Tuesday 8 December 2015

Company Videos

We have built a number of Playlists on our YouTube Channel and decided to make them available here on our Blogger account in this post.

Plumbing Service and Repair Greater Vancouver


Plumber Vancouver


Plumbers in Vancouver BC


Pioneer Plumbing Service Company Vancouver BC

Home Heating Tips for Winter



Water heating is necessary for every home, and it is typically the second largest energy expense that homeowners have to pay. For most consumers, water heating accounts for approximately 18% of their utility bill, next to heating and cooling their home. The traditional hot water tank will consume the most energy, so this article discusses how to save on utility expenses.

There are various ways that you can cut down your water heating bill, such as the following:
  1. Use less hot water, especially for laundry
  2. Turn down the thermostat on the water heater
  3. Make sure your water heater is insulated
  4. Buy a new, more efficient heater model

General Water Heating Tips

Below are some further tips that can help you to heat your water more efficiently:
  • Install some aerating, low-flow shower heads and faucets throughout your home.
  • Repair any leaky faucets as soon as possible, since they can waste a lot of water in a short amount of time.
  • Set the thermostat on the water heater to 120°F for comfortable hot water that is suitable for bathing and washing.
  • Insulate the electric hot-water storage tank, but ensure that you do not cover the thermostat. Always follow the manufacturer's recommendations precisely.
  • If you have a natural gas or oil hot-water storage tank, insulate this as well, and again, be careful not to cover the thermostat or any part of the water heater's compartments.
  • Insulate the hot and cold water pipes that are connected to your water heater. Six feet of insulation should be sufficient.
  • When buying a new dishwasher or washing machine, always try to buy an energy efficient model that saves water, such as the ENERGY STAR® models, to cut down on your hot water use.
  • Install some heat traps on the water pipes of the heater to prevent heat from escaping. Many new water heaters come with built-in heat traps to save you the trouble of doing it.
  • Every 3 months, drain at least one quart of water from the water tank to remove any sediment that may impede heat transfer and reduce the efficiency of your heater.
Remember, that while most hot water tanks last about 10-15 years, you should start shopping for a new one if your current water heater is more than 7 years old. Always do your research before the heater fails, so that you can select one that best meets your needs.

Long-Term Savings Tips

The tips below can help you save water and energy over the long-term:
  • If your heater is getting old, buy a new energy-efficient heater. Although it may cost you more initially than buying a standard water heater, you will save more energy and money during the lifetime of the appliance. Remember to look for the ENERGY STAR® labels.
  • Consider using natural gas or tankless water heaters, which can heat your water directly without having to use a storage tank.
  • Install a drain-water heat recovery system which can capture the energy from waste hot water from showers and dishwashers and preheat cold water entering the water heater.
  • Using pump water heaters are cost effective and can cut water heating bills down by more than half over the standard electric water heaters. If you have the water heater in your basement, it can also dehumidify the area in the summer months. Since this technology may have some installation challenges, you should always consult a professional installer before you purchase it.

Solar Water Heaters

If you heat your water with electricity, or have a high electric bill, consider installing a solar water heater. The solar heaters are environmentally friendly, since they do not emit greenhouse gases, and can be installed on your roof to blend in with the architecture of your home. They are particularly convenient if you have a south-facing, unshaded roof on which to place them. As with any heater, look for the ENERGY STAR label when shopping for a solar heater.

Make Your Own Fire Logs

Wednesday 18 November 2015

Hot Water Tank VS Tankless Hot Water

There are lots of ways to supply heated water to your home. Like the majority of home installations, each possess their own advantages and disadvantages. The variables are many including the size of your home, your water heating needs, pre-existing installations, together with other regional differences like local fuel prices.

A solar hot water storage tank can be a great addition for many owners. One of the best things to do is speak to a heating contractor about the best options for you. Here are a few things to consider.

Tankless Water Heating System 

 

This method is the most affordable in terms of both installation and operation, but isn't without other advantages as well. Because these systems heat water instantly, there's always a lot of hot water available as long as the system has the capacity to deliver on demand. Sometimes single installation units work better for a shower, dish washer or the washing machine.

Other homes are best fitted with one large tankless unit in a central location, depending on how many people are in the house. Have you ever noticed that as you're the last one to take a shower that half-way through you get a cold surprise? Or has this happened to you: if you turn on the hot water, you scald your hands. This might happen if you had a traditional water heater. However, tankless hot water heaters are able to maintain a constant temperature reducing this type of inconvenience. Up-keep costs and maintenance are cheaper in the long run with a tankless unit.

