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How to Tell if Your City Water Pressure is Correct

Have you noticed that the water pressure in your home seems to decrease if you have two sources of water running at the same time? If watering your lawn decreases the water pressure in your shower, it could be because of the city water pressure.

How exactly does water pressure work? And, when is it time to contact a Toronto plumbing service if you notice any issues? Read on to find out more.

Facts about City Water Pressure

Toronto water pressure should be set to around 50-70 PSI (pounds per square inch). To measure the water pressure in your home, you can use a water pressure gauge, which you simply attach to one of the faucets in your home. These can be purchased from a local hardware store.

Those Toronto residents who get their water supply from a water grid (via the city or municipality), the water pressure is actually at a higher rate than standard home plumbing can accommodate. If your plumbing were connected directly to the water supply, your pipes would inevitably be damaged beyond repair.

So, how is the city water pressure regulated to prevent damage? A pressure reduction device should be installed between the city water pipes and the internal plumbing in order to reduce the water pressure so it will not cause any damage to your piping.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, water pressure is at a rate that is too low for those who get their home water supply from a well. It does not essentially pressurize at all if you pull your water directly from the ground. If your plumbing is hooked up to the well, it will have more pressure. However, if the water source is located above, such as on the second or third story, there will be little to no water pressure.

In this instance, you will need a pressure addition device that consists of a large tank into which your well water filters to get your water pressure to the correct level for your home plumbing system. However, both the pressure addition and pressure reduction devices will need to be replaced due to gradual wear and tear.

When you start to notice that your water pressure is either too high or too low, it is time to replace the aforementioned devices. Failure to do so could result in damage to your plumbing system. For those with a well, the well pump will burn out and there will be no water pressure. For those with city water pressure, you will start to notice increased water pressure, which could result in burst pipes and leaks in your plumbing.

At the first sign that the level of well or city water pressure is too high or too low, you should contact DrainCom. We will send out a licensed plumber to replace or repair any issues with your plumbing and water pressure.

The post How to Tell if Your City Water Pressure is Correct appeared first on DrainCom.

from https://www.draincom.ca/how-to-tell-if-your-city-water-pressure-is-correct/

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How to Avoid Costly Garburator Repair: Tips & Tricks Every Homeowner Should Know

Is your garbage disposal acting up? Do you even have a garbage disposal in your kitchen? If not, is it worth the investment? And, what about garburator repair?

Both garburator and drain repair Toronto can be easily avoided if you follow a few simple rules to keep them running properly. In the following article, we shall highlight the advantages of having a garburator as well as how to keep them running properly.

How to Avoid Garburator Repair

Most homes in the Greater Toronto Area are already equipped with a working garbage disposal system. If your home does not already have a garbage disposal, you should seriously consider garburator install.

Benefits of an In-Home Garbage Disposal System

Your kitchen will smell better: Food odor will be immediately eliminated, as opposed to stinking up your kitchen as it sits rotting and decomposing in your garbage bin, which can cause your kitchen to have a rather unpleasant odor.

You will save money: A garburator will break down the food items that would otherwise clog your drain, which can lead to costly repairs.

Quicker clean up: You will be able to quickly dispose of crumbs, leftover food particles, and deposit them directly in your garbage disposal system.

Today’s garburators are safe: Unlike older garbage disposal systems, modern garbage disposals have a safety hatch that will prevent it from being accidentally turned on by children or pets once it has been properly secured.

Garbage disposals are eco-friendly: As it turns your waste into liquid that is not harmful to the environment, your garbage disposal system is eco-friendly.

Garburators require little to no maintenance: As they are designed to last for many years, garburators will not require a great deal of upkeep or maintenance.

Noise Reduction: Today’s garburators are much quieter than older garbage disposal systems. You will barely notice any noise as you are operating your garburator.

Tips to Avoid Garburator Repair and Safety Tips

Never put metal, strings, or bones in your garburator.

Do not put rubber, plastic or metal items in the system.

Always use a flow of strong, cold water when operating the system to prevent grease and so forth from clogging the disposal unit. Start the water before you turn on the system and do not turn it off until the garburator is no longer in operation.

Never clean the system with chemical drain cleaners or bleach.

Never put your hands (or any body parts) in the garburator!

Do not overfill the garbage disposal.

