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How much do you know about garbage disposal maintenance? Follow the dos and don’ts listed below to keep your garbage disposal unit in tip top shape. Do Use Your Garbage Disposal Regularly Running your garbage disposal on a regular basis helps keep the mechanism working by preventing rust and corrosion. It is good practice to run your garbage disposal with a little dish soap at least once a week to keep it in good condition.  Don’t Use Your Garbage Disposal for Large Food Scraps Many people use their garbage disposals to get rid of all of their kitchen scraps, but this is harmful to the mechanism and our local wastewater treatment centers. Garbage disposals are designed to grind up the small food bits that inevitably wash down the drain, not large kitchen scraps like corn husks, coffee grounds, and chicken bones. Toss large food scraps in the compost and only use your garbage disposal on small kitchen scraps. This keeps the mechanism sharp and clear of blockages. Do Always Check Your Garbage Disposal Before Running It One of the most common causes of a broken garbage disposal is someone running it without realizing there was a piece of cutlery or other hard object in there. Always check your garbage disposal before turning it on to make sure a stray bottle cap or spoon hasn’t made its way in there. Once you’ve confirmed that the disposal is clear, turn it on with running water. Note: do not retrieve items from the garbage disposal using your hands. If an object fell in, use tongs or needle-nose pliers to remove it safely. Don’t Pour Oil, Fats, or Grease Down Your Drain It may seem convenient to simply pour fats, oils, and grease down the drain after you finish cooking, but this is not a good idea. These substances harden as they cool and will clog up the disposal mechanism, even though they are liquid when you initially pour them down the drain. Instead, pour cooking oils, fats, and grease into a can or jar, wait for it to cool, then toss the entire container in the garbage. This will go a long way in maintaining both your garbage disposal and your pipes.

Have you had your toilet for a while now and are wondering how to tell when you should replace it? Here are the most common signs that mean you need a new toilet. Noticeable Signs of Corrosion If your toilet is noticeably corroding, it is likely time to upgrade to a new model. Watch for obvious signs of corrosion such as rust, brown or reddish stains in your toilet bowl or tank, and discolouration of the water in your toilet. Common areas for corrosion to occur include the toilet tank, the flush handle, and inside the toilet bowl. Cracks Cracks in your toilet tank or bowl are a sure sign that it’s time to upgrade to a new toilet. Cracks will turn into leaks and get worse and worse the longer you leave them. Once a toilet begins developing any cracks, more will likely follow and it is a good idea to have your toilet replaced with a new one before it deteriorates more. Frequent Repairs Do you find yourself having to call a plumber to come and fix your toilet more often than you used to? That’s your signal to cut your losses and get a new toilet. It’s more affordable in the long term to buy a whole new toilet now than to keep spending money on constant repairs to your current toilet until it eventually breaks down beyond repair. Even if your toilet is still working, if it is old and inefficient, you may want to consider investing in a new toilet that uses less energy and costs you less on your monthly bills. If you’re ready for a new toilet, get in touch with hitechservices.ca

At Hitech Services, we understand that plumbing needs differ depending on the type of property. While both residential and commercial plumbing deal with water supply and drainage, the scale, complexity, and demands are vastly different. Here’s a breakdown to help you understand which service best suits your needs: Understanding Usage Scale and Complexity Fixtures and Materials Regulations and Codes Hitech Services: Your Partner in Plumbing, Anytime At Hitech Services, we are equipped to handle both residential and commercial plumbing needs. We understand that plumbing emergencies can strike outside of regular business hours. That’s why we offer: Why Choose Hitech Services? Contact Hitech Services Today! Whether you require residential or commercial plumbing services, Hitech Services is here to assist you. Contact us today to discuss your specific needs and experience the Hitech difference!

