Home Care Professionals

Drainage problems seem unimportant most of the time, but could easily and quickly evolve into problems that go far beyond the drainage system. It’s important to note that drainage problems do not simply appear; there are tell-tale signs that we tend to ignore.

Drainage problems are brought about by a number of factors, including improper drainage fixtures such as drainage pipes that are too narrow, clogged drains and can lead to difficulty dispelling water, hence creating backups that could lead to serious problems. One of the most overlooked services is perimeter drain tile cleanings. A local plumber is usually the best choice for getting this service done.

One of the best ways to ensure that your drainage is working properly is to regularly inspect your home.

Top Warnings of Drainage Problems

• Unpleasant drainage odors
• Strange sounds in the drainage
• Slow draining water
• Penetration of water in the walls
• Foundation cracks
• Water accumulation in the various areas within and around the home
• Soil changes in specified areas

One of the major signs to look out for is unpleasant smells emanating from the drainage system. Blockages are usually a result of hair and food which eventually begin to accumulate slime– and hence the awful smell. You may also want to look out for slow draining water which is the easiest way to know that your drainage is in danger.

Slow drainage means that there is an obstruction. You can also tell that your drainage is experiencing some problems by listening to the sounds its makes. Gurgling sounds are brought about when you have trapped air in the drain. Foundation cracks also indicate that there is a drainage leak.

Water resurgence is a clear sign of a drainage problem. You also need to look for signs of localized flooding on areas— such as the rooftop and yard. Presence of moisture walls could tell you if you have drainage problems.

Preventing Drainage Problems

You can easily prevent drainage problems from occurring by:

• Installing sink strainers
• Regularly cleaning the drainage system
• Planting trees and plants away from the drainage pipes

Sink strainers help keep foreign objects out of the drain and help catch food particles, hair and other matters that could easily go down your drain and potentially lead to blockage. If you are planting trees, plant them away from your drainage pipes. If you already have trees and plants, make sure that the roots do not invade your pipes.

Cleaning your drainage system is important. You can keep your sink clean by simply pouring hot water and using a suction pump to remove any grease and other build ups. However, be very careful about using popular drainage cleaners, as they easily corrode drainage pipes and lead to greater problems.

Stopping drainage problems early is essential, as it could prevent blockages from occurring and even arrest leaks in time, thus preventing structural damages and consequent expenses. If you have come across any of the issues mentioned above and cannot clear the problem yourself, then we suggest you call a local plumbers for professional help. In many cases proper tools are needed to remove a blockage or root intrusion.

There have been lots of awful stories about rogue plumbers who exploit the vulnerable and take a few minutes to fix a dripping tap but spend most of their time doing nothing and charging way over the top.

The good news is most plumbers are honest and professional and not out to rip people off. But the sad news is that there are some dodgy guys around and there is a shortage in skilled. So if your tap, radiator or boiler’s got a a leak and you need someone fast how can you make sure the person who comes to fix it is competent and out to exploit you?

Obviously a good plumber is often hard to come by. So here are some tips for finding a reputable plumbing company fairly quickly. Not all of these will be appropriate to your circumstances but at least it will give you some options.

1. If you are in a hurry then we would recommend a quick look on the internet. Search for a local plumber with your town, city or village.
2. If you don’t have the internet at home or you can’t connect then try the neighbors. A verbal recommendation from someone you trust is quick and easy
3. OK so you have no neighbors around who know of a good plumber – try your yellow pages. There are always plenty of local plumbers that advertise there
4. If you don’t have Yellow Pages then why not call a friend who lives close and ask if they know anyone…if they don’t…
5. Ask if they can recommend that you call someone else who could know – it could be anyone their referral doesn’t have to be a plumber themselves just someone who may have the number of one.
6. Are their other tradesmen you have used in the past- electrician, carpenter, gas engineer? Try these. Tradesmen often work together and know of each other so they are likely to know of a good plumber
7. Is there a hardware or DIY store near to where you live? These will often have lists of tradesmen who can help. Go round or call them.
8. Is there a relative you think could have some ideas. Obviously they would have to be fairly local.
9. If none of these work and things are getting a little desperate you could call the Citizens’ Advice Bureau and ask if they can help. This is an excellent organisation that helps people with all kinds of problems – they would certainly have a Yellow pages.
10. If the problem is serious don’t attempt it yourself and if it takes a while to locate a good plumber and your need is urgent make sure you make what cautionary arrangements you can – pots, pans, containers, towels, to catch dripping water.
11. If the problem is a major one check with your insurance company that you are covered and ask them if they can recommend a good plumber. If you are not covered ask them if they could recommend a good plumber anyway.

For a few more good tips on finding an expert plumber, read this article we posted last month.

If you are reading this plumbing article, you may have a plumbing issue in your home. Below is a solid list of tips form a professional plumber that you can use in order to help yourself resolve the issues on your own. Read on.

Plumbing Product

First of all, you should try out a live enzyme product like Bio-Clean for the upkeep of your sewer lines. This way, the grease or some other byproducts can keep the lines from getting clogged. While the product is expensive, it can save you lots of hassle down the road.

