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Friday, December 6, 2019

Commercial Pipe Water Jet Cleaning

Grease, sludge, sand and debris are the main causes of commercial drain line blockages. Companies, like Professional Piping Services, offer high-pressure water jetting service that can help you clear this sediment by:

  1. Breaking up sludge and debris.
  2. Pulverizing roots.
  3. Penetrating and emulsifying grease.
  4. Cutting out hardened scale.
  5. Flushing out the system.

While cable machines are used to break through solid obstructions and to remove tree roots, they are not as productive in removing softer blockages such as scale, grease and other buildup. Cable machines will bore holes through sludge but they don’t clean and push the debris out of pipes as effectively as a water jet machine.

High-pressure water jetting is an economical, and efficient option.  It is environmentally safe way to clean drain and sewer pipes. Using flexible hoses, and state-of-the-art pumps ordinary water is thrust under different amounts of pressure into the sewer line. A special nozzle mounted on the end of a heavy-duty hose has multiple forward and reverse water jets, which direct powerful concentrated streams of water all the way to the pipe walls. Even the toughest blockages and buildup can’t stand up to water jet machine cutting, which thoroughly cleans pipes.

Contact Professional Piping Services to discuss your pipe cleaning needs and to determine if water jetting is the right choice for you.

The Personal Property Rights Protection Act - FL HB 1159

Confused about the new tree law that is making headlines in the Tampa Bay area? Here are a few points to help clear things up.

The Personal Property Rights Protection Act, also known as House bill 1159, went into effect July 1, 2019. It bans local government from regulating dangerous trees on residential property. This however, does not give property owners free reign to prune, trim or remove trees as they please.

Property owners living in unincorporated Hillsborough County should be aware that under the new law ...
  1. They are required to obtain proper documentation from a Florida licensed landscape architect or certified arborist that the tree clearly presents a threat to the property.
  2. Replanting a tree that was considered dangerous to the property and was trimmed, pruned or removed is no longer required.
  3. Trees totally void of green foliage is considered to be a dead tree and likely to pose a threat to surrounding property. Dead trees do NOT require a permit but documentation, such as photos of the tree, is highly encouraged.
  4. Protections over Mangrove trees remain unchanged by the new law. 
  5. Permits are still required for any non-dangerous, healthy trees (all tree species) on both residential and non-residential properties unless otherwise exempt by the Land Development Code.
Don’t know if your tree is considered a danger? Why leave it to chance? Contact a Florida licensed landscape architect or a properly certified arborist, like the ones at Mid Florida Tree Service to evaluate your tree and work with you to come up with the best course of action to keep your property safe.

Friday, November 1, 2019

Oxygen and Ozone Pipe System Cleaning 2019

I wrote about this a few years ago, but it's important enough to cover again. Oxygen and ozone must be handled with care, and their piping systems must be maintained by knowledgeable professionals. To do otherwise my result in violent disassembly of the apparatus resulting in serious injury or fatality.

Many Industrial ozone piping systems involve water treatment, including aquaculture, aquariums, waterparks and others. Ozone is also used in the manufacturing of a wide range of products, such as deodorant, in certain gas generators or related appurtenances and in the equipment used by dentists.

Fouled or "Dirty'' oxygen/ozone piping when not properly cleaned before being put into service have a strong possibility of containing oils, solvents, acids, dirt, welding slag, oxidized interior pipe surfaces, construction oriented debris, and other contaminating materials which when left in the piping can cause violent inline reactions. These reactions can cause serious damage, up to the possible destruction of the system and its equipment. The CGA, or Compressed Gas Association, therefore has issued directive G-4.1, specifically about the implementation of proper cleaning for oxygen services due to the serious nature dirty ozone/oxygen piping can present.

