Warning Signs of Drainage and Sewer Problems

Are you experiencing unusual problems with your fixtures? Your home might be telling you something. Watch out for these warning signs so you can call a professional to fix them right away:

Sewer odor
Without getting too far into building science, a general plumbing rule of thumb is that every drain needs a trap, and every trap needs a vent. All those traps and drains are designed to prevent sewer gas from entering your home. The vents in your home should channel sewer odor up to the roof, while drain traps create a “water plug” that acts as a barrier stopping sewer odors from coming through the sink drain. If you smell sewer gas in your home, that means either a trap has run dry or a vent line has cracked. A dry trap can be fixed as easily as refilling it with water, or you may need to examine it for signs of the leak. Tracking down a cracked sewer vent can be much more difficult, as they are often enclosed in a wall, and will require a bit of drywall surgery in order to find and repair. Source: FamilyHandyman

Slow drain
When one fixture is draining slowly, it probably means it’s clogged. Check to see if your drains need to be cleaned manually and use a plunger or drain cleaner to try to unclog them. When all of your fixtures are draining slowly, you may very well have a major plumbing problem on your hands. There might be an issue with your plumbing vent or perhaps tree roots are clogging the sewer line. As time goes on, slow draining fixtures can lead to water backing up. When it’s backing up in every fixture, it’s well past time to call a plumber. Source: TheArchitectsDiary

Gurgling sound
Unless you’ve just flushed it your toilet should be pretty quiet, so if you start to hear a gurgling noise, the fixture may be trying to tell you that there’s an underlying issue. Potential causes of a gurgling toilet include a blocked vent stack or even a blocked sewer line. Source: BobVila

Repairing sewage and drainage problems requires the tools and knowledge of an expert. Call us to get a free estimate!

 

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

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Protecting Your Home from Covid-19

Now that the whole world is in heightened alert due to the coronavirus, our homes should be a sanctuary where we won’t have to worry about getting infected. Keep your place safe by using the following tips:

Use bleach
According to Robyn Gershon, MHS, DrPH, a clinical professor of epidemiology at New York University’s School of Global Public Health, herbal-based cleaners haven’t been shown effective against neutralizing COVID-19 on common surfaces. If you’re heading out to buy cleaners and other disinfectants to keep your spaces germ-free, you may be best off buying a gallon of household-friendly bleach, Gershon says, as you’ll need to frequently disinfect highly-trafficked areas of the house during flu season (think: toilet seats, door handles, railings, and sink faucet handles).

Note that many common disinfectant products, including wipes and sprays, need to stay wet on a dirty surface for a certain amount of time to actually be effective, says Carolyn Forte, Director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab. “If you’re using it for a matter of seconds, it’s not going to work. You’ll want to use another cleaner in this case.” Lysol wipes, for example, can sanitize a surface in as little as 10 seconds, according to the product’s instructions; but in order to fully disinfect a surface, however, Forte says the manufacturer requires you to “leave the surface visibly wet” for at least 4 minutes. Depending on how many people live in your home, and whether or not they’re sick in the first place, you may need to change tactics from simply sanitizing something to fully disinfecting with bleach or other strong cleaning agents. Source: GoodHousekeeping

If bleach is unavailable, go for hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide isn’t only effective for whitening teeth — in fact, the CDC says that 3% hydrogen peroxide was able to inactivate rhinovirus within eight minutes. When you pour the substance directly on surfaces like your sink, countertops or toilets, you’ll need to let it soak for around 10-15 minutes. This will give it time to completely do its job. After you let it sit, scrub the area and then rinse with water.

It’s also safe to clean your toothbrush with hydrogen peroxide since the bristles can harbor bacteria. Source: Cnet

Don’t forget to put on to some gloves
The CDC recommends using latex gloves to while you disinfect household surfaces.

