Toronto, Etobicoke, Scarborough, North York Plumbing Emergencies

It's like a scene from a slapstick comedy – the kitchen faucet breaks off in your hand and water is spraying everywhere up to the ceiling and running down the walls.

What do you do?

Clue: Your options do not include going back in time to make better plans for this moment.

The most important thing you need to know about your home's plumbing is where to shut off the water. If your home is supplied by municipal water, the water meter and main shutoff valve are often within close proximity to each other, so finding the meter is a good first step.

Water meters are often in an underground hatch near the street or along an easement between properties. Look along the edge of your property for a metal lid (like a small manhole cover) marked "water meter" or just "water." You can usually remove the water meter hatch cover by unscrewing a single bolt.

Underneath, you'll find a rotating valve similar to an outdoor spigot, or a valve with a metal flange. The latter may require a pipe wrench to operate. In either case, turn the valve clockwise until it stops to shut down the water supply.

Warning: Although you may need to do this quickly in an actual emergency, if you're just testing you may need to first turn off the water intake valves to appliances like water heaters to ensure that your test does not cause any damage. Check your owner manuals on these devices and take appropriate steps before shutting off your home's main water supply.

You may, of course, also have a water shut-off valve in your basement or crawlspace. Usually this would be along the pathway of the main water line and just inside the house.

Other shut-off valves

Each plumbing fixture, such as dishwashers, faucets, water heaters and toilets, will often have its own dedicated shutoff valve. For freestanding fixtures, such as toilets or pedestal sinks, the shutoff valve can be easily located on the water supply line between the floor or wall and the fixture. Kitchen sinks, dishwashers and cabinet-mounted sinks would normally have their shutoff valves under the kitchen sink.

Shutting off water to fixtures mounted flush against the wall -- bathtubs, showers, etc -- may be harder to do locally because the valves (if they exist) may be hidden behind drywall.

Of course, finding the valve is one thing; whether you can turn it off with your bare hand is another. Because they are so rarely used, these valves may be hard to turn without a wrench. Try loosening each of these valves with some household spray oil so you'll be able to shut them off quickly if you ever need to.

Overflowing toilet

You've just completed a satisfying natural bodily function and flushed the toilet. You're still pulling up your pants when you realize the toilet is clogged and the water is rising closer and closer to the rim. Quick - what do you do?

• It's always recommended to immediately turn off the water using the valve behind the base of the toilet. Unfortunately, in most homes these valves are rarely used so you may find it is too stiff to turn by hand.
• Don't panic and remember that the water supply line's job is to fill the tank, so what truly matters most is preventing any more water from going into the bowl. Take the lid off of the tank (but don't drop it on the tile floor because it will break) and make sure the rubber flapper has fallen back into place. If it's still open, reach in and push it back in place to stop the water flow. (This is no time to be squeamish; tank water is not yet sewer water).
• If you are unable to prevent water from flowing from the tank to the bowl you absolutely need to make the water stop coming in, and if you already have the tank lid off the fastest way to do that is to lift up the float ball until the refill valve shuts off. If your toilet does not have the classic float ball, look for other moving parts (usually on the left) that slide upwards with the water level. Lift up any part that moves freely until the water intake valve shuts off. Keep it held up with one hand while you struggle to close the stubborn shutoff valve. (Note to self: Spray some oil on this for next time).

Once you have prevented further water flow into the bowl you have some time to figure out the next move. If the bowl did overflow onto the floor, clean it up before you proceed or else you will track bacteria from sewage water elsewhere in the house. Now you are no longer in a plumbing emergency situation and can focus on how to unclog a toilet.

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If you are still looking for trusted plumber, Mister Plumber in Toronto, Etobicoke, Scarborough, North York specializing sewer repair, upgrade waterline, water service upgrade, drain cleaning, backwater valve installation, lead pipe replacement, re-piping and emergency plumbing, Mister Plumber uses the latest technology to effectively troubleshoot and quickly repair any plumbing problem and offers a fast response and free estimates.

More Info: www.misterplumber.ca 

Reliable and Trustworthy Plumbing services.

Call a fully-licensed, bonded and insured Toronto plumber at 416 939 1530

Top Ugly Plumbing Home Improvement Projects

If you’re a first-time Toronto homeowner, the thought of home improvement probably conjures visions of installing a state-of-the-art kitchen with the latest appliances, or a sprawling patio that transforms your backyard into an outdoor oasis.
Not only do these projects boost the value of your home, but they’re functional and fun to show off to friends and family.
Your fantasies probably didn’t include sump pump failure, backed-up toilets, overflowing gutters or black mold lurking in your crawl space.
The reality is that home ownership often proves extremely unpredictable. However, one thing you can count on is spending a considerable amount of money on unglamorous maintenance projects you can’t show off to neighbors, but will keep your home healthy.

Cleaning gutters.

This seasonal task involves climbing on a ladder and scooping out decaying leaves, animal waste and other random sludge that have been marinating in your gutters for months. But you’ll have bigger problems when a blockage sends water spilling down the sides of your home, which can ruin siding, flood your basement and rot the fascia boards that hold the gutters.

Installing windows.

Adding one window will set you back a couple hundred dollars, and a major window replacement job can cost thousands. New windows offer increased efficiency and should lower your energy costs, but unless you install stained glass or security bars, your neighbors are unlikely to comment.

Repairing the foundation.

You might crack up at the thought of spending hard-earned money to repair the slow-growing crack that stair-steps up the basement wall, but foundation fissures are no joking matter. Not all cracks signal impending collapse, but have it checked out before it’s too late.

Removing mold.

Eliminating the patch of black mold hiding behind the bathroom wall may not be at the top of your to-do list, but failure to remove mold can cause serious respiratory problems. Make sure to hire a remediation company that pinpoints the source of the mold. Avoid the contractor who wants to paint over it.

Fixing the toilet.

Although the insides of some toilet tanks resemble the cockpit of a fighter jet, resist the temptation to put off toilet repairs. You’ll be glad you called a plumber the next time nature calls.

Adding insulation.

Insulation stays out of the spotlight, but performs an important role. It’s dirty and expensive to install, but offers a good return on your investment through lower utility bills and increased comfort. Just don’t count on anyone showing up to your insulation viewing party.

Replacing the sump pump.

You won’t be pumped when your basement floods because you failed to replace your sump pump. Make sure to install a sump pump with a battery backup and alarm system for extra security.

Updating electrical wiring.

It costs several thousand dollars to rewire a home or modernize an aging electrical system, and what do you get to show for it besides a bunch of wires hidden in your walls and attic? You should at least sleep better knowing there’s a decreased risk of fire because you removed the 1920s-era knob-and-tube system.

Pumping the septic tank.

Pros recommend pumping your septic system every three to five years to prevent backup. It’s not a glamorous job, but it’s better than sewage backing up in your toilets and spilling on the lawn. Just don’t be like Cousin Eddie from “Christmas Vacation” and empty it into the sewer.

Replacing the sewer line.

