How to Avoid Clogged Drains in Your Home

The drains you have in your home are something that you most likely never think of until they happen to become slow or completely stopped up; then they can become a big problem and a huge inconvenience. Bathtub and shower drains keep your family from being able to get ready for work or school when they are clogged, clogged drains in kitchen sinks keep you from preparing food and washing dishes and clogged washing machine drain obviously will keep you from washing clothes. Here are some tips on how to keep the drains working in the different areas of your home.

KITCHEN

1. Never pour grease down the drain – this cannot be emphasized enough and it is the number one reason why kitchen sinks get clogged. Sure that grease pours nice and easy when it’s hot but before it gets far it turns into a solid that collects on your pipes. Hot water may flush the grease out of the system and open the drain.

2. Never prep food over the sink – when you are preparing your vegetables and spices for cooking don’t peel and cut directly over the sink; when you do this you will inevitably get some small solid pieces down the drain and these types of things often cause clogged drains over time.

BATHROOM

1. Remove hair – after showering, bathing or combing your hair over the sink it is important to take the time to grab a tissue and remove any loose hair that has collected on the drain grate. Hair is the number one cause for sink and bath clogged drains and if you do not remove it from the drain grate it will find its way further down the drain and then it will become a big problem.

2. Tissues and Solids – there is no easier drain to stop up in your house then the one on your toilets. They are very sensitive to having too much solid waste go down them because of the way their traps are designed. Be careful to avoid putting excessive amounts of toilet paper, sanitary napkins, kid’s toys and other large bulky items in them that may cause clogged drains.

The Wash Room

1. Excessive Lint Items and Stringy Items – these types of fabrics or clothes will more than likely leave some lint or strings building up in your washing machine drain over time and eventually they will cause clogged drains. When washing these types of items use a lint roller to get that off before washing and on items that have fringes or other stringy patterns make sure any of these that are loose are removed before washing.

IN GENERAL

1. In general never use a drain for any reason if the grate is not fixed in position to the opening of it; this is just asking for clogged drains to happen.

2. Make it a point to go around your house and clean your drain grates as part of any household cleaning schedule.

If you do have a problem with a clogged drain then there are many ways to get the clogged drains unplugged yourself and if not there are many plumbing companies that are available 24 hours a day for emergency service.

Other Resources:

Buy or Rent Hot Water Tank?

Best Plumbing Practices for Your Edmonton Home

Don’t Make These 3 Common Household Plumbing Mistakes

Read More Here: How to Avoid Clogged Drains in Your Home

Home Air Conditioning – Size Matters

As temperature rises, so does our want and need for a cooling system. Our thoughts go directly to cooling down and beat the heat that’s trying to beat you. Central air conditioners, despite being one of the best options to achieve the kind of coolness we aim, are quite expensive. Room air conditioners, however can be an energy-efficient, accessible and inexpensive alternative for relatively small spaces.

Roughly around eight to nine million air conditioning units have been shipped for sale in 2017 and the sales continue to increase every year. According to Energy Star, around 13 percent of the annual utility bill of a household is spent on cooling systems. It is for this reason that we need to know the basics in choosing the best option and choice that suits our liking, budget, and area. In order to make sure that the unit you are choosing is the right one for you, you have to take note and be mindful of its features as they will determine the performance of the unit not only a few months after installation but also in the long run. In choosing air conditioning units, size matters.

Sizing Up Your Options

Before you consider price and features, start by determining the size of unit you need for the space you want to cool, as well as where you’ll place the unit. The window air conditioners in our tests have cooling capacities ranging from 5,000 to 12,500 British thermal units (Btu).

To measure your room, multiply the length of the room by the width. But don’t buy by Btu alone. Energy Star recommends that you make allowances for other considerations—such as the height of your ceiling, where the unit will be placed, and the size of your windows and doorways. 

Read the full article at Consumer Reports.

As the scrutinizing summer heat sets in, we’d want to provide our family a comfortable home and our employees and customers a healthy working environment. Aside from the size, there are other factors we need to consider such as the location, filters, installation process, and most especially its efficiency and energy consumption.

The air conditioner’s efficiency will be of big help to users especially with the rise of electricity bills and other everyday needs. It is for this reason that when choosing an AC unit, you have to take a look at its efficiency.  For people who wish to save, it is but important to choose the best option.

