Types of Septic Systems for Boise Homes

May 14th, 2012

When it comes to septic systems in Boise, there are probably more options than you realize. To a certain extent, the type of septic system installation you choose is determined by the particular conditions around your home. But it is worth learning about the various options so that you can make an informed decision about the kind of system you would like to have.

The more conventional types of septic systems fall into two categories – gravity and pressure distribution. A gravity system, as its name implies, makes use of the force of gravity to drain away waste from your home and into a drainfield.

Gravity systems use gravity to help treat the waste as well, so this type of system requires that you have a particular type of soil and enough space below the ground to allow for proper filtering. If the water table or a layer of hardpan is too close to the ground’s surface around your home, a gravity system may not be an option for you.

Another conventional option is a pressure distribution system. In this setup, a pump regulates the flow of waste from a storage tank to the drainfield. This is the optimal setup if you do not have enough below ground space for a gravity system as the pump makes sure that only the proper amount of waste can enter the drainfield at once and that the waste is distributed evenly when it is pumped in.

There are also several alternative types of septic systems. For instance, mound septic systems are another option to consider when you do not have enough space below ground for a gravity system. In a mound system, the drainfield is actually placed above the surface of the ground and a pump regulates the flow of waste to the field. This allows for adequate treatment before the waste reaches the water table.

Also an option in this type of situation is a sand filter system. This type of septic system incorporates a sand filter holding tank to treat waste before it is allowed out into the drain field. It is another way to make up for the fact that there may not be enough soil to provide adequate filtration but does not require that you build up a mound of earth on your property.  Call Wickstrom Service Company if you would also like to learn more about your septic tank options

Tags: , ,
Posted in Plumbing, septic system installation, Septic Tanks | Comments Off

How Long Does it Take to Install Geothermal Heating For a Home in Murphy?

May 7th, 2012

Switching to geothermal heating in Murphy is a big step and can be a sound investment, but many homeowners are nervous about having their yard dug up. Just how long do you have to have your life and yard disrupted for a geothermal installation? It depends on the type of installation, but probably not as long as you think.

Horizontal Straight Loop

This is probably the most common type of geothermal configuration for residential homes. The necessary coolant pipes are buried about five feet below the ground in parallel lengths, like matches in a box. Depending on weather and soil conditions, this kind of installation can usually be completed in a day or two.

Horizontal Coiled Loop

This configuration is very similar to the horizontal straight loop, with the major difference being that the pipes are in coils instead of just straight lengths. This allows more surface area in a smaller space, which can be good for homes with small yards.

This type of installation requires some more digging because of the height of the loops, but again can still be done in just a couple of days.

Vertical Loop

In this configuration, the coolant pipes are installed side by side, but they run vertically straight into the ground instead of laying flat as in the horizontal straight loop. This type of installation is usually used only in commercial settings where space is at a premium, making horizontal configurations impossible.

The complexity and added labor of the vertical loop often makes it prohibitively expensive for home applications, and also means it takes longer to install. Count on this taking up to four days.

Pond Loop

This configuration is the easiest, cheapest and quickest, but can only be used on sites where there is a suitable body of water nearby. Rather than digging trenches and laying pipes into them, coils are floated on top of a pond and then sunk to the bottom, taking advantage of the existing geothermal energy of the pond itself.

A pond loop installation can be done in as little as one day, provided conditions are adequate.  Please call Wickstrom Service Company if you have any questions.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Geothermal, Geothermal Heating, Geothermal Installation | Comments Off

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

May 4th, 2012

In celebration of Cinco de Mayo, why not try out a new recipe? Enjoy!

Spicy Chicken Soup

Ingredients

  • 2 quarts water
  • 8 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoons dried parsley
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 5 cubes chicken bouillon
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 (16 ounce) jar chunky salsa
  • 2 (14.5 ounce) cans peeled and diced tomatoes
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes
  • 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed tomato soup
  • 3 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
  • 2 (16 ounce) cans chili beans, undrained
  • 1 (8 ounce) container sour cream

