Bringing It Up a Notch with Heating from Burnaby

Some areas in the British Columbia could experience uncharacteristically frigid winters for this part of Canada. Burnaby, in particular, receives about 30 cm of snow from December into January, with sub-zero temperatures not uncommon. When the conditions outside get too frigid, residents remain indoors, and try to keep themselves warm and alive.

Traditionally, keeping warm meant building a fire and huddling close to it. But times have changed; and technology has provided alternate means of generating comfortable and controllable warmth. With modern solutions for heating in Burnaby, residents of Greater Vancouver no longer need to stoke logs in their fireplaces to get through the winter.

A contemporary heating system is typically one of two types. The first type consists of a furnace that warms air and then circulates it around the home via a series of air ducts. The second kind is a water boiler that pumps the water to radiators that are strategically located around the home; this type is handy in that it also provides hot water for personal use.

Like any mechanical contraption, these heating systems are only as effective as their present condition allows them to be. The equipment needs to be serviced every once in a while to ensure optimum performance. Such fixtures are usually delicate devices that shouldn’t be tinkered with by inexperienced hands. Thus, homeowners who find their heating system malfunctioning should call upon a professional HVAC handyman, like those from Milani Heating and Plumbing.

However qualified HVAC personnel are not only necessary to repair things. They should also be called in for regular cleaning and maintenance. The local HVAC specialist can accomplish air duct cleaning in Vancouver or in any other part of British Columbia to ensure that the warm air flows properly without posing any health risk from substances harbored by the air and ducting system. The service can also check a boiler’s pipes for any leaks, and should be able to attend to such issues quickly.

British Columbia’s winters may not be as harsh as the ones further up north, but they can still be uncomfortable without ample home heating. Suffering from hypothermia while indoors due to the absence of heating isn’t something to be proud of. Every home in the area should be well-equipped for the winter months with ample and properly maintained home heating systems.

Marvel of Modern Home Technology: Get to Know the Energy-Efficient Heat Pumps in Vancouver Homes

In the past few years, home heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems have significantly evolved into more energy-efficient, less bulky and practical versions of their antiquated predecessors. Now, if you’re looking for an effective piece of HVAC technology that can both warm and cool your home without breaking the bank or hurting the environment, it’s time that you turn your attention to heat pumps in Vancouver.

 

How Heat Pumps Work

When trying to analyze how a heat pump functions, it’s best to imagine your refrigerator, which takes the warm air from its interior and transfers this to the coils at the back. The heating system of heat pumps is like the coils at the back of your fridge. This process of heating your home can be reversed during hot weather to give you a cool ambient temperature.

 

Common Types

The most popular heat pumps are the air-source, ground-source, and water-source types. Air-source heat pumps basically extract heat from surrounding air and transfer it to your home, which is contrary to how air conditioners cool a building. In similar fashion, ground and water-source heat pumps absorb heat from the ground or a body of water, and utilize refrigerants in its pipes to alter the source’s temperature to comfortable levels.

 

 Pros and Cons

Since heat pumps generate heat without burning fuel, they are generally considered “greener” than other types of furnaces or heaters. So, if you wish to heat up or cool your home efficiently and enjoy energy savings, heat pumps are your best bet. However, one of the primary limitations of heat pumps is the fact that they are a bit ineffective if you live in an area where temperatures often fall below freezing.

 

What to Look For in a Heat Pump

Shopping for a heat pump means that you have to know about seasonal energy efficiency rating (SEER) and heating seasonal performance factor (HSFP). Opt for heat pumps with higher SEER and HSFP ratings as well as those with dual-mode or scroll compressors, which last longer and work better.

If you wish to know more about heat pumps and maybe even have one installed in your home, consult professionals from established companies like Milani Plumbing, Drainage & Heating. Indeed, they don’t just offer services for drain cleaning in Vancouver, they also carry a wide selection of heat pumps for you to choose from.