Much like automobile manufacturers, today’s air conditioner manufacturers are required by law to evaluate and rate their equipment according to its energy efficiency. This rating is known in the industry as a SEER, or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating. The higher the SEER, the more efficient the equipment.

Most new homes with central air come equipped with a standard builder’s model. However, when replacement becomes necessary, property owners can upgrade their air conditioning by specifying a more energy-efficient system.

The Ruud Ultra Series™ High Efficiency model, for example, has a SEER of 18.00, among the highest available. It’s significantly higher than today’s standard models, many of which carry SEER’s of at least 13.

High SEER models are generally more expensive, but can easily make up the difference by reducing your home energy bills over the long run.

Read the full article at Ruud.com.

Air conditioners do not only provide us with cool air, they also filter and circulate air, removing pollutants and mold from the air, thus, giving us a cleaner air to breathe. This is only applicable, however, if your AC units are regularly checked, optimized and the filters are kept clean. Otherwise, this can contribute to indoor air pollution, disrupting the good indoor air quality of your homes. People with allergies, asthma and other respiratory and nasal problems can greatly benefit from the good air quality a maintained AC unit can offer.

Energy efficiency is one the things that HVAC System companies are focusing on today. They aim to innovate their products and produce high-quality AC units whose efficiency will attract consumers. The use of AC units, however, has an environmental impact, such as the release of greenhouse gases. On the good side of things, this problem is already being addressed by some companies.

This video can guide you in buying your very own AC unit, check it out:

If you’re looking for a local HVAC professional, contact Plumbers Edmonton today! We can help you find the best cooling system for your home or fix your existing system that is no longer giving you the cooling comfort that you and your family desperately need. We can work with your budget and find the right solution that matches the needs of your home and family at a price you can afford.

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See More Here: Home Air Conditioning – Size Matters

Buy or Rent Hot Water Tank?

Does it make sense to rent a hot water tank?  Nadia Mendola (Waterdown, Ontario) doesn't think so.  She got stuck with a hot water tank contract when she purchased her home in 2016.  Here are her options:

She can continue paying $56.43 per month for the next 14 years, which works out to $9,480.  Or she get out of the contract by buying the hot water tank for $3,600.  The problem is that the same tank costs $1,000 at Home Depot.

"If you can buy it from Home Depot for $1,000, I just don't understand why you would go renting it." As a first-time homebuyer, she admits she didn't know how much a water heater should cost. "I was paying it for six months and my dad saw one of my bills and thought it was high."

So she called Enercare in August 2017, and was told that her expensive bills were due to having a high-end, energy-efficient tank. That's also when she learned she's locked in for 14 or possibly 18 years.

Enercare also indicates that the higher cost of renting instead of buying includes repairs and maintenance. Mendola feels she had no choice. "It's just an appliance … Your washer and dryer are expensive items but you don't rent them. It just seems like a big scam to me."

Read the full story at cbc.ca

Watch this short video on the benefits of owning a tankless water heater vs. renting:

If you are considering buying a home tied to a similar rental contract, this is what we suggest you do.

Sit down with the company selling the house. Give them your deposit but tell them that you will not sign the rental contract with the hot water heater company.

Then call the hot water rental company and ask them to pick up their hot water heater. When they tell you that you signed a contract, tell them that you haven't, and again ask them to pick up their heater. If they still refuse, tell them that you are putting it by the curb.

Then call your local plumbing company and ask them to install a new hot water tank.

See More Here: Buy or Rent Hot Water Tank?

Tiny House, Big Plumbing

This Tiny House on wheels may be small, but it is big on features. At a cozy 150 square feet, the home is nothing short of luxurious, with high-tech building systems combined with high-end appliances and furnishings. Designed in collaboration with 30 architects, engineers, and materials specialists, this safe and sustainable home has helped educate and inspire over 50,000 people who have toured it since 2015.  Read the full story at Tiny House, Big Plumbing

Photo Credit

Published First Here: Tiny House, Big Plumbing

Low Pressure Water Quick Fixes and Water Pressure Pump

From time to time, you might be experiencing a low water pressure on your plumbing system. It is a big issue for homeowners to have a low water pressure. It's an inconvenience to not be able to water the garden while washing the dishes. If this is the case, it's best to take necessary action by locating the source of the problem and finding solution on how to fix it.

According to Don Vandervort, there are couple reasons for having a low water pressure.

Water pressure may be low for a couple of reasons. If all of your neighbors have low water pressure, there may not be much you can do except to contact your water supplier and complain about the problem.

