Ugh! There is something quite frustrating about dealing with a clogged drain – regardless of what room of the house it is in. And, while this can occur anywhere there is a sink or tub, it often seems that the kitchen drain is the most likely place for a clog to occur. But thankfully, that is also one of the simplest places to minimize the risk of a clogged drain.

Since the beginning of the world of plumbing, dealing with a stopped up drain has been a part of its convenience – but it is a fair price to pay for not toting water inside for the hundreds of task made easier by. simply turning on a faucet. So, to make it easier for you to maintain your residences plumbing system, it is vital that you learn how to keep problems such as stopped up plumbing lines and clogs as a low risk occurrence. These tips can help.

• Never pour grease down the drain. Pour excess grease into a jar that can be poured out, then use a dry cloth or paper towel to wipe out any grease still in the pan.
• Dispose of items like chemicals, paint, and other items properly. Pouring them down the drain can not just cause it to become clogged, but harsh chemicals can also cause deterioration within the plumbing system and result in leaks and other plumbing problems.
• If you do not have a garbage disposal, then get drain strainer in your kitchen sink to help keep the food out of the pipes.
• Don’t force food items down the disposal. Large pieces should be thrown in the trash or compost rather than forced into the drain.
• If you have a septic tank, have met cleaned by a professional at least once every 2 to 3 years.
• Once a week, pour a kettle of boiling water down each of the drains. This is especially important for the kitchen as it will breakdown any collected build-up.
• Clean out the drain traps and remove any hair or other types of “lint” that may have built.
• At least once a month, pour 1 cup of baking soda down each drain – tub, sinks, stand up shower – followed by one cup of white vinegar. After the chemical process has happened, pour one cup of salt down each drain, then run hot water down the drain for several minutes to help continue the cleaning process.

Using these tips can mean the difference between dealing with a backed up, clogged drain, and not having to be concerned that the sink won’t drain when you need it to. Make them habits and then rest assured that you have done your part to minimize the need for a plumber.

Water heaters are among our most valuable appliances at home. They provide us with warm, relaxing baths; help us thoroughly clean our dirty clothes; wash our greasy pots and pans and many more. This appliance is indeed worthy of every penny we’ve invested on it, considering the convenience that it consistently brings. And with proper care and maintenance, it will surely last for more than 10 years. Here are some tips that you have to follow when taking care of your water heating system at home.

1. Check the Temperature and Pressure Valve (T&P valve).

The water heater tank seals in high amounts of temperature and pressure to keep the water warm. Once in a while, you’ll have to relieve the pressure to prevent the tank from exploding or leaking. To accomplish this maintenance task, locate the T&P valve which is commonly situated at the side or on top of the heating tank. Carefully lift the rocker arm. If it won’t budge at all, it needs to be replaced immediately. If it won’t snap back down after lifting, it must be loosened.

2. Keep the temperature at 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

Setting the appliance’s temperature higher than that may result to accidents such as scalding. Also remember that for every 10 degrees that you lower the temp, you’ll be saving up to 5% on your energy consumption.

3. Maintain a clearance space of 2 feet around the tank.

Unless otherwise stated on your appliance’s user’s manual, you have to set a clear space of 2 feet around the unit. This should avoid the onset of fire-related accidents.

4. Inspect the anode rod.

The anode rod is that piece of magnesium or aluminum stick that’s dipped into the water heater tank. Its main purpose is to protect the water storage from corrosion. Rust cannot be prevented but instead of letting it eat away on the tank, it will instead eat away on the anode rod. Make sure that the rod is replaced when about 6 inches of its core wire is already bare; when it’s coated with calcium or when it is less than half an inch thick.

5. Insulate the pipes.

Insulating the pipes will help improve the appliance’s efficiency. While this is a must on older water heating units, you should know that new ones already come equipped with insulation. You should never skip this part especially during cold winter months, when heating water becomes a bit difficult for the appliance.

6. Insulate the tank.

To lessen the amount of standby heat loss and instead keep the water in the storage tank warm, you should also insulate the tank. You can use an insulating jacket, a R.4.5 foil-covered bubble wrap, for this task. Just don’t cover the top part of your gas or oil water heater.

7. Flush it!

Don’t forget to drain your water heater tank two to three times a year. As you can see, every time that water fills the tank, sediments, minerals and debris also get in and accumulate at the bottom of the water storage. These sediments should be removed to help the appliance perform efficiently and also to keep it in good condition.

