Plumbing Tips from the Pro's

Don't household plumbing issues always seem to happen at the worst possible times? When we are having a relative over a couple of days or right before we go on that long awaited vacation, we notice a brain drenching pool of water building in the basement. These plumbing situations can be extremely inconsiderate of our busy schedules. And whats next? We are stuck calling a plumber, and you know what that means $$! Here in Calgary plumbing repairs don't exactly wait for the economy to get better before they happen. Our pro's from Innovative Plumbing & Heating Calgary http://www.calgaryinnovativeplumbing.com are going to give you some vacation saving tips to help prevent common plumbing emergencies from occuring.

Tip #1: Routinely check your hot water tank. This can be one of the most costly repairs there is when it comes to plumbing repair. Changing a hot water tank may end up costing around $1K installed depending on the time of day the plumbing technician must come out and the type of hot water heater that is in your home. Planning a scheduled change of your hot water tank vs having to change it in an emergency situation can be the difference of saving a couple of hundred dollars. This will give you the freedom to shop around and get quotes from different companies out there.  Keep an eye on the water inlet and outlet to the hot water heater. If they look like they are becoming oxidised (rusty looking), chances are they are going to eventually leak. Use an old tooth brush to asses the life expectancy of the pipe, and schedule a tank change accordingly. Pull the Safety Relief Valve at least once every six months to ensure proper function. This is not only to notice a possible future leak, but it is for safety as well. A blocked or non-functioning safety relief valve can be very dangerous for anyone living in the household so make sure it is working properly. If after you pull the safety valve, and it doesn't stop dripping with water after a couple of minutes, it usually means the valve is worn and it was a matter of time before it began to leak on it's own.  

Tip #2: Keep an eye on what goes down the sinks in the house. For those of you that don't know, having a drain cleaning company come in your house to clear a blocked drain is not cheap!! With my experience, I wouldn't recommend putting any foods down the drain that are or used to be solids unless you have a decent garbage grinder, also known as garburator. In my experience, coffee grinds are the worst for causing a clogged drain. Problem with organics in drains is that they tend to harden on the downstream side of the blockage because it is dry and exposed to air. Once the organics dry, these plugged drains can be like having a rock in them and need some extensive auguring to clear. As for a bathroom sink and shower, the most common cause of a clogged drain is usually hair build-up. I would try pouring about a litre or so of bleach down the drain and letting it sit for a couple of hours. 9/10 times this works.

Tip #3: Test your water for hardness and mineral content. Here in Calgary, plumbers getting calls regarding hard water is a fact of life. Hard water residue build-up takes years off the life expectancy of all appliances and fixtures. Usually calcium is the main mineral that causes most of the fuss. Again, have your water tested and invest in water treating appliances like water softeners if necessary. This will save you big time in the long run.  

Tip #4: If you are on a private septic system, be very careful what you put down the drains in terms of chemicals. A septic system that works on an field discharge is reliant on the organic activity to breakdown the waste inside the septic tank. Bleaches, cleaning products, hair dyes and other chemicals can really effect the organic cycle going on in the septic tank. Having your septic tank cleaning and reset can be very costly so watch what you put down your drain.

Well, we hope you enjoyed and learned some useful tips to help prevent common plumbing mishaps from happening in your home. Using common sense can be the most useful arsenal in prevention.  

Cheers,
From all of us at Innovative Plumbing & Heating Calgary http://www.calgaryinnovativeplumbing.com