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It’s getting chilly out there which means the chances of your pipes freezing or cracking and causing problems inside your home are increased. Get ahead of the cold weather and have the professionals at Marvel Plumbing & Drainage winterize your fixtures and pipes to avoid costly emergency repairs over the holidays! We can help you to insulate pipes, flush and check drain taps, and shut off any valves that you won't need to use over the winter, but which could be prone to freezing and cracking. While we’re there, we can also do a complimentary safety inspection of your home's interior fixtures to make sure that you won't have any unwanted surprises over the holidays. As always, our plumbers put your safety and the safety of your home as a top priority. We’re happy to answer any questions you have and provide you with timely and affordable solutions. Plus, our technicians are always showing up wearing a mask and gloves, and shoe covers when possible while working in your home. With enhanced cleaning and sanitization protocols in place, we’re keeping our customers and our team safe and healthy, and giving you peace of mind - something we could all use a little more of these days! Thanks as always for reading, & we hope you’re keeping well this upcoming Holiday Season!

It’s one of the easiest fixtures in your home to take for granted, until it breaks down - your hot water heater. Quite often we get panicked phone calls from home owners saying that they have no hot water in their home, or their tenants have complained about cold showers. They want it fixed, and they want it now! Staying on top of regular maintenance for your hot water tank is easy and cost effective. Whether you have a gas or electric tank, we recommend having your tank fully drained and refilled at least once per year. Doing this quick and easy procedure will ensure that any sediment, debris, or other by-products of your water system will be eliminated from the tank, keeping it running at maximum efficiency and effectiveness. It’s also important for home owners to know when a hot water tank is on its last legs. You may get warning signs, such as the most tell-tale one - the once "hot" water is now just warm or even lukewarm. If you find that you’re turning your shower or faucet handles further and further to the hot side to get a comfortable temperature for bathing or cleaning, it’s probably a good indication that your hot water tank is reaching or past its expiry. Hot water tanks typically last 6-9 years, which is the time frame we recommend you replace them in. At Marvel Plumbing, we provide fast, friendly, and efficient hot water tank replacement service. We can often do these jobs same-day, since we know how much of a priority it is for everyone to have hot water in their home. Whether your hot water tank is located in a crawl space,  basement, or hard to reach area, we’ll find a way to get the job done while being affordable for you and offering terrific value including a comprehensive warranty and disposal of your old tank. Give us a call [...]

We use water all the time and we like it best when it is flowing from the taps. Well, sometimes water can cause more harm than good when it finds its way where it is not needed. Think about your reaction when you come home and hear the sound of running water somewhere when there is no one at home. The first response for most people would be to run to where the sound is coming from hoping that none has spilled over into dry areas of the house. Water damage is pretty expensive and might even cause you to loose sentimental items which you might never be able to replace. Here are some tips that will put you at ease even when you are sure that your taps are open when they should not be;  If you have an old washing machine, dishwasher or tank supply lines, replace them regularly to maintain a steady flow of water when it is running through these hoses. Old pipes tend to accumulate dirt and this may hander the flow of water to the point where leaking takes place. If you do not arrest such leaks, the water might end up on walls, fittings, and floors.  Do you have some old angle stops or have discovered that some do not shut completely? It is time to replace them because loose angle stops have the potential to cause serious water damage. Before you replace the affected angle stops, close the water supply from the mains to get the water to stop dropping.  Winter comes with its fair share of plumbing emergencies. If you have some water lines on the exteriors of the premises where they can freeze, better locate them and relocate them to a warmer part of the building. If such pipes are left as they are, the cold will freeze any water flow and you will lack water during winter. Worse still, [...]

Biggest Plumbing Myths When information is passed down through generations, it can be hard to tell if it is true or not. Some of these myths are harmless but others are so detrimental that you would rather know about them than stay in the dark. By getting familiar with some of the biggest myths that surround plumbing, it will become easier to maintain the plumbing systems around you. Here are the most common; You can dispose garbage safely in the toilet It is true that toilets are one of the most durable plumbing items in any home but they are there to serve a specific purpose. When you look at the toilet, refrain from thinking about it as a drain for other things other than human waste and tissue paper. The damage might not happen there and then but when you get into the habit of flushing grease, food remains, sanitary towels, baby wipes/diapers and even cotton wool, it is just a matter of time and your toilet will not hold anymore. Pouring boiling water over drains unclogs them Since a good amount of grease finds its way down the drain, pouring hot water through the system is assumed to melt the grease. The truth is that hot water can sometimes harden the grease. The only way to remove grease in drain pipes is to prevent it from getting in there. If the pipes need cleaning, get a professional to do it. If water is flowing down the drain, everything is ok Well, not quite! If a blockage is developing further down from the draining point, it might be a while before any significant change is noted. Be wary of slow draining of water and most importantly, always make sure that there is a filter in the drain to catch any large debris particles. All faucets leak That is not true and in the real sense, even a little dripping [...]

     Do you know what can happen to plumbing pipes during the winter? If you didn’t know, falling temperatures in the winter could cause plumbing pipes’ bursting. As a result, you will face water leakages, water shortages and uncalled for costs dealing with the mess. You can, however, steer clear of the mayhem by preparing the plumbing pipes in advance for winter. How? Inspect Walls, Doors and Crawl Spaces for Cracks Cracks expose your plumbing pipes to freezing. When cold air seeps through the cracks, it causes the pipes to freeze. So, ensure you thoroughly inspect the pipes and the walls for any cracks. Seal all the cracks and use caulking or spray foam to protect the plumbing pipes from the penetrating cold air. Fix Leaks Leakages in plumbing pipes are a significant cause of pipe bursts. Cold air interacting with water causes freezing inhibiting smooth water flow and pressurizes the pipes to burst. You, therefore need to check the pipes and repair leaks. Plus, leave cabinets near sinks open to allow heat access to the pipes. Plumbing Pipes Insulation Insulating the pipes has several benefits to your home. First, it steadies water temperatures preventing contraction, which causes bursts. The insulation can also help prevent energy loss in hot-water pipes. Thus it is the most reliable way of protecting pipes during winterizing. Insulating plumbing pipes is something you can do yourself. You can purchase polythene or fibreglass insulation from a local store or online. Before insulation, wrap the ducts in heat tapes for stronger protection against freezing. Inspect the whole area to find if there are exposed plumbing pipes in unheated areas. Check the garage, basement and attics. You must insulate both cold and hot water pipes. Letting Cold Water Drip From Faucets Whenever you suspect it will be extremely cold, allow water to drip from faucets throughout the night. Allowing faucets to drip prevents pressure build-up in pipes [...]