Pointers on Furnace Replacement or Maintenance by a Coquitlam Plumber

Heating systems (gas furnaces included) in Port Coquitlam and Vancouver are generally trouble-free and easy to maintain, but efficient operation is the result of regular maintenance. Regardless of the type of furnace you have, there are measures you can take to keep your heating system in top condition.

Non-Textbook Plumbing: The ‘Basics’ West Vancouver Plumbers Learn from Experience

UA plumbing apprentice Ben Wagner had been inspecting pipes and getting his hands dirty for years before he got his papers as a full-fledged plumber. The man who wears the crown of North American Plumber of the Year now has a wallet full of licenses, from installing water heaters to gas fitting. All in a day's work, he told The Record.

Refrigerants: The Key Player in the Operation of Heat Pumps in Vancouver

It's rather interesting to know that Vancouver heat pumps work like a prisoner exchange. Heat and cold keep exchanging places to regulate indoor temperature, just as two opposing sides swap POWs to regulate their troop count. This explains why a lot of heat pumps have external and internal units.



The heat pump is one of many examples of the refrigeration cycle at work. In the process, there is a constant exchange of heat and cold to direct warm and cool air where they're really needed. But the key player in any heat pump system is the refrigerant.



That's right; the refrigerant will help keep your home toasty throughout the Christmas winter. But don't refrigerants work the other way around?

Absorption of heat

As per the Second Law of Thermodynamics, the movement of heat is usually from a high to low temperature. To put it in a simpler context; when you put ice in a hot drink, heat quickly spreads through the ice, making the drink a bit cooler. Refrigerants work using this principle.



The transfer of heat happens in the outer unit of the heat pump system. Refrigerant is pumped into the coils facing the air intake vents. Any traces of heat get absorbed by the refrigerant. A compressor makes the heat even hotter before the transfer to the internal unit. The heat is the refrigerant in its gaseous form.

Heating the air

It's obvious that cool air is circulating if you feel cold in your home. Cool air inside the house will pass through a vent in the internal unit and eventually to an internal set of coils with heat running along them. At this point, the process is reversed. Now, it's the hot coils absorbing the cold from the air.



Just as water vapor condenses in the cold atmosphere, the refrigerant in its gaseous state reverts to liquid form and is pumped back to the external coils. A blower in the internal unit distributes the warm air via the ventilation system. Overall, it's one happy cycle.



The same principle can also be found in other products like a Vancouver tankless water heater and water-variant heat pumps. You can probably say the refrigerant is the star of this act. To know more about refrigerants, ask your friendly neighborhood plumber from Milani about them.

Holiday Heating in Langley: Just Beat Off the Cold and Do The Ski-doo

The winter holidays are supposed to be the "most wonderful time of the year," as one song puts it. You spend time with your family and friends, exchange gifts, and attend Christmas services, as many Canadians are wont to do. The festivities continue into Boxing Day, in certain cases, and on into the New Year. But things would not seem so festive if your HVAC system goes on the fritz.



Canada is already known for its deep white winters. To have your house without an active HVAC system for most of the season is all but a death sentence for you and your family. A check of the system can determine whether it needs maintenance, repair, or full system replacement. An outfit such as Milani can certainly deal with problems besetting your Langley heating system.

Simple Maintenance

Every homeowner has the primary responsibility of keeping his home's HVAC system in working order. The thermostat is the first place to start; it should be checked to ascertain that it is at the correct settings, and that it runs through the start-up and shutdown cycle. All power connections must be tested for the right voltage; while motors require sufficient lubrication. For cooling machinery, it is prudent to clean evaporator and air condenser coils, and check refrigerant levels.

Repair or Replace?

Repairs, whether done by yourself or by a professional, may be called for if maintenance does not quite do the trick. The initial stage concerns checking the right settings for the thermostat, determining whether indicator lights are working, and if the connections are sound. A thermometer check may be needed in case the readout is not calibrated. Call in a professional outfit when all options have failed, and it is time for a replacement.

