FAQ - ASK NANO'S

Commercial plumbing contractors offer a wide range of services, with many dedicated to specific industries such as food service. 

Are you looking for a regular relationship with a commercial plumbing company? The best offer frequent customer or preferred customer programs that give you priority for emergency services and routine maintenance calls.

 Avoid dealing with plumbing services that give you specific quotes for plumbing work without doing an on-site inspection.Commercial plumbing work is subject to many variables and an accurate estimate simply can’t be given over the phone unless the problem has been diagnosed in person. 

Your plumbing problems may be complicated by issues beyond your basic control; tree roots can penetrate sewer lines, the original installation of pipes or drains could be defective. 

A commercial plumbing expert can give you sound advice on how to control or repair these issues, and what kind of preventive maintenance the company can help you with. Never pay for an on-site inspection meant to give you an estimate. The commercial plumbing service should offer this for free. 

When in doubt, ask during the telephone consultation if there is a fee for a specific service.

Alternative septic systems are often installed in “difficult” sites with conventional methods, but if you find water in your backyard from your septic system, you may need to upgrade or switch from a conventional septic system to something better suited to your area. 

There are many alternative septic systems that can accommodate sewer line plumbing, treat wastewater, and dispose of it properly. Alternative septic systems include raised bed and septic mound systems, aerobic systems, disinfection and even waterless systems. The first indicator that you need to switch from a conventional septic system may be that you experience flooding or unusual water gathering in a backyard or field. 

If you find your conventional septic system is not adequate, it is important to act quickly to avoid being cited or fined for non-compliance.

If you want a luxury bathroom design but don't want to do a compete remodel, there are ways to create the perfect modern bathroom or use traditional bathroom design ideas to upgrade one piece at a time. 

Sometimes you can change the look of a bath sink simply by replacing the faucets, but keeping the sink itself. Sinks and faucets should be matched carefully since they come in a variety of hole drillings and basins. 

There's no such thing as a universal fit.There are four basic types of faucets and their respective drillings:

• Wall-mounted - with a long spout to reach from the wall to the basin plus one or two handles
• Single lever - has a spout and a single handle to mix hot and cold
• Widespread - with a spout and two handles, all mounted as individual pieces
• Center set - a spout and two handles mounted in a center plate

Use the configuration of your original faucet as a guide to buying a replacement; bring the original with you when shopping for the replacement to compare 

if you aren't sure. When removing the old faucet, be sure to turn off the water and remove the water supply connection from the faucet before dismantling it.

If you are planning to replace or improve your bathroom plumbing, you have a wide range of options when it comes to bath sinks. 

A wall-mounted sink is an excellent alternative for modern bathrooms, but if you are after a more traditional look, try a pedestal sink. 

Regardless of the style and mounting, make sure you have enough elbow room for comfortable sink use. 

Install your new sink at least a foot away from the closest wall or the toilet to avoid banging your elbows when washing or brushing.

Your bathroom sink construction options include porcelain, marble, and vitreous china. When using china or porcelain, beware of dropping items onto these surfaces as they tend to chip.

Metal and fiberglass surfaces are also easily chipped or scratched in the right circumstances. Busy bathroom sinks used by children and teenagers are often better off with durable surfaces, such as enameled iron or steel.

If you are using bathroom contractors to remodel your bathroom, you'll need to give them some information to help design and plan your new bathroom plumbing needs. 

If you already have bathroom design ideas, give them to the contractor in advance, and be sure to include the following information:

• Counter top materials - do you prefer stone, a solid surface, or a laminate?
• Electric outlets and fixtures - do you want to add or move something?
• Sink, toilet, and tub - do you want a larger size, a different configuration, or a new location?
• What type of cabinets do you want?
• Do you want new flooring?

If you aren't sure on any of these bathroom remodeling ideas, check with the sales rep to look through a catalog or see samples of your options. 

You can look over a wide range of fixtures, toilet diagrams, and bathroom design ideas before committing. 

Always get multiple estimates on your final design with alternative materials and configurations to see how adding or changing fixtures or materials affects the bottom line.

Clogged drains may require a video inspection if you have repeated problems. Some clogs can be easily fixed, but if you can't locate the trouble yourself, you should call a professional to do a complete video inspection of your plumbing system.

A company properly equipped for this task, such as NANO'S, will provide a complete pipe inspection system to determine the source of your problem.

If you require a video inspection, chances are the clogged drains are being caused deep within the system. 

Video inspection is an important tool in both detection and fixing the problem correctly. 

Different clogs require different solutions. 

You may have debris lodged in the system or tree roots growing into your pipes. 

Video inspection is an excellent way to prescribe treatment.

Nothing stops a command performance of singing in the shower faster than a clogged drain. But the following tips from Nano's could be music to your ears when it comes to tackling the problem. 

Most shower clogs can be corrected easily with a minimum of hassle and mess. All you need are a few simple tools and a little common sense. Hair is usually the culprit when a shower fails to drain properly. 

In fact, checking the strainer cover that fits over the drain in your shower enclosure may be all it takes to solve the problem. If the perforations are stopped up, clean them out and test the flow of water.

 If the perforations in the strainer cover are not blocked, don’t panic. All you have to do is follow a few simple steps to remove the clog.

First, determine how the strainer cover is attached. Some covers simply snap into place and can be removed from the drain by lifting them with a screwdriver. 

Other covers are held in place by a couple of screws, which can be easily removed. Once the strainer cover is removed, shine a flashlight into the drain and visually check for a clog. 

You should see water a few inches below in the drain, but if you spot an obstruction, use a piece of stiff wire – a metal coat hanger crimped to make a hook on the end works fine – to clear the pipe. Gently snag the clog with the wire, being careful not to push the obstruction deeper into the drain. 

