March, 2015 | Harco Plumbing & Mechanical

The advantages of radiant floor heating

September 25, 2020March 25, 2015 by graphicsadmin

At Harco Plumbing & Mechanical in Guelph, we strive to provide our clients with top-of-the-line heating and plumbing services. We are particularly proud of our work with radiant floor heating.

But you may ask yourself, “is radiant floor heating right for me and my family?” The answer is yes.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, there are many benefits to outfitting your home with a radiant floor heating system.

Firstly, radiant floor heating, which delivers heat either to the floor or to the panels in the ceiling or walls of your home, is more effective than both baseboard and forced-air heating because it removes duct heating losses.

As well, people with allergy concerns more often than not favour radiant floor heating because it doesn’t disburse allergens like forced air systems do.

Finally, hydronic (liquid-based) radiant floor heating systems are ideal for homes with expensive electricity rates of off the power grid since they require very little electricity to operate (hydronic heating systems can use a wide range of power sources to heat the liquid, such as solar water heaters or wood-fired, gas-fired, or oil-fired boilers).

At Harco, our professional technicians can help you choose a radiant floor heating system that is right for you and your family.

Be sure to also inquire about our other heating and plumbing services, including plumbing repairs, high pressure drain flushing, boiler installations, and catch basin cleaning.

Harco Plumbing & Mechanical is located at 69 Fleming Road in Guelph. Call us at 519-265-6423, email us at bradharco@gmail.com, or visit us online at www.harcoplumbingandmechanical.com for more information. We also service Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, and Stratford (519-880-0105), as well as Woodstock and Innerkip (519-421-1827).

We are also on YouTube. Click here to see our video.

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Toilet leaks: How to pinpoint them

September 25, 2020March 21, 2015 by graphicsadmin

At Harco Plumbing & Mechanical in Guelph, we take great pride in alleviating your plumbing issues. However, we can’t help if you don’t realize there’s a problem.

As such, we offer the following tips to help you determine if your home has a plumbing dilemma, specifically your toilet (courtesy of the Region of Durham).

Inspect your water meter

If your meter measures water flow in cubic metres, it should have a small red diamond shaped dial. This dial is very delicate and will rotate once for every 1/58 gallon of water you use. If the dial moves and you’re not using any water, then you may have a plumbing issue.

It could be your toilet

A damaged toilet accounts for the majority of undetected plumbing problems in the home and can cause water and sanitary sewer bills to be extremely high (over $1,000). Toilet leaks usually occur at the overflow pipe or at the flapper valve inside the tank, so this is where you should look to see if you have a problem.

Overflow pipe

To inspect the overflow pipe for leaks, first take off the lid of the toilet tank. If the water level inside is too high, then water could be trickling down the overflow pipe. To stop this, make sure the water level is at least one centimetre below the top of the pipe.

Flapper valve

To test the flapper valve for leaks, put food colouring in the toilet tank and don’t flush. If the food colouring should appear in the toilet bowl after 15 minutes, then there is a leak somewhere in the tank. If there is no food colouring in the bowl, look inside the tank to make sure that it didn’t fully drain from the bowl and into the sewer system.

At Harco, we offer a wide range of reliable heating and plumbing services, including high pressure drain flushing, radiant floor heating, catch basin cleaning, and boiler installations.

We are also on YouTube. Click here to see our video.

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What to look for when hiring a plumber

September 25, 2020March 20, 2015 by graphicsadmin

At Harco Plumbing & Mechanical in Guelph, we understand how important your home is to you and your family. That’s why, when plumbing issues arise, you deserve only the best plumbing services.

To help you find a qualified plumber who will properly take care of all of your plumbing needs, we offer the following tips (courtesy of the CID Network, an online resource for community associations).

Ask the company if they are licenced. This is important as a licenced plumber will more often than not provide you with better service than a non-licenced one.
Ask the company if they are insured. You may think that having a plumbing issue is bad enough. It gets worse if you hire a plumber who exacerbates the problem and, on top of that, isn’t insured. Protect your home, and your pocketbook, by hiring only insured plumbers.
Ask about extra charges. Some companies may charge you for an estimate or tack on labour fees. If possible, only hire a plumbing company if they can produce a written estimate. (At Harco, we provide free estimates for our work.)
Ask about the company’s prior experience with your plumbing problem. Some plumbing companies have expertise in low flushing toilets while others specialize in blocked pipes. If a plumber already has experience with your issue, then the chances of him or her fixing it right the first time are better.
Ask the plumber if he or she knows what caused the plumbing problem and what you can do to stop it from happening again. This can save you a lot of time and money in the future.

At Harco, our plumbers are fully licenced and insured. So, you can rest assured that they can handle any plumbing problem you may have.

Be sure to also ask us about our 24/7 emergency service.

We are also on YouTube. Click here to see our video.

