Posts Tagged ‘plumbing vancouver’

When you hire a contractor for new construction or a re-fit of some sort you should check their work once completed. It is not common but city inspectors have been known to overlook public safety concerns in the building inspection process.

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

1 – Hire a contractor who has been 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. Make sure the connected ends are marked with the same.

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.

For a local Vancouver Plumber call Mr Rooter – 604.736.9200

We met with Steve Kaldis from Vancouver Mr Rooter again this past week. These guys do a great job getting to emergency plumbing problems quickly, and leave their customers feeling good about the choice they made. Here is a video ad they put out a couple years ago that says it all.

Vancouver Plumbers specialists in commercial and industrial heating systems in Surrey, Whiterock and Langley as well

We’ve been around since 1987 working on residential and commercial accounts in Vancouver BC and our customers have trusted Ashton Service Group to keep everything running smoothly for them. Leave your plumbing, heating, and other home needs in our good hands.

We handle everything from leaky faucets to renovations and additions. Whatever type of project you need done, we believe you shouldn’t have to search further for qualified people, Ashton will do it all.

We have over 20 service vehicles, so all calls are responded to quickly. Our Vancouver office is located on 4060 Blenheim Street and we cover the entire lower mainland.

Vancouver Plumbers, Mr Rooter plumbing provide local residents with outstanding results.

So whether you’re in need of routine maintenance, have a blocked drain or toilet, or have been hit by a plumbing emergency, their journeymen will address your questions and respond to your needs. I found them to be reliable and reasonable, which is a great combination in my books.

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

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