FATHER’S DAY IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER!

Bring that gas BBQ out of hibernation.  Check it out for cracked pipes or fittings, clean it up and get started. Summer is short in Calgary and we want to make the best of it.  Everyone loves a great steak or a juicy burger, especially Dad.

If you have purchased  a new BBQ, need it hooked up or require a gas line install, please note that you require a gas permit from the City and a licensed gas fitter.  Baker Plumbing’s gas fitters can make short work of supplying natural gas to your BBQ, ensuring your home and family’s safety and years of enjoyment.

Cost of a gas line depends upon the complexity and length.  It also depends upon whether or not your existing line, if you have one, needs to be upgraded to a larger size. If you require a quote, we will happily supply one.

 

Call us 403-279-7554 24/7 or at info@bakerplumbing.ca

SUMMER FURNACE MAINTENANCE

Be prepared with summer furnace maintenance and you will have the peace of mind to know that when it suddenly gets cold everything will be up and running.

  1. Examine your furnace set up and look for any damage
  2. If you use air conditioning you will already know these components are working. If not, check the thermostat and vents
  3. Make sure to change or clean furnace filters and run your furnace once before it gets cold
  4. Remove anything that may be flammable that might have been stored near your furnace while it wasn’t in use
  5. You must call a professional should you notice a crack in the heat exchanger. A cracked heat exchanger will cause carbon monoxide problems when you turn it on

Call Baker Plumbing for a furnace maintenance inspection and a qualified technician will ensure that your furnace is safe and working properly. We are available 24/7, online at info@bakerplumbing.ca  or call 403-279-7554

FIVE W’S OF DRAIN CLOGS

Clogged pipes are a nuisance and can be the cause of damage to your home. These 5 W’s are some of the common factors that will help determine why your plumbing isn’t  working properly.

WHOA THERE!

Be careful that you do not wash down your sink drain any large objects or grease.  That could be your problem right there. Protect your pipes from any abuse

WIDESPREAD CLOGGING

If more than one fixture in your home is clogged, especially if it is the toilets, it could be a sign of blockage in your sewer system. In this case, call a professional or the city

WEIRD DRAINING

Unusual effects after using a fixture, like one fixture causing another to back up is usually indicative of a sewer problem

WOODED AREAS

If you are experiencing draining issues and have a lot of trees on your property, you may be experiencing a root clog. Professional plumbers should be called to remove the root and keep the problem from recurring.

WORN PIPES

Sagging or cracked pipes can trap water and allow backfill which will affect drainage. These pipes will need to be replace by a professional. Baker Plumbing is at your service to solve any of these issues. Call 403-279-7554 24/7

SPRING FLOODING

 

Sump pumps are a great way to protect your home. Basement flooding can leave your home ruined, as well as your bank account.  A sump pump can help ensure that this issue remains a minor one, although, it must be properly maintained.

Short term cleaning can be completed every 3 or 4 months.  Clean the inlet screen and check the power cord for signs of wear and tear including rodents chewing through the cord.  Pour a bucket of water into the pump to confirm that the float rises and the pump turns on.

Once a year, remove the entire pump from the sump. Inspect for any issues and thoroughly clean. Do the same for the sump, if it needs oil or grease now is the time to do it .  Should it be time to replace it now is also the time to do that.

While none of this is too difficult you may want a professional to handle it.  Baker Plumbing has an excellent reputation for service and would handle your concerns with the expertise and commitment they are known for.

Call 403-800-3007 our phone line is open 24/7 or connect with us online

 

Furnace Information

Background

A furnace is a device that produces heat. Not only are furnaces used in the home for warmth, they are used in the industry for a variety of purposes such as making steel and heat treating of materials to change their molecular structure.

History

Central heating with a furnace is an idea that is centuries old. One of the earliest forms of this idea was invented by the Romans and called a hypocaust. It was a form of under-floor heating using a fire in one corner of a basement with the exhaust vented through flues in the walls that were connected to chimneys. This form of heating could only be used in stone or brick homes. It was also very dangerous because of the possibility of fire and suffocation.

Furnaces generate heat by burning fuel, but early furnaces burned wood. In the seventeenth century, coal began to replace wood as a primary fuel. Coal was used until the early 1940s when gas became the primary fuel. In the 1970s, electric furnaces started to replace gas furnaces because of the energy crisis. Today, the gas furnace is still the most popular form of home heating equipment.

Wood and coal burning furnaces required constant feeding to maintain warmth in the home. From early morning to late at night, usually three to five times a day, the furnace will require attention. In addition, the waste from the ashes from the burnt wood or coal must be removed and disposed.

Raw Materials

Today’s modern furnace uses stainless steel, aluminized steel, aluminum, brass, copper, and fiberglass. Stainless steel is used in the heat exchangers for corrosion resistance. Aluminized steel is used to construct the frame, blowers, and burners. Brass is used for valves, and copper in the electrical wiring. Fiberglass is used to insulate the cabinet.

Design

The original gas furnace consisted of a heat exchanger, burner, gas control valve, and an external thermostat, and there was no blower. Natural convection or forced air flow was used to circulate the air through large heating ducts and cold air returns to and from each room. This system was very inefficient—allowing over half of the heated air to escape up the chimney.

Today’s gas furnace consists of a heat exchanger, secondary heat exchanger (depending on efficiency rating), air circulation blower, flue draft blower, gas control valve, burners, pilot light or spark ignition, electronic control circuitry, and an external thermostat. The modern furnace is highly efficient—80-90%, allowing only 10-20% of the heated air to escape up the chimney.

When heat is requested from the thermostat, the burners light and heat is run through the primary heat exchanger. The heated air then flows through the secondary heat exchanger (90% efficient furnace only) to the exhaust flue and chimney. The average furnace has three heat exchangers each producing 25,000 BTUs for a total of 75,000 BTUs. A flue draft blower is placed in the exhaust flue to supercharge the burners and increase efficiency. The heat exchangers perform two functions: transfer heated air from the burners to the home and allow dangerous exhaust gases to escape up the chimney. The transferred heated air is circulated throughout the home by a large blower and heating ducts.