Water Main

You should check your lines to find out where the water main closes. For instance, if you reside in a condominium, you should check if each unit shuts off. Aside from this, you may want to check if the entire building needs to be turned off. So, this is important if you have a bad leak.

Remove Hoses

You should remove the hoses from the faucets, and you should do this before the faucets freeze in the cold season.

Stops

You should also check to make certain that the stops under each sink and at the back of toilets could be turned without any problem. This way you can close them if you experience a problem.

Shower Valves

If you are going to design a new bathroom, don’t forget to make sure that you can access the shower and tub valves from the backside of the wall. Placing valves on any outside wall is not a good idea.

New Home

If you are going to buy a new home, just make certain the sewer lines don’t have any setting or root problems.

Starch Products or Coffee Grounds

It’s not a good idea to put a lot of starch product or coffee grounds in the garbage disposal. This waste can clog your drain. In the same way, coffee grounds may attract grease that can accumulate over time. While a small quantity of these things won’t cause problems, peeling tons of potatoes into the drain can give you lots of problems.

Clean-outs

You should also find out where the clean-outs are. This is really important.

Water Lines

With the passage of time, the galvanized water lines may rust or corrode. It’s a good idea to get copper lines. However, the plastic or PEX pipes can cost less, but are not as durable. Also, they don’t do the job so well.

Cheap Fixtures

As the name suggests, cheap fixtures are cheap. The problem is that cheap fixtures don’t last as long. Plumbers as well as the plumbing products cost a good deal of money. Therefore, it’s not a good idea to invest in low quality fixtures.

So, if you have been going to work on some DIY home plumbing projects, we suggest that you use the tips given in this article. This way you can rest assured that everything will be fine and you won’t end up creating more problems. For difficult jobs, we always suggest that you hire a good plumber.

One of the unsung stars of the home’s various systems is plumbing. Think about it, you use your plumbing system in conjunction with kitchen chores like cooking and dishwashing (not to mention having drinking water), in the mudroom for doing laundry and the bathroom for showering, dental hygiene and more. And, until something goes wrong-the well quits working or the sewer lines get backed up, seep or burst, nary a though is given to the plumbing system! Of course, when things go wrong, you can bet on it, they will occur at the most inconvenient time possible. So, what can you do to see that sewer repairs are kept to a minimum and life can move along?

Keeping sewer repairs at a minimum is not nearly as difficult as one might think. In fact, it is done more by being proactive than by reactive. So, to help you be as proactive as possible in limiting sewer repairs, here are some tips:

Whether you have lived in your house for some time or are merely considering the house as a new residence, it is vital that you have someone inspect the lines. This is especially helpful if you are considering a purchase, as you do not want to find yourself dealing with a costly sewer repair job. Typically, the home inspection required in buying a new home will check this, but it doesn’t hurt to ask a plumbing/sewer professional to check as well. If you already live in the home, especially if it has been some time, take the proactive step of calling in an inspector to see if everything is as it should be. The cost of the inspection will be considerably less than any sewer repair, and keep it from being needed at some later inconvenient date.

Never flush things down the toilet that do not belong there! Wipes, sanitary napkins, etc. are not designed to “move” through your septic system and cause thousands of dollars in sewer repairs each year.

Do not pour grease or oils down the drain. These cause build up and clog the system. Yes, you can use products designed to clean sewer lines, but it is better to never introduce the grease. In fact, some sewer repair specialist feel that these cleaning products are misleading as people think that by pouring these cleaners down their drain, they have addressed and avoided any potential sewer repair needs, when in actuality they are only moving buildup from one location in the septic line to another.

If planting any shrubbery or trees in your yard, be sure to steer clear of any septic lines. Roots cause significant to sewer lines as they will wrap around and try to burrow into the sewer lines.

Taking these proactive steps can keep sewer repairs far away from your schedule. Yes, it might take a few minutes of time to dispose of grease, have that inspection or re-think where to plant the shrubbery, but in the long run, it is well worth it.

Many websites provide additional information on the topic of sewer service and repair. One such site worth looking at for drainage and sewer repair is KC’s Plumbing in Vancouver BC: https://www.kcplumb.ca/services/drains/sewer-separation

Owning your own place ought to be certainly one of that which causes you to ready to fight on earth since it’s such an enormous accomplishment. Unfortunately, you usually end up being nervous about everything, especially your bathroom plumbing.

A few of you would possibly wonder what’s so problematic concerning the plumbing in the toilet when compared to rest of the house. Well, it really is related to the standard “life functions” that happen in the bathroom. The very last thing the plumbing in that room needs to have is a problem because the last thing we would like in your home is stuff in the plumbing.

The Toilet

The problem that a lot of house owners have is that they are not very experienced when it comes to working on the plumbing in their house, whatever the room. When it comes to the toilet, we have fairly rudimentary knowledge of how to use a plunger, but behind our minds, we actually don’t need to work that prospective mess. Still, you’re a home-owner now, which means you really have to be in addition to things. Your house is dependent upon your elbow grease to keep doing its thing, so an adequate amount of sticking your head in the ground – it is time to get to work.

