked Pipe Repair

Posted on May 28, 2020 by weilhammerplumbing

In last week’s blog, we discussed the common signs and solutions for cracked plumbing pipes. We went over facts regarding the causes of cracked plumbing pipes, the importance of maintaining good plumbing through routine service, and of course, how to detect cracked plumbing pipes. Today, we will briefly describe the top 3 methods used to repair cracked pipes, which include trenchless pipe replacement, trenchless pipe lining, and trenchless pipe bursting.

Continue below to learn more about each type of cracked pipe repair method, and where you can get professional master plumbing repair service for your home or business’s cracked pipes.

Indianapolis Plumbing Re-Piping Services 317-784-1870

The Key to Great Plumbing

In order to ensure your plumbing piping remain in good condition, you must adhere to a recommended plumbing maintenance plan. All appliances, water lines, and plumbing fixtures should be annually inspected and serviced by a licensed plumber. However, as mentioned in last week’s blog, “Common Signs and Solutions for Cracked Plumbing Pipes”, sometimes there is nothing you can do to prevent certain plumbing breakdowns. In fact, the number one reason why most pipes experience cracking is due to old age.

In the case of cracked pipes, you might not have been able to stop it from happening, no matter how steadfast you are with your routine plumbing maintenance, especially if yours are 30 to 40 years old. The top methods of cracked pipe repair are trenchless pipe replacement, trenchless pipe bursting, and trenchless pipe lining. Each method uses a different technique and science to repair or reseal an underground plumbing pipe.

Common Methods of Trenchless Pipe Repair:

❶ Trenchless Pipe Replacement – Trenchless pipe replacement can reinstate your cracked pipes back to their original level of efficiency. This method uses two access points, which reduces excavation and labor. Pipes are fully replaced without the need for digging or heavy machinery.

❷ Trenchless Pipe Bursting – This method is used for underground piping systems that have many cracked, and require a full replacement. The job is completed by using a bursting head that simultaneously breaks away old piping and lays new piping.

❸ Trenchless Pipe Lining – This method of trenchless pipe repair uses a felt liner saturated with epoxy resin, which is inserted directly into the piping system from a designated access point, and pushed through. As it moves, it coats the inner pipe with the epoxy material. Once the resin cures, it is removed, and all cracks are fully sealed.

Indianapolis Master Plumbing Repair You Can Count On

Call Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc. at 317-784-1870 for details about underground pipe replacement services and slab leak repair in Indianapolis, Indiana. We offer a wide range of plumbing services for both residential and commercial properties, including water leak inspection and repair, slab leak repair, and more. Owner and master plumber, Mark Weilhammer, is a state licensed plumbing contractor with more than 50 years of experience in the plumbing repair industry. We also offer free estimates, free plumbing advice, and even free haul-away for old plumbing appliances like water heaters, water softeners, sump pumps, and more. Request a free estimate, today.

Common Signs and Solutions for Cracked Plumbing Pipes

Posted on May 21, 2020 by weilhammerplumbing

In the past, a cracked plumbing pipe was a monumental problem for a property owner. Aside from the invasive and tedious repair process it required, which included substantial digging and heavy labor, simply diagnosing a cracked pipe was a massive effort. Fortunately, today’s modern plumbing industry is gratefully bestowed with innovative technologies and methodologies that make cracked pipe diagnostics and repair simple and efficient. Concerned you might be dealing with some cracked pipes?

Continue reading to learn some common causes and signs of cracked pipes, as well as, what you can do to prevent and repair them.

Indianapolis Master Plumber Service 317-784-1870

Causes and Signs of Cracked Pipes

The number one reason why most pipes experience cracking is due to old age. Plumbing pipes are not meant to last forever. So, if yours are older than 30 or 40 years, you might need to consider making some replacements, repairs, and upgrades. See our blog, “Is it Time to Replace Your Plumbing Pipes?” to learn more about pipe aging and replacement. Other common causes of cracked plumbing pipes include lack of routine plumbing maintenance, invasive tree roots, pipe corrosion, soil erosion, improper landscaping digging, and construction damage.

