Bradford White Hot Water Heaters

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Katie

Friday night finally arrives. It is a typical Vancouver evening – cool or cold. All that is left to do is get the little ones bathed, the dishes done and then it can be relaxing time in the your large tub Jacuzzi. Only one hour and the night belongs to you. Except, that when your 11-year-old hot water heater went out you chose the less expensive option of repair instead of replacing it with one of the line of Bradford White Hot Water Heaters carried by High Mark Plumbing. So:

No bath for the kids
No finishing the kitchen early
No Jacuzzi

Well it isn’t really your fault. Your water heater repair service should have told you that water heaters have an average useful life of 12 years. If your heater is 12 years or older it should almost always be replaced and not repaired. The money you will save from using a more energy-efficient water heater manufactured by Bradford White will make a big dent in recovering the cost of replacement quickly. Some may even be eligible for local utility company rebates. Call Highmark Plumbing now at 604-945-6060. We service the Greater Vancouver metro area and the mainland. Call any time, phones are answered 24/7 and we provide emergency services when you need them – quickly and affordably.

Why Bradford White

Bradford White has been making water heating, space heating and combination heating products since 1881. With almost 115 years of experience Bradford White is clearly one of the most innovative, technologically advanced producers of residential and commercial hot water heaters in the world. The company has its headquarters in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and a 800,000 square foot manufacturing center in Middleville, Michigan.

Bradford White only distributes its products through certified heating and plumbing professionals. This is part of the company’s dedication to quality and safety. Call High Mark Plumbing now for more information about Bradford White Water Heaters. Our number is 604-945-6060.

Bradford White Water Heaters

Water heaters are fueled by gas, (natural or propane) electric and solar( with a second source for when the sun is not shining).

Bradford While uses sophisticated engineering technology to make water heaters with high Energy Factors. EF is a way to measure the efficiency of a water heater. The nearer the rating is to 1.0 the better the model is for using energy efficiently.

Bradford White water heaters come in all sizes. Size does matter for water heater efficiency. Click here for a chart to help you determine the size water heater you need.

High Mark Plumbing is proud to be an authorized dealer for Bradford White products, call us at 604-945-6060 for more information.

Why You Should Buy A Rheem Water Heater

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Katie

When your hot water is in need of replacement, Vancouver Plumbing Contractors give Rheem products a thumbs up! When you buy a Rheem hot water tank style heater you enjoy many advantages:

Low initial cost
Low venting cost
No electrical wiring
Choice of many sizes
Flow rates of 12 gallons per minute and up
Low Nitrous Oxide emissions (some models)
High Altitude Installations

Rheem hot water tank heaters come in gas, electric , hybrid (electric/heat pump) and solar fueled configurations. Rheem also manufacturers Vancouver Rheem tankless water heaters.

Rheem has been in existence since 1920. It is a firm that manufactures in the United States and is recognized as leading supplier in the United States, Canada, Mexico and globally as a top manufacturer of water heaters, air conditioners and heating systems.

Rheem is famous for the engineering and overall quality of its products. Ninety years of experience in the plumbing manufacturing business has positioned them to be innovators that seize new technology that makes for more efficient products at affordable costs. Every product manufactured by them meets and exceeds the industry standards for quality and reliability. In addition, many of its products have received the coveted EnergyStar^@ label that means the product meets rigorous efficiency standards established by the United States Department of Energy and The United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Whatever your fuel source or family size, Rheem has a high quality water heater that will efficiently meet your needs. All water heaters have SEER ratings that show they are energy efficient. SEER is shorthand for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating. Devices with higher SEER ratings are more efficient than those with lower ones.

Sometimes property owners are faced with the “repair or replace” decision. If your water heater is older than 15 years it is most likely far less efficient than a new Rheem product. The savings on fuel costs help reduce the payback period. Fifteen years is the expected useful life of a hot water heater, embarking on an expensive repair is usually unwise.

If your unit is under 5 years of age, it is covered by warranty – it should be repaired not replaced. Units between five and 15 years of age require a conversation between the property owner and their plumbing contractor. Efficiencies in operation due to new technologies may make a new Rheem system an attractive alternative to an expensive repair.

