Get to know your plumber contractor to avoid big and expensive repairs

Does your bathroom and kitchen have a small leak? If there are leaks, don’t ignore this problem and take care of it as soon as possible. If you dilly dally and not take prompt action to fix this tiny insignificant leak, it may likely evolve into a bigger repair and additional renovation expenses that will put a dent in your wallet.

Most homeowners do not possess the right knowledge and skills to execute efficient and fast plumbing solutions. So if you have a plumbing problem in your midst, do not hesitate to tap the services of a professional plumbing contractor to help you get out of this mess. Expert plumbing contractors can carry out various plumbing tasks such as fixing pipe leaks, doing faucet repairs, and pipe systems installation, maintenance, and repair among others.

But it is important to find out that not all plumbers can take care of all your plumbing needs and issues all at once. It is because plumbing contractors are further subdivided into two categories, an emergency plumber and a plumbing contractor who are experts on remodeling projects. So, choosing which plumbing contractor to contact highly depends on your present needs and issues.

The Emergency Plumber
There are those homeowners who think they can pull off a DIY and take care of some minor plumbing issues by themselves. But time is of the essence when you are in the midst of an emergency plumbing situation. Emergency plumbers can help you best in times like these. By addressing the problem right away, you not only ease your stress ad frustration but reduce unnecessary expenses.

Even if you haven’t experienced any plumbing emergency yet, it is advisable to look for one ahead of time, so you know who to call to when disaster strikes. You must first establish a good working relationship with your plumbing contractors so that they’d be able to offer the best solution to all your plumbing needs simply by knowing you and by being familiar with your home plumbing system.

Focus on a plumbing contractor’s qualifications and recommendations when thinking of hiring one. Ask from family and friends and they’ll likely be able to give you a good recommendation or perhaps already have a plumber in mind to recommend. Check the plumber out and if he meets what you are looking for, save his contact number that’ll come in handy in case of an emergency.

The Plumbing Contractor
When thinking of renovating your bathroom or kitchen, you’ll inevitably need the services of a plumbing contractor. You’ll also require their services for all your non-urgent plumbing needs. Now you know that you must call your plumbing contractor in case something needs to be done with your toilet or sink.

At times, a plumbing contractor likewise hires another qualified specialist to do certain tasks while bearing responsibility for everything they do. They have a keen eye in seeing even the littlest of details that an ordinary person can’t detect. It is why they only employ the best specialists in town. The high quality of their work gives you reassurance and a sense of safety in your home.

A plumbing problem can catch you off guard. It is why you must reach out to licensed and reputable plumbing contractors in your area to help you out in times of need. Remember that a minor leak can become a major problem if you ignore it or try to fix it but end up making it all worse, so seek the services of a plumbing contractor you can contact any time of the day, any day of the week for stress-free plumbing. Here’s some tips on how to find the right plumber company for you at http://plumbers-edmonton.ca/.

Understanding Plumbers Fees

Plumbers can be quite costly. Yet, at one time or another, there will be a need to call on a professional plumber for assistance. Plumbing costs include call out fees; hourly/flat rate, extra costs and products or materials costs. Understanding what these items mean will make you understand plumbers’ quotes.

Call Out Fees

A call-out fee is a minimum charge or a dispatch fee for the plumber coming to your home. Most call-out fees are carried over as the cost of the first 30 -60 minutes of work. Should you decide not to hire the plumber, you still have to pay the call out fee.

The call-out fee covers the cost of the plumber coming to your home bringing along the right equipment and materials and ready to work on your plumbing problem.

Call-out fees eliminate the need for plumbers to add a mark-up on plumbing parts and materials to be used because their over-head expenses are covered.

Extra Costs

Extra costs refer to costs not directly related to the plumbing job but needed to get the job done. Extra cost can also refer to the additional job, products or materials needed to ensure the complete solution of your plumbing problem.

Some examples of extra cost items include scaffolding (for plumbing issues that are too high to reach) and specialized equipment (e.g. drain cameras). If plumbers are going to work on your sewer system, extra costs will include the cleanup cost, cost of digging in your yard and the cost of re-doing your landscaping.

Another extra cost is when the plumber discovers additional things to be done. For example, the job has been initially just to install a new toilet. Once the plumber took off the old toilet, he discovers a problem with the plumbing line and he needs to dig-up some pipes in your yard. This is a separate job and will be additionally billed.

Hourly Rate vs. Flat Rate

A lot of homeowners often wonder which between an hourly rate and a flat rate is reasonable and fair to the client.

Flat Rate Pricing

• A flat rate will give you the peace of mind that the plumbing job will be completed at the pre-agreed cost.
• With a flat rate pricing, the plumbers take on the risk should the plumbing job take longer to complete than his initial estimate. No matter how long it takes for the job to be done, he will be paid the agreed cost.

