M.A.C. Stewart Plumbing

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Keep Your Basement Flood-Free with 5 Simple Sump Pump Tips

Here in Bradford and Barrie, ON, in old houses and in new, we’re no strangers to flooded basements thanks to our high water table. Even if you’ve done the right thing and installed a sump pump, that’s not always enough. In fact, M.A.C. Stewart Plumbing in Bradford and Barrie replace more sump pumps than our plumbers in any other region of the country. To make sure your sump pump is doing its job and keeping your basement dry, here are five simple tips you can follow for extra peace of mind:

1. Test your sump pump regularly. How? Pour a bucket of water into the sump pit. The pump should turn on, remove the water from the pit and shut itself off in a matter of seconds. Ensure that the float and the check valve move freely.
2. Give it a once over. Clean your sump pit, remove any dirt, sand, gravel and other debris to increase the pump’s efficiency and prolong its life. Ensure that the discharge line opening is free of obstructions so that water can be pumped through the line and out of your basement or crawlspace.
3. Back it up. If your home experiences a power outage for an extended period, frequent power outages or if your primary sump pump fails, it’s good to have a battery backup. There are a couple of different kinds. One uses a marine-grade battery that can power it for up to 12 hours. Another uses water pressure from your home’s water supply lines to force flood water out of your sump pit. Ask your Bradford plumber to explain the different backup options.
4. Realize that nothing lasts forever. Like any equipment with moving parts, sump pumps will wear out over time and will need to be replaced. There is no general rule on how often a sump pump should be replaced, since it depends on how often the pump operates. Be sure to have it checked periodically.
5. Research plumbers ahead of time. The last thing you want to do is spend time finding a trustworthy plumber when you’re in the middle of a flooded basement.

For more plumbing tips, as well as instructional videos visit http://www.macstewartplumbing.ca/plumbing-tips.php

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Pumpkin Carving Fun Often Leads to Clogged Drains

It’s a family event in late October when many Bradford and Barrie households carve a pumpkin into a Halloween jack-o-lantern. The kids delight in the whole process, especially when mom and dad let junior scoop the pumpkin pulp out of the pumpkin. But what happens next is the scary part. Often, those slimy pumpkin guts are pushed down the sink drain then the disposal is turned on to chop it into tiny bits before the water washes it away. Except, it doesn’t quite work that way because pumpkin pulp should NEVER go down the drain!

Any plumber will tell you that pumpkin guts will do a number on your garbage disposal and your kitchen drain. Most disposals will choke on the sticky stuff and what does get through will stick to the walls of the pipes then dry like fiberglass resin mixed with glue! Trust us when we tell you this exercise is definitely more trick than treat for a homeowner. 

A better idea is to carve your pumpkin on a thick bed of newspaper. And when the carving is done, toss the whole mess into your compost pile. If you don’t compost, throw it in the trash can. Oh, and in case you think you can flush those pumpkin guts down the toilet, you can…but you’ll be sorry! We’ve seen it done and the results were not pretty. Since we’ve just about seen it all, we urge you to heed our warning and listen to the experts.

For some more tips from a licensed master plumber in Bradford and Barrie check this out http://www.macstewartplumbing.ca/plumbing-tips.php

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In the past, there was less importance on conserving water, but more than that, there was less technology available that allowed people to use the minimal amount of water needed while using their home appliances.

What has transpired over the last few years is that there is an increased awareness of the amount of Water that we waste each and every day and a strong push by a massive amount of people towards the green movement. Here are some of the biggest water wasters, which you may want to check into replacing if you are using older models.

Toilets Could Be the Culprit

There is no doubt that one of the biggest culprits when it comes to water wasting is your everyday toilet. Toilets use up to a dozen liters of water each and every time they are flushed.

Older models were not really concerned with saving water, but were more so designed to ensure that the toilet cleared and functioned properly.

Over the last few years, we have become much more concerned with conserving less water, especially with the increases in population and droughts that have been so widespread lately, and it has led to the creation of toilets that use about a third as much as they used to.

You can expect a toilet to save thousands of gallons of water each and every year by upgrading to newer models.

Shower Heads Also Waste Water

Although your sink faucets and various other faucets in your Barrie and Bradford, ON. house may be on the same page as shower heads, showers are well known as wasting a great deal of water.

The reason for this is that older shower heads shoot out water at a faster volume than is necessary, so newer models have been created in order to account for this problem.

Newer shower heads are designed to distribute enough water to be comfortable in the shower and to get clean, without simply shooting out way too much water.

