Monday, December 2, 2019

Plumber in Toronto

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Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Frozen Pipes? Here’s Everything You Need To Know!

Canada’s freezing temperatures in the long winter months can cause a multitude of problems. One concern that all landlords should be aware of is frozen pipes. Read on to find out how to prevent and thaw frozen pipes!

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Why Frozen Pipes Are Dangerous

Not only are frozen pipes a major inconvenience to you, they can also cause significant damage to your property.
  • Lack Of Running Water – When your pipes are frozen, your access to running water is cut off. This interferes with your ability to do simple, everyday tasks such as brushing your teeth or flushing the toilet.
  • Pipes Can Potentially Burst – Water expands when it freezes, which adds pressure onto the pipe. This pressure can cause a tiny leak or crack, bursting the pipe and unleashing water. Make sure to shut off the main water line if your pipes do burst.
Pipes located along exterior walls, in attics, and basements are more vulnerable to freezing compared to others. These pipes do not have the same amount of heat or insulation to protect them from the cold temperatures.

Signs Of Frozen Pipes

To identify and locate frozen pipes, there are several clues:
  • Frost On Pipes – Any pipes that can be seen, such as the ones under sinks, you may be able to see the pipe coated in frost.
  • Faucets Won’t Flow – If your faucets don’t flow (or only a trickle comes out) and your toilets don’t refill after flushing, it’s a good sign your pipes are frozen.
  • Strange Smells – If an odd smell is coming from a faucet or drain, this means the pipe is either partially or fully blocked up. The only way the odor can escape is by going back up the pipe.
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Thawing The Pipes

Depending on the location of the pipe and your knowledge, you can either attempt to do it yourself or contact a professional plumber to do the job for you. It’s important to thaw the pipe immediately to prevent bursting and further damage. If you choose to do this yourself, here is what you need to do:
  1. Locate Frozen Pipe – Frozen pipes will usually have frost or a bulge. If the blockage is in an accessible area, you will have more options to thaw the pipe.
  2. Turn On Faucet – Switch on both the hot and cold handles of the faucet. This helps to relieve pressure in the system and allows the water to escape once you begin to thaw.
  3. Thawing Exposed Pipes – Start to thaw in the area closest to the faucet, then work your way down. This ensures that the melting ice and steam can escape through the open faucet. To thaw pipes, heat should be applied until the water escaping from the faucet returns to full strength. You can try using a hair dryer, heat lamp, portable space heater, hot towel or electrical heating tape. Never use an open flame to thaw the pipes as this can damage the pipes and start a fire.
  4. Thawing Inaccessible Pipes – You can choose to turn the heat up in the property, use an infrared lamp on the wall where the frozen pipe is located or cut out of a section of the drywall to access it.

How To Prevent Frozen Pipes

If your pipes aren’t frozen and you’re reading just as a precaution, here are some things you can do to prevent frozen pipes in the future:
  • Locate Main Water Shut-Off Valve – In case your pipes do burst, it’s important to know where your main water line valve is and how to shut it off if ever needed.
  • Insulate Pipes – Using foam pipe covers that can be purchased from building supply or home improvement stores, insulate the pipes. Pay close attention to the ones near outside walls, in crawl spaces, the attic and the garage.
  • Seal Holes and Cracks – Prevent cold air from getting in through windows, doors, electrical wiring, dryer vents and pipes. Keep garage doors closed if water lines are in the garage.
  • Circulate Heat – Open kitchen, bathroom and laundry cabinet doors to let warm air circulate around plumbing.
  • Remove Exterior Hoses – Shut off interior valves that feed water to equipment outdoors. Outdoor faucets are the first ones to freeze. Unscrew hoses and lets the taps drain. You won’t be needing to water plants in the winter.
  • Keep Heating On – If you plan to be away from your home, keep the thermostat set to no lower than 13°C day and night.
  • Allow Faucets To Drip – Open all faucets and allow them to drip slightly. Keeping the water moving will prevent the pipes from freezing. Ensure the drain is clear of debris to prevent overflowing. You will be charged for water usage if you choose to do this.
If your pipes tend to freeze, there may be an underlying issue that hasn’t been identified. Call a professional plumber for advice on how to protect your home. If you have any other questions, feel free to contact us!

Contact Information:
Crystal Drain
108 Berry Rd,
Toronto, ON
M8Y 1W5 Canada
Phone: (647) 686-4566

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Clearing Clogged Drains – Snake or Hydrojet?

