Harts Plumbing & Excavation:
If you are a Tacoma local you may have noticed the commotion on S 56th St during the last couple days of March. What you might not have realized is that while traffic was slowed for that block between Cushman, and Sheridan history was being made. Our team was working hard to orchestrate and complete […]
History In The Making: Witnessing Tacoma’s First Sewer Pipe Bore
Harts Plumbing & Excavation.
Harts Plumbing & Excavation:
A sewer repair can be a daunting thing. No matter where you live, or who you are, no one wants to hear that they need to have work done on their sewer line. This being said, if you do a little research about the process of sewer repair in Tacoma, it can make this diagnosis […]
6 Tips About Sewer Repair In Tacoma WA
Harts Plumbing & Excavation.
Harts Plumbing & Excavation:
A failed or backed-up sewer line is a huge problem that nobody wants to deal with. Suddenly, plans get canceled, showers become a thing of the past, and your wallet gets lighter. As frustrating as this situation is, we here at Harts try to make it a little easier for you by providing a free […]
Three Reasons We Do Free Sewer Estimates
Harts Plumbing & Excavation.
Harts Plumbing & Excavation:
Every family has there at home solutions that have been passed out from generation to generation. While some of these solutions are completely valid, you should not believe everything you heard! Especially when it comes to plumbing, there are certain myths that are extremely common, and tend to cause more problems than solutions. Below are […]
Three Tacoma Plumbing Myths Busted
Harts Plumbing & Excavation.
Harts Plumbing & Excavation:
When it comes to buying a home in Tacoma, there are any number of things you might be initially attracted to. Maybe it’s the view of the shipping docks, or the dome looming in the distance. Maybe it’s the historic nature of the neighborhoods, or the salty bay air. While you’re admiring the surroundings of […]
Top 5 Reasons to Use Trenchless Sewer Repair
Harts Plumbing & Excavation.
Harts Plumbing & Excavation:
We all know the feeling of not being in control of certain situations, and we all know the frustration that comes along with it. Unfortunately when it comes to the plumbing in your Tacoma home, are not always able to control if and/or when it decides to cause problems. Plumbing problems tend to happen at […]
3 Reasons You Need A 24-Hour Tacoma Emergency Plumber
Harts Plumbing & Excavation.
Harts Plumbing & Excavation:
In Tacoma, it is not at all uncommon for basements to become flooded. In fact, due to the amount of rain and groundwater present in Tacoma, flooded basements are one of the most common issues we deal with. While you should always call out a professional to deal with this issue, there are a few […]
Five Steps To Take When Your Basement Is Flooded
Harts Plumbing & Excavation.
Harts Plumbing & Excavation:
Steven Shoopman – Field Technician at Harts Plumbing showing how to do a proper locate – a complete understanding of what is happening below the ground. Locating plumbing lines is key to repairing underground lines. Without a reliable way to find buried lines, your plumber may spend unnecessary time and energy digging and searching. Root […]
Root Intrusion in Pipe: Plumbing Locating Explanation
Harts Plumbing & Excavation.
Harts Plumbing & Excavation:
Chances are you have experienced a clogged drain at least once in your life. We all know the inconvenience, the frustration, and the occasional nastiness that comes along with this predicament. That’s exactly why, when faced with this issue, you may jump straight to look for that quick fix. That over the counter chemical drain […]
Top 6 Reasons You Should Never Use Chemical Drain Cleaner
Harts Plumbing & Excavation.
Harts Plumbing & Excavation:
When customers call to schedule a camera scope, snake, or hydro jetter I usually end up asking them the same question: “Is there a cleanout?” Oftentimes this question is met with “What is that?” The fact about the matter is, cleanout drains are extremely handy. Not only can a cleanout make your local Tacoma plumber’s […]
What Is a Cleanout and Why Should You Have One?
Harts Plumbing & Excavation.
Harts Plumbing & Excavation:
Tim Paulk, the Lead Excavation Technician, working with plumbing riser in the city of Tacoma. A riser is a supply line, usually made of metal or plastic that is intended to connect a faucet or shower fixture to the stop valve of the water supply. Plumbing risers are commonly made of copper. Metal flex risers, […]
Plumbing Risers in Tacoma, WA
Harts Plumbing & Excavation.
Harts Plumbing & Excavation:
In the quest for readily available hot water, there is one phrase that seems to come up more than any other: “tankless water heater.” Just what are tankless water heaters, and why are they so sought after? When you really think about it, you try to keep everything in your life modern and up to […]
Why Are Tankless Water Heaters So Popular?
Harts Plumbing & Excavation.
Harts Plumbing & Excavation:
When it comes to sewer issues, most people think of clogs, cracks, or roots, but seldom stop to consider that the joints of their pipes may be offset. Because certain types of sewer pipes are installed in joint sections, these joints have the potential to shift, or sink causing them to become unaligned with the […]
Three Need to Know Facts About Offset Joints and Sewer Problems
Harts Plumbing & Excavation.
Harts Plumbing & Excavation:
For most, any work done within the city involving building or plumbing, you will need a permit. Permits are something that is applied for and then granted by the city to ensure that any building or digging can be done up to code. When you’re digging within the city (which is usually required with plumbing work […]
Water and Sewer Permit Cost and Process in Tacoma
Harts Plumbing & Excavation.
