" "

Month: September 2014

Why A Water Softener Is A Benefit To Your Home or Business | Plumbing System

pzmija plumbing , , 0 Comment

Are you considering installing a water softener in your home? You may be if you are finding your clothes are not washing properly or the soap does not lather in the shower, perhaps your skin is very dry as well.

There are different options when it comes to water treatment and we are equipped to handle all of them from simple water softening to iron or sulfur removal.

Having a qualified and licensed plumber install your water treatment system you can rest assured that it will be installed properly and any adjustments or plumbing re-routing can be done by the same plumber who can install your system – saving you from having to make a second call if there are any issues with your plumbing prior to the install.

Benefits to having a water softener:
• Your hair and skin will feel cleaner, soap will rinse away without leaving any residue.
• Your dishes will come cleaner with less residue or spots.
• Your soaps and shampoo will lather better.
• The fabric of your clothing will be softer without the use of fabric softener.
• Your appliances will benefit from soft water by not having the hard water build up, making them run more efficient and overall last longer.
• Your water heater will heat the water up faster and over the years there will not be as much build up inside when soft water is used, as there would be with hard water and lime build up.
• Your pipes and drains will run cleaner with less residue and build up, which over the years can result into major problems if they accumulate too much and eventually plug up which may cause a back up in your home.

We deal with Greenway Water Technologies for our Water Softeners. Below is information from their website. Click on the title to go to their website.

______________________________________________________________________________

Greenway Water Softeners
Greenway Water Technologies’ Water Softener systems are Engineered for Health and Designed for Life.

How does a Water Softener work?
Hard water is found in various regions globally. In North America, hard water is prevalent Calcium, magnesium and other ions are found in “hard” water. These hard water ions can interfere with your plumbing and potentially decrease the efficacy of water heaters and other water appliances because of the build-up of lime scale. Soap and cleaning products’ effectiveness are also affected and therefore are not as efficient.

Water Softeners usually work on the principle of replacing the hardness ions (calcium and magnesium) with sodium ions through the use of ion exchange resin. The hard water to be treated is passed through a bed of the resin. Negatively-charged resins absorb the hardness ions, which are positively charged (Ca++, Mg++). The ion exchange resins most commonly contain Sodium (but can be found in potassium and hydrogen form also). Calcium and magnesium ions in the hard water replace these sodium ions on the resin, therefore decreasing the calcium and magnesium in the water, making soft water with no formation of lime scale

When all of the resin is “full” of the calcium and magnesium hardness ions, the softener regenerates by allowing high concentrations of sodium chloride (salt) to be reintroduced onto the resin, taking the place of the calcium and magnesium ions and discarding them into the discharge drain water. The water softener is then ready to be used once again.

How are Greenway® Water Softeners different than other water softeners?
At Greenway Water Technologies, we take your water treatment seriously. We have collaborated, researched and designed water softening systems with our customers in mind.

There are four categories of Greenway® water softeners, each with its’ own unique features and characteristics based on your level of hard water and water flow requirements.

Our Greenway® Standard Series water softener line includes two options; either an easy to use Clack 3 over 2 valve with bypass, resin tank, and salt tank OR a metered Fleck Valve including bypass, resin tank and salt tank.
The Greenway® Advance series water softener line additionally includes our unique Greenway® valve head with bypass and added collar, resin tank and salt tank.
The Greenway® Pro Series water softeners are our NSF certified units come in a variety of sizes. These will be available later this year (2011).
Our Greenway® Cabinet water softeners are designed to be compact and are used when space is minimal. Some customers prefer this style of water softener as the resin tank and salt tank are built into one cabinet. Our customers can program in their own water hardness based on desired salt usage (low, medium or high salt settings) for effective results.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Click the photo below to see all the products offered by Greenway which can be installed by our Plumbers.

Greenway GWT_Products_Banner2

Is Your Septic System Healthy!? | A Royal Flush Is Better Than A Full House

pzmija septic, septic pumping, Septic System , , , , , , 0 Comment

If you have a Septic System, how do you care for it?

