Jul 7, 2023 | Blogs, Plumbing services
Plumbing upgrades that improve functionality are usually the best way to increase your home’s value. This includes upgrading drains that run slow or clog easily.
Having your pipes replaced with modern materials is also another good plumbing upgrade to make your home more appealing to potential buyers. Old galvanized pipes are prone to corrosion and can cause numerous problems over time.
Dedicated Laundry Room
A dedicated laundry room is one of the top features homebuyers want in a new home. Most older homes include washers and dryers tucked away in a closet or adjacent to bedrooms, but upgrading to an open utility space is a great way to increase your home’s value.
Add a sink to your laundry room design for hand-washing delicates or soaking set-in stains. This space is also handy for washing mop water, rinsing dishes or filling pet water bowls. You can even use the sink to clean household items you don’t want to leave in the kitchen, like craft supplies or pet toys.
Install Eco-Friendly Fixtures
In a world where environmental protection is becoming more of a priority for homeowners, it’s important to know how to install eco-friendly products.
One of the most common goals during bathroom and kitchen remodels is to boost water and energy efficiency throughout the home. The simplest way to do this is by installing new household appliances that are certified by ENERGY STAR® Canada.
Another way to do this is by replacing old galvanized cast iron or clay piping with copper, PVC or PEX pipes. These are more durable and will not corrode over time. They are also a safer option than older piping that may contain lead. Replacing these older piping systems is an excellent way to lower your home’s risk of future sewage backups caused by heavy rainstorms or snow melt.
Upgrade Your Bathroom
A new bathroom can be a major selling point for your home, especially if you’re looking to sell. Adding one to your house may not only boost your resale value, but it can also make your home feel more spacious and comfortable for current or potential buyers.
Upgrade your toilets to energy-efficient models. A High Efficiency Toilet (HET) may reduce your water consumption by up to 4.8 litres per flush. According to BC’s regional government body, the CRD (Capital Regional District), older toilets typically use up to 13 to 25 litres per flush. In addition, you may receive a rebate for each low-flush toilet installed in your home.
Water Filtration
Another way to save water and improve the quality of your drinking water is to install a water filtration system. You can choose from a faucet-mounted or countertop water filtration system designed to remove unwanted elements from your water. This should improve your health over time, and ensure that your family is safe from toxins.
24/7 On-Demand Premium Plumbing Service
If your water heater breaks, or if you have a water leak in your home, do you know who to call? If you’re located in South Eastern Ontario, get in touch with Tap Tech’s expert, 5-star plumbers today.
We’ll get you an immediate quote over the phone, and dispatch our emergency plumbing technicians to your home within the same-day to ensure your plumbing emergency is quickly resolved.
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Jul 5, 2023 | Blogs, Plumbing services
Plumbing problems happen at the most inconvenient times, and while some require a professional plumber, others can be solved by a homeowner with basic tools. Here are seven essential plumbing tools every homeowner should have on hand.
1. Plunger
There are different types of plungers available, and some may be better suited for specific applications. For example, a standard plunger works best for sinks and tub drains, while a flange plunger is ideal for toilets. If you can’t get a clog to budge, call a plumber and avoid chemical drain openers, which can damage your pipes.
2. Adjustable Wrench
A staple in every plumber’s tool bag, the adjustable wrench (also known as a crescent wrench) is used to tighten or loosen nuts and bolts. A prepared plumber works with an entire set of these wrenches to work on a variety of different pipes and fixtures.
This handy tool has the heft to lock onto pipe fittings without damaging them, and it comes in a number of different sizes to accommodate any situation. The handle is also a bit wider than many similar tools to feel comfortable in your hands and provide added torque when you need it.
3. Slip-Joint Pliers
A pair of pliers—specifically, slip joint pliers—are essential tools for plumbers. They allow professionals to loosen or tighten nuts and bolts too small for a wrench to grip, and to squeeze into narrow spaces where a standard screwdriver won’t fit.
4. Snake Camera
If you’re looking for a snake camera (also known as a borescope) to help with a tough sewer line clog or any other kind of visual inspection, make sure it has enough bright illumination. This feature is also important when working in wet or dusty conditions.
You should also check the IP rating on your chosen snake camera to ensure it can withstand wet environments. The higher the rating, the better it is for working in harsh conditions.
A snake camera is a great tool to have on hand. It can help identify the source of a problem and resolve it quickly and efficiently. It can also save time and money when compared to traditional methods, as it is less damaging and invasive with improved accuracy.
5. Pipe Cutter & Soldering Pliers
If your pipework is made of copper or plastic, you’ll need a tool to cut it. A ratcheting PVC tubing cutter is like super-strong scissors that can slice through these materials, and it’s one of the most essential plumbing tools for a homeowner.
