Maintenance Tips for your Water Heater and Furnace in Port Moody

One of the benefits of choosing to live in the western Canadian province of British Columbia is having a variety of neighborhoods to choose from. From the busy metropolis of Vancouver, one of Canada's largest cities, to the cultural life in Port Moody, the City of the Arts, there's something for everyone. But no matter the difference in localities, the area's cool climate means there's at least one common feature that no home can thrive without: a trusty water heating system. Here are a few tips on how to maintain your water heater and its furnace in Port Moody or Vancouver.

To prolong the service life of your water heater, don't keep it running at full blast all the time. Once in a while, decrease the temperature setting. This will keep your water from overheating and eventually rupturing the tank. Taking the temperature down a notch or two can also help reduce the energy required to heat your water, thereby taking some work off your furnace or heater. For those with heating systems that run on electricity, expect lower bills as well.

Another important consideration in proper water heater maintenance is the pressure relief valve. A non-functioning or failed pressure relief valve can actually cause an explosion from too much pressure created within your water heater's tank. An 2007 episode of Mythbusters confirmed how an exploding heater can rocket through a house's roof and fly hundreds of feet in the air. Check your owner's manual to locate the pressure relief valve.

Before checking the valve, make sure that you set the gas switch to pilot, or turn off the electrical current on your water heater. Next, raise the valve's lever halfway, then quickly release it and allow it to snap back into place. You should hear a gurgling sound as the valve allows water to be released into the drain tube.

If you find any problems as you check your water heater, you can contact your local plumbers for help. Many plumbing contractors like Milani Plumbing, Drainage and Heating deal with damaged or old water heaters that might need replacing.

Your trusty water heater in Vancouver or Port Moody can be as good as your best friend when you take good care of it. Just make sure that you don't overwork or neglect it, as doing so can lead to damage to your plumbing and to your home.

 

How Your Vancouver Drain Tile Installation Keeps Your Home Foundation Dry

You know that spring has arrived in Vancouver when the weather has gotten warmer and snow has melted. The arrival of spring and the occasional rains that come with the season (on top of the melting snow) may cause drainage issues for your home. The ground surrounding your home becomes saturated with the water that ends up sitting in low spots.

The wet ground around your home can create a slew of problems. Mowing your yard becomes difficult, stagnant water breeds mosquitoes, and your kids come back to the house wet and muddy. Contact a Vancouver drain tile professional like Milani so you can get rid of your water problems and enjoy the new season.

Water seepage can damage your home's foundation, but a drain tile prevents that from happening. A drain tile is a special kind of pipe installed in a drainage system and is used to pull water away from the foundation of your home so that the water cannot penetrate. It is usually installed while the foundation is being built and it requires periodic maintenance and replacement.

Installing a drain tile system involves digging a trench around the footings of your home. A filter barrier is then placed in the trench, inside which the drain tile is laid. The trench is then covered with gravel and then covered with another filter. The system of filters prevents dirt and silt from going into the trench and clogging it, while the gravel serves to filter water. (Water is naturally drawn to the gravel because the former can flow more easily through gravel than the surrounding soil.)

The drain tile system has an outlet that allows collected water to disperse. The outlet may be adjoined to a sump pump if your home is on level ground or if it is situated lower than the surrounding ground. Otherwise, it may simply drain freely, with runoff water flowing into storm drains or trickling harmlessly downhill. It is important to regularly check that the trench and outlet remain free of dirt and silt. If the gravel gets packed with dirt, less water reaches the pipe as it remains pooled around your home.

Anticipating water seepage is important. In the same way that you call on a Vancouver or Port Coquitlam furnace specialist to prepare for winter, you need to contact a professional drain tile contractor to help you get ready for spring.