Piping Cold

Keeping the HVAC running is just one home issue you may have to deal with at Christmastime. What happens when the taps run dry in the middle of your holiday festivities? It is equally aggravating to have tap water that is icy cold due to some problem in the plumbing. Qualified Richmond plumbers such as Milani can be called in to help.



Having a reliable HVAC or plumbing company at your beck and call can reduce the headaches this Christmas. On your part, keeping a regular maintenance schedule for both systems is enough to ensure their reliability.

Proper Maintenance of Air Source Heat Pumps in Vancouver Homes

A heat pump is an electrical appliance that moves heat from one place to another and helps maintain a comfortable temperature throughout your home. Because it doesn't create heat—it simply transfers it—a heat pump uses less energy than other types of heating devices. This makes it a somewhat greener alternative.

It's a shame that some homeowners take this device for granted. Frequent and regular use of this appliance naturally takes its toll on its internal machinery and could result in a breakdown. A malfunctioning heat pump can bring you lots of problems, so you should know how to keep it in top shape. Here, then, are important maintenance tips for heat pumps in Vancouver homes.

Maintaining the outdoor unit

Since the outside unit is exposed to the elements, it can get pretty dirty. Trapped dirt and debris block the air flow of your unit, decreasing system performance and damaging your system's compressor. At least once a month, clean the unit of all dirt and dust that have accumulated in and around it, making sure not to miss the heat exchanging coil. A vacuum cleaner is highly recommended for this task, as it can access hard-to-reach places.

Cleaning of air filter

As with an air conditioning unit, proper maintenance of a heat pump air filter is paramount. The filter should be inspected and cleaned around once a month. A clogged air filter reduces the heat pump's efficiency by as much as fifty percent and causes several problems that might initially go undetected. Change filters every two months or as needed. Do not forget to inspect the ducts and vents as well, to ensure that there is no blockage in the pump.

Indoor unit maintenance

After cleaning your heat pump's air filter, and its ducts and vents, proceed to inspect the indoor unit. Check not only the controllers, but the thermostat temperature as well. The thermostat temperature should be lower than the room's temperature in order to get effective cooling or heating from your heat pump. Also, check the refrigerant level and make sure it is adequate. Leaked refrigerant combines with air to form an acid which could eat the heat pump’s compressor away.

As part of heat pump maintenance, you should get a professional technician to service your unit at least once a year. You can rely on experts like Milani for proper heating in Langley and Vancouver homes.

Keeping the Home Warm with Vancouver Heat Pumps

Keeping warm when the wintry cold starts is no joke, especially in Canada. Unless you want to run the health risks that accompany hypothermia, you shouldn't attempt to merely "deal" with the cold by toughing it out. While you could wear thicker clothing, seal your windows, have some hot cocoa and all that, with the hope of staying toasty, there's nothing quite like being warmed comfortably by a trusty heater, or bathing in a tub of steaming hot water.

Your home's heater has to be ready for use when the mercury plummets, so proper maintenance is definitely in order. A broken down heating system spells cold and bitter nights for you (don't say you weren't warned of pneumonia, either). To preserve the upkeep of your home's heating capability, you'll need professional Vancouver heat pumps service.

Of course, the first things you'll need to address are the possible leaks in your piping that could compromise the flow of heated air or water throughout the home. Not only will your system be rendered useless with a leak in it, but you could be throwing your money away, paying for energy you aren’t using. It's worthwhile to note that a repairman could fill these cracks and solve this problem easily.

Pipes aren't the only parts of a home's heating system, as even a simple furnace needs proper and occasional care. Broken furnaces not only perform worse, but can put your home in danger of catching fire—you certainly don't want to warm your home that way. Again, qualified professionals can handle most issues involving furnace repair in Vancouver. Engaging these services is money well spent since it redounds to cost-saving in energy, plus the added boon of safety.

