Trusted Tips and Resources

Trusted Tips & Resources

A warning for consumers about fraud in the furnace and air conditioning industry in Saskatoon

JOB Heating & Air Conditioning’s wonderful staff will be more than happy to provide you with an estimate for any home comfort improvement that you have in mind. They also offer training classes at your personal site for maintenance and they also offer home heating tune-ups. JOB are Trusted Saskatoon Furnace experts and they can also help you with all your Saskatoon plumbing needs!In this Saskatoon HVAC article,  Jeff Bolton, owner of JOB, highlights how important it is to be aware of scams in the Saskatoon air-conditioning and furnace marketplace. 


JEFF FROM JOB WARNS AGAINST FRAUD IN SASKATOON’S HVAC INDUSTRY

The feeling of being ripped off is horrible, and I count myself fortunate that I haven’t been the victim of fraud very much in my life. However,  I am sad to say that I deal with victims of contractor fraud too often in Saskatoon.  In my latest article, I share another example that happened recently, as I want to educate consumers on what to look out for.- Jeff , owner of JOB


Fraud takes many different forms

I was recently at a lady’s home to provide a quote to replace the furnace and air conditioner. Her house was the same as most other homes in our city,  in fact she lives just  4 blocks away from my family. She invited me in and we exchanged pleasantries,  then I asked her the burning question that had been top of mind since I pulled up outside.  Why was she requesting a quote for a new home comfort system in a house that was no more than 12 years old?

She explained that the night before her furnace had stopped working. This was especially an issue as the overnight temperature in Saskatoon had dropped to about  -30C. Unfortunately, she was unaware that JOB offers 24-hour emergency service and she had called another company.

The other company turned up, identified the problem but they didn’t have the part required ( It was 4 am, so I give them a pass on that one,) . They  returned at 8:30 am with the correct part to fix the issue and the tech took it upon himself to go through her furnace and air conditioner. He noted that there were old watermarks both on the side and at the base of the furnace, which I can verify. As someone that has a career in the furnace and air conditioning industry, the source of the water was very evident to me.It was clear that at some point, probably in the summertime, the evaporator coil had frozen and then melted.

One indication about this was the plugged air filter leaning up against the furnace.


The other technician told this very nice lady that her furnace was over ten years old and a crack COULD happen in the heat exchanger (even though he couldn’t find any crack) and that would send carbon monoxide into her home potentially killing her, her partner and her dogs!! If that ominous threat was not enough,  he also told her that her air conditioner unit had a leak and would also need to be replaced.


Now, it is possible that she may have a leak in the air conditioner, but there’s simply no way to determine that when it’s -26C outside!  Saying that she has a leak when there is a dirty filter right there is, “bullcrap!”


The other thing that I haven’t mentioned yet, is the 3 carbon monoxide detectors I saw in her home. I will not downplay carbon monoxide poisoning,  because it is the biggest threat to life that we face in the HVAC industry, however, there was no sign of that here. When questioned, she confirmed that the carbon monoxide detectors had never gone off. In addition, one of the detectors displays the level of CO present and when I checked it showed zero.


Let me be VERY clear here, this person was simply using fear tactics to sell a new furnace and air conditioner to this lady.

If you get a flat tire on your Chevy do you buy a new Mercedes??

 

 

 

“But he said I’m in imminent danger!” Said the lady

 

The moral of the story about fraud in Saskatoon’s HVAC Industry, is to be careful, ask questions and deal with the right people. Start by looking for businesses on TrustedSaskatoon .com.

 

JOB Heating has been a TrustedSaskatoon partner from almost the beginning. We are both locally owned and accountable companies and we deal with local companies. Local people always care the most, we care about service and we care about people.  We care because this is my city and my home too.

Contact Jeff and team at JOB Heating today. 



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Trusted Saskatoon Plumbers Share Issues To Look Out For



HIDDEN PLUMBING ISSUES THAT COULD LEAD TO COSTLY REPAIRS FOR HOME BUYERS

Shopping for a new house? Whether it’s your first time buying a home or your fifth, knowing what you’re getting into before you sign on the dotted line is always a smart financial move. All too often, people purchase properties only to find out later that they require a great deal of costly residential plumbing and heating work. While many Saskatoon plumbers will assess the plumbing and heating setup in a house for a fee, there are some simple ways to identify common plumbing issues that could cost you a significant amount in repairs, down the road.


What Water Pressure Can Tell You

Whenever you go to look at a house, it’s always a good idea to run the water in the sinks or a shower to see the strength of the water pressure. If the pressure is weak, you can typically conclude that the residential plumbing is old, and that the galvanized steel or cast iron pipes that were commonplace in houses plumbed before the 1960’s have started to corrode.

