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Why Buying A New Furnace Will Save You Money: Things To Consider

Heating can often be an issue for most homeowners, with the additional cost of heating and cooling constantly on the rise, it’s more important than ever to consider the energy efficiency of your home’s heating system. 

The cost of a new furnace can often come as a shock to most people, creating the “I’ll make do” mentality. As a result of this, people will often find themselves becoming stuck in a couple of different ways and finding themselves losing money in the short and long term. We often find that many homeowners wait until their furnace completely dies, which usually happens on the coldest days of the year, before replacing it. This obviously is not recommended, as you could end up without heat for some time as service companies are very busy during the cold snaps.

In this blog, we are going to look at the reasons why you should consider buying a new furnace and what you can save in the long run. Adding in some of the negatives that come as a price of not changing over sooner, rather than later. 

Save On Furnace Repair Costs With A New Furnace!

So, we will start with perhaps the most annoying aspect of owning an old furnace, the repairs. 

We’ve all been there, it’s a cold and stormy night, the snow is falling and suddenly you notice the chill that comes over the house. The furnace has broken again. From here you have three options:

  • Leave it and shiver
  • Try to repair it yourself
  • Call out the repair company

Leave it and shiver – Well, let’s face it, this can’t happen. 

Self-Repair – Most people are not skilled in the fine art of furnace repair. Often trying to fix the machine on your own can result in either zero results or a temporary “improvised” repair, which is not going to hold up the furnace in a safe manner. Not forgetting it can create a worsening of the damage and this isn’t ideal. 

Call the Pros – This is perhaps the wisest option of the three. Calling a qualified technician such as our experts, can result in at the very least a decent fix. Depending on the age and maintenance of your furnace, a repair may last many years, or it may result in it lasting a year or two more until the inevitable happens and your 15-year-old furnace kicks the bucket again.

Repair costs can mount up over time, with the average cost of call-out fees and repairs far exceeding those of a replacement furnace in the long run. It is sometimes wiser to consider swapping the old furnace out for a new one if you find yourself a repeat victim.

Similarly, should you try and botch the job yourself as an unskilled technician, you run the risk of not only racking up costs associated with parts, but you may also end up calling out the technician anyway. They will then have to correct the original issue along with any further issues you have caused as a result of your “fixing”. 

High-Efficiency Furnaces

Old and outdated furnaces are nothing less than money pits, holes in which we throw our money and time with no benefit in the long term. 

Replacing your old furnace can save you a considerable sum in the long run for a couple of reasons. 

Improved efficiency – The cost of running and maintaining a new furnace is considerably lower than that of an old one. The older model will be consuming vast amounts of energy more than the newer, more technologically advanced alternatives. Technology has come a long way from the late ’90s and early 2000s. As a result, it means that companies who produce new furnaces have poured their energy into making environmentally friendlier options for us to heat our homes. 

Older furnaces may also be heating your home unevenly as a result of their inefficient operation and functionality. This means that you can often find yourself turning up the heating in one room due to the heater not being able to keep up with the demand of the household. This leads to an increased strain on the heating system and racking up a substantially higher bill. 

You are investing in a better future – By investing in a newer heating system, you are essentially saving yourself money in the future. These can be repair costs that could be incurred as a result of you not changing out your furnace sooner. Be it for replacement parts or hefty call-out fees that some companies will charge. If you think about it, the newest furnaces on the market have a life span between 15-20 years, which means that you will potentially be without repair costs for another 20 years.

Furthermore, you have to take into consideration the longer-term savings you will make. Investing in technology that has the capability to produce the most amount of heat for the least amount of energy is the ideal solution. In the long term, you will notice a substantial drop in your energy bills, meaning that you have money for more of the things you actually want to spend your money on. Your wallet will thank you.

Environmental Benefits Of A New High-Efficiency Furnace

The environmental effects of switching out your old gas furnace may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think out the topic of installing a newer furnace. However, this can have a positive impact on the environment as a whole. 

With the use of efficient heating systems, the overall demand on the use of fossil fuels and power stations is actually decreased. Resulting in creating less pollution and consumption of natural resources. Imagine the benefits if everyone could switch their old furnaces to this new method of heating. 

Essentially, the homeowners who switch to more energy-efficient heating systems will save themselves thousands in the long term. Not only that but also play a crucial role in the fight to reduce the devastating impact that certain types of energy production are having on the environment and the natural world. 

Need a New Furnace Installation? Call Us!

We have outlined some of the key benefits of changing out your old furnace for a newer, more energy-efficient solution. The costs saved in the long run are substantial, not to mention the positive effects it can have on the environment. 

If you are looking to change your old furnace and are struggling to find the right one, or if you simply need advice as to how to make this change, you can trust the experts at Always Plumbing & Heating to show you the way. Get in touch with us today for a free furnace replacement estimate, before your aging furnace kicks the bucket!

Replace Your Old and Recalled Poly-B Pipes

If you have poly-b plumbing in your home, it is inevitable that you will be replacing it at some point. Poly-b (polybutylene) plumbing was installed in as many as 700,000 homes in Canada between 1978-1995. At the time, it was popular with builders because it was much cheaper than copper, and it was easy to install. However, it became apparent that poly-b was not suitable for plumbing – over time the flexible pipes began to burst and leak. Many homeowners suffered devastating damages, and a major class-action lawsuit took place which paid out over $20 million to homeowners. Unfortunately, payouts were only available if you replaced your plumbing before 2005, or within 15 years of being installed. There are still many people who have poly-b plumbing in their homes, which is a disaster waiting to happen.

How to Tell if You Have Poly-B

You can identify if your home has polybutylene pipes by removing a few tiles in your basement ceiling. Poly-b is flexible, light-grey in color, and has markings on the tubing. Poly-b is unable to withstand high pressures and high temperatures of whole home plumbing. 

Q&A With Homeowners About Poly-B

“My home has poly-b and it looks fine from the outside. Why should I replace it?”

One of the main issues with poly-b is that the pipes deteriorate from the inside-out. This means that, while the pipes may appear ok to the naked eye, this does not necessarily mean they are not eroded, and prone to rupture at any time.

“Can I simply hire a plumber to patch up poly-b leaks when they occur?”

The answer to this is a complicated one. While a professional plumber can repair poly-b leaks when they occur, this is hardly a long-term answer. The issue with patching up your poly-b is that you are in an uphill battle that you are bound to eventually lose. You may have other leaks that occur in different sections of your plumbing lines at any given time. Patching up your poly-b often becomes more costly in the long run, and it also leaves you in harm’s way of a potentially disastrous plumbing leak. 

“I am selling a home that has poly-b pipes. What should I do?”

If you are the seller, you may consider replacing the poly-b water lines prior to selling. Having new plumbing lines in your home is a huge selling point for buyers. Having poly-b lines in your home is a huge negative for potential buyers. A buyer will probably ask to have this done or to have the costs of doing so considered when coming up with their asking price. If you do not wish to replace the plumbing before selling, you should at least receive a quote to have this job done. That was you can be prepared with it, and if the buyer asks for a price reduction because of the poly-b, you can be certain the amount is reasonable.

“I am a homebuyer, and I found a home I love but it has poly-b water lines. Should this deter me from making an offer, and what else should I consider?”

If you are a home buyer looking at a home with poly-b, you shouldn’t let that deter you from acquiring the home of your dreams! While poly-b replacement is something that you will need to consider in the foreseeable future, and you may also factor this into your asking price. You could ask the seller to provide an estimate from a reputable plumbing company in the area on the cost of replacing the whole system. Don’t forget that you will also have to consider there will be some cosmetic repairs that will need to occur, like drywall and ceiling repairs, as some areas will need to removed to complete the installation. You may also consider adding a condition to your offer regarding the poly-b replacement and remediation. You can ask your realtor for their recommendations on adding this as a buyer’s condition. You will also want to hire a reputable home inspector who will thoroughly check for leaks, moisture issues, and/or mold/mildew. You should also check with your insurance company, as many insurers are becoming more reluctant to provide flood coverage if you do not have this system replaced. Lastly, you can ask the seller for any repair and maintenance records related to the water lines, as well as full disclosure of any previous leaks or floods that may have occurred.

