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Preparing and Prepping for the Winter

After a brief slow down back in the Spring of 2020, the trades recovered and ramped up quite quickly with so many people spending more time within their homes. Naturally, people began investing within their home space to make improvements but also spending more time at home, our systems have truly been put to the test!

I understand being in the office of our HVAC and Plumbing office, as well as at the time, I myself was in the midst of our own major renovations on our own home! Trust me when I say patience is a virtue! 

With so many trades with full schedules it is now a great time to ensure you, and your loved ones are prepared in your home. Please ensure you check in on your loved ones living on their own too! Especially the seniors in our lives.

  • Check and change smoke detector and co-detector batteries 
  • If you are on a septic – do you know where your septic tank is? Locate the lids and it is recommended to check and pump as needed every 3-5 years – depending on how many people are living in your home.
  • Whether on septic or town sewers – any packaging that states it is “safe to flush” – please ONLY flush toilet paper and human waste. These “flushable wipes” have caused SO many issues including backups so please beware!
  • Change the furnace filter at least 3-4 times a year
  • Locate your furnace shut off Switch. If your power goes out, sometimes the power needs to be reset, this switch can do that. 
  • Ensure you have a back up source of heat. Permanent examples would be a fireplace on each level of your home. The nice thing about a gas fireplace is they will work when the power is out, except for the fan. Another great and very affordable option is little household space heaters that can be plugged in and moved where needed. If you are comfortable with wood, that is also an option too. 
  • Be sure you know where your main water shut off is located in your home. Along with any other plumbing equipment. 
  • Ensure you have a back up supply of water, in case you are without power or your pump stops working. Even if just for 24-48 hours.

If this past year has taught us anything (I can say this personally),  it’s also that our mental health is a key factor in everyone’s lives. As much as we truly would love to help everyone, we must be realistic and ensure we are able to support our loyal customers while also ensuring to avoid burnout! This is a good reminder for all, and not just those of us in the trades!

So, hopefully these tips will help you feel confident if you find yourself with a furnace, water or plumbing issue that you could handle it to a certain extent before your professional can attend in the morning or next business day. 

Home Of The Week | The Post – Hanover July 16, 2015

Check out this weeks edition of The Home Of The Week published by The Post!

Watch for more plans coming each week!

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From small repairs to custom new build or renovation plumbing and heating system design and installation.

Whether you require HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) or Plumbing Mechanical work look no further than the Mechanical HVAC Contractors at JJ McLellan and Son to provide whole home comfort for all your Plumbing and Heating needs big or small, new or repairs!

Did you know we also service and clean Septic Systems!
A Royal Flush Is Better Than A Full House!

We Are The Home Comfort People We Service What We Sell As Well As All Other Makes & Models! 

Save On Your Utilties This Summer! | JJ McLellan Heating and Cooling Contractor

Get ready to save this summer (and fall, winter, spring – for many more years!)!!!

Our Summer Promotion begins on Monday June 22nd and we have 5 amazing reasons why now is the time to upgrade your heating and cooling system!

1. Receive up to a $1500 Rebate From Lennox.

2. Receive up to a $650 Rebate from OPA.

3. Do NOT Pay until 2016!!!

4. Save $$$ on your utilities with new energy efficient equipment.

5. You will experience an even temperature throughout your home or business whether its heating or cooling!

* Bonus – The equipment is amazingly quiet !!! *

At JJ McLellan and Son Plumbing and Heating in Mount Forest whether you require HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) or Plumbing Mechanical work look no further than the Mechanical HVAC Contractors at JJ McLellan and Son to provide whole home comfort for all your Plumbing and Heating needs big or small, new or repairs!

LEN_15705_Search_DT_4C_H03620_v1 (3)Lennox… What Perfect Feels LIke!

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

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

For All Your Home Comfort Needs ~ Give us a call at 519-323-2000

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

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.

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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!

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.

Hiring – Licensed and Experienced HVAC Gas Technician | Mount Forest

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!  

Infloor Heating Installation | Mount Forest Heating Contractors

The work of an HVAC Technician truly can be described as an art of their very own. There is a lot of attention to detail, specific skills and knowledge required with a complex understanding of how the finished system is going to work!