Signs That Suggest You Have a Cracked Pipe:

➥ Unexplained Increase in Water Bill
➥ Sounds of Rushing Water in Walls
➥ Standing Water in Lawn
➥ Soggy Home Flooring
➥ Concentrated Growth in One Area of the Yard

Trenchless Technology is Key

The current, go-to industry method for diagnosing cracked plumbing pipes is trenchless technology. This approach is minimally invasive and much less obtrusive to properties since it uses sewer line cameras and equipment to look deep inside underground plumbing. Sewer camera inspection technologies diagnose cracked pipes more accurately and efficiently, as they give a front-row view of what’s happening within the piping system.

Top 3 Methods of Cracked Pipe Repair:

➀ Trenchless Pipe Replacement
➁ Trenchless Pipe Lining
➂ Trenchless Pipe Bursting

? Check back next week for a more detailed explanation of each type of cracked pipe repair method!

The Indianapolis Master Plumber You Can Trust

Call Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc. at 317-784-1870 to speak directly with Mark Weilhammer, a licensed master plumber (License #106214), about trenchless plumbing services in Indianapolis, Indiana. We offer a wide range of standard and master plumber repair services for both residential and commercial properties, including home plumbing inspections for cracked and damaged pipes. We also offer free estimates, free plumbing advice, and even free haul-away for old plumbing appliances like water heaters, water softeners, sump pumps, and more. Request a free estimate, today.

How to Choose a Residential Water Softener Based on Occupancy

Posted on May 14, 2020 by weilhammerplumbing

When it comes to home water conditioning, it is important to know how to size a water softener correctly. This way, you are sure to purchase the appropriate and most effective water purification system for your household. There are a few different ways to measure or size-up a water conditioning system. One full-proof way to determine which system to buy for your property is to consult a professional in the industry. They retain the experience and knowledge to set you in the right direction. In the meantime, it is always a good idea to catch up on simple tips and general advice for water softener systems.

Continue reading to learn how to choose a water softener for your home using some simple and basic math.

Indianapolis Water Softener Service and Repair 317-784-1870

Water Softener Grains Per Gallon

The best place to start when it comes to learning how to size a water softener, is by learning how the entire system all works. Basically, water softeners swap hard minerals for soft ones in a property’s water supply. Hard minerals include calcium, magnesium, and other metal ions and compounds, while soft minerals include sodium and potassium. Within a water softener, there are several tiny chemical magnets called ion exchange resin. These magnets are the agents that facilitate the mineral exchanges within the system. The more chemical magnets a water softener has, the higher its capacity will be.

Capacity is a common term measuring the number of gallons a system can purify before needing more salt or a new cartridge; depending on the type of system it is. Capacity is measured in “grains” or its rate or grain removal; and one grain per gallon is equal to 17.1 parts per million. On average, the water in the United States contains nearly 10 grains of hardness per gallon, while the average person uses 80 gallons of water per day.

Using the Water Softener Formula

By using a water hardness testing kit, you can quickly determine the level of hardness in your home’s water supply. In order to calculate the amount of water you need to purify, multiply the number of people living within the home by the number 80; and then multiply that number by the number of grains per gallon (10) to get the total number of grains used per day in a home.

Here is an example for a family of 5:

Number of Occupants: 5
Gallons of Water Used per Person: 80
Average Grains of Hardness: 10

Gallons of Water Used Per Day: 5 x 80 = 400
Total Grains Used per Day: 400 x 10 = 4,000

✨ In this example, a 40,000 grain capacity water softener is recommended for the AVERAGE family of 5.