This unsexy situation starts with raw sewage backing up in your home and ends with contractors digging up your front yard and landscaping to bury a new sewer line. Trenchless replacement methods exist that bypass the backhoe, but often come at a higher cost.

If you are still looking for trusted plumber, Mister Plumber in Toronto, Etobicoke, Scarborough, North York specializing sewer repair, upgrade waterline, water service upgrade, drain cleaning, backwater valve installation, lead pipe replacement, re-piping and emergency plumbing, Mister Plumber uses the latest technology to effectively troubleshoot and quickly repair any plumbing problem and offers a fast response and free estimates.

More Info: www.misterplumber.ca 

Reliable and Trustworthy Plumbing services.

Call a fully-licensed, bonded and insured Toronto plumber at 416 939 1530

Tips on Finding a Water Leaks In your Toronto Home

While many Toronto homeowners know the tell-all signs of a water leak within their home’s plumbing, such as high water bills, lawn damage and in-home leaking, often finding the leaks themselves can become a frustrating challenge. This primarily due to the many areas, individual pipes and systems in which a leak can occur, and for whatever number of reasons.

Fortunately, there are several, relatively simple diagnostic steps your can take to better identify, or at least estimate, where a water leak resides within your Toronto home’s plumbing. These steps can inform you not only of the specific areas and likely causes of your home water leak, but also the best restorative actions for your unique plumbing pipes.

Do you need to contact a plumbing professional to evaluate your plumbing for water leaks? Use the below diagnostic steps to gauge the severity of your leak problem.

Water Meter Tests

One of the most decisive ways to identify whether a leak resides in your Toronto home plumbing is by testing your home water meter. While this test will not tell you where exactly a leak exists in your home, it will inform you with 100% accuracy whether the leak is inside your home (a leak from faucets, bathroom plumbing or kitchen drains) or outside (as in, your irrigation system, lateral lining, etc.).

Begin by noting where your water consumption level is before diagnosis, and then shutting off all the water-consuming appliances, drains and fixtures in your home. Wait a few moments and check your water meter again; if your meter features a small-volume water use gauge, this will likely have moved in the case of a leak. If your meter lacks this handy gauge, standard consumption gauges will also move slightly in leak conditions.

Next up is determining whether the leak is within or outside your home, which follows much of the same small steps as above. In this test, make note of your water meter level, and then shut off your home water valve completely; this valve cuts off all water from your home. Assess your water valve again after about 20 minutes, give or take a few. If the water consumption meters are still moving, with all water cut-off from your home, you likely have an irrigation leak, or even more troublesome, cracking or damage to your lateral lining.

If this is the case, contact your local plumbing professionals right away. Not only can they identify the exact location and severity of pipe damages with video inspection technology, but they can also repair your Toronto plumbing with innovative, non-destructive new technologies, and limit any long-term water damage and mold in your home.

Finding a Leak Within Your Toronto Home

Effective in-home leak detection can be done before the need to call a plumbing specialist even arises; all you have to do is know what to look for. There are numerous, telltale signs of a water leak that many homeowners may overlook from time to time. By catching these signs early, you can prevent leaks from growing into more harmful plumbing failures, or from facilitating mold spread within your home.

Here at Mister Plumber, we’ve seen it all; because of this, we recommend that homeowners in Toronto self-check their home’s plumbing once a month at the very least, and have a professional inspection annually.

When evaluating your home’s plumbing for leaks, or trying to identify the cause of a leak, keep a sharp eye out for the following:

•  Water corrosion or buildup around plumbing fixtures
•  Water discoloration when run from water heater to fixtures
•  Drains acting slowly, or clogging
•  Strange or unpleasant odors coming from pipes and drains
•  Loss in flow of volume of water output

If you notice any of the above in your home’s plumbing system, do not hesitate to act; getting the professional, expert help you need now could save you significantly on later, more intensive and thorough repairs.

Professional leak detection specialists can use a combination of video snaking tools, hydro-jetting tools and trenchless technologies to resolve any leak in your home, no matter the severity. Best of all, these solutions are more affordable than you may be led to believe, and are certainly most effective when completed as soon as possible. If you notice any water leak signs, act sooner rather than later; you won’t regret it.

Finding a Leak Outside Your Toronto Home

If diagnosing leaks with your water meter suggests that a leak exists outside your home, there are also a number of signs you can look for when determine where a leak exists, or what caused a leak.

First and foremost, you’ll want to check your lawn’s irrigation system for serious leaks, noting any of the following if they are present:

•  Shifting lawn soil, indicative of ruptured irrigation
•  Dense grass growth concentrations, which occur when abnormal volumes of water are exposed beneath your lawn’s surface
•  Dampness or wet patches on your lawn
•  Clogging in your lateral pipe, which may indicate a material buildup between your home and municipal sewer systems

For irrigation pipe damage, inspections and complete repairs can be done relatively simply, so long as you find the right professional help in a quick manner. For lateral pipe damages, a unique, new approach can be the perfect solution for you: consider trenchless technologies. These innovative pipe renovations make the use of epoxy, liquid Perma-liners and trenchless air pumps to mold a cover over any pipe damages, or even completely replace broken lining pipes.

If you are still looking for trusted plumber, Mister Plumber in Toronto, Etobicoke, Scarborough, North York specializing sewer repair, upgrade waterline, water service upgrade, drain cleaning, backwater valve installation, lead pipe replacement, re-piping and emergency plumbing, Mister Plumber uses the latest technology to effectively troubleshoot and quickly repair any plumbing problem and offers a fast response and free estimates.

More Info: www.misterplumber.ca 

Reliable and Trustworthy Plumbing services.

Call a fully-licensed, bonded and insured Toronto plumber at 416 939 1530

Garbage Disposal and How Do Toronto Plumbers Detect Hidden Leaks

Garbage disposal is one of the unsung heroes of your household, efficiently getting rid of spare bits of food and similar organic detritus. We don’t usually think about it until it suffers from problems, but unfortunately, those problems need to be dealt with quickly or else it will clog up your entire sink. In towns like Toronto, Etobicoke, Scarborough, North York, garbage disposal repairs can be handled by most reputable plumbing companies.

Here are common problems experienced by a garbage disposal. If you spot them, you should call in a professional to get them addressed quickly and promptly.

Problems by a Garbage Disposal

No power.

Garbage disposals require electrical power to run, and when that power gets interrupted, it won’t function. The disposal may also become overloaded by a power surge or similar issue, which will shut it off before it burns out. Most disposals have a red reset button on the bottom. Press it and see if that fixes the issue. If it doesn’t, the problem requires a trained Toronto plumber’s attention.

A jam.

Certain items should never be placed in a garbage disposal, including chicken bones, peach pits, fibrous vegetable peelings from carrots and potatoes, and metal utensils. They can clog the mechanism and result in a jam. Never try to unclog a jam yourself: you can severely injure your fingers. A trained Toronto plumber can adjust the masher plate and safely unjam the mechanism before restoring power.

Leaks.

Garbage disposals can sometimes spring leaks from breached hoses, loose fittings and faulty seals. A plumber can clear them up in much the same way he or she repairs leaky faucets: by replacing the faulty components and ensuring that the new seal is tight.

