Plumbing Checks To Make On A New Home
When moving into a new home, you can’t always know the condition that the electrical wiring and plumbing system is in.
Why Make Plumbing Checks?
Plumbing checks are necessary for new homes as the previous owner may not have had their plumbing systems checked in years. This is risky as it’s common for plumbing systems that have not been well maintained to become damaged easily, causing things such as leaks which can cause severe damage to your home.
In order to prevent things such as water damage, mould and mildew it’s important to have regular boiler checks. So if you’ve just moved into a new property and aren’t sure about what to look out for within your plumbing systems, then keep reading! As we’ve devised a list of things for you to look out for, and if any of these problems occur we recommend contacting a qualified plumber as soon as possible.
Leaky Taps And Toilets
Not only is this problem wasting your money, but it can be extremely annoying – especially when trying to sleep at night. A simple dripping tap, if left all day can cause extortionate extra costs on your water bills, so it’s important to get this checked before it worsens or costs you a lot more than it would to repair.
This is the same circumstances as a running toilet; an ongoing running toilet occurs when the float is set too high. If set too high, when your toilet is flushed water spills into the overflow tube which then won’t allow the fill valve to shut off – meaning that the toilet then keeps running.
Toilets alone are the main culprits of water usage within your home, so by leaving it continually running you are going to be spending ridiculous amounts on your water bills – although its a common problem so be sure to check this in your new property!
Find Out if Your Home Has Lead Pipes
Lead pipes were used widely in old plumbing, it was cost-effective and seemed to be extremely sturdy and easy to use. However, as time has progressed, we have discovered how toxic lead is to human bodies at high exposure. If your drinking water is travelling through lead piping, then it’s possible that the lead is contaminating your clean water.
Lead in a high enough quantity has the ability to cause death, so if you think that your home was built before the 1970’s, then we would recommend contacting a plumber straight away.
Check All Your Pipes Are Insulated
During the winter months, it’s easy enough for your pipes to freeze up. You should check that your pipes have been lagged and are protected from harsh weather such as rain, snow and ice. As well as this you should ensure that your hot water tank is insulated.
In the event of your plumbing pipes freezing up you should try and defrost them. Most people call out plumbers in the case of this simply because they don’t know what to do. Using a hairdryer, you can hold it on your pipes from a reasonable distance, and it will begin to defrost the pipes. Although it may take some time, it stops you paying fees for a plumber to do the same thing.
Check For Water Damage, Damp And More
Damp is a severe issue within a home; it’s unlikely that you’re going to move into a house after being made aware of it having mould. But sometimes people are really good at hiding their home imperfections, so we recommend taking a good look around the house before making an offer or moving in.
Damp is normally hidden in home extensions; this is in the case of where the home extension has been fitted improperly by cowboy builders. So we recommend using qualified builders for any property extension work to reduce the possibility of a botch job.
Damp, mould and mildew can cause serious health issues, especially for those with respiratory issues such as asthma. So we suggest checking hidden places such as behind wall cavities and in lofts and garages to ensure that there is no damp or mould in your home. As well as this look out for problems caused by leaky roofs and water damage in the property, this can also cause issues and can make it hard for you to sell on your property in the future.
Water damage can also be caused by leaky pipes, so check your home’s pipes to avoid the risk of them leaking into your home.
Locate Your Internal Stop Tap
It’s important to know the location of your internal stop tap; it’s the only thing that can completely stop the flow of water into your home. This important in case there is a problem with your homes plumbing work, and you have to turn the water off, in certain instances, this could be the only thing that can stop water damage in your home during a leak or flooding.
So it acts an emergency stop button for your water system, it’s important that you also make your family aware of its location in case there’s a situation that may require the need for them to turn the water off. Whether your children are home alone or your neighbours are watching your home for the weekend, it’s important that you point out its location just as a precaution.
Your plumber may use the internal stop tap during repairs or boiler replacements as they will need to stop the flowing water in your home.
Check Your Home’s Plumbing!
So whether you’re putting your own home up for sale, or you’re moving to a new property it’s important that you check all of these things to ensure that your homes plumbing is in safe working condition.