Slow Drainage is a Concern

Like water pressure, the rate at which water drains in a house will give you an idea of whether or not there could be a larger plumbing issue. Slow drainage could be caused by much more than just a blocked pipe. In some cases, it’s a sign that the house has old drainage pipes that need to be replaced. This is something you could confirm with the help of Saskatoon plumbers, but especially in older homes, replacing a main drainage pipe can be costly because they’re often difficult to access. If the drainage pipe is in the floor or behind a wall, you’ll have to hire other trades people to get to it.

Water Stains are Signs of Larger Residential Plumbing Problems

When you walk through a house, be on the lookout for water stains on ceilings, walls and baseboards, in kitchen and bathroom cupboards, around the shower and any other place where there’s plumbing. If there’s blistered paint on any of the walls in the home, that too is a sign that there’s been a leak in plumbing. In addition to water stains, check the floor around the base of the toilets and bathtubs or showers. If the floor springs back when you apply pressure, it’s a good indication that water has been leaking from the fixtures. These types of issues will not only require you to hire a plumber, but also a trades person to repair the rotten flooring, all of which can add up quickly.

Beyond the visible signs, make note of a mildew smell. A musty smell is a guarantee that there is or has been some type of moisture issue in the past, and whether it was caused by leaky plumbing, flooding or anything else, it’s never a good sign.

Check the Furnace Filter

A clogged furnace filter can put a lot of strain on a furnace. Take a moment to remove the furnace filter (hopefully there is one installed) and see how dirty it is. It’s a simple test that will give you some insight on how well the previous owners took care of important plumbing and heating systems in the home.

If you find a house that you really like but you’ve identified one or more of the plumbing and heating warning signs I’ve mentioned here, you can always hire Saskatoon plumbers to confirm your suspicions. They can also give you an idea of what it will cost to repair or replace the plumbing.

Check out their listing here in the Plumbing Category on THE Saskatoon Directory of excellence. 

Trusted Saskatoon Plumbers at Perfection Plumbing Tip on Preventing Drain Blockages

Perfection Plumbing & Drain Cleaning Ltd. is a premier provider of quality drain cleaning and plumbing services in Saskatoon, SK. They are the company of choice to handle all of your plumbing concerns including drain cleaning service, water heater installation, plumbing repair, and more.  Perfection Plumbing is a Trusted Saskatoon Plumbers on the Saskatoon Directory. In their latest tip, they share helpful info on preventing blocked drains. 


Prevent Drain Blockages With Common Sense and Saskatoon Drain Cleaners

Saskatoon drain cleaners very often have a hard job; the majority of any drain cleaning job is reactive, in that it’s clearing away the result of months, even years of buildup in drain and guttering systems, when the problem could easily have been alleviated, or even prevented, in the first place. But it is still surprising how many people do not know how to proactively keep their drain systems clean, and there are many reasons why this should be a priority. But just how can someone be mindful during their day-to-day tasks?

Avoid Pouring Fat Away

An alarming amount of commercial premises that serve food, and just as many residential customers, require Saskatoon drain cleaning services as fat build-up has clogged their drains. It may seem like the easy option to pour away boiling hot liquid into a plug hole, but it won’t stay hot forever. When it cools down, it congeals and effectively creates a plugin the draining system. Before long, anything that goes down the drain in the same building, and very often with neighbouring buildings who share the same pipes, will come right back up, delivering old waste and a foul smell to boot. For commercial premises, this can mean closing down while the ‘health hazard’ has to be remedied. The easiest option is to avoid pouring away fat altogether.

Claw Back on Lumpy Food in The Sink!

It’s easy when the cooking is done to throw pots and pans into the sink and forget about the lumpy, off-cut pieces of food that lay in the bottom of the bowl. But again, over time, these will not go away. When they eventually get soft enough to go down the drain, they’ll rot and start to produce a rotting smell. A quick clear away before throwing the pots and pans in the sink will mitigate this problem.

Avoid Blocking the Gutter

Many gutter drain cleaning jobs can be avoided by simply not letting the gutter clog up. Over time, waste in the guttering needs to go somewhere, and when the rain and wind hammer down, it’ll push what waste is in the guttering down the downspout, causing a blockage. Regular cleaning of the gutter is a must.

For plumbing problems in your home, don’t hesitate to contact Perfection Plumbing for help.


Trusted Saskatoon Plumbers Perfection Plumbing Share the Benefits of Energy Saving Water Heaters

Perfection Plumbing & Drain Cleaning Ltd. is a premier provider of quality drain cleaning and plumbing services in Saskatoon, SK. They are the company of choice to handle all of your plumbing concerns including drain cleaning service, water heater installation, plumbing repair, and more.  Perfection Plumbing are Trusted Saskatoon Plumbers on the Saskatoon Directory. In their latest article, they share the many benefits of energy-saving water heaters.

