Archive for November, 2017

Top 3 Ways to Prevent Frozen Pipes

November 27, 2017Frozen PipesLeave a comment

Why do plumbing pipes freeze during winter? That’s a question many clients ask us during this time of the year. Well, it’s simple: Water freezes due to extremely cold temperatures, causing it to expand. The real problem is not so much frozen water in the pipes, but the fact that metal or plastic water pipes don’t expand. Frozen pipes are at risk of bursting, which can result in a costly plumbing bill, and possible property damage.

If you’re wondering what you can do to prevent frozen pipes this winter, keep on reading. Anta Plumbing has been a Toronto plumber of choice for many residents and businesses in the GTA for decades, and we have accumulated significant knowledge of the region, as well as the weather patterns and common plumbing issues. We know how to avoid frozen pipes and will let you in on our best tips.

Warmth Prevents Frozen Pipes

1. Keep your pipes warm to prevent them from freezing. UL-endorsed tape with a built-in thermostat wrapped around exposed pipes can further help prevent over-heating. Simply wrap the tape around your pipes, or run it along the length, depending on the manufacturer’s instructions.

2. Use a heated reflector lamp only in dry, enclosed areas during cold nights. Check on it to ensure it is safe and working.

3. Use specially designed foam rubber insulation on exposed pipes, but make sure that there are no gaps. You can wrap duct tape around any gaps where the corners meet. While insulation does not necessarily prevent freezing, it does slow down the heat to cold transfer rate.

4. Install a thermal convection-powered hot water recirculation valve to bypass the drain while circulating warm water through your water lines. This device does not require electricity.

Eliminate Freezing Risks

When you winterize your plumbing system, don’t forget your drain lines in the bathroom and kitchen.

● Insulate drain lines as you would insulate incoming water pipes.
● Open the doors to cabinets beneath bathroom and kitchen sinks to allow warm air to circulate around the pipes.
● Place a heat lamp on the drain P-traps when it is especially cold.
● If you lose electric power on very cold days, open faucets to a slow constant drip to keep water moving through the pipes.

Prevent Frozen Pipes If You’re Leaving Home

If you’re planning on going out of town for three or more days, you may be tempted to turn off the heat, however that can cause your pipes to freeze. Try these tips instead:

● Adjust your thermostat to 55F to keep the temperature in your home above freezing point and to allow sufficient warm air to circulate.
● Drain your water lines, both inside and out. Start by turning off your main shut off valve and then turning on your taps to allow water to run out of the pipes. Don’t forget to run the washing machine, ice machine and dishwasher until water runs out too.
● Test the sump pump and add a backup battery in the event that you may lose power during bad weather.

These tips should keep your pipes from freezing this winter. However, Anta Plumbing will be on standby, just incase you need us.

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5 Tips to Avoid a Costly Winter Plumbing Issues

November 24, 2017Winter PlumbingLeave a comment

As the cold winter weather creeps us on us, we all start our holiday preparations. We don’t want to be caught unprepared for family get-togethers, so we buy gifts and food, we clean our homes extra well and go to great lengths to be ultra accommodating. But there’s one thing not to forget: doing the necessary preparations to avoid costly plumbing issues.

Winter – and the holiday season in particular – is our busiest time here at Anta Plumbing. The seasonal temperature shifts combine with holiday festivities, travel, and increased wear and tear to cause your plumbing to go on the blink. Here are some of our best tips to help you avoid costly winter plumbing issues.

1. Avoid the freeze

During cold snaps, water can freeze inside your plumbing pipes and fixtures, which could cause them to burst. Avoid frozen pipes as follows:

wrap uninsulated pipes in foam, old towels or blankets.
allow warm air to circulate into the basement or attic to warm pipes up.
invest in electrical insulation strips.
allow at-risk taps to drip ever so slowly during cold snaps.