How They Work


Electric tank less water heaters are confined units, typically hung on a wall close to where it would be used the most. If you turn on your hot faucet, a part in this unit is activated via the flow of water, triggering instant heat. Therefore, your water is simply heated when you are using it. You never have to pay the bill for "standby" water like traditional water heaters which have to accumulate and warm the water all the time. Storing water is expensive since the tank has got to constantly reheat the water in the tank, even when you're not using it.

Efficiency and Savings 


Since electric tankless water heaters don't have to consistently reheat the water, your electric bills will be lower. Traditional heating storage tanks cycle on and off, even when you are gone. Maintaining water temperature uses up plenty of energy. But tankless heaters only work on demand.

 

Since traditional tanks need to constantly heat the water through the day, it overheats the fluids then lets it cool for a while. This means sometimes the water comes out scalding hot. In reality, these tanks will actually add cold water when you turn on the faucet in order to make the temperature more comfortable. This waste is not really bad for mother earth, but it costs you money.

Hot Water Storage Tank 


Hot water storage tanks are the most common water heating system. Often, hot water storage tanks are replaced when the system gets too old. Installing a new tank is the easiest way to fix a broken one and each time you do, you can get a better model with a higher efficiency rating if your budget allows it. You should always hire a professional to put in the tank, especially if you are not experienced at this kind of work.

Alternate Hot Water Heating Systems


Instead of a tank less water heating system, you might consider a gas, oil, or electric water heater if you need a new system. This technology generally require less maintenance, are still cheap depending on fuel prices.

You might want to check with a plumber about the viability of this technology in your home. Calculations would be made and options presented if the contractor knows his stuff. Depending on where you live in the GVRD you can find a link to your city on this page. Click here for contact information and a link to Pioneer Plumbing local services.

Home Improvement Ideas That Anyone Can Tackle

Most of your time will be spent either at home or at work. This means that how you feel about your home directly impacts the way you feel every day. If your home provides comfort and security, you will be more capable of getting rest and coping with stress. In this article, we will discuss some methods for making you comfortable in your home.

Your home needs to be as appealing to you as possible, so you are always wanting to be there. Everyone dislikes something in the home, but you shouldn’t spend your life being unhappy with your living space. You need to be content with your home to be really happy. If there are additions in your home that you don’t enjoy, such as an old bathtub, you need to make changes so that you can replace it with something you will actually enjoy.

Thinking of a New Kitchen?


Want to add an additional room? In some cases, you simply run out of space, and reorganizing just puts the same clutter in a different place. When the walls are creeping in on you, an expansion is a good option. Even a very small expansion can do a lot to remove the stress associated with junk and clutter.

Time to Relax


It would be wise to contemplate adding relaxation areas to your home. Pools, spas, and hot tubs are all great and popular options to choose. However, more affordable projects can be just as effective; in-ground basketball hoops and home gyms can add significant value to your home.

Do Some Gardening

Turn a corner or the whole of your yard into a beautiful, lush garden to give yourself one more great reason to stay at home. Whether you take care of the garden yourself or use a gardener to do the job, you will find that being in your garden will give you a sense of relaxation and peace. Plants are great for air quality and to eat! If you have an automated sprinkler system have a plumber inspect it each year to make sure it’s functioning properly.

You can change the exterior appearance of your home. Painting or new siding and replacing the windows or roof can make a big difference in the outside of your home. If you make these improvements, you will enjoy your home so much more when you return home each day since you will love the look of your home.

To stay happy, having a nice home will help with that because you don’t realize how much time you spend there. You can drastically change your mood by doing home improvements.

Additional Renovations

 If you decide to go a little further with a renovation project, then you should consider acting as project manager and hire the services you need. There are a lot of trades people who can do fantastic work when given good directions. One of the biggest roadblocks we all run into with renovation projects is the plumbing. Don't let this part of the project stump you. Hire a Vancouver plumbing company with a good track record and you will be fine.

Monday 2 November 2015

Follow us on YouTube

We have set up a Play List on our YouTube channel which you can follow and subscribe to by clicking on this link

Pioneer Plumbing Video Play List



With our videos we try to convey a light hearted approach to promoting our services.

Company Bio:


Pioneer Plumbing is one of the longest-running, full-service plumbing companies in Vancouver. We are proud to have earned an enviable reputation for customer-oriented service throughout greater Vancouver.

We install and service the full spectrum of hot water systems, including radiant in-floor heating, on-demand hot water and hot water baseboard heating, along with all plumbing fixtures, such as sinks, faucets, toilets, standard and luxury shower heads and accessories. We also hook up gas appliances and anything requiring a water connection.
    