Hiring a company such as Professional Piping Services for the cleaning of your oxygen/ozone piping offers many advantages;

  • All Professional Piping Services, personnel are trained and accredited to be in compliance with OSHA29, CFR 1910.120, Health and Safety Training
  • All work is done in complete compliance with C.G.A. G-4.1
  • Provision of a pigging plan detailing procedure and methodology for the cleaning of this system, including monitoring and safety measures
  • We provide documented, extensively trained, experienced field crews with mature and knowledgeable supervision
  • Proper, knowledgeable and experienced supervision of the entire cleaning project
  • Tooling and specialized equipment specifically designed for use in the safe and reliable cleaning of ozone/oxygen piping


Thursday, October 24, 2019

Shade Trees That Grow Well in Mid Florida

Planting shade trees not only makes your property more visually appealing and enjoyable but can help reduce energy costs by helping to naturally cool your home or building. However, not all shade trees thrive in the hot and humid climate of Mid Florida. For some it’s the rainy season that brings too much moisture and for others, it’s the lack of a hard, deep winter freeze that challenges them.

There are, fortunately, some shade trees that do thrive in mid Florida.  Each offers its own unique look to your landscape.

There is the Bald Cypress. They have branches of soft, short green needles that hang softly from the trunk.  They are a coniferous tree that unlike other conifers, sheds its leaves (needles) in autumn. It can grow to about 50 feet tall but it has a smaller canopy, normally about 25 feet in diameter, which makes them a good choice for medium sized yards.  As they grow, they tend to develop an ovular or pyramid type shape.

The Florida maple stands up well to the hot Florida climate. This variety of maple is known for its lush reddish bronze color in autumn. Its new growth in spring also has a red tint.  Florida maples are a good shade tree for medium sized yards as they quickly grow to an average of 40 feet tall.

If you like trees that stay green year round, the Southern live oak meets that criteria.  This oak has small oval shaped leaves with a dark, furrowed bark.  Live oaks can grow upwards of 65 feet tall and offer a broad, sprawling canopy.  Live oaks do drop their leaves, but unlike most trees, they do so in the spring. Since new leaves on the Southern Live Oak start developing as soon as the old ones fall, your tree will never look bare.

Another tree that fares well in mid Florida is the Tabebuia, also known as trumpet trees. These trees produce beautiful, trumpet shaped flowers in the summertime. There are several varieties to choose from, each with its own unique colored blooms. Tabebuia are good for all yard sizes as well with varieties that grow as small as 25 feet while others can grow as tall as 160 feet.

These are just four of several species of shade trees that handle the special climate Florida is known for. Just imagine the beauty and the cooling shade you will enjoy when you take the time to plant one or more on your property.  To keep your trees thriving and looking their best, whether you need someone to prune, trim or perform any other tree maintenance, contact a trusted, licensed and locally owned company like  Mid-Florida Tree Service.  Their friendly and knowledgeable staff are ready to assist you in determining your tree’s needs.

Is pigging water lines really necessary?

Cities and municipalities typically do not require regular pigging of lines in water systems. Some may only require pigging after initial construction of a new line to remove any debris left in the line because flushing alone will not always clean the dirt and debris out of the line. 

There are several reasons municipalities consider pigging of their potable water line systems: 
  1. Distribution lines tend to have a biofilm that coats the inside of the pipe. The bacteria in the biofilm are dormant until certain conditions activate them, thus causing problems. Regular flushing alone does not eliminate this biofilm. Only regularly scheduled pigging, along with flushing will reduce or eliminate biofilms. 
  2. Inadequate water flow is also a common reason. More flow (volume) of water may be needed to support development or a growing population using the water system or to provide adequate water for fire fighting. In areas of water systems where increased development has caused water demand to surpass the flow output of an existing line, sometimes the existing waterline system may need to be rebuilt with a larger line capable of supporting the increased demand. However, pigging may be the solution if the existing flow is restricted due to excessive deposits.
  3. Optimal fire fighting capabilities are a significant concern. Many cities require a minimum sized diameter waterline when connecting a fire hydrant to provide adequate flow for that area . After years of service, however, the inside of the pipe can become restricted with deposits making the fire hydrant less effective if not useless for its intended job. If fire flow is needed, in the past the solution has been to replace the whole waterline, which can be very costly and time consuming. Pigging may restore adequate flow for fighting fires at a fraction of the time and cost.

