Water is considered a renewable resource, but pressures are growing and places like California are forced to cut back by around 35 percent every year due to drought. We in Canada are a nation of water-wasters, flooding our backyards every winter for hockey rinks and indulging frequently in long, hot showers, but at what cost? Conserving water just makes sense, and to help you get started, here are 20 ways to conserve water, drought or not.

1. Install an energy efficient dishwasher and save 3-8 gallons of water per load. Unsure about the installation process? Call Red Deer Plumb-Pro.
2. Run the dishwasher/washing machine only when full.
3. Scrape your plate instead of rinsing it off.
4. Call us at Plumb-Pro to retrofit or adapt older water fixtures and appliances.
5. Trade in your showerhead for a low-flow showerhead that is more economical. Call our residential journeyman plumbers for more information.
6. Take shorter showers and turn off the tap while soaping up.
7. Review your water bill monthly to check for unusually high use.
8. Call Red Deer Plumb-Pro to fix leaky or running toilets and test for leaks at least once per year. Regular plumbing maintenance never hurts.
9. Pour leftover water on plants rather than dumping it down the drain.
10. Install a high-efficiency toilet and save 19 gallons per person per day with Gravity-Fed, Pressure Assist and Dual-Flush models. Red Deer Plumb-Pro specializes in home plumbing construction and plumbing modifications, so give us a call!
11. If it’s yellow, let it mellow, especially if you live alone.
12. Don’t use the toilet as a wastebasket.
13. Fix dripping faucets and leaky pipes right away.
14. Don’t let the water run – use bowls of water to rinse fruits and vegetables, and rinse your toothbrush in a cup. Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth too.
15. Use a rain barrel.
16. Shut off the hose between washing and rinsing your car. Better yet, fill a bucket when soaping it up!
17. Thaw frozen food overnight instead of running it under hot water.
18. Keep your drinking water in the fridge to keep it cold rather than running the tap.
19. Turn sprinklers off during the day and water your lawn in the early morning or later in the day when temperatures are cooler and there is less chance of evaporation.
20. Avoid over watering – a typical lawn only requires one water every 4-5 days.

When it comes to understanding the difference between propane and natural gas, there is a lot of conflicting information out there. It can be difficult to know whether making the switch from propane to natural gas is worth it in the long run, or if you should stick with what you already have. Natural gas is becoming increasingly more popular for a variety of reasons. Here are the top 4 reasons to make the switch from propane to natural gas.

1. Save Money

Making the switch to natural gas will pay off in the long run, even though conversion and connection costs can be significant because natural gas tends to be 1/6th the cost of propane, depending on where you live. Prices also tend to be more stable than propane because propane is a petroleum by-product that fluctuates with the oil industry.

 2. Convenience

Part of the reason natural gas is so much cheaper than propane is because it can be delivered more easily through pipes to your home. Red Deer Plumb-Pro can help with your gas line installation and appliance hookups, so give us a call!

3. Safe and Reliable

While both gases will explode if they find an ignition source, natural gas is lighter than air, so it will dissipate if there is a leak and it will be less likely to find that ignition source than propane. If you smell gas inside or outside of your home, call Plumb-Pro’s journeyman gas fitters for help.

4. Clean and Efficient

Both gases are considered environmentally friendly but natural gas is a cleaner burning fuel that doesn’t release as many pollutants in the air (and into your food). Also, the belief that propane gas is more “warm” than natural gas is a myth; in fact, the flame temperatures are about 3500 degrees Fahrenheit for both gases.

Ideally, you should have a ready list of contractors before you need them so you don’t have to worry about it during a crisis but there are tons of plumbing companies out there, and wading through reviews and website About Us pages takes time that you don’t have. So what should you look for and how do you choose a plumber? Here are the top four things you should look at when choosing a plumber.

How long have they been in business?

This is a good indicator of expertise and reliability. Red Deer Plumb-Pro has over 25 years of experience ranging from repairing washers on a forty-year-old faucet to installations on modulating condenser boilers, and gas and water lines, so you can call us and have peace of mind.

What is the scope of their expertise?

It’s much easier to call one company for all your hydronics, gas fitting, and plumbing needs than to mess around with a lot of different companies. Red Deer Plumb-Pro is a full service company, and we can help with any commercial or residential project, large or small.

Are their plumbers, gas fitters, and technicians certified or trained properly?

Red Deer Plumb-Pro’s hydronics installation professionals are certified in the maintenance and installation of boilers and boiler systems as well as hydronic heating systems, and our journeyman gasfitters and plumbers can take care of everything from gas lines, renovations, and furnace repair, to water lines, and leaky pipes.