Here are a few simple tips on keeping your bathroom plumbing working properly:

Always Be On The Lookout For Drips & Leaks – Listen to your toilet after you flush and observe your faucet after you’ve washed your hands. Do you hear or see drips? In that case, you’re seeing two things: 1) a symptom of one that has to be fixed; and 2) money through drain. You would be shocked to figure out how much water is wasted due to small leaks.

Try To Prevent Clogs and Blockages – Most clogs and blockages in your bathroom drains are caused by greasy build-up, hair, and other yucky stuff. Try best to reduce how much this affects you by using hair traps.

Check Fixtures for Cracks and Leaks – So, you’re a beginner plumber, but of course that doesn’t mean you can’t see one that isn’t quite right. Have a flashlight and look your bathroom fixtures for any developing cracks and leaks. The compromise of the actual fixture can interrupt the essential part of your plumbing.

Be Proactive – In case there is the same place to be slightly over the top in terms of trying to get ahead of things, it is your bathroom. Discover when you have hard water. Check out limescale. In case you are in older home, take into consideration upgrading the vanity plumbing. Provide your bathroom every chance it can have to run well.

Your Peace of Mind

Your bathroom plumbing doesn’t have to be a menace to your peace of mind. In spite of little to no understanding of plumbing, you could in fact do a lot to keep a bathroom plumbing operating the way it should. In case that an issue should occur, be proactive and seek out a local plumber develop a stellar reputation & great service. Having a knowledgeable plumber on your side is always a good bet.

For those of you living in downtown Vancouver you can always call these guys.

Pioneer Plumbing & Heating
Downtown Division
Phone: (778) 839-2040
1101-1202 Harwood St
Vancouver BC, V6E 1S3

As professional plumbers we are able to take on any of your plumbing needs, which includes fixing leaks, new installations, maintenance or all sorts of work in residential and commercial properties. Tub, toilet or tap… whatever it is that you require you can count on us to send out a registered plumbers to take care of things in an efficient and courteous manner.

Emergency Plumbing Solutions

Prospective repairs can run from the minor variety – such as a leaky tap – to those that are, or might become, catastrophic. Our committed plumbers can offer the skills, experience and tools to remedy just about any dilemma that crops up, and they’re specialists at pretty much everything from pipework installations to resolving leaks.

We’re able to promptly fix any dilemmas with plumbing which could occur in your house or commercial property. For all your plumbing emergencies, please contact us. We have continually got a 24 hr plumbers available and will dispatch to your home ASAP. It doesn’t matter what the time of day or year, you can trust in us for timely and cooperative help in your time of need. We know how irritating plumbing related problems are, especially if it’s an emergency out of regular working periods.

Plumbing Installations of All Types

KCs Plumbing boasts a long history of top quality workmanship. It doesn’t matter if you want to get some pipe insulation or a brand new tub put in, or you’re in need of a re-piping or installation in a residential or commercial property, we’ve got the ability and the practical experience to make certain it is completed correctly.

We’re recognized also as a leader in upgrading plumbing systems in older homes, something that we have been doing for years, most noticably in the many fabulous houses in the West End of Vancouver.

Our dedicated residential and commercial plumbing service is a good solution for either newer homes or older homes all over greater Vancouver.

There is one constant when it comes to plumbing, water is tricky stuff and has a mind of it’s own. When you are looking to do plumbing yourself there are a few things you need to keep in mind.

No matter what, leaks will happen and there is no short cut to correct them. There are no magic pastes or powders that will stop a leak permanently (no matter what the TV says). If you have a leak and want to fix it, use the proper materials and the correct procedures. You need to use copper on copper and plastic with plastic.

When working with plastic always clean it, deburr it and use the appropriate cement to get a good seal. With copper you want to polish the surface with emory cloth, deburr the inside, and use a lot of flux prior to soldering the joint.

When you are working with compression fittings you won’t need any solder. There is a metal sleeve that squishes tightly against the fittings to prevent leaks. You can only use the sleeve once so make sure you have it sitting properly before you do your final tightening.

There is no logic when it comes to plumbing sizes. A sink faucet supply hose is a different diameter than a toilet supply hose. A kitchen sink supply line will not work for a bathroom supply line. Also, your toilet can have three different distances from the wall, and there are countless different toilet flappers and faucet washer sizes. Usually the best guarantee to getting the correct part is to take it with you when you purchase the new one.

Usually a good salesperson can tell you what parts you will need, but help them out by bringing in your parts. If you can’t, take a picture to show them. There is nothing worse than having to run to the supply store several times, just to get a ten cent washer.

If you are taking on the challenge of your own plumbing repairs, make sure you have the right tools, supplies and parts before you start your job. Plumbing is not really difficult, but remember that water is tricky, so if you try to take short cuts it will out smart you.