6 Cool Tools for Plumbers

Plumbers use a variety of tools each day in order to complete the duties of their job. For many plumbers, a deep passion sets in when using tools. Plumbers are passionate about which tools they allow grace their hands or finish a project. Many wonderful tools for plumbers are available, but according to many top industry professionals, the six listed below are those more plumbers reach for than others.

1.       The cheater Pipe Wrench

The cheater pipe wrench is the first of its kind to offer easy adaption. The wrench features a three-length design, providing versatility for use on many products of various sizes. The steel wrench is durable and is able to withstand the sometimes aggressive natures of the plumbing job.

2.       DeWalt DCE200 Press tool

DeWalt is a leader in tools for various professions. The press tool is one that doesn’t disappoint. This press tool is compatible with many crimping heads and their attachments, providing great versatility to get all the projects you need completed done fast. The pivoting action of the tool provides a 320-degree maneuver so it is easy to use even in tight spaces. With an attached LED light, no space is too dark for repair. And, with the shoulder strap included, you’re ready for a full day ahead!

3.       DeWalt DCS350 Threaded Rod Cutter

Another DeWalt product makes the best-of list, this time the threaded rod cutter. This durable product cuts a wide variety of pipes in all sizes thanks to the four-sided rotating die with the choice of three sizes. There aren’t any sparks when using the machine, and thanks to low vibration, it is always easy to use.

4.       Milwaukee M12 Portable Drain snake

Every plumber needs a good drain snake on hand at all times. It is amazing the number of clogged toilets the toilet snake alleviates without headache. This model is of particular interest for many plumbers. The drain snake features a fixed shield so messes and mishaps are a thing of the past. It also is lightweight so it is easy to move from one job to the next. Hop over to this website for more helpful info.

5.       Stanley FatMax Retractable Tape Measure

Without a good tape measure, inside of the plumbing toolbox, many projects would go uncompleted. With this extra-large, extra-durable tape measure from Stanley, those worries are a thing of the past. Plumbers love the FatMaxx because it is bigger and badder than the rest, offering auto-lock for ESE of use; an 11-inch blade, manual mode, and 10x the lifetime of the normal tape measure.

6.       Black Rhino Pro Plumbers Tool Set

This all-in-one set is perfect for newbies in the industry as well as plumbers without a wad of cash to hand over for tools. This tool set includes Rhino Pro ratcheting PVC cutter, industrial metal pipe cutter, Rhino super pipe saw, 1 roll of plumber’s tape, and the Lil Pro tube cutter.

6 Cool Tools for Plumbers

Plumbers use a variety of tools each day in order to complete the duties of their job. For many plumbers, a deep passion sets in when using tools. Plumbers are passionate about which tools they allow grace their hands or finish a project. Many wonderful tools for plumbers are available, but according to many top industry professionals, the six listed below are those more plumbers reach for than others.

1.       The cheater Pipe Wrench

The cheater pipe wrench is the first of its kind to offer easy adaption. The wrench features a three-length design, providing versatility for use on many products of various sizes. The steel wrench is durable and is able to withstand the sometimes aggressive natures of the plumbing job.

2.       DeWalt DCE200 Press tool

DeWalt is a leader in tools for various professions. The press tool is one that doesn’t disappoint. This press tool is compatible with many crimping heads and their attachments, providing great versatility to get all the projects you need completed done fast. The pivoting action of the tool provides a 320-degree maneuver so it is easy to use even in tight spaces. With an attached LED light, no space is too dark for repair. And, with the shoulder strap included, you’re ready for a full day ahead!

3.       DeWalt DCS350 Threaded Rod Cutter

Another DeWalt product makes the best-of list, this time the threaded rod cutter. This durable product cuts a wide variety of pipes in all sizes thanks to the four-sided rotating die with the choice of three sizes. There aren’t any sparks when using the machine, and thanks to low vibration, it is always easy to use.

4.       Milwaukee M12 Portable Drain snake

Every plumber needs a good drain snake on hand at all times. It is amazing the number of clogged toilets the toilet snake alleviates without headache. This model is of particular interest for many plumbers. The drain snake features a fixed shield so messes and mishaps are a thing of the past. It also is lightweight so it is easy to move from one job to the next. Hop over to this website for more helpful info.