A Septic System is in fact very simple – yet it requires regular maintenance to ensure it can still perform every vital task it is designed to do. The septic system is a network of pipes which begin in your home, drain into one pipe which is underground and is connected to the septic tank where the liquids and solids flow. The sludge sinks to the bottom and the liquid flows out to the weeping bed. As solids break down they will then flow out to the distribution box and leach out into the bed as well.

septic-diagram2

The sludge is what can cause your system problems. As the sludge accumulates, this will decrease the volume of your tank which then also decreases the retention of liquid before it leaves to the bed. If sludge is left too long this can cause your bed to plug up as there will be less space for the solids to break down and could flow out with the water into the bed. Worse is when the sludge reaches the outlet level and begins to plug up the distribution box, or worse the pipes in the weeping bed. If the system is left too long, unfortunately the weeping bed and tank will need to be replaced.

Septic Pumping - Royal Flush Is Better Than A Full House - Advert

How do you know if your septic is healthy?

  • Do you know where your septic tank and weeping bed are?
  • Keep track of when it was pumped last. Also ensure that when it is pumped that ALL of the tank is cleaned out – not just the water.
  • Do not put any unnecessary “Septic Tank” chemicals down the septic – a septic system is designed to do the work itself.
  • Do not pour any household chemicals down the drain or toilet – especially bleach, paint, solvents, paint thinner, nail polish remover etc. All of these will disrupt the natural chemical balance in the septic system.
  • Are your drains draining slowly? If so there could be a potential problem.
  • Is your grass exceptionally green or spongy to walk on near the weeping bed.
  • Do not pour oils, grease or fat down the sink or toilet.
  • Feminine products can also cause issues or clog a septic system.
  • Try to space out all of your water usage. Doing all of your laundry excessively on just Saturday and Sunday all day both days could cause potential issues with excess water entering the system. By using your water as equally as possible during the week this will allow the system to properly treat all of the water that enters and exits.
  • Repair any leaking taps or drains – leaking water – even just one drop per second can waste tens of thousands of litres of water per year!
  • Do not drive any vehicles or large equipment over your septic tank or pipes – this will cause major damage.
  • Do not plant any trees or flower gardens in, on or too close to the weeping bed.
  • Do not build over your septic tank or weeping bed – if there is ever a problem OR when your tank needs to be pumped this will cost extra and may need to be removed or damaged to do the repair/pump.
  • Have your tank checked at least every 5 years and pumped when necessary.
  • When in doubt – ask a professional!

Enjoy This Gorgeous Sunshine! | Plan For The Cold Weather With A Heating System Tune Up!

pzmija JJ McLellan , , , , , , , 0 Comment

We are going to be spoiled with a week of gorgeous warm sunny fall weather!

Just perfect for the 1st week of Fall – my personal fav time of the year!

Don’t let this warm, sunny weather fool you – as much as it is great to be here… the cold weather will return and we do not want you caught out in the cold!

Book your Fall Clean and Service for only $95* for one appliance or $129* for two you can rest assure that you will be breathing clean air and potentially ward off costly repairs! Also with a bonus of dealing with a locally owned and operated company which has been around since 1948 – you can rest assured we will be here for many more years to ensure your Complete Home Comfort!

We Are The Home Comfort People Who Service What We Sell and More!

For All Of Your Plumbing and Heating Needs!

*HST and any required parts or filters are extra.

Fall Plumbing and Heating Newsletter | JJ McLellan and Son Mount Forest

pzmija Cleaning & Servicing, Fall Winter Home Checklist, gas service technician, hot water heater, JJ McLellan, plumbing 0 Comment
JJ McLellan and Son – Fall

The Home Comfort People

Its time for your fall heating check up!

The cool fall evenings are here!
If you haven’t turned on your furnace yet, it will be very soon.
A couple things you can do before you turn your heat on
1. Clean or replace your filter, and
2. Vacuum all registers and cold air returns. This includes taking them off or pulling them up and vacuuming down into the duct as well – you may be surprised how much dust and dirt can get trapped down there!
Why is a fall heating check up important?
Having your equipment cleaned and serviced is preventative maintenance and can catch a problem before it even begins. This is especially important for the overall operation of the appliance, to ensure it is working as it is designed to. The benefits to having your system serviced is when it is clean the appliance works much more efficient – thus saving you money on your utilities!

Some helpful tips for this fall !