If you do not see a hair clog blocking the pipe, try using a plunger to clear the drain. Commonly known as the “plumber’s friend,” a plunger works best when there is a firm seal around the drain opening. It might help to coat the rim of the rubber force cup with petroleum jelly.

Next, pour enough water into the shower enclosure to cover the lip of the rubber cup on the plunger, and make sure the cup is securely fitted over the drain opening. Then, move the handle of the plunger up and down rapidly. 

If the plunger fails to force the clog free, the next step is to try a hand snake. This device features a flexible coil of spring steel with a crank at one end for rotating it. 

Carefully feed the metal cable into the drain pipe until you hit the obstruction. When you feel the cable stop, crank the handle clockwise. 

The tip of the metal cable will snag the clog as it turns. Keep up the cranking motion as you slowly pull the cable out of the drain line and the clog should pull free.

If all these steps fail to clear the drain, please call us now.

Drain cleaners can be poured into drains to remove clogs, but these cleaners contain caustic chemicals and should be used only as directed by the manufacturer. 

Drains should always be flushed thoroughly after a chemical application. 

Never use a plunger immediately after pouring a chemical into the drain. 

And remember, if you choose to use a chemical drain cleaner and then summon a plumber, tell him immediately so he can take the proper precautions.

Commercial plumbing products cover a wide range of needs. 

Did you know that there are products specifically for restaurant operations that can help control grease-related plumbing problems? 

One commercial plumbing solution for grease control is known as BioChoiceES®. This is an auto injection system designed to keep drains flowing, prevent grease clogging and improve the efficiency of grease traps. BioChoiceES® does not emulsify grease, which can violate local regulations; instead it consumes the grease and coverts it to water or carbon dioxide. 

An aggressive grease control solution such as BioChoiceES® can eliminate your need to call on commercial plumbing services later on to handle grease-related issues.

Industrial plumbing problems can create emergencies far different than residential issues. 

A home plumbing problem can result in a few feet of ruined carpet or some furniture replacement; industrial plumbing problems can result in damaged equipment, lost productivity and even compliance with commercial building codes. Some industrial plumbing issues are a result of failed inspections.

Did you know that old plumbing can sometimes lead to elevated lead levels in drinking water? 

An old facility may be in need of a plumbing overhaul and a commercial plumbing expert can give advice on how long and how much such an overhaul will cost. 

If you have an older facility that may need the work, it's best to show voluntary compliance with federal and local codes. 

Going on the record with a proactive approach is good for your workers and your public image.

Do you notice damp walls or floors around your laundry room sink? 

Check the pipes and fittings for leaks. Are there loose joints in your pipe connections? 

Tighten loose connections and you may stop an incidental leak without the need to call a plumber. 

You can also deal with small leaks from holes in a pipe by wrapping the pipe in rubber hose and applying clamps at the top, bottom, and at the source of the leak. Epoxy over a small hole with plumber's epoxy designed specifically for these types of leaks. 

Another laundry center problem comes from clogs. 

If you have a buildup of soap, lint, or hair in your laundry room sink drain or floor drain, eventually a clog will form. 

If you have a water shutoff valve installed on your laundry room sink, turn off the water, and remove the u-shaped pipe and look for the clog. 

You may need to inspect the straight ends of the pipe on either side to find the clumped hair and soap. Once the clog is removed, your drains will work normally again.

If you are cleaning sink drains, you can help speed the job along by remembering a few simple things:

• Foreign objects need to be manually removed. Flushing them out usually isn't an option, otherwise they wouldn't be clogging up your drain.
• Never pour a chemical or biological drain cleaners into the drain first. If you need to snake out a pipe or otherwise manually clear it, do that first instead. Always pour your cleaning agent last.
•  Wear face protection when snaking out a drain to avoid getting bacteria near your eyes, nose, and mouth

When pouring any cleaning agent, check the packaging to learn proper rinse timing. 

Some drain cleaning productions need to sit inside the pipes for a period of time to be effective. 

Don't let anyone run the water until the cleaning period is over and you have completely rinsed the drain cleaning products away.

You probably don’t think about your plumbing system very often. After all, it’s not a very exciting subject and as long as it is working, there is really nothing to think about, right? 

Wrong! Understanding a few basic facts about how your plumbing system works and what to do in case of a pipe break or system backup can prevent plumbing headaches and even property loss in the future.

First, the location of the main water shut-off is important to know. 

If a pipe breaks and is flooding your house, the main water supply may be the fastest way to shut off the flow of water. 

As your plumbing system enters your home either through a municipal water supply or private well you will find a main shut-off at the municipal water supply meter or the pressure tank of a private well. 

You should also find shut-off valves inside your home. Newer homes will have emergency shut-off valves for every fixture and appliance. 

However, in some cases older homes do not have these shut-offs and owners should plan to have them installed.

Many plumbing services now recommend environmentally-friendly drain care such as BioChoiceES® or other natural alternatives. 

There are many reasons to use these biodegradable, "green" cleaners in your drains, but the most important is safety. 

While you may have a sink maintenance situation that you feel justifies a chemical drain cleaner, these chemicals may leave residue that can wash back into your sink, tub, or toilet.

Ever notice a slight burning sensation when using a tub or sink after a chemical treatment? 

Chemicals also may create fumes that can be harmful unless you work in a well-ventilated area. 

Environmentally-friendly drain care can also be caustic to exposed skin or your eyes, but these cleaners do not affect the composition of your drains themselves. Some chemical cleaners may damage your pipes. 

A good part of plumbing preventive maintenance is regular use of a drain cleaner; knowing those cleaners won't hurt the pipes is just as important.