There’s nothing worse than losing water due to frozen pipes in the winter. Well, except maybe a frozen pipe that bursts on you. Stop frozen pipes from interfering with your holiday season with the following tips. Insulate Exposed Pipes Make sure that you insulate any exposed pipes before the temperatures drop this winter. This will keep your pipes protected from the cold air and help prevent freezing on the coldest days. You can use pipe insulation tubing, foam spray, or insulating tape, all of which are inexpensive and easily found at any hardware store. Let Faucets Drip Overnight If you know that there is going to be a particularly cold night, prep for it by leaving your faucets on just enough that they drip slightly overnight. Having a small amount of water flowing through your pipes during a cold snap helps to prevent the pipes from freezing and reduces your risk of waking up in the morning to a burst pipe. Open Cabinet Doors Another thing that you can do when you know a cold snap is about to hit is to keep cabinet doors beneath sinks open. This allows the warm air from your home to enter the cabinet and keep the pipes under the sink warmer, preventing any freezing on an especially cold day. Close Garage Doors If you have exposed pipes in your garage, make sure that you keep your garage doors closed to reduce the amount of cold air that comes into your garage. If you leave your garage doors open, cold air will enter the garage and increase the likelihood that those pipes will freeze. Seal Cracks Seal up any cracks around your house to stop drafts from coming into your home or garage. This will not only help to prevent your pipes from freezing this winter, but it will keep you and your family more comfortable, too. We hope your pipes don’t freeze this winter, but if they do, we’re here to help. Give us a call anytime at 604-349-7591 to book a plumber. Book Service

Staying up-to-date on the health of your water heater is part-and-parcel to keeping your home in tip-top shape. Knowing the signs that your water heater is malfunctioning will help you service your system before cost and risk escalates, increasing the lifespan of your water heater and ensuring it stays efficient as long as it can. Despite regular servicing and maintenance however, all water heaters have a finite lifespan: for tank-based systems, this tends to top out at around 10 years whereas tankless systems usually live for 20. This finite lifespan comes from the constant use, exposure to hard water, and the degradation of discrete parts over time. Oxidation and lime scale build-up can begin to affect the quality of your water, the efficiency of your unit, and – importantly – the safety of your home: it is thus a responsible idea to replace your water heating system before it fails. But how do you know you need to replace it? What are some of the signs? When is repairing the right option and when is it time to start looking at new models? Working with a trusted plumbing company will allow you to diagnose your system and isolate the variables that point toward replacement – with HiTech Services you’ll have certified technicians walking you through every step of the process and ensuring your new system is perfect for your home and lifestyle. Signs You’re Ready for a New Water Heater 1. Leaking Leaking is usually cause for concern and is one of the main signs that your water heater needs to be replaced. If leaking isn’t addressed quickly, security risks and damage to your home can quickly result. While some causes for leaking can be fixed with servicing, they are usually solved by band-aid solutions that will inevitably require replacement. Over the course of a water heater’s life, the degradation of various components can cause water-tight seals to break down, allowing water to seep through. If your gaskets, water line connections, or drain valves have degraded or worked loose, you’ll notice pooling outside the base of the water heater. While certain issues like loose water main connections can often be fixed with a few turns of the wrench, replacing gaskets and valves will require a full drain of your water heater, the removal of electrical components, and the detachment of your system from power. In the worst-case scenario, leaking can also be an indicator of a damaged tank: over the years, mineral build up and oxidation can occur on the inside of the tank, wearing down the walls and making your system more susceptible to expansion and contraction. In a high-pressure system like a hot water heater, this movement within the tank can begin to create micro-fissures and cracks, eventually letting water through. This is a serious problem: left unattended, pressure changes in a cracked tank or damaged water heater system can cause large-scale flooding and worse – explosions. Don’t wait around to handle a water heater leak. Leaking is always a sign to call a specialist and tends to be ample cause for replacement. If you notice water pooling around your unit, call HiTech Services – with same-day replacement services, we’ll get you back up-and-running in no time. 2. Increased need for servicing If you notice that you’ve had to call a water heater technician more than twice in the last year for minor repairs, your water heating system is likely reaching the end of its life. While water heaters need regular maintenance (every year, on average), constant servicing begins to drain your wallets and speaks to a drop in efficiency of your unit. With an older, finicky water heater, you may find yourself needing to call a tech often – at a certain point, you would be saving money by purchasing a newer, more efficient, and more technologically-advanced unit. Modern, sophisticated units are often easier to service, less prone to