Say Goodbye to Cracked, Leaking Poly-B Pipes 

Never fear another plumbing leak again. Call the expert plumbers in Edmonton at Always Plumbing & Heating today for a FREE estimate on your whole home poly-b replacement. We will send an extensively-trained plumbing team to your home to inspect your system and provide a straightforward price on the replacement. The cost of replacing poly-b piping will vary depending on the size of your home. The expert plumbers at Always Plumbing & Heating will remove the poly-b pipes from your entire home and transition them to PEX piping. This can be an expense upfront, but it will protect you from future devastation that would be sure to happen if leaving poly-b piping in your home. We also offer in-house financing with affordable monthly payment plans which is a favourite of our customers. If you have any questions about poly-b piping in your Edmonton and area home, please do not hesitate to contact the professionals at Always Plumbing & Heating, your local experts in whole home re-piping.

For a limited time*, with your whole home poly-B replacement, you will receive a FREE fully installed Flo by Moen whole home flood protection system. Your new water lines combined with a smart, mainline leak detection and shutoff valve, will offer you peace of mind when it comes to your home’s plumbing system. The best way to avoid water damages is to prevent it, and that is exactly what you will receive when you have your poly-b replaced and a Flo by Moen installed in your home. 

*Offer available until December 31, 2021

Get a Spa-Like Shower at Home with These Simple Upgrades

The demands for innovative plumbing fixtures are on the rise every year. Homeowners love the convenience of automated smart-home fixtures. Homeowners are also looking for energy efficiency and water-saving technology. The first place that many people start adding in upgraded plumbing fixtures is in the comfort of their bathrooms. It begins with a unique and memorable spa-like shower experience, which can be achieved right in your own home. Check out these two innovative Moen plumbing fixtures that our plumbers are installing all the time!

Nebia by Moen Shower Head

There are all types of shower configurations, but we guarantee you have never seen anything that is quite like the Nebia by Moen. Think of the experience of showering in a waterfall… that is the effect that you get when you shower with Nebia!

The installation uses two different devices that will shower you from two directions with a firm, but gentle shower experience that is delightfully refreshing, relaxing, and healing. It also offers plenty of flexibility so you can decide how you want to position the showerhead to get the right amount of water.

One of the most appealing aspects of this particular shower is that it provides a very simple DIY installation that people find to be extremely easy. This is one of the reasons why so many households are now using this particular shower head for their homes.

U by Moen Smart Shower

We have all seen the Sci-Fi movies that show households that are completely operated by voice and motion. It’s great to see that we have come such a long way with technology and those things that we once considered fiction are now part of our reality.

This is a shower that is truly unique and special because it provides a futuristic approach to showering with voice activation, using voice control for speed and temperature. There is also the smartphone application option that allows you to control the shower remotely from any location you want. 

This is a device that has proven to be extremely reliable in many ways and there are countless reasons why it has turned into one of the most popular choices to be implemented for showers.

Once you have configured the way you want your shower to be, the application will notify you that the shower is ready for use. For example, if you like showering with cool water after a workout, you can set up the shower to be ready for you at a very specific temperature when you are done with the workout.

The best thing about the U Moen Smart Shower is that the interface and the controls are extremely intuitive so you won’t have to worry about a learning curve. This makes it a very practical and reliable installation even for those who are not savvy with technology, and it’s long-lasting too.

Final Remarks

Whether you go with a Nebia by Moen or a U by Moen shower, they will both achieve an experience you will not soon forget! With these upgrades, you and your significant other may even find yourselves battling for the shower! Ensure you don’t run out of hot water and have your hot water heater serviced and replaced when necessary. You may even wish for endless hot water with a tankless water heater. The experienced plumbers at Always Plumbing & Heating can take care of all of this for you, in one simple visit. We will talk you through a variety of innovative plumbing fixtures, getting you the fixture that meets your needs at the most reasonable price. 

As always, when you hire us for your plumbing improvements, you can rest easy knowing your project is fully backed by our installation guarantees and fixture warranties. If you’re thinking of a plumbing renovation or a simple fixture upgrade, keep it fresh with the latest in innovative plumbing. These investments look great and are energy efficient and affordable. Once you take a spa-like shower with the Nebia by Moen, or enjoy the automated experience that you get with the U by Moen smart shower, you will never take another regular shower again!

Putting a Legal Basement or Garage Suite in Your Home

The process of incorporating a basement or garage suite in your home is not simple and it requires that you do things carefully in order to ensure that the suite is compliant with the laws in your area.

This is a project that can lead to a great source of additional income if you plan to rent that space out. This is a decision that many homeowners are making in current times due to the current employment crisis that the entire world is facing.

The good thing about a legal basement suite is that even if you don’t rent it, you can always have it as a private area for any member of your family to use and for guests. There can always be a way to make use of space that is set up in a way that turns it into a private location.

The main thing to keep in mind is that this is going to require that you set the area up with plumbing and HVAC, state of the art equipment, a secondary furnace to keep utilities separate, smart plumbing fixtures, and more.

Plumbing & HVAC Considerations with Basement Conversions

  • Ensure proper drainage around your home to protect against flooding
  • To protect against mold, consider adding a dehumidifier if you live in a damp area
  • Consider adding a Flo by Moen smart water shut-off valve, in the event of a water leak. This can save you tens of thousands, and offer you peace of mind especially if you have tenants in your basement.
  • Consider adding a secondary water heater so you don’t have to worry about running out of hot water yourself. Also, if you add a second water heater on its own meter, your tenants can pay their own utilities separately
  • Have an additional furnace installed just for the basement suite. This will ensure your tenants stay comfortable and can control their own climate. Also, the gas company can add a separate meter so the tenants can pay for their own services
  • Ensure your sump pump is operational and maintained. You may consider having a second sump pump installed in your basement, for optimal protection. You can also add a wifi sump pump alarm, which will alert you should there be any issues. Read more about maintaining your sump pump.

Plumbing & HVAC Considerations with Garage Conversions

  • Ensure you have adequate insulation that meets current residential building codes. This will prevent heat loss and keep your tenants comfortable
  • Have a furnace installed to heat the garage loft. This can be tied into your existing services, or you can set it on a separate meter if you wish
  • You will need a plumber to install all the pipes and fixtures in the kitchen and bathroom. You will need water lines, drain lines, and shutoff valves installed to meet building codes. 
  • As with any income suite, it is always a good idea to add a smart water shut off valve, such as the Flo by Moen. This will detect any leaks, and send you alerts to your phone. If a slow sustained leak is detected, it will turn the main water off to the suite after a certain number of minutes. If a major leak is detected, it will turn the water off immediately to prevent any disastrous damages.

We have vast experience in this process and our team will evaluate the area to give you an estimate on costs once we have seen the property and the space for the suite. It’s important to remember that the basement apartment has to be smaller than the actual property size, and there needs to be a separate exit and entrance.

There are also rules regarding the electrical setup, but those are going to depend on the space and on several other factors. The important thing is that the modifications that are made in the basement can ensure the safety of those who live in the suite. 

Keep in mind that because this is separate from the rest of the house, you will need to take extra precautions to ensure that it will be an area that can be safely inhabited by someone as a completely separate structure. 

Always Plumbing & Heating has a great team of experienced professionals that will help you get through this process as quickly as effortlessly as possible. We will help you with the process from start to finish, to ensure that you are making an educated decision on your project, in the most cost-effective manner. We have assisted many homeowners with the plumbing and HVAC in their income suite developments, and we are seen as experts in the area. Let us take the worry off your mind, and send us a message. We will provide a free estimate on the plumbing and HVAC costs of creating your very own legal basement or garage suite.

Protect your Indoor Air Quality with a Brand New Air Purification System

There are many things that we can do when it comes to ensuring that our homes are safe for our families. Keeping the house clean, making sure the plumbing and electrical systems are functioning properly, and giving the property general maintenance are all very important tasks, but we must not overlook the air we breathe day by day.

This is the reason why Indoor Air Quality is such an important aspect of keeping our homes safe and clean. We provide optimal air purification system installations that are going to keep the air you breathe at home clean and free of germs, chemicals, viruses, bacteria, mold, pollen, and all kinds of dangerous particles.

The air you breathe can make you sick

It may not seem like a huge issue for most people, but you can have many health issues in the long term if the quality of your air is not optimal indoors. This is the reason why so many people feel sick all the time and they catch the flu or experience allergies out of the blue. It’s the air inside their own homes that is becoming a problem and they don’t even know.

A whole home air purification system is an investment that proves to be extremely useful for your home because it provides air purification 24/7. A professionally installed system will work hand in hand with your home’s HVAC equipment so that your air is purified as it circulates throughout your furnace and ductwork.