Always turn to a trusted repair service based near your area of Vancouver, like Milani Plumbing Heating & Drainage, to handle all your heating-related repairs. You can't always be the handyman; and there surely are instances when the job is best left to the pros. A day's work of repair is often all it takes to restore your heating system to working, almost brand-new condition.

Winter can and has killed people, which is why heating is non-negotiable. Don't cheat yourself by skimping on your home heating; call a local repair service and get through the cold months in comfort.

The Influence of Ancient Aqueduct Ingenuity on the North Vancouver Plumber

The Magdeburg Water Bridge in Germany, with an overall length of 918 meters, is the longest aqueduct in the world. Widely known as an engineering marvel, the bridge was made to cross over the Elbe River, which had a lower elevation and posed a problem for two waterways crossing. Thanks to the principle of buoyancy, ships crossing the Magdeburg and the Elbe shouldn't have any more problems.

The aqueducts of today seem like a far cry from the aqueducts of days past. During the age of mighty ancient empires, aqueducts were an innovative means of bringing water to the thirsty populace. The simple mechanism brought about the birth of more modern plumbing systems, which are now the default concerns of a modern plumber in North Vancouver, for example.

Aqueducts were the pipes of the ancient world. They made it possible for cities to exist and thrive even if they were built far from sources of potable water. The following popular aqueducts of the ancient world reached out to water sources and sustained life in cities and towns throughout their useful existence in history.

Pont du Gard

This three-level aqueduct brought fresh water from a spring north of the city of Nemausus (now Nimes, France), with its design allowing the Gardon River below to flow unopposed. It was a part of a longer aqueduct system that spanned more than thirty miles, with most aqueducts under the cities. Built by the Romans, it's one of the most influential aqueducts in history.

Tambomachay

Earlier in history, the ancient Incas designed elaborate aqueducts mostly for ritual purposes. One such popular aqueduct is in Tambomachay, an archaeological site near the city of Cusco, Peru. It consisted of rocks arranged in a terrace, bringing in water from the highlands to the settlement below.

Cantalloc

The people of the Nazca Valley designed their aqueducts underground, and strangely. A network of 50 spiral-shaped wells and trenches, called puquios, act as the people's way in and out of the aqueduct that supplied them with water in a very dry place. This is one of a handful of ancient aqueducts still in use today.

Today, with complex piped delivery systems, people don't have to worry about where to get their water. But it's thanks to ancient ingenuity that every plumber in Port Moody and everywhere else in the world has learned the basics of bringing water to the masses.

Heating Tips for Winter that a Coquitlam Plumber Might Recommend

Most, if not all, homes in North Vancouver rely on their HVAC systems to keep the indoor air warm, especially during winter months. As a result, these households have to sustain higher heating bills during winter, which can put a dent in their tight budgets. One way to solve this is by reducing electrical consumption at home.

This is achieved by clamping down on excessive use of air conditioning systems. However, doing so may leave a household with members frozen to death from the lack of adequate air conditioning. Thus, many a Coquitlam plumber recommends that the next best thing is to keep the cold out of your home as much as possible without relying heavily on electric appliances to make it warm. Here are some tricks to do just that.

Cut down on your addiction to appliances by lowering the thermostat temperature level, even for a degree or two. You may be surprised at how much you can save by this simple adjustment. If you are feeling cold after doing this, you could remedy this by layering up and sleeping underneath large wool blankets that could keep even a slew of hibernating bears warm throughout winter.

This leads to the next trick: wear thick clothes all the time. You may not notice it at first, but one major reason you are feeling cold despite cranking up the thermostat at home to its highest setting may be that you insist on walking around the house practically in your birthday suit. Wear something thick enough to provide adequate insulation from the cold.

In addition, wearing dark thick socks helps, as icy toes are the leading cause of feeling cold. The bulk of what shows up in your North Vancouver heating bills can be blamed on the electrical drawing power of the thermostat. Thus, invest in a programmable thermostat that turns itself off at regular intervals when no one's home. This, alone, can help you save up to 15% of your heating bill.

