Burnaby plumber Sewer Inspection

Working as a Burnaby plumber, I am often asked by Vancouver Plumbing clients, "should I have a sewer camera inspection?" The answer : if you are buying a home older than 20 years, or have experienced repeat sewer back ups is Yes You Should!

In Vancouver it seems like very few home buyers ask for a sewer inspection before the purchase of their house. It simply does not occur to them although it is one of the most important inspections you could get for a home. Older houses may have deteriorating or clay pipes, that with ground movement may separate at the joints. This can allow debris and roots to infiltrate the sewer line causing a blockage. If there are trees on or near the property they can cause serious damage over the years.

In order to get a house's main sewer line scoped call your local Vancouver /  Burnaby plumber and ask if they can do a video inspection. The plumbing contractor will insert a camera attached to a snake into a clean-out or toilet flange. You can view the live feed back on a monitor as the snake passes through the system. If a problem is found the issue can clearly be diagnosed and pin pointed with a locator.

When considering the cost of replacing a sewer line in Vancouver, the small fee for a camera inspection is money well spent and is an investment in peace of mind.

Watermark Plumbing - Vancouver

Vancouver Bathroom Renovation

As a Vancouver plumbing professional I do a lot of bathroom renovations in the Lower Mainland.
One thing that always surprises me is where home owners and contractors will try to save money during a renovation.

Too many times I have seen Vancouver contractors
swap out a tub and tiles but neglect to replace old corroded pipes!  Many times, emphasis is put on aesthetics but little concern is shown for what is behind the walls. Unfortunately, when it comes to plumbing, out of sight should not be out of mind.

The most opportune time to upgrade plumbing is during a renovation when plumbing fixtures, tiles and drywall are being removed. Replacing the old shower valve, deteriorated pipe fittings and drainage will ensure that you've got reliable plumbing that is maintenance free.

While renovating, if you find that your current system is rather worn, you should demand of your Vancouver contractor that it be replaced.  Don't leave old plumbing in place that you will have to service later as problems arise. Cutting corners on the plumbing in your bathroom will cost you a lot down the road.

Watermark Plumbing - Vancouver

Environmentally Friendly Vancouver Plumbing

Nowadays people in Vancouver are becoming increasingly concerned about the way their lifestyles impact the environment. Fortunately there are many earth-conscious decisions we can make at home to help protect the Lower Mainland. One area we can focus on, in order to create an healthy environment, is residential plumbing.

Here are some tips you can implement around your Vancouver home that will help protect and conserve water.

1. Get a rain barrel to capturing rain from your roof top to water your lawn and garden. Use rain as a resource! Vancouver City will subsidize the rain barrel cost by 50%
   
2. Install low flow plumbing fixtures. Low flow toilets and shower heads have been available for years and can reduce water waste by 50%!
   
3. Install a water filter or drink tap water to eliminate wasted plastic bottles. It will reduce your carbon footprint and save you money.
4. If you have a leaky faucet call your Vancouver plumber and get it fixed right away. Drips can add up to liters of unnecessary water-waste.
   
5. Think about investing in an on-demand water heater. Tank-less water heaters only heat water as you need it there by saving  energy.
6. Look under your kitchen sink and remove all toxic chemical drain cleaners. There are plenty of green products which are both powerful at clearing clogs as well as preventing them from forming.

With Earth Day just around the corner on April 22nd, we should all make an effort to do our part.

Watermark Plumbing - Vancouver

Vancouver Drain Cleaning, How to Unclog a Bathroom Drain.

If you have a clogged sink you may have discovered there is a lot of online advice. Unfortunately I would say most of it isn't worth the time and other than lucking out with a plunger, you will probably have to get in there and manually remove the clog.

I have tried a couple of the more popular methods with varying success. Here is a review of them followed by my recommendation to use the right tool for the job.

• Method #1 - Pour 1/4 cup of vinegar and let stand for 20 min: This failed me horribly. I would be shocked if it cleared the easiest blockage.

•  Method #2 - Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda, then chase it with 1/2 cup of vinegar and let stand: This failed as well. I tried this on a blocked sink and it seemed to actually make the problem worse.
  
  
• Method #3 - Pour boiling water into the sink: I didn't risk trying this one. Bathroom sinks and toilets are usually made of vitreous china which may crack under extreme temperature change. This has the potential to cause a lot of damage. 

• Method #4 - Use a coat hanger to remove the blockage: This honestly does work if the blockage is hair stuck on the drain lever of a pop up drain. If the blockage is any deeper your probably going to have to spring for the $10 dollars to buy a sink auger from Home Depot. 

 My Suggestion: A more reliable method to unclog a bathroom sink is to actually remove the plug and auger the drain, because the clog is probably hair which will need to be removed manually.

1. Firstly please put on some gloves; drains are unsanitary.
   
   
2. Remove the standing water from the sink (you could use a sponge).
   
   
3. Place a bucket under the trap in case it needs to be removed later.
   
   
4. Remove the plug. If it is a pop-up plug, reach under the sink and undo the nut on the back of the drain assemble. (If there is hair stuck on the pop-up lever, remove it)
   
   
5. Feed the auger down the drain by pulling out a short length of cable, tightening the thumb screw then turning the auger handle clockwise while gently pushing the cable downward. You may need to wiggle the auger back and forth to get it past the trap.
   