Winter Plumbing Tips
Unfortunately, the freezing weather is almost upon us. Which isn’t good news for our home plumbing and pipework, it’s time to learn some plumbing tips to save your pipes from being damaged and needing costly repairs.
What Are The Best Plumbing Tips?
Plumbing tips are vital to know; this won’t help you fix your plumbing system if it becomes damaged – but will help you take the correct steps beforehand to prevent damage. The cold weather is now almost upon us, with freezing temperatures on the horizon it’s essential that you take the correct precautions to protect your waterworks and property from water damage or freezing damage throughout cold weather.
You may not pay regular attention to your pipework, but be sure to remember that your home has a lot of external pipework as well as the pipes inside your home. These pipes are exposed to a lot more bad conditions due to coldness, wetness and freezing. We recommend you take the most care of these external pipes before the weather hits. So if you want to ensure your plumbing system stays in perfect condition this year, then keep reading. We have composed a list of plumbing tips to help keep your property in tip-top shape this year.
Disconnect Any Hoses
You mainly use your hoses during the summer months for recreational reasons, plant watering and plenty of other things. Then you leave them strewn on the floor still attached to the wall. This is a big plumbing mistake! Although the water supplies to the hose it stopped, water will still trickle through or could be present in the hose.
During cold weather, once the temperature becomes low enough, it will freeze the water in the hose pipe. In worst case scenario this ice will build up pressure in your hose over time and eventually could end up backing up into your property. If this happens, this can cause water damage to your home or cause a pipe to burst, which can affect the rest of your property’s pipework. To avoid this ensure that you always disconnect your hose from the water fixture, and if you are going to store it outside then be sure to drain it of any excess water.
Shut Off All Outdoor Taps
Similar to the issue of hoses, even once you disconnect the hose, this issue can still happen int he taps in your garden. Mirroring the hose situation, the water isn’t coming out of your external tap, but is still sat in the entrance of the tap in case it is turned on.
As the water sits in the tap through the freezing weather, it becomes likely for the water to freeze up inside the tap. Once this happens, it can back up into your home and cause a cracked or burst pipe. If left this makes your property vulnerable to water damage and leaks. You can avoid this issue by draining the tap pipes and shutting them off.
Insulate Your Pipes
Insulating your pipes is an essential part of keeping them warm and working during the cold months. Even the pipework in your loft is susceptible to being frozen in extreme weather, so ensure you have insulated pipes both inside your home and out.
There are many different types of pipe insulation that vary depending on the use, which type of pipe is being insulated, and the severity of the weather in which they are found. Ensure that when fitting your pipes with insulation, that it is the correct size and has a snug fits. Any gaps in the insulation or loose fittings will not insulate the pipe properly, and you could still end up with pipe damage issues. If a pipe in your loft was to burst, this would cause extreme issues for your property. Water damage starting in the roof often goes unnoticed and can cause rotting or mould to grow in the cavity insulation. Be sure to keep a close eye out and to regularly check the pipework.
Regularly Run Your Taps
Running your home taps is often something homeowners don’t want to do as it seems like a waste and will cost them on their water bills. However, the cost of running your water for 2 minutes is considerably less than the cost of paying for plumbing repairs.
Over time, especially more so in the winter, your taps will build up with pressure in the pipework. You can reduce this just by running your taps, both hot or cold. Although it will slightly add onto your water bills, the cost of repairs for your entire kitchens plumbing work is significantly more than the cost added on to your energy bills.
Open Your Kitchen Cabinets
Despite the amount of heat that is in your home, your kitchen cupboards and restricted access parts of the kitchen will not receive this heat. Just by opening your kitchen cupboards and allowing some warmth into underneath your kitchen sink can warm the pipework up.
This works exceptionally well as it’s not high heat suddenly on the pipework, its a subtle, persistent heat that can help keep your pipework at a steady temperature.
Get A Smart Meter
Within the winter months, you will be using your heating considerably more, and your boiler will be hard at work. It’s vital that you keep track of your spending to not go overboard on the price of your energy bills. Smart Meters can help you track the cost of your boiler and how much your heating has cost you for the day.