  4. In addition, pigging waterlines can lessen complaints from water customers regarding the very same deposits that may have restricted fire flow. These deposits are unwanted foreign matter such as iron oxide (red water), alum, calcium carbonates, barium sulfide and sediment. Pigging can, in many cases, provide a solution. As an added benefit and cost factor to communities, cleaning these deposits may also reduce pumping pressures in areas that have booster pump stations. Increased pumping pressures can result in line leaks and pipe failures causing significant cost factors and extended downtime to customers.
Above are just a few reasons a waterline may benefit from or need pigging service. If you are experiencing difficulties or suspect your pipes need service, you are advised not to undertake line pigging on your own. Shop around and find a reputable company, such as Professional Piping Services, Inc.. with over 30 years of experience in line pigging with water lines. Contact them today to discuss your specific needs or concerns.

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

What Does Certified Underground Utilities Contractor Mean?

An Underground Utility Contractor in the state of Florida, is a contractor whose services are applied to the construction, installation, and repair of lines, on public or private property, whether accomplished through open excavations or through other means.  These other means include directional drilling, auger boring, trenchless technologies, wet and dry taps, grouting, and slip lining, of main sanitary sewer collection systems, main water distribution systems, storm sewer collection systems, and the continuation of utility lines from the main systems to a point of termination. Suffice to say, it encompasses a wide range of service needs.

As expected, these contractors have a strict list of requirements they must meet to become licensed.

Below are a few that are needed:

  • Person must be at least 18 years of age
  • They must take and pass the state certification examination for Underground Utility and Business and Finance before they can even begin the application process of obtaining a license.
  • The applicant must then meet one or more of experience and/or education requirements such as
    • Four year construction related degree from an accredited college or an equivalent to three years experience and one year proven experience directly applicable to the category they are applying for
    • One year experience as a foreman and not less than three years of credits from an accredited college or university
    • One year experience as a worker, one year experience as a foreman, and not less than two years of credits from an accredited college or university
    • Two years experience as a worker, one year as a foreman and one year of credits from an accredited college or university
    • Four years experience as a worker or foreman of which a minimum of one year must have been as a foreman


When shopping for a pipeline pigging company look for one that offers the knowledge and experience of being certified. Trust Professional Piping Services led by general manager, Roger Cimbora, who has over 62 years experience in the piping industry, to deliver timely and expert work.

Certified Underground Utility Contractor
License Number CU-C055717

Industrial Pipeline Cleaning

Professional Piping Services supplies pipeline cleaning solutions for many different industrial pipeline systems including potable water lines, sewage and disposal lines, fire protection lines, municipal water lines, process lines and many more. 

Buildup inside pipelines can diminish the transmission of product and eventually lead to the pipeline becoming plugged.  When this happens, it can cause dangerous flaws and cracks can occur along the pipe . Pipeline cleaning provides a level of assurance for industries that rely on free flowing pipelines.

Using a spherical or cylindrical pipe pig for cleaning, is a convenient, effective and economical way of cleaning the pipe without interrupting the flow. The PIG is introduced into the pipeline via a trap, which is equipped with a launcher and receiver. The product flow forces the pig through the pipeline or it can be towed by a cable or another device. 

Pipe pigs clean pipelines by scraping, or removing buildup inside the pipe walls and pushing out debris in the pipes. In addition to clearing the line, the pipe pig can also inspect the interior of the line.

Professional Piping Services can provide you with cleaning guidelines specific to your type of pipeline.

Speak to the knowledgeable staff of Professional Piping Services today about the specific requirements for your pipelines. They will be happy to assist you with information and recommendations on the right pipeline cleaning equipment and service for your needs.

How PIG Launchers and Receivers Work

PIG launchers and PIG receivers, in simple terms, are sections of a pipeline that allow a PIG to enter and exit the pipeline. Generally they are funnel, Y-shaped sections of pipe which can be pressurized or de-pressurized and then safely opened to insert or remove PIGs.

Although PIG launchers and receivers are normally customized for a particular system, there are steps that are common to all systems. When using a launcher, For example, a pipeline operator closes the isolation valve and kicker when using a launcher. In a gas system, the vent is opened to let the launcher reach atmospheric pressure. When using a liquid system, the drain valve and vent valve are opened, allowing air into the system that displaces the liquid.  The PIG is loaded once the launcher is to 0 psi, the trap door is opened, and the vent and drain valves are also opened. After cleaning and lubricated the closure seals, the trap door is closed and secured. The operator then closes the vent valve and equalizes the pressure in the isolation valve.  Once it is reopened, the PIG is launched and the valves are closed again.