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The benefits of water jetting your pipes

September 25, 2020March 20, 2015 by graphicsadmin

At Harco Plumbing & Mechanical in Guelph, we know how difficult it can be to unclog your pipes, especially if the obstruction is really tough. That’s why we are pleased to offer high pressure drain flushing.

According to U.S.-based Python Drain Cleaning, high pressure drain flushing, also known as water jetting, involves using high water pressure to clean out pipes and drains (it thoroughly breaks apart any residue in the pipes and clears out foreign objects and roots).

Water jetting isn’t optimal for residential pipes (i.e. kitchen or bathroom sinks) since they aren’t usually built to tolerate heavy water pressure and can rupture easily, says Python. However, it is perfect for clearing out your home’s sewer line from problems such as plant overgrowth.

While water jetting can only go so far in residential applications, it is very useful for industrial jobs, says Python. Have an obstruction in your industrial pipe that is too large or too far down that drain snaking won’t work? Then water jetting is your best solution.

At Harco, we offer a wide variety of exceptional heating and plumbing services, such as high pressure drain flushing, radiant floor heating, boiler installations, plumbing repairs, water softeners, and catch basin cleaning.

Contact us today and we will be more than happy to answer any questions or concerns that you may have about our products and services. We will get back to you as soon as possible.

We are also on YouTube. Click here to see our video.

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Catch basin cleaning tips

September 25, 2020March 20, 2015 by graphicsadmin

At Harco Plumbing & Mechanical in Guelph, we know just how important catch basins are.

According to the City of Portland, Oregon’s Environmental Services, they lower the amount of debris and sediment that enters our waterways and protect downstream pipes from blockage issues.

As such, it’s vital that you regularly clear out your own catch basins so that they can do their job of safeguarding our water quality, says Portland’s environmental department.

The following are some tips you can use to properly clean them (courtesy of Portland’s Environmental Services).

-Clear out any trash or leaves from the catch basin’s grate so it doesn’t clog.

-Put up “Dump No Waste, Drains to Stream” signs next to any grates that are in at-risk areas.

-The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency suggests that you clean the basin “if the depth of solids reaches one-third the depth from the basin bottom to the invert of the lowest pipe into or out of the basin.”

-To clear out the basin, lift up the grate (caution: it may be heavy). Use a shovel to remove sediment or debris and a bucket to remove water. Discard the water in a sanitary sewer via a shop sink or drain. Dry out the removed solids and then dispose of them accordingly.

-To minimize the amount of times your catch basins need cleaning, be sure to sweep your lot frequently.

At Harco, we specialize in a wide range of heating and plumbing services, including catch basin cleaning, radiant floor heating, water softeners, and boilers. Contact us today to learn more.

We are also on YouTube. Click here to see our video.

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How to maintain your boiler

September 25, 2020March 20, 2015 by graphicsadmin

Boiler Maintenance and Repairs, Hot Water Heater

At Harco Plumbing & Mechanical in Guelph, we know how chillingly cold Canadian winters can be. That’s why it’s imperative that you keep your boiler in tip top shape. Otherwise, you can expect plenty of unwanted visits from Jack Frost.

The following are some tips to help you ensure that your boiler is in working order all winter long (courtesy of doityourself.com).

Unblock air vents and flues. Clogged air vents hinder your boiler’s performance, especially gas boilers. Check your boiler’s air vents and flues periodically and remove any dirt or debris that has accumulated.
Check the water level. It is very important that you check the unit’s water level every two weeks. If the boiler should function without water, it can endanger your home and family, as well as cause irreparable damage to the unit. Be sure to also check if the pilot light is on.
Look for leaks. Leaks (gas or fuel) may occur during normal use. If you notice leaks around the valves, then some adjustments to the boiler are needed. If you find any worn out or damaged parts, then you need to replace them.
Check for lime-scale. Too much hard water in your boiler can cause lime-scale to build up and hinder the unit’s heating capacity. If too much lime-scale accumulates, then you need to de-scale the boiler.
Lubricate your boiler. Your boiler requires periodic lubrication (fans, pumps) in order to operate efficiently.
Clear out any dust in your boiler room. Dust can easily build up in your boiler room, which can affect your boiler’s performance. Clean out any dust that you see, especially around the fan.
Flush out the water in your boiler. Clear out all the water in the unit a couple of times per year, particularly after winter when the boiler is at full operating capacity. Lime-scale, grit, and dirt usually accrue inside the unit so flushing out the water and cleaning the interior is a good idea. Be sure to install new gaskets before putting in new water.
Perform an annual inspection. You should have your boiler checked annually by a registered professional.

At Harco, we offer a wide variety of superior heating and plumbing services, including boilers, water softeners, radiant floor heating, and sump pumps. Contact us today to learn more.

We are also on YouTube. Click here to see our video.

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