   
6. Keep working the auger into the drainage until you feel you have reached the clog and the handle resists turning. Then retract the snake while turning the handle counter clockwise trapping hair. (Sometimes it is hard to work the auger past the P-trap and you may need to remove it. Remove the trap, making sure the bucket is below to catch debris. Then work the auger into the open drainage as previously described.)

This method, admittedly, is more involved than pouring vinegar down your drain but also a lot more likely to work. It's hard to achieve effective, lasting results if using gimmicky fixes in lieu of doing the job properly. Spend the extra time to get the best results.

Watermark Plumbing - Vancouver

How to Hire a Vancouver or Burnaby Plumber.

Do you need a Vancouver or Burnaby plumber but aren't sure who to call? I suggest you spend a little time looking into it, you will probably save yourself a fair bit of money and a huge headache. It's possible the wrong contractor could do more harm than good. Asking a couple informed questions might help you find the Vancouver plumber that is the best fit for you.

• Ask a family member, friend or neighbor for a referral. If they had a good experience with a contractor chances are you will too. What's better than a testimonial from someone you know.

• Determine what type of plumbing contractor you need. Many plumbers focus on either construction, service, and or heating. A construction contractor may not be the best choice if you require someone to make a service call. 

• Inquire about their rates and compare their prices to equally qualified competitors. Ask them if there are additional charges besides their hourly or flat rate. Many companies charge travel time, miscellaneous, and gas charges. Some companies won't mention hidden costs until they give you the bill.
  

• Make sure the plumber is licensed and insured. If they don't have a business license and coverage but are operating as a professional contractor that should be a red flag. 

•  Establish what qualifies the plumber as a professional. Vancouver and Burnaby plumbers should be Red Seal Ticketed Journeymen and their helpers should be enrolled in an apprenticeship program. Sometimes companies will send an apprentice with little experience to do work that is beyond their knowledge but still charge you the same price.

Don't pick your plumber randomly out of the yellow pages based on the biggest ad or the best price. Your plumber should be qualified and willing to discuss reasonable questions and concerns you have about the job. If they are not, you should probably continue your search until you find a plumber that is.

Watermark Plumbing - Vancouver

Vancouver Water Heater - Does anybody really flush their hot water tank?

     If you live in a Vancouver or Burnaby home then chances are you have a hot water tank. Have you ever drained and flushed your water heater? I don't think so, but if you have my hats off to you. Dollars to doughnuts most people wouldn't think twice about their tank unless it interfered with their morning shower.

None the less you really are recommended to drain and flush your tank as part of regular scheduled maintenance suggested by the manufacturer. The reason for this size-able request is to keep your tank running swimmingly by removing foreign sediment. This debris can cause unruly noise, inefficiency and may reduce the overall lifespan of the water heater. Since replacing a water heater is a financial burden most of us would like to avoid, maintenance is not a bad idea but there are a few considerations.

You want to bear in mind the age of your water heater and if it has been sitting undisturbed collecting a substantial layer of sediment on the bottom of the tank. This could make draining it problematic. Too much sediment could clog the hose bib and make re-closing it difficult. Trying to unclog a tank full of scalding water by putting a wire up through the hose bib has the potential to be dangerous. If the hose bib needs to replaced and is made of plastic may it could snap leaving the threads behind.

Choosing to drain and flush your tank is a good idea if you have assessed your fixture and feel comfortable doing it. It would be best to start the scheduled maintenance if your water heater is new, but if it is an older tank that has never been maintained it might be better left alone.

Watermark Plumbing - Vancouver

Does your Vancouver home have a pressure reducing valve? Yes, you should care.

A PRV is usually located right after your house shut off.

A Pressure reducing valve might seem like a boring topic, so I'll be short and sweet in explaining what it is and why you want one.

If you live in a city like Vancouver the water pressure coming into your home, is too high for your home, so you need a P.R.V. to reduce the pressure.

OK, So why wouldn't you already have one if you really needed one? This is because many of the homes in Vancouver and Burnaby were constructed before plumbing codes required the installation of PRV's

Why is high pressure bad for your home, more importantly why you should care? Here are a few important reasons.

1) High water pressure causes premature wear to the fixtures in your home. The quicker they wear out, the faster you have to buy new ones.

2) Having water pressure that is too high can void the warranty on new water heaters.

3) Water pressure can contribute to rupturing pipes and causes annoying water hammering. Ever flush a toilet and hear a banging sound inside your wall? The most likely culprit is not the toilet but high pressure.  

4) High pressure wastes water, energy and your money. The fast water comes out of the faucet the more of it that goes down the drain. If it happens to be hot water that's being wasted it is costing you money because you are using more power to reheat it.

The bottom line is you should have a P.R.V. whether you have one to protect your home from unnecessary wear, save money, or conserve water. Check your house for the valve shown above, if you don't have one consult a licensed Vancouver plumber.

Watermark Plumbing - Vancouver