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When it comes to your plumbing you have to realize that everything you put down your sink can affect plumbing components further on down the line. For example, even small amounts of oil, grease, and food might quickly zip down your kitchen sink as you are rinsing out a pan with steaming how water.

And these items might even make it far down your homes internal plumbing systems. However, as the water cools or the items are met by narrowing plumbing pipes filled with some other debris they too might get caught up in the plumbing lines of your home causing a CLOG; a clog in your kitchen sink’s drain or a clog in your bathroom sink’s drain or a clog in your shower/tub’s drain.

Wherever a clog forms it is never a fun sight to see your drain getting plugged up and having water pool where it should be going away. It is an unnecessary frustration and annoyance. However, if you are not maintaining your sinks and drains well then guess what…eventually that system is going to “get sick” and break down; whether it is by forming a “clog” here or there or perhaps an even bigger problem.

So in much of the same way that we think about our own health we can work to fight sickness (aka plumbing problems in this case) by taking preventative measures. What is that old saying in sports…“a strong offense is sometimes the best defense”…meaning that if you stand up and are assertive/proactive about something you often can avoid trouble. You make the first move and keep the pressure on and the likelihood is that you will be the victor as your opponent will be backs on their heels. Well the same can be said when it comes to clog prevention.

If you simply sit back and play defense waiting for something to go wrong with your sinks and drainage systems in regards to a clog…well odds are that over time you eventually will run into a clog. However, if you are in more of an offensive mindset you will realize that you can take some easy preventative measures that will allow you to avoid any clog problems by simply being proactive and putting some of the pressure on the plumbing system itself and keeping it on its toes. Rather than just being relaxed and waiting for a plumbing problem to form you are trying to prevent one from forming.

Now you might be saying, “Ok well that is fine and dandy to say… but what sorts of measures can I take to prevent a clog so that I don’t have to have a sink repair”?

Well that is a great question and here are some answers for you in regards to ways to prevent clogs from happening to you:

Preventing drain build up…

• 1. FLUSH YOUR PIPES.
  • a. When you have extra boiling water from the kettle take it and pour it down the sink with some baking soda. The baking soda is slightly abrasive and will help to rub build up off the plumbing line walls and the boiling water will help to wash/move things along the plumbing lines that might normally want to stick to the side. The baking soda will also naturally fumigate odour. If you don’t have baking soda use sea salt.
  • b. Do not pour the boiling water into a porcelain sink in the winter time however as these extreme temperature differences can cause cracks.
  • c. Flush your drains in this fashion every month or two.
• 2. No FOOD or GREASE
  • a. Grease is the number one clogging element, along with hair. Avoid putting any grease or food scraps into your sink’s drain.
  • b. Grease can easily stick to plumbing walls and when it cools it works like plague on ones arteries causing a narrowing of piping walls and can also trap other items/debris developing difficult clogs.
  • c. By keeping your food garbage aside for composting or your food garbage (green) bin (as the case in a lot of Canadian cities now) you can avoid the chance of food getting caught in your drain.
  • d. Also simply pour grease into old coffee cups or metal tins for storage under the sink. When you throw this away in the garbage it actually helps to keep animals away from your garbage.
• 3. BEWARE of your HAIR
  • a. Hair, along with grease, is the top two causes of clogged drains. If you know you have a tendency to lose a number of hairs in the shower well than be proactive and either pick up your hairs after you shower OR you can even make a homemade hair trap by using duct tape and a plastic bag with some small holes to allow water to flow through and then taping this over your shower drain.
• 4. CHEMICAL CLEAN UP for a LAST RESORT
  • a. If you are getting ready to be preventative but have an annoying clog it is ok to use chemical plumbing products as a last resort for a one time flush to get your pipes as close to original working order before taking on the methods mentioned above. But this should not be used as your go to method.
  • b. But remember these products are specific to certain types of clogs as they “eat away” at whatever is plugging your drain…such as hair…so make sure you get the right product for whatever you believe is causing your flow problems.