5.       Stanley FatMax Retractable Tape Measure

Without a good tape measure, inside of the plumbing toolbox, many projects would go uncompleted. With this extra-large, extra-durable tape measure from Stanley, those worries are a thing of the past. Plumbers love the FatMaxx because it is bigger and badder than the rest, offering auto-lock for ESE of use; an 11-inch blade, manual mode, and 10x the lifetime of the normal tape measure.

6.       Black Rhino Pro Plumbers Tool Set

This all-in-one set is perfect for newbies in the industry as well as plumbers without a wad of cash to hand over for tools. This tool set includes Rhino Pro ratcheting PVC cutter, industrial metal pipe cutter, Rhino super pipe saw, 1 roll of plumber’s tape, and the Lil Pro tube cutter.

Wood Heat Provides Energy Efficiency and other Awesome Benefits

Choosing wood heating for your home is a great decision that will make you feel good inside and out. While many wood heat alternatives are available, the use of a fireplace or wood stove offers ample benefits these heating options fail to provide.

Wood Heat is a Top Source of Heat

Wood heat is one of the best environmentally-friendly heat sources around since wood is a renewable fuel. As long as the country’s beautiful forests continue to be maintained, there will be an abundance of wood available to heat with. There is no global warming contribution when using wood to heat with. And, wood heat is perfect for a cozy, cold day inside of the home!

But those benefits are just the start of reasons heating with wood is a good idea. Want to know more? You’ve come to the right place! Continue reading and learn eight additional benefits offered with the use of wood heat.

No Interruptions

Should the power go out and leave you without electricity, the heat is something that goes with it when traditional heating systems are used. With a wood heating system in place, there is never an interruption in your heat, so long as you’re stocked with a sufficient supply of wood to keep the fire going.

It is Cozy & Comfortable

Whether you seek a romantic evening with your partner, want to sit back and enjoy the simple life, or prefer the little things in life, using wood heating provides each of those exciting benefits. A fireplace provides the perfect scenery to make magic.

Affordable

In some parts of British Columbia homeowners are spending to heat their homes. That is a lot of money when tallied in with mortgages, insurance premiums, energy costs, car payments, and other debts. Wood heat provides a cost-effective solution that enables you to affordably keep your home at the perfect temperature regardless of the weather outside. Look at here now for more info.

Choosing a Fireplace

With so many amazing perks and benefits, wood heat is worth using in your home. If you’re ready to make the switch, the first step is selecting the perfect fireplace for your home. Set a budget, because fireplace costs vary from a couple hundred bucks to well into the thousands of dollars.

Look for a fireplace that is EPA-certified. Not all fireplaces are, but those featuring this certification produce fewer emissions and are better at providing heating efficiency.

Ensuring the proper space available in your home is yet another mandatory step that you should complete before making the purchase of a fireplace. Nothing is worse than making a purchase only to realize that there isn’t space available for the unit.

Types of Plumbing Pipes

If you’re unsure of the type of pipes being used inside of your home plumbing system, you are not alone. Many homeowners are unaware of this important information, making it difficult to troubleshoot problems with your plumbing system or replace them when or if something goes wrong. Learning the different types of plumbing pipes available is one of the easiest ways to identify the type of pipes inside of your home. Here we will take a look at some of the most commonly used pipes to help you better acquaint yourself with the available choices.

Types of mental plumbing pipes used today include:

Metal Pipes

There are a few different types of metal pipes used inside of plumbing systems today, including copper, cast iron, stainless steel, and galvanized steel. Copper is the most expensive of the options and isn’t oftentimes used within a plumbing system. Stainless steel is another of the options available that is rarely used. Cast iron isn’t the easiest to work with so it is also one of the metals rarely used. It is likely that your home uses galvanized steel pipes. These pipes have been used since the 1960s and provide resistance to corrosion and rust, with a 40-year life expectancy. They’re inexpensive, easy to maintain and install, and provide many additional benefits.

Plastic Pipes

PB pipes are beige or gray in color, but isn’t used as often as it was up until the 1990s. its biggest disadvantage is its ease of damage, resulting in leaks. PVC pipes are white or gray in color and often used for main water supply lines into a home. There are several PVC pipe sizes available. The CPVC pipe is another type of plastic pipe that is beige or yellow and works in the same manner as the PVC, only with added chlorination. This is the most commonly used pipe inside of homes today. Other plastic pipe types include PEX piping, ABS piping, and HDPE piping. You could check here for more pipe info.

