Why do you need a Frost Free Hose Bib?

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Why Do You Need A Frost Free Hose Bib?

Edmonton gets real cold in winter. Very, very cold. We get temperatures as low as -40°C. Temperatures this low can cause homeowners all kinds of problems: cars that won’t start; outside locks that freeze; frozen window locks, and; frozen outside garden hose taps.

You probably won’t even know the pipe to your outside tap has burst from ice expansion until spring comes with warmer temperatures. With the spring thaw that split pipe is going to start spraying water everywhere. If the pipe is somewhere in your house that you don’t normally see, the escaping water could cause some serious damage.

Don’t let your pipes freeze, because they will split the pipe when the water turns to ice which then expands:

With warmer temperatures, the ice in the pipe will melt and escape through the split part of the pipe:

Frost-free hose bib installation prevents frozen pipes and the resulting water damage in the spring.

At JW Brian Plumbing and Heating we can’t do anything about Edmonton’s horribly cold winters. But, we can help prevent ultimate water damage from a split outside pipe. We can install a frost-free hose bib that will eliminate standing water in your outside tap system.

Call JW Brian Plumbing and Heating at (780) 249-1496 for more information or to arrange an in-home consultation.

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Weil-McLain Indirect Water Heater Leaking

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Weil-McLain Indirect Water Heater Leaking

Weil-McLain Indirect Water Heaters are a great accessory to your home or business’s hydronic heating system. Unfortunately they do, like all the equipment in your boiler room, have a limited life span and will need to be replaced at some point.

If your Weil-McLain Indirect Hot Water Heater is leaking water, and it has been determined that it is the tank and not any of the connecting pipe, it will need to be replaced as there is no repairing it. The shell is corroded and beyond help.

JW Brian Plumbing and Heating has years of experience installing and replacing Weil-McLain Indirect Water Heaters. Call us today for a professional and reasonably priced installation.

Weil-McLain boiler with an Indirect Water Heater

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When Should You Call an Emergency Plumber in Edmonton?

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When Should You Call an Emergency Plumber in Edmonton?

We are often asked by Edmonton home and business owners with a plumbing issue whether it’s an emergency situation. However, the reality is that there’s never a convenient time for a home or business owner to call (and hire) a plumber, there are certainly moments when it is absolutely mandatory that you call an emergency plumber in Edmonton.

The main concern that constitutes a plumbing emergency is whether or not there is flooding. Therefore, if there is any sign of a flood you will need to call a plumber immediately. However, if it’s not and it is after hours, you should be able to wait till regular business hours for service.

If you are the operator of a restaurant or night club, a plumbing emergency could possibly shut you down for the night, resulting in lost revenue. In order words, a reliable plumbing contractor such as JW Brian Plumbing & Heating is essential for avoiding a disaster. We are available 7 days a week for all your plumbing emergencies.

To help you understand the underlying causes of an emergency plumbing scenario in Edmonton, we have created this simple article that outlines the most common emergencies.

1. Frozen Pipes

If a pipe is exposed to sub zero temperatures for too long there is a strong likelihood the water within the pipe will freeze and burst. In this instance, call a plumber immediately and close the main shutoff valve. However, if the pipe hasn’t split, then slowly thaw the pipes (DO NOT USE A FLAME) otherwise the quick expansion may burst the pipe.

2. Sewage Backup

Some of the common causes of sewage backup include tree roots, collapsed sewer lines (older neighborhoods), or a clogged drain. Whatever the case or time of the year in Edmonton, a sewage backup is most certainly an emergency plumbing situation.

3. Leaking Pipes and Plumbing Fixtures

In many cases a leaky pipe or fixture may not qualify as an emergency if you can contain it. In other words, if you can contain the water temporarily (bucket) or shut the water off to the water line or fixture.

If you can’t control the leak and there is significant flooding, you will need to call an emergency plumber immediately.

What isn't an Emergency Plumbing Situation?

You will save yourself extra costs by not calling a plumber after hours. Most plumbing problems do not fall into the “emergency” category. This may include:

These are just a few standard, non-emergency occasions to call a plumber. If you are in Edmonton and are unsure whether you have a plumbing crisis on your hands, feel free to contact us.

Emergency Plumbing Problem? Contact JW Brian Plumbing & Heating!

Are you a Edmonton based home or business owner and dealing with an emergency plumbing situation? Feel free to contact JW Brian Plumbing and Heating at (780) 249-1496.