If your home is the only one with low pressure—or if only parts of your house have low pressure—then there is probably a constriction in your pipes or valves. The most common cause of low water pressure in a home that’s more than 20 years old is older steel pipes that have become clogged with lime deposits that strangle the flow of water. Unfortunately, to solve this problem, you usually need to have a plumber re-pipe your home. But before you go down this road, do the following. read more...

Don Vandervort of Hometips also suggested these quick tips on how to locate and fix low water pressure.

How to Solve Low Water Pressure Problems

If low water pressure is at a single fixture:

If the problem seems to be at a single faucet or shower head, check for a flow restriction, clogged aerator, dislodged washer, or partially closed supply stop valve. If a faucet has an aerator, check that first; remove it and clean it out, then replace it.

If low water pressure is throughout your house:

Go out to the street and locate your water meter. There should be a shutoff valve next to the meter—in fact, there may be one on each side of the meter as shown in the illustration at right. Be sure the valves are entirely open—turned counterclockwise as far as they will go. If you discover that a supply valve is partially closed, opening it should solve the problem.

If and when these quick low water pressure fixes does not work, it is best to find another option to fix the problem, which is to have your plumbing contractor install a water pressure pump.

What Is a Water Pressure Pump?

Also known as a water pressure booster, water pressure pumps to increase the pressure of incoming water from your well or city water supply. As water flows into the tank, compressed air pressurizes the output, giving it the boost needed to flow throughout your house.

While shopping for a water pressure pump, there are a few key features you should consider. You will want to make sure the tank and the motor are large enough to make an impact on your home’s water pressure. Consider how the water pressure pump operates, such as manual and automatic shut-offs. Some water pressure pumps come equipped with different modes, allowing you to choose how much water and energy you conserve. Finally, you may want to consider a water pressure pump with quiet noise ratings, depending on where your water main is located. Read full article here.

The best option to fix low water pressure is to call your plumbing contractor and have them check the real source of the problem.

Read Full Article Here: Low Pressure Water Quick Fixes and Water Pressure Pump

Introduction to Geothermal Heating

Geothermal heating also known as geothermal heat pump or geo-exchange heat pump is what most household are going into when they wanted a more reliable, environmentally-friendly and cost-effective heating system.

What is Geothermal Heating? According to Karin Beuerlein of HGTV:

The Value of Geothermal Heating

A geothermal (ground-source) heat pump converts the heat of the earth into heat for your home. Consisting of a series of looped pipes drilled deep into the ground, a geothermal system works the same way a regular air-source heat pump does: by harvesting existing heat rather than creating it through combustion, as a gas furnace would. It also works in reverse to remove heat from the air and cool your home in summer.

Max Alexander of This Old House magazine give a quick yet precise explanation on how geothermal heating works.

How It Works

Given all the attention being paid to solar power these days, you might be surprised to learn that one of the most promising solutions to high energy costs isn't up in the sky but buried deep under your lawn. Superefficient geothermal heat pumps provide clean, quiet heating and cooling while cutting utility bills by up to 70 percent. "With this technology, everybody could be sitting on top of their lifetime energy supply," says TOH plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey.

In principle, a geothermal heat pump functions like a conventional heat pump, by using high-pressure refrigerant to capture and move heat between indoors and out. The difference is that conventional systems gather their heat—and get rid of it—through the outside air. Geothermal systems, in contrast, transfer heat through long loops of liquid-filled pipe buried in the ground.

The big question is - Is Geothermal heating right for you?

The geothermal heat pump, also known as the geo-exchange heat pump, is among the most reliable, environmentally responsible, and cost-effective home-comfort technologies available. It’s also easily dismissed because of its steep up-front price tag. But with energy costs likely to rise and government incentives now widely available, today’s savvy homeowners are giving this incredibly efficient heating and cooling technology a closer look. Read more...

Read More Here: Introduction to Geothermal Heating

Choosing the Right Water Filter

At some point, we become paranoid into thinking if our tap water is safe to drink. In this case, we prefer to be sure and install a water filter. But how do we choose the right water filter for our household?

Choosing a water filter

Residential water filters are primarily designed to back up the water treatment facility in your community. They’re good for reducing unpleasant odors and tastes, discoloration and other annoying features that the water utility doesn’t remove.

