If you find your drain pipes rusted, damaged, burst or leaking, they should be replaced as soon as possible. Not only are you leaving your home open to water damage, but a damaged drain pipe could also allow sewer gases to build up in your bathroom or kitchen. These gases are a health hazard and can be extremely harmful to you and your family. Replacing or repairing broken drain pipes is essential for preventing damage to your home.

 Over time, drain pipes can become worn or damaged which will require a repair or replacement. Owners of older homes are at an increased risk of encountering damaged drain pipes. Many older homes have cast-iron or galvanized drain pipes which eventually wear out. Years of water and waste passing through can cause cast-iron drain pipes to deteriorate, leaving you with an inefficient drain system or a mess from leakage. Although cast iron pipes are very durable and known to be quieter when water is flowing through them, they are quite difficult to work with and will cost a great deal more than their modern plastic equivalents. You can replace your old cast-iron pipes with new polyvinyl chloride (PVC) drain pipes for a long-lasting drain system. PVC pipes are very durable and are easier to work with. PVC (white) is installed below ground level, ABS (black) is installed above ground. Cast iron is usually above ground, so we should mention ABS more than PVC.  Small portion of underground sewer system is composed of cast iron. 

If you are replacing a small portion of damaged cast-iron pipe, you can do the job yourself. You can replace the damaged section with a length of new PVC (ABS) pipe, joining it to the existing cast-iron pipe using couplings. Always remember to check local plumbing codes before starting your project to ensure that you are doing the job properly and up to code. If at any point in the project, you are unsure of how to proceed, don’t hesitate to call your local plumber.

However, if your pipes have extensive damage, or if want to replace all cast-iron pipes in your home with PVC (ABS), you will need to hire a plumbing contractor to do the job. This project may require permits, as well as digging up your backyard, front yard and floors. When you’re renovating an older house, especially one with cast-iron drain pipes, it may pay to replace the all of the pipes with PVC (ABS) as part of the renovation. It will preclude future problems you may encounter with the older types of drain pipes and will ensure that your drainage system works well for years to come!

Plumbing is a very important aspect of any household. Most of the people who try repairing their own plumbing problems end up making the problem worse. This forces them to incur a higher cost when they consult the services of an expert.  A good plumber is one who will take care of their client’s repairs without engaging in any foul play.

It is very important for a homeowner to hire someone who is qualified to handle the job at hand. Once in a while, every household needs plumbing repairs and it is better to find qualified plumbing services before the need for it actually arises. Making use of the available emergency numbers cannot guarantee someone that they will get the best service in the area.

There are a number of things that need to be taken into consideration when searching for an expert who will handle your plumbing.  Most of the people working in the plumbing industry have negatively affected its reputation by failing to abide by the regulations. During the consultations, instead of solving the client’s problem they end up aggravating it. There are certain rules that have been set to ensure that practitioners in the plumbing industry act as professionals.

The problem comes in ensuring the each and every one of those professionals adheres by the rules. There are people who find it easier to break a few rules in order to take care of a client’s need faster. It is not easy getting into the plumbing business. The trade calls for the knowledge of working with the water and drainage systems. They are required to have the know-how of installing and repairing any fixtures that are related to plumbing.

When you are faced with a plumbing crisis, it is important to hire someone who has the necessary skills needed to handle the job. In addition, the person in question must also charge prices that one can afford to pay for. The skills and experience of the plumbing practitioner must be at the top of the list when selecting someone to work with.

The other factor to take into consideration is the practitioner’s ability to meet the regulations that have been set down by the province that their client’s reside in. Every plumbing company is operated by someone who is licensed to operate in the industry. This makes it very easy for a homeowner to hire an effective plumbing service provider. Most of the time, the options are usually so many that a person is at a loss about what to do.

The best time to choose plumbers are before you actually experience any type of plumbing emergency. When you face an emergency you will have very little time to find someone and therefore you might end up making a poor selection. Follow these basic tips if you want to find a plumber who you can call up whenever any type of emergency arises.

Start by calling up a few plumbing contractor’s who live in the local area and who you trust. The majority of homeowners will at one time or another, have required the use of a local plumber and therefore you can ask them about the service that they used. If you trust their opinion then you can certainly trust that the plumbing service they have used will do a good job.

Consider the option of calling up a building contractor who you may already know and trust. Building contractors will deal with plumbers on a regular basis and therefore they should have several different options that you could go to. Again, as long as you trust the opinion of the contractor there is no reason why you shouldn’t choose their recommendation.

