How to Unclog Drains

Do you notice water backing up from the toilet or the sink? If you constantly hear gurgling sounds when using bathroom fixtures, it may be a sign that you have a drainage problem. Here are the best solutions you could try:

Pour in Some Bacteria
Whether it’s hair, grease or food, some sort of organic matter causes most drain clogs. Fortunately, there’s a type of bacteria that breaks down organic matter in your drains. Add the bacteria to your drains and it will consume organic matter which helps prevent clogs. You can buy drain-cleaning bacteria in granular or liquid form.

Bacterial drain cleaner is noncorrosive so it won’t harm pipes, and the bacteria won’t interfere with the bacteria in your septic system. Follow the instructions on the package. Add the bacteria when drains won’t be used, like right before everybody goes to bed, to allow it time to work. Drain and trap cleaner is available at home centers and hardware stores. A package should last several months, depending on how many drains you treat. Source: FamilyHandyman

Use a Hose or Power Washer
You may need more force to clear an especially stubborn main drain clog, and you should apply it through one of the drain cleanout fittings. You should have one or two of these in the basement and more outside. Open one of them by unscrewing the cap with a wrench and have a bucket handy to catch water. You’ll also want to wear protective clothing, goggles and gloves because the water may be under pressure and could spray when you open the cleanout.

If water does spill out, you’re on the right track because it means the clog is downstream of the fitting. Insert a hose with a high-pressure nozzle or preferably a power-washer wand with a 0° (red) or 15° (green) tip. Place the bucket under the cleanout, point the nozzle downstream, pull the trigger and stand back. Source: Hunker

Get Help from Professionals
Don’t run the water or flush the toilet! If you don’t add water to your drain system, you can’t make the problem worse (that is, if the clog is in your line and not the city’s main; see below). As an added precaution, you can shut off the main water supply to the house so that no one runs the water by accident. Tell everyone in the house not to use water, then call a plumber or drain specialist to have the drain cleared. These professionals have special equipment, including motorized augers, to quickly and effectively remove large clogs in the main sewer drains. Source: TheSpruce

Don’t wait for your drainage problem to get worse during the holiday season when everyone will be at home. Call us to book an appointment today!

 

Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains
8296 Ross St, Vancouver, BC V5X 4C6
(604) 360-2114

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4 Christmas Party Hosting Tips

Christmas is only a week away. If you still don’t have a solid plan on how to host that holiday party everyone is looking forward to, then here are some great tips to help you lighten the load.

Create food beforehand

If you’ve decided to host a cocktail party, put together a list of the appetizers you’d like to serve. We suggest using recipes that can be made in advance, which will save you time and energy on the day of the party.  Source: MarthaStewart

Set the mood with good music

Very little has the impact on a scene like the music selection, and mellow is the epitome of elegance. You want to create a setting for guests so that they spend their evening relaxed and comfortable, and the tempo of the music you choose will play a large part in that. But mind you, you don’t want them to get so comfortable that they fall asleep. A tasteful playlist for an elegant Christmas party could include a mix of traditional Christmas songs and some classic jazz thrown in to keep the tempo up. Source: Lifestyle.HowStuffWorks

Keep the food warm in the oven

“A 200-degree oven works as a warming drawer,” says Kelsey Nixon, the host of Kelsey’s Essentials, on the Cooking Channel. This also frees up counter space and provides insurance that your food won’t burn if you forget to take it out. Source: RealSimple

Delegate tasks

Share out tasks between the family to ensure a hassle-free evening. One person could be in charge of laying the table, whilst another takes care of drinks – allowing you to focus on food preparation. Be appreciative of everyone’s effort – encouragement and praise can go a long way! Source: GoodHousekeeping

Did you know that one of the things people notice most upon entering a home is the floor? Don’t let your carpet become the talk of the town due to its dinginess. Have it cleaned or repaired before your party. Call us today!

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Safety Roofing Tips Every DIYer Should Know

Planning to repair the roof on your own to save some money? Here are useful tips you should remember before starting your weekend project.