We are ready to help you all year long

If you are in need of a quality installation for your home, you will find that we offer some of the best solutions for air purification. We offer starter systems that work on collecting larger particles like allergens, to hospital-grade systems that utilize UVC and UVV light technology which will destabilize and destroy airborne viruses as they pass through your home. 

Final thoughts

Air purification is a very valuable investment for your home because it helps protect your health. Even as you sleep, the quality of the air you are breathing is going to have a major effect on your health in the long run and this is the reason why it’s so important to consider installing one.

Be sure to contact us if you have any questions about our Air Purification Installations. We are a team that is dedicated to optimal customer service and we are ready to help with any doubts or concerns you may have regarding our purification systems.

Merry Christmas on Behalf of the Team at Always Plumbing & Heating

This has been a very difficult year for many of us and we are still experiencing a radical change in our lifestyles. The team at Always Plumbing & Heating has worked hard to ensure safety and quality for the services that we provide.

I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy and successful 2021 on behalf of our team. We also wanted to inform you that we are going to be serving our customers during the holidays and will ensure the same level of safety and reliability that you have come to know from our services.

There is nothing more valuable to us than maintaining a good relationship with our customers. This is the reason why we constantly work on improving every aspect of our business to give you the results you need and deserve.

Do not hesitate to contact us if you run into any plumbing or heating issues over the Christmas break. We will be available to restore comfort to families like yours during the rest of the holiday season…and Always!

Have a Merry Christmas, and a joyous New Year!

Always Plumbing COVID-19 Update

TO OUR VALUED CUSTOMERS

We are speaking out to you on behalf of concerns of our staff and customers surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. There has been a lot of confusion and fear surrounding the pandemic, and rightfully so. People are hesitant to leave their homes or to welcome people into theirs. The confusion falls around what is acceptable behaviour, and what is not. There seems to be a need for clarification on what constitutes social distancing, and how this is different from self-isolating. Only those who meet specific criteria have been advised to self-isolate. The following piece was written by Sara Davis, Critical Care Registered Nurse and Co-owner of Always Plumbing & Heating.

What is Physical Distancing?

It has been recommended by the Government of Alberta to practice social distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Physical means minimizing “close contact” with others by doing the following:

  • Avoiding crowded places
  • Not holding or attending social gatherings with people not in your immediate household (or your permitted two contacts if you live alone)
  • Avoiding physical contact with people outside of your immediate household
  • Keeping a distance about 2 metres between yourself and others
  • Limiting or avoiding contact with people who are at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 (elderly people, individuals with underlying health conditions, etc.)
  • Stay home if you feel unwell, especially if you have any COVID-19 symptoms
  • Above all, wear a mask if you must be around other people and wash your hands frequently

Physical distancing applies to everyone and we are required to follow government-issued guidelines to serve the public. You might require an essential service from Always Plumbing & Heating that will require us to come into your home. Our technicians will follow all required guidelines and precautions to keep our customers safe. You must ensure anyone in your household does not meet the screening criteria to self-isolate before making or allowing a service appointment to proceed to keep our technicians safe as well.

What does Self-Isolation Mean?

Self-Isolation means avoiding situations where you could infect other people. If you have been told to self-isolate, you should be spending most of your time in one designated room in your house to avoid infecting other household members. You should not leave your house to go into public places. You should also avoid having any non-essential visitors in your home. If an emergency arises and you must have someone in your home during your time of self-isolation, you should advise them first so that proper precautions can be taken.

Self-isolation is different then social distancing, in that it is only necessary if you meet any of the following criteria (as per Alberta Health Services):

  • ALL travelers who returned to Alberta from outside Canada on or after March 12th are required to self-isolate immediately as instructed by Alberta Health guidelines.
  • Travelers who returned to Alberta from Italy, Iran, the Hubei Province of China or the Grande Princess Cruise ship, before March 12th, must also self-isolate, and must monitor themselves for symptoms as instructed by Alberta Health guidelines. If symptoms do develop, stay home and call 811 immediately.
  • Anyone who has symptoms, including cough, runny nose, fever or sore throat, must also self-isolate as instructed by Alberta Health guidelines

If you are not sure if you need to self-isolate, use the screening tool launched by Alberta Health Services by visiting: AHS COVID-19 Screening Tool.

*Some people who do not meet the criteria for self-isolation, but are at risk for severe illness if they acquire the virus (elderly, chronic underlying medical conditions, or immunocompromised persons), should practice protective self-separation. This would include avoiding contact with others, and avoiding public places when possible.

What Does This Mean for Our Customers?

The health and safety of our customers and our employees remains our greatest concern. At Always Plumbing & Heating, we continue to operate our business operations with little disruption, while taking into account some additional screening measures and precautions, both prior to and while attending service calls in customers’ homes.

Here is what we at Always Plumbing & Heating are doing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic:

  • We are screening our employees for symptoms. Any employee who is symptomatic is not permitted to work and will be sent home to self-isolate as instructed by Alberta Health guidelines.
  • Any employee who meets the criteria for self-isolation for any other reason, will also not be permitted to work.
  • We have added additional screening questions when booking your service call. We want to know if you are currently under quarantine, or if you should be. These questions may be asked again by the technician before entering your home. We also encourage our customers to feel comfortable asking the same questions of their technicians.
  • We have advised our technicians to practice social distancing while in a customer’s home. This means allowing a space of about 2 arms lengths between each other.
  • We are also practicing social distancing in our office space.
  • Our technicians have received training sessions on proper hand hygiene.
  • When a technician arrives at your home, he or she will wash their hands with the hand soap and paper towel that we have provided them with.
  • When your service call is complete, our technicians again will perform hand hygiene.
  • We are actively looking for hand sanitizer as a supplement for hand hygiene. This has been in short supply due to a surge in demand. But remember, soap and water is the most effective form of hand hygiene.
  • Our technicians will continue to use protective shoe covers before walking on your floors. This prevents tracking anything on your floors.
  • We are disinfecting tools and equipment between service calls.
  • We encourage our customers to provide us with their credit card number over the phone when booking their service. This prevents the need for handling portable debit machines.

If you or a family member have met the criteria to self-isolate, we ask that you delay your non-emergent plumbing or HVAC service until the self-isolation period is up, and until you have received the approval from the health authorities to come off self-isolation. If you have an emergent plumbing or heating need during your time of mandated self-isolation, we would be happy to troubleshoot the issue with you over the phone for the time being (even if it is only a temporary solution) and then come to your home once the isolation period is over. If we are not able to provide a temporary solution for you while you are under self-isolation, your situation will be looked at by management and a decision will be made on how we can assist you while protecting ourselves.

As you are spending more time at home these days while you practice social distancing, you may begin to notice some nagging plumbing or HVAC concerns that you have been neglecting. There are many DIY tasks that you can do yourself to properly maintain components of your home’s plumbing and HVAC without needing to hire a plumbing company. You can find these suggestions by reading through our many helpful blog posts.

Some tasks are best left to the professionals, such as repairs or replacements of old or faulty equipment, and HVAC equipment maintenance. Here at Always Plumbing & Heating, we are equipped to answer your questions and concerns, and assist you with your home repairs and maintenance work. Remember… you can still have a service worker in your home and practice effective social distancing. Just remember to avoid handshaking, practice proper hand hygiene, and keep a distance of 2 metres between yourself and the service worker.

We want to bring you comfort! This includes ensuring you are comfortable welcoming us into your home, knowing that we have taken extra precautions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to inform and protect our staff and our customers. Rest assured, we are here to help you as an essential service provider…Always!

Written by Sara Davis, BScN, RN, Critical Care nurse and co-owner of Always Plumbing & Heating LTD.  Information and government recommendations are evolving daily. The information above was compiled by Always Plumbing & Heating, and is not meant to override medical advice from health authorities. Check with your local health authorities on any changes.

Resources:

  • https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Journey/COVID-19/Pages/COVID-Self-Assessment.aspx
  • https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/44e7c639-7bb6-4bb4-9138-1abf5c56a7b8/resource/91cd86ac-7eaf-4376-9f9a-0b600a9af2fa/download/health-self-isolation-information-sheet.pdf
  • https://www.alberta.ca/coronavirus-info-for-albertans.aspx
  • https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/social-distancing.html
  • https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/health-professionals/public-health-measures-mitigate-covid-19.html

The Ultimate Home Maintenance Checklist for the Winter

Your home is the place that you look for when you want comfort, and this means that you want to be able to ensure that it is winter-proof by the time that relentless cold weather hits your location.