Directions

  1. In a large pot over medium heat, combine water, chicken, salt, pepper, garlic powder, parsley, onion powder and bouillon cubes. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 1 hour, or until chicken juices run clear. Remove chicken, reserve broth. Shred chicken.
  2. In a large pot over medium heat, cook onion and garlic in olive oil until slightly browned. Stir in salsa, diced tomatoes, whole tomatoes, tomato soup, chili powder, corn, chili beans, sour cream, shredded chicken and 5 cups broth. Simmer 30 minutes.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Steps for Installing a New Sewer Line in Quail Ridge

April 30th, 2012

Drain and sewer installation in Quali Ridge is a major construction project that should only be done by a licensed contractor. There are strict codes for accessing and altering the municipal sewer lines in the Quail Ridge area that must be carefully followed. You must also locate all other service lines – gas, water, underground cable –  within the construction zone. Contractors are familiar with the process of obtaining the necessary work permits and other approvals.

Locate and Expose the Existing Line

The first step is locating and exposing the existing water line. The contractor will locate where the line leaves your house and remove the dirt near the foundation to expose the line. A municipal planning map will give the location of where the line ties into the main sewer line. The contractor will use stakes and strings to mark the approximate location of the line across your yard, and then excavate until the line is fully exposed. Unless the distance between your house and the street is very short, the contractor will probably use power equipment to expose the line.

Cut and Remove the Old Line

Before cutting and removing the old line, the contractor may need to brace it if it’s made of cast iron or some other metal to prevent it from bending and cracking after it’s been cut at one end. The end nearest the house is usually cut first to ensure any residual material in the pipe has drained into the municipal line. Waste water moves passively, by gravity, so the line from the house to the sewer will run downhill. That also ensures that municipal waste water doesn’t run back into the line. The slope or angle of the run and distance from other utility lines is critical and must comply with local codes.

Choice of Materials

Main sewage pipes are usually made of either cast iron, PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene). Some older homes in Quali Ridge may still have lead sewage pipes. Cast iron had been the most frequently used material in home construction and is still popular, but PVC and ABS are the materials most frequently used in new home construction. They are cheaper than metal, easier to work with, and highly resistant to corrosion. However, the choice of materials will depend on whether a portion of the old line is to remain intact. The contractor will not want to splice a PVC line between two cast iron lines. Local codes in the Quali Ridge area may also call for specific materials. Like all plumbed lines, sewer lines are joined by prefabricated joints made of the same material as the pipes. Whether new joints will be included in the line replacement depends on how much of the old line is to be removed.  ABS and PVC pipes are attached to joints with glue. Cast iron pipes can be threaded or have bell-and-spigot (large diameter and small diameter) ends that fit together. Bell-and-spigot joints are then sealed with oakum, which is a flexible, fibrous material, and lead.

If you have any questions about this please call Wickstrom Service Company

Tags: , ,
Posted in Drain and sewer installation in Quali Ridge, Drainage Sewer & Septic, Plumbing | Comments Off

We Appreciate Your Feedback!

April 27th, 2012

Wickstrom Plumbing, Heating and Cooling wants to provide you with the highest quality service. In order to do so, we want to hear how we are doing! If you have a moment, we invite you to take our easy Online Survey.

Here is some recent feedback from another happy customer:

“A big thank you to your technician for fixing the problem. We now have hot water all the time. Thanks for sticking with us till the problem was solved.”

- Calista in Sand Hollow

Thank you, Calista!

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

No Heat From Your Boiler in Garden City: Causes and Solutions

April 23rd, 2012

Boiler hot water heating systems in Garden City are popular because of their reliability and efficiency. But breakdowns do occur, especially as units age, and they can happen for many reasons. The first step is to make sure you’re actually dealing with a breakdown and not something much more simple. If you’ve lost heat from your boiler, check to make sure there’s fuel in your oil or gas tank before making a service call. Also keep in mind that part of the heating system is electrical. A recent power outage or short circuit in the house could have tripped the circuit breaker for the boiler.

Next, on the list of potential heating repairs, check the emergency shut off switch. It looks like a typical wall light switch but with a red cover and bold lettering indicating the off and on positions. It’s usually placed in a convenient spot in the basement. In many Garden City homes it’s located at the top of the basement stairs. Sometimes the switch is turned off accidentally, but if a repairman or someone else in you house turned it off for a reason, you need to find out why.

