Ft. Saskatchewan's Trusted
Gas Line Repair company

There are several preventive measures you can take:

• Insulate your pipes, especially those in unheated areas like basements, garages, and crawl spaces.
• Keep your home’s thermostat set to a consistent temperature, even at night and when you’re away.
• Allow faucets to drip slightly during extremely cold spells to keep water flowing.
• Open cabinet doors under sinks to allow warm air to circulate around the pipes.

You can’t run out of hot water with tankless water heaters – unless, of course, the power supply is off or goes out. However, a tankless water heater can have trouble keeping up with demand if too many things require hot water all at once. For example, if several appliances are operating at the same time (the dishwasher, the laundry machine, etc.), and you go to have a hot shower, you may find that your tankless unit isn’t capable of providing enough hot water. Therefore, it’s important to ensure that you install a tankless water heater that has a large enough capacity to handle your demand for hot water.

Tankless water heaters are the most energy-efficient hot water systems on the market. In fact, tankless water heaters can be approximately 35% – 80% more efficient than traditional hot water tanks. 

Tankless hot water heaters can be powered by electricity or gas. However, gas-powered tankless heaters are more efficient. In addition to being more energy-efficient, tankless water heaters cost less to operate (up to 50% less than traditional hot water tanks) and last longer (up to double the lifetime).

The plumbing professionals at ProSolutions PHAC recommend the following high-efficiency tankless water heater:

• Noritz EZ111 (Gas Powered)

Please note: Although tankless water heaters are the most energy-efficient hot water system, they are not for everyone. Our guide to tankless water heaters can help you decide if a tankless heater is the best option for your home.

In colder climates, water inside the pipes can freeze. When water freezes, it expands, which can cause the pipe to crack or burst. This is especially common if the pipes are not properly insulated or if there are sudden drops in temperature.

If your drain is clogged with hair, baking soda can dissolve hair in a drain. 

To try this safe and easy method at home – first, pour a cup of baking soda down the drain. Then pour a cup of vinegar (white vinegar) down. Allow the mixture to sit for several minutes. Keep an eye out for bubbling in the drain (this is caused by the reaction between the baking soda and vinegar). Once the bubbling stops, wait a few more minutes then pour some boiling water down the drain. Repeat until the clog is cleared. Keep at it, it can take a long time.

With a heavy-duty clog, you might need something more powerful. In this case, try snaking the drain, plunging it or calling a local Edmonton drain cleaning company to get the job done.

Water softeners last about 10 to 20 years. The lifetime of your water softener will depend on several factors including the type of water softener and brand you buy, as well as the installation. Proper installation is important to ensure maximum effectiveness and lifetime. One of the many benefits of having a water softener installed in your home is that it will extend the lifetime of your other plumbing appliances. Hard water is tough on appliances like water heaters and laundry machines, as the minerals in the water wear away pipe sealants over time causing leaks and clogs. However, a water softener will remove excessive mineral content from all of the water, helping to protect your plumbing and appliances from unnecessary damage.

The strongest drain cleaner is an acidic drain cleaner. When you have a clogged drain, it’s always best to try snaking or plunging it first. This method will ensure you do not damage your pipes. If that fails, give a drain cleaning product a try (at your own risk). 

Different types of drain cleaners have different uses. When you have a tough clog – hair, food, grease, soap scum, paper – an acidic drain cleaning product will be your best bet.

Keep in mind that you should never use chemical drain cleaning products in a completely clogged drain. These types of clogs require the product to sit in the drain for an extended period and this can cause damage to your pipes.
If a drain cleaning product doesn’t cut it, plumbing contractors in Edmonton can help. Contact a local, experienced plumber to have your drains unclogged and working like new in no time.

The difference between a boiler and a hot water tank has to do with the way in which each uses the hot water that it produces.

Both boilers and hot water tanks take cool water, heat this water and then distribute it throughout a home via pipes. However, the water that is heated by a boiler is distributed throughout the home via pipes, radiators and radiant in-floor systems in order to heat it – to keep the rooms, floors, garage, etc. comfortable and warm.

On the other hand, a hot water tank heats water that is used for cooking and cleaning purposes – for showers, dishwashing, laundry, etc.