If you spot these or other common problems experienced by a garbage disposal, call the experts at Mister Plumber right away.

Plumbing leaks are a common repair issue, but sadly not all of them advertise themselves by spreading water across your floor. Some of them happen out of sight, such as behind the walls or worse: under the concrete on your porch or walkway. In the old days, it was very hard to spot such leaks, and plumbers had to infer the location before drilling through the concrete to get to it. But nowadays, plumbers have many more tools at their disposal, and here in Tempe, leak detection is a much less painful prospect.

How do Toronto plumbers detect hidden leaks?

One of the most common methods it through a sonic detector, which can sense the sounds of the leak through the concrete and pinpoint its exact location. Leaks make noise, no matter how small they may be. A sonic detector can pick up that noise without having to dig, allowing you and the plumber to determine the best course of action from there.

Another new method of finding such leaks involves hydrostatic testing, in which an inflatable ball is placed in the line and inflated to stop it up. The whole system is then filled with water, and any line that can’t be filled or which loses water is presumably the source of the leak.

Finally, many plumbers also use of tiny video cameras to explore the pipes from the inside. The water is shut off and the camera extended on a flexible line. The Toronto plumber can monitor what the camera sees via a remote monitor until he or she finds the source of the trouble.

Once the source of the leak is spotted, the plumber can then take measures to correct it that keep damage to the underlying concrete to a minimum. Once you know how plumbers detect hidden leaks, you can see how much easier and safer it is to perform repairs. Water leak detection and other plumbing services in Toronto, ON can be performed by the experts at Mister Plumber.

More Info: www.misterplumber.ca 

Reliable and Trustworthy Plumbing services.

Call a fully-licensed, bonded and insured Toronto plumber at 416 939 1530

Etobicoke Drain Cleaning

When it comes to drain cleaning, people often immediately have the wrong idea in their head: plastics bottles of “drain cleaner” sitting on the grocery store shelves in the House Cleaning Supplies aisle. But no professional plumber worth hiring will ever use these kinds of chemical drain cleaners. They are toxic, caustic, and can seriously damage the inside lining of drainpipes.

Professional Etobicoke plumbers instead use more advanced tools that can thoroughly cleanse and unclog drains without presenting the possibility of harm to the drain or to you. We’ll look at a few of them in this post.

For your drain cleaning in Etobicoke, ON, contact Mister Plumber. Our skilled plumbers are ready 24/7 to help you with keeping your drains clear and clean.

1. Drain Snakes

You can purchase manual drain snakes (also called drain augers) from many hardware stores, but your plumber will use a powerful motorized drain snake to clean your drains. Drain snakes are long coils of wire that can extend deep into a drain to reach thick clogs. By turning the wires using a motor, the plumber screws the end of the drain snake into the clog, similar to the way a corkscrew works. The plumber can then either extract the clog or break it apart to clear the way.

2. Scour Jetting

Also called “hydro-jetting,” this is the use of hot water shot out of nozzle at extremely high pressure. A motor creates the high pressure and blasts the water out to scour the insides of drains, removing blockage and also deep-cleaning the pipe interior. Because of the possible dangers from high-pressure water blasts, only professionals should undertake this work.

3. Video Inspection Equipment

This tool doesn’t “clear” or “clean” a drain, but it is an essential part of drain cleaning nonetheless. These miniature cameras and LED lights mounted on the end of a long fiber-optic cable allow plumbers to identify areas that require cleaning and to discover the types of clogs they have to remove. Video pipe inspection equipment removes most of the guesswork from drain cleaning, and a plumber can get straight to work on what’s wrong.

Unless you have a drain clog that needs cleaning immediately, we recommend you schedule regular drain cleaning once a year to maintain regular water pressure and deter clogging. Call on Mister Plumber today to arrange for quality drain and sewer services in Etobicoke, ON.

If you are still looking for trusted plumber, Mister Plumber in Toronto, Etobicoke, Scarborough, North York specializing sewer repair, upgrade waterline, water service upgrade, drain cleaning, backwater valve installation, lead pipe replacement, re-piping and emergency plumbing, Mister Plumber uses the latest technology to effectively troubleshoot and quickly repair any plumbing problem and offers a fast response and free estimates.

More Info: www.misterplumber.ca 

Reliable and Trustworthy Plumbing services.

Call a fully-licensed, bonded and insured Toronto plumber at 416 939 1530

When you are faced with flood damage and a sudden water emergency in your home, call Mister Plumber!

Nobody ever knows when the next disaster will strike. Weather conditions are changing and the storms we are experiencing these days are more violent, and flooding is often the consequence of these heavy storms. Of course water entering your home can ruin your possessions entirely, and anybody that has experienced a flood is urged to call their local Toronto plumbers as soon as possible. However, methods of cleaning up after flooding will be determined by the severity of the flooding. Many people think that flood damage is just a matter of mopping up the water and waiting for things to dry out. They don’t realize that many times there is underlying damage which only becomes evident much later on. Secondary water damage brings on mold, mildew, and dangerous fungi which can cause a host of irritating allergies as well as serious diseases like hepatitis and cholera.

Flooding always brings with it a mixture of soil, bark, leaves, insects and other debris, and in many instances when the flood waters are so severe, sewers can overflow. Left unchecked, raw sewage can enter your groundwater and drinking water supply. With flood damage of this nature professional help is imperative because if you should come into contact with this type of contaminated water, you can become seriously ill.

Professional Restoration Machines

Professional cleaners will disinfect and decontaminate your entire home to eliminate pathogens and organisms that are present in the sewage.  Professional mop-up teams come rigged out with rubber gloves, boots as well as face masks. They come with the most  advanced flood damage drying systems and machinery which the average household will not normally have. They make use of specialized equipment like industrial strength dehumidifiers which encourage evaporation as well as tile and grout cleaning equipment, auto scrubbers, carpet cleaning machines and wet vacuums which pump out all water from your carpeting and home, making light work of the soggy and ill-smelling mess.

Removing Mold and Mildew a Top Priority

Professional flood damage restoration experts make use of their machines and special cleaning techniques to kill off  the mold and mildew which develops so quickly. They check over your home’s water and electrical systems and check the homes structural safety before commencing with the clean-up. Their aim is to thoroughly dry the house as quickly as possible. They are aware that ceilings which are mostly above the high-water mark may well be undamaged and even dry, but they will still need checking because surface damp can cause mold to grow there too.

Whether it is your hardwood floors that need to be restored, your carpets, curtains or upholstery, they know that even floodwater, which has not caused sewage spillovers, can contain dangerous microbiological organisms, and the longer you delay with calling professionals in, the more toxic mold and bacteria you can expect.  Before deciding on the techniques to use for a cleanup, these skilled experts first determine the source of the water.  Water from sewage spills, and which contains harmful contaminants is known as black water and swallowing black water can lead to  nausea diarrhea, abdominal cramps and vomiting.

