Let's talk about inflammable waste traps. They are a part of your sewer septic system, designed to intercept and trap inflammable materials so they don't flow into sewer lines, creating a dangerous, explosive mixture. These materials are held in a large, leak-proof steel basin. Sediment settles, and inflammable waste rises, so the leftover wastewater can be safely discharged to a sewer-treatment facility. From time to time, the inflammable waste buildup needs to be safely removed and disposed of, and that's when Drain King can help.
So what is inflammable waste? Since inflammable means "capable of being set on fire," it could be matter in any of its forms ‑ solid, liquid, or gas (vapor). It can be the by-product of a manufacturing process or a discarded commercial product. Examples include, but are not limited to: waste ethanol, methanol, hexane, acetic acid, acetone, motor oil, paints and solvents, aerosols, and cleaning agents. Inflammable waste is characterized by its flash point (the lowest temperature at which a particular organic compound gives off sufficient vapor to ignite in air) of less than 60 C (140 F).
Great care needs to be taken when handling such volatile compounds, to prevent the risk of explosion and/or environmental contamination. In the early 1900s, long before such contaminants were regulated, serious explosions were a regular problem for industrial cities like Pittsburgh, Boston, and New York. In a single year, these three cities suffered six explosions caused by gasoline vapor, resulting in many deaths and severe injuries, as well as physical damage to the sewer lines, buildings, and streets.
Inflammable waste traps may be installed above or below ground. While tanks should be constructed of a leak-proof material, it is important to have them regularly inspected to make sure the waste is fully contained. It is imperative that underground tanks be accessible at ground level for waste removal and inspection. Consider installing an audio and visual alarm that will detect waste levels and alert you when the tank reaches 75 percent of its total capacity. If you choose not to install an alarm, we can manually measure your liquid levels on a monthly basis to gauge the rate of fill. Inflammable waste traps that are not cleaned regularly may allow oils and other chemicals to leak into a septic or sewer system, contaminating wastewater and causing costly cleanup and disposal.
The professionals at Drain King have the knowledge, experience, and equipment to safely and correctly dispose of all types of inflammable waste. Trust us to do your job right the first time.
One of the smallest areas of your home has been found to be the most dangerous. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 235,000 people visit emergency rooms because of injuries suffered in the bathroom—from slippery surfaces in the bath and shower to falling in and around the toilet. This room should be examined and, if needed, retrofitted so no one gets hurt.
The CDC found that almost 33,000 people over the age of 14 go to the hospital after sustaining injuries while using the toilet. Not too surprisingly, people age 85 or over are particularly prone to injury this way, due to falls and the lack of a safety grab bar at the toilet. In fact, 81 percent of all injuries in the bathroom are due to falls. This calls for the need for homeowners to consider preventive equipment.
You can improve your bathroom’s safety. Use nonslip strips or mats in the bathtub and shower. Equip your tub or bath with a safety bar to hold while getting in and out. Install a grab bar or holding rail by the toilet for those who need assistance getting up and down from the seat. Consider getting rid of bath mats that can trip you or those that are placed in your walking path. Bathrooms are usually poorly lit; consider installing a light that comes on automatically when the illumination level in the bathroom drops.
While the elderly are more prone to bathroom accidents, all age groups visit the emergency room for accidents related to one of the smallest areas of the home, the bathroom.
Does your home or office suffer from noisy pipes? While different noises can come from your drain service system, and no system will ever be completely silent, if you mainly hear the sound when you turn on the water, the pipes are probably loose somewhere and hitting against something.
Banging pipes are much easier to fix when they are visible, but in most cases pipes are located in the walls. To find the source of the noise, you should follow these steps.
Go to each faucet, turn on the water and look for any movement or shaking. If you find movement, place padding or foam insulation at each end where the pipe comes out of the wall or goes under the home or business. This added insulation should stop the noise.
Unfortunately, the noise may continue, and you may need to go under the house or access pipes behind walls. You may need to examine them to make sure the U-clamp, or strap holding the pipe, is not loose, allowing the pipe to hit the wall.
To eliminate the noise, you will need to strap the pipe back down and add some insulation between the wall and the pipe. This can include a piece of rubber, foam, or anything that will not wear down with the movement of the pipe when the water is turned on.
As you anchor or strap your pipes down, it is important to remember to allow for some movement. Pressure and temperature changes will cause pipes to expand and contract, and you do not want to cause a pipe to break because it is secured too tightly.
Should the knocking sound only happen when you turn on the hot water, then you only need to turn down your hot water heater, as it is set too high.
Additionally, if the banging sound is happening at an older home or business, check to make sure you have a water-pressure regulator and make sure your water pressure is not set too high. High water pressure is wasteful and can also cause damage to your appliances, including dishwashers, icemakers, washing machines, and other water-supplied appliances.