American Standard: The Standard for Home Furnaces

Posted on March 24, 2012 by content team

With the coming of spring, most folks are turning off their furnaces and getting ready for the cooling season. Everyone enjoys that brief time when windows are opened and breezes flow through our homes and bring with them the clean smell of spring. Many homeowners put winter out of their mind and along with in the high fuel costs of their heating their homes. Actually, now is a great time to install a new American Standard Furnace in your home.

Burnaby American Standard Furnaces are extremely efficient with Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency ratings, also known as AFUE of 80 percent to 98.7 percent. The AFUE percentage represents how much of the fuel used by the furnace is turned to heatt. A high AFUE score indicates how much of the fuel is converted to home heat – the higher the percentage the better.

About 25 percent of American homes have furnaces in them that are more than 20 years old. There is no question that if a furnace of this age breaks down the best option is to replace it. Furnaces over 10 years old generally have maximum AFUE of only 60 percent. This means that for every dollar a consumer pays for furnace fuel, 40 cents is wasted! The savings in fuel costs will significantly reduce your operating costs and can be used towards paying for a new American Standard furnace that is more efficient and cleaner.
American Standard is famous for the reliability of its products. Every furnace comes with a manufacturer’s warranty and extended warranties are available.

American Standard furnaces Burnaby are homeowner friendly, set the thermostat and forget it. The only maintenance a homeowner has to do is an easy monthly filter change.
American Standard in renowned for its advanced technology. Furnaces manufactured by American Standard feature the latest technologies in heating design and engineering to insure optimum product life and trouble-free service.

Our expert Burnaby heating technicians can measure your home, spec out your furnace and install it quickly. We perform our installation in a professional and workman like way and leave your home as clean as we found it. Installation includes complete instructions to homeowners about your new American Standard furnace and its features and we won’ t leave until all your questions are answered.

Call us now tor an appointment for a quote on a new American Standard Furnace.

Do you Need To Repair or Replace Your Hot Water Heater?

Posted on February 8, 2012 by content team

Repair or replace is a frequent debate many homeowners have with themselves concerning hot water heaters.

Technology for hot water heaters has advanced in quantum leaps. So, if your hot water heater fails, should you replace or repair it is a fair question.

The first consideration in making this decision is age. If your hot water heater is 15 -years or older and needs an expensive repair, it is most likely a wiser decision to replace it. At 15 or more years of age, the hot water heater is near the end of its useful life. Even if a repair does extend its life by a few years, it is not nearly as efficient as today’s high technology water heaters. So, any money you might save in the short-term on replacement, you will continue to spend on higher fuel costs.

If your hot water heater is less than 15 years old, but more than five years old, it is time to sit down with your Vancouver hot water heater contractor to determine what makes sense in your circumstances. Together you review your hot water heater capacity, utility costs and anticipated heater life. Your contractor will also know if a heater with a higher SEER is available for you. SEER is the acronym for Seasonally adjusted Energy Efficiency Rating. The higher the SEER for a hot water heater, the more efficiently it operates. The contractor will also know if your local utility is offering rebates or incentives for switching your hot water heater to a more efficient one. Once you and the contractor have the facts, it is fairly easy to see how long the payback period will be, compared to continuing payer higher utility bills.

If your unit is under 5-years old, it should be under the manufacturer’s warranty. Unless there is a strong reason to change it out such as:

desire to change fuel source
inadequate hot water for family size

You should repair the system.

A Few Words On Replacement Systems

New hot water heaters come in many efficient styles. Talk with your contractor about renewable energy such as solar and geothermal fueled systems. Also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of tankless instantaneous hot water heaters and all hot water heaters that carry the EnergyStar labile from the United States Department of Energy. An EnergyStar label means that the hot water heater has passed rigid standards that ensure the unit is efficient.

The best way to find to knowing whether to repair or replace your hot water heating system is contacting your Vancouver plumbing professional. They can advise you which type of Vancouver water heater is the best fit for your home.

8 Good Reasons to Call a Plumbing Service

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Katie

Plumbing issues come in all forms — a slow leak, a clog or a pipe that has burst. Calling a Burnaby plumbing service can equal less time, expense and frustration for you than repairing the problem incorrectly or causing additional repairs. To help you identify situations that a plumber can effectively resolve, here are some common scenarios:

1. Leaking Pipes

The pipes under sinks or in the attic may be leaking. Run your finger along pipes. If you notice moisture on the pipes or underneath them, call a plumber for assistance. Your timely actions can save you additional repairs.

