All You Need To Know About Gas Leaks And How To Avoid Them

All You Need To Know About Gas Leaks And How To Avoid Them

Over the years, the term ‘basic needs’ has expanded widely. Initially, individuals only needed food, water, and shelter, for survival. But as the human race evolved, so did their needs. With the increase in awareness, other necessities like education, healthcare, and security also made it to the list.

As time went by, the urge to make life easier added fuel to basic needs. After all, fuel is necessary to cook food, which is essential for survival. Ask anyone about what they consider to be the basic needs of a household, and gas will rank amongst the most important of necessities. The world has become a web of connected pipelines to ensure that this resource reaches every household.

However, with this convenience comes a price in the shape of numerous gas leakage-related accidents. While some incidents result in mere hospitalisation with minor injuries, others are so lethal that they are remembered for decades.

To save our valued readers from such disasters, we shall thoroughly discuss the dangers of gas leaks in both residential and commercial contexts, and also suggest the right course of action to take during a suspected gas leak.

Basics Of A Gas Leak

Gas pipelines, like other gas-powered appliances such as stoves and heaters, are health hazards. However, gas-related incidents are not restricted to just fires and blasts. To comprehend the former, we must first decipher a few basic facts regarding gas:

The Most Common Gases That Cause Accidents

  • Methane and Propane – The latter are the pungent-smelling gases that are frequently delivered to our homes via pipelines. Individuals generally utilise them as fuel for stoves and other equipment. Methane and Propane are involved in the majority of household gas mishaps around the world.
  • Carbon Monoxide (CO) – Although our emphasis is on gas pipeline leaks, the dangers of Carbon Monoxide are equally prevalent. During the winter, Carbon Monoxide causes numerous deaths globally.
  • Methyl and other industrial gases and chemicals – Commercial and industrial environments involving gas usage in their production processes are more prone to accidents. The worst amongst such cases caused about 15000 deaths in India in 1984.

Threats Of Gas Leaks

  • Accidental fires and blasts – Undetected or unattended gas pipeline leaks in a house or a workplace can lead to lethal fires and blasts. These gases are highly flammable, and if an ignorant person mistakenly ignites a lighter or a match stick, the whole area is likely to explode. These types of accidents are usually caused by natural gas.
  • Gas poisoning – The latter is yet another common type of gas-related incident. Although inhalation of Methane also causes poisoning, dwellings mostly bear the consequences of Carbon Monoxide leaks resulting from malfunctioning heating systems in the winter.
  • Usually, individuals responsible for underground sewer cleaning are also victims of gas poisoning. In severe cases, the latter results in suffocation to death.
  • Skin irritation and allergies – People working in industries involving a dense use of chemicals and gases are very prone to health issues caused by continuously leaking gases and chemicals. Problems might range from relatively innocuous skin irritations to deadly tumours and other abnormalities.

Signs Of A Gas Leak

In the case of natural gas, utility companies often add a sharp-smelling chemical for leakage detection. So, the best way to identify a gas leakage is by paying attention to any weird smell.

However, the same cannot be said for Carbon Monoxide as the latter is not a fuel but the result of inefficiently burned fuel. This gas does not have an odour and is difficult to detect. In such cases, it is advisable to pay attention to unusual dizziness or headaches, especially in the winter when a house or office lacks proper ventilation. The danger of this gas should not be ignored as it quietly replaces the oxygen in an area and leads to death due to a lack of oxygen reaching the brain.

The Right Course Of Action When There Is A Suspected Leakage

  1. Evacuate the area immediately to avoid accidents.
  2. Turn off the gas supply from the metre.
  3. Immediately contact a plumbing company for emergency leak repair services.
  4. As you wait for them, open up the doors and windows of the place for better air circulation (this is also helpful in a CO leakage).
  5. Even after the leakage has been fixed, keep an eye on the pipelines, especially the tees and unions.
  6. Install gas detectors if possible.
  7. Maintain proper ventilation during winter
  8. Fix faulty heating systems.

About Jack’d Up Plumbing

From minor problems such as a leaking kitchen water pipe to installing and renovating an entire plumbing system for domestic and commercial purposes, everything is within our expertise. Jack’d Up Plumbing offers unrivalled service delivery and customer satisfaction all across Calgary and its surrounding areas. Contact us for more information.