If you’re using reusable gloves, don’t use them for other purposes, and clean your hands immediately after the gloves are removed. Peel the gloves away from your body, pulling them inside out, and try not to let the outside of the glove touch your skin. Source: BusinessInsider

 

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

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Spring Cleaning Tips for Your Home’s Exterior

When you do your annual spring cleaning this year, don’t forget to give your home’s exterior some love, too! Take note of the following areas and include these tips in your checklist of things to do:

Roof
Spring is also a good time to examine your roof to see if winter snow and ice have caused any problems that need attention.

– Look for torn or missing shingles that might need replacement or repair.
– Pay particular attention to flashing around chimneys, plumbing vents, and other openings that are prone to leaks. Seal any gaps with roofing cement.
– Cover exposed nail heads with a dab roofing cement.
– Remove leaves, sticks, or other debris that has built up in valleys and against chimneys, porches, or dormers. Source: TodaysHomeowner

Deck
Everybody likes fungus on the deck! Oh wait, no one likes fungus on the deck — or mildew stains, dirt or weather-beaten patches.

It’s tempting to just bleach the whole thing will-nilly, but don’t give in. Pressure wash the deck and — this is easy enough — use an actual deck-cleaner solution.

When you’re done with all the washing, it’s time to restain. There are finishes and colors a-plenty, so you should be able to find whatever it is your heart desires. Look for something with a protective finish to repel water (and UV rays). Source: Home.HowStuffWorks

Other commonly ignored places
Windows: Washing windows and screens will give you a sparkling view of spring even if it’s still a bit too cold to be outside enjoying it as much as you want.

Gutters: Cleaning out rain gutters is a fall chore for many homeowners, but checking them again in the spring will ensure that no debris has become clogged in them during winter storms.

Siding: Pressure wash the siding of your home to remove grime. Be sure to start at the highest points of your home to avoid washing dirt down onto clean areas.

Garage: Cleaning out the garage will give you more space for summer equipment such as bikes, outdoor games, and gardening equipment. This may be a good time to hold a yard sale as well. Source: Cleaning.LoveToKnow

Don’t have the right tools to clean the areas we mentioned? We’ve got you covered. Call us today so we can give you a free estimate!

 

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

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Aluminum Decking

One of the latest trends in home design includes extending the living spaces outdoor. If you’re looking to start spending more time outside once the weather becomes less chilly, but you still don’t have a deck installed at home, why not make it your spring project? As you decide which material to choose for your deck, consider the following pros and cons of using aluminum:

ADVANTAGES

Stronger but lighter
Aluminum decking is three to four times lighter than the most popular wood decking species, but also two to three times stronger. It can be cut with the same saws used to cut wood. Many aluminum decks have interlocking edges, making them watertight. Self draining channels can dispose of rain water easily, and keep lower deck surfaces dry. Source: HGTV

Weather resistant
Aluminum is nonabsorbent and can’t be damaged by rain or snow. Since this material is impervious to moisture, it won’t warp, shrink, twist, crack, or splinter as wood does, nor is it attractive to mold or rot as many of the composite materials tend to be. What’s more, it won’t suffer sun damage like plastics. PS: It’s also rustproof and saltwater resistant – perfect for your beach cottage deck!

Fire resistant
When exposed to sparks or flame (as when you host a summer barbecue out on your deck), aluminum will not burn, char, or melt. Source: Networx

DISADVANTAGES

Appearance
Aluminum decking is often made to look like wood. However, even the best attempt at creating a wood grain appearance can never match up to the real thing. This may be a problem for some, while others will not care. It comes down to personal preference, but you should take a look at an example of aluminum decking before purchasing it yourself. The best-case scenario is to see an entire deck made of the substance as opposed to just a small section in a store. Source: EHow

Price
Aluminum decking is expensive. According to Black and Decker’s “The Complete Guide to Building Decks,” aluminum decks are typically more expensive than other alternatives, including wood, PVC vinyl and composite materials. The price of the aluminum decking depends on the size of the deck, professional installation charges, delivery charges (if any) and other hired services. Source: Hunker

If you want to skip the part where you have to stress out about building your own deck and just jump straight to relaxing on it once it’s done, give us a call and we’ll have it built for you in no time!

 

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

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