2. Low Water Pressure

When you take a shower or rinse dishes in your kitchen sink, you may notice that the water pressure is low. The pipes could contain build-up or some of the internal parts of your shower head or faucet could be in need of repair.

3. Toilet Issues

If you have to jiggle the handle of your toilet to make it stop running or hold the handle down to complete a flush, the internal parts of your toilet need repairs or replacement. If you hear your toilet running when not in use or notice water on the floor near the toilet, call a plumbing service Burnaby to diagnose and correct the problem.

4. Banging Pipes

Sometimes when you have the water faucet turned on high and you turn it off, you will hear a banging noise in the wall. The noise is coming from the pipes. Fortunately, a plumber can help you remedy the issue so you don’t have to live with the noise.

5. Remodeling Projects or New Construction

When remodeling the plumbing in an existing bathroom or kitchen, or when constructing new plumbing, contact a plumbing service beforehand to ensure that the installation is completed correctly and meets building code. Otherwise, you may have tear out the installation and redo it.

6. Frozen Pipe Issues

Sometimes, during cold weather, the water inside pipes can freeze. The pipes expand and sometimes rupture, causing flooding from the pipe or nearby valves or faucets. You can temporarily stop the flooding by shutting off the main water valve in your home. Then, call a plumber to help you deal with the repairs.

7. Slow Drains

When the water doesn’t drain out of your bathtub or sink quickly enough, and commercial drain solvents aren’t effective, it’s time to call a plumbing service. Experienced plumbers can detect a clog in the lines and use professional methods to clear it.

8. Hot Water Shortage

Perhaps you run out of hot water more quickly than you did previously, or maybe you can’t access heated water anymore. Either way, there could be an issue with your hot water heater. Contact a Burnaby plumber to determine if your hot water heater needs repairs or replacement.

Anytime you have a plumbing issue, don’t hesitate to call a Burnaby plumbing service. A professional plumber can use their experience to analyze the problem and determine the best way to fix it.

Tips When You Need Emergency Plumbing Repairs

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Katie

Homeowners frequently perform routine plumbing repairs such as changing a washer or tightening a fitting. The skill required for such repairs is low and the tools needed are usually in every homeowner’s toolbox.

However, there are numerous occasions when the need for New Westminster plumbing repairs and general plumbing leak repairs are too great a challenge for a homeowner. It is time to contact a plumbing expert to help with the repairs.

The need for a plumbing repair expert on an emergency basis can come from many types of problems. Frequently emergency plumbing repairs are needed for burst frozen pipes, backed up waste-line or leaking hot water heaters among other causes. These problems can cause significant damage. The very first thing to do before calling for plumbing repair is to shut of the water going to the source of the leak. If you do not know where the valve is that feeds the leaking line, shut off the water at the main. By turning the water off to the leaking area you may save yourself the need to call in an emergency water cleaning specialist as well as a plumber.

Homeowners who do not have a regular plumber often call through a list until they find someone that can schedule them in and hope they are competent and honest.

Here are some tips for selecting an emergency plumbing repair company:

1. Select a plumbing company before you need one

2. The company you choose must be licensed

3. The company you choose must be bonded and insured

4. The company ought to have radio dispatched service trucks available 24/7

5. Service trucks should be well stocked for all emergencies including clearing clogged waste lines

6. The emergency plumbing repair company ought to guarantee its service

7. Before you select a company to call when you need a plumbing leak repair, call a few that meet the requirements listed above. Ask about their hourly rates. Do they charge extra for an emergency call? If so how much? Also ask them how long the average response time for an emergency call.

A shortcut to the above is asking friends and relatives if they can recommend a service. Be sure to call and ask them the questions in the tip.

Selecting an emergency plumbing service before you need them will allow you more calmly deal with your plumbing emergency.