Your Guide To Frozen Water Pipes

Your Guide To Frozen Water Pipes

Canadian winters are harsh and can make a few things uncomfortable. Among them is the issue of frozen pipes that happens for various reasons. Although some helpful tips can prevent your pipes from freezing, you can’t completely ignore them.

Therefore, you must be prepared for any unexpected situation that might occur with your pipes. Frozen pipes are dangerous as they might burst. So, you have to act fast in such circumstances. A frozen pipe is not something that you can fix on your own. Even if you fix them, the results will be temporary, and ultimately you will need commercial plumbers.

Thawing a frozen pipe is important so you can continue your daily chores. However, it is even more important to know what to do in such a situation. This blog post will guide you on what to do if you have frozen water pipes in your building and how to fix them.

Why Do Pipes Freeze?

Due to the lower temperature conditions in your area, the water can freeze in the pipes. We all are taught about water anomalies in school. Unlike other materials, water expands when it freezes. This puts tremendous pressure on the pipes, leading to the bursting of the pipes.

Therefore, preventive steps are necessary to avoid frozen pipes. Outdoor hose bibs, swimming pool supply lines, and water sprinkler lines are most commonly exposed to the outer atmosphere and, thus, more prone to freezing.

How To Identify If Your Water Pipes Are Freezing

It might be hard to spot a frozen pipe easily as not all pipes are visible. If you see frost developing on your water pipes, it might signify that the water inside the pipe is getting frozen. Moreover, if there is no water coming out of your faucets or if your toilet is not flushing despite you pressing the flush button, this could be a sign that your pipes have frozen.

How Do You Unthaw Frozen Pipes?

After spotting a frozen pipe, the first step is to stop the water supply to that pipe. If the water continues to come back from the source, it might put more pressure on the pipe and lead to bursting. Moreover, you should be prepared with a towel and a bucket to deal with the thawing pipes.

Use a hairdryer or space heater to thaw your frozen pipes. Don’t ever use a propane source to thaw it as it could lead to the pipe bursting and is a fire hazard. You can also use a hot towel or electrical heating tape.

Where Should You Begin The Thawing Process?

Begin your thawing process near the faucet and then continue down to the blockage. The melting ice and steam will go out through the faucet. Thawing near the blockage will create more pressure on the pipe, leading to bursting.

How Do You Thaw Hard-To-Reach Pipes?

Thawing an invisible pipe may be hard and require professional help. However, what you can do is to increase the temperature of your property which might help in ice blockage melting. You can also put an infrared lamp in front of the portion of the wall where you think that pipe has been blocked. If nothing works, you might need to cut that section of the wall where the pipe is located.

Call A Professional

One of the best ways to deal with a frozen pipe is to call a professional. Professional plumbing contractors can help you unthaw and fix your frozen pipes. Doing it on your own might pose serious damages to your pipes and property. Therefore, it is better to leave it to the professionals.

About Jack’d Up Plumbing

Jack’d Up Plumbing is a trusted plumbing company in Calgary offering many Plumbing related services. If you are having issues with your pipes and want to get them fixed as soon as possible, call Jack’d Up Plumbing.

We provide prompt, professional, and affordable plumbing services to our residential and commercial customers in Calgary and surrounding areas. For more information about our services or talk to our professionals, contact us here.

How To Clear Blocked Drains

How To Clear Blocked Drains

Blocked drains are one of the most common yet frustrating and stressful plumbing problems that many homeowners have to deal with.

What may seem like a minor problem to many people can escalate into a major problem that can wreak havoc in your home if not treated properly.

If there is a blocked drain it will cause your water to back up into your bath, toilets, and sinks resulting in corrosion, flooding, and costly repairs.

And if the issue is prolonged you will start experiencing a pungent smell coming from the pipes that can cause breathing problems to those with allergies.

Also Read: What Are The Side Effects Of Blocked Drains?

There are some drainage problems that you can easily fix while some require the help of an expert blocked drain plumber.

In this blog post, we will explain how you can clear the blocked drains in your house.

Common Causes Of Blocked Drains

Here are some of the common causes of clogged drains.