malfunction, and more efficient, saving you money on utility bills and maintenance over the course of the system’s life. 3. Changes in water quality (color, volume, etc) Keeping an eye on the quality of your water is key to quickly picking up changes in your water heater’s operations. Color is key: noticing cloudy, sandy, or reddish water indicates corrosion on the inside of the tank. You can isolate whether this issue is in your tank by running cold water and comparing: if both hot and cold water come out discolored, the rust you’re noticing has to do with your pipes. If it’s only happening with hot water, your tank is damaged. Changes in color and texture can also mean sediment build-up in your tank. Lime scale deposits that form on the sides and on the base of the tank cause particulates to enter your water supply: cloudy, sandy, and grainy water quality indicates that your water heater needs to be serviced. Homeowners and technicians can drain the tank, clear it of sediments, and then start it up again – if the issue continues, it is likely the tank itself is damaged and requires replacement. You may also notice that the amount of hot water you have access to has gone down in comparison to previous years of use. If your water isn’t getting as hot as it used to, if you are running out more quickly than before, or if you suddenly don’t have any hot water, you might be dealing with some issues that require replacement. While these problems can sometimes be fixed by recalibrating the heater’s internal thermostat, a drop in hot water availability may also speak to the malfunctioning of your heating element. This can be rectified through the help of a technician, but older models may require hard-to-find parts and servicing can quickly become expensive. When faced with the option to replace an expensive part for an older unit, it can often be more economical in the long-term to replace the unit as a whole. 4. Water heater noises Much like changes in

Hot water heaters are indispensable to our modern homes. Because these parts of our homes deal with pressure and heat, they are equipped with numerous safety features like flow sensors and temperature gauges to avoid turning any malfunctions into problems. However – despite being infrequent – tank water heater malfunctions and long-term wear and buildup can have catastrophic consequences: while flooding and damage to your house can occur, there is also the chance of explosion. With a large blast of superheated water carrying metal pieces of a tank, the results are destructive and can be deadly. Systems that are well-past their replacement date or those that haven’t been properly maintained are at higher risk of failure: with the eventual degradation of parts, regular maintenance and replacement of your water heating system is part and parcel to minimizing any danger. But don’t fret – your water heater will give you signs that something is malfunctioning in regard to heat, pressure, or otherwise. Having an understanding of what these signs are will allow you to notice them early on and call a specialist, minimizing any risk that a damaged water heater might pose. A. How does a water heater explode? The main factors that would cause a water heater to explode have to do with temperature and pressure. Malfunctions in the system that would cause an excess of either of those factors is the most common reason a tank could burst. Subject to heat, molecules vibrate faster and expand. If heated too much in the water heater, the thermal expansion of the water could increase the pressure inside the tank and cause the integrity of the tank or its valves to be compromised. Incorrect temperature settings If your tank’s temperature settings are not calibrated or your temperature gauge is malfunctioning, the heating element inside the water heater may be operating at too high of a temperature. If it stays like this for too long, the superheated and expanded water (and vapor) in the tank will put undue stress on the unit and its components, resulting in valves failing and the structure cracking. Sediment buildup Malfunctioning components Improper installation B. Signs your water heater could explode Your water heater will give off a few signs if there are any temperature or pressure risks building in the unit. Let’s take a look at a few. If you suspect your hot water could explode, call us to discuss replacing your hot water heater. Leaking TPR valve never closes The temperature and pressure valve will open when it detects that there is too much pressure in the tank, caused by the excess expansion of the water. In some units, the TPR valve is also in charge of letting cool water into the tank when the temperature exceeds a preset point, lowering the pressure inside the tank. Once that pressure is released, the TPR valve closes. If you notice that your TPR valve is always open, it is likely that it is malfunctioning or that the temperature and pressure of your water tank are at constant, unsafe levels. Smell With risks related to gas fuel, weird smells around your home and near your water heater are important to address. If a gas leak is damaged or a connection from the fuel main to your tank is faulty, you might notice a sulfur/rotten egg smell from excess gas. This can be very dangerous if it is lit by the heating element and pilot light in the unit, risking explosions and fires. Noises Water quality Changes in your home’s hot water quality can serve to indicate malfunctions in your water heating unit. Cloudy water can indicate lime scale build ups and brown water points to tank oxidation. As we’ve seen, too much build up or oxidation can compromise the integrity of the unit and lead to explosions. Brown water is always a reason to call a specialist.