The PIG does its work and reaches the receiver, which will need to be pressurized. The bypass and isolation valves are fully opened, while the mainline valve is closed partway. When the PIG arrives at the receiver, the isolation and bypass valves are closed, but the drain and vent valves get opened. The trap then needs to be depressurized to 0 psi in order to let the PIG be removed.  When the closure and seals are cleaned and lubricated, the trap door gets shut and secured, and the receiver is returned to its original condition.

Professional Piping Services utilizes a full array of PIGs, PIG launchers, and PIG receivers, designed to help keep pipelines operating at peak performance levels.

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Why would you hire an arborist?

There is a lot of news lately in the Tampa area about certified arborists and what they are but why would you hire one? 

It is commonly accepted that arborists specialize in the care of individual trees. They are trained and equipped to provide proper care based on their knowledge about the needs of trees.

There are many services an arborists can provide, including pruning advice, inspection and diagnosis regarding tree health, emergency storm damage and possible tree removal recommendations, planting and proper care advice, not to mention help with local HOAs and government agencies.

Proper care of your trees and landscaping is a long term investment.  You can add both significant value to your property from attractive, well cared for trees and you can avoid possible liability issues of poorly maintained trees.

Hiring a certified arborist takes the guesswork out of designing and maintaining your property’s trees and landscaping.  The people at Mid Florida Tree Service offer not only the services of ISA certified arborists but a full staff of trained and friendly technicians who can do the work of caring for your trees..

Palm Lethal Bronzing

Are your palms showing signs of distress such as, browning of lower foliage that moves upward, dropping of fruit, or leaf collapse?  These symptoms could mean you have Lethal Bronzing, a disease closely related to Palm Lethal Yellowing.

Lethal Bronzing or LBD, was first reported in Hillsborough County in 2006.  It has since spread and has been confirmed in over 30 counties throughout Florida. 

LBD has been determined to be spread by an insect, no bigger than a grain of rice. This “bug”  infects palms by transferring a parasitic bacteria while it feeds. Once this bacteria is introduced into the tree, it multiplies and essentially blocks the vascular network of the tree. This causes the circulation of sugars and other nutrients that feed the palm to be diminished until the lack of food ultimately causes the tree to die.

If you notice changes in any palms in your area, act now.  With the rapid spread of this disease it is essential to have your trees inspected. An infected tree can appear healthy for months before showing signs of distress, giving ample time for the insects to hop from tree to tree further spreading the disease.

Contact Mid Florida Tree Service today if you suspect your palms may be infected.  We have a large, knowledgeable staff including certified arborists that are ready and happy to assist you today.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

A Pig for Every Situation


Despite the fact that the technological aspects of pipeline pig hardware continues to be fairly constant, the way they are used consistently changes.

The first mechanical pigs were fairly primitive in nature, being pieced together with barbed wire and wadded fabric. That same basic design has evolved into today's polyurethane or poly pig marvels. Different manufacturers, of course, create their own unique pigs  This is done as they select the types and ratios of materials, including pre-polymers and curing agents that ultimately come together to create a castable product with abrasion resistance, elasticities, various foam densities that influence its effectiveness and durability in any given application.

The types of pigs, and the applications they can be used for, are as varied as the piping industry itself. Typically, pigs are are made in sizes with a 1.5 length to diameter ratio. Keeping your bends, or ells, to a minimum of 1.5D is therefore important for them to be easily piggable. However, tandem pigs can be used to navigate the tighter ells.

Inline inspection tools are also available that when used, give you a more accurate and detailed view of your system, thereby giving you a better plan of ‘attack’ on cleaning your system.

With all the different situations and the various products to choose from, it is always best to hire the services of a qualified pipeline cleaning service, like Professional Piping Services, Inc. to keep your system clean and in peak condition.

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Tampa Root Pruning

The impact of digging around your trees or pruning a tree’s roots can cause damage to the root system resulting in a decline in the overall health of the tree and the possibility of the tree falling over.   Both scenarios cause liability and safety concerns.

While mature trees are normally more susceptible to long term damage than younger, more vigorous trees, damage to the tree depends on many factors such as the size of the cuts, how close the cuts are made to the trunk and how many cuts are made. Shallow root systems, roots in compacted or poorly drained soil are also likely to suffer greater damage from digging, root pruning or other construction activities close the tree trunk.