It’s important to take the time to create a home maintenance checklist for the winter. The following tips are going to help you keep your home in top condition all year long, regardless of the freezing temperatures.

Get maintenance done on your pipes to avoid freezing

There are many issues that come with the winter, but one of the most common and annoying is when you deal with frozen pipes. Giving proper maintenance and performing certain modifications on your water lines is going to help you avoid this problem.

There are many issues to look into that include ensuring frost-free hose bibs, drained exterior water lines, small leak inspections for your entire plumbing system, and properly insulated plumbing lines near the exterior walls.

Keep your furnace in top shape

When your furnace is not working properly, you are going to be spending more money due to decreased performance. The longer it takes you to give maintenance to your furnace, the more likely it is that you will have to spend more money on repairs. The good news is that you can avoid all of those hassles by hiring a good furnace maintenance provider. Just make sure that you are able to do this before the winter starts.

Get maintenance done on your boiler

Not everyone has a boiler system, but many commercial buildings do, as do homes that have in-floor heating. Boilers can be affected by the winter cold and their performance can be severely damaged while also cutting their lifespan. Getting maintenance done in order to keep everything working properly is going to save you a lot of time and hassles with expensive repairs or replacements. The sooner you do this, the more likely it is that your boiler will be working properly for years to come.

Perform a general check up on your property

Getting everything checked on your property is going to be extremely important before the winter. This is the season when most property damage occurs and it usually happens due to lack of maintenance.

At Always Plumbing and Heating LTD, we can handle the maintenance for your furnace, boiler, and pipes as well as any other issues that may need to be checked before or after winter hits your area.

If you need this done as soon as possible, you can give us a call at 780-489-8118 and we will make sure that your home is ready to face the cold winter weather!

A Safe Vacation During the COVID-19 Pandemic

There is no denying that everyone is a little hesitant when it comes to traveling during COVID-19 times. This is a perfectly understandable concern and that is the reason why we are going to give you a list of some of the places you can visit.

Please keep in mind that COVID-19 is a problem that we are facing all over the world. This means that any location you visit is not going to be 100% safe, but we are basing these recommendations on the areas that seem to be the safest and least crowded for your vacations.

As of November 1, 2020, these are the countries in Latin America and the Caribbean you can visit by providing a negative COVID test result:

  • Bermuda
  • Curacao
  • Grenada
  • Costa Rica
  • Jamaica

Places in Europe you can visit:

  • France
  • Poland
  • Romania
  • Iceland

Remember, self-isolation is required upon your return to Canada. 

Keep in mind that this is going to be a requirement after you have traveled to any country. Once you get back to Canada, you are expected to self-isolate for a period of 14 days minimum. The guidelines are continually changing, so be aware of them before and throughout your travel.

If no one is taking care of your home while you are away, you need to make sure that you can take the time to check that everything is going to be in top condition.

Winter Vacation Home Maintenance Checklist

1. Make sure you get an alarm

  • A good alarm system for your home is not as expensive as it used to be. Now you can get a great alarm system for a very low cost and it will help keep your house safe in case someone tries to enter without permission. Notify your alarm company of the dates that you will be away. If your alarm is triggered, they can bypass guard dispatch and send a police officer to your house straight away.

2. Assign someone to check on your property

  • Finding someone you trust that can check your home daily is always a great idea. Most people will usually ask a relative or someone they have known for many years, but it’s very important to be able to do this in order to have peace of mind regarding your property. Check with your home insurance provider regarding their policy on how frequently you need to have your home checked on while you are away. Failing to do so can null your coverage.

3. Make sure plumbing and heating systems are in good condition

  • The last thing you want when you come home from a vacation is to have to deal with any kind of water leaks or electrical hazards that have caused serious damage to your property. Make sure that everything is working properly before you leave. 
  • Install Wi-Fi thermostats that send you alerts if your furnace stops working. This is extremely helpful in case you are not at home and no one is around to detect the problem.
  • Get a smart water shutoff valve, such as Floe by Moen, that is going to turn the main water line off in case any leaks are detected. This is a very common issue that will often occur due to frozen pipes.
  • You should also have systems installed to ensure that the temperatures on your water tank are optimal, and you need to have an alarm for your sump pump. These are all critical improvements that will allow you to have peace of mind.
  • Last, but not least, you should hire a professional to get that furnace tune-up done before you go. This is one of the most common malfunctions that people experience at home.

Ensuring that your home maintenance is taken care of before you leave your home will offer your peace of mind comfort while you are away. Having the proper safeguards in place, including utilizing smart home devices that will alert you of major plumbing & heating problems, is ideal. Check out our winter vacation checklist for more tips on preparing and protecting your home before you leave. 

Now you know why checking your plumbing and heating before your winter vacation is so important. If you require a professional furnace tune-up, or any other assistance setting up smart home plumbing and heating devices, call us today at 780-489-8118 or book online and we will be right over!

COVID-19 and the Air Quality in Your Home

The second wave of COVID-19 has arrived. With daily case counts on the rise, the provincial government has begun tightening restrictions on social gatherings to help control the spread. While it was relatively easy to maintain social distances from one another this summer when we could spend the majority of our time outdoors, with the cold weather we will all be spending more time in our homes. Our home is our oasis and we need to ensure that it stays that way.

We receive a lot of questions every day from our customers about how they can improve the air quality in their homes. The best practice would be to find the source of the air contaminant and eliminate it. Unfortunately, you can’t do anything about the reality of the coronavirus. However, you can improve your homes’ ventilation and filtration to reduce your chances of your family becoming ill. Adequate ventilation is standard in the building codes for new homes, but few older homes have been adapted to meet these recommendations. Adequate ventilation acts just like the lungs of your home. A steady supply of fresh, filtered, outdoor air is good not only for keeping ahead of the coronavirus but also for controlling the levels of humidity, chemicals in the air, and carbon dioxide in your home. Ensuring your home has adequate ventilation is the single best thing you can do in your home.

The next thing you can do is improve the filtration system. Firstly, you may consider upgrading furnace filters. We minimally recommend a deep pleated filter to maximize the surface area and trap the most particles. The filtering efficiency or MERV rating is important. Too low and not much gets filtered out. Too high and the airflow can become restricted. Our technicians will advise you on the best furnace filter for your home. If you have underlying health conditions, a large family, or you simply want the best in air purification, a HEPA filter with a germicidal UV lamp can take it to the next level. This is a hospital grade system that can remove very small particles compared to a basic furnace filter. When used in conjunction with a germicidal ultraviolet light attached to your main ventilation line, this indoor air quality package will offer you ultimate protection against airborne contaminants. While research on their efficacy with the coronavirus is yet to be established, these systems are known to kill many other viruses.

We recommend a complete system that works in conjunction with your home’s ventilation. This includes a polarized media air cleaner, a UVC/UVV germicidal lamp, and a HEPA system, which is professionally installed on your ventilation, cleaning the air as it circulates through your furnace and back out to the rest of your home.  While it may be tempting to buy into the latest craze of room air purifiers on Amazon or other big box stores, you will only get optimal protection with a retrofitted system that works to purify the air in your entire home, 24 hours a day. You can only achieve this with a professionally installed system that is attached to your main ventilation as the air circulates through your furnace and ductwork. Read more about the whole-home indoor air quality equipment that we carry.

We recently mentioned that supply chain issues were starting to rear their ugly head with the supply for furnaces and garage heaters. The same is occurring with furnace UV lights and HEPA filters. Schools and office buildings have been buying them up in mass quantities, and we are now looking at 4-6 weeks to get this specialized equipment. If you are thinking of getting one for your home this winter, be proactive and order one with us now. To find out more about indoor air quality packages, or to book a consultation with one of our expert home comfort technicians, contact us online or call us at 780-489-8118 today!

And stay healthy everyone.

8 Furnace Problem Warning Signs: You May Need A Trusted Furnace Repair Service

Brrrrr… Winter is coming early this year in Edmonton! With the changing seasons comes a chill in the air, and potentially even inside your home. Your furnace should have already fired up this fall. If your furnace has started to show signs of aging, you are probably overdue for a furnace repair service. Some warning signs of furnace problems are easy to miss, and others are too dangerous to not miss.

We have come up with a list of 8 warning signs that your heating system may need repairs. Review the list below to determine if you are due for a furnace tune-up from a certified HVAC professional.