Water heaters are relatively simple machines but they’re subject to a lot of pressure and heat, occasionally resulting in weird noises if they’re in need of repairs. Tank-based water heaters are especially prone to being chatty and as a homeowner, it’s a good idea to know what these noises might mean – it could be the difference between calling a plumber to replace your hot water heater or the firefighters. What sort of noises do water heaters make and what do they mean?

Switching to a tankless water heater system is becoming increasingly popular among homeowners. The energy, space, and efficiency benefits that come with going tankless are often enough to convince anyone. However, with an initial price tag that seems hefty in comparison to traditional systems, it’s useful to dive into the numbers to decide if it’s the right choice for you. In this article, we’re going to go through the various factors that affect the costs of purchasing, installing, and maintaining a tankless water heater. We’ll break down these costs against the savings offered by this style of water heating system, ultimately giving you the information that will help you decide whether tankless is right for you. Costs for buying and installing a tankless water heater Choosing the right tankless water heater The cost of tankless water heaters used to make this type of system unattainable for many. However, increasing accessibility to the technology has lowered the price significantly, making tankless water heating an option for most homeowners to explore today. Despite this increased affordability, however, tankless water heaters are still significantly more expensive than traditional systems.  Our typical quote for getting you a brand-new tankless water heater and installing it in your home is $7,000.  This includes everything including the water heater and full installation.  Please note that’s a general cost that could vary depending on the tankless water heater brand you get and whether there are any complicating factors installing it in your home. In order to know what model of tankless water heater is right for you, it is important to first make note of your household water use at peak hours, measured in GPM. Take note of moments when your water use is at its highest – for example, imagine an evening where the laundry machine (approx. 2.5GPM) and dishwasher (approx. 1.5 GPM) are running at the same time that the kids are showering before bed (approx. 1.5 GPM x 2). Your total level of hot water GPM (7, in our example) during a high-volume part of your day-to-day will give you a decent idea of what sort of minimum capability your new tankless system needs to fit your lifestyle. Additionally, some homeowners decide to break down their hot water use over multiple smaller tankless water heaters, installed as point-of-use systems. These are water heaters dedicated to providing hot water to a single appliance or fixture, a system that can be necessary for homeowners with bigger households and high-use lifestyles. Depending on your peak GPM, deciding between a whole-house system, multiple point-of-use heaters, or a hybrid with both whole-house and point-of-use systems is one of the first steps in figuring out the cost of going tankless. As you begin looking at different brands, you’ll have the chance to learn about some of the high-tech features for modern water heaters, like wifi-connected remote monitoring. Tools like Navien’s NaviLink™ allow you to have wireless access to and control over your water heater anywhere in the world through the simple interface of a mobile app, giving you immediate alerts if any malfunctions arise, allowing for remote shut-offs. Other types of systems like condensing-style tankless water heaters trap excess heat and use it to warm more water in future, massively increasing the efficiency of the unit. Installation of your new tankless water heater Now that you’ve chosen your model, you’ll need to have it installed by certified technicians. Removing an old water heater and replacing it can be a big job with flooding and pressure risks if done incorrectly – rest easy leaving it in the hands of the pros. If it hasn’t happened already, an in-home visit will be conducted to finalize where your new tankless heater will be installed. Space and parts for exhaust, gas lines, ventilation, insulation, and more will all be considered and prepared ahead of time. On installation day, we’ll remove your old water heater and take it to be properly recycled. Because you’re switching over to an entirely new style of water heating, the installation process for a tankless water heater is significantly more intensive than the replacement of a traditional model: walls usually need to be opened up, fittings and valves are changed out, gas lines, insulation, piping, and ventilation is installed, and carpentry can sometimes be needed to create the best fit for your new system. Do you need a powered vent or a direct vent for your gas tankless water heater? Are there any structural factors that need to be considered? Is there a gas line nearby or does it need to be laid to where the water heater will be installed? For electric systems, your home’s electrical grid will need to be examined and possibly modified to ensure the voltage