Insulating your water pipes may not be something you’ve ever thought to do, but there are some benefits to doing so in your Etobicoke home. In fact, many homeowners don’t know about this efficiency booster that can help save you money for years to come. You probably have some questions about this simple home improvement project and whether it’s the right decision for your home, so here’s what you might want to consider before making that choice. 

Keep your water hot(ter)

Insulating the pipes in your home can actually add a few degrees to the water for your household – especially for things like doing dishes and showering. When you have a traditional hot water tank, you’re already paying to keep the hot water on standby, but that water can cool down while it travels from the tank to its final destination. 

Additionally, if you hear a knocking when you first turn on your hot water, that could be the sound of your pipes expanding to accommodate the hot water coming through cold pipes. Insulating your pipes can help with this knocking noise and the hot water going through cold pipes. 

Protect the pipes

Depending on your home and how it’s finished, you may have pipes that run through unfinished areas (i.e., without climate control), or they may even run outside of the home. Winters in Etobicoke can be very cold, which means that without a climate-controlled area, these pipes may freeze. 

Having hot water trying to run through pipes that are freezing could mean trouble, and even leaking. Down the line, this can make a big mess and create a very large repair bill for your Etobicoke home. 

By insulating the pipes that are exposed, you can save yourself a lot of (potential) headaches down the road. The insulation for your pipes can help keep hot water hot and cold water cold so that you get the temperature of water you want when you want it. 

Consider your family’s needs

Insulating the pipes in your home may not be the right option for your family, depending on how your home is finished and the age of your home. Also, is your family complaining that the hot water isn’t as hot as it could be? If you aren’t noticing any issues with your hot water now, then this might not be something you need to do. 

Talk to a professional from D. Jason Plumbing

While many homeowners don’t know that it’s an option to insulate their pipes, it also isn’t something that everyone will need to do. If you have questions about whether this is the right option for you or even something you need to do for your home, contact us today to speak with a member of our team. We will evaluate your home and what’s going on with your hot water to see if this is something you should consider doing. 

The good news is that it’s relatively inexpensive to make this update to your home, so if you decide to go ahead with it, you don’t have to worry about breaking the bank to do it. 

If you’re considering making your Etobicoke home more efficient, consider insulating the pipes in your home so that it uses less energy to keep the water hot! 

Living in Etobicoke, you believe that the water coming into your home is going to be safe because it’s going through the city’s filtration process. It is, but there could still be things affecting the water when it’s delivered directly to your home. These factors can vary, depending on the neighbourhood you live in and even the age of your home. There are several factors that could be affecting the water quality of your Etobicoke home. 

Factors affecting the water quality in your home can be natural, or environmental, or human-made. 

Natural factors

When it comes to water quality, things like runoff and sedimentation are natural to the environment and can happen even without human intervention. That doesn’t mean, though, that humans won’t make it worse. With all the litter and garbage humans produce, it can turn a small issue into a much larger problem. 

This says that our behaviour and habits will greatly affect our water quality, even the water coming into our homes. 

Human-made factors

Whether we want to acknowledge it or not, many of our daily behaviours will affect the quality of water coming into our homes. This could be things like pesticides, detergents, cleaning agents, oil/grease and even population growth/housing developments. 

Whatever we use in the environment will soak into the ground and eventually get into our water supply. While some things won’t cause any harm to the drinking water, that doesn’t mean everything won’t. 

When we use certain cleaning agents, we notice on the bottle that there’s a warning it could be dangerous, so we don’t ingest them. However, using them around the house and then washing them away means they have to go somewhere. We have to be very careful about what we put into the environment so that it doesn’t come back to us and poison our drinking water. 

How can you make sure water coming into your home is clean?

We all want to make sure the water our family is drinking is safe. As we all use water in so many parts of our life, we mustn’t be using contaminated water.

Many homeowners in Etobicoke will use water filtration systems to make sure their drinking water is safe. There are two main kinds of filtration systems you can use: point-of-entry and point-of-use. 

Point-of-entry

This does exactly what it sounds like: it filters the water at the source of entry into your home. This method gives you the confidence that any tap in your home will have clean, filtered water. Homeowners using this kind of filtration can do so via water softeners and aerators. 

Point-of-use

These kinds of filtration systems will filter the water right before you are exposed to it, so there needs to be one on every tap or faucet in your home. You can purchase units that attach to each faucet, so it’s up to you how many have them in your home. Most homeowners who choose this method will put the filters on kitchen and bathroom faucets. 

Contact D. Jason Plumbing today!

No matter how old your home is, or what your neighbourhood is like, having safe drinking water for your family is imperative. If you’re concerned about your Etobicoke home’s water quality, contact D. Jason Plumbing today to discuss possible causes and solutions. 

Water leaks can be devastating to Etobicoke homes. Not only can they cost the homeowner thousands of dollars in repairs, but they can be a health threat as well since they can lead to dangerous mould and mildew. Unfortunately, many water leaks occur behind walls, so they are often not found until serious damage has already been done.