  • Fat and grease accumulate on the inner lining of the pipes and then solidify and stick to the drains pipes.
  • Twigs, leaves, and other outdoor debris that fall into the drains from the gutters also block the drainage system.
  • When objects like flushable wipes, baby wipes, and other sanitary items are flushed down the toilet it clogs the drain.
  • Hair and soap scum also get accumulated inside the drain pipes and then block them.
  • Another common reason for blocked drains is broken and cracked pipes due to wear and tear.
  • Pipes are not made to handle a mountain of paper waste so when too much toilet paper is flushed down the toilet it seizes the drainage system.

Tips To Fix Clogged Drains

There are times when the cause of a blocked drain is not that severe and you can unblock the drain yourself. Here are some ways through which you can unclog your clogged drains.

Boiled Water

A common hack to unblock a drain is by boiling some water and then pouring it down the clogged drain in phases.

This method helps to dissolve the small amount of accumulation of grease, fat, and soap scum in your drain.

Use A Plunger

Sometimes all you need is a good plunger to unblock your clogged drain. Just make sure that the plunger is big enough to cover the drain opening and then just use your muscles to free the drain blockage.

Use Drain Cleaners

Another easy way to open your clogged drain is by pouring drain cleaner into it. Buy a liquid-based drain cleaner from the nearest store and pour it into your clogged drain to open it.

The Wire Hanger Method

This method is very effective and easy to use. Just bend a household metal hanger and make a small hook on one of its ends.

Then use it to fish out any object that might be stuck in the drain, then just carefully pull out the hanger with all the gunk.

This is an effective way to unclog your clogged drain but make sure not to push the metal hanger too deep into the drain.

When To Call A Professional Drain Cleaner

It may seem easier to try and fix the problem on your own but fixing a clogged drain can be more difficult than you imagine, especially when the issue cant be resolved with the aforementioned tips.

If after using the above-mentioned tips your blocked drain does not fix then it is time that you call a professional drain cleaning expert.

If the issue requires major repair work you should never try to do it yourself and should call a licensed plumbing company instead.

Because you will lack the proper knowledge and tools that are required to solve the difficult issues. By trying to solve it yourself you may end up making the situation worse.

Hence you should only hire a professional plumbing company to fix major clogged drain issues as they have the right tools and expert drain cleaners who will fix your issue quickly and easily.

About Jack’d Up Plumbing

Jack’d Up Plumbing is Calgary’s most trusted plumbing provider. We are here to serve you and are available at all times to solve any of your plumbing-related issues. We provide prompt, professional, and affordable plumbing services to our residential and commercial customers in Calgary and surrounding areas. For more information contact us here.

Common Plumbing Issues During Home Renovation

Common Plumbing Issues During Home Renovation

You always look for ways to improve your home’s outlook and think about how you can renovate it. Although renovating a house and renewing its outlook is an exciting task, it can also become pretty daunting.

During this process, you might want to cover some undesirable features in your home with new decorations, paint, tiles, or by other means, but you may also discover underlying plumbing issues.

Those might be issues that you were unaware of or had been ignoring for months. While trying to maintain the vintage charm of your home if certain plumbing issues are left unchecked all your hard work may go to waste.

Therefore, it becomes important to hire a reliable plumbing company that can provide professional services in this regard. Jack’d Up Plumbing is one of the best plumbing companies in Calgary, offering a variety of plumbing services to its clients.

If you are considering renovating your home, it may be time to consider fixing your plumbing issues as well. This blog post mentions the top common plumbing issues you might encounter during a home renovation.

Problems With Sewer Lines

A sewer line is a matter of concern for you if you own an old house. Many people think that their plumbing issues begin with their own house and end with it. However, this is not the case. Your sewer line runs to the end of your street, so you must make sure it is well taken care of as any problem with it in any part can affect the plumbing in your home.

Most old homes have sewer lines made of transit, clay, cast iron, or Orangeburg. All of these materials are susceptible to root intrusion, cracks, corrosion, and break easily. Therefore, you must focus on their repair and renovation during your home renovation project.

Check For Invisible Leaks

Leaks within the vicinity of your home can be quite damaging to your whole home’s structure. Water pipes are prone to leaks, with passing years, these pipes can develop rust, corrosion, and cracks.

