Archive for the ‘Surrey Plumbing Services’ Category

Book Ahead For  Plumbing Problems

I found an interesting article about how so many plumbers are busy these days because of the recent round of cold weather.  Luckily for us Vancouverites, we’ve been blessed with an exceptional warm winter this year. Something to do with the “Pineapple Express” It think they call it.

Here’s a quote from the article.

Speaking to the BBC, the body’s chief executive Clive Dickin commented that its members have been reporting that they are extremely busy at the moment, with the cold snap playing havoc on people’s homes, causing freezing pipes and resulting water damage.

He added that the increase in workload has generally been good news for professionals.

“After a period of deep recession and little work either in construction or domestic renovations this is a welcome and possibly business-saving busy period for many plumbers,” he said.

He went on to encourage homeowners who plan on thawing out frozen pipes to consult a Gas Safe Registered worker if gas is involved.

– End of Quote –

Even though we’ve had this warm spell it doesn’t mean you won’t have problems with your plumbing. I talk to Vancouver plumbers in the lower mainland all the time and they’re into their busy season too right how.

So it’s especially important to be careful if you need a plumber for something, that you take the time to do a little due-diligence if you think the bill is going to stretch your budget. Check out the BBB, talk to your neighbors and ask around. Someone you know might have a great referral.  If not you can always check out the plumbers at www.CertifiedLocalPro.com

The Vancouver plumbers listed there have all the right credentials.

Noisy Water Pipes

Have you ever turned off one of your faucets only to hear a loud banging noise? That’s called “water hammering” and it’s caused when a fast-moving stream of water travels down a narrow pipe and suddenly comes an unexpected halt.

Regardless of your water source, constant flowing water can not compress itself. For this reason, if the water must come to an abrupt stop it will result in a loud thud that can be heard throughout the entire house. Unfortunately the problem isn’t just the loud noise, the hammering can also damage joints and connections in the pipe.

Most water valves do not generally close quickly as they are designed to close slowly to prevent water hammering. However, overtime the gaskets in a faucet get old and brittle and eventually cause the faucet to close more quickly which can result in water hammering.

To prevent this noise problem, air chambers are built into the plumbing system. The air chambers act as cushions to prevent water from slamming against the piping. Unlike water, air compresses which makes it able to absorb the shock of fast-moving water.

The air chamber acts as if it were an upside-down water glass. Once filled with air it becomes a cushion for the water to collide with. However, there is a chance air can leak from the chamber. If it fills with water than it becomes useless and prone to damage.

Do It Yourself Plumbing

To fix a water hammer problem, your best bet is to replenish all air chambers with air, which is very simple.

Steps:
1. Shut off your home’s main water supply valve.
2. Drain all remaining water from your pipes. Do this by opening a few faucets inside your house.
3. Find the faucet at the lowest elevation, usually located outside, and turn this faucet on to drain all water from the pipes.

The reason you want to clear your pipes of water is because you want to add air. As the water is drained from the pipes, it is replaced by air. You will notice air being pushed out of the water lines causing a sputter as it exits the faucets inside. However, air will remain in the upside-down air chambers.

Two Things To Keep In Mind

Sometimes noisy water pipes can occur when there is a loose pipe-mounting strap. This can happen even if all the air chambers are in good condition. Before refilling your air chambers, be sure to check all accessible pipes to ensure that they are properly connected.

Plumbing is a great way to improve the quality of life in your home. You’ll want to make sure you are choosing the right plumber for your home and your budget.

Visit our list of Local Vancouver Plumbers

Modern Toilets

Toilets have changed over the years and what was once easily flushed away could probably get stuck now. With new regulations and water rationing, toilets have changed in an effort to be more efficient. As a result of this however, modern toilets have lost some of their suction power.

How Gravity Toilets Work

Gravity pulls water and waste through this type of toilet. Water within the tank drains into the toilet bowl causing the flush. With the help of gravity, the water gains enough speed to push the waste and water through the drain. Old toilets were pretty much the same way, they just simply used more water to get the job done. If your gravity toilet is not getting rid of everything in the bowl, try adjusting the flow by changing how much water fills the reservoir.

Effective Flushing

Actually, no matter how much you adjust the flow of a gravity toilet, it can still clog and may need the plunger. If you find it is clogging more than you feel is acceptable, be careful not to put anything in other than waste and the usual toilet paper. Be careful you don’t use too much toilet paper, and don’t let it build up. So make it a habit to flush after every use with a low-flow toilet.

If your pipes are old and causing problems, you might want to look into getting a power-assist toilet. This type of toilet uses compressed air to help make the waste go down. This type of toilet is usually louder than other toilets and can be more expensive to buy.

Custom Toilets

For cold climates you can get special heating units for the toilet seat. Some have air purifiers and others can flush automatically when you shut the lid. There are also some different designs that stray from the traditional if you have an artistic flare and feel the need for a special touch in your bathroom.

Call A Plumber If You’re Unsure

When you need plumbing work done, two things come to mind immediately. Can you do it yourself, or should you call in a pro?

If gas is involved, it’s a better idea to call a heating professional. Gas fitters licensed to work on gas appliances know the procedures, and if an inspector is called in chances are good it will pass. If you do it yourself though would you call the inspector, or would that get left to chance?