HomeStars Awards ClearView With Best of Calgary Contractor Award

Thanks to our loyal customers, we were rated the top plumber in Calgary on HomeStars.

HomeStars is new to Calgary, having just launched in 2009. This online community of homeowners and home improvement companies offers reviews of contractors in various categories. Using these reviews, customers can find reputable contractors and tradespeople. You can visit the site and see the reviews at Homestars.

In 2009, ClearView had the most reviews for the city of Calgary, with 20. We also received a stellar customer rating of 9.8 out of 10.

On behalf of everyone here at ClearView, I would like to thank the satisfied customers who took the time to write a review about our service. We can’t thank you enough for your kind words and recommendations.

We have always prided ourselves on our responsiveness to customer needs and concerns. We are happy to be part of the HomeStars community and we look forward to connecting with our customers there.

Dust and other pollutants gather in the air ducts and furnace in our homes, especially during the time they aren’t being used. Once the winter months near and you kick your furnace up again, these pollutants are released into the air and circulate throughout your home while your furnace produces even more pollutants as it works hard to keep your home pleasantly warm in the cold months.

Most people believe that adding a plain disposable sir filter to the furnace solves this problem. In reality, these disposable filters do close to nothing, as they only manage to trap some 10% of the pollutants coming out of the air from your furnace and almost none of the pollutants that are already circulating through your home.

Clearview Plumbing and Heating does regular assessments of the air quality in our clients’ homes and we recommend installing highly efficient electronic air cleaners that are up to 95% efficient in cleaning the air coming from your furnace.

Clearview Plumbing and Heating is dedicated to providing only the best energy efficient water heaters to homes in the Calgary area. Our expert staff and representatives will make sure that the water heater of your choice will meet your needs and lifestyle by considering the size of your home, number of members in your family, and other elements that can help assess your need for hot water.

With that information in hand, we can help you choose and install the water heater that will provide the best possible solution for your home and family.

At Clearview we are concerned with offering only the best water heating systems, quick installation and generous warranties while lowering our customers’ energy bills while providing them with the comfort and convenience of abundant amounts of hot water. We simply know our water heating systems and we like to know our customers’ needs.

Proper maintenance, tune-ups and repair of your furnace are of the highest significance in preparation for the long and harsh Calgary winters. Clearview technicians and the several regular maintenance options we offer will save you time, work and lower your heating costs. Poor maintenance and delayed or amateur home furnace repair may make for less efficient heating, higher energy bills, unexpected repairs and, most importantly, an unhealthy environment in your home or office caused by dangerous carbon monoxide that can leak into the air you breathe through the smallest, invisible cracks on your furnace.

Our staff and representatives will make sure that you are provided with the proper furnace repair and annual tune-ups to ensure that your home is comfortable, warm and healthy during the cold Calgary winter months. Our tune-ups and other programs offer regular maintenance and low costs, a minimum of one to two years warranty on all parts and labour, regular check ups and even up to 20% discount on services.

Most homes in Calgary have furnaces that are over 7 years of age and work with an average energy efficiency of 45%. Many Calgarians may not even realize that by using these old furnaces they are spending some 30% more on heating bills than they could be with a new High Efficiency furnace. Some may realize this or are perhaps concerned with the health and environmental issues that could occur with an old furnace, yet might be convinced that they simply can’t afford a new furnace.

Clearview Plumbing and Heating offers several heating and furnace rebate solutions. Our representatives will be with you through the heating and furnace rebate from beginning to end, including paperwork, and installation. Clearview is the service that does it all, leaving you with a brand new furnace, smaller heating costs and a warm, clean home environment to enjoy when all the hassle of paperwork, rebates and installation are over and done with.

