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summer

Get Your Septic System Summer-Ready with JJ McLellan & Son

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🌞 Get Your Septic System Summer-Ready with JJ McLellan & Son

Kids are out of school!!! As the days grow longer and temperatures rise, summer brings more than just sunshine—it brings increased activity in your home. From hosting family gatherings to managing extra laundry loads, your septic system may face added strain. At JJ McLellan & Son Plumbing & Heating, we’re here to ensure your septic system operates smoothly all season long.

🔍 Why Summer Maintenance Matters

Summer activities often lead to:

  • Increased water usage from showers, laundry, and outdoor activities.
  • Potential for system overload if the septic tank isn’t properly maintained.
  • Risk of backups due to improper waste disposal or system neglect.

Regular maintenance helps prevent these issues, ensuring your system runs efficiently and avoids costly repairs.

🛠️ Summer Septic System Tips

To keep your septic system in top shape this summer, consider the following tips:

  1. Pump Your Tank Regularly
    Even if it’s been a while since your last service, scheduling a septic tank pumping can prevent solids from overflowing into the drain field.
  2. Be Mindful of Water Usage
    Spread out laundry loads and avoid overloading the system with excessive water, which can lead to backups.
  3. Proper Waste Disposal
    Only flush toilet paper and human waste. Avoid flushing wipes, feminine products, or chemicals that can disrupt the system’s balance.
  4. Protect the Drain Field
    Keep vehicles and heavy equipment off the drain field to prevent soil compaction and system damage.
  5. Inspect for Leaks
    Check for signs of leaks or odors near the septic area, which could indicate a problem that needs professional attention.

📞 Schedule Your Septic System Check-Up

Don’t wait for a problem to arise. Contact JJ McLellan & Son Plumbing & Heating to schedule a comprehensive septic system inspection. Our experienced team will assess your system, perform necessary maintenance, and provide expert advice to keep your system running smoothly.

Summer HVAC Tips ☀️

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Keep Your Cool All Season Long!

✅ Change Your Air Filter
Swap it out every 1–3 months to keep airflow strong and clean.

✅ Schedule a Tune-Up
A professional inspection ensures your system runs efficiently and catches small issues before they get bigger.

✅ Clear Around the Outdoor Unit
Remove grass, leaves, and debris to give your AC room to breathe.

✅ Use a Programmable Thermostat
Set it higher when you’re away and cooler when you’re home — save energy without sacrificing comfort.

✅ Check for Air Leaks
Seal gaps around doors and windows so your cool air stays inside where it belongs.

✅ Keep Vents Unblocked
Make sure furniture or curtains aren’t blocking airflow from vents.

✅ Stay on Top of Humidity
Consider a dehumidifier if your home feels sticky — it helps your AC work better and keeps you more comfortable.

Is Water Conservation Really That Important? | Summer Heat Wave

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With the heat wave we are feeling, water conservation is very important. Especially if you are on a well.

Here are some excellent tips from Home Water Works, a project of the Alliance for Water Efficiency. Please check out their link below.

Laundry

When doing laundry, always wash full loads.
Conventional washers built before 2011 typically use about 40 gallons per load; resource-efficient washer may use as little as 15 gallons per load.
Adjust the water level in the washer to the amount needed for the load.  Some of the new efficient washers will do this automatically.
When it’s time to replace the clothes washer, choose a high-efficiency washer with a low water factor.
The smaller the water factor, the more efficient the clothes washer. 

Dishwashing

If washing dishes by hand, fill the sink with water rather than continually running the tap.
Install an efficient dishwasher.
Technological advances in dishwashers make it possible to use less water to achieve the same goal.  Selecting a new dishwasher that uses less water per cycle will reduce household water use.
Only wash full loads of dishes in the dishwasher.

Faucets

Find and fix any leaky faucets.
A faucet leaking 60 drops per minute will waste 192 gallons per month. That is equal to 2,304 gallons per year.
Install efficient faucets and/or faucet aerators.
Turn off the faucet. When lathering hands, shaving, or brushing teeth.

