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8 Situations When You Should Call a Kelowna Plumbing Company For Help

Are you staring at a clogged sink or a slow leak spreading out from your hot water tank? Both of those plumbing issues could be fixed by an experienced professional. Kelowna homeowners are confronted by similar problems nearly every day. If you know when to call expert plumbers, you’ll never have to worry about those frustrating circumstances again.

There are many problems people can solve on their own, but sometime there are signs that you should call a local Kelowna plumber for help. 911 Plumbing Heating Drainage Ltd. is here to make sure you know all the warning signs that might appear. Even small issues with your kitchen sink or bathroom plumbing are cause for concern. Many serious situations that require emergency plumbing repairs could be avoided, if you know when to contact a Kelowna plumbing company.

1. Clogged Drains

If you have a clogged drain in your kitchen, bathroom, or utility room, you’re not alone. Many Kelowna homeowners deal with frustrating, stubborn clogs. Some types of blockage are easy enough to clear away with a good plunger and a large supply of elbow grease, but not all clogs are so considerate. Some debris just sticks around, despite your intense effort to send it away. If that happens, don’t worry. Your local Kelowna plumbing company can get rid of those unwanted drain clogs!

Even if you never flush an ounce of grease, sewer blockage is unavoidable. Kelowna has been known for high quality drinking water in the past — and the city doesn’t have particularly hard water — but even trace amounts of minerals like calcium and magnesium contribute to limescale and other types of build-up along pipe walls. Kelowna’s water isn’t especially hard, but at approximately 110 mg/L, it’s certainly not soft either.

You also can’t avoid the effects of other daily debris, like soap scum and hair. There are ways to protect your plumbing from hair and clean out soap residue, but those problems aren’t outright avoidable. Eventually, those small amounts of regular debris create a clogged drain — unless that grime is regularly cleared by professional plumbers from a local company.

Professional drain cleaning is one of the most essential services for every homeowner. Your amazing Kelowna plumbing company provides outstanding drain solutions. Not only do drain cleaning services clear clogs, but they also stop them from coming back! With equipment like augers and pressurized hydro jets, your pipes will look — and work — like they were just installed!

Your Drains Should be Cleaned If:

Your sinks take too long to empty
Shower, tubs, or sinks regularly back up
You hear gurgling sounds & other odd noises
There are unpleasant, rotten odours coming from your drains
Frequent clogs appear in toilets, sinks, or other drains
Fruit flies often appear near your sink

2. Leaking Fixtures

Dripping faucets, running toilets, and other leaking fixtures are all problems that plague people in Kelowna. Those issues seem like little inconveniences, but even small leaks have enormous repercussions for people that don’t fix them as soon as possible. Nobody wants higher bills or property damage. A leak could cause both of those problems. Every drop that escapes a faulty faucet may as well be a dollar rolling down your drain.

All skilled plumbers know leaks are no joke. Faucets and toilets that run all day are certainly annoying nuisances, but that’s not just because of the constant sound you hear. Unaddressed leaks always increase utility bills. More insignificant leaks, like a faucet that just started dripping, might only cost an extra $20 every month, but that adds up to over $200 by the end of the year. That’s just for occasional drips. Something that runs constantly could cost double — or triple — that amount!

The key components of all fixtures wear out naturally over time. That’s why it’s so important that you take advantage of reliable maintenance and inspection services from your Kelowna plumbing company. When an O-ring or a washer starts wearing down, replacing that ruined part with timely repair services will protect you from more serious complications.

3. Hidden Leaks

Not all leaks are as obvious as a dripping faucet. You won’t always find puddles or hear the sounds of failing fixtures. Pipes run through walls, between floors, below ground, and even underneath the foundation of your home. All those locations are potential spots for a leak. Unless you’re paying attention, you might not know you have a hidden leak until it’s too late to stop it.

By the time a hidden leak becomes obvious enough for someone to call a local company, it generally would have already resulted in substantial costs. Water bills soar if even a pinhole sized leak isn’t fixed. Even an opening as small as a ball bearing could cost as much as $130, in just one day. That doesn’t include what some people pay in landscaping fees or restoration costs to fix property damage.

Leak detection is an important service in every Kelowna plumbing company’s list of professional plumbing services. How do they stop a sneaky leak or buried burst pipe? There’s a wide array of services and advanced equipment designed specifically for finding issues in hard-to-reach areas. With those solutions, plumbers find leaks — and fix them — while limiting any potential property damage.

You Might Have a Hidden Leak If:

Your water bills shoot up for no reason
The meter attached to your house won’t stop running
Moisture stains appear on your ceiling, walls, or floor
There are cracks in your foundation
Isolated puddles keep appearing in your lawn
Small sinkholes show up above buried lines

4. Jammed Garbage Disposals

Many houses in Kelowna have a garbage disposal, and many homeowners will tell you they need special attention. Out of every plumbing system in your kitchen, your garbage disposal — a.k.a garburator — is likely the most delicate. Some people find that surprising, considering what a garbage disposal does, but it’s true. Many plumbers know that garburators are problem prone — especially when they’re used incorrectly.

For a device that’s supposed to add convenience, garbage disposals sure create a lot of inconvenient situations. One reason why so many people find themselves with a sink full of dirty water and a whining garburator is lack of information about what should — and should not — go in a garbage disposal.

What Jammed Your Garbage Disposal?