If the emergency switch is on and all the circuit breakers are on and there’s plenty of fuel, the next step in diagnosing the problem is checking the boiler. First, understand that most heating appliances automatically shut down when a critical component stops functioning properly. Don’t put yourself or your family at risk. Don’t attempt to restart or repair the boiler yourself. But you can help the HVAC technician help you by checking a few simple things before making the call.

A puddle on the floor usually means a pipe or valve is leaking. A drop in the water level inside the boiler could have triggered the shut down. But leaks in joints can also occur when something else shuts the boiler down and the metal plumbing shrinks. Is the puddle getting larger or is it stagnant?

If there’s no leak, carefully touch the copper pipes running in and out of the top. If some are hot and others cold, the boiler is probably working but some of the zone controls or thermostats may be broken.

If all the pipes are cold, carefully touch the metal panels covering the boiler. They usually warm up a bit when the boiler is operating normally. Listen for the faint hissing sound of the pilot light. If the  boiler is cold and completely silent, the pilot light may have gone out, triggering a shut down. Don’t attempt to relight the pilot unless you’ve done so before. The HVAC technician can show you how to do it. Keep in mind that many new boilers in the Garden City area have pilotless electronic ignitions.

If the pilot is lit but the pipes and boiler are cold, and boiler uses fuel oil, the burner motor may have stopped working. The burner motor is a separate, smaller unit attached to the boiler. Most burners have a red reset button that pops up when there’s a burner malfunction. Try to locate the button and decide if it’s popped up, but don’t reset it. Call the Wickstrom Service Company first. Restarting a malfunctioning unit may cause further damage. Oil burner motors can stop working for many reasons, including soot blocking the air supply, blocked fuel line, dirty electrodes inside the motor, or seized up bearings. Only a licensed HVAC technician can correctly diagnose and fix such problems.

 

Tags: , ,
Posted in Boiler Hot Water Heating Systems in Garden City, Heating, Heating Repairs | Comments Off

Different Types of Furnace Filters for Star Homes

April 16th, 2012

Furnaces in Star require good filters. Because that device heats and blows air throughout your home, you want to be sure that it doesn’t recycle contaminants and bacteria that could easily be captured at the air handler. That’s why it’s vital to choose the right furnace filter on the first try. Here are some furnace filters to consider and their various benefits to your home and family:

  • Electrostatic – Most electrostatic filters are permanent and must be washed on a regular basis. They are electronically charged to capture particles as they pass through, much like a magnet. These filters are effective because they are both physical and electronic. However, keep in mind that they are only as efficient as the cleaning they receive.
  • HEPA – HEPA is the highest rating available for a filtration system, removing up to 99.9% of all particles as small as 0.3 microns. However, they are also inefficient when used in furnaces as they severely reduce air flow. They are not often recommended for this reason.
  • Pleated – Pleated filters come in both reusable and permanent forms and can be either purely mechanical or electrostatic. There is a very wide range of efficiency ratings for pleated filters so make sure you analyze your home’s specific needs before selecting any one pleated filter.
  • Activated Carbon – Activated carbon is unique from the other three filter types because it effectively removes fumes, odors and chemicals from indoor air along with other larger particles. It is recommended that if you choose an activated carbon filter, you supplement it with a pleated or electrostatic filter (or choose a combination filter) to remove all unwanted components from your home.

There are a lot of options when it comes to furnace maintenance. To make sure you get only the best air quality, call Wickstrom Service Company who can help you determine which pollutants are the biggest problem in your home.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Furnace Maintenance, Furnaces in Star, Heating | Comments Off

Problems Roots Can Cause in Your Garden City Sewer Lines

April 9th, 2012

Sewer lines in Garden City are a major component in home plumbing, but because it is buried, they rarely needs maintenance and almost always works as intended, most people forget about it. However, a sewer line can quickly become a much bigger problem if you allow tree roots to grow close to it. Here are some of the problems an errant tree can cause for your sewer line and what plumbing repairs might be needed.

What Roots Do to Sewer Lines

Trees actively seek water at all times. They grow slowly, but when they grow they move their branches toward sunlight and their roots toward water. On most developed properties attached to a city sewer system, the best source of water is the sewer line.

If allowed to continue, tree roots grow toward the sewer line and eventually infiltrate the line. It may take time, but eventually those roots will find seams and cracks in the pipe and break into it seeking water.

