HOUSE INSURANCE MAY NOT COVER FLOOD DAMAGE

CBC News  (GO PUBLIC) reported today (April 20/15) that in some cases if a homeowner leaves their home for more than FOUR DAYS  IN THE WINTER and there is a flood due to BURST pipes, they may not cover the damage. Apparently there is a clause in most policies which require the homeowner to have someone check the house on a regular basis for heat.

I always recommend that homeowners TURN OFF THE WATER when leaving the house for extended periods.  A toilet that breaks can flood the house for example.

During extreme cold where there is a risk of the water supply freezing (such as happened in Toronto this past winter), leaving a cold water tap open enough to allow the water to flow constantly may prevent freezing.  The cost in water is much lower than having your pipe thawed or repaired due to expansion splits.

I DO HOUSE CHECKS so please call me if you need your property monitored while gone for extended periods.

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE www.cbc.ca/news/gopublic

 

JUNE 17/15 - CBC radio's GO PUBLIC published a story regarding a Waterloo, Ontario, couple's dilemma with their insurance company which refused to cover flooding from a sprinkler system which burst while they were  on vacation. They had turned off the water but left the sprinkler system active in accordance with city/fire codes. Makes sense to leave that on in case of fire but who could predict the system would freeze? The insurance company refused their claim and it's now before the courts.

Another example of how insurance companies find ways to deny claims and one more reason to check carefully the full policy and get in writing any EXCLUSIONS so as to be on the same page regarding what's covered and what's not. 

DRAIN & TILE REPAIR

A clogged drain led to replacement of a section of pipe (done by a plumber). The trap section broke off due to corrosion of the metal which made it impossible to attach a new fitting.  About a foot of hair was removed from the pipe!

If you  have a hole in your wall due to a repair like this, I can fix it. Complex plumbing issues I leave to the pros.

BACKSPLASH INSTALL

Customer designed the pattern which was challenging due to differing thickness of mosaics. Metal edge helps tie into other metal work in the space.

APPLIANCE PROBLEMS? NEWS UPDATE SEE BELOW

CBC TV recently ran a good report about appliance issues.  Some of my customers have experienced major issues with new appliances which proves the point. Consumers need to demand manufacturers make products that last!

Here is the link to the episode:
http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/episodes/2014-2015/appliances-repairmen-unplugged

WARNING!!!  (Updated April 24/15)
LG Refrigerators issue: Does your fridge's lights stay on? Look at this CBC news i em

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYZM4N4w2Yc

WALTEC NOW OWNED BY DELTA

Looking for parts for your WALTEC faucet? Look for DELTA parts. Delta apparently bought up Waltec (says the plumbing guy at Home Depot)

Does your WALTEC kitchen faucet drip? The culprit is a rubber spring-loaded  washer in the base of the water inlet  under the cartridge. Parts are cheap but tough to replace. Plumber's grease will help to insert it.  www.waltecfaucets.ca

NO FLOW? CHECK FOR CRUD

Whether it's water coming in or going out, it needs to flow. If the water exiting the faucet is slow it could be a clogged aerator, the screen that attaches to the end of the faucet.    SEE PHOTO

Once cleaned the flow will return to normal. Same applies to shower head screen and washing machines with an in-line filter.

As for drains, the leading cause of a plugged drain is hair. Look into the drain and if the cross member is clogged with hair, pull out the hair mass with a pair of needle nose pliers or other similar tool. Check the drain by opening the taps and notice the flow. If the obstruction was completely removed the water should quickly travel down the drain. There should be no pooling of water in the basin regardless of how open the taps are.

Once a month run some degreaser though all your drains to keep them flowing smoothly.

NOTE: In older homes with steel pipes (supply and drain) rust can build up inside the pipe, restricting flow. Sometimes the corrosion is so bad it causes perforation which may become worse if the pipe is disturbed.

YOUR NOSE KNOWS - WEIRD ODORS ANYONE?

Recently I diagnosed a potentially dangerous issue with a dryer. The customer complained of an odor from the dryer. I discovered the plug and receptacle were corroded and the resulting arcing on one terminal had caused overheating at the point of contact, leading to melting of the plug base which was where the odor originated.

An electrician replaced the faulty parts.

CHECK YOUR DRYER  & STOVE  PLUGS: TURN OFF THE POWER TO THE DRYER/STOVE AND PULL THE PLUG OUT OF THE RECEPTACLE. IF ALL IS GOOD, THE PINS SHOULD LOOK SHINY. IF ANY SIGNS OF CORROSION OR BLACKNESS, HAVE  A PROFESSIONAL INSPECT IT.