Not only is a dripping faucet annoying to listen to, but it can also put a serious dent in your wallet with the amount of water it can waste. A large faucet leak can waste up to 30 gallons of water a day.

If you have noticed a faucet is leaking in your Etobicoke home, it’s important to understand why it’s leaking before you begin to fix it. Here are a few common causes for a dripping faucet and how you can go about fixing them.

Water Pressure Issues

Have you noticed that the faucet in question only drips during certain times or when the handles are moved to a certain position? This could mean that it’s an issue with the water pressure of your home, causing the leak to happen.

If this is the case, you may need to have a plumber come out and look at the amount of pressure of the water when it’s coming into the house. It may not truly be an issue with the faucet itself but rather the pressure of the water as it enters the house.

Broken Washers

This reason for a dripping faucet is common across households. Washers are a piece of hardware that rests against the valve seat of the faucet. Over time, friction can cause the washers to wear out as the seal won’t be as tight, so the faucet ends up leaking.

Additionally, if the washer isn’t installed properly or the wrong size was chosen, you might also notice it dripping a little bit. Make sure you turn the water off, either to the house or just to that specific faucet, before you start taking it apart.

Washers can easily be purchased on their own from your local home improvement store, and they are simple to replace.

Damaged Faucet Cartridge

Do you have a faucet that has one handle for hot water and one for cold water? If so, you have a cartridge faucet. The cartridge is a valve on the inside of the handle that controls the water flow depending on which handle is turned on. If your faucet is dripping water, you may have a damaged cartridge.

A cartridge can be replaced on its own without the need to purchase a whole new faucet. You may want to take the current cartridge out of the faucet in question before going to the store to ensure you get the right one.

To help you understand how to replace a cartridge, we have a DIY video on replacing a Moen cartridge.

Defective or Malfunctioning O-ring

This part is a small disc that is attached to the stem screw within your faucet. The main function of this part is to hold the handle of the faucet in place. Like washers, an O-ring can wear down over time which will cause a drip or leak. If the leak is coming from around the handle, it’s very likely that this is the reason for it.

You will want to make sure that you pick up the right o-ring for your faucet, so again you might want to take your faucet apart before you go and buy the parts you need.

Contact D. Jason Plumbing today

Having a dripping or leaky faucet in your Etobicoke home can end up costing you quite a bit on your water bill, but in most cases, it’s relatively easy to fix yourself. If, however, you think there might be a larger problem – or if you are simply uncomfortable with these types of DIY repairs, then the team at D. Jason Plumbing is here to help. Give us a call today.

Until there’s a problem, you likely never think about your home’s sewer. But before minor issues become big, expensive problems, it’s beneficial to know the health of your plumbing systems. Getting a sewer camera inspection is an important part of that! Here’s what you should know about sewer inspections, including when you should get one done at your home.

What Is a Sewer Inspection?

A qualified plumber uses a small, waterproof camera attached to the end of a flexible cable to perform a sewer inspection. The plumber inserts the snake into the sewage system and down the pipeline to visually inspect the sewage system. The inspection detects the overall conditions of the sewer, plus whether there are any clogs present.

When a Sewer Inspection Can Help

To reduce the chances of your sewage system requiring an expensive repair, it’s never the wrong time to get a sewer camera inspection done. However, two particular situations can benefit from this service: when you’re buying a home and when you’re having sewer backup issues.

Purchasing a Home

Many home buyers are quick to get a home inspection before buying a home, but few consider the importance of a sewer inspection. Getting one done before you buy a home can save you many headaches – and expenses – rather than finding out there are issues after you move in.

If the home you’re purchasing is at least 20 years old, there’s a chance that tree roots may be starting to cause issues with its sewage system. Even though the line may be fairly new, tree roots can enter into tiny spaces and expand in the sewer line. This creates backups when the roots latch on to debris such as grease or eggshells. Although chemicals can kill the tree’s roots, excavation is needed to repair any pipe damage.

If the home was built before city sewers were installed, cesspools may still be intact and connected to the sewer line. These have a risk of sinking and collapsing. A sewer inspection is the best way to help uncover the makeup of the home.

Many homes built in the 1950s have sewer lines constructed from tar paper. Over time, this can disintegrate and collapse. If this is the material in the sewer line of the home you’re purchasing, know that it will definitely require replacing.

Sewer Backup Issues

The more popular reason for getting a sewer inspection is when you’re experiencing plumbing issues. Signs of a potential sewer backup include toilets that won’t flush or plunge, toilet bubbles when flushed or when a sink or tub is drained, multiple clogged drains, and a foul smell near drains.

When these issues are caught early, a quick repair can be made.

Booking a Sewer Inspection

If you’re buying a home or experiencing sewer backup issues, it’s time to book a sewer inspection. At D. Jason Plumbing, we have the proper knowledge, experience, and tools to complete an accurate, timely sewer inspection for you. To learn more, contact us today.

With our hectic schedules of work, childcare, and household responsibilities, it’s tempting to put a plumbing problem on the back burner until a later time. For minor plumbing problems, that’s usually okay, but you should address some plumbing issues right away. Otherwise, you risk creating even more damage and expense when you finally get around to resolving the problem.

If the following three plumbing issues ever occur at your home, you should contact a plumber immediately.

1. Flooding

Large pools of water are a clear warning sign of a plumbing emergency.

There can be plenty of causes of flooding, including damaged fittings and fixtures, and burst pipes. If the water is forming around your water heater, you likely have a crack in the unit, which could lead to more significant problems.

Large amounts of water can cause damage to your home’s flooring, furniture, and even drywall. If you contact a plumber as soon as you notice water formation, you can hopefully avoid replacing anything significant in your home.

Natural flooding is another cause of concern in Etobicoke and Toronto, and we’ve seen our fair share of it in recent years.  Natural flooding is caused by heavy rainfall or rapid snow melt (and sometimes a mixture of both).  To protect yourself against basement flooding, you’ll want to ensure your sump pump properly maintained and in working condition.

2. Sewage Odours

The smell of sewage is not only unpleasant but also dangerous. Hydrogen sulphide is found in most sewer lines, which can cause physical ailments, including nausea, headaches, delirium, and skin and eye irritation. High concentrations of the gas can even cause unconsciousness and death.

When you notice a sewage smell, you’ll know right away that your sewer system is not working correctly. Sometimes, the cause of the sewage smell is easy to resolve – such as a dry trap in one of your drains. A more extensive reason is a damaged sewer line that causes raw sewage to back up through your basement’s drains.  To prevent sewage backup, and having raw sewage end up in your basement, make sure you have a backwater valve installed.

Due to the potential risk of hydrogen sulphide inhalation, sewage odours require immediate attention by a plumber. A professional plumber will be able to identify the cause and prevent any further damage from occurring.

3. Damage Pipes and Water Lines

More common in winter, plumbing pipes can freeze then thaw later on. This process can sometimes cause pipes to burst, resulting in flooding throughout your home. Because many plumbing pipes are hidden behind walls or ceilings, this damage can be difficult to detect. Look for water stains on walls, ceilings, and vents. If you find any, contact a plumber to perform a thorough inspection and see if you have a leaking or burst pipe to blame.

Water lines can become damaged by nature, such as large tree roots or severe storms. This can end up causing low water pressure or no running water inside your home. Many daily activities require water, so contact a plumber as soon as possible to minimize any inconvenience.

At D. Jason Plumbing, we offer a wide range of residential and commercial plumbing services in Etobicoke and the surrounding areas. No matter what day or time your plumbing emergency happens, our team of professional plumbers is here to help. Contact us today to learn more about our plumbing services.

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.