1. Cold Air Means A Furnace Repair Service Or Furnace Maintenance Is Needed! 

If you notice the air coming out of your vents is cold, or there is reduced airflow, this could be something as simple as a blocked air duct, to something more complex like a worn-out blower motor. If you are constantly increasing the thermostat to bring the temperature up, you have a problem. You should check-in and around your air vents for obstructions and remove them. Routine furnace maintenance by a professional technician is recommended to ensure that you have strong airflow and no leaks in your ducts and that your blower motor is operating properly.

2. Drafts, Uneven Heating or Condensation are Common Furnace Problems That Could Be Fixed With A Furnace Tune!

If you feel cold drafts in parts of your home when the furnace is running, you could have a leaky duct or a blocked vent. If you have your thermostat set to a higher temperature, and the furnace does not produce adequate heat, you could need a thermostat repair (but first try changing the batteries in your thermostat). If you notice a lot of condensation on your windows, you may need to adjust your humidifier settings. If you continue to have excess condensation, this indicates air is not flowing properly and your system should be checked before you are faced with mold or mildew issues.

3. Furnace Occasionally Turn Off? An Annual Furnace Filter Replacement Schedule Could Fix That Broken Furnace!

When a furnace turns off before its heating cycle is complete, there could be a number of causes. The cause could be that the wiring on your furnace needs to be updated, or that your thermostat needs to be replaced. Another common problem is that the homeowner neglects to change the furnace filter and it is obstructed. The fan motor may need a new belt and the fan might need to be cleaned and calibrated. If you have changed your furnace filter and your thermostat batteries, and the problem persists, a professional tune-up is recommended.

4. Strange Noises? Time To Call The Experienced Furnace Technicians!

Does your furnace squeak, squeal, pop, bang, or rattle? These are all signs of wearing parts within the furnace, like the blower motor, fan belt, or bearings. Noises like pops or pings could also come from thermal expansion of your air ducts when the seasons change, but these sounds will not persist, like abnormal sounds that can come from a furnace under stress. If your furnace is making noises, time is of the essence in assessing the problem and repairing it. Failing to do so can set off a chain reaction of subsequent issues, that ultimately end up costing more to repair than if you had just fixed the initial problem. A furnace tune-up will address any questions you have about your furnace making strange noises.

5. Furnace 15+ Years Old? Keep Your Home Safe: Repair Or Replace Your Furnace!

On average, a furnace lifespan is 12-20 years old, depending on the size of your home, and if you care for and maintain it properly. If you have your furnace tuneup twice a year (once at the start of Fall, and after Winter comes to an end) you shouldn’t need repairs too often with your furnace. This is in tune with having a vehicle that you neglect to maintain. If you drive it too long and don’t maintain it properly, it is either going to break down and need major repairs, or completely break down prematurely. Don’t let this happen to your furnace. Checking for warning signs and having it serviced by a professional will ensure your equipment warranties remain valid. Regular tune-ups will also prolong the life of your furnace, giving you peace of mind home comfort season after season. However, all furnaces eventually will need to be replaced no matter how well they have been kept up over the years. If you are outside the lifespan of a typical furnace, it may be time for a new furnace.

6. Soaring Gas Bills: Could Be A Broken Heater…

In the winter months, we always expect to pay more for our utilities, but if you notice an increase year over year, this could be a sign your furnace isn’t operating efficiently anymore. Compare your gas consumption from one month this year, to the same month last year. Do this for each month of the year, as your bills come in. If you steadily notice a sustained increase in consumption, you may have a furnace working overtime. Always ensure that you change your furnace filters at least every 3 months and that you have your furnace professionally maintained. Failing to do so is bound to cost you more in energy bills.

7. Yellow Pilot Light? Call A Trusted Furnace Repair Technician ASAP!

The pilot light on your furnace should be blue, with a bit of yellow on the tip, and should be a steady flame. A steady, blue pilot light indicates that your furnace is only burning natural gases and is in good working condition. If your pilot light is mostly yellow or orange colours, this could be a sign of a dangerous carbon monoxide leak. If your pilot light is yellow or orange or is flickering, a professional should be contacted right away to make a diagnosis. As a safety guard, you should always invest in a carbon monoxide detector in your mechanical room. Carbon monoxide is colourless and odorless and can cause death. If your carbon monoxide detector ever goes off, you should turn your furnace off, call 911, and evacuate everyone from the house. Read more about carbon monoxide and furnace safety.

8. URGENT! Smell Of Rotten Eggs! Emergency Furnace Repair!

Your furnace often produces a slight smell the first time it fires up in the fall, but if it produces a very strong odor similar to rotten eggs or sewage, you likely have a gas leak. If you ever notice this smell, turn your furnace off immediately and vacate the home. Contact your local gas provider, and 911, to advise them of a potential gas leak. If you notice any other smells coming from your furnace, we always advise having a professional come out to diagnose the problem.

The above list is 8 warning signs of a furnace that already needs repair. Even if you aren’t having warning signs of a failing furnace, you should still take preventative action and have a furnace tune-up conducted by a licensed technician twice per year. If your furnace is already showing warning signs of a problem, our furnace experts will assess and diagnose the problem during your furnace tune-up and will provide you with a repair plan of action and a Straightforward Price for any repairs. Rest assured, the furnace experts at Always will never try to sell you a furnace that you don’t need. We will always try to repair your furnace first, as long as it can safely be repaired, has years left of use, and the cost to repair the problem doesn’t outweigh the cost to replace the equipment. Our technicians will recommend when you should start thinking about replacing your furnace.

It is best to do so when advised, because most furnaces that break down completely do so on the coldest days of the year, leaving the household with no heat! Our team is available 24/7, 365 days a year, to help you take care of all of your homes’ plumbing and heating. Book your furnace maintenance today with the furnace repair technicians at Always Plumbing & Heating by calling 780-489-8118 or contacting us online.

How to Keep Your Hose Bibs from Freezing

Are you ready for another winter? Did you get your furnace up and running? Put away your summer clothes and bring out your winter gear? How about put snow tires on your car? Did you drain your hose bibs?

As winter approaches, there is a risk of your hose bibs freezing. Your hose bibs are the pipes that come out of your house where you would attach your garden hoses. Protecting your hose bibs from freezing is one of the last winter tasks that many homeowners perform, but it’s certainly a crucial one. If you neglect to do this important task, ice will form in the spigot, which can lead to cracked pipes. Cracked hose bibs can cause a plumbing disaster in your home’s basement. Taking a few minutes to do this task each fall can save you hundreds in repair bills from the damages caused by neglecting your hose bibs.

How to Drain Hose Bibs

  •   Locate your hose bibs on the outside of your house
  •   Find the shut-off valve inside of your house (if there is one) that leads to each hose bib
  •   Turn the indoor shutoff valve until you feel it close
  •   Go back outside and test the outdoor tap to ensure it is truly shut off
  •   Remove your garden hoses and drain them of water, then place them into storage for the winter
  •   Drain any remaining water from the hose bibs
  •   Ensure any exposed pipes are properly insulated
  •   Place an insulated hose bib cover over the exterior spigots
  •   For optimal plumbing protection and peace of mind, consider replacing standard hose bibs with frost-proof hose bibs

Completing the above steps before the temperature falls below zero will help prevent cracked hose bibs when the temperatures warm up in the spring. All it takes is a small amount of leftover water in the pipe to freeze. Frozen pipes may burst due to the immense pressure. If this happens, your home could experience indoor flooding and costly repairs when you turn on your faucets in the spring and summer.

The last thing you need to worry about is a flood caused by neglected pipes. Whether you need help fixing a drip or you are interested in frost-proofing your hose bibs, Always Plumbing & Heating is here to help. Our trained and licensed plumbers can help you install frost-proof bibs on all of your outdoor faucets.

Call us at 780-489-8118 or book online today.

Furnace Tune-Ups Reduce the Risk of Sudden Breakdowns

Another winter is on the horizon, which means it’s time to think about scheduling maintenance on your furnace. While you may not think of it most of the year, you certainly expect your furnace to be there for you when the cool weather arrives, working efficiently to keep you warm and comfortable in your home. Neglecting this essential piece of home comfort equipment is a mistake made by many. Just as your vehicle requires routine maintenance and oil changes to keep it operational and efficient, so does your home’s furnace. When failing to have your heating equipment professionally maintained each year, you are placing yourself at risk of a breakdown when the cold weather arrives and your system cannot keep up. Once you are left with a furnace that isn’t doing its job when the temperatures dip below freezing, you will never make the mistake of skipping out on an annual fall furnace tune-up again. But, don’t wait for this to happen to you!