If problems persist after you’ve taken these steps, contact Drain King for assistance.
Fat, oil, and grease can clog treatment systems, wastewater collection, septic tanks, holding tanks, and grease traps. Blockages cause water to overflow from holding tanks, leading to sewage spills. This can result in serious problems like property damage, environmental pollution, and health hazards. Restaurants that dispose of animal- and vegetable-based oil and grease wastes also contribute to this problem.
Institutions producing grease should ensure maximum control in order to evade these problems. In addition to damaging wastewater treatment, hazardous materials like mold and bacteria can enter the environment through the air and may lead to health problems once inhaled.
Winds transport untreated fat, oil and grease (FOG) materials to the environment. Untreated FOG materials can also attract pests like cockroaches, mice, and rats.
Disposal of FOG materials without treatment leads to their accumulation in pipelines. This makes it difficult to transport wastes to drainage lines, as they tamper with the smooth flow. Companies that dispose of large amounts of waste may be forced to stop their activities if blockage by FOG materials is not attended to urgently.
Grease causes serious problems, thus it needs serious attention. Below are some methods of effective grease control.
Establishment of Grease Arrestors
Arrestors are compact and lightweight and can be installed in existing or new facilities. They can be placed anywhere to help reduce disposal. They have an advantage over concrete ones because they are portable. Also, they are built with polythene and thermal plastics, which are anticorrosive. Devices like these are used in grease-cleaning facilities and to trap other chemical pollutants. Contact us for information to on the use of arrestors and how they can help your business.
Establishment of Dosing Systems
This method is widely used in companies that deal with water treatment or use disinfected water. It makes sense for companies to invest in their own dosing systems. This device is easy to handle and install. Its maintenance cost is also low, which adds to its appeal.
Oil Grease Separator Device
This device prevents oil and other greasy wastes from mixing with sewer and stormwater. These machines help reduce problems that may arise due to contamination. Drain King advises companies to purchase these machines online to ensure they receive correct pricing and find the best dealers in the market.
Cleaning Sewers
Sewer cleaning is also another effective grease-control method. This helps to restore and maintain hydraulic capacity, thus preventing blockage or spills. Blockage can also occur after the sewers are cleaned, due to the nature of residential, industrial, or commercial discharges. Most cities keep records of performance at high-problem areas to ensure close supervision.
Cleaning of sewers is costly and resource-intensive. Therefore, if not performed consistently, it may not prevent all grease in these areas. In areas where cleaning is done at short intervals, extra effort might be needed to control the source of the problems. These efforts may include replacement of broken sections of sewer pipes or inspecting grease-removing equipment.
Water is our most precious natural resource. Animals and plants alike depend on its nourishment to live, as all living things are composed mostly of this vital element. Our planet is also 71 percent water, which seems like an immense amount, and it is. However, it is crucial to remember that the Earth’s water is a finite resource. Not all of the water on Earth is considered usable, as a lot of it is salt water, and smaller amounts are present as vapor in the air or moisture in the soil.
As we are so dependent on this resource, it makes sense to use it as sparingly as possible in our day-to-day living. With 7 billion people on the planet, all equally dependent on available water sources, it is time to get creative and really start paying attention to the amount of water we use…and how to use less.
The average American goes through 80 to 100 gallons of water per day. This number includes everything from washing clothes to drinking a glass of water. North America, Canada, and Australia have about the same water usage per capita, which amounts to a range of 1,037 to 5,375 gallons annually. Granted, this is a large range and a fluctuating one, but the fact remains; a lot of water is being used per person. We could easily decrease those numbers by changing the way we operate each day in our households and offices.
Some great ways to save water include swapping out showerheads, toilets, dishwashers, and faucets for newer models fitted with low-flow capabilities, most of which cut water usage in half. Replacing any of these would lower monthly costs, as well as ease the conscience.
When making the switch to a low-flow faucet or appliance, it is always a good idea to have your drain service lines checked to make sure they are free of debris and potential blockage. These could slow or stop the flow of water, ultimately making you regret the change to low flow in your home or office.
Small changes do make a difference in the impact we have on the planet, and when it's as easy as switching out a few everyday appliances in the home, why not do our part? If you are considering switching to low flow fixtures, contact Drain King for an assessment of your water lines today.
Water is our most precious natural resource. Animals and plants alike depend on its nourishment to live, as all living things are composed mostly of this vital element. Our planet is also 71 percent water, which seems like an immense amount, and it is. However, it is crucial to remember that the Earth’s water is a finite resource. Not all of the water on Earth is considered usable, as a lot of it is salt water, and smaller amounts are present as vapor in the air or moisture in the soil.