Friday, April 13, 2012

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.

Monday, April 9, 2012

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.