Our Blog

Boiler safety precautions you should be taking

Boiler safety precautions are easy steps you can take to protect your family from boiler-related problems.

Repairing or replacing your Calgary boiler is expensive, while simple care is cheap. Taking basic safety precautions is a great way to protect your bank account.

Regular boiler safety precautions

1. Check the operating pressure

Every modern boiler comes with a front panel that displays whether the operating pressure is correct, high, or low. If you notice your boiler doesn’t maintain the correct pressure it’s usually a sign that something is wrong.

The culprit is usually a leak somewhere in the system, commonly the radiators. Occasionally, the fault may lie with a boiler component that’s developed an issue.

In both cases, diagnosis and treatment are as simple as noticing a pressure problem and calling in a technician.

2. Look for leaks or drips

Another obvious sign that something is wrong with your boiler is water or, more rarely, air leaking from some part of the system.

Performing a quick check for leaks around your boiler every so often is an important safety precaution and only takes seconds to do.

3. Get regular professional maintenance

Measures like checking the pressure and spotting leaks are sensible, yet they are no substitute for the regular professional preventative boiler maintenance that is often required by law.

A trained technician will know how to give your boiler a full service, including all the pipes and lines, pumps, valves, gauges, and other components and accessories. They can also handle combustion tests and any other activities you don’t have the time or equipment for.

Preventative maintenance is the best precaution

These days, the only domestic boiler safety precautions most people want or need to take is to set up regular annual safety checks.

After your technician’s visit, you’ll know your boiler is in perfect working order and safe for another year.

Need to be sure your boiler is in full working order?

Talk it over with a friendly and experienced professional today. Son-Rise Plumbing & Gasfitting has been family owned and operated, helping local people in Calgary since 1983.

How to prevent boiler tube corrosion

Boiler tube corrosion costs Canadian households thousands in boiler repairs every year. Even high-quality systems can suffer if not set up correctly or properly maintained.

As always, regular preventative care and maintenance of your boiler will pay off in the long-run, but it’s also helpful to understand common boiler problems if you want to keep your bills to a minimum.

Why do boiler tubes corrode?

1. Poor water quality

Heat exchangers and other key components of most modern boilers are made from stainless steel.

High-quality stainless steel is highly resistant to corrosion; however, it is possible for poor water quality to overwhelm even resistant materials if it is bad enough.

High levels of chloride in the water–sometimes the result of using a water softener or of such a device malfunctioning–can be at fault too.

2. Poor material choice or quality

Not all modern boilers are created equal. Nor are the materials used in their construction. Take steel for example:

Material type – stainless steel is usually more resistant to corrosion than mild steel, making it a superior choice for many boiler components.
Material quality – there are several types of stainless steel. Austenitic stainless steel is not as corrosion-resistant as ferric stainless steel and even ferric stainless steel comes in different qualities, denoted by a number.

This makes choosing the right make and model of boiler a key decision before installation. If you’re in any doubt as to the correct choice, it’s always worth seeking professional advice.

3. Leaks caused by material expansion

Noticed a puddle of water beside your boiler? That most likely means your boiler is leaking water.

Different materials expand and contract at different rates when heated. If your boiler’s heat exchanger is made from stainless steel and the fittings are made from brass, water may seep out through the threads very slowly or intermittently.

Over time, this may lead to the build up of calcium and mineral deposits that can look a little like corrosion. This needs to be cleaned off and the system tested but is unlikely to impair its function.

How to prevent boiler tube corrosion

Boiler tube corrosion is a problem that affects thousands of people every year. The most common causes are excessively poor water or material quality, while a mismatch in material expansion rates can lead to leaks that look like corrosion.

Damage and problem prevention is also always more cost-effective and easier than an emergency repair.

This means choosing the right boiler for your home and getting regular preventative boiler maintenance from a qualified technician is the best way to minimize the chance of your boiler developing issues, including corrosion.

Think you might have a problem with boiler tube corrosion?

Have one of our experienced technicians service your boiler today.

Son-Rise Plumbing & Gasfitting has been meeting the needs of people in Calgary with honesty, professionalism, and integrity since 1983.

How to prevent garbage disposal problems

Garbage disposals can be a handy addition to your kitchen, but they can also be a serious issue for your plumbing system if used incorrectly.

The last thing you want is to repair or replace your garborator. Here’s how to prevent garbage disposal problems from ruining your day:

Garbage disposal problems and how to avoid them

1. Don’t put everything down the garbage disposal

There are some things you should never use your garbage disposal for:

Dense vegetables – anything that’s fibrous, such as celery, onion skins or corn husks.
Grease, fat, and cooking oils – will clog your drain after they solidify. Try using paper towels to mop up oil from pans and disposing of them instead.
Egg shells – can stick to pipes, clogging them and potentially creating sulphurous smells.
Expandable foods – things like pasta or rice are starchy and can expand with prolonged water exposure.
Bones, pits and seeds – can jam your disposal as well as dull the blades.
Non-food items – things like metal, paper, plastic, or glass.