Opinions on how close to the tree you can cut the roots varies depending on who you ask.  Some experts recommend no closer than 6 to 8 inches from the trunk for each inch of the trunks diameter on mature trees.  There are others who prefer that roots not be cut no closer than 3 to 5 times the trunk diameter.

There are many factors to be considered that can affect how your tree responds to root pruning.  Factors such as … is the tree already leaning?  What are the size of the roots? What species of tree is it? What is the tree’s age and condition? What is the soil type?  How close to the trunk will the cuts be made?

With such an important decision to be made, it’s best to consult an expert to discuss the best course of action. Call and speak with one of our trained staff at Mid Florida Tree Service today.  We’re here to help you make the right decision.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Reclaimed Water Piping

Environmental and conservation concerns, whether personally or government imposed, have made reuse and reclaim watering system commonplace.

Like all piping systems, these have a tendency to get dirty over time. Taking time for a bit of preventative cleaning could save you time and money of replacing pipes damaged by neglect.

What are the warning signs you should have your Reuse / Reclaim system cleaned?

  • Your maintenance crew continually receives requests to "flush the system again"! 
  • The system was installed but not cleaned prior to its initial service
  • Various types of biological growths are still found in the system after flushing
  • People/Users at the other end have clogged sprinkler heads, valves & controls

Look to the friendly, reliable people at  Professional Piping Services to have your Reuse / Reclaim system cleaned.

Piping System Tracking and Location

Piping System Tracking and Location

All major projects, piping systems included, generally start with a plan.  However, all too frequently, the “as planned” system turns out to have little to do with the reality of the "as built" system.  As one would expect, this causes maintenance to become a difficult, time consuming and sometimes costly game of guesswork.

Professionals in the piping industry are generally familiar with Process Pigging, or cleaning the pipes, helping to restore full product flow with the Poly Pig tool.

The Poly Pig or other such tool coupled with the addition of a tracker system can be used to make a detailed map your piping system including  size disparities, "lost" valves, leakage, possible inline blockages, and mystery connections.

Save you and your company costly hours or days of labor and unnecessary excavation with a tracking tool known as Sherlock  Pig.


Learn more about Sherlock and “his” sidekicks, Watson and Little Piggy at  Professional Piping Services website.

Friday, August 16, 2019

Summer Tree Care Tips

Every season has its own unique list of things we should do when it comes to the trees and other landscaping around our homes and businesses. Here in Florida, summertime is peak season for heavy winds and rains, whether from our afternoon thunderstorms or from tropical weather systems.  This is a perfect time to assess the safety of your large trees and help prevent damage to your property. Sometimes in addition to proper pruning, cabling or bracing trees with weak limbs, or removing weak limbs completely, may be necessary. It’s always best to consult with a certified arborist, like the ones at Mid-Florida Tree Service when making these decisions.
Here are a few basic summer tree care tips that will help keep your trees healthy, growing strong and looking their best.

Firstly, watering trees may be necessary during the extreme heat of a Florida summer, especially if your trees are young or newly planted or when rainfall is at a minimum. Check your local rainfall amounts before deciding whether your trees need additional watering. Keep in mind, trees typically need on average an inch of water each week. Should watering be necessary, it’s best to slowly water for a longer period of time, slowly letting the water soak in than to quickly wet the ground soil  only to  the majority of it quickly evaporate in the summer sun before it reaches the roots.
Secondly, make sure your trees and shrubs have ample nutrition to help fend off pests and diseases, and to support overall growth. The tree’s overall environment is one key to determining its fertilization needs. Trees that grow in high-stress areas, such as urban or suburban environments, oftentimes have greater fertilization needs than trees that grow in natural areas.
Summer is also a good time to take time to examine trees for pests. Pests such as aphids, tent caterpillars, dogwood borers, magnolia scale, pine bark beetles, and spider mites are just some of the more common pests to look for in Florida. While a majority of pests aren’t typically harmful to trees, discovering any potential pest problems early on gives you a leg up on controlling them..
Mulching trees is an important step in the care of your trees.  Not only does it cut down on weed competition, but it helps conserve soil moisture, and it helps stabilize soil temperatures. A general rule is to mulch trees with three to four inches of shredded hardwood mulch. Laying mulch is to form a donut shaped, even layer around the base of the tree is best.  Do not mound place the mulch against the trunk as it can promote disease and insect issues by keeping the very base of the tree overly moist.