If I's too much trouble for you to head to the store to buy a programmable thermostat or if you do not want to go through the hassle of hiring someone to install it in your house, then you could settle for manually turning down your thermostat as needed.

The Dos and Don’ts of Unclogging a Toilet That Every Plumber in Port Moody Keeps in Mind

There are few experiences more disgusting than being able unable to flush deposited unmentionables down your toilet bowl, realizing that it has become hopelessly clogged. Many Canadians know the scenario too well: They attempt to resolve things without the benefit of professional help, then have to face more disgusting situations, topped by sheepish embarrassment upon having to call in a qualified plumber from Port Moody to save the day.

The following are guidelines to help reduce the indignity that accompanies the fallacy that rudimentary plumbing skills are sufficient to rid your house of congested pipes. Comedy films parody this situation, showing that it is never a good idea to flush a clogged toilet more than once, as this could cause the contents to overflow onto the floor of the bathroom.

In the end you are faced with an even ghastlier situation than ever before. The principal tool that most nonprofessionals associate plumbers with is the lowly plunger. Sure, it doesn't have any detachable parts, and it’s not a nifty motorized gadget either; but for its simplicity in design and appearance, it does its job well.

This explains why a plumber in Port Coquitlam always looks for the plunger the moment he is faced with a clogged toilet. Before making that frantic phone call, you can try to unclog the fixture yourself by using a plunger correctly. Remember to make sure the suction cup is wide enough to cover the entire diameter of the waterhole at the bottom of the bowl before doing anything else.

At the same time, plumbers recommend setting the water level above the plunger’s suction cup for maximum efficiency, ascertaining that pumping actions don’t merely blow out air. Firmly and briskly push the plunger down towards the hole to force the liquid to rush through the pipes. If everything goes as planned, the quick pressure wave created by this action would dislodge whatever foreign body is clogging the system and clear the passageway for water to pass through. If this doesn't work, you can try other methods; although at this point it is best to seek professional help to resolve the problem.

Different Pipes Used by a Plumber in New Westminster

The British Columbia Wage and Salary Survey in 2009 indicated that plumbers are kept busy 99.8% of the time. If you're a homeowner in the North Vancouver area, it may be ideal for you to educate yourself on the different kinds of pipes used by a plumber in New Westminster. This will give you more or less an idea of what could’ve caused the problem, and what possible repair is needed, thereby saving time and money.

In general, there are two kinds of pipes used in residential plumbing systems; plastic and metal. Plastic pipes came back in the 70's; and continue to be used in North American plumbing systems because they are cost-effective and durable. In the case of leaks, the most common solution involves simply gluing the joints with liquid cement or a primer.

Many plastic pipes used in drain lines are made of PVC or polyvinyl-chloride, which is a plastic designed to be long lasting and resistant to chemicals. On the other hand, CPVC or (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride) is just like PVC but is notable for being heat-resistant. This makes it ideal to use in interior supply lines.

Older homes in New Westminster might have metal piping systems installed in their homes. Some of these older pipes are made of cast iron, which is known for its durability, but also for its susceptibility to rust over time. Rusted pipes could lead to serious leaks, requiring the services of a plumber in North Vancouver to replace the plumbing altogether. These older cast iron pipes have been discontinued along with the heavier lead pipes in favor of other materials.

Copper pipes are commonly used in water supply lines as they are reputed for being resistant to corrosion. Copper piping is either the rigid or flexible type. Rigid copper pipes come in a variety of thicknesses; and are connected by soldered fittings. Flexible copper pipes, on the other hand, are more malleable than rigid ones and are commonly used for dishwashers and refrigerator ice makers.

Even before the plumber arrives to attend to your problems, you could quickly determine the possible problem to enable you to promptly inform him of what is required. This could make the entire process faster, allowing you to have your plumbing system repaired before you know it. For more information, you can log on to dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-recognize-different-types-of-pipes.html.