  • Headings away on holidays? Save energy by adjusting your thermostat 2-3 degrees.
  • On sunny days keep your curtains or blinds open to take advantage of the “free” heat.
  • Replace or clean your furnace filter.
  • Ensure your outside exhaust vents are free from debris such as bushes, trees, leaves.
  • Find your comfort zone within your home, set your thermostat and always keep it within 1-2 degrees of this temperature (unless going away on holidays) this helps your home maintain a constant comfort level and does not cause the system to over work from each day.
  • Have your unit serviced yearly by a professional.
  • Check doors and windows for any air leaks and caulk if necessary.
  • Clean your dryer vents – including the lint trap and vaccuum very well.
  • Cover your Air Conditioner for the winter.

Please remember that unless you are trained and licensed to work with fuels it is very important that under no circumstances should you tamper with your heating system or any other fuel appliance. If you need to locate a Qualified Heating Contractor in your area please check www.tssa.org.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fall Plumbing Tips From The Pro’s

  • Check all outdoor faucets for any leaks and have them repaired before the temperature drops. 

  • Shut off the water supply to your outside taps from inside and then open the taps outside to ensure the water has properly drained.

  • Check around the base of each toilet for moisture – over time the seal can breakdown and may need replacing

  • Check your tub and shower for any caulking that may need to be replaced to prevent water leaking down behind your walls

  • Have any toilets that are running checked – one toilet can waste gallons of water!

  • Check water connections and drains under your kitchen and bathroom sinks – if your pipes froze last year install insulation against the outside wall to help keep the heat in.

  • Check your washing machine water connections – many are hidden behind the machine and out of sight

  • If you have a septic – when was the last time it was pumped? If it has been a while the ideal time to pump is in the Spring, Summer and Fall. Schedule your service before the snow flies!

  • Ensure your eavestrough drains away from your home.

  • Have you been experiencing any slow drains? Gurgling toilets? Saturated lawn (by your septic)? Best to have the pro’s check it out before winter arrives!

Plumbing Preventative Maintenance is not as common as HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning), however just as important.

When is it important to have your home or business plumbing system checked?

  • What is the age of the home or building?
    Many older homes have old piping, over the years the pipes build up and your water pressure will slowly decrease. You may notice small particles in the water which could be from the pipes.

  • Are You Buying A New Home or Building… Did you just move in?
    Having a professional walk through to check the plumbing system before moving in or closing on a purchase could save you $!

  • What is the age of the equipment? Ex. Water Heater, Pump, Pressure Tank, Water Softener, Expansion Tank

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are you in the market for a new water heater?

We now offer a very affordable option to purchase a water heater and be covered with a 10 year parts and labour warranty for the same or less than it would cost you to rent!

Natural Gas Water Heaters – Buying and Renting Tips from Union Gas

VIEW OUR NEWSLETTER ONLINE

Protective Screens Required for all Gas Fireplaces, Stoves and Inserts | December 31, 2014

pzmija fireplace, heating, safety , , , , , , , 0 Comment

HZ30-CMYK

The following information has been provided by Regency Fireplace Products…

“Changes are coming as of January 1, 2015 for ALL hearth industry manufacturers to be required to provide a third party test laboratory approved safety barrier with all gas fireplaces/stoves/inserts. According to the standard, manufacturers can no longer manufacturer glass front fireplaces/stoves/inserts without the safety barrier as of December 31, 2014.”

View the video below for more information and to get a glimpse at what the protective screen is going to look like.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYOfhfHFN3s]

What this means for our customers… if you like the clean face glass – you MUST order one before December 31st, 2014 otherwise after that you will have to have the protective screen. This is affecting all fireplace manufacturers and all gas (and propane) models.

HZI540after-CMYK

Give Mike a call at the office to discuss your options if you are interested in a Gas Fireplace.

Contact Us Online | We Are Experiencing Phone Issues Today

pzmija JJ McLellan , , , , , , 0 Comment

Unfortunately our phone provider is experiencing wide spread issues today and our phone services are extremely intermittent!

If you are in need of our Plumbing or Heating Services please contact us online on Facebook or our website www.jjmclellan.ca.

We apologize for any inconvenience and hope that our provider has the issues resolved asap!

Areas We Service for Plumbing and Heating: 
Wellington County including Wellington North, Mapleton and Minto.
Grey County including Southgate and West Grey.
Mount Forest, Clifford, Harriston, Palmerston, Arthur, Drayton,
Moorefield, Durham, Ayton, Holstein

The Plumbing and Heating Services
offered at JJ McLellan and Son in
Mount Forest and the Surrounding Area

Hiring – Licensed and Experienced HVAC Gas Technician | Mount Forest

pzmija JJ McLellan , , , , , , , , 0 Comment

We are hiring a licensed and experienced Gas Technician to join our team at JJ McLellan and Son.
Air Conditioning, Plumbing and/or Sheet Metal license and experience preferred but not necessary.

