If you’re looking for a plumber, Edmonton has three main categories of plumbing professionals—plumbers, plumbing contractors, and backflow prevention testers. In this article, we’ll be focusing mainly on the first two.

However, in case you’re curious, backflow prevention specialists typically work with water systems in which there is a substantial risk of dirty or contaminated water flowing back into the clean incoming water. In most cases, these specialists are referred by plumbing contractors, or they may be employed by builders. Thus, as a private homeowner, you’ll probably never have to get in touch with one yourself.

Before anyone can become a plumber, Edmonton requires individuals to have a certain degree of knowledge, experience, and training, and plumbers have to pass a challenging test. Plumbing contractors, meanwhile, need to have at least two years’ experience as licensed plumbers, and they have to pass another exam on more advanced aspects of plumbing.

Plumbing contractors:

For contractors, along with the more demanding certification process comes the ability to perform certain types of advanced plumbing procedures that plumbers aren’t legally allowed to do. Most importantly, plumbing contractors are certified to work with the connections between your home and the external water and sewage systems. There are two points in or around your home where these transitions take place, and standard plumbers are forbidden from working at these points when not under the direct supervision of a contractor.

In general, plumbing contractors also work on longer, more complicated jobs. This is simply because plumbers usually have full schedules that require them to work with lots of customers, while plumbing contractors work on a contract basis and are better equipped for major projects. they often have a staff of one or two plumbers working under them, and they usually have connections with other types of construction-related tradespeople for those projects that have non-plumbing aspects.

Plumbers:

It’s impossible to generalize about every single plumber Edmonton has to offer, but most plumbers work with both regular clients and new customers who find them in the “plumber Edmonton” section of the directory. All in all, most plumbers work for hundreds of customers per year.

As a result, most plumbers don’t have room in their schedules for long, involved projects. They’re the go-to people for things like clogs, leaks, back-ups, broken pipes, and hot- or cold-water problems. That’s why it’s useful to establish a long-term relationship with your favorite plumber. These issues can come up fairly often, and it’s nice to be able have someone you can call right away.

You’re not necessarily expected to know which jobs are right for plumbers and which are best for plumbing contractors. When you’re unsure, start with a plumber. Edmonton has hundreds of plumbers who would be happy to come over and check things out. This is part of the job. Simply call one and tell them that you need a consultation. Then, if you need a contractor, the plumber will let you know, and he or she may even be able to put you in contact with some reliable contractors.

It’s normal for a shower to run out of hot water every now and then. Especially when two or three people in a row take long showers, your water heater can get overloaded, and it may need 30 to 60 minutes to fully recover. If you happen to be standing in the shower when the hot water runs out, it’s definitely annoying, but, as any Edmonton plumber would tell you, it’s not necessarily a sign that there’s a problem with your water heater.

On the other hand, if your hot water runs out on a consistent basis, or if it routinely fails to last for more than a few minutes, this is a strong sign that your water heating system is going kaput. In this case, you will need an Edmonton plumber, and possibly a plumbing contractor, to come to your home and either fix your water heater or install a new one.

Before you call a plumber about fixing your hot water, it’s a good idea to do a little bit of investigation on your own. After doing so, you’ll be able to communicate to your plumber exactly the nature of your problem, and you may even find a way to fix the problem yourself.

Here are a few points to consider.

Have you checked the valve? Over time, water valves can gradually close themselves. Just to be safe, check your valve and make sure it’s open all the way.

Could it be in the plumbing? If your hot water regularly goes out, it’s possible that it has nothing to do with your water heater. To be sure, do a test: Next time the hot water in your shower goes out, test the other showers and taps in your home as soon as possible. If the other fixtures are unable to produce hot water, this means the problem is in your water heater. If the other taps and showerheads produce hot water like normal, this means the problem is in either the showerhead or the pipes leading to it. When you call your Edmonton plumber, this will be very useful information.

When does the problem occur? Again, it’s normal for hot water to run out when it’s been running for a long time. But it may also have to do with other factors such as the weather, simultaneous water usage in another part of the house, or even the time of day. Make note of when the hot water outages typically occur, and be prepared to share this information with your Edmonton plumber.

Is the showerhead old? Showerheads don’t last forever. In fact, they can significantly decline in quality after just a few months. So if you have the right tools to open your showerhead, check the inner workings for any signs of wear and tear. If anything inside appears to be in poor shape, or if there’s build-up inside the showerhead, this is more than enough to interfere with the hot water. In this case, you probably won’t need to find an Edmonton plumber. All you’ll need is to install a new showerhead, which is easy.