Tree pruning is part art and part science. While it is ideal for tree trimming to occur during a tree’s dormant season, there are times when pruning in the summer may be necessary. One time is for trees that flower in the springtime.  Their ideal pruning time is early summer, just after they have finished blooming.  A second time would be when there are diseased, dead, or damaged branches present. They should be pruned out for both safety reasons and for the health of the tree. It is wise to remember that large trees are best pruned by professionals like the people at Mid Florida Tree Service.  The knowledgeable and friendly staff are there to help you when you need it.

Wednesday, July 3, 2019

Pipe Pigging Poems ;)

Pipepline Poly Pigs Provide Preferred Purification, Pleasing Pipeline Professionals.

Fluid Flow Follows Fully Functional Flumes.

Clean Conduits Continually Contribute Cost-Savings

Industrial Pipe Pigging

(An Acrostic)
If
Nobody
Does,
Ugly
Stuff
Troubles.

Realize
Industrial
Assets
Lack
Protection
If
Pollution
Escapes
Polishing.

Increase
Gain!
Go
Inside.

No
Gunk!

This unusual blog post is dedicated to the sense of humor I've picked up by reading some of what Roger M Cimbora, Sr. has written on this topic. If you have a need for Industrial Pipe Pigging or other methods of flow restoration, like high pressure jetting, Please contact my clients, www.professionalpiping.com


HOA vs Insurance vs Tree Trimming Ordinances ANSI A300 standards

Because I often read stories about the tree trimming industry, in order to prepare myself to write for Mid Florida Tree Service, I came upon a story out of Hallandale Beach in South Florida where an insurance company asked the Home Owner's Association to trim the trees in the development in preparation for the hurricane season.

The HOA complied by asking their landscaper to trim the trees. The landscaping company assured them they had the knowledge to complete the job correctly.

The result was about 15 trees that were "Hatracked"! The HOA is now being compelled by the local Code Enforcement to dig up and replace all the trees involved. You can imagine this is an expensive lesson!
What's wrong with hatracking?
It's more than just bad aesthetics. What I'm referring to as "Hatracking" is severe over pruning. Some unscrupulous companies sell this service as "Hurricane Pruning". But, it's actually detrimental to the trees as they'll re-grow branches with weak attachment that are actually MORE likely to break during a hurricane or other storm. Hatracking makes a tree MORE DANGEROUS!

I asked Tim, the owner of Mid Florida Tree Service about this situation. Here's his reply to me:

Yes. We see a lot of times where homeowners, condominiums, homeowners associations and apartments, etc. call us out because they received a letter from their Insurance company stating that they need to have all the trees trimmed back from overhanging their house or structure. We then, as certified arborist, have to inform and educate our clients that the tree industry is regulated. The insurance company cannot make them break the law by improperly and over trimming their trees.
We will trim their trees properly and then provide written documentation that the trees have been trimmed per ANSI A300 standards and the local tree ordinance.

So, if you are a home owner or the responsible party for an HOA or Apartment Complex and your insurance company asks you to trim your trees, Be sure you contact a certified arborist, like Mid Florida Tree Service, and have them professionally trim your trees in compliance with ANSI A300 standards and your local ordinances.


Thursday, May 30, 2019

Cleaning Hydrant Leg Piping

It is common for potable water supplies to be dual purposed to also supply fire protection system water. When this potable water system is being cleaned, there's a good chance that cleaning the hydrant legs will be the efficient, cost effective, choice.

Flow measurements at the hydrants taken before and after cleaning the rest of the system will often reflect significant gains in flow rate, sometimes as much as 300 or 400%.

Other times, if the pipes feeding the hydrants are not cleaned, they may continue showing a reduced flow capacity. For this reason, my client, Professional Piping Services, Inc., recommends cleaning the hydrant leg during the overall system cleaning.