Plumbers in Surrey Give Tips on How to Keep Your Drainage Running Smoothly

Vancouver home maintenance projects can seem like a full time job, what will all the things that need to be done to keep homes as cozy as can be. Plumbing Port Coquitlam homes like yours need is just one of the things you will have to pay attention to throughout the year. Below are some inspection and maintenance tips that will help you identify any potential plumbing problems before they get worse.

• Tip #1
  Test the water pressure. Water pressure refers to the force with which the water pours out of your faucets, showerheads and sinks. Ideally, pressure will increase the more you crank up the handle. If the pressure is low or if it stalls at a certain point, this can be a sign of sediment buildup in the pipes. It can also be a sign of leaks in the water line.
• Tip #2
  Check the speed of the drainage in each sink and tub. Slow drainage of wastewater can indicate that there is a clog in your drain. Plumbers in Surrey say that ideally, draining liquids should do so in full swirl. If bubbles appear, then you may have a problem. If you hear gurgling sounds with the bubbling, you may have a problem with your drainage vents.
• Tip #3
  Call a professional plumber to inspect your water pipes. Thanks to the efforts of the Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage, the district has a highly efficient liquid waste disposal system. Still, there will be instances when the drainage gets clogged. For these instances, employing the services of a qualified plumber will be necessary.
• Tip #4
  Check inside the tank of your toilets to make sure there aren't any missing, rusted, or broken parts. Try flushing the toilet to see if it flushes properly. Make sure that the water stops flowing at some point after flushing and make sure there are no water puddles on the floor around the toilet.

Taking time to perform these tips will be time well-spent. Heeding these tips will enable you to keep your drainage problem-free. Should you encounter any problems with your plumbing, immediately call a Langley plumber from contractors like Milani.

Tips on How to Choose the Most Reliable Plumbing Companies in Surrey

When you start hearing that dripping noise echoing throughout the house in the middle of the night, there's a high probability that you'll soon need the help of a qualified plumber. However, with the dozens of plumbing companies in Surrey, you might find it difficult to determine which one you can trust to do the job well. The following are some points to consider in choosing a competent plumber:

Find a Plumbing Company That is Well-Established

Companies that have been around for several years are definitely worth considering. In fact, some plumbing service providers, such as Milani Plumbing, Drainage & Heating, have been in business for decades! Such time-tested outfits survived for a reason. Whether it's their quality of service, experience, or affordability, it seems that there’s no way you can go wrong when you stick with the more established companies.

Use the Internet

A number of plumbing companies are already joining the trend of web marketing and promotion. Thus, most of these agencies have websites and social media pages. Opt for the ones with trustworthy profiles and utilize these online resources to judge their credibility. Through the Internet, you can read feedback and reviews, and get to know a company better.

Give Them a Call

Plumbing services Surrey homeowners would like to hire usually have business phone numbers and inquiry pages on their sites or in online directories. If you have questions regarding their charges, manpower, or services, feel free to give them a call or email your queries. Based on their response, you can ascertain if they're a company that you'd like to work with or not.

Look for a Guarantee

Providing a guarantee on their workmanship is a good sign that a plumbing company is trustworthy. Look for agencies that give a guarantee of at least 30 to 90 days on regular services or repair work. But, for major fixes and installation projects, reputable plumbing companies even provide guarantees of between 1 to 5 years. Plumbing jobs can become costly and are often regarded as a major financial investment in the maintenance of your home. Therefore, finding a competent plumber in Surrey is necessary to keep your house in good shape and make the most of your hard-earned cash.

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.

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.