We are located in Mount Forest and serve the Mount Forest, Arthur, Durham, Drayton, Palmerston and Harriston areas for Plumbing and HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Services).

Regular business hours of 8am – 5pm Monday to Friday with some after hours and weekend hours as required.

The Applicant Must Possess The Following:

  • Possess a current Gas license (G1 or G2)
  • The ability to work as a team with others as well as independently.
  • Possess the ability to provide excellent customer service.
  • The applicant must have a clean driving record and ability to drive company vehicles.
  • The applicant must maintain and ensure their license is updated and renewed during the course of employment.
  • The ability to read and write english and fill out all required paper work with relation to service calls or installs.
  • Technicians must be able to work flexible hours as required (evenings and/or weekends).
  • Responsibilities will include service, maintenance, installation of various HVAC equipment including Furnaces, Boilers, Infloor Heating, Fireplaces, Water Heaters, Gas Stove, Gas lines.
  • Must be able to perform heavy lifting, bending and twisting as required with the related responsibilities.
  • Ability to read blue prints.

If you are interested please fill out the form below with your resume and licenses. Only those applicants which posses the above requirements and licenses will be contacted. Thank you!

[contact-form to=’service@jjmclellan.ca’ subject=’Reply to job posting on blog’][contact-field label=’Name’ type=’name’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Email’ type=’email’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Phone’ type=’text’/][contact-field label=’Resume’ type=’textarea’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Licenses’ type=’textarea’/][/contact-form]

www.jjmclellan.ca

Why JJ McLellan and Son?

  1. We’ve been in business since 1948. Over 65 Years and 4 Generations!

    2. Licensed and Trained Technicians (Plumbers, Gas Technicians and Operators) to handle Service, repair and installations for Heating, Plumbing, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, Septic System, Septic Pumping, Confined Space.
  2. We Service What We Sell and More!  Service, Repair and Installation.  Renovation, Retrofit and New Build. You never have to worry about calling us if you have a problem, we install and service all of our equipment and any existing equipment you may have!

    We will be here for the long run and that includes after hours or weekend emergency service!

  3. Trust and Honesty – We are Home Owners. Between the ladies in the office, sales and our technicians we take pride in our job and care about our customers. As home owners ourselves we can all in some way relate with many, if not all problems our customers run into! We wouldn’t sell you anything or advise a repair we would not do in our own homes!
  4. We Offer True Home Comfort Service – Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning ( HVAC ), Plumbing. JJ McLellan and Son goes beyond the heating and air conditioning equipment to look at the whole house as a system.
  5. Our Heating Options  – Hydronic Radiant Heat – Boilers, In Floor Heating, Gas / Propane Forced Air Furnaces, Gas / Propane Fireplaces, Unit Heaters, Geothermal Heating.
  6. Our Air Conditioning Options – Central Air Conditioning, Mini Split, Geothermal Cooling.
  7. Our Plumbing Options – Repair, Fixtures, Water Treatment Systems, Pressure Systems, Water Pumps, Sump Pumps, Sewage Pumps, Back Flow Water Prevention, Water Well Services, Septic Systems.
  8. Our Specialty Options – Camera for Drains, Sewers and Wells, Flushing Equipment for Drains, Sewers and Wells, Confined Space Work Certification, Backhoe and Dump Truck, Septic Pumping, Vacuum Truck.
  9. Financing and Extended Warranty available.

We are the home comfort people for your Plumbing and Heating needs!  

Keeping your family cool this summer!

pzmija JJ McLellan 0 Comment

The crazy humidity of the summer is back …
A good time to pull up a previous post “Keeping Your Family Cool This Summer!” http://wp.me/p2fUBx-24

On a serious note please do not take your animals anywhere when it is this hot and humid out, they are much happier at home (unless you are taking them to somewhere with AC!), ensure you are drinking enough fluid – especially children, pets and seniors.

Also as a reminder please do not have unrealistic expectations for your AC today – meaning keep it at the temperature you always keep it at. The more you lower the temperature the harder it is for your AC to keep up and it could over work and may cause it to burn out.