Wednesday, June 6, 2012

The Types of Pipes in your Vancouver Plumbing System

Water is essential to life, which is why homeowners take the time and effort to maintain their Vancouver plumbing system. John Gregory Dunne, a novelist, screenwriter, and literary critic once said: "Writing is a manual labor of the mind: a job, like laying a pipe." Many argue about what the hardest career on earth is; and whether you are a writer or a plumber, you would agree that any job worked hard for is a commendable masterpiece.

At the core of any household plumbing are the pipes, which are responsible for bringing in water supply and draining used water out into the sewage system. The greatest nuisance that can happen is leaks, which can be messy and expensive to deal with. Leaks are usually caused by problems in the pipes, sometimes a section that burst due to freezing or even deterioration and failure as a result of corrosion. There are various types of pipes to cater to the howeowner's needs and preferences. Among these are plastic, copper, and galvanized steel.

Plastic is the least expensive and the lightest of all types of pipe. These are easier to install and support, and are also resistant to corrosion. The only downside is that plastic is not as strong or flexible as other materials. It also has the tendency to crack under heavy loads. Nevertheless, it works satisfactorily for homes with basic plumbing needs.

Another popular pipe material is copper, which is the most flexible, and has the longest life expectancy. Reputable plumbers Vancouver homeowners rely on recommend this type of pipe to supply hot and cold water to the household because it's also resistant to corrosion.

Galvanized steel is another pipe type homes have. These pipes have an anti-rust coating; but the downside is that uncoated parts are still prone to rust. Over time, the steel could accumulate minerals dissolve in the water. Nonetheless, like copper, steel is tough and durable.

Established HVAC companies in Canada like Milani offer a complete array of plumbing services and all kinds of pipes and fixtures you may need in your home. They could install, maintain, and repair your entire plumbing system, guaranteeing that your plumbing problems are immediately addressed. Most of these companies also offer 24/7 emergency services.

Don't forget that plumbing maintenance is important to keep your pipes and your entire system in top condition. If you have clogged drains, running toilets, flushing problems, or any other inconvenience, you can immediately call technicians instead of deciding to defer the problem to a future date. Property owners can get in touch with a contractor to know more about how their plumbing system can be improved.

Friday, June 1, 2012

Experts in HVAC Surrey Residents Trust Recommend Only High-Efficiency Furnaces

When high-efficiency furnaces were first introduced, they caused a great deal of headache to the average Surrey homeowner because they required more maintenance and servicing than most homeowners would normally want done. But this has changed a great deal through the years. Today, the kind of furnace cleaning Surrey residents need is no sweat at all.

Unfortunately, the bad reputation gained by the earlier high-efficiency furnaces has somehow remained in people's minds and been passed on to new buyers. This reputation is no longer deserved by today's high-efficiency furnaces. In fact, more recent furnace engineering and designs have eliminated the old problems for good.

For a furnace to be considered a highly-efficient one, it needs to have an efficiency rating of at least 90 percent. This means that around 90% of the natural gas has been converted to heat energy for your home. If you have an old-model furnace, you're probably receiving heat from closer to only 50% of the gas consumed by your furnace; and any expert in HVAC Surrey companies like Milani provide will tell you that half of the gas you're paying for is only going to waste.

Think of it this way: say that you're spending $100 per month to heat your house with your old, half-efficient furnace. That means you're sending $50 straight out of your furnace's exhaust pipe. If you're spending as much as or possibly even more than that, think of all the money you could save if you start using a high-efficiency furnace today.

If you're on the fence about buying a high-efficiency furnace, you should know that Surrey is a city fully-dedicated to becoming carbon-neutral. Measures are being taken at both industrial and community levels to achieve this; and one of them is reducing the city's overall emissions. A high-efficiency furnace will support the city's endeavors towards a cleaner, greener environment.

Aside from the fact that problems that used to plague high-efficiency furnaces are no longer issues to worry about, manufacturers now also provide stronger warranties for their products to ensure that they are always functioning at optimum level. You will still need to have an annual maintenance performed on your furnace, though, not only to keep the warranty in effect but also because the its efficiency drops if the necessary maintenance is not taken. For this reason, it's a good idea to keep handy the telephone number of a professional in furnace repair Surrey homeowners would vouch for.