If you feel like any pipe within your home is leaking and causing issues like seepage, or discoloration on the walls and ceilings, then there is a problem with your pipes. Call a professional plumbing company to come and check the underlying pipe leakage issue. Read this blog here to get to know the most common plumbing leaks you may come across in your home.

Improper Drainage System

An improper drainage system is another headache-causing issue for you. This is one of the many reasons why people begin a home renovation. To check if your drainage system is working properly, you can turn on the taps in the tub and allow the water to flow for a few minutes.

Ensure that the shower and tub don’t pool. You can also conduct this checking process after installing a new drainage system to ensure that everything is working fine.

Water Heater Problems

Problems with your water heater is another common problematic scenario that people face during their home renovation. For years, you might have been using it without paying any heed to its tank or functionality.

But, a home renovation is a chance to reconsider your water heater and its plumbing maintenance. Your water heater can become old and rusty over time, this can be dangerous for your home. A water heater with such issues can burst or overflow.

Therefore, if you are renovating your home, it is necessary to take some time to check your water heater to make sure it is working fine and operating perfectly. You should replace your water heater about every ten years.

Get All Your Plumbing Services From Us

At Jack’d Up Plumbing, we provide professional and affordable 24-hour plumbing services to our Calgary residential and commercial customers. If you are considering renovating your home and fixing your plumbing issues, we are here to offer you professional services.

Jack’d Up Plumbing guarantees quality services and assures customer satisfaction till the end of the task. Our expert plumbers assess your plumbing issues and suggest the best possible solutions. Contact us now for further information.

Why Is Water Heater Repair And Maintenance Necessary?

Why Is Water Heater Repair And Maintenance Necessary?

Water heaters offer great comfort in winter as they readily make warm water available to you anytime you want. You won’t have to rely on immersion rods to warm up water for your use which takes forever to do the job. Rather, your water heaters instantly make hot water available.

In the winter season, scheduling maintenance for your water heater might not be on your to-do list. However, if you have been using your water heater for years, maybe it is time to consider its repair and maintenance. Delaying such maintenance schedules can result in a faulty water heater and costly repairs.

Therefore, it is important to identify the common water heater issues and mitigate them on time before they worsen. In addition to this, also make sure to conduct scheduled maintenance for your water heaters. If you are confused about how water heater maintenance can resolve issues, read this blog. We will highlight some of the top benefits of conducting scheduled maintenance for your water heaters.

It Improves Your Water Heater’s Energy-Efficiency

Observing water heater energy consumption is important if you want to have an energy-efficient water heating system. Most water heaters come with energy-efficient systems, but with time, due to mineral deposits the efficiency is greatly reduced.

These deposits of minerals make it hard for your water heater to warm up the water on time. Rather, it consumes a lot of energy and time to warm a certain amount of water. This situation is especially true if you have traditional water heaters. This greatly affects the hot water supply.

Conducting timely repairs and maintenance for your water heater will prevent this issue. The technicians you call in will remove the mineral and sediment deposits from your water heater, which will make your water heater operate much more smoothly. Thus, it will help lower your energy bills, and your heater won’t have to function as hard.

It Improves Your Water Heater’s Longevity

The absence of maintenance schedules and negligence towards its care can stop the water heater from functioning normally. Mineral deposits, rust, and other problems can affect its efficiency, making it hard to function well. This can reduce the lifespan of your water heater.

However, with proper care and maintenance, a water heater can last for 15 to 20 years. On the other hand, systems that don’t undergo maintenance will require replacement prematurely.

It Supplies Hot Water Consistently

When your water heater is not functioning well, it won’t deliver hot water consistently. This will make cleaning and bathing much more difficult and uncomfortable. Moreover, the mineral deposits might come through your tap.

Or, if there is rust in the water heater tank, that rusty water may come out of your showers or taps, which is quite unhealthy. Therefore, a constant supply of hot water is necessary for your comfort and ease.

Regular check-ups and maintenance of your water heater can avoid functional issues with your water heater. It supplies a consistent flow of hot water and prevents rust or mineral build-up in the tank.

It Helps To Identify Problems Earlier

Another benefit of conducting regular repairs and maintenance of your water heater is that you are able to identify any potential water heater problems sooner. This might help you anticipate better what you may need in the near future, thus preventing a full system breakdown. Therefore, you can also plan your budget on its repair rather than finding out unexpectedly.