Use fresh lemon juice or a quart-sized lemon slice to deodorize your garburator.

Contact a plumber at the first sign of any trouble with your garbage disposal system.

If you are in need of assistance or garburator repair, contact DrainCom as soon as possible! We will send one of our licensed plumbers to make any repairs.

The post How to Avoid Costly Garburator Repair: Tips & Tricks Every Homeowner Should Know appeared first on DrainCom.

from https://www.draincom.ca/how-to-avoid-costly-garburator-repair-tips-tricks-every-homeowner-should-know/

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How to Identify and Stop Tree Roots from Growing in Your Sewer Line

As homeowners, we expect our sewer lines to function properly without any hiccups and carry the wastewater to the city drains after we wash our hands, flush or shower. If tree roots permeate into the pipes, they can cause clogs that hinder the plumbing process and prevent water and sewage from being drained out completely. Roots boom in the dampness inside the pipes, and can penetrate through the subtle cracks or even faultily sealed joints. If not detected and handled on time, this problem can quickly escalate into a huge mess. The fix could be to replace the pipes, which is extremely expensive and involves digging up at least a part of the lawn. Take a look at some of the best ways to identify and prevent tree roots from growing into your underground pipes.

How to Prevent Sewer Lines from Tree Roots Invasion

It is always better to know where sewer pipes run through the property before you plant trees or even do some additions or landscaping work.  That can be done with a drain inspection camera, this camera not only shows what is inside of the pipe but can locate exactly where it laid. At DrainCom all of our plumbers and drain technicians carry this equipment in their trucks.

Once you know where the sewer lines are in your home premise, you will be able to identify trees and plants planted around that area that could possibly create an issue. By getting rid of these trees, you could very well avoid the impending problems right before the trees grow too big and their roots spread all around.

In case, you can’t find any other suitable spot to plant a tree except for a place that runs over a sewer line, you should choose a tree or plant that blooms slowly and culminates to just 20 feet in height or less. Some types of plants that meet these requirements are eastern redbud, crabapple trees, common fig, and Japanese maple.

Still we highly recommend if you are planning to do your driveway or spend money on landscaping work get the drain inspected and even if it seems to be in a good condition get it upgraded from old clay or cast iron pipe to new plastic pipes, that would be a good investment and assurance that nothing is going to happen and you won’t need to ruin what you have done above the ground.

For an expert advice on plumbing issue because of tree roots invasion in your sewer lines, contact DrainCom plumbing services today.

Ways to Identify and Repair Tree Roots in the Sewer Lines

One of the main signs that tree roots are growing into your sewer line could be repeated backups in your home plumbing. While this could be an annoying problem to face, there are a few ways of handling this issue:

Use a mechanical method to remove the roots: You can simply choose to cut through tree roots that have spread across the area and permeated the pipes. DrainCom professionals usually send a technician with an electric snake, devised particularly for this process, down the drain pipeline to axe the roots so they can naturally flow out of the pipe. However, it is important to note that this is only a temporary solution to this problem because the roots can grow back and cause similar problems. Until they grow back, your pipes will continue to flow freely.

Use a chemical method to remove the roots: Apart from the mechanical technique, the other option is to eliminate the roots with chemicals. But this could be a risky choice and you should ideally depend on plumbing professionals if you decide to opt for this method. It is important to remember that the chemicals used in this process that kill roots are capable of killing the other plants and could posing an environmental threat. Homeowners and professional plumbers often treat roots by pouring Copper Sulphate into a toilet, which is considered safe for the systems, while its efficacy is questioned by the fact that it generally flows out of the pipes very quickly.

Use a video camera inspection to confirm the tree roots issue: In case of uncertainty or to find out the extent of the problem, you should hire a plumbing professional from DrainCom to help you with this process. DrainCom uses advanced video equipment to inspect the sewer lines and identify the probable damage that could happen to the pipes.

Fix your sewer line: If your sewer pipes are seriously damaged because of the roots intrusion, you will require the trenchless sewer repair. The experts at DrainCom repair the broken pipe by lining it with a durable, seamless product that primarily creates a new pipe inside the old one. All you need are small access holes that will enable you to omit the mess and cost of digging trenches.