2. Fix those plumbing leaks as soon as possible

Do a plumbing inspection ahead of the cold snaps, and have any possible leaks fixed as soon as possible. Check every faucet in your bathroom, utility and kitchen for puddles or drips.

3. Have your water heater serviced ahead of the holidays

The last thing you need when you have a house full of guests, is a broken hot water heater. These issues always tend to crop up at the worst possible times, so add a hot water heater service to the top of your holiday preparation priority list.

If your home is in an area known for hard water, that can cause sediment to build up inside your water heater tank and that can cause rust to develop. That rust can enter your potable water and it can damage your hot water heater.

4. Winterize your outdoor plumbing

If you have not done so yet, it is time to disconnect your garden hose and pack it up until the warmer weather rolls around. Water left in the hose can freeze, causing it to expand and that will freeze your faucets and connected pipes.

While you’re at it, also close interior shut off valves connected to outdoor faucets. Allow the water to drain from outside lines to prevent it from freezing.

5. Perform sump pit maintenance

Before you start to roll out the red carpet for your holiday guests, first clean and inspect your sump pump and sump pit. The pump may freeze during a cold snap, causing it to stop working. Sump pump failure could cause it to malfunction, resulting in basement flooding during heavy winter rain.

Here at Anta Plumbing, we wish you a winter warmed by family and friends, rather than by the professional service of your local neighborhood plumbers. However, we are available 24/7/365 when you need us.

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4 Signs of Poorly Vented Plumbing Drain Lines

November 1, 2017UncategorizedLeave a comment

A home’s plumbing system is an intricate network of fixtures, connected to one another by drain lines. Plumbing drain lines must be properly vented, or else it may mimic the symptoms of different plumbing malfunctions.

Understanding Plumbing Drain Line Venting

When wastewater flows through your drain pipes, it alters the pressure inside your system. Outside air is therefore required to equalize the the pressure difference. When a plumbing system is installed, vertical pipes are connected to your drain system. These pipes extend straight up out of the roof to provide venting.

Just like any other pipe, plunging drain line vents may develop blockages, and this will affect their ability to terminate odors.

Any number of issues can cause your drain line vents to become blocked, including improper placement at construction and obstructions such as bird nests and leaves. A professional plumber can use specialized tools to clear the drain vents on your roof.

4 Symptoms of Poorly Vented Drain Lines

If you notice any of the following symptoms of poorly vented drain lines, it is time to call a professional Toronto plumbing service.

1. Slow draining fixtures

If plunging does not clear up your sluggish drains, it is possible that you have an obstructed vent pipe. When vent pipes are blocked, it will inhibit free flow of the drainage system.

2. Sewer smells

Bad smells in the house? It could be that the trap under your sink is dry. When there’s water in the trap, it will seal out sewer gases. On the contrary, waste will form a vacuum when there’s inadequate venting, and it will suck water out of the traps, causing sewer odors to permeate your home.

3. Bubbling and gurgling sounds

Do you hear bubbling or gurgling sounds in the tub, sink or shower after it has been emptied? It’s possible your plumbing drain line is poorly vented, and that is causing pressure to build up in the vented pipes. This causes air pressure to build up in order to equalize refluxing up the drains and that’s what’s responsible for the sounds.

4. Poor flushing action in the toilet

If your toilet doesn’t flush as it should, and the water in the bowl rises back to the right level slowly, it is likely that excess pressure from a blocked vent may be inhibiting free flow through the sewer line. In most cases, the poor flushing action will also be present, as will bubbles in the bowl, even when it is not in use.

Correcting Poorly Vented Plumbing Drain Lines

When you suspect that you have poorly vented drain lines, it is important to call your local plumbers right away. If you call Anta Plumbing, we will send out a team of licenced drain technicians to your place right away. They will then inspect the pipes, find the blockage and clear the vent pipe. Most of the work will usually be done on the roof, using specialized equipment. That’s why we don’t recommend this as a DIY project. For your safety and that of your family, rather call a professional plumber to fix your poorly vented plumbing drain lines.

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