Do they offer emergency response plumbing?

Plumbing emergencies don’t quit at 5, and neither does Red Deer Plumb-Pro. We’re available to help after hours during the week and on weekends as well.

Call us for all your plumbing, gasfitting, and hydronic heating needs!

It’s almost spring but the unpredictable weather makes us wish we had a gas fireplace. Is it worth it or do we endure for another year? Here are the most frequently asked questions about gas fireplaces and gas fireplace inserts to help you decide.

Q. What is a gas fireplace insert
A. A gas fireplace insert is used to convert a wood-burning fireplace to a gas fireplace. Call Plumb-Pro to have your fireplace converted today!

Q. Can I install a gas fireplace or insert myself?
A. Always call a Plumb-Pro certified gas fitter to make sure your installation is done properly and efficiently.

Q. How much care does my gas fireplace need?
A. You should have a Plumb-Pro certified gas fitter technician clean and adjust your fireplace once a year for maximum efficiency.

Q. What is the difference between natural gas and propane?
A. Natural gas is less expensive and can produce up to 5% more heat. Natural gas also enters your home through a gas line, whereas propane must be stored outside in a tank. Call Plumb-Pro’s journeyman gas fitters about gas line installation today!

Q. What is a direct vent fireplace?
A. Direct vent fireplaces use a sealed chamber to vent directly from outside through the wall or ceiling.

Q. How efficient are gas fireplaces?
A. Gas fireplaces require minimal cleanup and need no tending, whereas wood fireplaces are messy and need constant attention.

Q. How many BTUs does my gas fireplace need to have?
A. Heat output (measured in BTUs) should depend on how big the room is, the general climate, and your house’s insulation level.

Q. Can I install a TV above a gas fireplace?
A. You should always consult the manufacturer or distributor of the TV as each TV will require different clearances.

One of the major challenges in life is wading through the hoards of information at your disposal and figuring out what is fact and what is fiction.

Here are the top five myths associated with plumbing related issues.

MYTH: Joint fillers and fitting compounds are a good way to fix leaky pipes.

These are actually only useful for temporary fixes. For permanent repairs, call Plumb-Pro to replace the pipe sections or fittings.

MYTH: Doing your dishes by hand is better for the environment.

Actually, doing your dishes by hand wastes water and energy that could have been saved using an energy efficient dishwasher.

MYTH: I don’t need to fix tiny leaks.

In reality, a small drip can rack up your utility bill, damage your fixtures, and waste gallons of water per year. Red Deer Plumb-Pro can fix it and save you money!

MYTH: Water flushes counter-clockwise in the Northern hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern hemisphere.

The direction water drains actually has to do with the design and shape of the fixture rather than where you live.

MYTH: All plumbers are the same.

True, anyone can offer a plumbing service, but that doesn’t equal expertise. Plumb-Pro has over 25 years of experience and provides reliable and straightforward service that can be hard to find.

Hydronics have been around a long time, but with new technologies making them more cost efficient and environmentally-friendly, hydronics are becoming more popular with the home improvement crowd. However, hydronics is awfully close to hydroponics, at least in terms of appearance. In fact, search engines and autocorrect technologies will often confuse the two words, despite their being vastly different. So what is the difference between hydronics and hydroponics and does it even matter?

 Hydronics

• The use of radiant heat to heat homes and other buildings
• Heating occurs by transferring water through a pipe system that warms the surrounding environment
• Hydronic heating systems allow you to set different temperatures for each room
• Can include outdoor heating systems such as heating pools, roofs, or driveways
• Hydronics includes different energy source options like gas boilers, solar collectors, and gas water heaters

Hydroponics

• A method of growing plants in sand, gravel or liquid, but without the use of soil
• Hydroponic systems use plant nutrients dissolved in water in inorganic or ionic form
• Hydronics use substantially less water than a regular farm to produce the same amount of food
• Water is delivered to the plant root system via hanging directly in the solution, being misted by the solution, or in a container accompanied by a soil replacement like sand or gravel

Homeowners used to use coal to heat their homes, fuel their cooking appliances and heat their water. This practice has been replaced with more energy efficient fuels like natural gas. Here are the top ten tips for using or installing gas appliances in and around your home and when to call Plumb-Pro’s journeyman gas fitters for help.

