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Month: December 2015
What Are the Benefits of a Dry Pipe Valve System?
A dry pipe valve system is often used in industrial and commercial fire sprinkler systems. This type of piping system fills the pipes with pressurized air or nitrogen instead of water. The air contains a remote valve, also known as a dry pipe valve, in a closed position. The dry pipe valve prevents water from entering the pipe until a fire causes one of the sprinklers to operate. If this occurs, then the valve releases the air, water flows into the pipe, and the sprinklers release the water onto the fire.
Advantages of a Dry Pipe Valve Sprinkler System
Dry valve sprinkler systems can be used in a variety of industrial and commercial buildings. Determining if this is the right sprinkler system for your building will require the help of a certified building inspector, fire chief, and your local fire regulations or standards. With this in mind, the dry pipe valve does offer a few advantages.
- Dry pipe valve systems can be used in industrial or commercial spaces where the pipes aren’t protected from freezing temperatures. Exposed garages, drive-through loading areas or docks, water-sensitive storage, unheated warehouses, garden or supply centers, cooler or freezer storage, and unconditioned attics are popular applications for a dry valve sprinkler system.
- Dry valve sprinkler systems don’t leave water sitting in pipes. When water is left in pipes it could cause rusting or other damage. Additionally, the lack of water in the pipes means that the pipes won’t form condensation or drip. This characteristic is especially important in water-sensitive storage units or complexes.
- The sprinkler system should be checked on an annual basis. Maintenance is conducted on an as-needed basis and is dependent on the condition of the pipes, dry pipe valve, and entire sprinkler system. As with any sprinkler system, it is important that the proper maintenance checks (and needed work) are completed on-time.
To learn more about the advantages of the dry pipe valve, as well as its applications within a sprinkler system, contact the experts at W.P. Law, Inc. For over 40 years W.P. Law has been providing building piping and sprinkler advice to businesses in the industrial and commercial spaces.
Can my water feature get damaged during the winter?
Without the proper preparation outdoor water features can become damaged during below freezing winter temperatures. To avoid damaging your water feature, you must remove all water from the pipes and actual water feature. It is also recommended that you move your water feature indoors to reduce freezing temperature wear and tear.
Water Feature Winterization Tips
Whenever it is easily possible, you should put your outdoor fountain in a garage, shed, or other indoor space. If, however, you can’t place your water feature indoors, then you should use the following simple tactics to winterize your water feature or fountain. By being proactive, you can keep your fountain safe throughout the entire winter.
- Before the temperatures drop below freezing you should drain all of the water from your fountain or water feature. If water is left in the water feature then it could freeze during the winter, which could cause extensive damage to your water feature.
- Remove the pump and store it indoors. Be sure to clean the pump and remove any debris, algae, and dirt.
- If you can’t place your fountain indoors, then you should make sure to cover it with a tarp or other protective, waterproof covering. The protective covering will keep moisture out of your fountain, while also protecting it from snow, sleet, ice, and other winter weather.
- Water feature openings, including pipe connections, should be insulated to provide further protection against the harsh winter elements. Insulating foam and tape can and should be used to protect the openings from collecting debris or moisture over the winter.
By following these simple steps you can safely winterize your water features, so that they last for many years! To learn more about winterizing your water features, be sure to contact the experts at W.P. Law Inc. Since 1970, W.P. Law has been helping homeowners and businesses transform their outdoor spaces beautifully decorated areas throughout all four seasons.
What Steps can I Take to Protect my Crops from Frost?
As the temperatures begin to dip throughout most of the country, and “chilly” instead of “balmy” is used to describe the night air, you need to start thinking about protecting your crops from frost. Frost can easily injure plants by causing ice crystals to form within the plant cells. When these crystals form, water becomes unavailable to the plant tissues, which causes the leaves to appear to be water-soaked, shriveled, brown, or black. To help you protect your crops from frost during the late fall season, we have gathered together a few helpful tips.
4 Tips To Protect Crops From Frost
- Covering your crops. — Small acreage, low-growing commercial crops can easily be covered with straw mulch, plastic, tar paper, or reemay cloth to protect them from frost. These coverings work to reduce the heat loss from the ground and plant’s surface, and, in doing so, protect the crops from the drop in nightly temperatures. Covers should be removed during the day when the sun is out.
- Fog clouds. — Using fog clouds can help farmers protect their crops from frost. The fog reduces the amount of radiative heat loss from the surface. However, it is difficult to maintain the correct fog coverage across all crops; as such, this is an effective but less reliable method to protect crops from the harsh effects of frost.
- Water correctly. — The right watering tactics can be used to protect crops during a night frost. The soil should be thoroughly watered during the day. The wetter soil will hold the heat better than the dry soil, which will protect the crops’ roots and keep the surface temperature from dropping too low. The appropriate irrigation system can help you to more easily water your crops based on the predicted nightly temperature.
- Use heat lamps. — On small acreage farms, 100-watt lamps can be used to emit warmth and reduce frost damage. If possible, cluster container plants together underneath the lamp. If the plants or crops cannot be transplanted, then hang the heat lamps, so that their rays cover a larger area.
With these tips at the ready, you will be able to actively protect your crops from frost. Do you need help finding the right tools to protect your crops? Do you want to learn additional tips? If so, contact an expert at W.P. Law, Inc. Since 1979, W.P. Law has been helping farmers protect their crops throughout all seasons and temperature changes.
3 Signs your building needs its existing piping upgraded
Commercial plumbing woes can be costly problems that might have been avoided with the proper pipe maintenance program. Building age, a shifting or settling foundation, outdated or low-quality materials, and general wear-and-tear can cause major piping issues. To determine if your existing piping system should be replaced, we have gathered together the top three signs that it is time to say goodbye to your building’s piping system.
3 Warning Signs That The Time To Your Replace Commercial Piping System Is Now
Are you constantly repairing some aspect of your commercial piping system? Below are three signs that you should say “goodbye” to your costly repair and maintenance efforts, and, instead, say “hello” to a new commercial piping system.
Sign 1) Faucet and Fixture Leaks Occur on a Weekly Basis.
When the doctor’s office leasing your building’s fifth floor fills out a maintenance request for a “leaky faucet” every week, it is time to explore replacing your existing piping system. Did you know that leaking fixtures and faucets can waste up to 3,000 gallons of water each year? These costly leaks are usually caused by worn out gaskets or other sealing mechanism failures. If left unattended they can destroy the surrounding area and potentially cause structural damage.
Sign 2) Water Temperature Issues.
Does the water spike between “boiling” hot to “freezing” cold? If so, then your building’s water heater might be on its way out. Commercial water heaters need to be maintained and replaced on a regular basis. Failing to do so could cause your water heater to leak, or worse, explode!
Sign 3) Clogged Toilets and Drains.
Slow draining is typically the first sign that there is a clog in your piping system. Be on the lookout for toilets that require constant plunging; while backups are something that you never want to experience, they are a good warning sign for more serious piping issues. You should also be on the lookout for clogged drains, which can cause more extensive water damage.
Did you know that your pipes, fixtures, and toilets can silently leak throughout the day? Each year, your inefficient piping system might be wasting thousands of gallons of water, which equates to thousands of wasted dollars on your commercial water bill. To avoid these costly expenditures, make sure that any commercial piping and maintenance repairs are completed professionally and on time. When the time is right to replace your piping system, be sure to call the experts at W.P. Law, Inc. for help selecting your new commercial piping system. Since 1970 W.P. Law has been helping commercial buildings choose the best piping solutions to meet their needs.