Landscaping

Keep soil healthy and add mulch to prevent water loss through evaporation.
If watering with a hose, make sure it has a shut-off nozzle.
Water in the morning to prevent water loss due to evaporation.  Avoid watering when it is windy.
Use a rain barrel to collect water for use in the landscape.
Add a graywater system to collect water from your washing machine or shower and bath, and use it in the landscape.

Showers

If it takes a long time for the hot water to reach the shower, use it as an opportunity to collect water for other uses, such as watering houseplants.
Replace showerheads that have a flow rate greater than 2.5 gallons per minute.
If the showerhead is not labeled, the flow rate can be checked by catching the water in a 1-gallon bucket.  If it takes less than 24 seconds to fill up, the showerhead flow rate is more than 2.5 gallons per minute.  The U.S. EPA WaterSense program labels efficient showerheads that use a maximum 2.0 gallons per minute.
For more information and resources, visit the AWE Residential Shower Introduction Page.
Take shorter showers.
Reducing a 10-minute shower to 5 minutes will save 12.5 gallons of water if the showerhead has a flow rate of 2.5 gallons per minute (even more if the showerhead has a higher flow rate).

Toilets

Replace toilets installed before 1994 (1992 for Texas and California) with High-Efficiency Toilets (HETs).
Replacing an older toilet that uses 3.50 gallons per flush (gpf) with a HET that uses 1.28 gpf will save 2.22 gpf.  The EPA WaterSense program labels efficient toilets that use a maximum 1.28 gpf. 
If the toilet is flushed an average of six times each day it will save 13 gallons per day or 4,745 gallons per year.  Some older toilets may use as much as 7 gallons per flush. 
Check toilets to verify they are working properly.
Make sure the water level is not too high, the fill valve is working properly, and the flapper is not leaking. A running toilet can waste hundreds of gallons of water per day.
For more information on checking a toilet, visit the H2Ouse Water Saver Home Toilet Page.

Other

Check water bills for any instances of high water use, as this may be an indication of a leak.
Leaking faucets, leaking toilets, and leaking pipes all have something in common, they waste a lot of water! Your water bill will often show abnormal water consumption if there is a leak. Many water utilities have information on how to read your water bill online.
Composting food wastes saves water by reducing the water needed to run a garbage disposal.
Pool owners can use a cover to reduce water loss through evaporation. A pool cover can also save energy and reduce the need for chemicals.
Sweep outdoor surfaces with a broom instead of using a hose.
Wash vehicles at a carwash that recycles its water. If washing at home, make sure the hose has a shutoff valve.

http://www.home-water-works.org/water-conservation-tips

How do I know when to replace my cooling system?

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How do I know when to replace my cooling system?

With this heat are so very blessed with this summer we are getting a lot of calls inquiring about air conditioning… when a customer should replace their current system or how big of a system they should get new.

How do you know when its time to replace?

  • Repairs – if you are having to repair your system each year its time to look at a newer air conditioner.
  • Age – if your air conditioner is over 10-15 years old you could greatly benefit with a new one.
  • Noise – the newer air conditioners are much quieter
  • Utilities – have you noticed your utilities going up? Have a look at your “older” appliances – this includes your cooling and heating system!
  • Humidity – running your air conditioner will help with humidity in your home during the summer months, if you notice its harder to control it might be time to replace.

To help your equipment operate more efficiently is to ensure you change the filter regularly and have your equipment cleaned and serviced once a year!  For more information regarding Energy Star see http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/residential/7901

Give Mike a call at our office 519-323-2000, as our Comfort Advisor he is excellent at sizing up the proper equipment for your home or business to ensure you are getting the most efficient and cost effective system! JJ McLellan & Son is a 4 generation family run business since 1948! We service Mount Forest and all surrounding areas! With very affordable Financing available (with no penalties to make extra payments or pay in full!) and 10 year parts and labour warranty packages available for your peace of mind!