It Saves Water Expenses

Your professional water heater expert will remove the mineral build-up from your water heaters tank. This lowers operational costs throughout the year as your unit doesn’t have to work as hard to produce hot water.

On the other hand not maintaining your water heater will mean having to spend a lot more money on your monthly water heater bills and water usage. Your water heater will take long hours to heat a small amount of water, which is not energy efficient.

About Jack’d Up Plumbing

Jack’d Up Plumbing provides professional and affordable 24-hour plumbing services for water heaters and more. We are based in Calgary and offer instant services to our Calgary residential and commercial customers. We guarantee quality services and assure customer satisfaction with the help of our plumbing experts.

For more information regarding our services and personalized care, contact us today.

Reasons To Hire A Commercial Drain Cleaning Service

Reasons To Hire A Commercial Drain Cleaning Service

Yor drains can become clogged for different reasons. It doesn’t matter whether you own a large commercial building or a small home; drains are prone to clogging if not taken care of. Drains require special care and safety precautions to avoid getting clogged.

However, negligence of its users and lack of durability can affect its performance. Moreover, many users throw in tissues, napkins, and other items in it, which can completely block off the water flow.

Drain damage can lead to expensive repairs and damages which might be too costly for you. Moreover, cleaning them on your own can worsen the situation. These quick fixes can cause more problems instead of fixing them. In such situations, it is better to hire a professional drain cleaning service. This blog post highlights the reasons why it is better to hire a commercial drain cleaning service instead of trying to fix the problem yourself.

They Offer Super Cleaning Services

Most people think that cleaning a drain on their own can fix the problem, and they can get their drains back just like when they were new. However, such quick hacks are just temporary solutions and might even worsen your drains’ situation. Therefore hiring a professional drain cleaning company will fix your issues better.

They have special equipment and machines to perform the deep cleaning of your drains. Many companies also use a high-pressure stream of water which removes hard-to-remove substances from them. Moreover, it helps to unclog the whole length of the pipe that you can’t do on your own.

They Boost The Lifespan Of Your Drains

Commercial drain cleaning services know how to deal with clogged drains and only use those tools to perform the job. They don’t rely on homemade hacks or use harsh chemicals to unclog the drain quicker. Such hacks can damage the pipes and make them brittle, leading to even more problems.

Professional drain cleaners will help fix the issue while also maintaining the quality of your drains. Moreover, periodic cleaning by professionals can maintain your drains in good condition for years. An experienced drain cleaning company will clean waste from your drains and make them function again without any problem for years.

So, if you want to make your drains last, it is better to get services from a professional drain cleaning company every time you encounter a problem with your drains.

They Tackle Nasty Smells

Sometimes, you might clean your drain but still can’t get rid of that nasty smell coming out of your drain. You pour in fragrant cleaners and whatnot, but it doesn’t work. Why is this so?

It is because things get stuck down in the pipes, giving off a foul smell. Oil, fat, and grease accumulate other items with them and clog the drains. Another common problem is that tree roots can block sewer mains and cause clogs in the water. This can also result in nasty smells that won’t go away easily.

Commercial drain cleaning professionals know how to get rid of nasty smells. They have the right cleaning solutions to unclog the blocked drains and clear any smell coming out of the drains.

They Can Handle The Drains Safely

Many drain cleaners that are in the market contain harmful chemicals such as ammonia that can be dangerous. If you don’t handle them carefully, they can cause serious health and skin problems.

Professional drain cleaners have the necessary training to handle these cleaners. They also wear PPE to keep themselves safe while using the cleaners. This way, no one gets hurt, and the drains get cleaned.

They Can Deal With Emergencies

You might be so busy with your business that you don’t find enough time to have regular cleaning done on your drains. But, your drains can cause problems all of a sudden, especially if you ignore their regular maintenance.

One reason to call a professional drain cleaning service is that they are available 24/7. They provide an emergency plumbing and cleaning services that can help you instantly. Therefore, you can get the required services you need immediately.