Over time, this will result in leaks, cracks and clogs in your line that can flood your lawn, back up in your home or cause problems for your neighbors.

Solving the Tree Root Problem

The first thing you should do is ensure there are not trees or shrubs growing close to your sewer line. If you don’t know where your sewer line is, check your property assessment or have a plumber help you find it. Remove any trees in the vicinity to avoid such a problem.

If you suspect a tree root problem, have your plumber perform a video pipe inspection to check for roots and other blockages. If they find roots, high pressure jetting can often remove the problem completely.

Keep in mind that if the damage is advanced enough, you may need to have parts of your sewer line replace or relined. The actual work required will depend on the severity of the damage and the opinion of your plumber. Talk to a professional to learn more about what options are at your disposal.

A sewer line is vitally important to the operation of your home’s plumbing system. If you even suspect that a tree’s roots are infiltrating your pipes, contact Wickstrom Service Company right away for a full inspection.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Plumbing, Plumbing Repairs, Video Pipe Inspection | Comments Off

Happy Easter from Wickstrom Plumbing

April 7th, 2012

From your Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing specialists at Wickstrom Service Co., we hope you enjoy your weekend! If you are celebrating Easter, check out these family friendly Easter Egg decorating ideas for a little inspiration. Enjoy!

 

Easter Eggs

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Repairing Common Boise Sump Pump Problems

April 2nd, 2012

Your Boise sump pump is an important piece of equipment that pumps out excess groundwater, which prevents flooding hazards in basements and water damage to your home. If the pump stops working or won’t shut off, you can usually solve the issue yourself. During times of heavy rain and potential flooding, it’s best to check your pump on a daily basis to make sure it’s running properly.

You can maintain your pump by having it inspected by a professional Boise plumber, and keeping the pump clean and the well free of debris. Feel free to call Wickstrom Plumbing, Heating & Cooling if you have questions about how to maintain a sump pump, or to make an appointment for an annual inspection and professional cleaning.

Most issues can be repaired easily and without the help of a plumber. Here’s a troubleshooting guide to help you solve minor issues with your pump.

Check for Electrical Problems

Always check to make sure the sump pump is fully plugged in and that there aren’t any fuses that have burned out. If there is standing water in the basement, you should take extra precautions when handling any electrical equipment, even a plug. Call a plumber or electrician for advice if you have any safety concerns.

Check the Float Switch

Just like the float in a toilet tank, the float attached to the side of your sump pump acts as a guide for turning the pump on and off. This is called the float switch, and it usually has a large bulb or other floatation device attached to a metal arm. This float detects the water level inside the well, and it turns the pump on when the water reaches a certain height in the well.

If the pump is plugged in and there are no blown circuits, move the float switch up and down to see if it will turn the pump on. Debris can get trapped underneath the float causing it to stick. If the motor is constantly running, this switch may be stuck in the “on” position if debris is lodged underneath it, or if there’s substantial corrosion.

You can actually move the entire pump around to change the position if there’s no apparent debris causing the issue. Sometimes the pump gets shifted around slightly, and the float switch cannot work properly if the pump isn’t plumb or level. Be careful not to move it too much, since it could damage the drain line attached to the pump motor.

If your motor is constantly running, and none of these steps work, the motor could overheat and stop working. Unplug the pump while you’re investigating the problem, and if none of these steps work, call a professional plumber.

Check for Clogged Filters

In addition to causing issues with the float switch, debris trapped in the screen can also cause the motor to overheat or shut down. If your filter is dirty, try to get out as much of the debris as possible, but if this doesn’t solve the issue, you could have a clogged drain line. In this case, you will need to call a professional plumber to snake out the line.

Preventative Maintenance Tips

You can prevent issues with the sump pump in your Boise home with a few preventative maintenance tasks. Keep debris from falling into the well as much as possible, and clean out any particles that could clog the screen or affect the operation of the float switch. Occasionally inspect the pump and well for any corrosion or other concerns. If you are comfortable with the operation of your pump, drain and clean the entire well and pump at least once a year.

Lastly, call a qualified technician at Wickstrom Plumbing, Heating & Cooling for a yearly sump pump maintenance visit.

 

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Plumbing | Comments Off

« Older Entries