Which Pipes Should you use in your Home?

Should the pipes inside of your home become damaged and need repaired or replaced, ensure that you use the same type of pipe as installed originally, or one that is as close to the same material as possible. Doing so eliminates much of the hard work for the plumber making the installation, thus decreases the cost for you.

It is a good idea to talk to your plumbing professional concerning the different types of pipes available for a home, including those listed above. Together you can decide which pipes are the best fit for your home and worry not that you’ve made the best selection.

Additionally, the following tips are good to keep in mind when adding new pipes to your home.

• Budget: The cost of pipes varies considerably based upon the type. Before you head out to buy, be sure that you have a budget in place.
•  Installation: Ensure that the cost of installation is factored into your pipe decision. While the cost of pipes varies considerably, so does the cost of installing them. 

6 Reasons you shouldn’t use Drain Cleaners

The local home improvement store has shelves stocked with a number of different drain cleaners indicated for use by both personal and commercial accounts. These drain cleaners are relatively inexpensive to purchase, especially when compared to the cost of calling a licensed plumbing professional. While grabbing a bottle of drain cleaner and handling a bit of DIY action might seem like a good idea, it is, in actuality, one of the worst things that you can do for your plumbing system.

Take a look at the top 6 reasons you should not use a drain cleaner in your household plumbing system.

1. Hazardous to your Health

Almost all of the drain cleaners being sold today contain chemicals that contain known carcinogens. Simply inhaling or coming into contact with them puts you at risk.

2. They don’t Work

Sometimes people get lucky and the drain cleaner works and really gets rid of a clog. But, this isn’t the norm. most people are saddened that they wasted their cash on the purchase. Even those that manage to rid the clog have found only a short solution to a bigger problem.

3. Damage Pipes

Drain cleaners contain chemicals, as mentioned, that can cause devastation to your health. But these chemicals don’t stop there with their disadvantages. The chemicals in these cleaners can also cause corrosion and other damage to your pipes. Unless you want to fork over hundreds to thousands in pipe replacement, steer clear of the cleaners. 

4. Harmful to the Skin

If drain cleaners come into contact with the skin, it is possible for irritation to occur. This includes redness, blistering of the skin, rashes, and burns. Remember to wash the cleaner immediately if it happens to come into contact with your skin to minimize irritation.

5. Damage Septic Systems

If your plumbing system is connected to a septic system, using a drain cleaner also causes potential damage to this unit as well. The last thing that you want to experience is problems with the septic system! Is it really worth the risk?

6. They’re Expensive

Sure, the costs of a drain cleaner are far less than the cost of hiring a plumber, but that doesn’t mean that they’re cheap to purchase, either. While a variety of factors influence the amount of money you will spend for a drain cleaner, some of them can be as expensive as $50 or more per bottle! That is a lot of money to risk for a hope of short-term repair!

Final Thoughts

Drain cleaners may seem like to go-to cure for plumbing issues, but the harsh reality is that the cleaners do far more harm than good. The six reasons above are just a handful of the many reasons that you should avoid the use of a drain cleaner in your home. Are you willing to take a risk of causing substantial damage and massive headache when you can call the plumbing pros at DJ Plumbing & Heating and get a quick resolution to any kind of clog you’re experiencing?

Your Top HVAC Questions Answered

Do you have HVAC questions? If so, you need answers. Here we will take a look at some of the most common questions homeowners have concerning their HVAC unit. Chances are good that you share in some of the same thoughts. Wonder no more, as we’ve provided the answers.

When should I Service my HVAC Unit?

Even thought it might seem as if the HVAC system is working perfectly, servicing it on an annual basis is an ideal way to reduce problems and ensure the maximum lifetime out of your unit. Always hire a professional for this annual service. Remember, if there are issues with the HVAC unit in between these yearly visits, hire someone to make the repair and don’t wait for the service visit.

Do I really need to Replace the Air Filters? How Often?

Monthly air filter replacement on the a/c and heating unit in your home is the best way to keep your indoor air quality at peak while also maintaining the best efficiency. Some homeowners choose to change filters once every three months. This is okay, but no longer.

