Press Releases Archive - Page 7 of 7 - Apple Valley Plumbing Company

Top Ways to Prevent Frozen Pipes In Your Home This Winter

Easy Tips to Keep Your Pipes From Freezing This Winter

It's that time of year again when the snow starts to fall and the temperatures start to drop. While it can be nice and cozy inside, when those temperatures drop, anything that’s outside is at risk of freezing, including your plumbing. The pipes that are the most vulnerable to freezing are the ones exposed to exterior walls or in places that are not heated.

Not only will the pipes freeze and render you without water, but they can also rupture, causing you to be without water and a big repair bill. Because of this potential disaster, plumbing professionals have the following tips to keep frozen pipes from happening.

Try Adding Heat Tape

Heat tape is used to wrap around exposed pipes to heat them when the temperatures drop into the freezing range. Heat tape isn't tape at all, but rather it's a flexible resistive heat-conducting wire that produces heat with electricity.

Heat tape is used to prevent water-filled rigid plastic and metal water pipes from freezing. The tape is wrapped around pipes and connected to a power supply. The wire around the pipe will then hold heat against the pipe preventing freezing.

There are a wide variety of types and styles on the market, so it’s always a good idea to consult a plumbing professional to determine your specific needs. Also, remember that it needs to be connected to electricity, so it’s only applicable to areas where there’s readily an outlet.

How Insulation Can Help

Pipe insulation is a material that is wrapped around water pipes that helps to prevent freezing. Normally pipe insulation is made of foam or fiberglass. Pipe insulation is an easy and affordable way to prevent freezing and thus burst pipes. Like your favorite winter or ski jacket, the insulation holds heat in and keeps cold out which prevents freezing.

In addition, because your plumbing is always relatively warm, your water heater and appliances won’t have to work as hard to provide you with hot water. There are many types of pipe insulation so do your research and determine the correct product for your needs or call on a plumbing professional for help.

Sometimes insulation comes in the form of a simple sleeve that can be wrapped around the pipe, with other options including spray-on foam. Just be sure you’re satisfied with your insulation choice before the winter season rolls around.

Remember to Run A Drip of Water

The cheapest and easiest way to help prevent frozen water pipes is by allowing the faucet to run a constant drip of water through the water cycle. This may seem like wasted water, but by having water constantly flowing through your pipe, there’s less of a chance for the pipe to freeze completely.

As a pro tip, it’s always a good idea to go with cool water instead of hot. Because your water supply is limited by the capacity of the hot water heater, using hot water can increase your costs. In the event that you do notice frost or ice forming in or around your plumbing, addressing it as quickly as possible is key.

As the pipe continues to freeze, it can expand, leading to a break. Instead, try your best to warm the area using a hairdryer or space heater. If all else fails, contact your local plumber immediately, as they can help mitigate damage.

About Apple Valley Plumbing Company

Apple Valley Plumbing Company is a full-service plumbing company that prides itself on providing personalized service at the best value. Their services include drain cleaning, pipe installation, repairs, and emergency services. Apple Valley Plumbing Company provides service to Eagan, Rosemont, Lakeville, and the surrounding areas.

Distribution Links +

Thanking Plumbers For Their Services on This Thanksgiving

Essential Reasons to Thank You Plumbing Contractor This November

On the fourth Thursday of November, Americans get together to celebrate Thanksgiving. The holiday has become incredibly important to the country, not only as a day to get together and cook with loved ones but also to acknowledge and say thank you to all of the important people in their lives. This Thanksgiving, when sitting down to enjoy the turkey, homeowners should make sure they add thanking plumbers to their list of people to mention for providing comfort in their daily lives.

Thanking Plumbers for Clean Water

Without plumbers, homes would not have access to potable (safe and clean drinking) water. This is one reason that thanking plumbers this holiday season is incredibly important. With unsafe drinking water directly correlating to hundreds of thousands of deaths across the globe annually, many people forget just how lucky they are to be able to turn on the faucet and be able to take a drink without worrying about diseases and impurities.

Plumbers service and maintain the plumbing pipes that let that water enter the home, a fact that often goes underappreciated by most homeowners. This means that plumbers are often on the front line of making sure tap water continues to stay safe, healthy, and drinkable for all members of the family.

