All About Drainage Systems

Proper drain installation is crucial to effective drain functionality

The drain pipes have the important task of carrying away all of the waste water from a property. One of the main problems with drainage systems is that the sewer or septic systems create a poisonous gaseous environment and the fact of the matter is that all that is separating you from these noxious gases is your plumbing fixtures and their traps. If you were to remove the traps form your water system these poisonous gases would be permitted entry into your home and would cause untold health problems. That is why a properly designed venting system must be installed; a proper venting system will ensure that the water has the proper free flowing air that is required to not create a siphoning or suction effect that would otherwise drain these traps. The task of proper drainage is always best left up to professional Toronto plumbers as improper drainage can be a very serious issue, as you’ll see below.

Drain Installation

When it comes to the installation of drains on of the most important considerations is that the drain is of an adequate gradual slope. This will allow for the water to naturally drain away via the force of gravity. Similarly, it’s important that all drains also possess appropriate venting to allow for this action to take place unhindered. This means that every drain pipe in a property must be installed with care and concern for these primary goals of the drainage system.  However, it is possible to install drain pipes that have too much slope in them.

Keep all of your waste together

There are problems inherit with too steep drain pipes. If the drain is too steep the waste will drain out unevenly, this is obviously a problem when you have solid and liquid waste draining at the same time – the liquid waste will essentially ‘out-run’ the solid waste which can leave the solid waste stuck in the drain. The only toilet fixture that is designed for solid waste is the toilet; I’m sure you can see the problem with drain pipes that have incorrect slope. However, this is also a problem when you are considering draining contents such as hair, grease, oil, etc. If the drain is sloped too steeply it will leave behind this debris to dry out and clog your drain pipes.

Water hammer can be a problem for some

There are those homes out there that have a problem with pipes making a banging noise after the water has been running and the taps or faucets are turned off. Usually this will be apparent right as the water is shut off and it will sound like a loud banging or hammering noise that comes from the pipes or in your walls. This is a common problem specifically called water hammer. If you are experiencing this problem a call to your local Toronto plumber can be all it takes to get it repaired; let’s look into the problem a littler deeper.

What is water hammer exactly?

It can happen with any type of fluid or gas that is traveling in a pipe and is suddenly blocked. The actual occurrence of this problem is due to the liquid traveling under high pressure and suddenly stopping; the water comes crashing into the point that was just closed as it was traveling with a significant velocity. This force creates a pressure wave within the pipeline that results in a strong noise and vibration. Under extreme conditions water hammer can even damage and destroy pipes but this is not common in households due to the lowered water pressure. If you are experiencing this problem a call to your local Toronto plumber can be all it takes to get it repaired; let’s look into the problem a little deeper.

What can cause water hammer?

There are a few causes of water hammer but most of the time it will depend on whether you have always had this problem or if it has suddenly started to occur. For instance if you have never had the problem and you are now experiencing water hammer it may be due to a blocked vent in your plumbing system. It may need to be entirely cleaned out or you may need to just allow the water to drain from the area that is experiencing the problem; either way it is best to leave this task to a qualified plumber.

A pressure valve may be all that's needed

A pressure reduction valve can help solve water hammer

If the problem is caused by excessive pressure you will need to install a pressure reducing valve. This will solve your problem as the reduction in pressure will stop the pressure wave developing. A qualified Toronto plumbing contractor can perform this work for you to help eliminate the problem of water hammer.

Toronto plumbers need to understand the plumbing guidelines

When you’re looking for a plumber you’ll need to make sure that you are hiring a full-fledged plumbing contractor. Someone that has a complete understanding of what the whole job entails. That means not only have the knowledge to get the whole job done but also having a good understanding of the entirety of the operation such as any regulations or municipal codes that are involved in the work being performed. Not all work requires a permit or the strict adherence to bylaws but when the work does require following these rules you must be in compliance.

Bylaws are extremely important for all Toronto plumbing contractors

Compliance to building codes is not just an annoyance, there must exist a strict standard to ensure the safety of not only those individuals whose property is being worked on, but also the safety of the general populace. There are stories of "handymen" attempting to grind into a live gas-line; it is this sort of disregard for the rules that can result in their own bodily harm, harm to their customers, and harm to anyone who happens to be nearby when this type of activity results in a serious accident. Of course, not all cases are this extreme, but the point is that every bylaw and regulation is in place to ensure the safety of all people. Therefore, hiring a Toronto plumber that has full knowledge and adheres to these rules is a very important task.

How can I make sure my plumber is doing the job right?

There are a few steps that you can take to ensure that your plumber is going to perform their work in a safe and compliant manner. You must first perform your own back check, this means checking their reviews and calling any references that they have provided you. Speak with these people, are they legitimate? Do they sound like friends of the plumber?

Next, make sure that they are both licensed and insured. Any professional plumber will carry license and you certainly don’t want someone who is not licensed performing any work on your property. Obtain copies of their license and insurance, double-check with the insurance company and call up an plumbing regulatory body to make sure that they do in fact possess a license and have the necessary insurance that will cover the job they are to perform. These steps alone will prove extremely useful in weeding out the less-than-ideal plumbing contractors and put you on the right track to ensuring a regulation abiding plumbing job.

Toronto plumbers, ADP Toronto Plumbing establish Blogger.com presence

Established 1998, ADP Toronto Plumbing has been providing Toronto with professional plumbing services for over 10 years. Fully licensed, insured, and bonded - we are commited to providing top quality services to all of our clients; home owners, property owners, commercial clients and industrial installations as well.

We provide full plumbing and draining services including:

• Water service installations and upgrades (low water pressure? we can help)
• Drain maintenance such as cleaning, repairs, inspections (free main drain inspection with plumbing services)
• Basement waterproofing (protect your home from costly and damaging basement leaks and flooding)
• and more..

We provide 24-hour emergency services so you can contact us at 416-827-0497 whenever you need a plumber to take care of your troubles. Working in Toronto for so long has allowed us to gain a very good understanding of the unique water system present in the City of Toronto - we can definitely help you out regardless of your situation.

For more information our contact information is:

ADP Toronto Plumbing
51 Homewood Ave
Toronto, ON M4Y 2K1
T: 416-827-0497

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