The key to choosing a filtration device is knowing which contaminants you want to remove. Your first step should always be a call to your local water utility. A water engineer can almost always tell you what’s in your water and what’s causing the problem you’re dealing with. If you have health concerns, follow up with a call to your local department of public health. You’ll get more information about the issues involved and how to test for and solve problems. Although some filter systems go a long way toward purifying water, don’t rely on them alone to solve potential health problems. Read more...

As stated above, it is best to now first what kind of water issues you are having. Once you and your plumber are able to figure that out, you can choose the right water filter for your household.

Here are the most common types of water filter to choose from:

Types of Water Filters

If the only problem with your water is grit, dirt, sediment, rust, or other such particles, a screening filter may be sufficient. Made of fiber, fabric, ceramic, or another screening medium, these simply catch particles—including, in some cases, small organisms like cysts and some bacteria. But don’t rely on them to handle disease-causing organisms, VOCs, metals, or the like.

Carbon Water Filters
If your water tastes, smells, or looks bad, a filter containing activated carbon (AC) may solve the problem. If you want to remove chlorine, pesticides, herbicides, radon, trihalomethanes (THMs), and some inorganic chemicals, carbon may do the trick.

Reverse Osmosis Water Filters
If you must remove inorganic chemicals such as salts, metals (including lead), minerals, nitrates, asbestos, and some organic chemicals, consider a reverse-osmosis (RO) water filter.

Water Distillers
If you just want a portable, sink-top appliance that will rid water of most dissolved solids, such as salts, asbestos fibers, metals, minerals, particles, and some organic chemicals, an inexpensive water distiller may be just the thing.

UV Water Purifiers
Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection water filters, which typically cost $150 or more, may kill bacteria and viruses, and clear the taste and odor of water, but they are not effective against chemical pollutants and may not work against cysts and spores.

Buying a Water Filtering Faucet
With the popularity of water-treatment devices, a number of manufacturers have introduced products that integrate water systems seamlessly into the kitchen. For example, American Standard makes the Streaming filtering faucet that works with an under-sink filter to deliver filtered water through the main kitchen faucet. read full article...

Choosing the right water filter for your household is a big task. The first thing to consider is what kind of water contaminants you want to eliminate, then your budget. If you are hesitant to do all the decision, make sure to ask help from a plumbing professional.

Published First Here: Choosing the Right Water Filter

Common Water Issues and Importance of Water Treatment System

Have you ever experience smelling something bad while taking a shower or washing the dishes? You wonder where is this smell coming from? Then you realized it comes from your water.

These are the common water issues you should look out, as shared by theplumbinginfo:

Common Issues With Potable Water

We Will Start With Hard Water
Have you ever wondered why soap won’t lather in hard water situations? Well Soap attracts hard water particles i.e. calcium, magnesium, iron, etc. and unless these particles are removed soap won’t lather. These dissolved solids can also severely affect the performance of your plumbing system.

What About Iron in Our Potable Water? – Rust Stains on Clothes and Plumbing Fixtures
The next huge issue is iron in our drinking water. If you aren’t anemic there is nothing good about having high iron content in your water. It tastes horrible and it stains your clothes and almost anything else it comes in contact with namely plumbing fixtures and appliances a nice shade of burnt orange.

What’s the Black Staining on My Plumbing Fixtures?
Another pretty common issue with our water occurs when manganese is present. Manganese shows it’s ugly face by staining plumbing fixtures, clothes etc. a blackish color.

Is My Water Supposed to Smell Like a Rotten Egg?
The answer to the above question is a resounding no. When your drinking water smells like rotten eggs you have hydrogen sulfides or sulfur in your water and although it doesn’t have a super strong taste it certainly smells nasty." read more...

In the US and Canada alone 85% of household are experiencing water issues. To address this issues, it is recommended to install a water treatment system.

Water Treatment Systems: Healthy Advantages

Having a home water treatment system can be a great way to increase your families health. With many of our lifestyles, having a purification system in your kitchen is a great way to ensure your family stays healthy with little effort.

Our water supplies are polluted with chemicals, toxins, and bacteria every day. Installing a water treatment system directly to our kitchen faucet is simply another way of removing what gets left behind. read full article...

Next time you smell something from your water or see rusty colored water, or any abnormalities in your water system, call a plumbing professional and install a water treatment system.

Source Here: Common Water Issues and Importance of Water Treatment System

The Importance of Plumbing Inspection before Purchasing a House

Purchasing a home is a big decision and bigger investment to make. There are a lot of factors to consider when deciding to buy a house. It is important to be very meticulous on every aspect and do a plumbing inspection.