Another option would be to talk to the real estate agent who represented you, if you had one, when you bought your home. Real estate experts will commonly recommend contractors and other tradespeople to their clients and will certainly know about some top-quality plumbing companies you could use.

When you get in touch with any potential plumber whose contact details will have been passed on to you it is important for you to make sure that they are fully licensed. As such, you should request their license number from them. If they are on willing to provide it for you then move onto the next option.

Always make sure that you ask for a quote on the job before they get going with it. Any reputable plumber is going to provide you with a fairly accurate estimate of the job. This is likely to vary depending upon the extent of the work that needs to be done, but in most cases they should be able to provide you with a decent estimation of how long the job is going to take and how long it is going to cost. Never consider choosing a plumber who is not willing to provide you with an estimate first.

It is certainly a good idea to ask about customer testimonials. Reputable plumbers will have a number of previous customers who will be willing to answer questions that you may have about the services that they provided. If they don’t have any testimonials then this could be a concern and could indicate that their work is rarely of a high quality and standard.

All in all it is very important for you to take these steps. You need to conduct plenty of research and make sure that you select someone suitable. If you can develop a good relationship with a decent plumber or plumbing service then you shouldn’t need to worry about any plumbing emergency that may occur in your home.

If you are in the midst of purchasing a new or resale home, condo or cottage, we highly recommend you having the plumbing system professionally inspected during your home inspection.  Plumbing inspections are not typically inspected in-depth and can lead to expensive repairs soon after you take possession.

Several questions that you should ask your plumbing/home inspector should include:

• Are you licensed?
• Are you insured?
• Do you have a quality guarantee for your work? If so, how long am I guaranteed for?
• Are you a part of the Better Business Bureau?
• Can you give me an estimate?
• Do you have 24 hour service?

If the plumber you have chosen answers any of these questions with a “no”, you should be weary of their service. You would rather spend more money once, then less money over and over again for poor service. If the plumber offers a free consultation, watch to see if they look for leakage in faucets and showers, as well as under sinks. They should test your water pressure and identify the types of pipes that you have in your house. Make sure that the inspector looks for the location of the main water shut-off valve, and that, if they are to do any repairs that it is shut off.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions while the inspector is going throughout your house; after all, it is your house! Ask questions like:

• How long will it be before I have to replace this?
• If I do have to replace it, what will that cost me?
• Is there anything compromising the foundation of my house (ie. Leakage around the foundation)
• If there is leakage, am I retaining mould or mildew?
• Would it be cheaper if I provided you with the materials?

These are all valid questions that the plumbing inspector should be able to provide you information with, and no matter the answer they give you, it’s always beneficial to further research it yourself to ensure the best quality service and effort!

• It is best to use cold water — NOT hot water — when you run your disposal. Let the cold water run as long as the motor is running, and be sure to avoid overloading the disposal.
• Corn husks, artichokes, onion skins, celery, and other high-fiber material can clog your disposal.
• Do not pour fats or cooking oils into your sink. Liquid fats can solidify in cold drainpipes, trap food particles, and clog the drains.
• Do not put coffee grounds down the drain.
• If your disposal is clogged, turn off the motor and the water.
  • Reach under the sink and insert the service wrench that came with your disposal — or a ¼ inch Allen wrench — into the hole on the bottom of the disposal. Turn it back and forth until it can turn freely in complete circles.
  • Then use tongs to remove whatever caused the disposal to jam.
  • Finally, press the red “reset” button on the bottom of your disposal in case the disposal needs to be reset.
• Food particles which remain in your disposal can cause odors. Put a combination of ice cubes and lemon peel in the disposal, run it for about thirty seconds, and then run cold water through the disposal. Disposal cleaner or degreaser may help too.

There are several ways to find out if your water bills are higher than they need to be.

• Check faucets for dripping water. Fix a leaky faucet promptly. Be sure to check under sinks for moisture or leaks.
• Periodically check your toilets for leaks:
  • Place a few drops of food coloring in the tank – not the bowl. A couple of tablespoons of instant coffee or Kool-Aid will work too.
  • Check the toilet after about thirty minutes. If the water in the bowl has some of the color in it, the tank is leaking and the stopper and valve seat may need to be replaced.
• Check for underground leaks or undetected leaks in the home:
  • Turn off the main water valve inside your home and then go outside and check your water meter. If it is still turning you may have an underground leak.
  • Alternatively, write down the numbers on your water meter at the beginning of a period when your home is going to be unoccupied for a few hours. Check the meter when you return; if the numbers have changed, they may be a leak somewhere inside the home

Conservation Checklist

Saving water is like any other habit. The more you do it, the more natural it becomes. Become water-wise, it’s fun to find more ways to conserve.