Many plumbers seal copper piping by soldering it, and you’ll need a reliable tool for this task. A pair of adjustable soldering pliers can be used to loosen or tighten the solder on a copper pipe joint.
6. Drain Snake/Plumbing Auger
A drain snake, also called a plumbing auger, is a long metal cable that you feed down your sink or toilet drain to remove blockages. The head of the drain snake has many small hooks for snagging hair and soap scum buildup that accumulates in your drain line. You can find these tools at most home improvement stores. There are also power augers that have motors to generate more force, practical for larger lines with tough clogs.
To use the snake, first, loosen the screw at the end of the drum to extend the cable. Uncoil the cable slowly into the sink drain opening (or the p-trap, if you’ve removed it). Once you feel resistance, turn the crank to rotate the head and feed it further into the pipe. Keep rotating and feeding until you break up or clear the clog.
7. Sealant Tape
Plumbers often use thread sealing tape, sometimes called PTFE, plumber’s tape, or Teflon tape. This tool is essential to help patch and prevent possible leaks at pipe-threaded joint connections. These tapes are able to resist high and low temperatures, flex for better form-fitting coverage, and never dry out.
Plumber On-Demand Near You
If you’re in need of a plumber in South Eastern Ontario that provides same-day service with a 5-Star Experience, look no further than our expert team at Tap Tech.
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Jul 3, 2023 | Blogs, Plumbing services
The home plumbing system has two subsystems: water supply and drainage. The former brings pressurized water in, while the latter removes wastewater.
Understanding these systems can help a housing inspector recognize plumbing defects. Let’s begin with an overview of each component. Then we’ll move on to the basics of residential plumbing.
Plumbing Systems: The Basics
A residential plumbing system is a complex web of pipes that bring fresh water in, drain wastewater out, and connect all the fixtures in your home. A casual gaze at its interwoven mesh may make it seem overwhelming, but understanding the basics will help you navigate it like a pro.
City water enters your house through a huge pipe called the main. It is usually buried underground and made from copper, cast iron or galvanized steel. There are bridges over it all around your home that link your water service line to your plumbing pipes. These are called fixtures and include faucets, toilets, showers and dishwashers. As clean water enters a fixture, wastewater leaves through a downward-angled pipe called a drainpipe. This carries the waste to your sewer line.
Water Supply
The water supply system carries fresh, clean drinking water throughout the home, using pipes that can be made of copper, galvanized steel or PVC. These pipes can be buried underground, running under floors or between walls.
The water supply is typically connected to a water meter by the curb stop and to the city main by a service line. If a connection to another water source is desired, an application must be made to your municipal Water Department.
Water Filtration Systems
Water filtration systems remove contaminants from the water that enters your home, making it cleaner and safer to drink and use for other household purposes. These can include systems that can be attached to faucets or installed under the sink and plugged into any tap to provide filtered drinking water at the touch of a button. Only accredited professional plumbers should handle the installation, maintenance and repair of these systems.
All water pumps, tanks, wells, storage containers and other equipment containing potable water shall be effectively protected from contamination by means of covers, guards, copings and casings. They also need to be adequately insulated to prevent freezing and melting of the water supply piping in cold weather.
Water Heater
The water heater is another crucial component of your plumbing system. The tank itself is filled with a mixture of sediment, including scale, rust and bits of corroded anode that build up over time. This is why it’s important to have a drain valve on the bottom of your water heater to drain sediment from the tank periodically, e.g. every six months.
There is also a temperature control valve on the hot water service line to raise or lower the temperature of your water. This is typically set at 50 degrees Celsius and is generally the same as your hot water heater’s setting.
Drainage
Drain-Waste-Vent systems, or DWV, are responsible for the networks of drains that take waste away from fixtures and into the sewer system. They also work to keep the proper balance of pressure and air in the plumbing system, working to prevent drain clogs or wastewater back-ups.
In the past, most drainage was done through open drains that took up large amounts of land. However, newer drainage systems are often constructed with buried pipe drains that do not use any of the land and are more environmentally friendly. It is still important to maintain your sewer clean-out so that you can clear out the drain line from time to time.
Many homeowners don’t give a lot of thought to the drain and waste system until something goes wrong! A clogged shower or drain can be quite disruptive to daily life and requires fast action to remedy. Fortunately, South Eastern Ontario emergency plumbers are available on-call 24/7 with Tap Tech.
Call today at 613-328-6600.
Septic System
A septic system is an on-site sewage treatment system that handles household waste in areas where public sewer is not available. It consists of a house sewer drain, septic tank, and soil absorption field (or drain field). This system is designed to treat and dispose of wastewater without contamination, bad odours, or affecting the inhabitants’ health. A septic system is a great alternative to a sewer system for rural or remote areas where the cost and regulations of connecting to the main line are prohibitive.