We Are Here To Help

Contact us now for reliable and trusted plumbing, heating and gas fitting services 7 days a week! (Subject to availability).

What to Look For in a Good Plumber or Plumbing Contractor in Edmonton?

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What to Look For in a Good Plumber or Plumbing Contractor in Edmonton?

What to Look For in a Good Plumber or Plumbing Contractor in Edmonton? Plumbing is a compulsory trade, meaning the only people allowed to work in this trade, by law, are either Certified Journeyman or Registered Apprentices. For many in need of a plumber in Edmonton, the process of finding and hiring the right person/company usually goes something like this:

Go to Google and search “Edmonton plumber”.
Scan the first page of the search results or possibly a local review site or directory (e.g. Homestars).
Pick a few companies that came into their view first or have high reviews.
Call a few of these companies for rates and availability.

There’s nothing wrong with this step-by-step because not only is it simple and puts you (the customer) in control, but it’s also the easiest way to weed through so many options.

As of this article’s publish date, a Google search for “Edmonton plumbers” yields 1,170,000 results, Yelp hosts 286 plumbing companies, the BBB lists 400+ plumbers. When you also consider there are 30,000+ businesses of all types and sizes in Edmonton (as of 2016), it’s no surprise why we try to simplify our search for local products or services — there are just too many options to choose from!

With this in mind, this guide is meant to assist you when hiring your next plumber in Edmonton. We hope to equip you with a set of questions to ask so you can obtain the right information and ultimately hire the right Plumber or Plumbing Contractor for the job.

Here are seven questions you should ask the next Plumber or Plumbing Contractor (or seek to have answered) when you are in need of of plumbing services:

1. Are they a Certified Journeymen/ Registered Apprentice within the Province of Alberta?

Plumbing is a compulsory trade, meaning the only people allowed to work in this trade, by law, are either Certified Journeyman or Registered Apprentices with the province of Alberta. The reason for this is the protection of the general public’s health. All your major plagues through out history have been caused by poor sanitation!

In essence, a Journeyman is a skilled worker certified and authorized to perform a specific trade by the Province of Alberta. A Registered Apprentice is an individual registered with the Province of Alberta, who is still in training and has not yet completed their necessary education, training, and examination to become a Certified Journeyman.

A good question when hiring a Plumber or Plumbing Contractor would be, is the individual coming to your home or business a Certified Journeyman/Registered Apprentice, and is he or she experienced in the type of work you need done?

2. Are they licensed with the city, insured, and bonded?

Let’s say you hire a Plumber, they complete the job, then due to an oversight by the plumber, the next day you wake up to a leaky pipe and incredible flood damage in your home. Who is responsible for the damage and covering the cost to clean up and repair?

Naturally it is the Plumbing Contractor, but unless they have insurance, chances are you will be on the hook for the damage.

For your protection and peace of mind, you should confirm that the Plumber or Plumbing Contractor is licensed with the City of Edmonton, insured, and bonded.

3. How long have they been in business for?

This question is often missed or forgotten about. Ideally you should be hiring a Plumber or Plumbing Contractor that has been in business for at least a few years and has all of the right qualifications (mentioned above).

4. Are they experienced with all different types of materials?

The plumbing materials used in residential and commercial applications have evolved tremendously over the decades. For instance, decades ago a popular material for building drains was clay (we still see this in older homes in Edmonton). Today there are more materials used from cast iron to modern plastics.

It can be a bit difficult to know what material(s) a Plumber should be experienced with. However, you may be able to gain insights through:

Their website
Past work experience
Asking them what materials they have dealt with in the past.

5. Do they have a wide range and the right type of experience?

Touched upon above, you want to be sure the plumber or Plumbing Contractor you are considering has a wide range of experience and the right type of experience for the work you need done.

As for discovering if a Plumber/Contractor has the right type of experience, ask if they have been focused on new construction or servicing. The two require a very different skill set. If you are dealing with a plumbing emergency or are in need of a repair, you will need someone who has an extensive background in plumbing service (not new construction) for your home or business.

6. Are they equipped with reliable tools?

A good tradesman has all the the right tools required to complete a task. They should be in good shape, clean and not worn out. An indicator of a good Plumber is how well equipped he is, and the condition of his tools & equipment.

A good question for a Plumber or Contractor is “Are they properly equipped to perform this work?”