2. Don’t try to grind large chunks of food

Your waste disposal will struggle with large chunks of food, potentially even jamming or breaking entirely.

Instead, chop waste food into smaller pieces and put those pieces in a few at a time.

3. Don’t let your disposal sit idle

You’ll experience fewer garbage disposal problems if you run your disposal on a regular basis.

Even if you find you don’t have much or any food to dispose of, run your disposal every couple of days. This will help avoid sticking, corrosion, and smells or other issues caused by trapped food.

4. Don’t use hot water

Always use cold water when you run your garbage disposal. This will keep the food as solid as possible, maximizing your disposal’s ability to chop it up.

Hot water will tend to turn food into mush that sticks to the sides and pipes.

5. Don’t stop the moment the food is gone

Keep running your garbage disposal with cold water for at least an extra minute after it’s finished grinding the waste. This prevents food from ending up trapped in the pipe.

Another sensible approach is to feed small batches of food waste into your garbage disposal, making sure the waste is well ground before adding more.

6. Don’t neglect a quick, simple clean after use

Immediately after using your disposal, keep it running with cold water and add a little dish soap to wash away any food remains.

Another natural remedy is to add the occasional bit of citrus peel after cleaning. Lemon, lime, or orange peel will work a bit like a natural wipe around the pipe.

Every few months, boil up a few gallons of water and pour that down your sink to give the pipes a more serious clean.

Garbage disposal maintenance

The best way to maintain your garbage disposal is to use it sensibly and carry out simple, regular cleaning as described above.

The most important thing is to consider what you’re putting into your disposal. Many food waste items can easily be recycled or composted, leaving your disposal to handle that much less.

Finally, a safety tip–your waste disposal contains spinning metal blades; it’s always worth calling an expert rather than trying to deal with most garbage disposal problems yourself.

Problem with your garbage disposal?

Not for long. Call the fully equipped and experienced professionals at Son-Rise Plumbing and Gasfitting to book an appointment and ensure your disposal is in proper working order

Why is sump pump maintenance so important

Installing a sump pump is a smart move if you want to keep your property safe from flooding or burst pipes. Sump pump maintenance is important if you want your pump to work when you need it most.

Whether you have never had to use your sump pump or you have had to use it more often than you’d like, you want to keep this vital piece of safety equipment in full working order.

Luckily, maintaining your sump pump is nice and simple. Here’s everything you need to know:

When should I maintain my sump pump?

The best sump pump spends its time sitting quietly in your basement, waiting to act. This is great for you, as you rarely have to think about it.

Unfortunately, this also means you may not notice immediately if something goes wrong. You should put full sump pump maintenance in your calendar every year and aim to do some quick basic maintenance every quarter too.

Why is sump pump maintenance so important?

Safety – your sump pump might not need to act very often, but when it does you want to be sure it’s going to work.
Pumping efficiency – when you do need your sump pump to start working, you’ll want it to work as fast as possible to keep your home free from water. A poorly maintained pump may not do the job fast enough.
Service life – if you don’t want to have to replace your pump, keeping it in good working order is the best strategy. Ignored pumps are much more likely to break down.

How to maintain a sump pump

1) Do some quick quarterly maintenance

Every season, it’s best to check in with your pump and do a few simple bits of maintenance:

Disconnect the power supply.
Check for any obvious damage or problems.
Remove and clean the pump inlet screen or opening.
Reconnect the power supply.
Test that the sump pump is working by pouring 20 litres of water into the sump pit, ensuring the pump activates to pump out the water.

2) Carry out proper maintenance every spring

Once per year, expand that quick check to full maintenance. You can do this at any time of year, but the start of spring tends to be best because that’s when your sump pump will see its heaviest use.

Disconnect the power supply.
Extract your sump pump from its pit.
Clear the pit and the grate and clean the pump itself.
Grease any bearings if your manufacturer’s instructions say they need it.
Check the power cord and power source for damage.
Check that the drainage pipes that take the water away from your home are sealed and that the final discharge pipe is clear and empties out far enough away.
Place your sump pump back in its pit. Make sure it’s correctly positioned and level.
Reconnect the power supply.
Test that the sump pump is working by pouring 20 litres of water into the sump pit, ensuring the pump activates to pump out the water.

Common sump pump problems

If you’re investigating sump pump maintenance because you’re experiencing a problem and regular maintenance procedures haven’t fixed it, there are a few things you can check for:

Sump pit water level – It is common to find a few inches of water in the bottom of your sump pit and the pump only turns on when water reaches the float switch.
Power problems – most sump pumps are electrically powered. Check obvious problems like the wall plug coming out of the socket or damaged wires.
Jammed float – sometimes your pump’s float will get stuck. This is one of the most common sump pump problems and can usually be easily rectified.
Your sump pump won’t turn off – many things may lead to your sump pump being in constant use. Both sump pit water level and jammed floats can cause this. A constantly running sump pump or a full pit could mean parts of your sump pump are working improperly.

For some problems, calling in a professional is the only solution. When you do, be sure to call on a reputable local company with the experience needed to handle your sump pump maintenance and repair.

