Is your plumbing GREEN?

Environmental (GREEN) solutions are all the rage these days.

However, there is a different kind of GREEN that you should be familiar with....

The GREEN sticker from the City of Edmonton Plumbing Inspector.


Why is this important?

If you are creating a new bathroom or moving a fixture (toilet, sink, tub) to another location a plumbing permit is required.  One way to know that you have a "real" plumber doing the job for you is his/her ability to get a City of Edmonton Plumbing Permit.  If they cannot obtain a plumbing permit then they are either not a real plumber or real business.  The permit process (which is governed by the aptly named "Safety Codes Act of Alberta') is there to protect you, the home owner, from overtly dangerous conditions that could arise.  It is also there to protect the water and sewage system as a whole.

The GREEN "pass" sticker (in Edmonton - I am not sure about how they pass plumbing in other jurisdictions) is a visible indication that the plumber/plumbing business, which you have engaged to do the work, has at least passed the minimum standards laid out in the Plumbing Code of Canada (and Alberta).
In other words, your plumber is NOT a quack.  It is too bad they don't have this for other professions.


Thank you,

Jay Bortnik
Journeyman Jay Plumbing
780-266-3939

Is Your Hair Clogging Your Pipes?

Do you wash or brush your hair in the bathroom sink?

Occasionally, we are called upon to fix a slow or clogged sink drain.

We recently found a clump of hair (on top of the blue nitrile gloves we used to do this dirty job) recently in a bathroom sink drain -  see photo below.

To prevent this from happening, you could put plastic screens over your bathroom sink and tub drains. Local hardware stores carry them for around $5.  You can also get a variety of drain screens for your kitchen sinks as well.  This could save you from a much bigger plumbing bill.


And of course, if you need a dripping faucet fixed, a leaking pipe repaired or a fixture replaced,
we have a (click here) SPECIAL OFFER (click here) for residents of North Edmonton.

Thanks for reading,

Jay Bortnik
Journeyman Jay Plumbing
780-266-3939

Protect your Plumbing: Outside Hose Bibbs and Taps

Can you 

shut-off your 

Outside Hose Bibb OR Tap 

from inside your house?

We just installed this replacement Hose Bibb this past week. 

 

 You water your lawn and garden from this convenient source of water.

What would happen if your Outside Hose Bibb or Tap suddenly doesn't work?

What if it can't stop the water anymore and you see water soaking into the ground beside your house?

If you were blessed with a conscientious plumber who installed the outside hose bibb / tap, then he would have advised you to have a shut-off valve on the inside of your house.  That way, if something goes awry with your outside hose bibb or tap, then it can be shut-off and isolated from the rest of your house's water distribution system (unless of course you decided against your plumber's advice)

If you were not blessed as above, then you must helplessly watch water pouring from the spout of the Outside Hose Bibb or Tap until it is repaired or most likely replaced.  The other option is to shut-off the water to the whole house until the plumber shows up to repair it (not something most people like to do).

Other reasons you might want an inside shut-off valve for your  Outside Hose Bibb or Tap:

1.  You can fully control the use of water.  If you are concerned that someone might turn on your Outside Hose Bibb without your knowledge, then having a plumber (maybe Journeyman Jay) install a water shut-off  valve inside your house would be of great benefit to you.

2.  You can control when maintenance or repair is done to your Outside Hose Bibb or Tap.  If you have no shut-off then you may be forced to call a plumber right away to solve a problem.  With a shut-off, you can isolate your Outside Hose Bibb from the rest of your water distribution system.

3.  Peace of mind.  A properly installed, high quality 1/4 turn shut-off valve can give you peace of mind when you are away from home.  You will know that the water is off while you are not watching.

So next time you have to replace your Outside Hose Bibb or Tap, get your plumber to ALSO install a shut-off valve inside your house.  They are there anyway.  There is no better time to do it.


Thank you,

Jay Bortnik
Journeyman Jay Plumbing
780-266-3939