About Jack’d Up Plumbing

Jack’s Up Plumbing is a professional commercial drain cleaning company offering its plumbing, drain cleaning, and many other services in Calgary and surrounding areas. You can call us for any type of plumbing or related emergency at any time of the day.

The 2 Most Common Plumbing Repair Questions

The 2 Most Common Plumbing Repair Questions

Every now and then people face plumbing-related issues in their homes, and just like many others you may have also experienced some plumbing problems at your home. These issues are the most difficult to resolve.

Most of these issues require the help of a professional plumbing service. Most homeowners face the same plumbing-related issues. However, no matter how common they are, they are still a nuisance.

Many people have several questions when it comes to plumbing problems. In this blog post, we have answered the 2 most common plumbing repair-related questions that trouble most people.

Should You Turn Off Your Water When You Go On A Vacation?

Before going on vacation many people give attention to all the nitty-gritty things but almost always forget about their water supply. Your water supply is the most important thing you should think about before going on vacation. Most homeowners don’t include turning off their water supply in their vacation prep list. It is true that your water system should be fine while you are away, but ‘should’ and ‘will’ are two different things. It does not mean the pipes won’t leak just because no one will be using them.

So, when you are away even a small leak or other small plumbing issue can turn out disastrous as no one will be there to address them. Since you will be away these small issues will be left unchecked and these issues will continue to pour water into your home for days or weeks, depending upon how long you are away. You would never want to receive a call from your neighbors in the middle of your vacation that there is water flowing onto your driveway. Therefore, to prevent these types of scenarios, shut off the water to your home before you leave. This will limit the amount of damage any major plumbing problems can cause while you are gone.

Why Is My Water Cloudy And How Can I Fix It?

Have you ever poured water from your tap and noticed that it looked more like water mixed with milk than plain water? If you are experiencing cloudy water then it can be due to one of three reasons.

Dirt: Sometimes tiny particles find their way into your water supply. These tiny particles of dirt and sand get suspended in the water and cause cloudiness. A small amount of these particles is generally harmless. To clean your water from the dirt and sand particles you will need to use a sediment filter.

Sulfur: Does your water smell like rotten eggs? If yes, then your water has hydrogen sulfide present in it. Sulfur producing bacteria thrives in plumbing systems and wells where there is little oxygen and they live on rotten organic matter. These bacteria then produce hydrogen sulfide gas, which gets trapped in your water. A chemical reaction in your water heater system or a bacteria present in your well can be the cause of this. Sulfur is not a major threat to your health but do get your water tested to ensure that it is safe. To remove the unpleasant appearance and aroma, determine the source of the bacteria. For water heater issues, get your appliance serviced by a professional. For water source issues, ensure your system offers proper ventilation for gas and install a home and water filtration unit to eliminate sulfur bacteria.

Bubbles: Air bubbles are the most common cause of cloudy water. The air bubbles in your water create cloudiness. This usually occurs during the winter season. The mixture of temperature and pressure changes forms air bubbles in the water as it travels to your faucet. These air bubbles are harmless and will disappear with time. Just let the water sit in an open container or glass for a few minutes, the air bubbles will naturally rise to the top and will dissipate.

About Jack’d Up Plumbing

Jack’d Up Plumbing is Calgary’s most trusted plumbing provider. We are here to serve you and are available at all times to solve any of your plumbing-related issues. We provide prompt, professional, and affordable plumbing services to our residential and commercial customers in Calgary and surrounding areas. For more information contact us here.

Tips To Prevent Your Pipes From Freezing

Tips To Prevent Your Pipes From Freezing

Winter in Canada brings plummeting temperatures. When winter starts the leaves begin to fall and the countdown to the first snow fall begins. But as the season starts the first thing that homeowners do is they start to prepare their houses for fingers. In winter, frozen and bursting pipes are one of the most common issues many people have to deal with. Dealing with ruptured and frozen pipes in the cold weather are one of the most common causes of property damage.

These damages can only be fixed by professional residential plumbers. But you can take certain precautions and steps to help prevent ice blockages and freezing pipes as well as protect your water system. In this blog post, we outline some tips to help you prevent your pipes from freezing in the winter season.