Whether you are looking for a new water heater or you want to replace your old one, the one question on your mind is whether you should buy a traditional or tankless model. Each one of course has its own set of advantages and disadvantages and knowing the difference between the two and the pros and cons of each should help make it easier for you to make the right choice.

Differences Between Traditional And Tankless Water Heaters

The basic difference between the two is that traditional models store and heat water in an the tank. Depending on the size of the tank, they can store from about 30 gallons to 50 gallons of water. This water is preheated and then used whenever the shower is used or when you do the dishes or the laundry. The tank then gets automatically refilled and reheated and the cycle starts again.

Tankless water heaters work quite differently. The water is not pre-heated and stored. Instead, a heat source heats the water up instantly on demand whenever you need it. The heat source used can be gas or electric.

Traditional Heaters

Pros: The first major pro of these models are that they cost much less, with some models costing as much as half the price of their tankless counterparts. Another advantage is that these are easier as well as cheaper to replace.

Cons: You will end up with a higher electricity bill as the water keeps heating irrespective of whether or not you need it. In winters especially, this could mean a marked increase in your bills. In addition, these are bigger in size so they occupy more space. They have a shorter life too.

Tankless Heaters

Pros: These models are smaller so they do not take up much space. They also have a longer shelf life of about 20 years and because the water is only heated and delivered on demand, they are more energy efficient. Higher energy efficiency means you will end up paying much lower utility bills.

Cons: The tankless models have a higher purchase price but this is offset in the long run by the lower utility bills. Also, replacement is more complex and can cost more than replacing a traditional one.

Factors To Consider

The right choice depends on the size of your family and your lifestyle. While traditional heaters may be more suitable to you if you have a tight initial budget, tankless models are a better choice for longer term savings, particularly if you have a larger family and consistently consume larger quantities of hot water.

Hydro jetting can resolve issues with clogged pipes or sewage lines that do not run as quickly as they should. Although this can be an effective solution for plumbing issues, this service should only be performed by a qualified expert to ensure professional results and to prevent damage.

Definition of the Process

Professional plumbers can use hydro jetting to clear a clogged pipe or to make sewage lines run faster. This process involves running water through pipes at high pressure to clear out blockages that are stopping or reducing flow through pipes. Prior to pushing water through lines, the professional should perform a video inspection of them to diagnose the problem. After ascertaining the nature of the problem, the expert will know whether a snake should be used first, prior to the water. Video inspection of the lines will also make it less likely that sewage will reverse and back up into the house.

Applicable Situations

Hydro jetting can help resolve issues with plumbing lines that run out to the street from inside the house. Sometimes tree roots grow to the point of obstructing pipes, and the water flow can clear them out. This solution may also be applicable for septic field issues, such as when the header line that leads into a septic field is clogged. In this case, the clogged line will keep wastewater from flowing to the septic field, resulting in a backup of wastewater inside the house or flowing out of the tank.

Older plumbing systems in older homes may benefit from this service to remove accumulated debris and restore water and waste flow. It’s common for these plumbing systems to experience sand and silt buildup, which will not respond effectively to augers or chemical cleaning agents.

Possible Concerns

If this process is used for a septic system, it’s necessary for the expert to proceed cautiously to avoid causing damage. The pipes in a septic system have special perforations that enable the wastewater to gradually absorb into the gravel and soil for filtering and treatment. Moving water through the system in a forceful manner could result in solid waste flowing into the gravel. If this occurs, the line could become even more clogged. Pipes could also be damaged in the process.

A professional has the expertise necessary to assess the problem prior to using hydro jetting. By knowing the issues that can be fixed with this solution, the plumber can correctly determine that this service will resolve problems. The expert will also know how to proceed with the correct amount and strength of water to avoid damaging pipes.

The Costs

The costs for this service vary depending on the geographic region and the professional performing the work. Average costs range between $800 and $1,200 per service. Get estimates from several companies to enable you to choose the most reasonable one for your home.

Before proceeding with hydro jetting for your plumbing system, ask questions about the long-term resolution of your problem. Sometimes this service works only temporarily, requiring additional work or treatments in the future to maintain a system.