Water Softener Installation

One of the most common signs that your water softener needs to be replaced is increased water and energy bills. If these monthly costs are rising, there may be a problem with the efficiency or performance of your water softener. It could be caused by other plumbing issues too. Separate from performance problems, water softeners should be replaced every 8 to 10 years. You will require the services of a licensed plumber who specializes in water softeners for installation. Costs vary among businesses, but on average, you can expect to pay anywhere from $250 to $600 or more for water softener installation.

Trusted Water Softener Advice and Service in Indianapolis

Call Weilhammer Plumbing Company at 317-784-1870 for affordable water softener service in Indianapolis, Indiana. We offer a wide range of standard and master plumber services for residential and commercial properties, and specialize in water softener installation and repair for all make and model units. We also carry a full line of quality Clack™ Water Softeners for sale at contractor prices! Request a free estimate, today.

Easy Tips for Cutting PVC Pipe

Posted on May 7, 2020 by weilhammerplumbing

Whether you are building an epic tree house in the back yard, installing some sprinkler gear, or replacing a plumbing pipe in your basement, you might find yourself faced with the need to cut PVC pipe. PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) is a thermoplastic material that is commonly used in the plumbing and construction industry due to its excellent and useful properties. It can last indefinitely, and requires zero maintenance other than routine inspections. In the plumbing industry, you will see PVC in the form of white plastic piping material that is typically used for piping and drainage systems, but it is also commonly used to create valves, fittings, and other liquid-management supplies.

As a valuable and useful material, you do not want to waste any of your PVC pipe by cutting into incorrectly. Continue reading to learn some tips for cutting PVC pipe to help you get started on the right track.

Indianapolis Master Plumber Service 317-784-1870

What You Can Use

There are several ways you can cut PVC pipe, but the top three include using a miter saw, handsaw, or an actual PVC pipe cutter, which you can purchase online or at any local home improvement store. The method you choose will depend mostly on your skill level, comfort-level, and supplies on hand. If you are not experienced with using heavy-duty, dangerous tools like saws and cutters, it is recommended to have someone help you that is experienced. Otherwise, you can lose some fingers in a flash!

Miter Sawing

A miter saw is easily affordable at any home improvement retailer. They are powerful electric sawing devices that come in a wide array of designs, sizes, brands, and prices. Choose one that is a good fit for the frequency and type of miter sawing you plan on doing. When using a miter saw to cut PVC, be sure to slowly low the blade onto your mark in order to ensure control and accuracy. Anything electric can easily cause you to lose control or slip your grip. If you cannot pass the saw all the way through the pipe, stop the blade and twist the pipe a few degrees so the saw can finish cutting.

Hand Sawing

To hand saw, all you need is a standard hacksaw or carpenter’s saw. Just keep in mind that you will be using a lot of elbow grease to cut through PVC piping this way. To help increase your luck, be sure you use a quality saw with sharpened edges. A dull blade will not stand a chance against PVC pipe. Since you are cutting by hand, it is more challenging to get a perfectly, 90 degree square cut. So, use a miter box to help guide your cuts. You want to move your saw slowly to ensure quality and control.

PVC Cutters

You can purchase PVC pipe cutters at any home improvement or hardware store. They come in a selection of brands and styles, all of which range in quality and function. As with a miter saw, you want to be sure you choose one that will be of use again for future projects. If you are cutting smaller pipe, 2 inches in diameter or less, you can use squeeze-style PVC cutters. For pipes larger than 2 inches in diameter, you will need a heavier, rotary-style PVC cutter. As with all saws, scissors, and cutters, be sure to keep your blade sharp for better cutting results.

⚠ Got a PVC plumbing repair that might be out of your league? Call a licensed Indianapolis plumber for help!

Indianapolis Plumbing Services You Can Trust

Call Weilhammer Plumbing at 317-784-1870 for prompt and professional Indianapolis plumbing repair service at an affordable price. Master plumber, Mark Weilhammer, is happy to answer your questions about plumbing repair, replacement, installation, maintenance, and more. We offer free advice and estimates as well.