If you’re looking for plumbers, Edmonton has many hard-working professionals who can help you with any of your home plumbing needs. Whether you need an upgrade, a fix, emergency service, or a new installation, a simple Google search for “plumbers Edmonton” should point you in the direction of numerous local plumbers who can work with you.

However, if you want your experience to go as smoothly as possible, it helps if you’re able to communicate with your plumber in at least a semi-informed manner about what’s happening in your pipes and fixtures. After all, there’s a reason why plumbers have to go through so much training and testing in order to become licensed. The job is difficult and complicated, and much of it goes over the average homeowner’s head.

If you’re going to be calling plumbers, Edmonton or anywhere else, it will be helpful if you know this basic information about plumbing.

1. Incoming and outgoing: If you go into your basement and look at all the pipes coming in and out of the ceilings and walls, it’s easy to assume that they’re all part of one big, complicated system. In a sense, this is true; but in another way, all of these pipes really make up two separate systems that come together at certain meeting points—namely, your sinks, tubs, and toilets.

In short, there’s an incoming system and an outgoing system, and they don’t mix. And if you’re wondering about the qualifications of plumbers, Edmonton guidelines don’t distinguish between incoming and outgoing. Yes, for certain types of advanced work, you’ll need a plumbing contractor, but standard plumbers, Edmonton and throughout Alberta, are qualified to work with both incoming and outgoing plumbers.

2. Cold and hot water: When water comes into your home, it’s already cold. The reason why it takes tap water a few seconds to get cold is that the water that initially comes out has been sitting in pipes within your room-temperature house.

In other words, cold water comes directly from the external water infrastructure. Hot water, on the other hand, comes from the same external stream of water, but it’s diverted within your home through your water heater.

3. Gravity and pressure: Civic water systems are designed to use two basic forces of nature to keep the water running smoothly. First, there’s pressure. Water exits the EPCOR plant under a high degree of pressure, so that by the time it gets to your house, it’s still rushing through the pipes with a lot of force. Basically, the water wants to get into your home—so that when you turn on your water, it still has plenty of pressure.

On the other side, there’s gravity. From your sinks, tubs, and toilets, draining water moves on a relative downward plane all the way to its destination. One of the main exceptions to this trajectory is that S-curve that you may notice under your sinks. This curve is designed to trap a little bit of water so that sewer gases are blocked from coming up into your home.

If you’re facing a plumbing emergency in your home, there are many Edmonton plumbers who can help you. However, there is a subset of plumbers who either specialize in taking emergency calls or are open to working unusual hours for emergencies. Typically, these Edmonton plumbers will charge a little bit extra, but if you’re dealing with a pressing water issue that needs to be fixed as soon as possible, the price is worth it.

If your plumbing situation is severe, you may not have time to research and call around to different Edmonton plumbers. But if there’s no risk of creating permanent damage if you wait a little while, it can’t hurt to take a bit of time to prepare. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Turn your water off: If anything in your house is gushing water, or if there’s a risk that more water will cause a flood, it can’t hurt to turn off the water. This will prevent your bad situation from becoming a dire emergency while you wait for your plumber to arrive.

The valve to turn off your water will be located somewhere in or around your home. Often it’s close to the water meter, which is usually outside, but it may also be in a closet or in your basement. If you’re not sure exactly where it is, don’t worry about it. When your plumber arrives, he or she will be able to find it easily.

2. Research Edmonton plumbers: You may know someone who is knowledgeable about construction or home improvement things. If so, give them a call, and find out if they know of any emergency plumbers in your area.

But if you don’t have any friends or acquaintances to refer plumbers to you, don’t sweat it. Second only to word-of-mouth, the internet is a great source. Just do a search for “Edmonton plumbers,” and you should see a list of directories and websites that list local plumbers. Make a list of a few of them.

3. Call plumbers: If you have time, call all the Edmonton plumbers on your list and find out about their rates. In the process, you may find that some of them are not even available to help at this time, which make your selection process easier. Choose a plumber who can come right away, and who charges a rate that seems reasonable for your budget. If a plumber charges a rate that seems high, don’t hesitate to inform them that you’ll have to get back to them if you’re interested. Then, call the others, and see how the prices stack up.

4. Prepare the area: Depending on the nature of your plumbing emergency, there are different things you may be able to do to prepare for your plumber’s arrival. You’ve probably already shut off the water to your home. If applicable, you can also bail water out of the affected fixture. For example, if the problem is a backed up tub that refuses to drain, it may help if you can get rid of some of that water by dumping it into the sink. Also, clear any clutter from the working area.

