Utica Boilers in the Capital Region

by Admin | Oct 24, 2018 | Plumbing Tips

UTICA BOILERS ARE A TOP CHOICE FOR BOILER INSTALLATIONS IN ALBANY – TROY – SCHENECTADY

Utica Boilers have been manufacturing both gas and oil-fired boilers for residential and commercial use in the Capital Region since 1928. Like E.W. Tompkins Plumbing Heating Cooling, they are approaching 100 years in business. E.W. Tompkins was established in 1921 and is the oldest plumbing company in the Capital Region.

Utica Boilers are highly efficient, easy to maintain, easy to install, and have a limited lifetime warranty.

They use superior parts and have earned a reputation for exceptional quality, performance, and dependability since its inception in our Albany area.

Utica Boiler Products offer:

Innovative, dependable designs made right here in America
Solid reliability
Highest quality parts
Best-in-class warranties
Responsive and adaptive service professionals

Drinking Water Issues

by Admin | Sep 22, 2018 | Plumbing Tips

Water and our air are the most important things to our life. And we need to care for both. Let’s take a look into issues you might have with your water. Do these sound familiar ?

Is my is Hard? We get hard water because of mineral buildup in our Captiol Region City or well water. It is not always easy to see hard water but you can see its effects in your home. You may see lots of soap scum and soap stains. Have you ever seen white spots on your kitchen glasses ? Is there Lead in the Water? All over the Capital Region we have homes and institutions with lead pipes. As a result, it gets into our tap water. Older pipes have lead solder in them to join the copper to faucets and valves. These days plumbers use lead free solder. But older homes and buildings still have lead solder in the joined pipes. I have Dry Skin and Hair When one has hard water your pores are clogged and it leaves your skin dry and itchy. Your hair will probably get damaged. You will need to determine what type of water softener you need for your home. I Smell Chlorine Water companies clean their water with a strong disinfectant called Chlorine. Basically it is bleach. It can leave an unpleasant taste in your water. My Laundry Seemms Hard and Sort of Stiff Magnesium and Calcium in your water makes your washed clothing stuff. You can install a softener system which might make your water softer and you can start using less detergent products. Might I have Chromium-6? Folks have located a carcinogen called Chromium-6 in our water. It is not suppose to be digested in large limits. Some folks put a reverse osmosis system in to reduced how much is ingested. I Smell a Rotton Eggs! If you have a rotten egg smell with either the cold or hot water, this is caused by sulfur and iron in your water. I have Lime Buildup and Soap Scum You may see lime build up and scum on your faucets and in your tub and sink you might start to see soap scum and the build up of lime. It is caused by your hard water. Sadly, it also can be damaging your plumbing and your fixtures. We all spend a lot of money on faucets and other fixtures and meanwhile they are being damaged by this hard water. I See Rusty Stains in My toilet, the Sink, Tub and on My Clothing. So many people have rusty stains in their tubs, toilets and sinks. There are solutions that will eliminate this problem. It will help keep your white clothing white while doing laundry. I think I see Blue Stains Do you ever see a green or blue water coming out of your faucets ? This is corrosion of the copper pipes in your home. You can be putting in pretty fixtures and faucets but in the pipes the bad water is dissolving your pipes. I Taste a Salty Flavor Some areas have a high sulfate concentration and this adds a salty taste to your water. There are solutions to removing this in your home. Spots on your glassware after coming straight out of the dishwasher You open the dishwasher and your freshly washed glasses have white spots all over them. Could I have Arsenic High arsenic levels can have a negative effect on your body. Some arsenic occurs naturally in nature but some can be caused by farming. My Water Tastes Salty When your pH of the water is out of whack, you can get a bitterness in the water. There is a way to remove this bad flavor. I Do Not Think Our Water is Clear Your water should be coming out white. If you are getting a color, there is a problem. Alkaline or Acidic issues. Some water is high and some is low. Your water can be tested to see what the pH is like. L

How to Protect Outside Faucets in New York Winters

by Admin | Sep 19, 2018 | Plumbing Tips

Protecting Your Outdoor Faucets in 4 Easy Ways

In the Capital Region of New York, we have brutal winters. E.W. Tompkins Plumbing Heating Cooling has been around since 1921 and has worked on a lot of pipes. We want to help you keep your home safe from bursts and cracked outside faucets. When your outdoor faucets have an issue, the pipes typically burst inside the home. The last thing you want is hundreds of gallons of water all over your basement or finished basement floor. Not to mention the loss of the contents of your house. We suggest the following ideas.

Preparation

Walk around your house and be sure you know where they are. Remove your garden hoses and drain water out of them and store them away.
When you go back inside the house, head over to your main water shutoff. Somewhere near there or maybe in the ceiling you should see a shut-off valve. There should be one leading to each outside faucet. Some call them bibcocks or spigots too.
They will typically be a lever and there should be a bleed cap that allows you to bleed out any leftover water.
At this point you should shut off the water at the valve and then go outside and open the faucet at the valve and some water should come out. Grab a bucket and when you go inside, you will want to remove the bleeder cap and let more water come out into your bucket. Replace the bleeder cap and then close the outside faucet.
If you have an older home in the Capital Region, you may not have an indoor shutoff valve. You may want your plumber to retrofit your standard faucet with what is called a frost-free faucet. This allows you to keep the water on all year round. You can also purchase a faucet installation kit that can cover the faucet during our cold winters and can be removed in the warmer months.