What Does an 18-Point Furnace Tune-up Include?

A comprehensive furnace tune-up should include essential tests and procedures to keep your equipment running efficiently and to keep your family safe. When you book a furnace tuneup with Always Plumbing & Heating, you can be sure we will conduct the following steps:

  •   Testing your systems for dangerous gas leaks and carbon monoxide
  •   Inspecting and testing your ignition and control circuits, fan, and condensate drain
  •   Performing a safety inspection on your heat exchanger
  •   Testing the electrical components, venting, and airflow
  •   Cleaning and lubricating the blower assembly
  •   Calibrating your thermostats
  •   Inspecting your humidifier and indoor air quality products
  •   And much, much more!

Risks of Neglecting Furnace Maintenance

At Always Plumbing & Heating, we strongly believe in the importance of annual furnace tune-ups as preventative maintenance. Properly maintained equipment will reduce the need for emergency repairs, breakdowns, or premature replacement of your entire system. Not to mention, an improperly maintained system is certain to be working overcapacity, resulting in higher gas bills that are avoidable with a routine annual furnace tune-up. It also should also be mentioned, as many homeowners fail to realize, that most furnace manufacturer warranties are null and void if you fail to provide them with records of annual furnace maintenance (by a certified professional) in the event that your equipment fails while still under the warranty period. It is very important to not only read the print on the manufacturer warranty of your equipment but also ensure that you are following their recommendations for this reason alone. The small investment for a furnace tune-up will be worth it to keep your furnace clean and ensure it is performing optimally, preventing major repairs or replacements down the road.

What Sets Our Techs Apart?

At Always Plumbing & Heating, our expert HVAC technicians believe in going above and beyond in completing a thorough tune-up of your equipment and providing you with a record of every single step that was complete. Our technicians in Edmonton and the greater area will make sure that you are completely satisfied before they leave your home and you sign off on the job. Always Plumbing & Heating wants you to stay warm all winter and not worry about being stuck with a broken unit. Schedule your annual furnace tune-up with us today for peace-of-mind home comfort that you can count on! 

Call us at 780-489-8118 or book online today.

What Does “Home Comfort” Truly Mean?

You may have heard our jingle on the radio or seen our motto online, but when we say “We Want to Bring You Comfort”, what does that truly mean? By comfort, we mean home comfort, which is extremely important to your overall happiness and health. Many will agree that there is nothing worse than coming home from work in the winter only to have to pile on wool socks, sweaters, and blankets because their home is cold and drafty. Or, in the summer with days so hot that one may wrongfully assume they’re having hot flashes and their family can’t sleep with blankets on, let alone get much sleep at all. Home comfort technology fixes these nuisances by creating and maintaining a comfortable indoor environment in your home. The best equipment will adjust to extreme temperature fluctuations and keep you and your family comfortable season after season. Home comfort involves utilizing technology that delivers the best in temperature, humidity, and air quality.

Temperature

The average homeowner spends a lot in household energy, and some of this cost is to heat and cool their homes. Energy consumption and costs vary based on where you live, the length of the heating or cooling season, the age and structure of your home, and the type of mechanical equipment that you have. To maintain a comfortable indoor temperature, it is not only important to make sure that your home has adequate insulation and windows, but also to ensure that your HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) equipment is efficient, maintained, and replaced when needed. Some key points to remember regarding temperature and home comfort are:

  • Ideal indoor temperature – Keeping your indoor temperature between the range of 20-22 degrees celsius is optimal. This may need to be slightly higher if you have seniors or infants in the home. While you are away the temperature can be reduced to 18 degrees celsius.
  • Smart thermostats – Utilizing a smart thermostat will allow you precise temperature control during the heating and cooling season. Many smart thermostats, such as the Google Nest, will recognize your patterns, will adjust the temperature accordingly when you leave or come home, and will send you reports on your energy use and energy savings. Read more about the benefits of smart thermostats.
  • Equipment tune-ups – It is strongly recommended to have your furnace and air conditioner professionally inspected and serviced no less than once per year. An improperly maintained HVAC system is linked to higher energy consumption, more frequent breakdowns, emergency repairs, and premature replacement of your entire system. Many manufacturer warranties are void if you neglect this important task. Don’t wait for equipment to fail before paying attention to it: Avoid being without heat in the middle of winter, or without cooling on the hottest summer days, by having your equipment professionally maintained.
  • Equipment replacement – As your furnace and air conditioner age, their energy consumption increases. Newer technology is more energy-efficient. When it is recommended to replace your furnace or air conditioner, it is best to do so before waiting for it to break down completely.  This will ensure continual home comfort (and energy savings) for you and your family.

Humidity

The level of humidity in your home can certainly affect your home comfort. Your home should have a humidifier attached to its furnace, and it should be set accordingly to obtain ideal humidity levels. This is an important discussion to have with your furnace technician at the time of your annual maintenance appointment. A home that is too dry or too humid can lead to many issues for your family including the following:

  • Health problems – nose bleeds, dry skin, and sinus problems can all be triggered by dry air. These problems tend to get worse in winter months when our furnaces are running more often.
  • Damage to your home – Wood furniture and flooring can become damaged by a home that is too dry. If you notice new spaces between your floorboards or splintering and cracking of your floors or wood furniture, you most certainly have a low-humidity problem. Alternatively, if your home is too humid (less common in Alberta climate), you may notice excessive condensation on your windows, damage to your wall, and mould or mildew problems.

Air Quality 

Air pollutants like mould, fungi, bacteria, and dust mites can get into your home’s central ventilation and cause problems to your home comfort and ultimately to the health and wellness of your family. You can protect your indoor air quality in a number of ways:

  • Ventilation – Ensure the air is moving in your home by keeping your furnace fan running all the time. Your furnace filter will then trap larger contaminants and prevent them from recirculating.
  • Upgraded air filters – You may consider upgrading your furnace filters to a HEPA system to trap smaller particles and reduce air contamination.
  • UV lights – If anyone in your family has health issues, it is highly recommended to have a UV-C light installed on your central HVAC. A UV-C light system will purify your air 24 hours a day, destroying airborne viruses and bacterias.

Read more about indoor air quality systems that work on your homes mechanical.

Always Plumbing & Heating is dedicated to your comfort with true 24/7 service. We’re here to recommend ways that will not only make you more comfortable today but help you save money down the road. By offering you state-of-the-art solutions, committing our team to continuous training, and helping you take care of the equipment you already have, it adds up to fewer repairs and non-stop comfort, season after season. “We want to bring you comfort”, not only in your home but in the service we provide.

Next time you face a heating or plumbing concern, reach out to the expert plumbers and home comfort technicians at Always Plumbing & Heating.

You can call on us anytime. Yes. ANY time. That’s why our name is ALWAYS.

Call us at 780-489-8118 today to get started.

Why You Should Get a Garage Heater Installed Now

The dog days of summer are coming to an end, and while last winter’s memory may be a thing of the past, there is no doubt that eventually sub-zero temperatures will arrive once again. With many Albertans spending more time at home these days because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many are feeling that they are overcrowded, lack privacy and space, and need to maximize the square footage of their property to enjoy every bit to its full advantage. A heated garage is a perfect way to maximize your living space in your home.

Whether you have been considering a garage heater for a while, or maybe not at all, there are several reasons why you should consider having one installed this fall.

Top 5 Reasons To Install A Garage Heater This Year

1. Supply issues – We are not predicting there will be a supply shortage of garage heaters this winter. However, you may have seen supply issues with other building and home renovation materials since the start of the pandemic. It appears that as we spend more time at home, we spend more time on home improvements. Typically, when demand exceeds supply, the product cost will increase. We recommend having your garage heater installed now to prevent this possibility from happening to you.

2. Gas line installation – It is certainly a good idea to do this before the ground freezes if you have a detached garage. Our plumbers can pull all of the appropriate permits and complete a full gas line and equipment installation.

3. Maximize your living space – A garage doesn’t just have to be a place to park your vehicles. Maximize your space by creating a man-cave, a workshop,  a home gym, or even a place for the kids to play in. Whatever you choose to use your garage for, having it heated will ensure that you can enjoy it year-round.

