Read this now · Residential plumbing
Closing the cottage for winter: the plumbing checklist
The steps, in order, for draining a cottage's plumbing before winter: pump, pressure tank, water heater, traps and appliances.
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Clear answers to the questions we receive at the store and on job sites: what you can check yourself and when to call a professional.
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Drinking water: sales and testingReverse osmosis: what the system really does, step by step
A reverse osmosis system improves the quality of tap water, reduces several dissolved substances and gives water a better taste. Here is how water moves from one stage to the next, and what we offer at our store.
Radiant heatingGlycol radiant floors: how they work and where they fit
Tubing in the slab, a water and glycol mix, a heat source: how a glycol radiant floor works and the buildings where it makes the most sense.
Residential plumbingTank or tankless water heater for rural homes
Tank or tankless water heater: what changes in a rural area, with well water, your electrical service and the 60 °C setting.
Camera inspectionSewer smell in the house: causes and solutions
A dry trap, a blocked roof vent, a worn wax ring or a main drain issue: how to find the source of a sewer smell and which precautions to take.
Residential plumbingBathroom renovation: choosing the right faucets and fixtures
The shower valve is governed by the Code, the sink faucet depends on the counter, and well water is hard on cartridges. What to check before you choose.
ExcavationWell water lines: burying them below the frost line
Frost depth varies with soil and snow. Why water lines freeze under plowed driveways, and the options when bedrock is reached too soon.
Septic systemsFailing leach field: the signs to watch for
The signs of a leach field that is no longer working, what to check before drawing conclusions, and the owner's obligations under Québec's regulation.
Septic systemsSeptic tank pumping: how often in Québec
How often Québec's regulation requires a septic tank to be pumped, the scum and sludge measurement option, and how each municipality handles it.
Septic systemsNew septic system: the steps, from soil study to backfill
The steps of a new septic system in Québec: who signs the site characterization study, what the permit application contains, and the role of the compliance attestation.
General contractorNew build: what to plan before excavation begins
Permits, where the septic system and well will go, Info-Excavation, the access road and drainage: what needs to be settled before excavation starts.
Camera inspectionCamera inspection before buying a house
A pre-purchase inspection covers what is observable, which leaves out buried drains. Why a camera inspection before buying is worth planning.
Residential plumbingOpening the cottage in spring without water damage
The recommended order for turning the water back on at the cottage: inspection, repressurizing, water heater, drains and well water testing.
- French drains
Clogged or missing French drain: how to tell
Water at the wall-slab joint, orange sludge in the sump pit: the signs of a clogged or missing French drain, and how its condition is confirmed.
French drainsDamp basement: French drain, waterproofing and insulation
Condensation or groundwater? What can be corrected without excavation and, when digging is needed, the advantages of a complete project.
- Wells and pumps
Pressure tank: the signs it needs replacing
A pressure tank usually shows signs of wear for several weeks before it fails. Here is how to recognize them, and why a tank at the end of its life should not be re-inflated.
- Wells and pumps
Well pump that keeps turning on and off: the causes
A well pump that starts and stops every few seconds signals a problem that should be corrected promptly. Here are the most common causes and the checks you can make.
- Residential plumbing
Plumbing emergency at night: what to do while you wait
Shut off the water, cut the pump or water heater if needed, stay away from the panel if the basement is flooded, and photograph the damage: the right steps, in order.
- Wells and pumps
No water at the cottage? What to check before you call
When the water stops at the cottage, a few simple checks will usually point to the cause. Here is what to look at, and what is best left to a professional.
- Thawing and heat cable
Heat cable: where it goes and how to tell if it's working
A well-chosen, properly installed heat cable protects a pipe that is exposed to freezing. Here is where it belongs, the rules for each type, and the checks to make every season.
- Thawing and heat cable
Frozen pipes: how to thaw them safely, and when to stop
A frozen pipe thaws with gentle heat and patience, never with a flame. Here is the safe method, and the situations where it is better to call a plumber.
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