Insulate The Pipes

One of the best ways to keep your pipes from bursting in the winter is by buying specially designed insulation for them. As compared to the repair costs of a ruptured pipe, pipe insulation is remarkably inexpensive and is a very small investment. So, when you insulate your pipes the most attention should be given to those pipes that are located in the unheated, interior spaces of your home such as the garage, basement, and attic.

The best and most common kinds of pipe insulation are made from foam, fiberglass, and polyethylene. In the event of an unexpected cold snap you can use duct tape and wadded-up newspaper for temporary insulation.

Keep The Garage Doors Closed

Another way to keep your pipes from freezing and bursting is to keep your garage doors closed. This is extremely important if your water supply lines of your house go through your garage. As the garage most often features a high amount of smooth concrete, this keeps the area cold. Since the space is already cold, if the doors are kept open that will let more freezing air into the space and freeze the pipes. If you leave the garage door open, it leaves any water supply lines vulnerable to freezing temperatures.

Keep The Thermostat Consistent

One of the easiest ways to prevent ice blockage is by keeping your thermostat set to the same temperature during the day and night. Many people tend to lower their thermostat during the evening to save money on their heating bills, but in reality, this saving backfires because a ruptured pipe will cost much more than a slightly higher heating bill. So, you should try to keep your thermostat setting as consistent as possible during the day and night. The steady temperatures will help keep your pipes from freezing, and will also help you to avoid any sudden changes in the environment of your home.

Let Faucets Drip

Another way to keep your pipes from freezing is by leaving a faucet running. You don’t need to keep all your faucets running. The first step is that you will have to determine which faucets are fed by exposed piping, once you have found them keep them running. The running water, even a small drip, will carry more energy than standing water, due to the constant movement, friction is created and the moving water produces a small amount of heat. This makes running water hard to freeze as compared to standing water. By just leaving a few faucets running, the movement will help prevent ice blockages from forming in your pipes.

Apart from the small amount of friction and heat produced by the moving water, a running faucet also helps to relieve any pressure build-up in your cold pipes. This relieved pressure build-up keeps your pipes from bursting, even if the water inside them freezes. If both hot and cold water lines are exposed, leave both slightly running to make sure pressure doesn’t build up in one and not the other.

About Jack’d Up Plumbing

Jack’d Up Plumbing is Calgary’s most trusted plumbing provider. We are here to serve you and are available at all times to solve any of your plumbing-related issues. We provide prompt, professional, and affordable plumbing services to our residential and commercial customers in Calgary and surrounding areas. For more information contact us here.

Ways To Avoid Costly Plumbing Repairs

Ways To Avoid Costly Plumbing Repairs

Any plumbing emergency is stressful and becomes even more unbearable when you can’t find a professional plumber on time. The average cost of plumbing issues can be around $300 to $700, which is quite a huge amount to pay for a problem that could have been prevented. Your drainage system, sewer lines, pipes, faucets, toilets, and sinks require care and preventive measures to avoid costly repair.

Nobody wants to have to call a plumber at the last minute to come and fix a toilet before it can be used. Some tips can go a long way to keep your plumbing system in good condition and avoid costly repairs. Here in this blog, you will read about some of the easy ways that can help you avoid those costly plumbing repairs.

Keep Your Drains Hair And Food-free

Drains are designed for draining the water only. Unfortunately, many people don’t care about their purpose and allow for hair and food particles to go down the drain. This clogs the pipes and blocks your water flow.

Such clogging can damage the pipes that might require you to spend hundreds of dollars repairing and fixing them. One way to avoid this drain blockage is to scrape food into the trash before washing the dishes. Even if you have a garbage disposal, it is always preferable to clean your dishes and throw any leftovers into the trash instead of allowing them to wash down the drain.

Also, avoid spilling oil inside your pipes. Oil’s viscosity is low when it is hot. But upon cooling it becomes thick and can also solidify in some cases. This can be damaging to your pipes. Installing a grease receptor under the sink is a good way to stop food items from entering the line. Moreover, you can also use a mixture of baking soda and vinegar in the right proportion to clean the drain.

Fix Leaks Quickly

Another way to avoid costly plumbing repairs is to take notice of the plumbing issues and get them repaired on time. If you don’t pay heed to those small leaks that you are observing right now, chances are that they will turn into bigger leak problems, and the situation will get worse. Therefore, the best thing to do is to fix those small leaks right away before they turn into something else. Its price will be nothing as compared to the price of a burst pipe, water damage, or hundreds of gallons of wasted water.