Having a clogged toilet is no fun. There’s nothing quite like that feeling of panic you get when, after you flush the toilet, the water rises to the rim of the toilet bowl, and it dawns upon you that that water is not going anywhere. This means lots of things. For one, you’re going to have to take time out of your day to try to fix your toilet. And if your efforts don’t work, you’re going to have to find a plumber, and your toilet’s going to be out of commission for a while.

Fortunately, when you need an emergency plumber, Edmonton is the perfect place to be. There are numerous licensed 24-hour plumbers who will be happy to come over and lend you a hand, and their fees usually aren’t too bad.

When looking for a plumber, Edmonton residents should have no trouble. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t at least try to fix the problem yourself. So don’t call that number just yet. First, try these techniques.

Get rid of the water: Before you do anything else, get a bucket or a bowl, and transfer some of the water from the toilet to the tub or sink. You don’t need to get rid of all of it. You just want to make sure that the water’s not going to go over the edge when you start working.

Plunger: In all likelihood, you already have a plunger in your home, and hopefully it’s a good one, made of thick, durable rubber, and with a cup in the middle. If so, now’s the time to make your plunger earn its keep. Hold your plunger firmly in both hands and press the cup around the hole at the bottom of the toilet. It should form a nice ring of suction. Press down gently, and then pull out with force. Do this repeatedly. 90% of the time, this is all you need to do to fix a clogged toilet.

Again, if you’d rather just call a plumber, Edmonton has many of them, but why pay for such a simple task? Even if you don’t have a plunger, buying one is cheaper than hiring a plumber.

Chemical drain cleaner: If you ask any plumber, Edmonton or elsewhere, he or she will likely tell you that chemical drain cleaners are best for tubs and sinks, and that they’re only rarely effective for toilets. But if you happen to already have some Liquid Plummer or Drano in your home, it can’t hurt to give it a try.

Toilet auger: If you’re still not ready to call a plumber, Edmonton hardware stores typically carry toilet augers. Toilet augers are long, snake-like metal ropes linked to a tool that operates similarly to a fishing rod. Basically, you drop the weighted end of the rope into the water and unwind it. It then makes its way through the toilet’s plumbing until it hits the obstruction. Ideally, it hooks the obstruction, allowing you to pull it out.

If none of these things work, (or you just need help from the start) it’s time to call a plumber Edmonton offers.

If a drain in your home is clogged or backing up, your first instinct may be to call an Edmonton plumber to fix the problem. Ultimately, this may be what you’ll have to do. But before you start dialing the plumbers on your list, why not at least try to fix the problem on your own? For many clogs, no advanced plumbing skills are needed, and you only have to go as far as you’re comfortable.

Ready to give it a shot? If so, hold off on calling that Edmonton plumber, and try these steps.

1. Diagnose the plumbing problem: In general, there are five main types of drain problems:

• A blockage completely prevents water from passing through.
• The water eventually drains, but only very slowly.
• Water backs up into your tub or sink, perhaps for seemingly no reason.
• The water may drain like normal, but it makes areas around the drainage pipes wet.
• Strange sounds emanate from the pipes either during or after draining.

While there are any number of potential causes for each of these problems, the most common issues involve either clogs or pipe damage. If it’s a clog, you may be able to fix it yourself, but if it’s pipe damage, you’ll probably need an Edmonton plumber.

2. How serious is the drainage problem? It’s very important to know whether the drainage problem is household-wide, or confined to a single fixture in your home. If it’s the former, you could have a serious issue with your plumbing, and you’ll probably need to call a professional to take care of it; but if it’s the latter, you have a good chance of fixing it yourself.

3. Use the hot water trick: If you have a clog or a back-up and the problem is confined to one water fixture in your home, try this trick. However, be warned: This only works with clogs that do not completely obstruct the drain. If water doesn’t drain at all, call an Edmonton plumber, or skip to step 4.

• Step 1: Make the water as hot as it can go. Let it run until it’s scalding to the touch, but be careful not to flood the tub or sink.
• Step 2: Plug up the drain. If you have a serious clog, this may seem unnecessary, but it can’t hurt. Also, since the water is so hot, you may want to use a long rubber glove or a reaching device to operate the plug.
• Step 3: With the hot water only, fill the sink or tub as high as it will go.
• Step 4: Unplug the drain. Ideally, the hot water and the pressure of the full sink or tub will remove the obstruction.