 

Check the weather
Fussing to try and find a leak as soon as it happens is something that could put you in the hospital. Meddling on a roof while it’s raining or covered with ice and snow isn’t the ideal way to find a leak. Trying to temporarily fix a leak could be highly dangerous. If you want to do it right, there is no quick-fix. Just take your time, and be very patient and careful to wait for Mother Nature to give you the green light. Source: DIYNetwork

Get a gutter guard
One way to keep your ladder safe and steady and to keep your gutters protected as you’re up on the roof is to use a gutter-guard. The gutter-guard basically consists of any scrap piece of wood or plywood that you fasten to the roof deck, put a notch in it, lean the ladder legs against the notch and tie in place. You can also put some shingle bundles against the feet of the ladder to help keep it steady and make sure it doesn’t slide.

Create a toe hold
This tip is also particularly good if you’re working on a steeply pitched roof. In order to help keep your balance and prevent slippage, you can install your own temporary toe holds to help your feet keep their grip. Simply take several wood cleats measuring 2 by 4 inches (you can also use adjustable roof jacks for this) and nail them to the roof deck. When you’re done with your work, simply remove them. Source: DoItYourself

Find someone to help you
Let someone else know when you’ll be up on the roof – someone who will be with you at home that day, or else a neighbor who can keep an eye on you. In fact, it’s best if at least two people work together on even a minor roof job. Someone needs to be there to help or call for help in the case of an emergency. Source: YourAmazingPlaces

If you’re unsure how to handle roof repairs, it’s better to leave it to the professionals. Our roofing crew have the right safety gear to guarantee that no accidents will happen.  Book an appointment today!

 

Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains
8296 Ross St, Vancouver, BC V5X 4C6
(604) 360-2114

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Signs of a Bad Carpet Installation

When installing carpet on your floor, it’s best to let the professionals handle it. However, you still must choose the right contractor for the job because poor installation can result in the following problems:

Buckling or Rippling

When a wall-to-wall carpet is installed, it must be stretched tightly and then is secured in place with tack strips along the edges of the carpet. If the installer has not stretched the carpet tightly enough, it may loosen slightly, which could cause it to ripple. Ideally, carpet should be stretched during the installation using a power stretcher, which will reduce the chances of buckling.

If the carpet is being installed in an area in which the conditions are significantly different than where it was previously stored (for example, from an unheated warehouse to a heated home), then the carpet should be allowed to acclimate before installation. This should reduce the possibility of buckling. Source: TheSpruce

Loosening of Seams

Inspect the seams where the carpet meets the walls, baseboards, doorways or other types of flooring. If you see frayed or loose edges that aren’t neatly tucked under the walls, floorboards or transitional carpet strips, the carpet isn’t installed well. Carpet installers often secure edges with additional tacks, carpet tape, transition strips or adhesives to reduce the likelihood of carpet separating from the wall or unraveling at the corners. Contact the installer to repair any unsightly seams. Source: HomeGuides.SFGate

Bubbling

It’s a common situation for homeowners to have their carpet cleaned only for it to dry and bubbles to emerge. While they might think the cleaning was to blame, this is far more often the result of carpet that was not properly stretched before it was installed. This problem can easily be averted by pulling and stretching the carpet over carpet tacks. Source: TheSpruce

We have been in the business for over 20 years so you can rest assured knowing that your carpeting is in safe hands. Contact us today!

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3 Important Chimney Safety Tips You Should Keep in Mind

Imagine this: you’re trying to stay warm by hanging in front of the crackling fire with a cup of your favorite drink, hand-knitted blanket wrapped around you. All of a sudden, fire broke! Way to ruin the moment, right? Prioritize safety and have peace of mind by following these tips:

Avoid creosote buildup
Creosote is a chemical mass of carbon formed when wood, tar or fossil fuels are burned. Creosote can linger in chimneys and you would have no idea from the outside. When creosote is not removed, can become a thick coating of debris in the flue and chimney. Most chimney fires start in the smoke chamber/smoke shelf area so it’s important to clean those areas. Creosote ignites at 451 degrees Fahrenheit and once it starts burning, it expands like foam sealant and can build to more than 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit in less than a minute. Source: FamilyHandyman