Some models also spray water that is likely not even hitting you, which is simply wasteful. Upgrading your Barrie or Bradford, ON. shower heads is very inexpensive and you can end up saving about 25 percent water you would have used previously.

Washing Machines Wasting Water

Top loading washing machines simply feature reservoirs that are inefficient in the amount of water that they utilize, although they absolutely are efficient at cleaning clothes.

However, front loading washing machines feature a considerable reduction in total water needed, so they are a great money and water saver in the long run.

Now more than ever, conservation doesn’t require a lifestyle change! Call the professionals of M.A.C.Stewart Plumbing at (705)7335154 to see how easy it is to conserve water in your Barrie or Bradford, ON. home.

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Sooner or later, a toilet will not flush properly in your Barrie home. While it’s an inconvenience for sure, it’s also a problem that in most cases can be easily rectified. However, because there are many reasons behind it not working properly, care should be used when looking to solve the problem.

If there is any doubt as to the cause of the problem, it’s always smart to contact a plumber to assess the situation. Otherwise, what begins as a minor problem that is easily fixed could turn into a much bigger and much more expensive problem.

Clogged Rim Holes

Often a potential cause that is overlooked by many, clogged rim holes can greatly affect a toilet’s ability to properly flush. Over time, lime and various other minerals build up in the rim holes, eventually clogging them up.

When that happens, there is a decrease in pressure as well as volume of water to the bowl when it is flushed. If the holes are severely clogged, the toilet may be unable to be flushed.

A plumber in your Barrie or Bradford, ON. area, can check the holes to see if they are clogged, and then manually clean each hole until they are free of dirt and debris.

Inadequate Water

In most toilet tanks, the water should fill to a spot equal to one inch under the top of the overflow tube. If this does not happen, the water level in the tank will be too low to let the toilet flush properly.

In some cases, the tank’s float ball can be used to increase the water level inside the tank. Since the ball is held in place by a metal arm, it can sometimes be manipulated by a plumber to rest higher and allow the water level to reach an acceptable level.

Clogged Toilet

When people attempt to flush too much toilet paper at once or flush certain materials that should not be flushed, the result can be a toilet that won’t flush properly because it is clogged.

In these cases, a plumber should be called to fix the problem immediately. An auger can be used by the plumber, which in most cases will solve the problem.

However, in cases of severe clogs, it’s possible the drain line will need to be replaced, which can prove to be costly. By making sure nothing is flushed down the toilet that could cause problems, this issue can be one that is easily avoided.

Your Barrie and Brasdford, ON. home toilet issues can be a nuisance to the whole family. Call M.A.C. Stewart Plumbing at (705)7335154 today, and let’s get your toilet back to its flushing state!

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What Is Hydrojetting & What Are Its Benefits?

A licensed, qualified plumber does Hydrojetting for all sewage lines that are backing up with sewage water into the structure or up through the property. Hydro jetting is a hose that is put into a sewage pipe that carries with it extreme water pressure.

Hydrojetting requires heavier equipment than the equipment that is normally used and the success of the process depends upon completion by a professional plumber who is qualified and licensed. The plumber completes the Hydro jetting process for residential and commercial properties. Hydro jetting is a higher quality of sewer cleaning, applying up to 4000 pounds of pressure into the sewer pipe lines.

Hydrojetting sewer lines show effectiveness for a few reasons. This process helps to eliminate drainage problems from becoming an emergency. It reduces the chances of a business suffering a loss of profits, due to flooding and damages to equipment and structure. Hydro jetting cleans the sewer lines on every wall of the pipes so that no debris remains. This process is much better than any other drain cleaning process.

Hydrojetting Grease

Neither the consumer nor the plumber knows what is causing water to back up in a sewer system until the plumber actually runs a jet through the pipes and monitors the problem on a television monitor. Drains that are clogged because of grease build up requires a high powered water pressure from hydro jetting to clear out the grease buildup or dirty, greasy water will back up into sinks.

Hydrojetting Roots
Consumers who are having problems with water backing up in their sewer pipes never know what the problem really is until the professional plumber runs a camera and hydro jet through the pipes and views the inside of the pipes from a small camera attached to the hydro jet hose. Pipes that have roots growing in the pipes will eventually break and collapse the pipelines. When roots grow within sewer, pipelines a hydro jet is effective for cutting away and removing roots from sewer pipes.

Hydrojetting Debris

It is easy for a qualified and licensed plumber to remove debris from sewer pipelines. Debris easily builds up over time and a hydro jet with up to 4000 pounds of pressure can easily loosen up the debris and move it into the main sewage line.