Got a sump pump problem that maintenance isn’t fixing?

Contact us! Son-Rise Plumbing has been giving Calgary residents a safe, dependable way to deal with its plumbing problems since 1983.

Get in touch today. Let us know about your sump pump problems or anything else our experienced professional plumbers can help you with

Why You Need A Bathroom Exhaust Fan

Bathroom exhaust fans play a critical role in protecting your health and maintaining the indoor air quality of the bathroom space and the whole home.

Why do I need a bathroom fan? The primary purpose of a bathroom exhaust fan is to remove excess moisture out of the bathroom. During a bath or shower humidity levels rise significantly. Excessive moisture can create the perfect breeding ground for mold, mildew and bacterium that can negatively impact health. These spores can grow rapidly and can be hard to eliminate. Long-term excess moisture and humidity can crack and peel paint, breakdown cabinet finishes, rusting of hardware and fixtures, and acute damage to tile, grout and flooring. Without control, it can even cause deterioration of joists and framing of the bathroom.

Not just an odor eliminator

One of the most appreciated benefits of a bathroom exhaust fan is for odor control. If an unpleasant odor occurs, it can easily be vented outdoors with a bathroom fan. Leaving a pleasing atmosphere for the next person who enters the bathroom. Bathrooms are commonly cleaned with heavy-duty chemicals which have strong fumes and can cause a variety of health issues when inhaled. Especially for small children, the elderly, or those with respiratory conditions. A bathroom fan helps to exhaust these chemical fumes to the outdoors.

Additionally, if a bathroom is experiencing mold problem, the fan will help to remove buildup of spores in the air. This in turn helps slow down the growth rate of the mold.

If your bathroom doesn’t have a fan and smells musty, it’s likely you need to install a bathroom exhaust fan. How does a Bathroom Fan Work? The moisture laden air and odors are suctioned from the bathroom by the fan. Then expelled through the housing and ductwork safely outdoors, improving comfort and air quality. A fan should not be exhausted into the attic space. This is simply shifting the moisture from one room to another. Bathroom fans will vary by power, are rated in CFM (cubic feet per minute) which is a measurement of how much air the fan can draw from the room over a period of time. Generally speaking, the bigger the bathroom, the higher the CFM you’ll want. Ventilation is key If you are not using your bathroom fan because

It’s too loud
You are not sure your bathroom fan is working
You don’t have a bathroom fan

Let the professional plumbers at Son-Rise Plumbing help you solve your bathroom fan problems! Call Today! 403-274-1166

For a safe, healthy bathroom, ventilate!

Hard Water In Calgary – What To Do?

What is it? What is “Hard” Water?

Hard water is water that contains high levels of dissolved calcium and magnesium.

These minerals come from soil and rock such as limestone that dissolves in our river systems. Our water sources are the Bow and Elbow rivers which travel through the Canadian Rockies before reaching Calgary.

Hard water is not a health risk, but it is troublesome because hard water causes mineral buildup on all fixtures, poor soap and or detergent performance, and can cause skin irritation.

Hard water interferes with almost every daily cleaning task from personal grooming, bathing, dishwashing, laundry, and general cleaning.

The amount of hardness in the water affects the amount of soap or shampoo used in bathing and can cause skin irritation. Doing laundry in hard water can make fabrics stiff and rough. Can result in incomplete stain removal, graying, and dulling of colors. In addition, soap curds and hard water deposits can be deposited on dishes, bathtubs, showers, and all water fixtures.

Why it Matters

Hard water is brutal on appliances. Not only appliances but plumbing piping in your home as well. Heated hard water forms a scale of calcium and magnesium minerals that can contribute to the inefficient operation or failure of all water-using appliances and piping.

According to Natural Resources Canada, your hot water heater is the second-highest user of energy in your home. Hard water mineral build-up in your hot water heater takes more energy, making your water heater work harder and wear out faster.

Managing Hard Water

Water hardness can be managed in two ways: by packaged water softener such as baking or washing soda or borax. Or mechanical water softening units.

How to remove hard water:

Start by mixing half water and half Vinegar in a spray bottle
Spray the mixture in your tub and shower or on other water spots and wait a few minutes before wiping clean.
Dry the surface to prevent further spotting

Make a paste of baking soda and vinegar
Smear the paste over the surface of the stain and let sit 15 minutes.
After waiting 15 minutes, scrub clean and rinse with water.
Remember to dry the surface to prevent further spotting

Finally, you can try removing hard water using lemon juice
Spray lemon juice on hard water spots and let sit 10 minutes
Rinse after 10 minutes
Again, make sure to dry the clean surface.

Packaged water softeners only take care of the areas that are accessible.

Mechanical water softening units: Water softeners work on an ion exchange process. The calcium and magnesium ions are replaced with sodium ions as it passes through a mechanical water softening unit.

Having a mechanical water softener permanently installed into your home’s plumbing system to continuously remove the calcium and magnesium takes care of your water heater, pipes, and plumbing fixtures.

Call today 403-873-2597 to have a professional plumber from Son-Rise Plumbing install your water softener!