Plumber for Emergency Plumbing Service

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Katie

Finding a reliable 24-hour plumber when you need an emergency Surrey plumbing repair is a difficult task. If you need emergency plumbing repairs at 4 in the morning, you are likely to be stressed and hiring the first 24-hour plumber that answers the phone. They might come, they might come quickly or not, they may never show up. If they do, will they do the job correctly and at a fair price. Are they licensed and insured? Frankly, at four o’clock in the morning all you want is a body to do the repair and stop the water from damaging more of your home.

There is a better way to handle engaging an emergency plumbing service Surrey. Get one before you need them. If you have had a good experience with a plumber, find out if they provide 24-hour plumbing service. Ask friends and neighbors for recommendations. If no one knows of a reliable 24-hour plumbing service use an online referral source such as Angie’s List for assistance. While you have to pay a small fee to referral sites like this, companies can not pay to get on the referral list. Members of the community blog about their experiences with local providers of goods and services. So, a referral for a highly rated emergency plumbing service is just like getting a referral from friends and family.

Once you have found at least two emergency plumbing repair companies call them. Then ask the following questions to help you decide who you will call in an emergency:

What is your rate?
Are you and your employees licensed, bonded and insured? Get the company’s license number.
What is your response time? Do you guarantee arrival within that time?
If you have any unusual plumbing features, like a geothermal water heater are they able to service it?
Ask for and then check references. If a company will not provide references then remove them from your list of potentials.
What is their repair guarantee?

Before making a final selection, you may also want to try an online database of contractor’s. If you have the contractor’s license number you can research online and see if there have been any disciplinary actions taken against the particular 24-hour plumber you are evaluating.

Typically, emergency plumbing services handle problems such as:

Most other plumbing problems can be handled during a regular appointment for plumbing repairs. Also most companies offer Surrey online promotions, make sure to take a look online and you might save yourself some money.

It is easy to reduce the stress of a plumbing emergency by having a simple plan to call a pre-selected company to provide your emergency plumbing service. Life is stressful enough, by planning for a plumbing emergency it takes one more stressful thing off the table.

What To Do When You Have Frozen Pipes

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Katie

Frozen pipes are a major problem because of a simple physical property of water. It expands when it freezes, which means that it will exert a large amount of pressure on whatever it expands inside of. A burst pipe is a major issue, and preventing and properly handling Burnaby frozen pipes is the best way to prevent burst pipes during the winter.

Unfortunately the places most vulnerable to frozen pipes are those that don’t usually get extremely cold. Since home builders in or around Burnaby may not have taken the proper steps to insulate pipes when building your home.

Identifying a frozen pipe is a simple thing. It acts exactly like you you think it would by allowing little to no water to flow through it. The first thing to do if this happens is to find the frozen pipe. Look for:

Pipes that run in the open outside (like those for a pool) or are near the surface of the ground (like those for a sprinkler system).
Pipes in uninsulated basements, attics and crawl spaces are especially vulnerable. Garages and underneath kitchen and bathroom sinks are also likely places if the house’s heater is left off for a vacation or during the night.
Work your way back from whatever faucet or other water outlet that isn’t working. Test every faucet and outlet inside and outside the house to make sure that you don’t miss anything. There’s no reason to set yourself up to come back to the same house again and again.

Once you determine the frozen pipe, you will need to begin thawing frozen pipes. There are many ways to turn the ice to water, but not all of them are safe. Here are a few tips to thawing out your pipes. Saftey is key, if your questioning the safety of any of these tips, your best bet is to contact a Burnaby Plumbing Professional to properly handle

Always keep an eye on your heat source and flammable materials. Do not use propane heaters or other heaters with open flames.
Use a hairdryer, heat gun or electric blanket to melt a section of pipe or a space heater to heat an entire basement or attic.
Leave the faucets on so that any excess water has a place to go and does not build up pressure.
NEVER use a torch to thaw pipes. The extreme heat can weaken the pipes and boil the water inside causing the pipe in front of you to become a pipe bomb.

Be thorough and safe and your home will thank you.

Remedies For A Slow or Clogged Drain

Posted on December 23, 2011 by Katie

Most folks do not like plumbing work, it is dirty, smelly and at times too difficult for the average person. Plumbers, are the exception, they tolerate the environment of odors and slime when they must get the job done. Take drains that are clogged or stopped. The average person might have a plunger or some chemical drain opener on hand but Burnaby drain cleaning may require more sophisticated tools such as Hydro-Jetting to get your drains clear and stay that way.