Including Hydrant Leg and Hydrant maintenance in the service allows old, sometimes literally antique hydrants to be identified and replaced. This can often be done with one cut and one coupling! Getting rid of these old plugs means you'll spend less time trying to fit outdated bolts, gaskets,  valves and what-not that are not readily available. You might even take the opportunity to move a hydrant if you've been looking for a chance!

Including Hydrant Leg Pipe Cleaning in the project allows you to maximize the return for the investment in time, efforts and funding.

Industrial Reverse Osmosis System Cleaning

Industrial Reverse Osmosis systems (RO Systems) range in size from a gallon a minute  to 500 gallons per minute. (That's 720,000 gallons every day!) These system can remove up to 99.5% of dissolved salts & nearly all colloidal and suspended material from feed water including municipal, brackish, and even seawater applications. RO units supply high quality water yield at a low cost compared to other purification systems.

Industrial Reverse Osmosis systems are often custom designed specifically for the water treatment needs of a specific application, by an experienced team of system, mechanical and chemical engineers. These systems are built with high quality components that will provide reliable long-term operation.

When you put the time, effort and financial resources into a RO system, you want to ensure the feed water is coming to you through clean pipes! The delicate and sensitive nature of the RO process requires the incoming flow to be virtually free of sand and other particulate matter. Hence all of the filters, screening and such that are a key part of the process.

When might you consider a cleaning a reverse osmosis system's supply pipes?

  1. Before it ever starts! Prudently and pragmatically cleaning the system prior to going into service ensures the best possible outcome.
  2. Filters and screening in the system show signs (clogging) that the supply pipes are dirty.
  3. You find that, although the system went through extended post construction flushing, the incoming water is still not properly suited for the system to perform its designated purpose.

For more information about cleaning the supply piping for your Reverse Osmosis System, please contact Professional Piping Services, Inc. 800-780-6098 Certified Underground Utility Contractor License Number CU-C055717

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Seffner Florida Tree Trimming

With only around 8k residents as of the last census, Seffner Florida is a fairly small town and covers less than 4 square miles of land.

This small area has a huge history that includes being a Rail hub as well as a safe get-away when Tampa was struck with Yellow Fever just after the Civil War.

Seffner still feels mostly rural as it continues to grow as a bedroom community for Tampa and Brandon. Some of that growth has come by way of housing developments with their HOAs.

Owning a home in Seffner means you have a fair amount of trees surrounding you and likely have some on your property that will need maintenance from time to time including pruning and trimming, fertilizing and emergency cutting of trees downed by thunderstorms, tropical storms or hurricanes. 


Seffner Florida Tree Trimming


When I write about tree care on this blog, it is because I want to help you get in touch with my client, Mid Florida Tree Service, whose staff includes Certified Arborists and are familiar with Hillsborough County Tree Protection rules and how to obtain a Certified Arborists Affidavit when needed. They also have experience working with HOAs to help land owners abide by the HOA's rules.

For Tree Service in Seffner, Florida, Please call Mid Florida Tree Service at 813-986-2258

Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Should I get the Spanish Moss removed from my tree?

It's been a couple of years since this was covered here, so I'm going to talk about this again. Spanish Moss isn't moss and it isn't Spanish. It's a native bromeliad (Tillandsia usneoide). It got its common name from the French who called it  Barbe Espagnol, or “Spanish Beard.” The Spanish called it Pelo Francais or "French Hair".

"Spanish Beard" and then "Spanish Moss" is what stuck. There's a very similar bromeliad native to Florida that might be mistaken for a young Spanish Moss. That's Ball Moss.

Both species are epiphytes, meaning they get their nutrients from the air. The grow shallow roots to anchor into the bark of a tree, but do not take any nutrients from the host.

The shade of a healthy tree's canopy will limit the photosynthesis available to these epiphytes, preventing them from overtaking the tree.

The effort to remove Spanish Moss from a tree can actually damage the tree, so it shouldn't be done merely for aesthetics. A weakened tree may benefit from having a portion of the moss hand-picked until it recovers its strength.

It is possible to use a spray to kill the Spanish moss, but this treatment is rather costly, takes a long time, and leaves the dead moss to fall out all over your yard over an extended period.