There are 10 basic things, as shared from Hometips, that you need to check for yourself:

Home Inspection Checklist

1. The structure
2. Water control
3. The roof
4. Details
5. Kitchen & bath fixtures
6. Electrical system
7. Water heater, plumbing
8. Heating
9. Insulation
10. Fireplaces

One of the most important thing to check when buying a house is the plumbing system. It's always a good idea to have a checklist to see if the house has a good plumbing system. According to Bruce Davis Jr., there are 3 plumbing features you need to check before buying your dream house.

3 Plumbing Features to Check Before Buying a New Home

Before you buy the home of your dreams, be sure to inspect these plumbing features.

1. Main sewer

It is strongly recommended that a professional plumber perform a camera inspection on a main sewer line after it has clogged. If you're purchasing a home, this is doubly important. You can't always be certain whether the home has had drainage problems, and if so, whether the previous homeowner knew the reason for the clog. A simple camera inspection could make you aware of a hidden and very costly problem prior to the purchase.

2. Water heaters

The average water heater lasts about 10 years. This depends on the water quality, how the water heater is being used, maintenance and installation. Water heaters that heat your home, in addition to providing hot water for each of your faucets, tend to have shorter lives.

3. Toilets

One problem homeowners often neglect to have fixed is a leak at the base of a toilet. The leak often appears small or insignificant, but over time the water will begin to rot the subfloor and even get between the subfloor and the finished floor. Someone unaware of the damage this kind of problem can create, may try to seal this themselves, sometimes making it worse. Read full article here...

If you are unsure how to check the plumbing system, asking help from a professional is the best option, as stated by Lillian Connors:

Asking for a professional opinion

If you are uncertain about any plumbing issues the home may have, it is strongly advised to consult a plumbing professional to do a plumbing inspection. It would not be the first time that new owners failed to notice some serious problems due to their inexperience, say the guys who own and operate Dial up Plumbing, which in return will set them back way more than professional plumbing inspection service fee would. On top of that, you will get a repair estimate and you can negotiate a discount with the sellers to cover the unexpected expenses. Read more...

A simple plumbing inspection checklist is a way to determine the quality of the house.

Learn More Here: The Importance of Plumbing Inspection before Purchasing a House

6 Best Low Flow Shower Head Options in 2017

Photo By powerpig

People who are worried about inefficient water flow should consider investing in the best low flow shower head available on the market today. There are a large number available and choosing the best low flow shower head for your needs can be a tricky prospect.

That’s why we’ve compiled the six best low flow shower head models for your consideration. With our help, you’ll find the best low flow shower head for your bathroom and your unique water control needs. Each eco shower head will have its advantages, so make sure to read through this information carefully.

1. Niagara Handheld Massage Shower Head

This great massager head is one of the best low flow shower heads on the market today. The Niagara Handheld showerhead includes a non-aerating spray that decreases the amount of water temperature lost. Beyond that, it is an incredibly efficient shower sprayer that will save you up to 20 percent on your water bill. The price is also among the lowest of any of the shower heads on this list.

Pros

• A steady and efficient flow of 2.0 GPM.
• A very long hose that is flexible for many bathing situations.
• Low purchase price.
• Great spray adjustment for multiple styles.

Cons

• Mostly made out of plastic to decrease the cost.
• May leak if not properly sealed with tape.
• Sometimes suffers from low pressure.

Price: $17.

Read the full story at The Plumbing Info

See Full Article Here: 6 Best Low Flow Shower Head Options in 2017

Trenchless Technology: Defined and Explained

Trenched Sewer Line Replacement

The conventional method for dealing with the repair or replacement of sewer lines requires that your yard, sidewalk, driveway, or parking lot had to be torn up in order to access the pipe. This can require equipment as simple as a shovel or as complicated as a backhoe, trencher, or other heavy equipment. Use of this equipment on a lawn can be destructive by itself, let alone the work that goes into fixing it once dug up.

Conventional methods of sewer line replacement may require that walkways and driveways, landscaped areas of your yard, or the parking lot of your business be removed and then replaced once the job is finished.

This adds to the expense of repair or replacement and needs to be considered when comparing the cost of conventional sewer line work over trenchless technology. Less invasive, trenchless sewer repair can eliminate much of this work when you find the need to replace a sewer pipe.