Our guys installed infloor piping the other day, its not as simple as just laying pipe, there is a design involved for the overall heating of the floor and building.

Great work guys it looks awesome!

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2014 Winter Wise Booklet – TSSA Safety Info

Download the 2014 Winter Wise Booklet courtesy of TSSA and their Safety Info website.

Click here to be directed to their download page and save the PDF!

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Also be sure to check out their KID ZONE portion of the site!
So very important for young people to know there can be a lot of dangers when you are not safe.

With this cold weather comes frozen pipes… Some tips to keep your water flowing!

JJ McLellan

JJ McLellan – Broken Pipe – Froze and burst!

When water freezes it expands, this is why if your pipes freeze they can and will burst – such as in the photo!

Open your cupboard doors – If you are worried about your pipes freezing and the potential of bursting… If you have pipes/taps on outside walls, open your cupboard doors to allow heat from your home in.

Heat from a lamp – If that doesn’t help plug a lamp in and put it under the sink (safely… not near anything flammable!) the heat from the bulb will help.

Run water – If you are really concerned, turn on the tap and let it run, a small consistent stream will help prevent freezing.

Insulate – If your home is very old and does not have a lot of insulation in the walls you could add some foam board insulation to the back of your kitchen cabinet to help prevent freezing.

What if I dont have a basement? If you live in a mobile home or a home with a crawl space, ensure you have heat tape for your pipes and that the underneath of the home is properly insulated and sealed! If your home was built on a slab on grade most likely you will have in floor heating, ensure the heating system is kept at a consistent temperature and have your system maintained regularly.

Getting away from the cold – If you are going away ensure you have someone checking on your home at least once a day – twice in cold weather like this.

Consistency – When the weather turns cold it is very important to keep your thermostat at a consistent temperature even during the night. Set your thermostat at a comfortable level and leave it.

Its too late… what should you do?

If your pipes have froze you can try to thaw them yourself. First open your taps, second use a heat source such as a hair dryer or a small portable heater. Be very careful to ensure you remove anything flammable prior to applying heat – especially in the kitchen if there are cleaners in the cabinets.

If you are not able to get your pipes thawed its time to call the professionals. Our plumbers have dealt with many frozen pipes! Either way once you get your problem solved – ensure you will be ok for the next deep freeze with proper insulation such as wall insulation, floor insulation, pipe insulation and heat tape.

Do not wait until you have issues to take preventative action. Ensure you have proper wall insulation, ensure the underside of your home (this includes basements) is insulated properly. If you are already planning a renovation pipes can be re-routed to lessen the chance of freezing. Unless you are considering gutting an older home back to the studs to completely re-insulate the home, sometimes in an older home re-routing the plumbing is the best option to get the pipes off of an outside wall. The costs for preventative maintenance will be well worth the costs you could face if your pipes freeze and burst!

Unsure of what you should do? Feel free to give Mike our Comfort Advisor a call he would be happy to recommend some options for you to ensure your home is safe!

Stay Warm!!!

Ensure You and Your Home Stay Warm In The Cold!

The good people at Lennox have offered some excellent tips to “Stay Bold Against The Cold” in their recent Comfort Matters post! Check out their great tips for you and your home to stay warm in this cold winter weather.

As always please remember to ensure your furnace filter is clean or changed regularly.

When the temperatures drop OR we get a lot of snow, checking your heating vents is very important. When it is very cold outside (like today), when your furnace vents the vapour can crystallize over the vents when it hits the cold winter air. Be sure to check the vents at least once a day to ensure they are clear, twice if you are experiencing issues with your system. The same when we get a lot of snow, ensure your vents are clear.

Why is it important to keep the vents clear? The heating system has to breathe, if it cannot bring in fresh air and exhaust the stale air your system will not be able to work properly and will shut down.

What do the vents look like? If they are out the side of your house they will look similar to this…

Furnace Vents Cleared 20140107_124106_resizedThe pipe pointing down is the intake, the pipe straight out is the exhaust. They do require a minimum of 12″ all around them to work properly with the heating system.

When in doubt, once you’ve made sure your filter is clean, your vents are clear and have tried to reset your system… give us a call at 1-866-565-5513.