Somehow emergency plumbing issues and finding a professional plumber in an emergency are never simple. That’s when Clearview Plumbing and Heating professional plumbers are always ready to step in and handle any emergency plumbing issues you may have with effective and lasting solutions, preventing any future mishaps. Calgary weather has been known to be harsh on both your indoor and outdoor plumbing. Our plumbers are certified, experienced and equipped to handle any emergency, at any time.

All our plumbing experts are not only certified, friendly and experienced but equipped to leave your home so tidy that you’ll never know Clearview was there. Whether your pipes need some repair, replacement or your toilets and drains are clogged, Clearview Plumbing and Heating will react fast and find the best possible solution to your plumbing emergency. Once we have assessed the situation and given you a clear quote upfront, we will take great care in completing the job and doing it well.

While everyday maintenance and regular cleaning of the drains in your home is something you as a homeowner can and should do on your own, annual professional maintenance and any larger repairs should be handled by experienced and professional plumbers.

At Clearview Plumbing and Heating, our clients’ safety and comfort comes first and we simply don’t condone quick fixes that can lead to bigger problems in the future. Whether your drains need in depth cleaning, professional maintenance or repair, our, friendly, expert certified technicians will assess your situation and find the best solution to your immediate drain cleaning needs and recommend future maintenance.

At Clearview we only use the best professional equipment to make sure the job is done well, quickly and safely. Using video technology to view your pipes before and after drain cleaning and NO-DIG Rooter technology to install new pipes if necessary, without tearing into your yard, we guarantee hassle free, professional drain cleaning.

Although there are few hot and dry days in Calgary, locals know that serious heat waves during the summer can sometimes be just as harsh as the long winters. Properly maintained air conditioning systems are essential to providing a cool, clean and healthy environment during those days, whether in your home or in the workplace.

Our plumbers are renowned for their pleasant attitude, expert training and speed and can provide you with top quality service and practical advice on how to make your air conditioning system more efficient to lower both your energy bills and carbon footprint.

Regular maintenance of the air conditioning units in your home or office is crucial to providing a healthy environment, free of the dust and microorganisms that gather in the units and air ducts over the long periods of time when they aren’t being used. Our staff will be glad to provide you with proper maintenance of your existing air conditioner or help you choose a new one for best performance and efficiency.

So far you’ve learnt about how insulating, minimizing wastage, and improving the efficiency of your heating system can help you save on your heating bills. In this last part of the series, we’ll discuss how tapping into the sun’s heat and using some unconventional methods can help reduce your heating needs.

Allow Sunlight to Come in

One of the best ways of keeping your house warm is to allow sunshine into your house. Maximum sunlight will come from the south facing windows. Keep these windows clean so that they do not obstruct the sun. Trim the evergreens on the south side of your house to remove these natural obstructions to sunlight. However, you should make it a routine to close the curtains at night so that the windows do not let the heat, which was captured during the day, escape in the night.

Staying Fit and Active

An effective way of maintaining your internal body heat even in cold weather is by staying fit and active. It is believed that your body can create its own warmth more efficiently than by any other means. Take to healthy habits like going for a walk or a jog. Go out and participate in winter sports that will not only give you some great moments but will also reduce your need to keep the house warm all the time.

You can start regular workouts at the gym to stay fit. You should also increase your protein intake through food items like fish, meat, nuts etc. as these help you create more body heat.

Heat from the Kitchen

Kitchen itself can be a major source of heat. When you bake or roast food items like rolls, cakes, chicken etc, your cooking appliances generate heat that keeps you warm. So the winter season is a great time to cook all those things that you avoided in the summers at the thought of the heat in the kitchen.

Warmth from Your Family and Friends

Last but not the least, you could use cold winter evenings as family get-togethers and share some warmth with your family, watching movies in a cozy space with coffee and snacks.

It is a scientifically proven fact that humans give out around 500 Btu’s of energy every hour. So by inviting people over and having some fun time with friends, you will also reduce your artificial heating needs.

Follow these tips, and you will be pleasantly surprised at how much you would end up saving on your heating costs.

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