A lot of our clients gave us the feedback that they spotted they needed boiler repairs just from the prices on their smart meter showing up a lot more expensive than they usually are.
Start Preparing Your Plumbing For Winter
Using these top tips, you can organise your plumbing works and prepare them for the freezing weather during the winter months. We hope that this article was helpful, if it was then why not share on social media?
What Is Plumbing Emergency?
In most homes the plumbing system is built with these three things, namely the water supply system, the central drainage system and the fixtures and the appliances.
Your main supply line in home makes the water available to all the taps in a home which is done either through the municipal corporation or some private suppliers. The municipal corporation sets up a meter to measure the amount of water used in the home, business, industrial and accordingly then they charge the bill.
24 Hour Emergency Plumber & HVAC. Is Your Plumbing Problem an Emergency? That’s a Great Question….
A question we get a lot from our customers is, “When should I call for an emergency plumber?” Generally, a plumbing issue qualifies as an emergency if it threatens the health and safety of your family or the integrity of your home. Such severe problems must be dealt with right away.
Our licensed plumbers serving Across Canada have extensive experience handling all kinds of plumbing and HVAC emergencies, including:
Water heater leaks
Leaking pipes
Blocked drains
No hot water
No water
Burst pipes
Frozen pipes
Sewer line backups
Overflowing toilets
Contact us today for all your plumbing and heating needs.
4 Most Common Types of Water Heaters
Is there a requirement of a water heater in every home? Yes, of course. Why? Since the temperature in Canada is extremely cold, most of the time, the use of water heaters is quite necessary. Due to this reason, people commonly prefer to take a bath using water heaters to feel relaxed and feel better after a hectic day.
If you are planning to buy a new water heater, the following are the most common types of water heaters
1. Storage Tank Water Heaters
They are conventional heaters that consist of a tank, which stores the water to be heated. Therefore, it is also called as the ‘hot water storage tank.’ They are generally provided with insulation to increase the rate of the heating process, decrease energy consumption, and also, maintain the much-needed temperature of the water inside the tank. It can be easily installed at your home by emergency plumbers.
2. Tankless Water Heaters
Tankless water heaters provide water heating without the need for storing the water into the tank. On average, a tankless water heater uses 30% less energy, compared to a storage-tank water heater. A tankless water heater makes use of either an electric element or a gas burner for the water heating process. In case if there is any technical fault related to these water tankers, you can get it checked from emergency plumbers.
3. Heat Pump Water Heaters
In the case of heat pump water heaters, the heat is absorbed from either air or from the ground to heat water. Hence, a heat pump water tanker is 2 to 3 times more energy-efficient than an ordinary water tanker. Heat pump water heater consumes 63% less energy than a typical water heater. Therefore, it is one of the most commonly used water heaters around the city.
4. Solar Powered Water Heaters
As the name suggests, solar power water heaters make use of solar power for its operation. Typically, a solar heater converts the sunlight into heat power for the purpose of heating water by making use of a solar thermal collector. It is thus generally placed on the terrace or at any place where the sunlight is readily available. It is one of the most advanced types of water heaters and can help you save a large amount of electricity on a yearly basis.
From the information given above, you can simply figure out that there are various types of water heaters available in the market and you select any of these heaters as per your convenience. In case of the installation of a water heater, you can directly approach any emergency plumbers in your city or simply get in touch with us.
4 Things You Didn’t Know About Your Home Furnace
As winter strikes, you have to rely on your home heating system. In these months, a heating furnace is your crucial source of staying warm. You need the home furnace to work smoothly in the winter, and for that, you need to know some things that are important for your home furnace. Knowing things about the home furnace will help you to keep it warm and work without any problem throughout the season. So here’s everything should know about the mechanism.
1) Indoor Air Quality
When you install furnace at home, you will have a furnace blower that helps to distribute heated and conditioned air throughout the house. You can also have an additional indoor air quality system installed inside your ducts. An indoor air quality system helps to generate clean air for your home. Also, make sure to replace your furnace’s filter twice a year. This will increase the indoor air quality.
2) Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is a must, as it will help to keep the furnace system running adequately. With regular inspections and cleaning of the furnace system, you will be able to identify any minor issues before they become a major issue. The system will also work more efficiently and save you from heavy electric bills. You can call a trusted home plumbing service providers like ours for the maintenance.
3) Zoning Systems
According to the location and construction of your home, some parts may get heated or cool faster than other places of your home. You may also experience hot and cool areas throughout your home. And the mechanism may also use more energy than required to heat the rest of the house. You can control this problem by calibrating the thermostat adequately. It will segregate your home into zones and would heat your home efficiently. This will provide accuracy to the home furnace system for heating your home. You have to make sure that you are using the right amount of energy for the furnace.
4) Correct Size for Home
You may have the perspective that a big-sized furnace will heat your home more efficiently. But that may not be the case, and an oversized furnace may heat the home more, making you feel uncomfortable. Also, some parts of the house will be too cold. A big-sized furnace will lack in heating your home efficiently. The furnace will consume the majority of the time only in warming up the house. By that time, you will shut off the furnace without letting it complete the full cycle. An oversized furnace is expensive and buying a furnace that is too big or too small will not be sufficient. Ask your trusted home plumbing service provider to select the right size of furnace.
A home furnace is vital for the winter season. If not taken well care of the furnace, it can cause you heavy effects. Keep it maintained, and for any kind of furnace repair or plumbing emergency you can call us anytime.
Why Are Your Plumbing Pipes Changing Colours
You have lived in your house for a few years and now you notice changes erupting in the plumbing system. The faucets are leaking, the taps are dripping, the drainage system is almost falling apart but most importantly, you notice the plumbing pipes change their colours. These pipes at your home could be made of copper, iron or PVC. But what causes the plumbing pipes to change their colours?
Copper Pipes
Copper pipes have high heat tolerance and are proven to be durable for a long time. Copper is a metal that can conduct hot or cold water through it. The issue it can bring to a household is oxidization due to reaction with the oxygen and air as well as other acidic components of smog, smoke and rain. The World Health Organization states 2.0 milligrams of copper per litre as the maximum level permitted to be found in water. But note that even copper levels in water that is over 1.0 milligrams can cause health issues. Here are the colours you would notice when your copper pipes change from its original colour.
Blue or Bluish-green
When the copper pipe is exposed to changes in the environment, a green layer is created over the pipes. You may also notice blue or greenish-blue water pour from the taps. This is because the pipe corrodes and the copper dissolves into the water. Look for any pinhole leaks, cracks or pipe bursts that may have appeared because of a pipe wall becoming thinner. If the damage does not appear too severe, you plug them by using different methods like a solder, a repair clamp or a chemical sealant. Alternatively, call a plumber over to check the pipes and to replace any damaged portion. The plumber can check the pipes in the house and replace any pipes that are in its last days of use.
Black
The other colour your copper pipes could turn into is black. This can be noticed when the presence of sulphur levels in the water is high. The plumbing pipes could even turn black because of other chemicals in the air like sewer gas because the home’s sewer line failing. There can even be instances when the copper pipe comes in contact with other non-compactible metals, one of them being galvanized steel. The pipes also turn black if cheap copper versions were used during installation by the builder. Cheap copper contains high amounts of impurities.
Iron Pipes
Iron pipes react with the moisture and oxygen in the air in a process called oxidation. It causes the formation of rust over the iron. You will also notice interiors of the pipes carrying hot water rust faster than the ones carrying cold water. This occurs because of the increased level of minerals and chemicals in hot water that oxidize the iron pipes. Iron release from corroded pipes can lead to health-damaging issues to arise.
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
The PVC pipes are susceptible to an increasing growth of mould in the house. It causes the creation of a bluish-green film over the pipe which can be removed with tactful home remedies.
In a worst-case scenario, if you come across complete pipe failure, you would need to book an appointment to perform an emergency plumbing maintenance service. 24 Hour Plumbing Heating engages trained technicians for plumbing and heating services for home maintenance, repairs and replacement needs. Need support? Book an appointment.
Signs Of A Good Plumber
A good plumber can be hard to find these days, so many people are hiring not trained apprentices or posing as qualified plumbers and carrying out shoddy work.
Why Hire A Good Plumber?