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While learning about different ways to prevent tree roots infiltrating into the sewer line is a good idea, in case you notice signs of tree root intrusion. It is always recommended to call a plumbing professional to help you detect and treat tree roots in the Sewer Line. With plumbing services from DrainCom, bring back your sewer system on track. We will assist you to determine if mechanical and chemical methods are suitable or if you would require a complete trenchless sewer repair.

The post How to Identify and Stop Tree Roots from Growing in Your Sewer Line appeared first on DrainCom.

from https://www.draincom.ca/how-to-identify-and-stop-tree-roots-from-growing-in-your-sewer-line/

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Ways to Prevent Basement Flooding

The onset of Fall, in reality, marks the beginning of flood season. What follows next is very well understood by homeowners and plumbers. Normally, the levels of rainfall in the city reach their peak during this season and continue with scattered showers until we move into March. Although most of the city infrastructure can manage such a high level of precipitation, we must employ certain important drainage strategies to lessen the possible risks of flooding in residential, commercial and public areas.

City flooding usually leaves many basements soggy that requires thousands of dollars of reparations. No one wants to be stuck in this kind of a mess and it’s best to ensure you have some protection in the future to minimize the damage a rainstorm can cause.

The plumbing on your personal property can be another ball game altogether. There are several factors that can impact how well your house or commercial property handles excessive rainfall.

Take a look at some of the prevention techniques suggested by DrainCom to thwart potential flooding on your property:

Sump Pumps

You have most probably heard of sump pumps before in a conversation about basements. It isn’t just two rhyming words put together but a sump pump is an extremely useful tool used to keep your home from flooding. They are small pumps fitted in the basement to pump out any surplus groundwater from the house in order to prevent basement flooding. It is essential to remember that sump pumps work on electricity. That is why it is always a good idea to have a battery backup system installed. It consists of a battery and an additional battery-operated pump that has to be installed in the same sump pit as the main pump. So, even if you have a power outage, your backup system will keep the secondary pump running. A sump pump solely prevents increasing groundwater levels from dampening down your basement space because of heavy rain waters that saturate into the soil and bring the level of ground waters up. Sump pumps are usually a good investment especially for people who live in a low-lying area, or who have an older storm system. If you’re still uncertain, reach out to our experts at DrainCom and they will assess it for you if you actually need a sump pump.

Backwater Valves

A sewer blockage in your home can end up with you paying some expensive repair bills. That is why it is important to find an inexpensive alternative to this situation. Backwater valves are reasonably priced and can help avoid your basement from flooding with really disgusting residues. A backwater valve is not a sump pump. It prevents sewer back-ups, not groundwater floods. But it is still an extraordinarily efficient flood prevention tool. A backwater valve usually controls a one-sided flow from your home to the main drain. The moment it notices a backflow, it blocks and stops anything from making an unwelcome return. Please note that backwater valve will protect your home in case city drains get clogged or overwhelmed and sewage starts to fill basements. It protects your home if there is a combined drain system that is when two or more houses are connected to one shared drain that leads waste to the main city drain. But it won’t protect the home if drain pipes that belong just to your home have roots, shifts, or get collapsed and pipe gets clogged. In that case, if the homeowner continues to use water that just fills the drain pipe and eventually it will be seen backing up from the lowest drain openings in the basement such as floor drains or shower drains. That is why it is very important to have the drains checked with see snake (plumbers drain camera) before or after backwater valve gets installed. Backwater valves have a number of benefits to offer. The city urges homeowners to install backwater valves and even provides residents with rebates. This program is called BASEMENT FLOODING PROTECTION SUBSIDY PROGRAM and includes the rebate for sump pump installation, replacement, repair or upgrading (up to $3400 total in rebates). At DrainCom, our team of experts will be happy to assist homeowners to lead through all necessary forms and answer all your questions.

Have Your Drains Cleaned on a Regular Basis

This isn’t just an advice against home flooding; this is actually a good habit to practice. If you keep your drains clean, you will yourself see the difference between a dry and a mushy floor. You will have to identify the severity of the drain clogging in your house and then make the decision of calling drain professionals to resolve the issue. At DrainCom, we are always here to guide and assist you in detecting the problem and taking care of it before it becomes a bigger problem.

Some steps to help prevent and repair drain clogs:

1] Do not clear oil down the drain. It is very unhealthy for your pipes.

2] Try using a basket trap in your shower to filter hair and prevent residue buildup.