How do I know if my HVAC Unit needs to be Replaced?

Replacing the entire HVAC system is a costly job that you don’t want to endure unless it is no other way. Usually a repair is possible, but there is always the day when it is not enough and you need to replace. Signs that your HVAC unit needs to be replaced:

-       An HVAC unit is made to last for a period of 15 -25 years, depending on brand, model, etc. If your unit is close to this age or older, replacing the unit is a good idea.

-       If you are spending more money on repair of the unit each year than what it is worth, it may be time to replace

-       The heat pump in your unit is over 10 years’ old

-       You have humidity problems in your home

-       Energy/heating bills seems to be rising each month

-       Loud/ noisy unit

How can I find a good Heating Company?

DJ Plumbing & heating is the only name that you need to know when you want a heating company that will surpass your expectations. Bringing you experience, expertise, and the best prices in Vancouver, DJ Plumbing can handle all of your minor and major heating issues with simplicity and without breaking the bank.

How Can I Improve the Lifetime of my HVAC Unit?

HVAC units cost thousands of dollars and if they’re not working properly, cost even more in extra heating costs. If you want the unit to last as long as possible, without a ton of visits from a heating repair company use these tips to improve efficiency:

-       Call the heating specialist as soon as signs of a problem unfold

-       Don’t forget annual service visits

-       Change your air filters

-       Keep all foreign objects away from the front of the unit so there is no airflow restrictions 

If you are a plumber click here.

Types of Hot Water Heaters

Of the average $2,800 spent on energy  throughout the year, about half of that is spent on the heating and cooling of the home. The water heater is accountable for another 18% of that. The hot water heater that you select is of great importance if you want to better manage those costs each year. Investing in a new, energy- efficient hot water heater is a great way to reduce the money that you spend.

Types of Hot Water Heaters

There are tanked and tankless hot water heater available. Most people use the tanked version of the hot water heater because it is cheaper. There are two types of traditional tanked hot water heaters. This is an electric model and one that is fired by fuel. Gas is the most common fuel used in the fire. Oil is also used in some hot water heaters. These heaters use a valve that opens and delivers water from the top to the bottom. Most of these hot water heaters are durable and safe, with construction using steel materials.

The electric hot water heater uses a 220 volt circuit to heat the water, it passes thru the top and the bottom of the tank using a thermostat with different temperature elements. Most people recommend that the electric hot water heater be set at a temperature of 120 degrees. The electric hot water heater is the most commonly used of them all.

Tankless Hot Water Heaters

The tankless hot water heater has only been around for a few years, but it is one that many homeowners are choosing to add to their home. These heaters offer many pros and cons that you should weigh before making your selection.  Contact DJ Plumbing and Heating Services a call to help you choose the right one for you.

Benefis o tankless water heaters are numerous. First, they are small in size so they are easy to place into smaller spaces, like apartments. The tankless water heaters provide instant hot water, unlike the traditional hot water heater than may take minutes for your water to warm up. The tankless hot water heater is also easier to maintain than traditional hot water heaters

Choosing your Hot Water Heater

Do not choose the first hot water heater that you discover. Instead, take the time to pick and choose the right one for your home. A few considerations when making your purchase:

-        Size: The hot water heater should be small enough in size that it easily fits I the area of the home that you have to accommodate it. Always measure before purchasing so not to get anything that is to large.

-        Recovery Rate: The recovery rate of the hot water heater indicates its speed. The number represents the amount of gallons of water that the heater can heat to 100 degrees in one hour.

-        Capacity: Capacity is also something to consider when making the purchase of a hot water heater. The capacity amount is not the same or every household. You need to consider the number of people in your home and the amount of water that you require to determine the right capacity.

-        Cost: We all have budgets in place. Tankless water heaters are the most expensive of the different types of hot water heaters available, and electric is the least expensive. It is still a good idea to compare before you buy to ensure the best rates are found.

Final Thoughts

We owe a lot of thanks for the wonders a hot water heater provides to us. It heats our water so wonderfully. It is easy to say we’d be lost without it! Choose your system wisely and you’ll have plenty of praise to offer it for a long time ahead. Call DJ Plumbing and Heating Services to help with your new system and installation.