This blogger and his Tree Service Professional client suggest that landowners learn to love this native plant. If there is a tree that actually needs to have some moss removed, or you're not sure if it's the right route, please call Mid Florida Tree Service: 813-986-2258

Thursday, April 18, 2019

What is an arborist, anyway?

I write a little about my client, Mid Florida Tree Service,  and have mentioned  that they have Certified Arborists on staff, but I don't think I ever explained just what that means.

An arborist is a professional who practices arboriculture, the cultivation, management, and study of individual trees and other perennial woody plants. Think of them as a "Tree Doctor". As a matter of fact, another name for this job is "Tree Surgeon".

Their focus is on individual trees, not forests.

Arborists obtain their qualifications in various ways & qualification and specialties can vary. Just like doctors, they tend to focus in one of a variety of areas including diagnosis & treatment of pests, disease and fungus, proper nutrition (fertilizer/soil condition) in trees, climbing & pruning, cabling, and lightning protection and more. There is overlap between each of the specialties and many arborists are experienced in multiple areas of tree work,

Besides making the right recommendations for the long term health of your trees, a Certified Arborist may be required if there's a dead or dying tree that needs to be removed. Florida and some municipalities within have placed certain trees under protection and a Certified Arborists Affidavit is required to obtain the removal permit.

Check out my client's website, www.midfloridatreeservice.com for more information.

Tree Trimming and Pruning in Temple Terrace Florida

I wrote a very short post about my client's connection to Temple Terrace, but I wanted to come back and give it a more full treatment.

Four decades is a considerable time to do anything and Mid Florida Tree Service is still doing their thing! Headquartered near Temple Terrace, and serving a large area beyond it, They have had the privilege of helping home owners, small businesses, corporations and municipalities with their tree care for over 40 years!

Mid Florida Tree Service tells me they routinely hear from their customers about how kind and polite their crews are, how efficiently the work is done and how clean the work area left when the job is done.

Mid Florida Tree Service has Certified Arborists that can evaluate your trees and diagnose potential diseases or injuries your trees experience, and can recommend treatment such as fertilizing and soil conditioning. As a last resort, they will provide a Certified Arborist Affidavit when appropriate. This is required in the event a protected tree has to be removed.

Keeping trees trimmed not only keeps them looking their best, but reduces the chance of catastrophic failure such as lost limbs, split trunk or uprooting, and promotes a full, healthy, crown.

Florida Thunderstorms, tropical storms and hurricanes, regularly bring down twigs, branches, limbs and entire trees. If your home or business in Temple Terrace has a tree emergency or catastrophe, let Mid Florida Tree Service help get restore your property to normal.

Want to stay ahead of the game? Call Mid Florida Tree Service today. Ask for an evaluation or even a free estimate.

They can be reached at 813-986-2258

For tree service in Temple Terrace Florida, Trust Mid Florida Tree Service.

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Can an uprooted tree be saved?

Can you recover a fallen tree?

I kind of thought I'd covered this topic on this blog before, but I write an a few different places, so it looks like this blog is missing this important Tree Service topic.

For small trees, it is sometimes possible. I'll write more about that in a moment.

Larger trees, in almost all situations, cannot be saved. They are simply too massive. Their root system, in addition to gathering their water and nutrients, acts as their footing or support system. Once that support system is compromised, it's just not likely that you'd ever get the tree to re-grow roots that are strong enough to support it. I say "Re-grow" because in the process of uprooting, much of that root system will have been destroyed. The fall also is likely to do significant damage to the limbs and possibly even the trunk. If you were to try to stand it back up, you'd need a crane. Attaching that crane and beginning to lift the tree might very well result in additional damage to the tree's crown. Once a mature tree has been uprooted, unfortunately, the only real option is to have it removed.

Fallen Tree Recovery

Relatively young trees, as mentioned earlier, do have a chance. Their root systems have not fully developed and their mass is still at a reasonable, workable size.

You'll want a certified arborist to advise on the process. They'll consider options for preparing the remaining roots and the hole that formed when they were pulled out. They'll look at ways to brace the young tree to allow time for roots to grow back out. They'll be able to advise on a watering schedule and let you know when and how much to fertilize the recovering tree.

My client, Mid Florida Tree Service, can help you determine if your tree is small enough to be restored, or help you removed one that is just too big to recover.