3] Use an ecological drain cleaner that can instantly fix bad clogs

4) Get drain pipes checked with drain camera every three to five years.

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If you are not certain about how to handle the situation when it comes to preventing basement flooding or have some basic clogging issues that are showing up while you are running errands, call DrainCom to check on your plumbing system today.

The post Ways to Prevent Basement Flooding appeared first on DrainCom.

from https://www.draincom.ca/ways-to-prevent-basement-flooding/

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Summer Plumbing Maintenance Tips

The onset of summer feels like a good break from the extreme cold of the Canadian winters. Being the hottest of the four moderate seasons in Canada, summer means family vacation, time for fun, long days-short nights and a lot of outdoor activities.

While we try our best to make the best of these months, we shouldn’t forget all about the drastic seasonal change and the different kind of pressure on our plumbing system. Hence, it’s essential to look after our home’s plumbing system during the hot months of the year.

Take a close look at some of the most important tips that you should bear in mind during the hotter days, and your home plumbing arrangement will be equipped to face whatever the season brings.

Have Your Sprinklers Checked

Tough Canadian winters are usually capable of spoiling our home sprinkler systems by causing cracks and leakages, which consequently results in water waste. It’s most important to check all of your home’s outdoor sprinklers for leaks, rust, and misdirection right at the start of the summer. Have them repaired as early as possible to avoid wasting too much water and money later on.

Child-Friendly Home Plumbing Fittings

Summer is synonymous with summer holidays and no school. Having your kids around at home all day stresses on the fact that your home will need an updated and better functioning plumbing system. To avoid plumbing-related trouble, ensure your children are aware of all the home plumbing don’ts:

You are not allowed to put oil/grease down the garbage disposal

Know the things that you shouldn’t flush down the toilet

Always remember to switch the fan while showering to prevent mold growth

The above-mentioned rules could save you from a huge plumbing hassle.

Avoid Heating Water Unnecessarily

Are you going away for the summer? If yes, give your home water heater a break and help yourself by saving money on your bills. Just lower the temperature of your water heater before you set out on your vacation. You are anyway not going to need your home’s hot water while you are away from home.

Garden and Plant Cautiously

Summer is the ideal time to get more involved in outside activities and do some gardening. However, it is important to be careful while you are digging in your yard or garden. Your home lawns and gardens usually have gas and sewer lines under the ground. Before you begin gardening, it’s essential you know where your gas and sewer lines are.  Be cautious if you are planting trees because tree roots can even grow into and penetrate sewer lines.

Double Check Your Dishwasher and Washing Machine Connections

There is a high possibility that you might end up using your home appliances a whole lot more than usual. Summers are usually busy, and we do a lot of dishes and wash a lot of clothing. So, as soon as it starts getting warm, ensure your home appliances like the dishwasher and the washing machine are suitably hooked up. Before the trouble of leakages even show up, you can fix it in advance and ahead of time.

Keep a Check on Gas Lines

Summer brings along the opportunity to stay outdoors. There is a noticeable hike on gas leaks, particularly near outdoor grills. Therefore, it is crucial to do regular checks and perform a sniff test close to gas lines. This will assist in finding bigger leaks. Leaks that are smaller can be detected easily by placing a small dish detergent on a gas line gasket. You will know gas is escaping if you observe bubbles forming.

Examine Your Home’s Sewer System

Servicing your sewer systems before any new season can help you in getting rid of impending plumbing problems and emergencies. Along with summer, come showers and thunderstorms. During this time sewer pipes can get excessive rain through cracks, which can then cause a sewer backup. It’s better if you install a drain pump in each drain as a precaution from backing up.

Avoid Having a Clogged Toilet

During the vacation time, we usually have more people at home. With friends and family coming over all the time, the number of times we use the toilet increases, hence, increasing the chances of a clog.

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Just follow these simple steps for your summer plumbing maintenance and make your summer easier and a lot more enjoyable. If you are not able to resolve some of the plumbing issues without the help of a plumber, contact DrainCom for its professional plumbing services to make sure the problems are managed at the earliest. We will assist you to make the most of this beautiful warm weather.

The post Summer Plumbing Maintenance Tips appeared first on DrainCom.

from https://www.draincom.ca/summer-plumbing-maintenance-tips/