The best homemade drain cleaner is baking soda. Baking soda can be used along with vinegar or lemon juice to create a strong and effective homemade drain cleaner that is safe for your home's pipes.

To unclog your drains using baking soda and vinegar or lemon juice, pour one cup of baking soda then one cup of white vinegar or lemon juice down the drain. Allow this to sit for an hour then pour down a few cups of boiling water. If this doesn’t work the first time, repeat as necessary.

If your homemade drain cleaner isn’t working, call an experienced provider of drain cleaning plumbers near you to take a look. A professional plumber will be able to determine what is causing the clogged drain and how to fix it.

Drain cleaners can be bad for pipes. This is particularly true for chemically costic drain cleaners. 

Chemical drain cleaners create a chemical reaction in your pipes. This results in heat being emitted. It is this heat that can be bad for your pipes. Older and plastic pipes, especially, can be damaged by chemical drain cleaners. If you have plastic pipes and you use a chemical cleaner, the heat may melt the plastic. This can result in leaks and further damage. As well, drain cleaners are not good for septic systems.

To avoid damaging your pipes, try another method of unclogging your pipe first. If you’re unsure, call a professional drain cleaning plumber services provider to help you get the job done right.

If your drain is clogged with hair, baking soda can dissolve hair in a drain. 

To try this safe and easy method at home - first, pour a cup of baking soda down the drain. Then pour a cup of vinegar (white vinegar) down. Allow the mixture to sit for several minutes. Keep an eye out for bubbling in the drain (this is caused by the reaction between the baking soda and vinegar). Once the bubbling stops, wait a few more minutes then pour some boiling water down the drain. Repeat until the clog is cleared. Keep at it, it can take a long time.

With a heavy-duty clog, you might need something more powerful. In this case, try snaking the drain, plunging it or calling a local Edmonton drain cleaning company to get the job done.

On average, sump pumps last about 10 years. As with any other appliance in your home, a sump pump can become damaged and may need to be replaced as it gets older or experiences more use. Unfortunately, unlike other appliances, it isn’t always obvious when a sump pump has reached the end of its life. In fact, this isn’t usually detected until the sump pump should be working but fails to do its job. In order to prevent your sump pump from failing when you need it most, it’s important to contact a professional plumber nearby to provide sump pump services if you notice that there is no water in the sump pit when your pump is running, if you see rust, if there is a musty or dank odour in your basement, if you hear strange noises coming from your sump pump or if the pump is failing to run automatically.

The amount of time it takes to get hot water from a new water heater depends on the size and type of hot water heater. A properly and professionally installed gas hot water heater will provide hot water most quickly. An average 40-gallon heater will only take about 30 to 40 minutes to provide heat water, while you can expect hot water from a larger tank (80-gallons) in approximately 60 to 70 minutes. Electric hot water tanks, on the other hand, will take a little longer. For an average 40-gallon electric heater it will take about 60 to 80 minutes and for an 80-gallon tank about 2 hours.

The strongest drain cleaner is an acidic drain cleaner. When you have a clogged drain, it’s always best to try snaking or plunging it first. This method will ensure you do not damage your pipes. If that fails, give a drain cleaning product a try (at your own risk). 

Different types of drain cleaners have different uses. When you have a tough clog - hair, food, grease, soap scum, paper - an acidic drain cleaning product will be your best bet.

Keep in mind that you should never use chemical drain cleaning products in a completely clogged drain. These types of clogs require the product to sit in the drain for an extended period and this can cause damage to your pipes.
If a drain cleaning product doesn’t cut it, plumbing contractors in Edmonton can help. Contact a local, experienced plumber to have your drains unclogged and working like new in no time.

Installing a water softener doesn’t take too long when a professional technician is completing the installation. As long as no unforeseen setbacks or problems are encountered, a professional plumber should be able to install a water softener in about two to three hours. Choosing to have your water softener installed by an expert is a good idea, as this will ensure that it is installed and working properly, helping to prevent problems down the road. In addition, water softeners are available in various makes and models and an experienced technician can help you find the best system for your home and your family.

Tankless water heaters are the most energy-efficient hot water systems on the market. In fact, tankless water heaters can be approximately 35% - 80% more efficient than traditional hot water tanks. 

Tankless hot water heaters can be powered by electricity or gas. However, gas-powered tankless heaters are more efficient. In addition to being more energy-efficient, tankless water heaters cost less to operate (up to 50% less than traditional hot water tanks) and last longer (up to double the lifetime).

The plumbing professionals at ProSolutions PHAC recommend the following high-efficiency tankless water heater:

• Noritz EZ111 (Gas Powered)

Please note: Although tankless water heaters are the most energy-efficient hot water system, they are not for everyone. Our guide to tankless water heaters can help you decide if a tankless heater is the best option for your home.