Harts Plumbing & Excavation:
If your sewer system was constructed before the 1980s, there is a good chance that you have a clay sewer line. Just like any other type of sewer line, clay pipes have the potential to develop problems. If your toilet is flushing too slowly, or not at all that is a clear sign that your […]
Clay Sewer Pipes
Harts Plumbing & Excavation.
Harts Plumbing & Excavation:
Orangeburg pipe is an extremely historic and unique style of piping made up of dried wood pulp impregnated with coal tar pitch. Originally developed during the industrial age in the United States as a conduit, Orangeburg quickly made its name as a go to piping material for plumbing and sewer repair. The first appearance of […]
Orangeburg Sewer Pipes
Harts Plumbing & Excavation.
Harts Plumbing & Excavation:
HDPE is one of the most common materials used in a sewer repair. HDPE stands for “High-Density Polyethylene” and is a type of plastic polymer that is commonly employed for many uses. This extremely durable plastic is used from everything from food packaging to plumbing and sewer repair. While production of High-Density Polyethylene began in […]
HDPE Sewer Pipes
Harts Plumbing & Excavation.
Harts Plumbing & Excavation:
Concrete pipe has a long history of being a durable material for storm water, drainage, and sewer applications throughout the entire world. In Tacoma, some of the originally installed concrete sewer pipes are still in service today. This is because most concrete pipes should have a performance lifespan of 100 years or more. Concrete pipe […]
Concrete Sewer Pipes
Harts Plumbing & Excavation.
Harts Plumbing & Excavation:
Sewer blockages are the bane of the plumbing world. This problem is all too common and can have a variety of different causes. When you are experiencing a blockage, it’s good to have someone on your side who is able to diagnose and solve the problem in a timely manner. We here at Harts pride […]
Causes of Sewer Blockages
Harts Plumbing & Excavation.
Harts Plumbing & Excavation:
Root intrusions are among one of the most common problems in older pipes. Especially in Tacoma, a lot of homes still have their original clay, cast iron, or orangeburg pipes. These types of pipes are softer than the modern PVC and HDPE pipes we have now. This means that they are extra susceptible to root […]
Root Intrusions in Sewer Pipes
Harts Plumbing & Excavation.
Harts Plumbing & Excavation:
Tim Paulk, our Lead Excavation Tech at Harts Plumbing explains the bursting preparation protocol for uncovering a main sewer pipe. Pipe bursting is a trenchless method of replacing buried pipelines (such as sewer,water, or natural-gas pipes) without the need for a traditional construction trench. “Launching and receiving pits” replace the trench needed by conventional pipe-laying.
Pipe Bursting Preparation Procedure
Harts Plumbing & Excavation.
Harts Plumbing & Excavation:
Tim Paulk, the Lead Excavation Technician, demonstrating on how to fuse HDPE 4in. sewer pipe. Pipe fusion is a simple process that involves using a heating element to essentially melt, and press two lengths of pipe together. The joint connecting the High Density Polyethylene Pipe that is created with the pipe fuser is stronger than […]
How to Fuse Pipe: Pipe Fuse Explanation & Demo
Harts Plumbing & Excavation.
Harts Plumbing & Excavation:
Underground pipes are often installed in segments. These segments can range anywhere from 2’ to 20’ or more. Sometimes some of these sections will shift causing their alignment to become offset. Most sewer lines built from the 1800’s all the way up through the mid-1980’s were constructed by putting together a large number of short […]
Offset Joints and Sewer Problems
Harts Plumbing & Excavation.
Harts Plumbing & Excavation:
Water Line Installation with Harts Plumbing & Excavation Tim Paulk, the Lead Excavation Technician, working with 160 ft. trench, digging about 30in. deep and installing 1in. HDPE polyethylene water pipe from the water source all the way to the house.
Open Trench Water Line Installation
Harts Plumbing & Excavation.
Harts Plumbing & Excavation:
No matter what your sewer lines are made of, they are susceptible to sags and bellys. A sag, or belly in your pipe means that part of it has sunk down to a lower level than the rest of the line. If your sewer lines are made of PVC, they are more susceptible to sags. […]
Sags and Bellys in Sewer Pipes
Harts Plumbing & Excavation.
Harts Plumbing & Excavation:
Cracks and fractures inside sewer pipes may have a variety of different causes. These causes can include poor original installation, poor soil bedding, root penetration, or deterioration due to the age of the pipe. Not only can cracks and fractures in your sewer lines affect the structural integrity of your pipelines, but can also allow […]
Cracks and Fractures in Sewer Lines
Harts Plumbing & Excavation.
Harts Plumbing & Excavation:
Holes in your sewer system is a serious problem. Depending on the size of the hole, it may cause very expensive issues for you and your sewer line. Some common causes of holes in pipes include deterioration, roots, and poor construction. Holes in your sewer system can cause the soil surrounding the pipe to erode. […]
Holes in Sewer Pipes
Harts Plumbing & Excavation.
Harts Plumbing & Excavation:
Structural defects or obstructions (such as sags, root intrusions, or offset joints) in a pipe can cause debris to build up. Debris buildup can also occur when inappropriate items are flushed or poured down your drains. This buildup of debris will cause the flow of your pipes to become obstructed, and if severe enough may […]
Debris and Grease in Sewer Lines
Harts Plumbing & Excavation.