1. Natural gas has no smell, but an odorant is added before it gets piped into houses for heating. If there is a smell of gas inside or outside your home, call Plumb-Pro to have a gas fitter check your installation.
2. If you or your family have recently developed headaches, dizziness, nausea, or weakness, it could be gas poisoning, which means that your heater isn’t working properly. Call Plumb-Pro to have a licensed gas fitter fix the problem.
3. Pilot lights and main burners that are working properly produce a blue flame. If the flame is yellow or red it isn’t burning efficiently, call Plumb-Pro.
4. It is a good idea to have your gas appliances serviced on a yearly basis. Plumb-Pro’s journeyman gas fitters can catch small issues before they become big problems.
5. Don’t try to operate natural gas appliances on other types of gas. This can be extremely hazardous. If in doubt, call Plumb-Pro to have a journeyman gas fitter help.
6. If you need any gas work inside your home, do-it-yourself is not recommended (and sometimes illegal). Without certification and proper licensing, you are limited to portable gas appliances like barbeques and patio heaters — call Plumb-Pro!
7. All gas work undertaken at your property should have a gas certificate for safety and/or compliance filled out by the gas fitter unless the appliance is simply being cleaned out.
8. To prevent hazards and accidents, it is a good idea to avoid build-up on your gas appliances.
9. Always light a match or press the ignition button before turning on a gas burner. If you can’t get it to light, turn off the gas and wait for the smell to dissipate before trying again.
10. For professional and no-nonsense heating installation of gas fireplace inserts, garage heaters, appliances, and more, call Plumb-Pro.

Hydronic heating systems such as steam and hot water radiators have been around a long time, but recent technology improvements have given them a  face-lift. The following are ten important things to think about before installing hydronics in your home.

1. Hydronics is a fancy word for heating by transferring water through pipes. The heat in the pipes warms up the surrounding environment as it travels through your home or building.
2. Water is one of the best known conductors of heat, so there is little heat loss when using hydronics to heat your home.
3. Hydronics can be used to cool your home as well as heat it. But in Canada, we mostly just use it to heat our homes.
4. Hydronic heating systems give you the best energy source options to choose from, including gas boilers, gas water heaters, heat pumps and solar collectors.
5. Hydronic heating systems are one of the most quiet options on the market, even quieter than the noise you already hear in your house.
6. Hydronic heating systems are also one of the most flexible heating systems on the market, letting you set a different temperature for each room depending on your preferences.
7. Hydronic heating systems help reduce the presence of allergens in your home because it doesn’t use air to heat the rooms.
8. Hydronics uses radiant heat, which heats up the source objects rather than the air in the rooms. This means temperatures will fluctuate less when using hydronic heating systems and will save you money and energy.
9. Hydronic heating systems are easy to integrate into the structure of most buildings using small, flexible tubing that can be routed through the framing like electrical cable. It can be used to heat your basement as well as the upper floors in your house or building.
10. Outdoor hydronic heating systems can be used to heat your roof, sidewalk, or driveway to minimize snow and ice buildup.

You may be a handy dandy do-it-yourselfer, but there are times when you will need a professional plumber to come out to your house for emergencies or situations you’re not equipped to handle. Here are ten situations you shouldn’t try to handle yourself.

1. Moving existing plumbing or adding a new gas line during plumbing renovations and bathroom remodels
2. Plumbing modifications such as extending water lines or re-routing sewer pipes. This usually requires the use of a blow torch and welding expertise and can quickly escalate into a disaster.
3. No hot water? Unless your hot water tank is leaking, it may take some reconnaissance to figure out the problem. Plumb-Pro will be able to tell if you need a new heater or if the old one can be fixed.
4. Plumbing issues can sneak up on you but a residential plumber will be able to catch small problems before they become big ones.
5. Don’t use joint fillers and fitting compounds on leaky pipes and expect it to last forever. Joint fillers and fitting compounds are a temporary fix; for a permanent repair, you’ll want to get one of our plumbers to replace the pipe sections or fittings.
6. Low water pressure? This could be caused by rust in the water lines, low water pressure from the city supply, or even poorly designed supply lines. Plumb-Pro’s journeyman plumbers will be able to analyze the problem and fix it in no time.
7. Running toilet? You might be able to fix the problem yourself by replacing the flapper, float apparatus, and fill tube, but if your toilet is still running, you might have a bigger problem that needs a professional plumber.
8. Shower valve replacement take practice. There are many options to choose from and many of those can be tricky. Call Plumb-Pro for help when you don’t want to risk damaging your walls.
9. Tub replacement. This is a big job and harder than it looks!
10. Your kids flushed something down the toilet they shouldn’t have. Your first instinct might be the plunger, but plunging can make the problem worse by pushing the object into the waste line. Stop flushing the toilet and call Plumb-Pro. We will do what we can to help.