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What is a Licensed Plumber?

1. A plumber is a craftsman who specializes in installing and maintaining systems used for water, sewage, drainage and piping. In order to become a skilled plumber, years of experience and training are needed. A Master Plumber is a tradesperson who has reputable mastery of plumbing in one or multiple areas of plumbing.
2. Being a Licensed Plumber not only incorporates being a master plumber, but also implies that the plumber has all certificates and licenses needed to perform all aspects of plumbing and heating projects , as well as being registered to work under the City laws.
3. Still, in order to apply to become a Licensed Plumber, it is necessary for one to have acquired at least seven years total experience within the ten years prior to application in the design and installation of plumbing systems under the direct and continuing supervision of a licensed master plumber in Ontario. Once these requirements have been accomplished, then it is necessary to actually pass the Master Plumber exam before becoming a certified Licensed Plumber.
4. Besides having been an apprentice, it is imperative to have other skills, such as ability to interpret documents, procedural diagrams, basic mathematics, knowledge of and comfort using hand and power tools.

Being a licensed plumber means peace of mind and M.A.C. Stewart Plumbing offers that peace of mind.

Why is having a Licensed Plumber important?

The famous economist Milton Friedman once stated that:
“Everything must be paid for, sooner or later, directly or indirectly; there’s no such thing as a free lunch”.

In other words, you will get what you pay for. Licensed plumbers protect the health of the nation though code and safety observance. Plumbers in Bradford operate according to the Ontario Plumbing Code. Topics such as proper pipe diameter, the correct location of shutoff valves and use of suitable plumbing materials are all specified in the Plumbing Code, and your plumber is obligated to follow them. It is necessary because any changes to your plumbing system and its components such as drainpipes, gas & water lines and fixtures’ location, can affect the overall efficiency of your system.

Our registered plumbers are fully insured and bonded including disability, worker’s compensation and all liability insurances. If your contractor is properly licensed, and a problem arises, you can file a complaint with the persons, which can in turn reiterate the contractor of his commitment under the law and if necessary, forcing them to comply. If the hired plumber is illegal and unregistered, nothing can assure you of work being finished properly, if even finished at all. It is not possible to know if they have all the necessary permits, insurance, or skills.

Some needed skills, interests and values:

• Reading drawings, and specifications to determine layout of water supply, waste and venting systems
• Installing, repairing and maintaining domestic, commercial and industrial plumbing fixtures and systems
• Locating and marking positions for pipe connections, passage holes and fixtures in walls and floors
• Measuring, cutting, bending, and threading pipes using hand and power tools or machines
• Testing pipes for leaks using air and water pressure gauges
• Awareness of legal regulations and safety issues
• Ensuring safety standards and build regulations are met

Need a

Licensed Master Plumber

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If water is dripping onto the floor of a cabinet below a sink, leaky supply tubes may be the cause. More likely, however, a stop valve or supply-tube connection is the culprit.

To find the source of a leak, shine a bright flashlight into the cabinet and feel the pipes and tubes, stopping to dry your hand every so often. You can also dry the area, place dry newspaper under the suspect plumbing, and watch for spots of water.

A solid chrome-plated copper supply tube looks and feels more stable than a flexible braided tube. But the solid tube is actually more likely to develop a leak because it is inflexible. When bumped a braided tube is less likely to be damaged. Still many people prefer the appearance of a solid tube.

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Water Softener Installation and Repair

For water softener system installations in the Bradford area you will be glad you found the experts at M.A.C. Stewart Plumbing in Bradford West Gwillimbury.

Hard water contains more minerals than soft water, specifically calcium and magnesium, and can cause many problems for your home’s plumbing system, ranging from clogged pipes to the prevention of soap and detergent from dissolving in the water.

Our team can install a water softening system in your home in Bradford, which will remove the minerals that cause hard water and prevent the associated negative consequences.

Benefits of Installing a Water Softening System

A well installed, high quality water softener system will prevent lime-scale build up on your water pipes and plumbing. This build up can have a variety of negative effects including limiting the efficiency of hot water boilers, and extending the life span of household machines such as laundry machines, heating and air conditioning machines as well.

Whether you are looking for a free quote on a complete water softening system installation or just want to discuss the benefits of installing a water softener, we can help.

We carry all the name brands and offer the best warranties and workmanship guarantees in town.

Have a Plumbing problem that needs to be addressed immediately or need the services of a professional Bradford Contractor you can count on? Contact M.A.C. Stewart Plumbing and Drain Cleaning today at (705)7335154.

http://www.macstewartplumbing.ca/