Flowing Through Time: Plumbing Surrey Homes Have From Past to Present

Plumbing is nothing new to mankind, as shown by archeological evidence of ancient civilizations. Carrying a bucket of water from the nearby river may be considered the most primordial attempts at plumbing. Our present lifestyles may, in some way, owe a debt of gratitude to the ancient men and women who first brought water from a well or stream or river, prompting humankind to develop newer and more efficient methods of delivering water. If it weren’t for the following historical icons of plumbing, your Surrey plumbing in the house will most likely not be possible. Here are some of the ways in which their wisdom still continues to flow.

The Roman aqueduct

Water may be available at a river, but what if the nearest one is a long hike away? With remarkable ingenuity for the time, the Romans of antiquity devised means of conveying water from remote sources into settlements where it was needed through the aqueduct. One of these Roman aqueducts, the Pont du Gard, can still be visited in Nimes in southern France. The aqueduct relied on gravity to cause water to flow down from the elevated streams through the aqueducts into the Roman towns and cities. For the record, it surely beats walking for miles.

Ancient pipes: no steel yet

While the pipes for plumbing Surrey homes now use are made out of modern industrial materials, the conduits used by Ancient empires like Greece and Rome were merely canals formed out of rock to deliver the water where it was needed. Think of them as the downscaled version of the aqueducts, proving to be instrumental in sanitation for the cities and towns of the empires. On the other side of the world, the early Americans made their pipes out of the most abundant resource in the land: wood. They bore a small channel through the centers of logs, which 7 to 9 feet in length, to serve as pipes. Segments were connected using primitive adhesives such as animal fat. Steel piping wouldn’t arrive until the early 17th century.

Lesson learned the hard way

The Middle Ages were a nightmare for those who desperately need to use the restroom – if any even existed. Plagued by poor plumbing and inadequate facilities, Europe learned the hard way through an epidemic known as the bubonic plague. Unsanitary conditions led to the death of 25 million people between 1346 and 1360 at the hands of the Black Death. Point taken and lesson learned, people began devising inventions that would form the basis of modern plumbing Surrey BC residents now use. Such lessons will go on to educate the future.

Things Best Left to Plumbing Companies in Surrey

You may be an avid reader of popular plumbing magazines and online websites, but you’ll still need to call plumbing companies in Surrey for most of your plumbing problems. There are some issues that should be left to people who have ample training in plumbing. If you attempt a do-it-yourself of the following plumbing problems, you’re more likely to end up spending more than you would have if you’d called in a plumber to do the job.

Low water pressure

If your tap is pouring less water than usual, it may be a sign of having insufficient water pressure. Several factors can cause this, but if you just forgot to turn on the valve downstairs, perhaps you won’t need a plumber after all. However, for more complicated causes, such as clogged pipes or a poor plumbing design, pick up the phone. In most cases, low water pressure is caused by long-term buildup of mineral deposits inside the pipes. Two decades worth of mineral deposits can render old pipes virtually useless—and there’s no better fix than to replace the entire thing. A plumber is the best person to take care of pipe replacements.

Where’s the hot water?

It’s the end of a cold day and you just want a nice, hot bath to relax and warm your frozen and exhausted muscles—only to realize that your water is as cold as ice. The absence of hot water in the house typically means something is wrong with your boiler. Most plumbing services Surrey residents request for are the repair of boilers linked to the plumbing system. Since a boiler is a delicate piece of machinery, it’s best that you leave the repairs to a plumber or a boiler repairman. Plumbers say it takes a while to spot the problems for boilers, considering the various intricate parts they have. Also, since heaters are connected to gas lines, one false move and having no hot water could be the least of your worries.

Sewer trout swimming back up

If your old sewer trout is going anywhere but down to its pond, your plumbing may have a case of a septic tank backup. This happens when the septic tank is already filled to the limit, sending incoming waste back up the pipe. As this usually means dealing with stink you might not have the stomach for, this is certainly a job for the plumber. Septic tanks should be cleaned at least once or twice a year, depending on the capacity of the tank. Professional plumbing in Surrey can clean the septic tank, rendering it usable for the next few years. A clean septic tank will ensure a straight and steady flush down the drain.