In this article, we will discuss some tips on how you can locate water leaks behind walls.

Signs of a water leak

• • • Discoloured areas (water stains) on walls or ceilings.
    • Wet areas
    • Mould or mildew in spots where you wouldn’t expect to find it.
    • A musty smell.
    • Peeling paint or wallpaper.
    • Warped drywall, floor, or ceiling.
    • Dripping sounds after turning off faucets.
    • Higher than usual water bill.

 

Keep in mind, that while all of these are signs that you may have a water leak, they won’t necessarily tell you exactly where the leak is. Even wet spots on drywall may not be a perfect indicator of where the leak is since water can travel down a leaky pipe before it comes in contact with drywall and becomes visible.

Locating water leaks behind walls

Now that you have an approximate idea of where the leak is likely to be, there are things you can do to pinpoint the location of the leak.

Moisture Meter & Detecting Leaks

A moisture meter is a tool that can be purchased or rented from your local hardware or home improvement store. Simply point the device at different areas of your wall until you find the spot where you get the highest reading. If you contact a professional to come in and investigate the leak, this is one of the tools that they will bring with them.

Infrared Camera & Leak Detection

Infrared cameras can be used to locate cold areas within a wall. If an area is wet, the camera will show it as a blue or purple area. Plumbers often use infrared cameras to locate leaks.

Cut into the Drywall

Cutting into the drywall is the most drastic step and should only be used as a last resort. Remember that because the leak may not be located exactly where the wet spot or water stain is, you may end up needing to cut more drywall than anticipated.

Before you take this step, we strongly advise contacting a plumbing professional.  A plumber can minimize drywall or wall damage.  Also, if you are unsure of what you are doing, you may accidentally puncture your pipes causing further damage.

Repairing Leaks Behind Walls

Repairing leaky pipes is something that should only be done by a licensed plumber, as it may require welding in tight spaces, meaning there’s a risk of fire.  Furthermore, for insurance reasons, your insurance company may not cover any damages caused by a faulty DIY repair.

Once the location of the leak is determined, the plumber may have to cut out a section of the wall. The method of repair will depend on the extent of the damage. For a minor leak, they may be able to patch the pipe. For larger leaks, they may have to replace a section of the pipe. In extreme cases where the plumbing system is very old or has extensive damage, they may have to replace the whole system.

When dealing with leaks behind walls, it is important that you pay attention to the signs and contact a professional plumber if you notice trouble.

Contact D. Jason Plumbing today!

If you notice signs that there may be a leak behind the walls in your Etobicoke home, contact D. Jason Plumbing today to arrange for an inspection.

 

 

 

 

When you purchased your beautiful Etobicoke home with mature trees on a quiet street, surrounded by great neighbours, did you ever imagine that those trees you loved so much could cause serious issues with the sewer lines coming into your home? Trees – whether large and mature or ones that still have a bit of growing to do – can sometimes cause a lot of problems with our sewer lines as the roots continue to grow under the ground and intersect the pipes. 

Here are a few ideas for making sure tree roots don’t cause havoc on the pipes of your Etobicoke home. 

Talk to the City Before Planting Trees

Every city will have a sewer and water department, but why does this matter? The City of Etobicoke, for example, can tell you exactly where the sewer lines run and come into your property. This can be helpful information if you’re planting new trees, and you can make sure you plant them away from the pipes. 

How do you know if you have roots growing into your sewer lines? Homeowners may experience water back ups, plumbing issues that the home didn’t always have. You may experience sinks and toilets backing up regularly when there isn’t an obvious cause for it. 

Removing the Tree Roots

If your home is experiencing backups with the plumbing, you may have tree roots growing into the sewer lines of your home. At D Jason Plumbing, we offer video camera inspections, so we can tell immediately what is clogging your sewer lines.  In this case, you have a few options for removing them and dealing with the problem. 

Mechanical Root Removal

This option requires a professional to send a drill through the sewer line and cut the roots so that they flow out through the sewer. Now, with this option, the roots will eventually grow back so it’s only a temporary option until you can find a more permanent solution for getting rid of the roots. 

Chemical Root Removal

This is fairly self-explanatory: you can use various chemicals to kill the roots so they stop growing into the sewer lines. The chemicals used to accomplish this can be dangerous so you will want to make sure you consult a professional if it’s something you want to do. 

Removing the Tree Completely

This is a bigger option but you know that you will remove the issue and (likely) won’t face this problem again. Depending on the size of the tree, you’ll need a specialist to help you cut down and remove the tree so you don’t damage your property or any neighbouring property. 

Fixing the Sewer Lines

Depending on the severity of the damage, you may need to fix the sewer lines as well to make sure they are functioning properly afterwards. One of the ways to do this is known as a Trenchless Sewer Repair.