Professional Help for Flood Damage Available Around the Clock

When you are faced with flood damage and a sudden water emergency in your home, call your local Toronto plumbers for help fast. Because of the seriousness of black water, only trained and certified water damage restoration experts, available 24/7, can help because they are highly skilled and knowledgeable in all aspects relating to mold and mildew prevention as well as sewage decontamination. They have your best interests at heart and they work out a course of action that will sort out your calamity in the most professional and safe way.

More Info: www.misterplumber.ca 

Reliable and Trustworthy Plumbing services.

Call a fully-licensed, bonded and insured Toronto plumber at 416 939 1530

Call Toronto Plumbers and Stop Your Basement from Flooding

Just imagine for a minute, you walk down to your basement like you always do, maybe you’re putting the laundry into the drier for instance. The light is off but you hear something unusual like water running when there shouldn’t be.

When you flick on the light water if pouring into your basement!

You frantically try to grab up your possessions that you don’t want to become water logged or damaged but there is only so much you can do. Time is limited and most things have already become soaked with water – water that in some cases is backed up from the sanitary waste sewer. Something you definitely do not want to be dealing with.
When it comes to your home you must do every little thing you can to prevent it from getting damaged, this is especially the case when it comes to your basement. A flooded basement can very quickly become an extremely costly problem to deal with easily ending up costing $20,000 or more to repair depending on your specific circumstances.

Backwater Valve Installation

One very important part of your basement you must have protected is your drain connection that attaches to the municipal sewer system. In stormy weather with heavy rainfall the water level in sewers can quickly build-up resulting in the water backing up into your home. In order to prevent basement flooding a device must be installed on you drain line called a backwater valve.

The way this device works is that it only allows water to flow out of the valve towards the sewer, any water that is force back towards the valve will not be able to penetrate it as it’s a one-way only device. Always hire professional Toronto plumbers to perform your backwater valve installation as it is imperative that the procedure is completed properly.

If you are still looking for trusted plumber, Mister Plumber in Toronto, Etobicoke, Scarborough, North York specializing sewer repair, upgrade waterline, water service upgrade, drain cleaning, backwater valve installation, lead pipe replacement, re-piping and emergency plumbing, Mister Plumber uses the latest technology to effectively troubleshoot and quickly repair any plumbing problem and offers a fast response and free estimates.

More Info: www.misterplumber.ca 

Reliable and Trustworthy Plumbing services.

Call a fully-licensed, bonded and insured Toronto plumber at 416 939 1530

Toronto Plumbers Tips: Fix A Clogged Drain Yourself

Drain clogs, while a conventional Toronto home plumbing problem, so how can you deal with these problems quickly, and put them behind you in an affordable manner?

Fortunately, there are a number of at-home remedies you can try, which often help homeowners completely resolve their drain clogging issues. By knowing what techniques, preventative measures and tools you can use right now to eliminate frustrating clogs, you can greatly limit how a clog may affect your home plumbing in the future.

Simple Hot Water Application

One of the most simple and conventional ways to handle a home drain clog is through an easy hot water flush. The heat, along with growing water pressure and force, will often burst through clogged drain pipes, freeing whatever had become lodged within the pipe. This solution should be your first unclogging attempt, as it requires nothing other than a working faucet and heated water (something you should already have available).

Run hot water through your drain pipes for 10-15 minutes, and reassess the clogging. If this first step proves unsuccessful, don’t worry too much; there is a number of other, at-home methods of drain unclogging you can try before the need to contact a professional arises.

Homemade Chemical Solutions

One of these additional methods is a homemade chemical mixture (NOT those hazardous, chemical solutions you can buy at your local home improvement stores; those can, in fact, damage your pipes, while also posing great personal health risks).

At Mister Plumber in Toronto, we offer a less dangerous, and far more convenient solution: a tried and true baking soda and vinegar mixture can do wonders in relieving a clog from your home drain pipes. When these mixed elements react, they will often dissolve through clogged gunk or other materials. This often performs the same duties as chemical cleaners, but without the health risks and pipe damaging agents that come with commercial cleaners.

DIY Drain Snaking

One incredibly valuable tool many homeowners don’t know they can find for home use are the drain snakes, our augers, which professional plumbing specialists use to dismantle and free clogs. These tools, often found at home improvement stores, can knock away clogged substances in a matter of seconds, and pull out any stubborn gunk concentrations that may be affecting your drains.

Effective at either breaking away clogged materials, or pulling larger lumps out through a drain entry point, these handy tools are often the perfect solution to moderate clogging, and are relatively simple to use.

Using Your Standard Plunger

One solution you may not have even considered for unclogging home drain pipes and general drain cleaning is your standard, home plunger. All you have to do is fill your sink or tub with about three inches of water, form a tight seal around the drain entrance with your plunger, and push back and forth rhythmically.

Continue this for about a half-minute to one minute, and at a steady pace; this builds air pressure in your drain pipes with every individual push, which can effectively dismantle most clogged materials. Additionally, specialized sink plungers are made specifically for these applications, which can be found at your local home improvement store for an affordable price, making them a tool easily worth the investment.

Cover Up Overflow Vents

However, while plunging alone can be an effective clog remedy, there is one critical step many homeowners forget when trying this method: cover your overflow vents! These are the air slits and holes along the brim of your sink, which keep overflows from occurring. As they are direct opening to your drain pipes, leaving these open while plunging a clog away with only result in the physical force from plunging escaping.

Using a plunger to eradicate a drain clog is only effective if these openings are tightly sealed; try using a wet close, a flat, hard surface (if the vent surface itself is flat), or even duct tape to seal these vents.

Out Of Ideas? Try Soda!

Much like the homemade solutions we’ve talked about earlier in this blog, another perfect clog-clearing solution may be sitting right under your nose, in your home refrigerator. Carbonated soda products can actually be used to dissolve clogged materials, with astounding success.

The dissolving agents, such as phosphoric acid, within sugary soda products eat away at grease and clogs, eliminating any clogging in a much safer manner than with commercial cleaners. Once completed, simply flush your drains out with water to clear the loose materials out of your drain.

Check Your Plumbing Traps

Often, the everyday clogs homeowners are faced with can be completely removed by removing and cleaning your drain fixture’s plumbing trap. These traps are the curvatures a short way along drain pipes, which use gravity to form a natural water seal between your home’s air and harmful sewer pipe gasses.

While these pipe sections perform a crucial role in keeping your drains running efficiently, and keeping your family safe from sewer gasses, clogs can, and do, develop at the bottoms of these curves, as they are low-points in a drain system. Fortunately, plumbing traps can usually be removed and cleaned out with little effort (a process we go into further here), restoring your drains to their normal state.

Get A Toronto Professional’s Help

When all else fails, do not hesitate to call a professional! If you notice warning signs of a clog, or develop grime accumulation, contact your local plumbing service professional right away for an expert evaluation. Acting now can help you avoid more severe drain clogging and damages, as well as more expensive repairs, in the future.

Drain cleaning professionals have the right experience and tools to take on virtually any drain pipe clogging, no matter the circumstance. Best of all, these services are affordable under any budget, and well worth restoring your drains!

