Category: DIY Maintenance
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How to Check for Frozen Pipes and Broken Hose Bibs to Avoid Basement Flooding
Edmonton, Alberta is cold during the winter months, reaching a low of -40C at times. For people who love winter activities, it’s a perfect place to live. Unfortunately, the climate can present a host of issues for homeowners including frozen pipes and hose bibs. Damage to your home and plumbing caused by a frozen pipe…
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A Homeowner’s Guide to Understanding and Preventing Clogs
Homeownership brings many joys and responsibilities, and one common woe that can dampen the spirits is dealing with clogged drains. Let’s embark on a journey to unravel the mysteries, understand the causes, and equip you with the tools to keep your drains in top-notch condition. Identifying Common Culprits The usual suspects behind clogged drains are…
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Your Post-Holiday Home Checklist: Ring in the New Year with HVAC and Plumbing Maintenance Tips
The holiday festivities are over, and as you pack away the decorations, it’s the perfect time to turn your attention to your home’s essential systems—HVAC and plumbing. A proactive approach to maintenance ensures a smooth start to the new year, preventing unexpected issues and promoting efficient operation. We have included a comprehensive post-holiday checklist to…
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Unclog Your Drains Without Tools – Here’s How!
Addressing a clogged drain can be frustrating, especially without the right tools. However, there are several methods you can try to unclog your drain without the need for specialized tools. Whether it’s a sink, bathtub, or shower giving you trouble, these DIY methods can help you get the water flowing again in no time. This…
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Got A Leaky Faucet? 5 Reasons Why And How To Fix It Yourself
Has that persistent “drip, drip, drip” from a dripping faucet got you teetering on the brink of madness? Dripping faucets are not only annoying, but they can also be a sign of something more serious. Here are five possible causes of your leaky faucet and how to fix it yourself. What Are the Common Causes…
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Top Safety Tips for Your Furnace: How to Keep Your Home Toasty All Winter Long
Winter is a magical season when we enjoy cozy evenings by the fireplace, warm blankets, and hot cocoa. However, to make your home truly toasty during the coldest months, you need a reliable furnace. To ensure your furnace operates safely and efficiently, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide of top safety tips. Read on to discover…
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Winter-Proofing Your House Plumbing: 10 Tips to Prevent Burst Pipes
Winter brings with it a picturesque blanket of snow, cozy nights by the fire, and the holiday spirit. However, it also comes with a potential menace – burst pipes. Icy cold temperatures can wreak havoc on your plumbing system, causing expensive and frustrating damage. But fear not, for we’ve got you covered with 10 essential…
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Preparing Your HVAC System for an Extended Vacation
Planning a well-deserved extended vacation is exciting, but before you jet off to your dream destination, there’s one essential task you shouldn’t overlook: preparing your HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system. Taking care of your HVAC system before you leave can lead to energy savings, maintain indoor air quality, and ensure the longevity of…
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Top Tips for Saving Money on Your Water Bill
Saving money on your water bill is not only beneficial for your wallet but also for the environment. By implementing a few simple tips and making conscious changes in your daily water usage habits, you can significantly reduce your water consumption and ultimately lower your water bill. In this blog post, we will provide you…
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If You Own A/C, You Need to Read This
As we enter into the dog days of summer, we are receiving more and more calls from customers looking to purchase an air conditioner. But with heat, we are also getting flooded with calls from homeowners to service or repair their existing, but much neglected, air conditioners. Sometimes, when your air conditioner is not cooling…
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How to Fix a Garbage Disposal
A malfunctioning garbage disposal can be a huge headache. In this blog we cover some DIY solutions you can use to troubleshoot the problem.
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Getting Your Hose Bibs Ready for Spring
As Spring has begun, and warm weather is just around the corner, you may find yourself spending more time outdoors these days. If you’re doing some spring cleaning, you will likely need to turn on your garden hose at some point. Harsh Alberta winters with extremely low temperatures can sometimes cause hairline fractures in your…
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Top 5 Things You Can Do to Avoid a Visit from the Plumber
This may be hard to absorb, but the biggest threat to your homes mechanical is…you! There are many bad habits that homeowners have, or things that homeowners neglect doing, which result in costly plumbing and HVAC repairs. Here are some simple steps that you can take to save you time and money in the future.…
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How to Prevent Frozen Pipes
In chilly Alberta winters, water lines can freeze if frost is pushed below the waterline. The pipes in your home can also freeze due to extreme temperatures, wind chills, or furnace failures which result in no heat in your home. You should be familiar with how to prevent your pipes from freezing, and what to…
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How to Keep Your Drains Clear of Hair and other Buildup
Clogged drains are a common household problem. Knowing how to keep your drains clear will keep your pipes healthy and reduce your need to call a plumber for sluggish drains or water backup. Follow these tips to limit what you put in your drains Try these tips to remove clogs before you call a plumber…
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How to Clean a Granite Composite Sink
Granite composite sinks are hard, durable and resistant. Looking after them is quite simple. This article will explain how to properly care for your granite composite sink, from day-to-day care to deep cleaning to remove stains, water spots and buildup. Advantages of Granite Composite Sinks A granite composite sink, such as Silgranit by BLANCO, is…
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Winter Vacation Checklist: How to Prepare and Protect Your Home
This checklist is to help you protect your home and your valuables so that you have peace of mind while you travel. Winter Vacation Home Maintenance Checklist 1. Contact your insurance broker. Some insurance policies have clauses that will void your insurance if you are away for an extended period of time. It is important…