4. Keep your vehicles toasty – And last, but certainly not least, having a heated garage where you park your vehicles will preserve your battery life, reduce fuel consumption, and most importantly, improve your comfort. Have your garage heated this fall, so you never have to deal with plugging in your vehicle or brushing off the snow once it arrives all too soon.

A heated garage will allow you to get the most use of your whole home, season after season. The certified HVAC technicians and plumbers at Always Plumbing & Heating will take care of all your garage heater needs, from product selection to gas line installation, to fixture of your equipment, we will ensure it is done safely and meets current building codes. Book a free consultation today so you can enjoy the comforts of a heated garage all year long!

Call us at 780-489-8118 today to get started.

How To Clean Smelly Drains

You walk into your kitchen or bathroom and smell a strong odour that you can’t quite place, it could be coming from your drains. Drain odours are a common problem that happens over time, but there are some simple things you can try at home to get rid of them.

What Causes Smelly Drains?

Sinks are the most common site for smelly drains because of food being washed down them, but you can also have drain smells coming from your tub or shower drains. The most common causes of drain odours include:

  •   Bacteria and Debris: Grease, food scraps, hair, soap residue, and other debris can line your pipes, attracting bacteria that release foul-smelling odours.
  •   Mold or Mildew: These smells can occur if you have even a tiny leak under a sink or behind a wall.
  •   Sewer smells: If you have drains that aren’t used very often, sewer gases can rise up from them if the drain traps become empty.
  •   Sulfates in the water: If you notice a rotten egg smell, you could have a bacteria that entered your hot water tank that reacts with the sulfates.
  •   Clogged drain pipes or vents: When drain vents become clogged, you will be left with sluggish water movement and stagnant odours.
  •   Plumbing mistakes: Sometimes small mistakes are made in the plumbing of a home that can lead to odours. A missing P-trap or drain vent will certainly cause strong, pungent odours. Leaks or rotting drain tubes will also cause odours to escape from your drains.

How Do You Get Rid of the Smell?

Determining the best way to get rid of the odour will depend on the cause of it. There are a number of things you can try first, before calling a plumber.

1. For odours caused by suspected debris build-up: Make a solution of near-boiling water with vinegar. Slowly pour half of it down the drain. Wait a few minutes then run some cold water, then pour the remainder of the solution down the drain to wash away anything that is remaining. Another concoction you can try is 1 cup of baking soda down the drain followed by 2 cups of hot vinegar. Allow the solution to fizz and settle for one hour, then rinse with hot water.

2. For clogged P-traps odours: Clean the P-trap under your sink. You will need gloves, a bucket, and a wrench. Remove the curved portion of the plumbing beneath the sink and empty it out into a bucket. Rinse the P-trap out with a garden hose. You may wish to soak it in bleach for an extra clean. Reassemble the sink before using it again.

3. For sewer smells: Once you have ruled out a gas leak, you can combat the cause of sewer smells from your drains. Sewer smells can rise up in drains that aren’t used very often as the drain traps become empty. Keep water regularly running through all the drains in your home to prevent this. If you have drains that aren’t used very often, like a guest shower, you could pour a little bit of mineral oil into that drain to slow evaporation of water from that drain.

4. For sulfates: Try turning up the temperature on your hot water tank. The standard setting on a hot water tank is 140 degrees, but you can turn it up to 160 degrees for a short amount of time.  If you have any odour-causing bacteria lingering in there, the higher temperature should eliminate it. Before you do this, make sure there is a pressure valve on the side of your water tank first. Once the tank has had time to heat up, turn off your main water supply line. Attach a garden hose to the lower drain port on your hot water tank, and empty your tank completely into the floor drains.

5. For preventative maintenance: We recommend the use of a non-corrosive, environmentally friendly drain cleaner like BioSmart for prevention of clogs and odours. BioSmart will reduce odours by breaking down lingering bacteria in your drains. It will also keep your drains flowing smoothly and prevent clogs. BioSmart can be used once per month in your drains for optimal performance.

6. For mold or mildew smell: You will require a plumber to determine the cause of this as there may be a small plumbing leak that has gone undetected.

If you have tried the above steps and still have the problem, you will require the help of a skilled plumber. Your plumber will do a full investigation of your home’s plumbing and provide you an accurate diagnosis of the problem, and repair options. Our plumbers at Always Plumbing & Heating can also do a professional drain cleaning for you to get rid of the odours, and provide you with BioSmart for preventive maintenance. When you have the work done professionally by Always Plumbing & Heating, you will receive guaranteed workmanship and the best warranties that we stand by 24 hours a day…Always!

Call us at 780-489-8118 today to get started.

How to Prevent Your Basement from Flooding

It’s been another rainy summer in Edmonton, and the water table has been rising significantly due to 2 consecutive summers with record rainfall. Heavy rainfall poses a risk to homeowners, in which the water can seep into a basement causing flooding. This can gradually happen over time, causing mold problems, or the issue can be more sudden, causing a massive flood with extensive water damage.

What Causes Basement Flooding?

Basement flooding is the most common type of water damage that happens to a home. Communities that have several drainage ponds are typically lower-lying and may be more prone to flooding. As the heavy rainfall continues, the water table rises, and if your home is not properly maintained and equipped, the water eventually will have nowhere to go but your basement.

Water can enter your basement in a number of ways:

  •   Cracked foundation
  •   Windows and doors that are at ground level
  •   Improper foundation drains or weeping tile
  •   Improper grading with run-off going towards your home
  •   Improper placement of downspouts
  •   Poorly maintained eavestroughs
  •   Power outages causing a sump pump failure

How Can You Protect Your Basement from Water Damage?

Preventing water from entering your home needs a multi-faceted approach to ensure that your basement stays dry. First, you will need to determine if any of the above listed are factors in the water getting in your basement. You will need to assess the grading of your property and the setup of your eavestroughs and downspouts. But the biggest necessity in preventing water from entering your home is ensuring you have an adequate sump pump system. Some homes in flood-prone areas may require more than one sump pump, called a redundant system, for ultimate protection.

Here is what Always Plumbing & Heating recommends to ensure ultimate flood protection from heavy rainfall:

  •   Routine sump pump cleaning
  •   Test your sump pump in the spring and fall
  •   Ensure your sump pump has a backup power source (many floods happen due to power outages)
  •   Consider a redundant system if your home is flood-prone
  •   Ensure all sump pumps have failure alarms installed. You can get some that are Wi-Fi capable and will alert your phone if there is a problem

Even if you do not have water in your basement, don’t wait for it to happen to you to do something. Ensure that you are properly maintaining your sump pump, and taking care of other things that can cause water damage like improper grading and poorly maintained eavestroughs.

If you find water in your basement, it is important to contact a professional plumber to evaluate the full extent of your flooding issues. Flooding not only occurs from heavy rainfall or a high water table, but also can occur from a sewer backup, broken pipes, or leaking hot water tanks.

The plumbing experts at Always Plumbing & Heating will do a full home plumbing inspection to properly diagnose the cause of the flood and provide you with recommendations for repairs. Our team can also help you prevent a problem before it starts by ensuring you have the best system in place to prevent flooding in the first place.

When you have the work done professionally by Always Plumbing & Heating, you will receive guaranteed workmanship and the best warranties that we stand by 24 hours a day. And remember, the best way to avoid water damage is to prevent it!

Call us at 780-489-8118 today to get started.

Conserve Water and Protect Your Home from Water Damage with Flo by Moen

When it comes to water leaks in the home, statistics show:

  •   40% of homeowners will suffer from water damage at some point in their lives.
  •   The average home loses 17 gallons of water daily due to undetected leaks.
  •   60% of Flo by Moen users discover they have a leak they didn’t know existed once they have the device installed.
  •   You are 6X more likely than fire and 5X more likely than theft to experience a catastrophic water damage event in your home.

With these numbers in mind, Moen created a Smart Water shutoff device that they call Flo by Moen. This device attaches to your main water shutoff line in your home and runs daily tests to ensure that your home’s plumbing is running efficiently. The device is linked to your smartphone app, which will send you reports on water usage, as well as emergency alerts in the event that a water leak is detected.

When an unusual amount of water usage is noted by the device, such as in the event of a burst pipe or a running toilet, it will trigger an automatic water shutoff to your home. This will prevent a continual leak which left undetected would either drive up your water bills or potentially cause catastrophic damage to your home.