Sometimes a small investment can pay large dividends. For example, buying a low-flush toilet can save over 18,000 gallons of water a year! It’s up to all of us – individuals, businesses, industry – to save the earth’s resources.

So remember, wherever you go, take your water-consciousness along. What works at home, works at the office!

In General

• Watch for leaks.
• Pay attention to the SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS of plumbing.
• Check all faucets for drips.
• If a drip fills an 8-ounce glass every quarter hour, it will lose about 180 gallons per month.  That’s 2,160 gallons a year, enough for 30+ showers or baths! Drips can usually be fixed by replacing inexpensive washers or valve seats.
• Install flow restrictors or other conservation devices on all faucets. With these in the shower alone, you can cut your water use from about 5 to 10 gallons per minute to as low as 1.4 to 3 gallons per minute.
• Wrap exposed indoor and outdoor pipes to prevent breakage in freezing weather.

In the Kitchen/Laundry

One of the most common areas for water loss is the kitchen sink area.

• Check under cupboards once a week for wet spots or bowed cabinetry.
• Keep drinking water in the refrigerator so you don’t have to run the tap until the water gets cold enough to drink.
• Only run full loads in your dishwasher.
• Scrape food from plates with a utensil, not running water.
• Don’t continuously run water in the sink.
• Hand wash dishes in a sink full of soapy water; rinse all at once. Soak hard-to clean pans overnight.

In the Bathroom

• Check sinks for drips or leaks once a week.
• Check grout and tiles in shower area.
• Are any loose? Is grout missing, allowing water to flow beneath the tiles?
• Check toilets for leaks.
• Drop a teaspoon of food coloring into the tank.
• If the color appears in the bowl after 15 minutes, have the “flapper” valve replaced.
• If leaks continue, have a professional check your system.
• Decrease the amount of water used per flush. Replace regular or older toilets with new ultra-low flush models or put water displacement devices inside every toilet tank.
• Make them from plastic water bottles weighted down with pebbles. DO NOT PUT BRICKS IN YOUR TANK. They can dissolve and clog siphon jets.

Meter Test

1. This test should be conducted for a 30 minute period, during which time no water is being used on the property.
2. Find your water meter, which is usually located in front of the house in a covered box near the street.
3. Write down the numbers indicated on the meter at the start of this test.
4. Return to check the meter reading after 30 minutes have passed.
5. If the numbers have not changed, you do not have a leak in your pressurized water system. If the numbers have changed, continue with the following steps.
6. Shut off the valves under all toilets in the house, and repeat steps 1-4.

If the numbers have not changed, you may have a running toilet that should be serviced.

If your toilet is stopped up and if the water level is low, there is an alternative if a plunger doesn’t work.

• Fill a bucket or plastic wastebasket with warm water and pour it into the bowl from waist level or higher.
• Repeat if necessary after the water level is once again low.

Periodically check your toilets for leaks:

• Place a few drops of food coloring in the tank — not the bowl. A couple of tablespoons of instant coffee or Kool-Aid will work too.
• Check the toilet after about thirty minutes. If the water in the bowl has some of the color in it, the tank is leaking and the stopper (“flapper”) and/or flush valve seat may need to be replaced.

• Don’t let your outdoor faucets freeze up in the winter.
• Unattach your garden hoses before freezing temperatures arrive in the fall.
• Then close the shut-off valve on the pipe(s) which lead to your outdoor faucet(s).
• Then open the outdoor faucets so that any residual water can drain.
• If your indoor faucets sometimes freeze in very cold weather:
  • Try leaving the cabinet doors under the faucets open so that they can get a bit more heat.
  • In extreme cases let the water trickle very slowly into the sink.
• Insulate water pipes which may be exposed to freezing temperatures or wind. Water pipes which are not being used should be drained for the winter in areas where there may be severely cold weather.
• If there is plumbing in your garage, be sure to keep your garage door closed when it is very cold. Pipes in unheated garages or basements should be insulated.

• Repair or replace a leaky faucet promptly.
• Be sure to check under sinks for moisture or leaks. Even a slow leak can waste as much as 15 or 20 gallons of water a day. But a leak not only wastes water; it can eventually ruin your faucet or even your cabinets and floors.
• Leaky faucets are ordinarily caused by seals which are dirty or worn. You may either clean or replace the worn parts, or you may want to install a new faucet.