Archive for the ‘Vancouver Plumbing Services’ Category

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Plumbing & Hot Water Systems

Hot water tanks need regular attention for longevity and maximum savings. When replacing hot water systems your choices are initial costs or long term savings.

Some plumbers in Vancouver prefer to specialize in one area, especially if they are comfortable with the type of work or have built a reputation for themselves. Hot water is one of those areas where theres a never ending supply of worn out water heaters. Advances in technology have made new installations or replacement water heaters a lucrative area to get established in.

If a new water heater is in your near future plans then you will probably be considering the type of heater to install. If youre planning on moving soon, then a traditional water heater with the tank and gas heat system will be more reasonable.

If you plan on staying for a decade or more and theres a number of people to consider, then the high efficiency tankless hot water system can provide endless hot water on demand. Even though tankless hot water can cost a lot more than traditional, savings can be as high as 75% by comparison.

Long term saving with a high efficiency hot water system will pay off the added installation costs in time and continue to run for years after. Utilities will not be going down any time soon so planning future saving into household expenses is always a wise move.

There are other hot water systems too like electric heat, so plan on discussing the benefits of each with your contractor to get a birds eye view of the choices. Its always good to look back on a major appliance purchase like that knowing you made a good choice.

For a great contractor resource, visit our site to find a plumber in Vancouver

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.

How To Follow Old Plumbing

Here’s a great article with some good guidelines on how to prep for a plumbing project. I’ve edited the article a little for better reading, and you can find the original article here. http://findbetterwork.com/career-articles/planning-for-a-new-plumbing-system

– Beginning of Article –

The first step to any plumbing project is deciding where to run the pipes. This is often easier said than done because pipes are usually concealed in wall spaces by finished surfaces. Most often it is easiest to simply run new pipes in the same cavities that contain old plumbing. These spaces are already designed to allow for long, unbroken runs for pipes.

If there are some changes required for the new plumbing design, then it is better to run the pipes up from the basement. Like, you can get the bathroom drain line dropped into the basement and then connected to the main line under the joists rather than running them over the floor joists.

Do not try to modify the floor joists or the support beams as this can be very dangerous and can weaken the entire building. The local building codes have to be followed for any issues with support beams. Here are some tips that can help you while taking up any plumbing remodeling project.

Build a wall chase which is a false wall used to conceal plumbing. The chase can be stacked from floor-to-floor of the home. This allows plumbing to run from the basement to the attic. The chase is most commonly used for running new vent stacks.

Similar to the chase is the soffit. Instead of running from floor-to-ceiling, a soffit runs across the top of a wall. Inside pipes can be run vertically to accommodate new plumbing.

If you have an unused laundry space, it can be used to run new plumbing pipes. The connections are mostly made in the basement area in this case.

A long piece of pipe can be used to check prospective plumbing routes for any obstructions. Once the route is determined to be adequate, the pipe can be a guide for running larger diameter plumbing. This is easily done by sliding the larger pipe over the guide pipe.

These are a few different ways to run new plumbing in your home. As far as incorporating a modern plumbing framework is concerned, it is better to keep the operation to the open spaces and not behind-the-wall areas. Of course the local officials can be consulted if you’re uncertain about the architecture you chose.

– End of the Article –

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.