7. What are their reviews like online?

Online reviews can be misleading since no two review websites are the same. They each have their own ranking systems, nuances, and ways to choose which customer reviews they would like to display. For example, some review sites post mainly negative reviews unless you’ve paid to advertise with them.

However, when searching for a Plumber online, we recommend still checking one’s reviews and to look for any patterns. Do they get rave reviews for a specific type of service? Are many reviewers critical of a specific aspect of a company’s service (e.g. rates, time to arrive, etc.)?

These are just a few questions you should be seeking to answer. Here are a few good sources that are local to Edmonton:

For Professional Plumbing service in Edmonton, at a reasonable rate, please contact JW Brian Plumbing and Heating at: (780) 249-1496.

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Contact us now for reliable and trusted plumbing, heating and gas fitting services 7 days a week! (Subject to availability).

How to Clean Your Kitchen Drain in Edmonton in Three Easy Steps

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How to Clean Your Kitchen Drain in Edmonton in Three Easy Steps

Is your kitchen drain all plugged up? This is one of the most common issues to plague homeowners, particularly if you own an older home.

If you have a clogged or plugged kitchen drain, this guide outlines three straightforward steps to clean yourself before calling a professional.

1. Check the Trap

It’s not likely the problem but the first thing you should do is check it the trap is clogged. If your kitchen drain is using a plastic trap, you will be able to disconnect it from the sink drain by loosening the jam nuts on the trap and the trap adapter. Remove the trap and clean.

If your drain is using an older copper trap, it could be difficult to remove the trap, there may be a plug you can remove from the bottom to access the inside and clean as best as you can.

2. Check the Underground Drain

If your drain is still clogged, the problem is most likely in the underground drain in the basement. There should be a cleanout at the base of the kitchen drain stack. To locate, simply follow the drain from the kitchen sink into the basement. At the floor level in the basement there should be a cleanout provided for cleaning the underground portion of the kitchen drain.

3. Rent a Drain Cleaner

You will more than likely need to rent a drain cleaner from your local equipment rental store, such as Home Depot. As this equipment can be a little dangerous, unless you have hands-on experience, you may require the services of a professional, such as JW Brian Plumbing & Heating.

Still can’t unclog your kitchen drain? Contact JW Brian Plumbing and Heating!

If after reading this guide you are still dealing with a clogged kitchen drain, give us a call and we will help you get the job done. We are on call 7 days a week !! (Subject to availability) To book an appointment, please call us at (780) 249-1496.

We Are Here To Help

Contact us now for reliable and trusted plumbing, heating and gas fitting services 7 days a week! (Subject to availability).

Category: Plumbing

Tips and Advice

Sharing our knowledge and expertise on furnaces, plumbing, gas fitting, process piping, and more!

Why Do You Need A Frost Free Hose Bib?

We Are Here To Help

Recent Posts

Tips and Advice

Sharing our knowledge and expertise on furnaces, plumbing, gas fitting, process piping, and more!

Weil-McLain Indirect Water Heater Leaking

We Are Here To Help

Recent Posts

Tips and Advice

Sharing our knowledge and expertise on furnaces, plumbing, gas fitting, process piping, and more!

When Should You Call an Emergency Plumber in Edmonton?

1. Frozen Pipes

2. Sewage Backup

3. Leaking Pipes and Plumbing Fixtures

What isn't an Emergency Plumbing Situation?

Emergency Plumbing Problem? Contact JW Brian Plumbing & Heating!

We Are Here To Help

Recent Posts

Tips and Advice

Sharing our knowledge and expertise on furnaces, plumbing, gas fitting, process piping, and more!

What to Look For in a Good Plumber or Plumbing Contractor in Edmonton?

1. Are they a Certified Journeymen/ Registered Apprentice within the Province of Alberta?

2. Are they licensed with the city, insured, and bonded?

3. How long have they been in business for?

4. Are they experienced with all different types of materials?

5. Do they have a wide range and the right type of experience?

6. Are they equipped with reliable tools?

7. What are their reviews like online?

We Are Here To Help

Recent Posts

Tips and Advice

Sharing our knowledge and expertise on furnaces, plumbing, gas fitting, process piping, and more!

How to Clean Your Kitchen Drain in Edmonton in Three Easy Steps

1. Check the Trap

2. Check the Underground Drain

3. Rent a Drain Cleaner

Still can’t unclog your kitchen drain? Contact JW Brian Plumbing and Heating!

We Are Here To Help

Recent Posts

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