Hourly Rate Pricing

A plumber working on an hourly rate gets paid based on the number of hours it took him to complete the job. The hourly rate pricing is beneficial when it is almost impossible for the plumber, on the onset, to estimate the time needed to complete the job.

With an hourly rate, the exact labor cost is still unknown while the job is ongoing. The plumber, however, usually provides you with an estimate on how long it will take for the job to be done.

• With an hourly rate, the homeowner takes on more risks.

Products or Materials

You or the plumber can take charge of buying the products or materials needed for the plumbing job. Of course, it will cost more if the plumber buys the products or materials because he will add on a markup to cover the cost of purchase time and delivery costs. However, having a professional plumber buy the products and materials will ensure that the right items are bought. Be mindful to these tips in hiring a plumbing contractor http://calgary-plumbers.co/.

Things You Should Do Before Calling Edmonton Plumbers to Save Money

Even if you think you are a seasoned Do-It-Yourself (DYI) homeowner, there will definitely come a time when you will have an urgent need to hire Edmonton plumbers. There will be some plumbing jobs that will be tough for you to handle. Some plumbing jobs will also be unsafe for you to do on your own. If you want to be cost effective with the plumbing job you need to be done in your home, you need to be in full control before hiring a plumber. Calling a plumber in haste, even during an emergency, can be costly.

Be in Control

If you feel it is time to call in the plumbers, be in full control of the situation. Being in full control instead of panicking and feeling overwhelmed will allow you to make smart decisions.

Consolidate

You will have huge savings if a plumber works on multiple repairs.

• Inspect all the sinks, faucets, toilets, drains, etc… in your home
• Inspect the rest of your plumbing system.

Organize

You will have huge savings when you organize plumbing jobs. Make a list of all plumbing jobs that needs to be done. Do not rely on your memory to avoid missing out on something. If you have a list of all the plumbing jobs that need to be done, your plumber can get to work immediately. If you have agreed on an hourly rate, your list will enable the plumber to analyze the plumbing issues faster.

Prepare for the Coming

Preparing for the arrival of your plumber will come a long way in lowering your plumbing bill.

Clean Up

Check all the areas your plumber will be working on and make sure that they are clear. A visit from a plumber may turn out to be a good reason to do some cleaning up you have been putting off for some time. If he is to work on the bathroom, get rid of stuff that will get on his way like a clothes hamper, empty toiletry bottles, trash bins etc… If he will be working on the sink in your kitchen, pack-up the dish detergent, sponges and cleaners under the sink. If the plumber will have to do this, it will be time that will be added to your bill.

Set Aside the Parts

If you attempted to replace a toilet part, but still it did not work, set aside the parts you have disassembled and show it to the plumber. This will help him diagnose the problem faster.

Hold Your Horses

If the dripping of the faucet is keeping you awake at 3:00 am, it may look like an emergency situation. Before you rush to the phone and call your plumber, think twice. Having the plumber come to your home before or after service hours will mean that you will be billed more. Turn off the main water source for the rest of the night so the dripping does not bother you until morning. Calling your plumber in the morning will save you some money. Sundays, and holidays will also cost more.

Top 7 Practical Tips from Your Friendly Edmonton Plumber

Plumbing issues are among the most horrifying problems many homeowners face. Some repairs in your home can sometimes wait. However, if you need repairs with your home plumbing, waiting can spell the difference between a minor and major repair. Some parts of your home can also be damaged if plumbing issues are not immediately fixed (e.g. if your upstairs plumbing is not functioning well, your ground floor ceiling may start to leak).

There are certain things you need to do and avoid to limit plumbing problems. Your friendly Edmonton plumber is the best guy to get sound advice from.

Practical Plumber Tips

Ordinarily, a plumber will keep mum on what you can do to avoid plumbing problems in your home. After all, your plumbing problems are his bread and butter. Professional and responsible plumbers though, make it their advocacy to help homeowners. Here are some tips from a plumber to you:

1. Be conscious of the location of your plumbing main turnoff source. When all of a sudden, water sprinkles all over the place, turning off the main source of water in your home can prevent flooding.
2. If anyone in your family has long hair or is rapidly balding, place a hair snare or drain strainer in the sink. Hair can cause extreme clogging of the drains. Soap can also stick on your pipes, so go easy on the soap.
3. Avoid flushing baby wipes on the toilet. They do not break down as easily as toilet paper so they can clog your pipes.
4. Replace the flap valve of your toilet if you always have to jiggle the toilet handle to flush the toilet.
5. Keep the Allen wrench that came with your garbage disposal under the sink. This will come in handy when the equipment jams because of large food articles.
6. Avoid hanging clothes on the exposed pipes in the basement. These pipes may break ad flood your basement.
7. Small drips from a leaking faucet can waste over seven gallons of water per day. An endlessly running toilet can waste more than 150 gallons per day. Ignoring any of these issues will make your water bill soar.

