Posts Tagged ‘vancouver plumber’

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