4. Try chemical solutions: Finally, chemical drain cleaners like Liquid Plummer and Drano aren’t guaranteed solutions, but you never know. It can’t hurt to try. However, if one bottle doesn’t do the trick, it’s time to call your friendly Edmonton plumber.

Have you hit a wall in your water reduction efforts? Have you done everything you can to cut back on your usage, only to find that your water bill remains higher than you would like it to be? If so, it might be time to start calling plumbers. Edmonton has hundreds of plumbing experts who would be happy to come to your home and work with you on solutions to help cut down on your water usage. But before you call one of the many fine plumbers Edmonton has to offer, take these steps to make sure you can’t reduce your usage on your own.

1. Search for drips. Walk around your home and check for drips from all your showerheads and taps. If you find one that drips, make sure that the handle is turned all the way off. If it is, then you have a faulty fixture, which can amount to at least few dollars added to your water bill every month. Fortunately, these problems are often easy to fix. If you have the right tools, disassemble the tap or showerhead, and make sure that everything is still in good shape, and put it back together as tightly as possible. In many cases, this is enough to fix the drip.

2. Listen to your pipes. When you run the shower, flush a toilet, or turn on the tap, do you hear any strange noises that don’t sound like they should be there? Rattles or rumbles can signal problems that may be decreasing your water efficiency. Find out how to reproduce the sound, and trace it to its origin. Maybe you’ll find that the problem is easy to fix. And if not, you’ll at least know the general area of the problem, which will be useful when you start calling numbers in the “plumbers Edmonton” directory.

3. Search for pipe damage. According to local plumbers, Edmonton presents some interesting challenges. Most notably, the winters can get quite cold, which can cause all sorts of damage to pipes, both indoors and outside. If you’re not getting the water efficiency that you would like, look around your home for pipes that appear to be cracked, convoluted, or simply old. The cold weather usually means that pipes degrade and need to be replaced more often than they do in more southern climates.

4. Go low flow. If you’ve been resisting the government-mandated transition to low-flow toilets, now might be the time to finally give in. Yes, they don’t work as well, but they can save you huge amounts of water monthly. Of course, while toilet replacement is best left to plumbers, Edmonton hardware stores sell many different types of toilets, so you might want to go look at your options before talking to a plumber about a replacement.

5. Fix your hot water. If your water takes more than a minute to get hot, then you probably habitually waste tones of water during the warming-up process. If so, you may want to look into repairs to your water heater.

Edmonton plumbers are invariably courteous, professional, and reliable, and they tend to do high-quality work at reasonable rates. But even though there are so many great Edmonton plumbers, it’s best to take the time to call a few of them, ask relevant questions, and find the individual who is best for your specific plumbing project.

And unless your plumbing situation is a dire emergency, you can take a little bit of time to find the best plumber for your price range and needs. Give yourself some time to do research, talk to several different plumbers, and make sure that you communicate clearly about what it is that you need.

If you’re not sure exactly which questions to ask when calling Edmonton plumbers, here are a few to start with:

1. May I have the numbers of two or three references? When researching Edmonton plumbers, there are plenty of online resources where you can find listings and even reviews of local professionals. However, nothing beats talking to real people the plumber has worked with. And in fact, since plumbers get this question a lot, they usually have a few good relevant references they can give you off the top of their heads.

2. How much do you charge? Most Edmonton plumbers charge an hourly rate. Often, however, there are other charges that may apply, so be sure to ask the plumber what other fees might come up. For example, he or she may charge for travel time. In many cases, if the job is relatively simple, a plumber can give a fairly accurate quote over the phone, but they probably won’t give you a final rate until they can assess in person the extent of the work that needs to be done.

3. Do you have a license? Edmonton plumbers are required to be licensed in order to work without the supervision of a plumbing contractor. Every licensed plumber receives a number, which, if you wish, you can you use to verify the plumber’s legitimacy. However, if a plumber has strong references and charges a fair rate, there’s probably no need to go through all this trouble.

4. Do you take emergency calls? Even if your current situation isn’t an emergency, you may have a pressing plumbing issue in the future for which you’ll need immediate help. Thus, if you’re interested in starting a long-term working relationship with a plumbing professional, it helps if he or she is flexible and willing to help at any hour.

5. Are you insured? Whenever a plumber is working in your home, there’s always a small chance that, for whatever reason, something’s going to go awry. It doesn’t happen often, but in case something does occur, you want to make sure that your plumber is insured for this type of thing. Otherwise, you could be left footing the bill for any damages that occur.