The easiest way to deal with a slow or clogged drain is not to let a drain get that way. On a monthly basis flush your drains with hot water. This should clear soap scum and other dissolvable gunk from your drain lines. At the first sign of a drain becoming slow you should clean it out to prevent further clogging deposits.First try running hot water through the misbehaving drain. If that doesn’t work, try using a plunger. Make sure that before you use the plunger you have sealed off the over flow holes in the sink. This will create a vacuum when you plunge. Bathtubs and showers do not usually have an overflow so there is nothing to seal off. Using ordinary hot water, plunge the line several times to clear the drain.

If hot water does not do the job then you need to use a chemical drain opener. Use a gel type thick drain opener. The thin, watery ones may be less expensive but they will not always do the job as they often just pass through a partially blocked slow drain, the thicker gel types are far more effective. It is not a good idea to use chemical drain openers for periodic drain cleaning as over time they could damage your plumbing lines due to their corrosive nature.

If by this time your drains are still slow or clogged the next step is to use a plumber’s snake. This is a long thin wire that you insert in the drain and feed in until you reach the debris that is causing the clogging. At this point though, many people will opt to contact professional Burnaby Plumber as they don’t have a snake and are unsure how to use it.

Plumbers usually use Burnaby hydro-jetting to clear clogged or slow drain lines. It is a safe process where water is forced through the drain line under high pressure and at high-speed. It quickly removes scum and other debris from the sides of your drain and will break up any clogs quite easily.

By using hot water monthly your drains should not slow or clog. If home remedies do not fix the problem a licensed, professional plumber should be called. With the proper tools such as a hydro-jetting set your drains can be easily cleaned. After, regular drain cleaning should keep them in top-notch condition.

Keep Safety in Mind When Remolding Your Bathroom | High Mark Plumbing

Posted on November 28, 2011 by Katie

The Bathroom Remodeling Specialists at High Mark Plumbing advises that if you are planning to remodel a bathroom, it is important to keep safety in mind. Consider your present circumstances and your possible future needs. Keeping your future needs in mind will possibly eliminate the need for unexpected upgrades.

The Bathroom Experts at High Mark Plumbing encourage their customers to include safety considerations when replacing or remodeling fixtures in the bath. Thousands of people are injured each year in bathroom accidents. Because the elderly population grows every year, their specific needs should be remembered. Additionally, special needs people require specific fixtures to make their lives as easy as possible and to reduce injuries. The Bath Remodel Experts at High Mark Plumbing can help you decide which fixtures best suit your needs and provide professional installation of your new fixtures as well.

High Mark Plumbing’s Bathroom Plumbing Specialists can design the most efficient plumbing layout and install fixtures that are both pleasing to the eye and safe. In a home, the plumbers recommend that the home owner consider all possible safety features. People need to plan for more than today, as circumstances change over time. Be sure to give thought to the needs of every member of the family. The plumbers at High Mark Plumbing can install fixtures that will meet the guidelines under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Some things to consider for special need homes:

Provide ample clearance beneath any fixtures
Be sure that faucets and handles are easily reached
Be sure movable parts are easy to operate
Place grab bars in smart places
Think about the best toilet height for your purposes

Even if you do not have special needs family members, it is still important to avoid accidents in the bathroom. Falls and slips are among the most common bathroom accidents. Scalding from a water heater that is set too high is also common. When the Bath Remodel Experts from High Mark Plumbing install a water heater, they set the temperature to avoid burns.

Bathroom safety concerns tips:

Avoid placing steps going into the tub or shower portion of the bathroom.
Be sure to have flooring that is not likely to cause slips
Think about building a platform around your new tub, so you can sit on the ledge and swing your legs into the tub.
If you have a glass enclosure around your shower, be sure to install shatterproof glass.
Install hinged shower doors to open into the room not into the shower
To avoid scalding, have temperature controlled valves put in all baths and showers.
Install electrical outlets and switches away from water sources.

The Bathroom Remodeling Specialists at High Mark Plumbing can help you install safe and dependable fixtures in your new bathroom. With pre-planning, you can enjoy your new bathroom safely for years to come.

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