Don’t remove ashes right away
Fireplace coals can remain hot enough to start a fire for up to three days, so always wait at least that long before removing the ashes. At that point, close the damper to prevent cold air in the flue from stirring up excess dust while you’re removing the ashes. Be sure to wear a dust mask and open a window in the same room as the fireplace to prevent negative air pressure. Use a shovel to scoop the ashes into a metal container. Store the container far from combustible materials and surfaces and wood floors. Source: HGTV

Install a safety screen
Keep a fireplace screen in front of the fireplace when in use. A fireplace screen should be at least 3 feet (0.91 m) high, and most common models are be made of fine, crossed wire on a flexible, three-part frame. This screen will catch any live sparks that leap out of the fire, and will also prevent larger logs from falling out.[6]

A screen is a necessity if you have small children or animals in the house, as they could easily run or stumble into an open fire. If there are more durable models of fireplace grate available at your local hardware store, it may be wise to purchase a heavy grate in addition to (or instead of) a lighter screen. Source: WikiHow

Let us take a look at your home’s chimney to see whether there are damages that need repair. Book an appointment today!

 

Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains
8296 Ross St, Vancouver, BC V5X 4C6
(604) 360-2114

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4 Tips to Prepare Your Home for Winter

Don’t let the cold winter air bother you. Protect your home from the chill by taking note of these simple tips:

Install carpet

No one wants to be stepping onto a cold floor and they jump out of bed in winter! If you’ve been thinking of carpeting your home, or even just the bedrooms, now is the time! Your toes will thank you for it. Source: HomesToLove

Have an energy audit

If you’ve never had one, a professional energy audit is a good investment. But fall is also a good time just to check your door seals. Make sure you’re not seeing daylight around your exterior doors, and take a can of spray foam insulation and fill in around those drafty outlets and light switches. Source: WashingtonPost

Change furnace filters

Dirty furnace filters reduce furnace efficiency and push up heating bills. They also shorten the life of a furnace.

Check and replace the furnace filter monthly in winter or every three months while the system is in operation. Your owner’s manual will tell you where it’s located. Hold the filter up to the light: If you can’t see light through it, you need a new one.

Pleated filters work best because they trap more dirt particles. Source: MoneyTalksNews

Inspect the chimney draft

Make sure the chimney will draw up the fire and smoke properly. Test this by taking several sheets of newspaper and rolling them up. Then with the fireplace damper in the open position, light the newspaper in the fireplace. The smoke should rise up the chimney. If it doesn’t, you have an obstruction and need to call a professional in to clean the chimney of creosote and ash and possible debris. Source: TheSpruce

No other type of flooring is as comfortable as carpet on a winter night. Call us today to book your appointment!

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Pros and Cons of Copper Gutters

Gutters are a vital part of the house. They keep water away from your house’s roof, siding, and even basement, thus avoiding structural damage and flooding. There are many different types of material you can choose from, but today, we’ll be focusing on copper. Weigh its pros and cons below:

PROS
Longer life-span
Copper is more durable than many other materials. Most copper gutters last 100 years or more. After a while, the metal produces a greenish layer called verdigris, which is often used as an industrial fungicide that helps the gutter last longer since roots won’t set in to cause damage. Verdigris is what gives the Statue of Liberty its distinctive color.

Visual appeal
Copper has a reputation as a beautiful material that lends charm and elegance to any structure. It fits especially well on older buildings, matching the materials and styles used. It also helps a home stand out among others in the neighborhood, adding curb appeal.

Structurally sound
Because of copper’s durability, items manufactured with copper are structurally sound. For example, most rain gutters require joints so that when the material expands and contracts in fluctuating temperatures, no cracks form. Copper, however, doesn’t require these joints. The whole gutter can be installed as one piece, which makes it stronger. Source: Nearsay

CONS
Expensive
The single biggest con of choosing copper gutters for any house is the price. With prices reaching nearly $25 per linear foot for just the gutters alone, it is easy to see why copper gutters have not taken off in popularity yet. Source: Improvenet

Difficult to install
It’s inadvisable to install the copper guttering yourself. Why? Because cuts or adjustments to joints may be necessary in order to complete the process. And you might not have specialist tools or expertise to get the job done properly. Source: Medium

Want to install copper gutter on your home? We’ll be more than happy to help. Call us for a free estimate!

 

Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains
8296 Ross St, Vancouver, BC V5X 4C6
(604) 360-2114

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