Many thanks to my hardworking wife who came in to take pictures (after her nap in the van).
A BIG Thank You to all our valued clients,
Jay & Corinne Bortnik
Journeyman Jay Plumbing
780-266-3939
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Journeyman Jay Installs Bathtubs Too
Many thanks to my hardworking wife who came in to take pictures (after her nap in the van).
A BIG Thank You to all our valued clients,
Jay & Corinne Bortnik
Journeyman Jay Plumbing
780-266-3939
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Mike Holmes: How to pick the perfect plumber
I just found this great article online (truth be told, I was doing so much plumbing, that I did not have time to write a good blog post).
The article has some solid advice for home owners (particularly near the end of the article for those who like to meet their plumbers before engaging their services.
NOTE: The advertising is NOT mine.
It was the deal (with the National Post) to post this for "free."The article has some solid advice for home owners (particularly near the end of the article for those who like to meet their plumbers before engaging their services.
Journeyman Jay Plumbing does FREE written estimates for homeowners in NORTH Edmonton.
Mike Holmes: How to pick the perfect plumber
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Why do we put toilets next to bathtubs?
Why do we put toilets next to bathtubs?
I have been asking myself that question for many years now.
Mainly it boils down to tradition and most importantly cost.
What most people probably don't know is that it is easier to vent a "bathroom group" together through what is called a "wet vent" which then turns into a "continuous dry vent". Without getting anymore detailed, all you need to know is that for this to work the bathtub drain has to be within approximately 6 feet from the bathroom sink (8 feet in the case of most showers). If it isn't, then either another vent has to be run or lots more drainage piping has to be installed to meet plumbing code.
So there you have it, we are still thinking in terms of a "bathroom group" which makes things traditionally easier and cheaper. Everybody (most people anyway) knows that the longer a plumber works on your plumbing, the more money it is going to cost.
But this should not stop us from thinking "outside the bathroom."
Consider this (preferably) while you are taking a relaxing bath:
1. That toilet bowl, where everybody in your house excretes (and nobody wants to clean), is only inches from your head (while you sit in the tub).
2. When you get out of the tub, be sure not to step on the floor in front of the toilet (you know what I mean, eh guys, yes us guys).
***3. If you don't close the toilet lid before flushing, little bits of bacteria (from you and others) is sprayed all over your bathroom (on your tooth brushes, in that tub you are sitting in). If you don't believe me, google it.
Anyway, I have written quite a bit for one day.
Back to reality . . . for now.
Thank you,
Jay Bortnik
Journeyman Jay Plumbing
780-266-3939
I have been asking myself that question for many years now.
Mainly it boils down to tradition and most importantly cost.
What most people probably don't know is that it is easier to vent a "bathroom group" together through what is called a "wet vent" which then turns into a "continuous dry vent". Without getting anymore detailed, all you need to know is that for this to work the bathtub drain has to be within approximately 6 feet from the bathroom sink (8 feet in the case of most showers). If it isn't, then either another vent has to be run or lots more drainage piping has to be installed to meet plumbing code.
So there you have it, we are still thinking in terms of a "bathroom group" which makes things traditionally easier and cheaper. Everybody (most people anyway) knows that the longer a plumber works on your plumbing, the more money it is going to cost.
But this should not stop us from thinking "outside the bathroom."
Consider this (preferably) while you are taking a relaxing bath:
1. That toilet bowl, where everybody in your house excretes (and nobody wants to clean), is only inches from your head (while you sit in the tub).
2. When you get out of the tub, be sure not to step on the floor in front of the toilet (you know what I mean, eh guys, yes us guys).
***3. If you don't close the toilet lid before flushing, little bits of bacteria (from you and others) is sprayed all over your bathroom (on your tooth brushes, in that tub you are sitting in). If you don't believe me, google it.
Anyway, I have written quite a bit for one day.
Back to reality . . . for now.
Thank you,
Jay Bortnik
Journeyman Jay Plumbing
780-266-3939
Monday, May 12, 2014
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Journeyman Jay in Action
Here are some recent pics of us in action (when we get a chance to take pictures).
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
BLOG Post List (Index) until May 5, 2014
BOOK Suggestion: Flushed - How the plumber saved civilization
Choosing a faucet
CIPH - WORLD PLUMBING DAY – March 11, 2014
Delivering PLUMBING flyers in Beaumaris (Castle Downs - Edmonton)
Do I need a plumbing PERMIT?