Avoid Clogs Altogether

Of course, one of the easiest ways to fix a drain clog problem is to avoid developing one altogether; this can be done with the right prior consideration and care for your plumbing, saving you in the long-run. Most of all, be wary of what you throw down your garbage disposal; despite its name, it is not a garbage can.

Avoid running the following through your garbage disposal:

• Fibrous food products, such as food skins and stringy vegetables
• Animal bones and cartilage waste
• Plastic wrappers or household paper products
• Food wrappers, or anything non-biodegradable
• Expandable food products
• Kitchen grease and oil

Check Your Drains Regularly

The best way to prevent clogs from developing in your home’s plumbing is to check your drains semi-regularly, and take precautionary note of any performance problems. Notice strange odors coming from your drains, or water backup when running your sink? Try the above methods, or contact a plumbing service professional right away.

If you are still looking for trusted plumber, Mister Plumber in Toronto, Etobicoke, Scarborough, North York specializing sewer repair, upgrade waterline, water service upgrade, drain cleaning, backwater valve installation, lead pipe replacement, re-piping and emergency plumbing, Mister Plumber uses the latest technology to effectively troubleshoot and quickly repair any plumbing problem and offers a fast response and free estimates.

More Info: www.misterplumber.ca 

Reliable and Trustworthy Plumbing services.

Call a fully-licensed, bonded and insured Toronto plumber at 416 939 1530

Toronto CCTV drain inspection

Most people today don’t think there’s anything strange about their doctors using cameras to find and treat illnesses. Ultrasound, colonoscopy, and capsule endoscopy have been around for some time now. They may not be fun, but an hour of discomfort is a small price to pay for possible years of longer life. If you knew that placing a camera in your body could keep you healthy, why wouldn’t you do it for your Toronto household drains?

Fortunately, unlike most medical procedures CCTV drain inspection won’t cost megabucks. The principle, though, is essentially the same. A trained technician arrives at your house with his or her inspection camera and equipment. The homeowner points out the problem, and the camera goes to work. As it descends through the pipes, the pictures it sends back show any and all discolorations, loose connections, breakages, and blockages. These are clear, full-color images too, by the way, not grainy black-and-white footage.

CCTV drain analysis serves many purposes, not just finding a problem once it has occurred. Preventive scans are a good idea, as they will show tree roots or other intruders that may be stressing or compressing your pipes. Other foreign objects - that ball your kids lost several months ago, for example - are easily spotted and removed with the use of CCTV.

Everything, including plumbing pipes, deteriorates over time. You may suspect that a pipe has collapsed or shattered, but without CCTV, how will you know which pipe and where? No one wants to spend the weekend digging up the yard in a random search that may or may not turn up the problem. When your drains are inspected with CCTV, the faulty pipes are easy to find. No one has to lift a shovel or get dirty.

Buying a home? It would be smart to invest in a CCTV drain inspection. First of all, if nothing is found, the buyer may proceed with peace of mind. Secondly, if pipes need replacement or repair, buyers may choose to use that as a negotiating point with sellers. If solving the problem will require more cash, time, and hassle than the buyer is willing to commit, walking away from that house may be a better choice. As with the human body, with drains it is better to know right away, so that the problem does not worsen or spread.

A CCTV drain inspection is a practical and effective method of finding out what’s going on below the ground. This is a job for a professional: you wouldn’t inspect your own colon, and you shouldn’t try to inspect your drains either. Qualified, up-to-date Toronto plumbers have all the equipment and technological expertise to perform the drain inspection for you, and do it right the first time.

If you are still looking for trusted plumber, Mister Plumber in Toronto, Etobicoke, Scarborough, North York specializing sewer repair, upgrade waterline, water service upgrade, drain cleaning, backwater valve installation, lead pipe replacement, re-piping and emergency plumbing, Mister Plumber uses the latest technology to effectively troubleshoot and quickly repair any plumbing problem and offers a fast response and free estimates.

More Info: www.misterplumber.ca 

Reliable and Trustworthy Plumbing services.

Call a fully-licensed, bonded and insured Toronto plumber at 416 939 1530

Toronto Sump Pump Repair and Maintenance

If your sump pump is running non-stop, that could mean your pump’s capacity has been matched by the flow of the ground water. This could be a problem, because that could mean your pump is at risk of easily being overwhelmed with just a slight increase in the ground water flowing into the pit.

If your pump keeps running, check some of the following to make sure you’re not at risk of a serious flood.

Make Sure it is Working Correctly

You need to check that the pump is actually pumping water, and operating close to capacity. You may have sand or silt in your sump pit that could erode the impeller vanes and render the pump nearly useless. Impellers in some models are made of metal that can corrode in water.

Check the Discharge Pipe

If your discharge pipe or hose becomes clogged or broken due to freezing weather, the pump will run constantly. The pipe can also come loose, and if this happens you will see water circulating in the sump pit.

Check the Check Valve

If the pit goes dry during a drought, and then refills with water, then a 3/16 hole needs to be drilled in the discharge pipe a short distance above the pump. This hole will be needed to allow air to get out of the pump so it can prime. If water above the check valve holds air in the pump, then water will not be able to reach the impeller. In this instance, the pump will continue to run without pumping.

Consider the Ground Water Level

If your pump is pumping correctly, then you need to look at not only its capacity, but the volume and level of the ground water as well. You may need to either get a pump with more capacity, or add a backup. You may, however, be able to simply raise the pump a few inches to let the ground water reach its own level without being constantly pumped out.

Turn off the pump and see how high the water gets into the pit. If the water level stops rising, then you can raise the level at which the pump engages, and let the water stay at that level. That way, the pump will only turn on when the water gets higher than that level.

Many times, people will set their pump too deep into the water table, to the point where it pumps water that doesn’t need to be moved.

If, however, the pit overflows with water with the pump turned off, you’ll need more capacity or a backup. Any increase in the ground water level will cause a flooded basement.

In order to make sure your sump pump will work when you need it the most, you need to perform some simple maintenance, just like you would for any sort of appliance. Here are some steps you can take to make sure your pump is in proper working order.

The Sump Pit

If your area has extended periods of frozen weather, make sure you clean the pit when weather warms. Drainage can bring debris, sand and soil from the pit to the foundation of your basement. If water sits for a long time in your pit, that can lead to a musty smell. In this instance, add fresh water until the pump removes the old water.

The Sump Pump

Test your pump every spring before the start of the rainy season, or if you plan on being away from your home for a long time. If necessary, pour water into the pit so your pump can operate. Once a year, clean your pump thoroughly after disconnecting it from its power source. Your pump probably has a screen covering the water intake. Make sure that remains clean.

The Sump Pump Discharge Pipe

Look at the area where the discharge pipe leaves your Toronto home, and make sure nothing blocks its flow.

If you are still looking for trusted plumber, Mister Plumber in Toronto, Etobicoke, Scarborough, North York specializing sewer repair, upgrade waterline, water service upgrade, drain cleaning, backwater valve installation, lead pipe replacement, re-piping and emergency plumbing, Mister Plumber uses the latest technology to effectively troubleshoot and quickly repair any plumbing problem and offers a fast response and free estimates.