Hire A Professional Plumber

A professional plumber will know where the problem lies and will be able to resolve the issue. They won’t waste your time and money fixing something that never had to be fixed. Some plumbing companies misuse their experience, and because many people are not aware of the actual problem, they take advantage of this and charge them more than needed.

However, a professional and reputable company won’t do this and will charge you only for what is needed. Moreover, they will explain what they are charging if it includes extra services or part replacements.

Keep An Eye On Your Trees

Trees near your sewer lines can be dangerous. Their roots can start to make their way into the sewer, and grow quickly. This growth can affect the sewer line lying under the ground. Cracks in your pipes can let the tree roots enter into the line and cause damage. This affects the rest of the plumbing system. One solution to avoid such damage is to avoid growing your trees near your sewer lines and trim the ones that are already there.

Avoid Chemical Cleaning Products

Certain chemical cleaners are so harsh for your drains that they do the opposite and damage them instead of cleaning them. This makes them brittle and unable to perform. Therefore, instead of using a store-bought liquid drain cleaner, try pouring baking soda, vinegar, and water down your drain to clean it.

About Jack’d Up Plumbing

Jack’d Up Plumbing is Calgary’s most trusted plumbing provider. We offer many services in plumbing and other similar issues at reasonable rates. Contact us to get instant and professional plumbing services.

Factors That Affect The Average Cost Of A Plumbing Service

Factors That Affect The Average Cost Of A Plumbing Service

Plumbing repairs can be costly and can be costlier if not taken care of timely. You wouldn’t want to find yourself in a situation where you need an emergency plumber; however, things might not always go your way. Plumbing services might be a bit more expensive depending on several circumstances. Even emergency plumbing services can end up costing you more due to the instant services they provide. The nature of the work will also determine the cost of their final services

This blog post discusses some factors that can affect the overall cost of the services that you need.

The Nature Of Your Work

Depending on the task you need your plumber to perform it may cost you more. If your task is small, such as cleaning the tank of your toilet or changing the filter, it won’t cost you as much. However, if you require your plumber to take on a task such as geyser changing or gutter issues these tasks will cost you more. Such tasks would also require more resources, and thus, the plumbing company might charge you more.

Some services can also be charged on a fixed price basis. These services can include some of the most common plumbing jobs, like unclogging a drain or a toilet. Similarly, If you’re dealing with backed-up sewage, you should expect the cost of the service to be quite high. In such cases, the plumber will need to wear protective equipment and deal with toxic waste.

Time Of The Day

The time you call your plumber will also determine your final bill. If your emergency happens during regular business hours, you will pay less than if you call the plumber at 2 a.m. Plumbing companies will charge more to come to your home at odd timings. You will also have to pay more if you call them on a holiday or weekend. Spending their time on events like Christmas or Easter fixing your plumbing problem is hard, as they will need to take time away from their family. Therefore, keep this in mind so you are not surprised when they charge you more for their services during these times.

Materials Used

Depending on whether or not you are able to supply your plumber with the correct materials or if they will have to bring their own they may charge you more. However, if you are able to supply them with the materials they need, you won’t be charged for the material but for the services. In addition, how long it will take to perform the task and the task’s complexity will also affect your overall plumbing bill.

Distance To Your Location

Another factor that affects the price includes your location. How far you live from the plumbing company, and how much they would have to travel to reach your home. Most areas have local plumbers, but for complex tasks you will have to hire a professional plumbing company. Sometimes, these companies have to travel more to reach your location, they will charge you more for that. Therefore, it is a good idea to call an emergency plumber close to your location so that they don’t charge you for the travel expenses.

Final Thoughts

Many homeowners find themselves quite stressed when they need to call a plumber. However, a good plumber will already have these factors in mind when discussing potential solutions with you. Make sure to do some research well before hiring any plumber to avoid problems later on.

About Jack’d Up Plumbing

Jack’d Up Plumbing is Calgary’s most trusted plumbing provider; we are available at all times to solve any of your plumbing-related issues. Offering professional services at affordable rates, we are one of the best plumbing companies in Calgary. Contact us now for more information.