What is Trenchless Technology?

Plumbers have increasingly added trenchless technology to their services. There are several methods of trenchless sewer line replacement and a professional can determine which is right for your situation. The beauty of trenchless technology is that only one or two holes need to be made on your property in order to repair or replace a faulty sewer line. Using equipment, specifically designed to do the job, plumbers are able to replace and repair sewer lines, without the mess of conventional methods. This is how they do it:

CIPP (cured in place pipe) – For this method of trenchless technology, a special liner is filled with resin then pulled or blown into the pipe. Once the liner is in place, the resin hardens and provides a smooth seamless pipe that will allow it to flow freely. The life cycle of CIPP is 50 years, so once replaced you will not need to worry about your sewer line for a long time to come.

Pipe Bursting – This method of trenchless technology requires two holes and can be used for repair or replacement of short or long sections of sewer pipe. A cable is inserted into the pipe, and attached to a bursting head. It is then pulled through the existing sewer line, pushing away the old pipe while it inserts a new pipe in its place.

The biggest difference in these methods of trenchless pipe replacement is that CIPP reduces the diameter of your pipe. For most applications, this will not be a problem because CIPP is seamless, offering a smoother interior surface than the pipe it replaces. With pipe bursting trenchless technology, the diameter of the pipe being replaced can easily be increased. This can offer a greater flow of your pipes and is especially beneficial for businesses, municipalities and large homes in Sacramento.

Read the full article at expresssewer.com

Photo By plumberindenverco

First Published Here: Trenchless Technology: Defined and Explained

Labor Day Weekend Plumbing Tips

Labor Day weekend is here! As you celebrate the unofficial end of summer and the start of the back-to-school season with friends and family, make sure that you are taking the time to prevent plumbing problems, too.  The last thing that you want is a clogged toilet in the middle of a party! Here are a few plumbing tips to help ensure that your Labor Day party goes smoothly.

Labor Day Plumbing Tips:

• Keep BBQ Grease Out of Your Drains – Grease may look like a liquid, but when it hardens it can wreak havoc on your plumbing system. Make sure that all grease is disposed of in a separate container in the trash.
• Know How to Locate Your Main Water Valve – In the event of an emergency, it’s important that you know where your main water valve is. This will ensure that your home is safe and protected if you do run into a plumbing problem — until a professional technician can come and fix your plumbing issue.
• Watch What You Put In Your Disposal – Many popular BBQ foods like pasta salad, potato salad, ribs, and corn can’t go down your garbage disposal. Make sure that any of these food scraps go in the trash, instead.
• Make Sure There is a Garbage Can In Your Bathroom – You’ll want to make sure that every bathroom in your home has a garbage can. You don’t want to tempt guests to flush something that they shouldn’t.

  If you run into any problems with your plumbing this weekend (or any weekend), do not hesitate to reach out to our professional technicians here at Pipe Wrench Plumbing, Heating & Cooling. Visit our website to learn more about the plumbing services that we offer to Knoxville and the surrounding areas — or give us a call to speak with a representative directly!

  The post appeared first on Pipe Wrench.

 

Read full article at pipewrenchplumbing.com

Photo By localplumbers911

First Published Here: Labor Day Weekend Plumbing Tips

10 Vital Start-UpTips for Heat Pumps

If you have a heat pump or are thinking of buying one, you'll want to give this article a quick read. Very interesting read and extremely comprehensive.  These top 10 start up tips will get your heat pump ready for winter.

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It’s hard to stop a…” Admit it; I know you just filled in the blank. That’s OK, years of persistent marketing works wonders, but it does not mean other top brands aren’t capable of providing reliable service year after year. Most often, residential systems fail prematurely or under perform because:

They are not properly specified: guesswork, rules of thumb, “this is the way we’ve always done it”, such attitudes guarantee trouble.

They are not properly installed: Oh, you mean I can’t have 35 ft. of suction lift with this unit?

They are not properly commissioned: I thought the pressures were factory set!

They are not properly maintained: end user often believes no inputs from him are required or simply fails to maintain his equipment.

So many residential HVAC systems, presumably sold on the money saving energy efficiency bandwagon, have some or all of the above mentioned issues plaguing the homeowner.
Now that natural gas heating appears to have been given a very short shelf life thanks to climate change legislation, electric heating using existing and renewable sources of power generation will be the future. Heat pumps, utilizing electricity and the awesome power of the refrigeration effect, provide cooling and heating and can be operated with air handling systems or in hydronic applications.