A trenchless sewer repair involves having a professional fix the pipe by lining it with a seamless product that almost makes a new pipe inside the existing pipe. For this you only need small access holes so you don’t need to worry about digging up the whole front yard of your Etobicoke home! 

Contact D. Jason Plumbing today

If you suspect that you may have tree roots causing problems in your sewer line, or if have a clogged sewer line, we can help. Contact D. Jason Plumbing today.  Contact us today for plumbing services in Etobicoke, Brampton, Mississauga and Toronto.

It can be incredibly easy when you’re in the kitchen or bathroom to let the wrong items such as coffee grounds or gels slip down the sink. Although it may seem harmless at the time, this can lead to plumbing issues, including poorly working drains, leaks, clogged pipes, and damage to plumbing infrastructure.

To prevent unwanted items from going down your sink, it’s important first to know what those items are. Here’s what can and cannot go down the sink in your kitchen and bathroom.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Home Drains

The list of what can go down the sink is vastly shorter than what can’t. Nearly anything you can drink and almost any liquid can go down the sink; however, there are some exceptions.

Whether you’re in a kitchen or a bathroom, what you can’t put down the sink may be slightly different.

Kitchen Sink

In a kitchen, avoid putting the following items down the sink: cooking grease, fats and oils, paints, disinfectants, produce stickers, flour, crushed eggshells, and coffee grounds.

Many of these items should not be put down the sink for similar reasons – they clog pipes and can do a number on your plumbing. Instead of down your sink, throw out these items correctly in the garbage or compost.

The disposal method for grease, fats, and oils is slightly different. If hot, wait until any oil, fat, or grease has cooled down, then transport it to a sealable container. Place the container in a plastic bag (in case it leaks) before placing it in the garbage.

Bathroom Sink

Some everyday bathroom items that shouldn’t go down the sink include remnants of soap, gels, bath bombs, facemasks, hair, hygiene products, and pill or liquid medications.

If these items go down the sink, you risk creating build-up in your pipes and/or clogging problems. To prevent this from happening, these items should be properly disposed of in the garbage. For some things, this is easier said than done.

When it comes to hair and/or any remnants of soap, gels, bath bombs, etc., use a drain catcher in the sink/bathtub. Then, throw anything that gets caught into the garbage. 

Contact a Professional for Help With Your Plumbing Issue

Although it’s convenient to rinse items with water before flushing them down the drain, you should dispose of them properly instead.

Should any of these items make their way down your sink and cause damage, call a professional straight away. They will fix your problem and give some advice on how to prevent future plumbing hiccups.

Did something make its way down your sink that shouldn’t have? Is your sink now draining slowly or causing other problems? Contact D. Jason Plumbing today for help! We service Etobicoke, Mississauga, Toronto, and Brampton and work hard to be the solution to your plumbing problems!

Your home’s sump pump is one of those features that you probably don’t think about very often. It is hidden away and can go for long periods of time without running – or only running intermittently. It is not until you really need your sump pump and it fails to work that you realize its importance. But when this occurs, it is too late. The damage from flooding can be severe.

Like all appliances in Etobicoke and Mississauga homes, sump pumps can break down – and this tends to never happen at a convenient time.

To make sure that your sump pump works when needed, regular maintenance is strongly recommended. By taking the following routine maintenance steps, you can help ensure that your sump pumps runs properly for years to come. Because a little preventative maintenance now can save you some big headaches later on.

Quarterly Maintenance

Generally, these are tasks that you can do yourself; however, if you are uncomfortable with these, you can still call in a professional.

• Unplug the sump pump and drain the basin of standing water.
• Clean the basin, removing any debris and ensure that the inlet screen is clean and not obstructed.
• Plugin the pump and then pour five gallons of water into the basin to ensure that the float switch turns on and activates the pump.

 

Annual Sump Pump Maintenance

Some of these tasks may be done by the DIY-savvy homeowner in Etobicoke or Mississauga, but you are better off to call in a professional plumber if you are unsure of any of them.

• Unplug the sump pump and remove it from the basin to inspect for any rust or corrosion signs. Clean the inlet screen.
• Refer to your sump pump owner’s manual to see whether or not the bearings require lubrication and if they do, use the recommended amount of grease to lubricate them. (If the bearings are sealed, they will not require lubrication.)
• Remove dirt and debris from the basin.
• Reinstall the sump pump and plug it into the power source.
• Pour five gallons of water into the basin and check to see that it turns on the float switch to activate the pump.
• Go outside to inspect the pump discharge pipe and ensure that it is not obstructed by debris or vegetation. Also, ensure that it drains completely as water left standing in the pipe could freeze during the winter and burst the pipe.

 

Contact D. Jason Plumbing today!

When was the last time that you performed (or had someone else perform) routine maintenance on your sump pump? If it has been some time, do yourself a favour and contact D. Jason Plumbing. Our professionals would be happy to come out to your home to ensure that your sump pump works the way it should. And who knows, it just might save you from the hassle and expense of flooding and water damage.