It could have been:

Coffee grounds
Egg shells
Peanuts
Rice
Pasta
Bones
Oats
Potato peels
Peach pits
Fibrous vegetables
Paint
Fruit stickers
Fats, oils, & congealed grease

Certified plumbers are the best option for dealing with any kind of broken garbage disposal. Few people feel comfortable fiddling with something designed to destroy debris, and we don’t blame them. Not only could amateur plumbing repair end in injury, but poor repairs could also result in additional damage. A professional plumber from your trusted local company will fix that jammed disposal, and any other plumbing system in your home.

5. Frozen Pipes

People call their Kelowna plumbing company every winter as frozen pipes appear in homes throughout the Okanagan Valley. They’re more common during cold snaps, but even regular winter weather freezes pipes that aren’t properly insulated. Ice inside your pipes reduces water pressure, but that’s not the only problem you should worry about. Wherever frozen pipes go, a burst pipe may follow.

A pipe freezing shouldn’t be ignored. It may also break if that expanding ice puts enough pressure on its walls. When a busted pipe is caused by a pipe freezing during winter, it often remains undetected — until that ice melts and everything inside starts spraying out. It only takes a few hours to transform your frozen pipe into a burst pipe.

How Do You Know if Pipes are Frozen?

Low Water Pressure: The most obvious indication of freezing is low pressure from your taps. If less liquid comes out of your faucets during winter — or if nothing comes out at all — your pipes may be frozen. In either case, you should test multiple faucets. An issue with one faucet may be isolated to the pipes that connect directly to that fixture. An issue with multiple faucets may indicate a problem with your main supply line.

Frost & Condensation: If frost, ice, or any kind of condensation shows up on the outside of your lines, the inside is probably frozen solid. This effect is most common on vulnerable lines that run through your outer walls, between your floors, and in your basement.

Sewage Smells: If your sewer line fills with ice, you could smell something unpleasant coming from your drains. All sewer blockage creates clogged drains. You should make an appointment with a Kelowna plumbing company if you think ice is in your main drain line.

Unusual Sounds: As ice forms, it may bang around inside your lines, creating loud sounds. That could also happen as it melts and moves through your plumbing system.

Cracks: Cracks are a common consequence of winter plumbing problems — especially when people use unsafe heating methods to quickly fix their pipes. It’s always best to rely on the quality services used by your certified plumber to avoid accidental damage.

6. Failing Hot Water Heaters

No home in Kelowna should ever be without hot water. That situation should never be your reality. With routine maintenance and timely repairs, it won’t be. Unfortunately, many homeowners skip their regular maintenance. Those unlucky people find themselves calling a company for water heater replacement far sooner than they should.

Regular repairs and maintenance aren’t just essential for extending the limited lifespan of hot water heaters. Professional service from a licensed company is often a requirement for maintaining your warranty. Even tankless water heaters need routine maintenance.

Water heater repair is something that most people dread, but not because of the repair service itself. It’s the need for replacement that strikes fear into the hearts of homeowners. Water heater installation is more costly than some people expect, which is why everyone in the city should use their Kelowna plumbing company for routine maintenance and repair services. Quality plumbing solutions from an experienced team extend the life of all fixtures and keep you informed about your possible replacement needs.

Are You Suffering from These Issues?

Hot water heating too slowly — or not at all
Leaks coming from below your hot water tank
Discoloured hot water
Boiling, banging, popping, or whining noises
Leaky valves

Your courteous plumbing professionals are here to make sure your life doesn’t include challenges caused by the need for water heater repair. Whether you have a tankless water heater or a conventional hot water tank, the expert solutions used by your local Kelowna plumbing company will keep your heating service sustained all year.

7. Plumbing Renovations

Your local Kelowna plumbing company isn’t just a great resource for plumbing repair appointments, clearing a clogged drain, and 24/7 emergency services. Your dedicated plumbers would also love to help you complete the bathroom renovation or kitchen remodeling project of your dreams. Plumbing installation is one of the most important residential plumbing services for any homeowner.

When people think about peace of mind in the context of plumbing, they usually focus on the situations that cause stress and dissatisfaction, but not all Kelowna plumbing services are meant for bringing back your peace of mind. Your reliable company would also love to be part of what creates serenity in the first place.

You could create an amazing oasis in your own home with just one appointment for bathroom sink installation, or toilet replacement, or steam shower installation services. There’s a wide range of options for everyone in Kelowna to perfect their plumbing system. Your local plumbing company is an excellent resource for making that dream come true!

8. Sewer Issues

Every drainage outlet in your home is affected by issues with your main sewer line. That one line is responsible for removing every ounce of waste from your toilets, sinks, and other drains. A plugged sewer line will send all that waste back. Clean, clear sewer lines take it all away without complaint.

Harmful materials like grease and wet wipes often create sewer issues, but tree roots, temperature fluctuations, and even nearby construction are all additional causes of mainline damage. Even issues with connected municipal systems could cause problems for your home.

Any time a plumbing problem occurs on municipal property, it’s the city’s responsibility. Any time a problem happens inside your own property lines, it’s your responsibility to fix it. A professional company can help with that.

Collapsed sewer lines are a serious problem that should always be handled by efficient, licensed plumbers, but even a plugged sewer needs immediate attention. It won’t take much for that blockage to become a burst!

Is It Time to Call Your Kelowna Plumbing Company?

911 Plumbing Heating Drainage Ltd. is ready to help with all types of plumbing problems, from a dripping faucet to a ruptured sewer main. As a locally owned company, we proudly serve all of Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lake Country, Peachland, and many nearby areas!

We provide 24-hour emergency plumbing service and convenient appointments with our respectful, courteous, plumbing experts. If you need help from a Kelowna plumbing company, call (250) 801-0911 today!