More Info: www.misterplumber.ca 

Reliable and Trustworthy Plumbing services.

Call a fully-licensed, bonded and insured Toronto plumber at 416 939 1530

Oakville Plumbers for Drain and Plumbing Services, Repairs, Inspections and Upgrades

Mister Plumber is a 24 hour Emergency service plumbing company in the Oakville. With over 15 years of combined experience in the service industry, our goal is providing customers with knowledgeable advice and first class service. We take great pride in our work and will treat you and your home with respect.

A professional needs to be hired to fix any plumbing problem. An experienced plumber will always fix your problem permanently hence you require a professional and there is no other professional like Mister Plumber. We cover all plumbing services from drain repair, clogged toilets, leaking pipes to replacing your sump pumps and waterproofing.

Oakville Plumbing Services

We have been providing Oakville with reliable, professional plumbing for over a decade now. We are intimately familiar with the area and its unique plumbing conditions, as well as the local city infrastructure. For Oakville plumbing services, we can't be beat. We conduct plumbing installations, inspections, repairs, maintenance, and much more. We offer a full-feature service.

Oakville Plumbing Inspections

Inspections and maintenance are the best defense any property owner has when it comes to minimizing plumbing risk. Call us and talk to a representative to determine your properties inspection profile and find out how often you should be conducting inspections such as:

• Leak Detection
• Drain Camera Inspections
• Sewer Inspections
• Waterproofing Inspections
• Code Inspections
• And more plumbing inspections.

Oakville Plumbing Installation Jobs

As well as inspecting plumbing, we install new fixtures as well as additions. Call us for remodeling, new constructions, or just plain new additions to your home. We install toilets, bath-tubs, sinks, garbage disposals, showers, sump pumps, and more. From plumbing to draining to waterproofing. If it moves liquids or gas through your properties, we deal with its installation.

Oakville Plumbing Repair Services

Of course we provide repair services for plumbing systems and fixtures of all sizes and types. We conduct residential repairs on all residential plumbing devices and systems, as well as most commercial and industrial systems in use today. We also offer an emergency repair service for those inopportune moments when a pipe bursts and everybody else is asleep. We'll come out and get your property protected in the middle of the night.

Oakville Service Upgrades

Sometimes you'll encounter a situation where your current plumbing can't handle any more. Maybe you want to add some more washing machines to an apartment building, or another bathroom to a house. If there is not enough water coming from the main, or the drainage pipes aren't big enough, you could have a problem. We perform Oakville water service upgrades to provide additional terminals for water supply lines and drain lines.

Oakville Basement Waterproofing

We offer interior and exterior basement waterproofing in Oakville to combat basement flooding. Sump pumps, french drains, and waterproof coatings will have you ready for the next big thunderstorm. Call us and ask about having your system severed from the main city sewer system to prevent sewage back-flow. Ask about the Toronto basement flooding subsidies and how the city can pay for your waterproofing jobs.

Oakville Drain Services

For over a decade, we have provided drain services to the Oakville and have become a plumber Oakville residents depend on for their emergency services. We inspect drains, as well as repair and install them. We provide quite a variety of drain services. CCTV inspections diagnose drain problems, while hydro-jetting and snaking clear out obstructions.

Mister Plumber offer drain inspections, performed with a CCTV camera to locate obstructions, clogs, build-ups, and other problems normally hidden deep within a drain system. Using CCTV technology lets us get down into a drain system and really see what's going on, allowing us to detect tree root infestations, identify clogs, and even map out a drain system.

Once a clog is identified, we provide drain snaking as a method of clog removal. Utilizing a variety of augurs, we can attack any drain clog. Drain snaking is the number one way to clean out any toilet clog, shower clog, or kitchen sink clog,

For clearing out build-ups, such as grease build-up in a kitchen sink, we offer hydro-jetting services. Power washing your drains out with pressurized water is a good follow-up to any drain snaking, and clears out pipes to enable better flow.

If malfunctioning drain pipes are detected, such as burst pipes, or deteriorated pipes, we offer trench-less drain and sewer repairs. We can re-line old, leaky drains with our no-dig drain liners, instantly revitalizing a drainage pipe without the need to dig. For pipes that must be replaced, we provide pipe-bursting pipe replacements. Another trench-less method, pipe bursting will replace your pipes without having to dig up the old pipes. Faster and easier, and even cheaper.

Mister Plumber in Oakville offer full of range plumbing and drain services includes camera inspection, drain snaking, No-dig drain repairs, foundation repair services, repair water leaks, drain camera inspections, fix clogged drains, rough-in services, fix low water pressure

If you have any plumbing, drain or water problems please, call Mister Plumber today at 416 939 1530.

More Info: www.misterplumber.ca 

Reliable and Trustworthy Plumbing services.

Call a fully-licensed, bonded and insured Toronto plumber at 416 939 1530

Water Pipe Replacement

Contrary to what you may believe, having your home water lines professionally replaced does not have to be a financially painful, stressful process. In fact, innovative trenchless pipe replacements can be completed in a matter of hours, significantly lowering overhead labor costs and mitigating unsightly lawn damages.

If you’re having difficulty with damage to your Toronto home water line, and want to avoid the negative repercussions of conventional, digging pipe repairs, we suggest you consider trenchless, cured-in-place line replacement options; methods which have quickly become the preferred method of pipe replacement across the country.

Trenchless Solutions Require Minimal Digging

Modern water pipe replacement jobs are often completed with innovative trenchless technologies, which essentially eliminate costly and damaging lawn digging. In these methods, pipe repair specialists use cured-in-place pipe to mend any damages, repairing affected areas with liquid Perma-liners and epoxy resins.

Pipe bursting is the trenchless solution to total pipe replacement. By using a sturdy bursting head to fragment and push away your existing pipe, this technique creates a lengthy cavity for new pipe to be inserted seamlessly; a new pipe that is connected to the back end of the bursting head. This allows replacement to be completed without extensive, lawn-damaging trenching, with the bursting head and pipe being fed through a small entry point.

Water Line Replacement Is Affordable For Everyone

One of the greatest benefits of modern water pipe replacement techniques is their affordability. Trenchless technologies, requiring minimal digging operations, are cost-effective in both the short- and long-term.

As manual, trenching labor is eliminated in these methods, overhead worker costs are significantly limited. The efficiency and work requirements of these trenchless techniques result in lowered operation costs that can’t be beat by any other method. When considering water pipe replacement options, many homeowners don’t take into account the costs of lawn renovations and repair materials, which build up quickly with digging replacements.

Modern Replacement Techniques Can Expand Your Pipe

As if these trenchless solutions weren’t effective enough, they can also improve your home water pipe performance. As trenchless pipe bursting literally bursts your damaged pipe and forces pipe fragments away, room is then cleared for newer, larger diameter replacements.

These highly efficient replacement options can increase the flow and pressure of your home’s water line, going far beyond simply repairing your pipes.