Bathroom fittings are plumbing accessories or connections proper for use in a washroom. They are available in different sizes or shapes, and for various purposes, for instance, controlling water stream. Your clean products, showers, and every single accessory should be of good quality and extravagant to influence your washroom to look dazzling, however, washroom fittings too should be of good quality to influence your fittings in a restroom to work appropriately for you. When you have the essential components of your washroom managed, it’s an incredible chance to wipe everything off by picking right and high-quality bathroom fittings. Whether you have renovated your home or bought another home, don’t attempt to neglect the significance of restroom fittings that can give your washroom a finished rich look.

ESSENTIAL BATHROOM FITTINGS

When arranging your shower you have to decide what will be the kind of shower head you require. A shower head is a fitting for coordinating the splash of water in a restroom shower. The sort of shower head you pick will decide how the shower bath feels, as this is the thing that will be appropriating the water. There are diverse assortments like waterfall showers, multi-head showers, rain shower heads, and so on. Numerous people need to use a hand-held shower head. If you are redesigning your restroom, then, you have to affirm that the building has satisfactory water weight to work it.

Hot water enhancements can give significantly more important control over how water is passed on, to where, and in what sum. They furthermore help to direct water by having a control over the wastage of water in your home. Hot water enhancements basically reduce the wastage of water. Temperature controllers, cold water diverters are a segment of the instances of high temp water upgrades.

Faucets are an essential item in a bathroom. A faucet is a gadget that controls the stream of water from a pipe. Before buying the faucet for your bathroom, think of some important issues like support with wet, dry hands. Faucets are also automatic I.e it opens its valve to facilitate water to flow in light of the closeness of a hand or turns in closeness. The faucet closes its valve again following two or three minutes or when it never again feels the closeness of hands. They are common in airports and hotel where they reduce wastage of water.

A principal need is to have the spout prepared for swinging to the opposite side to allow the sink to be totally used without getting anything in the way. A spout is a tube or lip through which fluid, especially water, can be poured.

Nowadays washroom fittings are accessible in the market and online that can without much of a stretch suit your outline and in the meantime fulfils your spending plan and choice of design as well. Picking the right kind of washroom fittings add a touch of style to your home.

Guidelines for well owners; important facts for Realtors

Ontarians deserve access to clean, safe water. This means keeping water free of pollutants and contaminants that could harm the environment and human health.

Over three million Ontarians rely on groundwater for their drinking water. There are hundreds of thousands of water wells across Ontario, providing drinking water to municipalities, industries and private residences.

The Government of Ontario has moved forward over the past ten years on a series of initiatives to preserve water quality, including new legislation, regulations, standards and requirements. Ontario now has the toughest standards and protocols for drinking water in North America.

Wells providing water to small businesses, common spaces and residential communities may qualify as “regulated systems.” Private wells are not regulated systems, but there are new rules in place for constructing or decommissioning (abandoning) a well.

Private owners are required by regulation to ensure that nothing gets into water wells that could contaminate the water source.

Guidelines for Well Owners

Groundwater is a shared resource that crosses property lines and contamination from one well can put other wells at risk. Owners are responsible for getting well water tested regularly – at least three times per year is recommended, to be confident drinking water is free from bacteria and other contaminants.

What to do:

• Make sure your well is properly constructed and maintained.
• Inspect your well at least once a year to see what repairs may be needed.
• Have a sample of your well water tested at least three times a year.
• Water testing is offered by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
• Sample bottles are available from public health labs and local health units.
• Get a list of labs that can test your water for chemical contaminants.
• Disinfect all wells prior to use with a concentration of 50 milligrams of chlorine per litre of water standing for at least 12 hours.
• Refer to the disinfection instructions which are part of the current well regulation.
• Get a copy of the Water Well Record that was filed after the well on your property was built, or get a Licensed Well Technician to test and evaluate your well.
• Properly plug and seal unused wells to prevent rapid movement of contaminants down into groundwater.
• Dispose of hazardous materials properly, pump out your septic tank every two years, and plan on replacing your septic system leaching bed every 20-25 years.
• If you need to treat your water, select a treatment system with great care to ensure it will be effective in your particular situation.

What not to do

• Never use untreated surface water for drinking water – untreated surface water is considered unsafe for human consumption!
• Don’t pour water into a well with a low water level – this will undermine the foundation of the well.
• Don’t use a highly vulnerable water supply unless all other attempts to develop an alternative supply have been unsuccessful.

It’s a good idea to learn the important facts about water well construction, and the protection of water quality in dug, bored and drilled wells.

Green Facts (General Interest Publication)

Ontario’s Wells Regulation (Detailed Regulations)

Clean water is everybody’s business!