How to choose a toilet
If your house has leaks, you have health hazard
Interesting post from facebook
Journeyman Jay is on FACEBOOK
Journeyman Jay - Resume
Journeyman Jay REVEALED
Journeyman Plumber - DEFINED
Plan Your Plumbing Project
Plumber VS. Plumbing Business
The Plumbing Museum
PLUMBING: Standards, Codes, Regulations & Law
Plumbing Theory Tutor for Edmonton Apprentices
The Right Plumbing Materials
Small Job Plumbing Job YOU need done right?
A Toilet for the Developing World (+playlist)
TOILETS in Edmonton
Valve Value
We still install cast Iron Pipes???
Who is Journeyman Jay?
Monday, May 5, 2014
Valve Value
I cannot overstate the value of shut-off valves for individual plumbing fixtures (ie. under sinks, even for showers). There are a few key reasons why you should have shut-off valves for every fixture:
1. If there is something wrong with a particular fixture (kitchen sink, bathroom sink, shower, toilet) that fixture's water lines can be turned off without affecting (turning off the water) the rest of your home.
2. Changing out faucets in the future will be easier for the plumber and therefore less expensive in the long run.
3. In older houses the main shut-off valve still lets water through the pipe. And with water coming through the pipe it makes it hard to change faucets (with no shut-offs), toilets (with shut-off valves that don't work).
4. The plumbing code only requires 3 shut-off valves in your house: main shut-off, shut-off to the hot water tank, and the toilet shut-off (because toilets get repaired and removed more often than any other fixture).
5. Another reason for water shut-offs can be illustrated with the repair of a shower valve. Shower valves usually don't have their own shut-offs. This can be difficult if the valve stems or shower cartridge has to be removed and taken off-site (for comparison) to find a replacement (if it is older and not a common part) or if it is stuck (or seized) in the valve housing. This has actually happened (turning a half hour job into a 2-3 hour job). Imagine you have an open water line and you have the whole house's water turned off for an indefinite period of time until the issue is fixed. This could be avoided by having shut-offs that isolate the fixture. The stress level would be much lower (for both the homeowner and the plumber).
As you can see the plumbing code is just a minimum standard.
For ease of maintenance, shut-off valves should be installed for each fixture.
If you are making changes to your house (renovating or adding a bathroom or kitchen), make sure every fixture gets a shut-off (including water to a fridge or dishwasher).
Thanks for reading,
Jay Bortnik
Journeyman Jay Plumbing
780-266-3939
P.S. - We also do plumbing for bathroom renovations, kitchen renovations and new bathrooms. And remember, city permits are sometimes required (usually when fixture locations are moved from their original locations). And for your protection, make sure you engage the services of a plumbing business that can obtain the proper permits, if they are required.
1. If there is something wrong with a particular fixture (kitchen sink, bathroom sink, shower, toilet) that fixture's water lines can be turned off without affecting (turning off the water) the rest of your home.
2. Changing out faucets in the future will be easier for the plumber and therefore less expensive in the long run.
3. In older houses the main shut-off valve still lets water through the pipe. And with water coming through the pipe it makes it hard to change faucets (with no shut-offs), toilets (with shut-off valves that don't work).
4. The plumbing code only requires 3 shut-off valves in your house: main shut-off, shut-off to the hot water tank, and the toilet shut-off (because toilets get repaired and removed more often than any other fixture).
5. Another reason for water shut-offs can be illustrated with the repair of a shower valve. Shower valves usually don't have their own shut-offs. This can be difficult if the valve stems or shower cartridge has to be removed and taken off-site (for comparison) to find a replacement (if it is older and not a common part) or if it is stuck (or seized) in the valve housing. This has actually happened (turning a half hour job into a 2-3 hour job). Imagine you have an open water line and you have the whole house's water turned off for an indefinite period of time until the issue is fixed. This could be avoided by having shut-offs that isolate the fixture. The stress level would be much lower (for both the homeowner and the plumber).
As you can see the plumbing code is just a minimum standard.
For ease of maintenance, shut-off valves should be installed for each fixture.
If you are making changes to your house (renovating or adding a bathroom or kitchen), make sure every fixture gets a shut-off (including water to a fridge or dishwasher).
Thanks for reading,
Jay Bortnik
Journeyman Jay Plumbing
780-266-3939
P.S. - We also do plumbing for bathroom renovations, kitchen renovations and new bathrooms. And remember, city permits are sometimes required (usually when fixture locations are moved from their original locations). And for your protection, make sure you engage the services of a plumbing business that can obtain the proper permits, if they are required.
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