 

Read full article at www.hpacmag.com

Photo By Arctic Heat Pumps

Post Source Here: 10 Vital Start-UpTips for Heat Pumps

The Top 5 Hacks on Cost-Effective Trenchless Sewer Replacement

 

Time and convenience help us all in our daily lives, and any job that can be done quicker and more cost effectively is worth consideration. This can be especially true when the object of your immediate attention is a clogged sewer line.

Failed plumbing lines can ruin your day, and waiting hours or days for a repair can throw off the schedule of everyone in your household or business. There are hacks that can save you time and money if you know them. Here are a five that will help you with decisions about the sewer lines of your home, business or municipality.

 

Read full story at www.expresssewer.com

Photo By baker.pool

Read More Here: The Top 5 Hacks on Cost-Effective Trenchless Sewer Replacement

Central air and heating is the way to go if you have ducts.  However, what do you do if you don't?  You could go with a window air conditioner but a better choice would be a ductless split air conditioning system.  Read on for their benefits...

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Most of us are used to traditional centralized air conditioners to cool our homes in the summer. They cool the air in a single unit, then distribute it to the corners of your home via a system of ducts. The system is effective and easy to use, but it’s not right for every home. Some houses in the area were built before the advent of air conditioning and aren’t able to physically support a system of ducts. Others possess architectural quirks that make centralized air impractical, and even some homes that possess central air could use a means of making their air conditioning more cost effective and less wasteful.

Ductless air conditioners solve the issue nicely, while providing several other benefits to your home as well. How do they work? Here’s a quick breakdown.

See full story at www.bellplumbing.com

To Read More, Go Here:

Image courtesy of: Cassiew18

On hot, sweltering summer days, the last thing that you want to happen is a power outage. Not only are you left without lights, you’re also left without cool air! So what happens to your air conditioning system when wind, rain and a thunderstorm leave you without A/C?

Will there be electrical damage?

Lightning strikes can cause power surges that trip your circuit breaker, but don’t worry — circuit breakers are designed to protect your air conditioning system from electrical damage. When there is a surge and your circuit breaker trips, it is doing its job to protect your unit from damage.

How do you turn your air conditioning system back on?

1. Turn your air conditioning off at the thermostat.
2. After the storm is over and your power has returned, find your circuit breaker. You can usually do this by turning the system off and back on again, as this will reset the circuit breaker.
3. Wait! It’s important to give your system some time. Wait about 30 minutes before you do anything else.
4. Turn the thermostat back on and set it to cool. After your circuit breaker has reset and you’ve waited the appropriate amount of time, you air conditioning system should kick right back on.

Read the full article at: pipewrenchplumbing.com

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10 Plumbing Tips

There is never a bad time to do a little cleaning up around the house. Follow our plumbing tips to make sure your systems are running smoothly, and to avoid costly repairs.

1. Check your faucets for leaks and drips. Complete these repairs ASAP to save water.
2. Check your toilets for hidden leaks. This can be done by adding six drops of food coloring into the bowl. If there is a leak, color will appear in the bowl within 30 minutes.
3. Make sure your toilets flush properly. If the handle has to held down, or jiggled to stop the water from running, you may want to consider replacing the worn-out parts. Replacement parts are inexpensive, and will cut down your water bill costs.
4. Check the water heater temperature on your water heater. It should be set to no more than 120F to prevent scalding.
5. Make sure any yard drains, gutters, and downspouts are clean and free of debris.
6. Check your exposed pipes underneath your sinks and in the basement for signs of leaks or damage.
7. Consider replacing a water heater that is over 15 years old. The first four numbers of the serial number represent the month and year it was manufactured. Newer water heaters are more energy efficient.
8. If you have a sump pump, ensure that it is operating properly by pouring a few buckets of water into the sump pit. Your pump should turn on, discharge the water, and shut off without any problems.
9. If you haven’t done so this year, drain several gallons from your water heater to flush out the unit. Doing so will remove any sediment, which reduces the heating efficiency and life expectancy of your water heater.
10. Check your outside faucets and hose bibs for drips and leaks. This could mean you have a frozen or cracked pipe.

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How to keep the cost of renovating your bathroom down

The cost of renovating your bathroom doesn't always have to be high. You can carry out various processes to save yourself time and money.