Flo by Moen is an essential peace-of-mind device for homeowners who are looking for the ultimate in security. If you own a seasonal property that you do not visit all year, you may consider having this device installed there. Likewise, if you frequently travel, especially during the winter months when the majority of burst pipes occur, this device can be a lifesaver on not only your peace of mind but also on your wallet.

The Flo by Moen device also detects temperature changes to your water. In the event that your furnace was to fail, for example, the device would trigger and send you an alert when the water dips to an unsafe temperature. This type of preventative maintenance is key to preventing a catastrophic flood.

It should be mentioned that Flo by Moen will not prevent sewer backups because it works on your home’s main water lines in, not the sewer lines going out. But you can get ultimate flood protection by ensuring that you also get a mainline backflow valve installed in your home. You may even take advantage of some insurance savings when you provide your insurance broker with a copy of your Insurance Verification Letter indicating that your home is equipped with these devices.

If you want to protect your whole home from flooding and find ways to minimize your water use, get started today with Flo by Moen. Once you have the pleasures of using this technology, you will never go without it again!

If you wish to learn more about how Flo by Moen can protect you, your home, and its contents, the expert plumbers at Always Plumbing & Heating would be happy to answer any questions you may have. The certified technicians will run some tests on your home’s water network, and set up the device and your app, ensuring all is done in a seamless manner.

When you have the work done professionally by Always Plumbing & Heating, you will receive guaranteed workmanship and the best warranties that we stand by 24 hours a day. The best way to avoid water damage is to prevent it, and you get exactly that when you have Flo by Moen installed in your home.

Call us at 780-489-8118 today to get started.

Reference: 2020 Moen Inc. https://www.moen.ca/flo/

How To Improve Your Water Pressure

Have you ever noticed sluggish water flow coming from one or more faucets in your home? If you have, this is a situation that you must investigate and tend to promptly. Low water pressure can be caused by many things. It could be something as simple as a shut-off valve that has been closed or a faucet that is plugged, to something more complex like a failing water tank or a plumbing leak. You should do a whole home plumbing inspection when you notice low water pressure, as the cause can be coming from more than one area.

Step One: Check Your Water Pressure

  •   Test all faucets inside and on the exterior of your home.
  •   Run water on each faucet to determine if one or more areas have low water pressure.
  •   Run both hot and then cold water through each faucet. Sometimes water pressure is only low when the hot water is on, indicating a problem with the water heater.

Step Two: Check the Affected Faucet

  •   If you only have low water pressure in one area, inspect the affected fixture for clogs.
  •   Remove the end of the faucet and check for clogs such as calcification and limescale buildup.
  •   If the aerator needs to be cleaned, you can soak it in vinegar, or use a limescale remover.
  •   Before you reapply the cleaned aerator, turn the faucet on, and see if there is sluggish flow even without the aerator. That would indicate the problem is of another cause.
  •   Note that you can also replace your aerator with one that has a higher flow rate.

Step Three: Check Other Potential Sources

  •   Check the shutoff valve in your home. If it is even turned a small amount, it can drastically reduce your water pressure.
  •   Look for water leaks. A running toilet is a common cause of an ongoing plumbing leak. This wastes a ton of water but also can cause water pressure issues to other fixtures in your home.
  •   Check your water heater. If you have low water pressure when running hot water only, check to see if the hot water shutoff valve been turned off.
  •   Make sure the sprinkler outside your home has been turned off. If you have a built-in irrigation system, consider having it tested. A small leak in this system can cause continual water loss and water pressure issues.

Step Four: Contact a Plumbing Company

  •   If you still haven’t been able to locate and correct the cause of low water pressure, consider contacting a professional plumbing company. They will conduct a thorough analysis of all water lines in your home to determine the source of the problem.
  •   One serious cause of low water pressure would be if your home has polybutylene (poly-B) pipes. They can become corroded over time and cause many disastrous plumbing leaks. The replacement of this type of plumbing is best left to the professionals. Read more about determining if you have poly-B piping.

Step Five: Get a Water Softener

  •   If you noticed a lot of mineral buildup inside your faucet aerators, it may be time to consider having a water softener added to your home.
  •   While we have excellent drinking water, Edmonton is known to have moderately hard water. Mineral deposits can build up and cause plumbing problems, as well as shorten the lifespan of your hot water tank and humidifier. It is also hard on your clothes and skin.
  •   Learn more about how a water softener can eliminate your hard water problems.

When you experience water pressure issues that you cannot fix yourself, contact the professional plumbers at Always Plumbing & Heating to take this daunting task off your hands. We would be happy to conduct a thorough whole-home plumbing inspection to locate any existing problems, as well as recommendations to prevent issues in the future. At Always Plumbing our customers come first which is why all of our work is backed up with the “Always Plumbing & Heating Fixed Right or It’s Free” Guarantee. We do Upfront StraightForward Pricing® which means you will never get a surprise bill or extra costs tacked on to your final invoice. All pricing is discussed and agreed upon before work even begins.

All of our technicians are certified and receive the best training available in the industry. You can trust us to be there on time, there when you need us 24/7 with the right tools for the job – Always! Call us 780-489-8118 or book online today.

Thinking of Selling Your Home? Consider These Upgrades Before Listing

Have you decided to put your home on the market? Selling a home gives you an opportunity to make a profit, and you want to maximize this profit, right?

Here are some simple and cost-effective plumbing and heating maintenance and upgrades that you can perform to maximize your return when your home sells.

 7 Steps To Increase Your House Appeal To Home Buyers

1. Source out a professional whole-home plumbing inspection. This will not only allow you to tend to any existing problems but also will provide you with a checklist that you can share with the buyer indicating that your mechanical system has been professionally inspected and maintained.

2. Have your furnace and air conditioner serviced by a professional. Manufacturer warranties on this equipment are typically null and void if you fail to perform annual maintenance on them. Performing an equipment tune-up will not only allow you to tend to any existing problems but also will provide you with a checklist that you can share with the buyer indicating that your equipment was recently maintained.

3. Update your faucets. It’s not overly expensive to replace your plumbing fixtures with new, modern, water-saving faucets. You will increase the overall visual appeal to potential buyers when your plumbing fixtures are updated.

4. Descale your fixtures. If your faucets are relatively new, descale them for a better appeal, and remove and clean the aerators to maximize water pressure.

5. Re-caulk your bathtub and sinks. This is something that you can do yourself, and it drastically improves the appearance in your bathrooms and kitchen.

6. Re-pipe your water lines. If your home has older plumbing that is frequently springing leaks, particularly if your home has polybutylene plumbing (also known as poly-b), replacing this is worth its weight in gold in resale. Poly-b was recalled after being used in many homes in the 1980s-1990s. Some home insurers will not insure your property if these pipes are not replaced. This can be a big deterrence for buyers. Read more about the implications of poly-B Piping.

7. Think about the Millennial homebuyer. Millennials comprise the largest generation in history, and they represent the largest group of homebuyers. It is important to think about what may appeal to the Millennial homebuyer. Research has shown that this age group values things such as technology, energy-efficiency, and comfort. You may consider adding a Google Nest thermostat which is a relatively inexpensive upgrade that doesn’t go unnoticed. A wifi-capable smart sump pump alarm is another must. You can even add a Flo by Moen smart water shutoff valve, to monitor water leaks and prevent disastrous flooding if a leak is detected. This group of buyers wants to be comfortable in their homes, so an air conditioner is a must-have item, and will be a huge selling point when you place your house on the market.

The bottom line when you make upgrades to your home is that they should increase the overall resale value and buying appeal. Upgrades and maintenance to your home’s plumbing and heating systems show the buyer that you have taken pride in your home and taken care to maintain it. This is a huge selling point for the buyer.

As the seller, you want to make the most cost-effective upgrades that increase the appeal before selling. Some of these upgrades you can do yourself, and others are best left to a professional who can provide you with a thorough inspection and maintenance of your home’s mechanical system.

When you are thinking about selling your home, Always Plumbing & Heating can help you start off on the right foot when you call their professional plumbers for a full in-home plumbing and heating evaluation and tuneup. Once your maintenance work is complete, and urgent repairs are tended to, then you can think about what upgrades you want to add to your home before selling.

The experts at Always Plumbing & Heating can lend you a hand when it comes to upgrading any part of your home’s plumbing or heating equipment. All of our technicians are certified and receive the best training available in the industry. You can trust us to be there on time, there when you need us 24/7 with the right tools for the job – in this home, and your next home – Always! Call us 780-489-8118 or book online today.

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