Whether you’re a novice home handyman or a professional DIY specialist, you no doubt have a home “handy kit” that contains a variety of tools for various purposes. We’re all big on having a hammer, pliers, cutters and a hand-saw in the kit, but few of these can help you perform plumbing services when the … Read more
We’re so accustomed to taking the flush toilet for granted, we forget that 100 years ago it was considered a mechanical miracle, and was only available in wealthy homes. Toilets tend to dysfunction at the most inconvenient times, and the flushing mechanism is one of the main culprits. Here are the five most common flush … Read more
Every homeowner has to deal with leak detection at some point. Whether it’s because you have old, leaky pipes, broken drains or damp closets, it’s essential that you find and repair the water leaks before they cause lasting damage. Now there’s a hot (literally!) new way to detect leaks using thermal or infrared imaging, which … Read more
Life in Toronto has its benefits and disadvantages. We have milder winters than most of Canada. “Toronto the Good” has little in the way of crime, and our economy is one of the best in the country. A downside to living here, however – apart from the bedbug infestation – is the old homes and … Read more
Do you have a blocked drain, leaking toilet or other plumbing issues that isn’t serious enough to warrant calling out – and paying – a plumber, but is enough of an irritation to make you want to resolve it? We’ll do our best to answer your most common plumbing questions in a series of posts, … Read more
Hiring a plumber is easy, right? You just pick up the phone and call one of the many plumbers in Toronto who are listed in the online directories, the Yellow Pages, or wherever. It’s not that simple, however; as with every other type of contractor, some plumbers are “more equal” than others. When it comes … Read more
Winter 2012 is almost here, and Torontonians know it could be a long, cold one. We also know what a pleasure it is to come in from outdoors and take a hot bath or shower, thawing out all the chilly nerve-endings in our body. Most GTA hot water heaters are located in the basement, which … Read more
Last week we wrote about preventing sink plumbing problems during Fall. With Winter rapidly moving in, here are some additional steps you can take to winterize your residential plumbing ahead of the cold weather. A bit of effort now will help you to prevent costly problems from occurring when you need them least. If you’re … Read more
Fall has arrived in the northern hemisphere, and in Toronto that means a profusion of glorious colors as the leaves turn from green to red and gold. What’s slightly less intriguing for the homeowner, however, is the problems caused by those leaves when they drop into the drainage system. The backup they cause in the … Read more
Just imagine. It’s chilly December and you’ve overslept. You have a 9 am meeting and there’s just enough time to take a quick shower and grab coffee on your way to the office. You turn on the faucet with one hand while brushing your teeth with the other. Yikes! No hot water! What now? This … Read more
Have you noticed a musty smell in the cabinet beneath your kitchen sink? Is there warping or discoloration of the floor or shelving, or signs of moisture or mildew anywhere? As problematic as the kitchen drain can be, this isn’t usually caused by a water leak. But don’t take our word for it – test … Read more
For many people, bathtubs play a significant role in their lives. From spending quiet evenings soaking in a tub of bubbles with a good book to watching children playing with toys during their daily wash down, your bath is an important part of your home. Over time the bath surface starts to deteriorate, aided by … Read more