Drain clogs are a problem that every homeowner will eventually face. Materials can get stuck in the toilet or the sink drains, they can also build up over time and cause slow drains or overflowing. If your plunger isn’t enough to unclog, you’re going to need something more powerful. Plumbers will often choose to use a plumbing auger or a hydro jet in these situations.

 

Plumbing Snakes

Also called a plumbing auger, the plumbing snake is a long metal tube encasing an inner cable with blades or corkscrew auger attached to one end. The other end has a crank attached. The cable end of the snake is placed into the drain and the crank is turned to extend the cable. When the cable has reached the clog, you will need to continue to turn the crank until it has pushed through the clog, then pull it out. Plumbing snakes can be a straight tube (for sink drains) or J-shaped (for toilets). There is also a larger, motorized version of the snake, typically used by an experienced plumber.
Pros 
  • Ideal for minor clogs
  • Gentler method
  • Good for weak pipes
  • Suitable for older plumbing systems
Cons 
  • Doesn’t thoroughly clean pipes
  • Clears a small space
  • Often a temporary solution

Hydro Jets

Hydro jetting is a high-pressure hose with a specialized nozzle connected to a machine that pressurizes water, creating a powerful stream that can clear the clog. The material that is clogging the drain (hair, minerals, grease, oil, etc.) will be forced to go down the pipe.  Before hydro jetting, a plumber will usually use a small camera to inspect the pipe for damage.
 
Pros
  • Thorough job of clearing drains
  • Can clear tree roots
  • Applicable for residential and commercial use
  • Environmentally-safe
Cons
  • Not safe for the inexperienced
  • Fragile, damaged or older pipes are not suitable

Snake or Jet?

The best method to clear up your drains will depend on the root of your clog. A plumbing snake can be used for slow-flowing drains and for occasional clogs for food or hair buildup, and a small, clogged toy or toilet paper. A hydro jet is needed when plunging and snaking is not fixing the problem. You should be calling a professional plumber to perform either option. Experts know how to safely handle these drain cleaning tools without damaging the system. Call us for a consultation!
Contact Information:
Crystal Drain
108 Berry Rd,
Toronto, ON
M8Y 1W5 Canada
Phone: (647) 686-4566

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Cleaning Shower Heads

Ever notice how your shower head becoming worse day by day? How the water comes slower out of it? Well, this can indicate a build up of residue and minerals in your shower head. Hence, it is best to clean it out. But, is cleaning shower heads something you don’t know how to do? It isn’t something that everyone would know. Yet, don’t despair, cause we can help you out.

There are several ways of cleaning your shower head, the common being using a vinegar solution.

1 – Gathering the things you need:

Before you being anything, you need to get the equipment and supplies you need for the task. Ideally you want a bucket, but a container of any sorts can work, even a seal-able plastic bag. You need white vinegar, a brush, pliers or a wrench, and a cleaning rag.

2 – Removing the shower head.

The common way of removing the shower head is by twisting it in the counterclockwise direction. If you have trouble with it, use the pliers or wrench along with the cloth. Use the rag to cover the connecting nut, then use the wrench to remove the nut.

3 – Place the shower head in the solution.

Heat up some of the distilled white vinegar. Afterwards, have the shower head in the container, and pour the solution till it covers the shower head. The acid in the vinegar will dissolve the mineral deposits in the shower heads. Have it sit in the solution overnight.

4 – Cleaning the shower head.

Rinse it once you take it out of the solution. You should see mineral flakes rinsing off. Take the brush and scrub it as well to remove any flakes that might be stuck. The final step is to plug it back and have water run through it to have it properly cleaned.
That is how cleaning shower heads is done! However, if you have more questions, or confused about what to do. Do not hesitate to give us a call us at (647) 686-4566. Furthermore, you can just contact us!
Contact Information:
Crystal Drain
108 Berry Rd,
Toronto, ON
M8Y 1W5 Canada
Phone: (647) 686-4566

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7 Tips for Keeping Drains Clean and Unclogged

The kitchen drain suffers a lot of abuse from everyone in the household, eventually becoming dirty and grimy through time. Sometimes, it can also clog up, causing water to fill your sink and eventually overflow, it you allow it to. Hence, caring for your drain is an important task, and we understand it more than anyone else. Here at Crystal Drain Toronto, we help our customers with drain issues all the time. Therefore, we know more about fixing them more than anyone else! Also, we will be talking about tips to keep in mind when using the drain!