Benefits of Energy Saving Water Heaters

Are you beginning to dread the winter months? Energy bills for hot water, and heating and lighting the home seem to creep forever upward. In many Canadian provinces, the government and/or energy companies provide assistance in the form of grants and loans, to persuade both homeowners and businesses to switch to using to energy-savin appliances.

faucet-water-drip

According to Natural Resources Canada, the average family uses around 75 litres of hot water every day, accounting for nearly 20% of a household’s energy bill. There’s no doubt that the older your water heater, no matter what the type and unless regularly serviced, will be costing you more in bills than it should.

Taking the Leap, Making the Switch

Before making a decision, contact a reliable, reputable Saskatoon plumbing company that specializes in hot water tanks in Saskatoon. For a start, natural gas is far cheaper than electricity. If you can change, it’s well worth the added expense.

As would be expected, Energy Star hot water tanks in Saskatoon are far more expensive than old style tanks. All that new technology has to be paid for. But does greater expense equate to greater savings on your bills? The short answer is yes, but it’s the time taken to recoup the extra outlay which could do with some discussion.

Determining Options

Talking to a reputable company that regularly fits and services water heaters in Saskatoon is the best way to ascertain the type, size, and energy rating you will need to begin reducing your energy consumption while recouping the additional outlay in a reasonable time frame.

A reputable plumbing company that puts their customer’s needs first, such as Perfection Plumbing & Drain Cleaning Ltd., will ask a lot of questions. How many in the family? How many bathrooms? Do you live in a sprawling single storey home, or is it more compact with upstairs and downstairs? All these things and more will have a relevance to which type of Energy Star rated water heater your plumber recommends.

While discussing the best Energy Star rated hot water tanks in Saskatoon for your needs, it is well worth considering a few smaller things which will help cut down running costs.


Trusted Saskatoon Plumbers at Perfection Plumbing Recommend Plumbing Repair Is Left to Professional Plumbers

Perfection Plumbing & Drain Cleaning Ltd. is a premier provider of quality drain cleaning and plumbing services in Saskatoon, SK. They are the company of choice to handle all of your plumbing concerns including drain cleaning service, water heater installation, plumbing repair, and more.  Perfection Plumbing are Trusted Saskatoon Plumbers on the Saskatoon Directory. In their latest plumbing tip, they explain why they recommend leaving plumbing to the plumbing professionals.

 

Leave Plumbing to Plumbing Professionals.

While you may have knowledge of the various types of home repair, it’s beyond doubt that plumbing repair is a job for professional plumbers. After all, plumbing issues can be largely unpredictable if you don’t know what you are doing. You might think you are accomplishing an effective quick fix but end up with waist-deep water inside your home just hours later.

On the other hand, your alleged handiwork might wreak issues less visible, such as leaks masked by walls or other structural components. You may eventually notice them, but by then it is too late. The damage and resulting expense is already done. In fact, a persisting leak may end up compromising the structural integrity of your home as it damages the frame and foundation.

To avoid these types of disaster, it’s always better to call professional Saskatoon plumbers the moment you suspect that something is wrong with your pipes. There are easily detected signs that tell you when it is time to call for immediate plumbing assistance.

Frozen Pipes 

When your pipe becomes frozen, there is a good chance that it will crack or worse, burst. Some homeowners have tried to fix the problem themselves by using a propane torch. Since most pipes are surrounded with old, dry wood, however, doing this yourself might end up starting a fire in your home. Instead of trying to fix the frozen pipes yourself, just call a professional plumber. They will determine whether a section of your frozen pipe needs to be replaced or it simply needs thawing.

Sewer Line Stoppage 

If your sewer continues to back up, despite all of your best efforts to drain your sewer line properly, it probably means there is a bad plug right along the line that runs out to your main sewer. Often times, these are caused by encroaching tree roots inside your sewer line. In cases like this, avoid the temptation to rent a big sewer rodding machine and fix the main sewer yourself. You might end up damaging your sewer even further. Instead, call in the professionals so that you know the repair will be done right. 

Low Water Pressure 

There are several reasons why you might suddenly notice low water pressure throughout the house. One of the most common of these is an obstruction in your water lines. This can include some debris or rust which may have become stuck in a line. Alternatively, your low water pressure might signal a poorly designed supply line or reduced pressure from the city supply itself.

Don’t ignore any problems you may have at home. Aside from compromising your home’s structure, leaving plumbing leaks unfixed can also lead to higher water bills each month. By promptly calling in a pro to fix the issue, you are saving on your water bills without much effort on your part. In fact, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, timely plumbing repairs can reduce your water bill by as much as 10 percent.


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