Line Replacement Can Be Done In A Day

Modern water pipe replacement operations can be completed in a single day, when the right techniques and trenchless technologies are employed. This stems from how significantly laborious work is cut from the entire replacement process; without lengthy digging and pipe excavation, trenchless water line replacement can be done in a mere matter of hours.

As these solutions can be completed in a span of hours, costs are severely cut. In a practical sense, trenchless, cured-in-place pipe replacements are the most efficient way to fix your damaged or malfunctioned water line.

Water Line Replacement Can Repair Virtually Anything

In addition to an exceptional replacement speed, these trenchless solutions can repair almost any kind of damage to your home water line. From plant penetration, cracking and pipe corrosion to entire missing pipe sections, cured-in-place line replacements can restore a water pipe to its original performance, and even beyond.

No matter the circumstances regarding your home water line, Perma-liner replacements and pipe bursting can restore your pipes quickly and affordably. Even with pipe breaks that come with aging pipe, such as those common in Orangeburg pipelines, trenchless line renovations efficiently renovate any damages.

Trenchless Solutions Save You From Serious, Lawn-Damaging Hassle

Many homeowners hesitate from even having their pipes checked and repaired because they know how damaging trenching pipe replacements can be. Traditional, digging water pipe replacements often rack up renovation charges by digging out long lengths of lawn soil, causing homeowners further stress and budgetary strain.

Fortunately for you, it doesn’t have to be this way. With highly efficient, trenchless water line repair, extensive lawn damage can be virtually eliminated from your line replacement operation. These techniques are completed using small, non-invasive entry holes, through which replacement pipes, bursting heads and epoxy resins are fed.

Trenchless Line Replacement Is Safer Than Conventional Replacement

If that’s not enough reason to avoid having your water line properly replaced with traditional digging methods, these techniques can even be dangerous for both repair workers and your family. Harmful mold and asbestos can be unearthed with these methods, unnecessarily exposing your family to illness that could otherwise be avoided.

With innovative, trenchless line replacement solutions, these risks are completely avoided. Trenchless pipe bursting only deals with your existing water lines, leaving the soil above (an any possible, harmful mold concentrations) untouched.

Replacement Pipes Have An Incredible Lifespan

Despite what many homeowners think about Perma-liner and epoxy resin repair solutions, these innovative pipe replacements have a high-performance lifespan of over fifty years; trenchless replacement pipe can give you peace of mind about your home water line for half a century.

Not only can trenchless water pipe replacements repair any damage to your pipes, major or minor, but they can also prevent future line damages from occurring. These Perma-liner technologies create a powerful, sturdy coating against further line intrusions, and provide much more than a temporary pipe solution.

Your Toronto Pipe Specialists Can Identify The Perfect Solution For You

Fortunately for homeowners in the Toronto area, the trenchless technology experts at Mister Plumber can find the right pipe repair solution for any specific circumstance. Where pipe bursting can efficiently replace any extensively damaged home water line, other trenchless techniques exist for additional damage situations. Sectional point repair is the perfect solution for concentrated, localized pipe repair, and manhole-to-manhole lining is the ideal way to renovate municipal pipe lines.

If you’re experiencing trouble with your home water line, and expect damages for which professional renovation may be required, contact a trenchless specialist right away. If you live in the Toronto area, the water line repair experts at Mister Plumber are available to assess any of your home plumbing needs.

More Info: www.misterplumber.ca 

Reliable and Trustworthy Plumbing services.

Call a fully-licensed, bonded and insured Toronto plumber at 416 939 1530

DIY lessons is knowing when to call a Toronto Plumber

While there are some minor plumbing jobs that a Toronto homeowner can perform without assistance, there are times that a homeowner needs to hire a professional plumber to make certain that the job is done properly. A professional plumber will know how to handle a problem and can handle the problem more quickly than a homeowner. Here are some things for a homeowner to consider when determining whether or not to hire a plumber.

Get your problems solved, correctly

Making certain that a problem is handled safely is one of the best reasons to hire a plumber. Leaks in an upstairs bathroom or water pipes in a wall can create a safety hazard if the leak comes into contact with electrical wiring or other electrical devices. Leaks in these hard to access areas can also encourage the growth of mold. Mold is not only expensive to treat and remove, but mild mold growth can be deadly for the young and old and those with respiratory problems.

Stay out of hot water!

Toronto plumber can really save the day!

Hot water problems are another situation that is likely to require the attention of a plumber. Problems with the heating element or other components of a hot water tank require expert repairs to prevent the creation of an unsafe condition. An improperly repaired hot water tank can produce scalding hot water or can produce excess pressure that may rupture the water heater or water lines. Repairs of any problems with devices that use natural gas, propane or other flammable gases should be performed by a professional.

Thinking about mucking with your sewer? Think again.

A homeowner should also contact a Toronto plumber to deal with any problems caused by sewer lines. Sewage or sewer gases backing up into a home can cause significant health problems. Sewer gas is also flammable and can create a deadly situation if not properly repaired. A plumber will also have the needed experience to perform or recommend that proper cleaning procedure to remove the residue from sewage.

Worried about your pressure?

Excessive water pressure is a problem that is generally best handled by a plumber. Excessive water pressure can cause damage to water lines and any device that uses water. High water pressure can also create leaks that can cause safety hazards or cause extensive property damage. Though not generally a safety hazard, low water pressure is a complex problem that may require the experience of a plumber to quickly diagnose and repair.

Keeping you up to code

Kitchen and bathroom upgrades may require the services of a plumber to make certain that the repairs are performed to meet local regulations. Though a homeowner may be able to make useable changes in either room, work that is correctly performed will cause additional expenses to get the home to pass an inspection when it is time to sell the home. Building codes and other regulations exist to make certain that homes are safe and energy efficient. Completing work that does not meet local building code may result in property damage and possibly even significant fines.

These are just a few examples of situations where a homeowner may need the services of a professional Toronto plumber.

If you are still looking for trusted plumber, Mister Plumber in Toronto, Etobicoke, Scarborough, North York specializing sewer repair, upgrade waterline, water service upgrade, drain cleaning, backwater valve installation, lead pipe replacement, re-piping and emergency plumbing, Mister Plumber uses the latest technology to effectively troubleshoot and quickly repair any plumbing problem and offers a fast response and free estimates.

More Info: www.misterplumber.ca 

Reliable and Trustworthy Plumbing services.

Call a fully-licensed, bonded and insured Toronto plumber at 416 939 1530

Hiring a Toronto Plumber

The internet today has made hiring a Toronto plumber as easy as sending them an email. The problem though because it is so simple is that people forget to ask important questions imperative to hiring an excellent plumber for the job. Despite there being dozens of plumbers in any given major city around the world, the fact is that few have the experience, certification and talent to fix plumbing issues that never bother you again.Finding these elite plumbers requires more steps than simply calling up the first number you see in the yellow pages. Below we look at what mistakes you should avoid when hiring a Toronto plumber.

Not knowing the plumber's specialty

Even though every plumber can fix a leaking faucet or dripping pipe the fact is that there are few plumbers that specialize in installing hot water systems from scratch, troubleshooting central plumbing systems and unclogging often hard to reach drains. Usually, plumbers that can do these types of things specialize in it, if you don't hire a specialist there is good chance that the job will not be done as it should. This is why you need to find for instance a plumber that specializes in hot water system installation if that is what you want done. Don't settle for a plumber that simply says they can do it.