We are Vancouver’s Harden faucets specialists: the company to go to if you need one of these specialty faucets repaired (cartridges in particular), updated (change handles from brass to chrome finish) or replaced. With specialized tools and expertise, we can help you where others only scratch their heads.

Pioneer is also one of the few Vancouver area companies to service first generation Crane water saving toilets, saving our commercial and residential customers hundreds of dollars each year ($300 - $700 in most cases) in replacement costs.

Pioneer Plumbing & Heating Inc
Phone: 604-872-4946
626 Kingsway
Vancouver, BC V5T 3K4

Thursday 22 October 2015

Pioneer Plumbing Services Vancouver

With our head office on Kingsway in Vancouver we are just a stones throw away from anyone in the area. Out trucks are in the area during regular working hours 8:00 – 4:00 PM weekdays and on call for emergencies 24 hours. Call us any time for a Vancouver plumber to fix any difficult problem. We are available weekdays during business hours and on call after hours.

Pioneer Plumbing, Local Vancouver Service Company 


We are proud to have been taking care of the plumbing and heating needs of Vancouver homeowners for decades. No matter what your plumbing and heating needs are, whether residential or commercial, West End or in Marpole, or any other local neighborhood, our team of dedicated professionals take care of you.


We will ensure your problems are promptly handled and done right the first time, so you can get out and enjoy yourself without being concerned about your home’s plumbing and heating systems.
Friendly and Efficient

Installations and repairs are handled quickly while looking out for your best interests.


You can count on our Vancouver plumbers for the quickest possible response if an emergency strikes. We are also well-known as the go-to plumbers for installations on new construction projects. We also do renovation and strata work.

Pioneer Plumbing & Heating Inc.
Phone: 604-872-4946
626 Kingsway
Vancouver, BC V5T 3K4
http://pioneerplumbing.com

Thursday 15 October 2015

A Few Good Reasons For The Dual Flush Toilet

As concerned plumbers we decided to do a little research on things related to our business, where we can help the environment wherever possible.

Here is our take on the limited water supply that is becoming a ever pressing concern for so many people.

It is not only that we are sucking all of the oil from the earth, we are also draining our water resources much faster than we can replace them. In truth, we can say the same for almost all of our natural resources.

The day will ultimately come, if we continue in this direction, that the planet will simply be uninhabitable. This is why, for future generations, we begin to conserve our natural resources before it is too late. The dwindling water supply is one of those resources we still can address. And this makes the dual flush toilet something we truly need.

One of the great reasons that everyone should think about obtaining a dual flush toilet for their home is the knowledge that faster than it could be replaced, we are using up our water supply. This great plumbing world invention will allow you to pick from two different flush options, one for liquid waste, and one for solid waste.

How to Use The Dual Flush Toilet


This option is just so important because it permits you to select the proper amount of water needed based on your requirements. The amount of water required to flush solid waste will obviously be more than that needed to flush liquid waste. You can and will save money with this sort of toilet, not be calling someone for local plumber services, and you will also be contributing everyday to conserving the water remaining on the planet.

There are at least two advantages the dual flush toilet has over normal toilets. Saving a lot of water is certainly advantage number one. This sort of toilet will use only 1.6 gallons per flush, as opposed to the 3.5 gallons of water that the normal toilet will use. This translates over a one year period with the average homeowner saving a minimum of 4000 gallons per year!

Because they are using considerably less water, thus paying for less water usage, is advantage number two for you. And the other good news is that whatever costs are involved with switching to this new toilet, they are absorbed by the amount of money saved on the monthly water bills one receives. This is even more true when in place of the luxury model available, the homeowner selects the economy model instead.

Using this sort of toilet offers even more benefits to the homeowner. Far less than what occurs with a normal toilet, your bathroom pipes will not be clogged, and the need to call for plumbing service will be greatly lessened. These sorts of toilets utilize a large trap way to get rid of the solid waste, as opposed to pushing it away with water pressure.

The result of this is that your toilet is prevented from clogging up, and this of course contributes greatly to keeping the bathroom more clean, and also keeping it in use more consistently.

The Toto Toilet

There is another low flush toilet very popular in the Vancouver area. The toto toilet has been asked for many times, and we so we decided to offer installation for them. They have a number of models which can be sen by clicking on the link in the previous sentence.

If you would like to see how many different places we are visible online click here.  For more information on getting a new toilet installed visit our website anytime.

Pioneer Plumbing Service Video  

Pioneer Plumbing Custom Map

Pioneer Plumbing and Heating Inc. 
626 Kingsway
Vancouver, BC
V5T 3K4
(604) 872-4946
http://pioneerplumbing.com