Choosing a Plumber

When looking for a plumber, recommendations from family, friends and neighbors are more reliable than the yellow pages. A plumber that has a good reputation in your community is the best choice. Remember, plumbers need to be licensed.

You can also rely on the internet but make sure to check on customer reviews and feedback. Also check for a Better Business Bureau seal.

When choosing a plumbing company to work with (make a short list of at least three), be wary of price quotes that are exceedingly higher or lower than the rest of the quotes you have gathered.

Having a professional work on your plumbing requirements will give you the peace of mind that the job will be done right. An amateur may not yet be exposed to a lot of plumbing issues. Your particular plumbing problem may be new to him and he may be doing a trial and error thing. A professional and experienced Edmonton plumber has dealt with almost any plumbing problem existent. Fixing your plumbing problem will be a piece of cake for him.

3 Edmonton Plumbing Services You Cannot Do Without

There are certain household plumbing jobs that are best left to Edmonton plumbing services.Some minor plumbing repairs such as faucet leaks, running toilets, clog drains, etc.… can be do-it-yourself projects provided you know how. Know the extent of your capabilities and rely on professional plumbing services.  Plumbing services can be classified as maintenance, emergency repairs and installation.

Plumbing Services – Maintenance

Plumbing maintenance does not require so much time. Regular plumbing maintenance can prevent emergency situations. It can also help prevent plumbing issues that can require more time and can be costly to repair.

A plumbing maintenance checklist would include checking on the following issues:

Bathroom

• Checking faucet and shower for leaks.
• Clearing drains of debris collected in the sink and tub drains that could cause slow drains.
• Cleaning of faucet aerators to remove calcium buildup that can block the smooth flow of water.
• Checking for running toilets caused by the normal wear and tear of toilet parts.

Kitchen

• Checking for possible sink leaks (e.g. Faucet, sink strainers, garbage disposal, sink accessories).
• Checking of the kitchen sink drain for usual debris buildup.

Septic System Maintenance

Inspection of septic system to determine if pumping is necessary. Septic tanks that have not been pumped in the last five years will cause wet areas or standing water to appear above the drain field. Your toilets will be running slowly and foul odor will prevail in your home.

Water Pressure Inspection

Pressure is what pushes water through the pipes and out of your faucets, showers etc.. Water pressure in your home needs to be at a safe level. Too low water pressure can bring water flow to a trickle; too high water pressure can damage your plumbing fixtures and cause flooding in your home.

Plumbing Services – Emergency Repairs

A leak in the ceiling caused by the upstairs plumbing, a drain backs up, toilets or faucets spraying water all over the place are emergency plumbing situations that need immediate attention. Reliable plumbing services are available 24/7 to quickly respond to these emergencies

Plumbing Services – Installation

Whether you are constructing or renovating your home, plumbing installations need to be carried out by professional plumbers. Your plumbing system and fixtures need to be installed correctly to ensure proper function.

Choosing the Right Plumbing Service

In choosing a plumbing service for all your home’s plumbing needs, reliability and fast service are two of the most important considerations.

The plumbing service needs to be reliable, so the same plumbing problems do not reoccur. Having to constantly deal with reoccurring plumbing problems cost a lot of time, money and inconvenience.

Entrusting your plumbing to a professional, highly knowledgeable and skilled plumbing services will prevent these things from happening. Professional plumbers target the root cause of the plumbing problem and not merely provide temporary solutions. A reliable plumbing service will also always provide a guarantee for all plumbing works done.

In a plumbing emergency, time is of the essence. Quick response is important any time of the day and any day of the week including weekends and holidays.

Edmonton plumbing services are services your home cannot do without. No matter how conscious you are of your plumbing system, problems and issues and bound to happen. When it does, only entrust your plumbing system in the hands of a reliable plumbing service.

Edmonton Plumbing: 10 Things Your Plumber Wish You Know

When your home’s plumbing system is working just fine, you never think of it. When something goes wrong, you frantically call on an emergency plumber or try to fix the problem yourself. Most of the common home Edmonton plumbing issues are due to the normal wear and tear of fixtures. Some, however are due to the lack of knowledge of homeowners about their plumbing system.

Problems Due to Misuse

While it is true that your home plumbing system will eventually have some issues, misuse of the system will give you terrible headaches. It will also happen sooner than expected.

Avoid Fats, Oil and Grease

Clogging is a common plumbing issue. Fats, oil and grease will clog your pipes in the same way it will clog your heart. Fats, oil and grease thicken when they cool. When they are within your pipes, the thickened mass can block the proper flow of water.

