Posts Tagged ‘plumbing heating Vancouver’

Five Tips For Hiring a Plumbing Contractor

Posted on: November 1st, 2011 by Damon Cuthbert
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When you need to hire a plumbing contractor you should check their references first. It is not common but city inspectors are human, and have been known to miss the odd detail during building and code inspection.

Here are Five Steps You Should  Know About When Hiring a Plumbing Contractor

1 – Hire a contractor who has been around a long time and has good references.

2 – Do some research on plumbing, electrical, and building codes so that you can recognize if someone is trying to pull the wool over your eyes.

3 – Take pictures of the work and mark items such as sanitary sewer line and storm sewer.

4 – Write down any problems you have in a notebook, so you can ask the contractor and the inspector about your concerns. Do not be afraid to ask too many questions. A good contractor will take the time to answer your questions.

5 – Always check to see if the inspector looks at all the important points that you learned during your research so you can ask any other questions that may come up.

Remember

Even if a house has been inspected and the contractor goes bankrupt, it is the homeowner who gets stuck with the cost of repairs. Spend a few hours doing your homework. By doing so you could possibly save yourself thousands of dollars in the long run.

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Tankless VS Traditional Hot Water Tanks

Posted on: August 18th, 2010 by Damon Cuthbert
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Installing a Hot Water Tank

Every homeowner is eventually faced with the prospect of replacing the hot water tank at some point. Where you live determines the average lifespan of a hot water tank because of the water content. So for instance, living on the west coast means you have to deal with corrosive water because of the alkalinity.

You have a few choices when buying a water heater, the two basic choices being the traditional tank type or the newer tankless water heaters. Asking around will reveal a variety of opinions on the tankless water heater, and ultimately you will have to decide if the extra cost for this type of water heater is worth it.

From conversations I’ve had with a few plumbers the choice boils down to either the short term cost or long term savings. If you are not planning on living there too much longer then it might be wise to go with the water tank hot water heater. If you have set down roots where you live then the tankless is the better choice for long term savings.

Energy Usage

The basic difference between the two is the amount of energy needed to heat the water. Traditional hot water tanks continually use energy to keep the water at a constant temperature, whereas the tankless type uses energy on demand.

Number of Occupants

You also need to consider the number of people in the house. The tankless water heater is great if there are three or fewer people living in your home. If there are four or more people in your home then chances are good that the tankless water heater will not be able to handle the demand.

There is also the possibility that everyone will want to shower at the same time unless you have rules for when to shower. Doing laundry would have to be later in the day and running the dishwasher at the same time someone is showering will probably cause a problem. On the other hand a hot water tank can be sized up to match the number of people in your home.

So when your hot water tank pops a leak and you need to call a plumber, think about your options and do a little research online to price out the options. Knowing what you are talking about when discussing this with your plumber will tell him you are knowledgeable in this area and he will respect your choice without trying to sell you the most profitable hardware according to their connections.

Hot Water Tank Maintenance

To help extend the life of your tank, it is a good idea to flush it every couple years.  Here are the four steps broken out for you.

1. Turn Off The Water Supply

If you have an electric water heater turn off the power at the main switch.  If you have a gas heater, turn the thermostat to “pilot” setting. Using your garden hose attach it to the drain valve near the bottom of the tank.

2. Drain The Water

Turn off the water supply and drain the tank into the sewer line. (get a bucket or run the hose outside if you don’t have a sewer drain close by)

3. Flush The Tank

Once you have drained the tank, close the valves and re-fill it to flush. Drain once again and repeat until the water runs clear

4. Test The Pressure Release Valve

Wait until the tank has re-filled before turning on the power to the electric water heater. Once the water temperature has been brought back up, test the pressure-relief valve. This is a safety device designed to prevent excess pressure build-up or overheating. If the pressure relief valve is faulty, you may need to have it replaced by a licensed plumber.

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Plumbers Vancouver, How To Find Them

Posted on: July 13th, 2010 by Damon Cuthbert
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Plumbers Vancouver

Where are the best deals, and who can you trust…

As a homeowner you are sometimes faced with emergency situations like a backed up sewer and you need to find a plumber ASAP, but you don’t really know any plumbers personally, so you have no choice but to look online or in the Yellow Pages for a local plumber.

How to Find a Local Plumber At-a-Glance

One of the best things about the internet is the fact that you can quickly separate the small contractor from the bigger plumbing companies by the look of their websites. Advertising budgets directly reflect professionalism or lack of it in the look and feel of a pipefitters website. This is one way of deciding what level of service you are willing to pay for.

Where to Look For a Local Plumber in Vancouver

There are endless ways to find a plumber online, and one of the best is to search through some of your local business directories like Yelp, WebLocal, or the online Yellow Pages. These citation sites are designed for a number of reasons. Besides being a revenue model, they also help search engines like Google confirm contact information, and they are a great resource for local plumbers.

Savvy plumbers will take the time to add their details in a number of these sites to get their name out there. Just because a plumber has a fancy logo, nicely done website and some whiz-bang graphics, it doesn’t mean they are the right guys for you.

There are two basic considerations when hiring a plumber – cost and quality of work. You know your criteria, so based on that you can afford, sort them based on the look and feel of their website.

Watchdog Services

One more thing to consider is how many associations they belong to. I like to do a quick search on the BBB to see if they have a paid membership and what their customer service rating is. If you are looking for a small service provider who might be willing to work under the table then you definitely want to look at the BBB ratings. Another place to look at for ratings is the Super Yellow Pages. Almost all local business directories allow customer experience ratings, which is probably their best attribute.

Too many black market plumbers will not back up their work. Sure you might save a few bucks, but in the long run it’s a real crap shoot when it comes to quality. So you decide. Pay the proper rates and have the resources to back you up if something goes wrong. Or take your chances and save a little by forgoing the receipt.

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