Finding Local Plumbing Contractors

Most plumbers like to work close to home and will advertise in local community papers or your daily paper sometimes. There is the usual media of course and Yellow Pages still have lots of plumbers listed. Another way to find these guys is to look online and include the city you live in with in the search term “plumbing” or “plumber”.  EG: “vancouver plumber”

A well designed website will make a plumbing company look more professional, so building a quality look online will pay for itself by attracting more visitors.

Know The Fees Before You Call

Most plumbers will give you a quote over the phone for a simple job. If they give an estimate in person for plumbing work expect a “call-out fee” if you decide against hiring the guy. Plumbers don’t like doing that and would rather do the work than charge you a call out fee, but manpower is involved in a house call, so a call out fee is common practice.

Most plumbing and heating is built to last and doesn’t need attention that often, so when you do need to hire a heating professional check to see if someone specializes in that area. A heating specialist should be geared up for efficient installations. You’ll probably get into a discussion on the choices you have like tank type vs tankless water heaters, so check your budget ahead of time.

Simple Maintenance

While the plumber is there, ask what you can do to extend the life of your furnace or the water tank. There are a few simple ones like how often to replace the filter on your furnace, or if you would benefit from a better air filter system. If you have radiant heat that has its own schedule for upkeep. In any case, you’ll benefit from knowing a good schedule for maintenance on those major appliances.

Every two years is the recommended maintenance schedule on forced air furnaces, and you might as well have the guy look at your water tank at the same time. Keeping those both clean and efficient extends the life and saves money on water and gas bills.

Snake A Clogged Drain

A clogged drain is a real nuisance, but something that is a very common residential problem. If you have a good idea where the problem is and you are somewhat handy, then you could rent a plumber’s snake and fix the problem yourself.

A plumbing snake is a long flexible tool used to remove clogs in pipes that can’t be forced through with a plunger. Most snakes have a coiled wire with space between the coils at the far end. The near end is attached to a crank that rotates the wire as you push it down into the pipe.

The far end of the snake digs into the clog kind of like a corkscrew. If you are able to snag the clog and recover it, you can pull the offending plug out. The alternative is to break up the clog and push it through the drain.

If you decide to rent a plumbing snake, take a few measurements first. There are a few choices, and you want to get the right snake for the job. Here are a few tips on how to use a plumbing snake.

• Prep The Area: Make sure you have towels and a bucket to mop up any water. You will probably want to use gloves, because the snake cable can get messy.
• Feed Plumbing Snake in: Feed the snake’s head into the drain and  turn it clockwise as you push it into the pipe.
• Find the Clog: Keep turning the snake and sliding it in until you hit the clog. Stay close to the entrance of the pipe as you feed the snake into the drain.
• Snag the Clog: Once find the clog, turn the head of the snake until you feel it latch on to the clog. Once you have a good hold on the clog, pull the snake out carefully. If that doesn’t work you can push and turn the snake to chew away at the clump until you break through and break it up. If you are able to pull the clog out, it will probably cause a mess. That’s what the towels and bucket are for.
• Clean up the Drain: You will want to get rid of any remaining pieces in the drain. Do this by running hot water down the drain for a few minutes. This should wash away any remaining chunks and pieces.

If you can’t find the obstruction on your first try, run the snake in through the branch pipe. If you can’t find the clog in the branch pipe, the blockage may be in the main waste and vent stack, or in the sewer line. In that case, you’ll have to call a plumber.

Plumbing Tips 3

For the third and final article in this home plumbing maintenance series, we examine angle stops, water supply lines and the main shut off valve.

Angle Stops

Angle stops are valves located under your kitchen and bathroom sinks, at your washing machine, at the toilet, and refrigerator icemaker. There are angle stops for both hot and cold water. Most angle stops are of the gate variety and are made of materials that may fail over time. Replacement of these valves is recommended when they are showing signs of leaking or they have “frozen” in the open position – meaning they can’t be turned one way or the other.

A plumber may be able to change out old angle stops with a new ball variety in a modest size home for less than the homeowner’s standard $500 deductible.

Angle stops need to be “exercised” regularly to make sure they are not frozen in the open position. Every month or two simply turn the angle stops off and on a few times. This will keep them working as they were designed. Never force a valve that is frozen in position. If you find a frozen valve, consult a plumbing professional as soon as possible.

Water Supply Lines

Water supply lines are connected from the angle stop to the appliance they serve, such as a faucet, toilet, washing machine, dishwasher and refrigerator icemaker. Many times these are thin rigid lines that can easily break and cause extensive damage. Water supply lines should be checked regularly for corrosion and rust and changed every 5 to 7 years.

Among the preferred lines are those that are stainless steel braided over rubber with threaded couplings on both ends for the sink and toilet lines. Don’t forget the dishwasher and refrigerator icemaker supply lines. They are often overlooked because they are hidden. Replace plastic tubing with either soft copper or steel braided supply lines.

Main Water Shut Off Valve

Every homeowner should locate their main water shut off valve and know how to use it.

There are two types of main water valves: the gate valve and the ball valve. The gate valve is recognized by its round handle that must be turned a number of times to open or close the valve. The ball valve is recognized by its single handle that needs to be turned 1/4 turn, or 90 degrees, to turn the water on or off.

Your plumbing professional can tell you about the condition of the main water valve in your home and replace it if necessary.

You can read the full article here at http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=howTo&p=Safety/PlumbMaint.html