A house sewer line collects all the discharge from toilets, showers, sinks, and other fixtures and connects to the septic tank. The septic tank holds the wastewater and allows it to separate into three layers. The floatable organic matter, such as grease and oils, floats to the top and forms a layer called scum. The heavier solids settle to the bottom of the tank and form a layer known as sludge. The liquid portion of the wastewater, called effluent, exits the septic tank into the drain field.
The septic tank also contains a vent that permits gasses to escape. The septic tank should be inspected and pumped regularly. When the septic tank is full, the liquid waste may enter the drain field and cause a back-up or overflow of sewage into the home. The drain field is a series of trenches, perforated pipes, or chambers where the “effluent” is slowly released into the soil to be absorbed by bacteria and other microorganisms. The soil then naturally breaks down the contaminants.
Septic Tank Maintenance
A properly sized and installed septic system should last for many years. However, septic systems can fail when they are not properly maintained. If you have questions about a septic system, contact a licensed professional who can inspect your tank, measure the tank layers, and pump it out as needed.
It is generally recommended that you have your septic tank pumped every two to three years to ensure that the solids do not build up and block the drain field. A Septage Waste Transporter can also help you maintain a regular schedule of pumping and inspections.
Plumbing Experts in South Eastern Ontario
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Jun 25, 2023 | Blogs, Plumbing services
A home’s plumbing system is crucial to keep a house functioning properly. However, it can be easy to overlook maintenance until there is a problem.
As a new homeowner, it is important to have some basic plumbing knowledge, so you can avoid major problems in the future. These top 8 plumbing tips will help you do just that!
1. Know Your Water Shut-Off Valve
If you have water flooding your house, knowing where the shut-off valve is located can save you money on repairs. It can also reduce the risk of injury to family members.
Look for a copper or metal pipe that extends from the ground up to your home’s foundation, and follow it to your water meter. The shut-off valve should be right before the meter. You can also find it near your exterior spigots and hose bibs. It should have a handle that turns freely.
2. Keep a Plunger and Drain Snake at Home
The plunger is an efficient and inexpensive way to handle clogs. It’s a tool every homeowner should keep handy.
For serious clogs, you can also use a drain snake, sometimes called a wire drain auger. Feed the cable into a drain until you feel resistance and the tip breaks up or catches on a clog; be sure to turn off the power while you’re working with a drain snake.
3. Protect Your Pipes from Freezing
As winter approaches, the risk of pipes freezing and bursting skyrockets. Frozen pipes are one of the most common causes of home damage and can lead to thousands of dollars in water and property damage.
Insulate exposed pipes in unheated areas: You can purchase foam insulation sleeves, available at your local hardware store, to wrap around your exposed pipes. Turn on the faucets to a slight drip during extremely cold weather, and ensure that you close any outside spigots.
4. Maintain Your Water Heater, Cistern and/or Well
Draining your water heater once a year is important to prevent sediment build-up that shortens the lifespan of the unit, while also helping to save on energy costs.
5. Know Where Your Water Supply and Drain Pipes Are Located
The water supply lines are found in many places throughout your house, delivering fresh water to shower heads, sinks, faucets and other household appliances. In some cases, these lines also lead to the water heater and outdoor hose spigots.
Your drain-waste-vent line (also called a sewer clean out) extends from your home to the municipal sewer system or septic tank. You should always know where this line is located to avoid damaging it.
6. Don’t Place Garbage Down the Drain
Food scraps, particularly greasy ones, can build up and plug drain lines. Grease from cooking oils, pan drippings and bacon should never be poured down the drain.
Place strainers over your sink and shower drains to catch hair, soap scum, and other debris before they can clog the pipes. Be sure to only flush toilet paper and human waste down the drains; anything else, including those “flushable” wipes, can cause a serious clog. Ensure that no one in the house is flushing items like paper towels, personal products, napkins, or diapers.
Foods that expand should not be put down the disposal either; this includes pasta, rice and bread. Eggshells and uncooked oats also pose a threat, since they are likely to collect other debris and form clogs.
7. Know Where Your Water Main Is Located
It’s important for homeowners to know where their water main is located and how to turn it off. This can save thousands of dollars worth of damage in the event of a major plumbing issue that requires immediate attention.
The water main shut-off valve is typically found on the home’s plumbing line as it enters from the street, usually in a basement or crawl space.
8. Turn Off the Water
The quicker you can shut off your water, or direct a plumber to the problem, the better chance you have of minimizing damage. This is especially important if you have frozen pipes.
These simple tips can help you avoid costly plumbing problems! However, in the event that you need an emergency plumber, Tap Tech is here, 24/7 with same-day service to rectify the issue.
Get in touch with Ontario’s premier emergency plumbers: call (613) 328-6600 or book your visit online today!