requirements of your new water heater can be met, meaning an electrician might need to be called. Additionally, your municipal building codes may require you to register for a permit before a tankless installation can be completed. With all of these factors, the labor costs that go into the installation of a tankless system are often much greater than the cost of a simple tank replacement. However, these costs are initial investments only: once set up in your home, regular maintenance of a tankless water heater will be a breeze and in 20 years, replacement will be greatly simplified without the need for the installation of new fixtures and lines. Maintenance costs for a tankless water heater Much like a tank-based water heating system, tankless water heaters need to be regularly serviced. Most specialists recommend yearly maintenance. While a tank-based system can be prone to internal corrosion, pressure risks, gasket failures and more, tankless systems are really only prone to lime scale build-up. In order to ensure that the flow rate of your water heater remains optimal and its efficiency maintained, yearly descaling of the machine and of your home plumbing is strongly encouraged. Depending on the hardness of your water, this process is recommended to be done as frequently as 6 months or

While water heaters have a finite lifespan and eventually need replacing, there are a few key moves homeowners can make in order to extend the efficiency and years of use out of their hot water heater. Knowing the various factors specific to your home and lifestyle that influence your water heater’s health will allow you to save money from servicing, maintenance, and replacement in the long-term. The lifespan of tank-based water heaters Tank-based hot water heaters are subject to a lot of strain: they are constantly exposed to water, heat, and oxygen, making them prime targets for oxidative and pressure-based stress that will cause wear and tear. With many important components that need to be in good health to optimize the efficiency of your unit, the health of your hot water heater is directly linked to the status of your gaskets, valves, lines, plumbing, and water quality (among more). Because a tank-based water heater is subject to such forces that inevitably degrade its structure and internal components, regular maintenance and servicing is absolutely key to keep it running safely and efficiently over the course of its lifetime. This regular maintenance and servicing only goes so far however: after a certain amount of time, water heaters need replacement as the cost of increasingly-frequent replacement and servicing begins to outweigh the cost of a new unit – not to mention the safety risks that grow over time with an older tank-based water heater. For this reason, the general consensus among hot water heater technicians is to give tank-based water heaters between 8 and 12 years of life before they need to be replaced. After a decade of regular use, it is strongly recommended to consider looking into a new unit as the oxidative damage and the degradation of internal components will make your water heater inefficient and at-risk for leaking and pressure malfunctions. Left unattended, a malfunctioning water heater can flood your home or worse, explode. A. What are a few factors that affect the lifespan of a tank-based water heater? 1. Water hardness 2. Size of tank and household demand B. How do you make your tank-based hot water heater last longer? Now that we have a basic idea of the two key factors that affect a hot water heater’s health, let’s take a gander at some of the steps you can take to extend this lifespan. Keeping in mind that these units need replacing after a decade regardless, when you purchase a new hot water heater you can make some key modifications to your setup and maintenance regimen that will allow that decade to extend up to 15 years. 1. Expansion tanks 2. Water softeners 3. Insulation 4. Regular maintenance 5. Staying aware

In your research for tankless water heaters, you’ll surely be looking into many different manufacturers to find the right unit for you. Brands like RINNAI and Rheem have been making quality products for over a century and offer dependable water heating solutions. EcoSmart has budget-friendly point-of-use models and Stiebel Eltron has ventured into the niche markets of solar-powered water heating for eco-conscious clients wanting to lower their energy footprint even more. Among all these manufacturers however, the more recently-established Navien brand has begun to quickly solidify a strong reputation as a benchmark for quality and cutting-edge technology in tankless water heating. They are the #1 brand for condensing tankless water heaters in Canada and they show no signs of slowing down. With hyper-efficient water heating solutions, proprietary condensing technology, At HiTech Services we work in conjunction with Navien as we strongly believe in their products – additionally, our technicians are all Navien-certified. Call us to learn more about Navien tankless water heating and if it’s the right choice for you and your family. Navien Inc. KD Navien is a relatively new water heating solutions company from South Korea. Founded in 1978, their initial aim was to develop highly-efficient water heaters. 