 

A bathroom should be a platform via which you stamp your creative mark at the home. Don't forget that bathrooms should be renovated over time as they are prone to wear.

 

How much do you need to change?

 

The less you desire to change, the cheaper the process will be. Don't mind your small budget; modify the appearance of your bathroom by only painting the walls, sticking up new towel rails and shelving and replacing tap handles. Avoid re-tiling as it might be quite expensive for most bathrooms. Instead, put overlay directly over the tiles to reduce the demolition work needed.

 

Why you shouldn't move your plumbing fixtures.

 

New plumbing can cost you a lot. This doesn't mean that keeping your cost low is impossible. Ensure you reuse the existing waste points and water supply areas for your bathtub, shower, and floor waste.

 

Get your hands dirty

 

If you are able and willing, doing most of the renovations yourself will save on labour costs. This doesn't imply that you can't hire an expert; you can engage a professional when it comes to complex phases such as demolition.

 

Do you have the inclination and time?

 

Shop around and buy materials, fixtures and fittings yourself. Before you start shopping, know exactly what is needed. For instance, floor tiles differ from wall tiles. Also, bathroom wall paints should be resistant to moisture. When buying a tub, go for one that has wastes at certain ends to lower your installation cost. Ensure you have all the required materials with you before renovation starts to avoid unnecessary delays along the way.

 

If you would like to get a rough estimate on the cost of renovating your bathroom, get a quote from a local contractor.

 

Source: How to keep the cost of renovating your bathroom down

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How To Find a Plumber

[embed]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5hQJYzOH6c[/embed]

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Tankless Water Heaters Rebate Program

Edmonton Alberta tankless water heater specialists Capital Plumbing & Heating launched its services as a registered contractor for the government energy efficiency rebate program. Qualifying homeowners are eligible to receive rebates of up to $1,000 on the installation of specific makes of tankless water heaters.

See advantages of tankless water heaters.

Edmonton, Canada – July 16, 2017 /PressCable/ —

Edmonton Alberta tankless water heater and plumbing service provider Capital Plumbing & Heating announced that the firm was now approved as a Trusted Contractor to perform energy efficiency inspections. The approval also allows the firm to administer the provincial government rebate program for Alberta.

More information about Capital Plumbing & Heating is available here.

Canada’s growing thrust towards environmentally responsible infrastructure and energy.

Since late the 28th of April 2017, the government of Alberta announced the availability of provincial rebates to its homeowners. This rebate underlines the province’s significant emphasis on energy efficiency and provides rebates on eligible energy conservation infrastructure such as triple-glazed windows, wall insulation, and tankless water heaters. These rebates are paid directly to qualifying homeowners who have had these products installed by registered Alberta contractors.

Capital Plumbing & Heating’s approval as a registered contractor allows the company to participate in the government’s rebate program that provides rebates of up to $1,000 on the installation of Energy Star-compliant tankless water heaters.

Tankless water heaters have been shown to be far more efficient and provide an instant supply of hot water without the need for traditional storage tanks. Older tank-based heaters constantly expend energy when the temperature of the stored water drops below pre-set levels. Tankless water heaters require no additional water to be stored. The company’s registration is listed on https://efficiencyalberta.ca, the website of Energy Efficiency Alberta, a governmental agency working towards energy conservation in the province. Capital Plumbing and Heating meet the qualifying criteria for a registered contractor in being an Alberta-headquartered business with full liability insurance and Workers’ Compensation coverage.

According to a spokesperson for Capital Plumbing & Heating, “Our plumbers in Edmonton, Alberta are certified in the installation and maintenance of tankless water heaters and can calculate a homeowner’s rebate based on the efficiency of the heater installed.”

Capital Plumbing & Heating is a full-services 24/7 plumbing and HVAC provider headquartered in Edmonton. The company specializes in professional residential plumbing services covering drain cleaning, pipe repairs, as well as the installation, maintenance, and repair of plumbing fixtures. The company’s uniformed technicians leverage 15 years of industry experience and expertise to provide guaranteed service quality. More information is available at the URL above.

Contact Info: Name: Gregg Weir

Email: info@plumbers-edmonton.ca

Organization: Capital Plumbing & Heating

Address: 14843 118 Ave NW, Edmonton, Alberta T5L 2M7, Canada

Phone: +1-587-408-3450

For more information, please visit http://plumbers-edmonton.ca

Source: PressCable Release ID: 217888

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