Never flush cooking oil and grease down the drain. The better way to discard of them is to:

• Pour used cooking oil or grease into an empty non-breakable container.
• Freeze the used cooking oil and then you can either re-use, dispose or donate to a recycling management program.
• Wipe off grease and oil in the pan with a paper towel and throw in the trash.

Keep Food Scraps Away

Food scraps can get trapped on your pipes and also cause the abnormal flow of water to and fro your home. Dispose of your food scraps properly and eliminate possible clogging. Scrape food scraps from the plates. Throw them into a garbage bag and dispose.

Garbage Disposal

The garbage disposal is not a trash can. Only small food scraps should be thrown on the disposal. It cannot break down large food scraps into small pieces. Large food scraps will cause the disposal to jam and will clog the drain. Here are some of the things that you shouldn’t throw in the garbage.

• Pasta and wheat products. Pasta will enlarge when wet and gather on the trap.
• Animal bones. The garbage disposal is not capable of breaking them down into small pieces to fit through.
• Grease. This will solidify and get trap on the drain.
• Egg shells. 

Do-It-Yourself Projects

Most plumbers secretly frown at homeowners who attempt to fix plumbing problems on their own even if they are not knowledgeable enough. More often than not, the plumbing issue becomes more complex now than it was, had the plumber been called at once. Take the case of using chemicals. Most homeowners rely so much on chemicals as a quick fix to unclog drains. Some chemicals can be too strong and can damage some of your underground pipes.

Before you attempt to fix a plumbing issue on your own, make sure you know the right thing to do and you have the right tools. When you are unsure, call the plumber. It will be less costly.

When in Doubt, Don’t

Whether you are attempting to safeguard your plumbing system or trying to do a quick fix, when you are having second thoughts, don’t. Equip yourself with enough of the basics of your Edmonton plumbing system. You do not need to know a lot, just enough to get you by. Enough to know how to maintain your plumbing system, and what to do when emergencies arise.

Common Edmonton Plumbing Problems and When to Call a Professional

As a responsible homeowner, you should know how to do simple plumbing repairs and have the necessary tools needed. You should also know when it is time to call a professional plumber.

Plumbing Tool Kit

Having basic plumbing tools in your toolbox can save an emergency call to a plumber for minor fixes which can be a do-it-yourself job.

• Steel Pipe Wrench. This tool is used to tighten and or loosen pipe joints.
• Foot Drain Cleaner. Works on clogged drains. This tool can either be attached to a drill or deployed manually to remove obstructions (soft or hard) along the drain.
• Drain Cleaning Bladder. This is attached to a hose which connects to a cold water hose bib. The bladder must be pushed to at least 6” down the drain. As the drain bladder is being filled with water (at full pressure), the pressure of the water will force the drain to clear.

Common Plumbing Problems

1. Dripping Faucets

Do-It-Yourself

Regardless of the style or model, a dripping faucet is often caused by the plastic or rubber seals (washers, seals, O-rings) wearing off. To fix this, simply replace the plastic or rubber seals as soon as you notice the leak.

Call the Professionals

If the leak has persisted for a long time, chances are the valve seat may have corroded or worn off. This involves a more complex repair job and is best left to a professional plumber.

2. Low Water Pressure

Do-It-Yourself

Unscrew the aerator from the tip of the faucet and clean it. Soak it in vinegar solution overnight, to dissolve the deposits. If it is difficult to unscrew the aerators of shower heads and bathroom faucets, attach a plastic bag with the vinegar solution overnight.

Call the Professionals

After cleaning the aerator and low water pressure still exists, there may be a leak in the pipes from the main water supply leading to your home. A professional plumber is the best guy to take care of this.

3. Running Toilet

Do-It Yourself

When water from the tank does not reach the bowl, replace the flapper valve because it no longer fits. This causes the float to be imbalanced and not make the toilet flush. A toilet repair kit does not need much effort to install.

Call the Professionals

If you have replaced the flapper, and the other fittings, but still the flush does not work, a silent leak could be the cause. Call a professional plumber to further assess the real cause of the toilet not flushing.

4. Leaky Pipes

Do-It-Yourself

Leaks often happen in pipe joints and can be fixed by applying joint fillers or fitting compounds. You can also temporarily stop the leak with a rubber sheet, a compression clamp or a leak tape. These are temporary fixes.

Call the Professionals

For a more permanent solution, have a plumber replace the length of the pipe. While you can replace a leaky U-joint under the sink, the job can get messy. Calling a plumber can save you the cleanup time.

5. Clogged Drains

Do-It-Yourself

When water that goes into your sink, toilet or tub does not go out, there is a clog. Use a drain cleaner or a drain cleaning bladder to get rid of the clog. You can also use drain cleaner and clog remover solutions.

Call in the Professionals

It is time you have a plumber repair a clog if it happens often. There may be debris (e.g. Hair, a bottle cap…) on your pipes that is causing the drain to clog.