10 years later, they were the first Asian company to develop a condensing water heater that was renowned for its technological breakthroughs. This approach to being the industry standard would remain strong with developments in HVAC solutions, home networks, and zone control – all under the overarching vision of comfort, technology, and greener living. With this focus on creating the most cutting-edge and eco-friendly water heating products, KD Navien has since become the world standard in efficiency, energy-saving, and CO2 reducing tankless condensing water heaters. Apart from their tankless water heating products, Navien is also well-known for its boiler and combi-boiler water heating solutions. This proprietary condensing tech is one of the defining features of Navien’s water heating products and one of the key differentiators between them and other manufacturers. Condensing tankless water heaters – how do they work? Condensing technology is an increasingly-prevalent feature in modern water heaters, both tank-based and tankless. Navien is the global standard in ultra-efficient water heating because of their focus on condensing heating – let’s learn a little more about how it works. A traditional tankless water heater operates by pulling cold water through the unit and past a heat exchanger, becoming superheated and then blended with cold water for the correct temperature at the point-of-demand. Traditionally, only one heat exchanger is in the unit and exhaust gasses from the water vapor (and byproducts of the gas burners) are vented outside. These exhaust gasses are highly-acidic from the minerals in the water and can corrode ventilation components if they’re not the right metals. Installation for tankless gas-fueled water heaters can thus be expensive from the get-go as specialized materials are needed to create an efficient and safe ventilation system. Condensing tankless water heaters are a bit different: for one, the condensing part of the name is in reference to the way it uses byproducts of the heating process to make water heating more efficient. Water vapor will be trapped within the unit (not vented) and used to maintain a baseline temperature in the water heater so that the heat exchanger doesn’t have to work as hard (or as sporadically). The second main feature of condensing technology with Navien is their addition of a secondary heat exchanger. Two heat exchangers allow the water to be heated in steps: the workload is divided and the heat exchangers don’t have to reach extremely high temperatures to bring the water up to your desired temperature. By transferring heat to the water in steps, the exhaust vapors are significantly cooler than they would be in non-condensing models. This water vapor condenses inside the water heater, helping the flow rate increase and making the unit extremely efficient by keeping everything warm. The water vapor eventually condensates on the surfaces of the unit and drips into the water heater’s condensate drain, a specially-built draining system that can handle the acidic aqueous byproducts of superheating hard water. Because the gasses are cooler, they are not as corrosive as those from non-condensing models. This has significant benefits in terms of cost savings: materials like PVC and polypropylene can be used to build the venting system and offer homeowners more flexibility around budget and installation. The cost savings continue in terms of energy use: condensing units are the most efficient kind of water heater available on the market and they are drastically cheaper to operate than other tankless (non-condensing) units. Here are a few key differences between condensing and non-condensing tankless water heaters. Condensing Non-Condensing Initial Investment Higher Lower Operating Costs Lowest among all water heater styles Higher than condensing, lower than tank-based Venting PVC/Polypropylene (Cheaper options) Corrosion-resistant concentric metal Efficiency Ultra-high (EUF = .96) High (EUF > .80) Size Slightly larger than non-condensing tankless, 70-80% smaller than tank systems Smaller than condensing, 80% smaller than tank systems Maintenance Yearly maintenance Minimal maintenance Navien SPE-S2 Series Navien has two lines of tankless water heaters currently available, the first of which is the SPE-S2 series. It upholds the high standards of Navien’s condensing water heating tech, with higher outputs, greater efficiency, higher GPM, and cheaper installation costs than the next best non-condensing water heater from the leading competitor. Models like the NPE-180S2 are smaller, highly-efficient condensing tankless water heating units with max inputs of 150 000 BTU/h, able to be hung indoor or outdoor. At locations where the temperature rise is below 30°C, this smaller unit can easily provide flow rates of unlimited hot water up to 8.4 GPM. The SPE-S2 series has many options for customers hoping to go tankless and dip their toes in the field of condensing technology. This line of tankless water heaters is affordable, dependable, and extremely-high quality. Navien NPE-A2 Series The second series of condensing tankless water heaters offered by Navien is the brand-new NPE-A2 series. It is the current benchmark for condensing