Licensed & Insured Plumbers in Herring Cove, Nova Scotia

The inner parts of faucets, like washers and valve seats, are prone to wearing out when we subject our faucets to overtightening and mineral build-up. As desirable as high water pressure can be, it’s also a common cause of leaky taps when it reaches close to 100 PSI, as it can mess with the water flow in your pipes and leak out the taps. Check your faucet for loose components if you have a leak forming around its base since packing nuts and adjusting rings can come undone over time. You can experience leaks and other issues involving your faucets when you don’t hire a plumber to install them and, instead, poorly install them yourself.

Always check the two primary water shutoff valves for your home to ensure they are both fully open, as partial closure of these from maintenance or inspections can cause low water pressure. Blockages in pipes can be a common cause of low water pressure — contact a service professional to diagnose the problem and reduce the risk of a burst pipe. There may be a problem with your home’s pressure regulator that requires repairs or replacement if your water pressure quickly changes from low to high or vice versa. Call a plumber if you’ve noticed wet spots on your property and think a pipe leak is the cause of your water pressure changes.

Slow-draining sinks are best left in the capable hands of licensed and insured plumbers, so call for help if you’re experiencing this problem. When you know that soap scum or grease is to blame for your sink being slow-draining, pour baking soda and vinegar down the drain to see if it unblocks it. Resolve your slow-draining sink problem by clearing clogs from your drain with a plumbing auger, also known as a plumbing snake. A P-trap underneath a sink filled with debris washed down your sink can be a common cause of a slow-draining sink and is, fortunately, easy to clean out.

Avoid poor maintenance-related leaks by prioritizing regular maintenance, such as drain cleaning and water heater flushing. Avoid washing problematic materials down your drains, such as grease, paper products, coffee grounds, and eggshells to prevent pipe leaks caused by clogs. As high water pressure can cause pipe damage and leaks, install a water pressure regulator or keep an eye on your water pressure to ensure it’s within your city’s average. Any pipes that have the potential to freeze during a cold Canadian winter can be at risk of bursting or leaking, so take measures to insulate, protect, and cover them.

Rather than trying to diagnose the cause of your sink having a bad odour yourself, contact a trusted plumber in your area to do it for you. Many cases of foul smells coming from sinks are caused by drain clogs where bacteria have taken up residence, multiplied, and produced foul-smelling waste. The unpleasant odour coming from your sink could be caused by sewer gases emanating from a dry P-trap that hasn’t seen enough water from a lack of use or a drain clog. A dirty garburator can be a straightforward cause of a foul odour in or around your sink, generally caused by bacteria and rotting food on its blades.

Water heaters that aren’t of an adequate size for your usage and household size may be depleted of hot water before you use them, a common reason for not having enough hot water. If your water heater is producing lukewarm water, check the thermostat to ensure it’s set to around 60°C, but never set it higher as it can be a burn risk. If you have an old water heater that isn’t producing hot water, talk to your local plumber about possible broken heating elements, gas valves, or thermostats. Pre-1997 water heaters that aren’t heating water may have broken dip tubes, which causes cold water to enter your pipes before it’s heated.

Contact an expert plumber to discuss, diagnose, and repair a leaking fixture, faucet, or pipe as a possible cause of an unusually high water bill. Explore responsible water use with your outdoor irrigation system since these systems have been known to have wasteful runoff and unnecessary consumption when not set up correctly. If your water heater, dishwasher, ice maker, or another water-using appliance hasn’t been functioning well, it can waste water and require repairs. Pay attention to your toilet tank when you receive a high water bill since a leaking toilet tank can be responsible for the wastage of hundreds of litres of water every day.

• Turn off water and electricity: Before you do anything else, turn off electricity and water to your property after a pipe bursts to keep everyone safe.
• Contact a plumber: When a pipe has burst on your property, contact a licensed and insured service professional to repair or replace it for peace of mind.
• Clean up the water: As long as you’re sure that the standing water from a burst pipe doesn’t contain sewage, begin cleaning it up with buckets, mops, and towels once the power and water are off.
• Document the damage: Document your losses related to a burst pipe and take photos and videos to potentially improve your chances of insurance coverage.

Replacing your flush valve can solve the problem of a toilet still running after your flush it if the cause is an overflow tube that’s too short. Your toilet tank may be overfilling due to a faulty float that isn’t telling the fill valve to shut off once the tank is full. After ruling out water level issues for a continuously running toilet, a worn or bad flapper at the base of your toilet tank may be causing water to escape. When you’ve ruled out the more obvious causes of a toilet still draining after flushing, inspect the metal arm connected to the float in the toilet tank since this can bend and may require straightening or replacement.

When you have a water valve inside your home, you can turn off the water supply to your property by turning the valve clockwise. Look for an underground water meter box on your property with a water valve inside — you may need a pentagon socket wrench if a security bolt has been used to keep it closed. If you need to turn the water off to your property from an outdoor water meter box, make sure you have a pair of pliers or a water meter key ready to use. If you’re having issues finding the water valve on your property, accessing it, or turning it off, contact your local plumber for assistance.