Unfortunately, a cowboy plumber could end up being your worst nightmare. The damage they cause is often extensive, and it can be challenging to get your money back as they disappear without a trace. Poor plumbing work can cause serious issues in your property; you could end up spending way more than you anticipated and can have extensive damage to your property from floods and pipework back up’s.
If this happens to you, it can be really frustrating and hard to come to terms with the damage that a cowboy plumber has done to your home. A good plumber takes pride in their work and shows it off extensively – you can most definitely tell the difference between shoddy plumbing work and high-quality plumbing fixtures even without any plumbing experience! So if you have had your fair share of awful plumbers and want to know how you can spot good plumbers, we have devised a list of the common qualities of an experienced, qualified plumber. So keep reading!
Make Sure They Have Accreditations
Most of the time, dodgy plumbing work often includes boiler servicing, which can leave you in an extremely dangerous situation if not carried out properly – you are susceptible to gas leaks and even Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Most certified gas engineers will have accreditations to back up that they are qualified to carry out servicing, repairs and boiler fittings.
If your plumber can’t provide you with any proven accreditations, we recommend using a company that does – as this means they are either not experienced enough to be eligible or aren’t even qualified enough to apply. You can typically locate plumbers with approved accreditations on sites, or plumbers will normally advertise their accreditations on their website to show customers that they are accredited and qualified. If a plumber approaches you claiming that they can carry out boiler work, yet they are not gas safe approved – do not use them as they could put you in danger.
Straight Pricing
If a plumber provides you with a straight, honest price after taking a look at the job, then this is the sign of a good plumber. Often cowboy plumbers will provide a number of quotes, and if you refuse to pay or think that the price is too high, they will knock more off of the price so that you pay.
As well as this, while they carry out work in your home, bad plumbers will often find more things to do or make up scenarios to charge you more money. The reality is that they think homeowners have no idea of what they’re talking about, but it’s common sense. If you are seeing prices add up yet you have no proof any work is being done, or the plumber cannot keep you updated with the process, the likelihood is that there are no extra issues. Never pay a plumber upfront, this gives them the perfect opportunity to disappear undetected with your money, always wait until the job is completed and is of a good standard.
Punctual And Well Presented
If your plumber turns up looking like they have just rolled out of bed, this should immediately be a warning sign. Generally, people who provide good quality work, represent this in their appearance. By this we mean if your plumber has turned up in old raggedy clothes and not uniform, this could be a sign that they are not who they claim to be. Most plumbing businesses have plumbing uniform to make them stand out from the rest and to represent their company.
As well as this, if your plumber is coming and going as they please at different times daily, this is unacceptable. Or if they are just not turning up at all, this is a prominent warning sign. Cowboy plumbers often replicate their quality of work in their behaviour, those who take pride in their career and pride themselves on providing high-quality plumbing work are often on time and prompt – however if life does get in the way, and your plumber does get held up, they will keep in good contact and make you aware as soon as possible.
Testimonials
What better way to judge the quality of a plumbing company than from those who have had previous encounters with them. Of course there is room for human error, and unfortunately, people do sometimes love to be slightly dramatic. So not all plumbing companies are going to receive 100% reviews each and every time.
However, this does not mean to say that if your chosen plumbing companies have received plenty of negative reviews from previous customers that they are reliable. Most people will be brutally honest in reviews and speak the truth, if you come across a company with the majority of their reviews negative – steer clear as this is often a good warning sign!
Leaves No Mess
When being a guest in somebody’s home, even to carry out slight plumbing maintenance it is essential that you treat the residents, as well as their property with the utmost respect. This includes cleaning up after yourself as if it were like you were never there. It is rude and unfair to make a mess in somebody’s home and to leave it there for them to tend to.
A good plumber will always leave their workstation like they were never there, boiler installations and general plumbing work can be messy, but a qualified and high-quality plumber will always ensure that it is cleaned up.
Find Yourself A Good Plumber Today!
Now using these to tips you can ensure that you locate and hire a competent, qualified plumber rather than a cowboy plumber. If you need boiler repairs please be sure to contact a member of our team today! We hope that this article was helpful, if it was then why not share on social media?