They Are Essential for Your Sewage System

Another reason for thanking plumbers this year is their contribution to making sure the entire neighborhood has a clean, working sewer system. The first line of defense against a damaged sewer system is being able to identify and fix potential issues that can be caused by a sewer system backup.

Having a skilled plumber catch the backup before it becomes catastrophic can save not only the individual homeowner but also the entire neighborhood time, money, and stress. Warning signs of a possible sewer system backup should immediately prompt a call to a local plumbing company.

These signs include but are not limited to water that backs up into the bathtub/shower or sink, gurgling noise from the plumbing, or any strong, sewage odor in or around the home. A sewer system backup can be caused by a variety of issues, like hair, toilet paper, or inappropriate discarded food or objects in the garbage disposal.

Plumbers Near You Can Help with Your Home Issues

One of the most frequently searched terms, no matter the time of year, is "when to call a plumber" or more common "plumbers near me." A final reason it is important for everyone to make sure they are thanking plumbers this Thanksgiving is that they make themselves available, sometimes even 24 hours a day/7 days a week, to help make sure all houses are safe and comfortable for the people that live in them.

Many plumbers miss spending time with their own families so that the community around them can have a great holiday season. This commitment to helping people, even at their own personal expense, is the reason that plumbers are one of the most important, valuable members of the community and should be acknowledged and thanked regularly, not only during Thanksgiving.

Apple Valley Plumbing Company Is Your Local Plumber

Opened in 2013, Apple Valley Plumbing Company services the plumbing needs of Apple Valley, Minnesota as well as the surrounding areas while providing a 100% No-Risk Satisfaction Guarantee. The experienced, professional staff offers friendly service, upfront pricing, and customized personal attention.

Distribution Links +

The Importance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month This Year

Learn About Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is a special month of the year, as the entire month is dedicated to breast cancer awareness. This international effort seeks to support those impacted by breast cancer while also raising awareness about the disease. Further, throughout the month, there are events and opportunities to raise money to support research, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and the search for a cure.

Many communities host races, festivals and other events in honor of breast cancer awareness month. It’s an important month that provides much-needed support and resources to the fight against breast cancer.

Celebrate by Wearing a Pink Ribbon

The pink ribbon is the international symbol for breast cancer. Wearing a pink ribbon shows support for those impacted by the disease and is a way to further raise awareness about it.

An act as simple as wearing a pink ribbon can help to raise global awareness and, thus, helps with early detection and helps with raising money.

It might seem like a small thing, but wearing a pink ribbon shows support to those impacted by breast cancer and helps to further the mission of breast cancer awareness month. Join the worldwide celebrations this October by wearing a pink ribbon.

October 18th is Wear Pink Day

Another way to help celebrate this October is by wearing it pink on October 18th. While there is a lot of pink seen throughout the month, October 18 is a day specifically dedicated to wearing pink in support of breast cancer awareness.

It’s a way to powerfully make a statement as a community about the importance of this issue while also showing support for those already impacted by the disease. So mark your calendar and plan to wear as much pink as you can on the 18th.

Recognizing the Medical Signs

As part of raising awareness about breast cancer, it’s important to also raise awareness about some of the early signs and symptoms. Knowing these signs helps support early detection and can lead to better outcomes. While it’s always important to have regular screenings, it’s also important to contact your doctor as soon as any potential signs are noticed.

Such signs include:

Skin changes on either breast.
A lump or mass in the breast tissue.
Change in the size or shape of either breast.
Nipple discharge.
Pain in either breast or lumps on the side of either breast.

Routine self-checks, with an awareness of early signs to watch for, are an important way to help with early detection of breast cancer. Help raise awareness this October by both watching for early signs and sharing these tips with others.

Supporting Breast Cancer Awareness

Apple Valley Plumbing Company is committed to providing the highest quality of service and professionalism to every customer. Apple Valley Plumbing Company provides reliable and timely services, even offering same-day services for urgent issues.

Their team is available to help with any plumbing issue customers have, from basic issues to more specialized plumbing needs. They are not only expertly qualified but are also committed to providing excellent service and lasting plumbing solutions.