6. Do you offer a warranty? For Edmonton plumbers, customer satisfaction is a high priority, and many offer warranties. Find out if your plumber guarantees his or her work.

If you’re getting ready to hire a plumber, Edmonton is a great place to be. While everyone has heard the horror stories about plumbers who do shoddy work for expensive rates, this type of thing is rarely a problem in Edmonton. Here, if you want to be a plumber, Edmonton requires you to be licensed, and most licensed plumbers have years of apprenticeship and training under their belts. Plus, since plumbers rely largely on references to get business, they tend to be quite courteous and professional in their work. So, forget those horror stories. They don’t apply here.

That being said, it’s still a good idea to take a number of cautions when hiring a professional to work in your home. While scammers are few and far between, it’s important that you hire the right person for your job, and it’s essential to communicate clearly about the work you need to have done.

Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Don’t be in a hurry: Unless there’s a risk of permanent damage to your home, there’s no need to rush to call someone. Take the time to do a little research.

Ask around: Talk to other homeowners you trust about whether they know a good plumber. Edmonton has many great plumbers, but they’re not all listed online or in the “Plumber Edmonton” section of the phonebook, so word-of-mouth is often the best way to find people.

Know which questions to ask: Before you hire a plumber, even one who is highly recommended by someone you trust, there are certain questions you should ask. Most importantly, ask about hourly rates, and find out if and when the plumber has time to work you into his or her schedule.

Next, ask if the plumber has one or two references you can call. They’re used to fielding this question, so don’t hesitate to ask. They should be able to give you a couple of names and numbers of people for you to call right away. You may also want to ask about the plumber’s license number, and it can’t hurt to find out whether he or she offers a warranty for the work performed in your home.

Also important to keep in mind when calling a plumber: Edmonton is not the biggest city in the world, but it can still take a little bit of time to drive from one side of town to the other. So find out if your plumber charges for travel time, and if so, make sure he or she is based in your general area.

You can get a quote: If your plumbing situation is not an emergency, you can ask a plumber to come to your house for a consultation. Of course, if the plumbing issue is merely a leaky pipe or a clogged tub drain, the plumber will probably be able to give you an accurate quote over the phone. But if it’s a more complicated project, you can have him or her come to the home, diagnose the problem, and then give you a quote.

If you’re looking for an Edmonton plumber, you’re in luck, as there are hundreds of highly qualified, licensed plumbers to choose from. But even with this being the case, you might want to do a little research and preparation before picking up the phone and calling one. This way, before the Edmonton plumber comes to your home, you’ll feel confident that you’ve hired the right person for the job, and you’ll make the job easier for everyone involved.

Before you hire a plumber, follow these four steps:

Step 1: Do your research. Of course, if you’re in need of a help due to an emergency situation in your home, you may not have a lot of time to devote to your research. Still, if the situation is not worsening, and if no permanent damage is being done, it can’t hurt to weigh your options beforehand.

First of all, call people who you think would be able to refer you to someone they’ve had service from before. This may include anyone you know who has had substantial plumbing work done at home, or it could be a friend or acquaintance who works in the construction or home repair fields.

Also, go online, do a search for “Edmonton plumber,” and see what comes up. You should be able to find a provider that you’re comfortable with, simply by them having the proper information listed on their website. Make a list of names and numbers.

Even if you don’t have any immediate plumbing needs, every homeowner should have a list of plumbers handy.

Step 2: Can you fix the problem on your own? There are certain minor plumbing situations that are relatively easy to fix. For example, if you have a clog, there are a few simple things you can try before you call a plumber. The same is true of leaky pipes.

But unless you’re comfortable working with your home plumbing, it’s best not to be too ambitious. Plumbers go through an extensive training and licensing process to get to where they are, so any time you have doubts, let an Edmonton plumber handle the situation.

Step 3: Make phone calls to the plumbers you researched in step 1. Find out if and when they’re available. Ask about their rates, and find out whether they charge for travel time. Pay close attention to how you’re treated over the phone, as this is generally a good indication of the quality of customer service.

Also, if you want to be stringent, it can’t hurt to ask for a license information (and you can say it’s merely for documentation purposes), and you may also want to find out whether he or she offers a warranty for the work.

Step 4: Get ready for your visit. When your Edmonton plumber is on the way, there are several little things you can do to make things easier. If any replacement parts are going to be needed for the job, you can go out and get them yourself. Also, it’s a good idea to clear out any clutter in the room where the plumber will be working.