Call the “affordable experts” at E.W. Tompkins Plumbing Heating Cooling for outside faucet protection. 518-462-6577

Why A Sewer Camera Inspection is Needed

by Admin | Sep 18, 2018 | Plumbing Tips

Why you need a Sewer Camera Video Inspection

Problem #1: Tree Roots In Plumbing Lines

This is the most frequent reason we are called out for a video camera inspection. Tree roots have clogged or broken the pipe causing backup and flooding into basements.

Using our camera technology, we can pinpoint the exact location of the roots and resolve the issue.

Either drain cleaning with our large 3-4″ root cutter can be used or Hydro-Jetting. This is where we send a high-powered spinning head with water under pressure into the sewer line. A variety of different spinning heads can be used depending on the type of obstruction. With both machines, the head spins so fast that it goes through any obstructions in the line, leaving the line itself intact.

Problem #2: Broken or Collapsed Pipes

Many older sewer lines were made with plastic or orange clay pipe and this becomes very brittle over time. It doesn’t take much shifting of the earth with the harsh Capital Region freeze and thaw cycles to cause damage.

Sometimes the problem is caused by poor installation practices when the plumbing or sewer system was originally installed, dropping a large rock on the line from an excavator bucket for example has damaged plumbing lines we’ve had to repair.

Other older homes especially those built during the 50’s or 60’s utilized a piping material called Orangeburg. This material is notorious for deteriorating and causing havoc with plumbing systems.

Our sewer video cameras will locate the collapsed parts of your line. If it is busted, you will have to have it repaired.

Problem #3: Pipe Corrosion

Liquids run through pipes and they can corrode pipes. Minerals in the water can increase corrosion. Rust is a big issue with old pipes. A camera inspection can determine your pipe’s condition.

Depending on the liquids that are running through the pipe, what material the pipe is made of and whether it’s in the wall or in the ground will all play a role in how quickly the pipe will corrode.

Problem #4 Purchasing a Home

You are about to make the biggest investment! You are purchasing a new home. Part of your home inspection should include a camera inspection of the septic or sewer line. You do not want a surprise after moving into the property. Insist that your realtor contact a reputable plumber to discuss your needs.

E.W. Tompkins Plumbing Heating Cooling has been serving the Capital Region since 1921.

Contact our Customer Care Reps at 518-462-6577 to schedule a camera inspection.

Our Water Heater has Sprung a Leak!

by admin | Feb 18, 2018 | Plumbing Tips

Your water heater is old and has started leaking!

If its a lot of water, call a plumber right away. You will want to determine from where the water is coming from. Water can ruin floors and belongings. Act fast when you see water. Since electricity is going to the unit you need to be very careful. Go to your service panel and see if you can find where the breaker is to the unit and shut it off. Turn the water off to the unit. This is also the cold water going to the unit. It is best to call a professional and the team at E. W. Tompkins can come out to see if it can be repaired or needs to be replaced.

The Top of the Unit

Sometimes there are cold supply lines at the top of the unit which could be leaking. These water lines can be made of many different materials – copper, PVC, or PEX type tubing to mention a few. If you notice that a water line is leaking where it is attached to the unit, the problem may be quickly fixed by simply tightening that connection. If you notice that the shut-off valve on one of the water lines is leaking, the problem may be quickly fixed by simply tightening the packing nut below the handle. If either of these doesn’t solve the problem then you may need to repair or replace the valve and/or some of the piping. This is usually a quick fix and not a major cause for concern.

The Bottom of the Unit

If water is coming out of a metal or plastic spigot attached to the bottom of the tank, you may have a faulty valve that needs to be replaced. This can be done easily by a professional plumber. If your tank is rusty and really old and the water is coming from the bottom of the tank,then this will probably require a complete replacement. Contact E.W. Tompkins and we can provide you with a definitive answer and assist with any replacement you may need.

This can be found in several places, most commonly it can be found along the side of your hot water heater attached to a long pipe. This valve allows for the release of extreme heat and pressure as a safety measure. When this happens, water begins to leak out of the valve and/or pipe. On an older unit, this valve may leak due to age and mineral build up due to your water conditions. This may also be a sign of a change in the incoming water pressure that supplies your home. If you are not sure of why it is leaking or just not comfortable in doing so, contact a local heating professional as soon as possible as this is a safety device designed to protect you and your family. If you are still unable to locate the source of your leak or if you have a leak originating from a different area of your water heater, it may require attention from the pros at E.W. Tompkins Plumbing. 518-462-6577

What we need to know to help you replace your tank

What type of unit do you currently have ? Is it Natural Gas, Electric or Liquid Propane How old is it
How many gallons is it (typically they are 40 or 50 gallons
Where is the current tank located ? Closet, garage, cellar, etc.
Do you have a Standard or Power Vent Natural Gas Unit.
Is there an easy way to remove it out of the house ?

Plumbing Heating Cooling in Albany Area since 1921

(518) 462-6577