Water Temperature!   

Your preference towards washing your hands in water maybe cold or just lukewarm, but did you know very hot water helps break up grease lurking in water. You should run your tap water at least once a week. Then again, there are times when running cold water is beneficial as well. Hot water can help break down the grease whereas cold water helps with solidifying grease into blocks. This can help later with fishing them out or other tasks.

Collecting Grease!   

Coming home after a long day of work, you might be tempted to throw the grease down the drain. It is understandable, but unless you want to do more work than needed down the line, you are better off doing something else with that grease. The best method is often to simply collect the grease in a can or jar so you can dispose of it later carefully and safely.

Using A Drain Trap!

There are substance that often struggle to flow through the drain. Such substances include soap scum, crumbs and hair. They can end up clogging your shower drains and kitchen drains. Hence, if you wish to prevent such a clog, it is a great idea to install a drain trap to catch them below they flow down the drain. You can easily remove them and dispose of the substances later.

Cleaning Your Drain!

If you are afraid of getting a drain clog, it is best to get ahead of it by clearing it out. There are many methods you can choose from. Here are some for you to consider. Pour 1/2 cup baking soda into the drain. Next, pour 1/4 cup white vinegar on top of the baking soda, and then 1/2 cup salt on top of both. Leave the drain for 15 minutes, and then pour boiling water into the sink. You could also pour down a tablespoon of dish liquid into the drain, and then pour boiling water.

Keeping Certain Substances Out!

There are certain things you must ensure never go into a drain:
  • Eggshells
  • Household cleaning products
  • Medications
  • Coffee grounds
  • Paper towels
  • Produce stickers
  • Napkins
  • Fruit peels
Follow these steps to keep your drains clean and clear, and you can avoid everyday drainage problems. But sometimes clogs happen despite your best efforts.  A stubborn clog is difficult to remove without the right training and equipment. Hence, if this ever occurs, give us a call, cause we are the best plumbers around!

Contact Information:
Crystal Drain
108 Berry Rd,
Toronto, ON
M8Y 1W5 Canada
Phone: (647) 686-4566


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5 steps to get rid of fruit flies


We have all faced a situation where fruit flies invade the sink, and often we wonder why. 
So how do they get in and what can you do to get rid of those bothersome friends? 
Fruit flies don't magically appear on your kitchen!. There are many ways they can get into
your house.


  1. They come in before they are born! Yes before born, in the form of eggs with
    the fruits you bring from your market. Usually with bananas that are in the midst
    of ripening. (Bananas are notoriousfruit fly attractors). Unless you eat them right
    away and dispose the peels, they will probably hatch, and you know what happens
    next until you do something about it.


  1. Another way that they get in is through the tiny spaces between the doors and
    windows. Fruit flies have an excellent sense of smell. It will smell that ripe fruit
    (bananas for sure) and end up at your home.


What if its not the fruits? What if they still come even though you don't have any ripe fruits
lying around near your kitchen sink?

Like I mentioned before they are very sensitive to smell, therefore there should be something
in your house that triggers their senses. Have you checked if the drain is clean and there is no
smell coming from the drains? 


The kitchen drain is the perfect environment for the fruit flies to live and reproduce because
it's dark, damp and definitely full of food residue, worsening the problem to us. Did you know
they can lay up to 500 eggs ? a nightmare in the near future! Let me stop right there and tell
you what you can do to get rid of them.

Getting rid of fruit flies

  1. Get rid of the ripe and old fruit immediately!

  1. Clean the kitchen and sink with disinfectant, and continue to make it a habit to clean
    dishes right after you finish a meal.
  1. Store all fruits and vegetables on the refrigerator
  1. Remove garbage and organic waste at least every other day
  1. If your drain seems to be clogged, call your plumber and get it cleaned professionally

The apple cider vinegar trap is very popular among many people however I don't find it
very effective. Cleaning drains and the sink has always worked. Continuing all the above
steps is the key!

Make sure all places where the flies can lay eggs are destroyed, get the drains cleaned
regularly by yourself or professionally. You can never get rid of them permanently because
they will come in whenever they smell food. 

Contact Information:
Crystal Drain
108 Berry Rd,
Toronto, ON
M8Y 1W5 Canada
Phone: (647) 686-4566





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