Not searching for reviews

The majority of Ontario plumbers in most cities around the world thankfully have websites which means that they are easy to hire. However, the other benefit of them having websites is that people are also talking about them online. This is why it makes sense to search for plumber reviews in your city. If you are not able to find reviews then it could mean that the plumber is new. Good reviews obviously equate to a good service but no reviews equate to spending more time finding out about the business or simply assuming that they are new.

Assuming what they will charge

You should never assume what a plumber will charge and what they charge is not standard across the entire industry. This is why the best thing to do would be to get a quote for the job you want done. Get quotes from all the leading plumbers in your area and choose the cheapest one if you're on a tight budget. That said in the plumbing industry you get what you pay for and so if you want a job done perfectly you may have to pay slightly higher for it. When applying for a quote make sure to mention that you want an all-inclusive quote which includes everything even taxes. This way you know the exact dollar amount to compare across all the plumbing services you are considering.

Not finding out about guarantees

It goes without saying that a great plumbing service will back their service up with numerous guarantees. You should at least get a satisfaction guarantee. Not being given a guarantee means that the service is not confident in the plumbing jobs that they do. Always hire a plumbing service who at least gives you a guarantee whereby you can report a problem reoccurring within a given number of days during which they will fix it for free.

If you are still looking for trusted plumber, Mister Plumber in Toronto, Etobicoke, Scarborough, North York specializing sewer repair, upgrade waterline, water service upgrade, drain cleaning, backwater valve installation, lead pipe replacement, re-piping and emergency plumbing, Mister Plumber uses the latest technology to effectively troubleshoot and quickly repair any plumbing problem and offers a fast response and free estimates.

More Info: www.misterplumber.ca 

Reliable and Trustworthy Plumbing services.

Call a fully-licensed, bonded and insured Toronto plumber at 416 939 1530

Galvanized Pipes - All About

What are galvanized pipes?

These are iron pipes that are usually covered with a protective layer of zinc. Over time, zinc erodes from the pipes resulting to corrosion building-up on the inside walls. Zinc erosion also results to lead accumulation. The corrosion and lead accumulation result to lower water pressure and lower water quality.

How can you know that you have galvanized pipes?

It's very easy to know. You only need to find the area where your piping enters your home and then scratch it. If the piping is galvanized steel, the scratched area will have a silver-gray color. The area will also have threads.

If you are unable to find the area where the piping enters your home, you should ask your plumber to help you out.

Should you be concerned if you have galvanized pipes in your home?

Yes, you should. This is because you risk having lead in your water.

If you have galvanized pipes and lead service lines, you risk having lead released in tap water. The lead comes from the corroded pipes.

If your lead service lines have been replaced but you still have galvanized pipes, you are still susceptible to leap pollution.

Why is lead released in water even after removing the lead service lines?

Even after removing the service lines, there might still be some metal remnants remaining in the corroded pipes. The unfortunate thing is that the remnants in these pipes might persist for a long time and in some cases they can persist for the remaining service life of the galvanized plumbing.

What are the factors that can increase release of lead from the galvanized pipes?

One major factor is high water flow that removes most of the accumulated lead thus more lead is found in tap water.

Another factor is physical disturbances such as vibration of pipes when they are suddenly turned on or off quickly.

Any modifications or improvements to the plumbing also have great potential of increasing lead release.

What are the effects of lead in water?

Too much lead has the potential of damaging various body systems. For example, it has been shown to greatly affect the nervous and reproductive systems and kidneys.

The metal has also been shown to cause high blood pressure and anemia. The metal also interferes with the metabolism of calcium and vitamin D.

What should you do if you have galvanized pipes in your Toronto home?

The best thing to do is to talk to your local Toronto plumber who will help you come up with a solution.

If you are still looking for trusted plumber, Mister Plumber in Toronto, Etobicoke, Scarborough, North York specializing sewer repair, upgrade waterline, water service upgrade, drain cleaning, backwater valve installation, lead pipe replacement, re-piping and emergency plumbing, Mister Plumber uses the latest technology to effectively troubleshoot and quickly repair any plumbing problem and offers a fast response and free estimates.

More Info: www.misterplumber.ca 

Reliable and Trustworthy Plumbing services.

Call a fully-licensed, bonded and insured Toronto plumber at 416 939 1530

Toronto Plumbing: Plastic Pipes All About

Since their introduction in the 1930s, the popularity of plastic pipes has kept on growing. The pipes are usually easy to install and prevent some of the plumbing problems that are common with metal pipes.

The most common plastic pipes used in current times are: cross-linked polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, and chlorinated polyvinyl chlorine pipes.

Cross-linked polyethylene pipes are one of the most popular pipes used in current times and they are usually installed in place of copper pipes. In most cases they are installed to deliver both hot and cold water. They are also popular choices for appliances such as boilers.

The material is well known for its flexibility, low cost, ease of fitting and ability to maintain water pressure. The pipes are available in many colors such as red, blue, and white. Red pipes are used for hot water while blue pipes are used for cold water.

Polyvinyl chloride is a white or grey pipe that is usually used for high-pressure water. In most cases, the pipes are used for the main supply line into the house.

The pipes are not very flexible which makes them less appropriate for smaller spaces. Although, the pipes are meant for high-pressure water, they usually warp at high temperatures above 140 degrees thus they are inapplicable for kitchen drains where they can easily be damaged by hot water from cooking or dishwasher.

Chlorinated polyvinyl chlorides are usually polyvinyl pipes treated with chlorine. These pipes are usually more easily shaped and flexible than the polyvinyl and they can also stand up to higher temperatures and pressures.

Due to these properties, the pipes are ideal for industrial applications; however, they can also be used to carry residential drinking water. Although, the pipes are flexible, they easily crack if frozen thus they shouldn't be used underground.

When planning of installing the pipes in your home you should be very careful. This is because you can meet some Toronto plumbers who don't know the pros and cons of each of the pipes thus install the wrong pipes.

Worse yet, you can meet some plumbers who might advise you to compromise long-term effectiveness of the pipes for short term cost savings and as a result think that you have got a good deal on your plumbing installation but in real sense you will have made great mistakes.

To be on the safe side you should do plenty of research. If you have friends who have installed the pipes before, you should talk to them and ask them to refer you to the some of the best plumbers that they know of.

If you are still looking for trusted plumber, Mister Plumber in Toronto, Etobicoke, Scarborough, North York specializing sewer repair, upgrade waterline, water service upgrade, drain cleaning, backwater valve installation, lead pipe replacement, re-piping and emergency plumbing, Mister Plumber uses the latest technology to effectively troubleshoot and quickly repair any plumbing problem and offers a fast response and free estimates.

More Info: www.misterplumber.ca 

Reliable and Trustworthy Plumbing services.

Call a fully-licensed, bonded and insured Toronto plumber at 416 939 1530