Frequently Asked Questions
We appreciate every call that comes in as a locally owned, plumbing and heating specialist in Calgary. Here are some commonly asked questions with regards to our business, furnace emergencies, general furnace / hot water tank maintenance, and more!
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Have any other questions? Feel free to give us a call, text, or fill out our message form
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How much will this repair / installation cost?
While we can provide estimates for some items over the phone such as basic service calls, plumbing and heating jobs can vary widely in cost. We do however offer flat rate pricing for things such as faucet installation or repair, water softer install or replacement, plugged drains, humidifiers and hot water tank replacement or repair but most projects require an on site inspection. We provide complimentary on site estimates for larger projects such as basement bathroom additions, master en-suite renovations, gas line installs, furnace replacement, air conditioning , shower rough-ins, garage heaters, on-demand hot water and boilers. Give us a call and we would be happy to discuss your project with you! No job is too small.
What is your workmanship warranty?
Poulin Plumbing & Heating warranties all our work over and above manufacturers warranties. All our labour is covered for 3 years against any defects or failure related to installation. We supply only the most premium products including Rheem furnaces and air conditioners which carry a 10 year manufacturers warranty. From water heaters and furnaces to plumbing repairs or faucet installation you can rest assured the job has been done right and will last for many years to come. We prefer not to see you for the same issue more than once!
Why does my furnace keep shutting off?
Why is my furnace not working?
Issue: The blower runs continuously but only cold air is coming out of the vents
Possible Solution: turn off the power to the furnace and check the furnace filter, if its dirty put in a new one, reset the power and turn up the thermostat. if that doesn't resolve the issue call us for service. Always ensure the batteries in your thermostat are good as well.
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Issue: The furnace inducer runs continuously but the burners won't fire
Possible Solution: inspect the furnace intake and exhaust piping on the side of the house to ensure there is no snow, ice or other obstruction restricting airflow. If there's no obstruction or the furnace is a mid-efficient model this could be a pressure switch issue or control board fault and you should call us right away.
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These are just a couple basic issues that could arise with your furnace and could be easily rectified by the property owner, any other issues are usually related to burner or control problems and need to be diagnosed by a licensed HVAC technician. Poulin Plumbing & Heating is available to quickly troubleshoot any issue with your gas heater or furnace. We service and repair all brands of furnace or hot water tank and proudly install Rheem furnaces and air conditioners.
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How often should I service my furnace?
As a homeowner there are some basic housekeeping items you can do to save a service call when old man winter rears his ugly head. Changing your filter is the most important maintenance item you can perform as a homeowner to prevent premature blower motor failure or heat exchanger fatigue. Always ensure the arrows are pointed toward the furnace and if you have an older furnace use a filter with a lower merv rating or a throwaway filter. Clean your ducts at least every 3 years and get a furnace tune-up every 2 years to ensure your heating system is running as efficiently as possible.
When servicing your furnace we at Poulin Plumbing & Heating complete a thorough safety and operational check of your furnace and heating system. We perform a 25 point systems check to ensure your furnace is safe and efficient. We will advise if there are any components that require replacement or repair without any pushy sales tactics. We appreciate being a homeowner can be expensive and we are always honest about what is urgent and what can wait. If you end up needing a furnace repair due to no heat or a full furnace replacement we offer premium products at competitive prices.
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How often should I service my hot water tank?
Your Hot water tank or on-demand hot water heating system is one of the most taken for granted comforts we have and when they fail it's very inconvenient. There a a few housekeeping items you can do to prevent your hot water tank or on-demand water heater from going out. For starters, a water softener is a must have in Calgary with our fresh HARD rocky mountain water. If you prefer to go without a water softener then it is imperative that your drain and flush your hot water tank every year to remove hard water deposits from accumulating at the bottom of the tank. Hard water deposits cause your hot water heater to burn more natural gas than is necessary to heat the the water. Changing the sacrificial anode every 4 years will also greatly extend your hot water tank lifespan as it prevents corrosion of the inner lining and premature hot water tank leaking.
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On-demand water heaters are much more efficient than traditional hot water tanks and also require maintenance. Manufacturers recommend having a water softener in regions such as Calgary due to our extremely hard water, this maintains the warranty and also reduces costly repairs or premature water heater failure and no hot water problems. Tankless water heaters need to be flushed at least every 2 years and should be serviced as often by a qualified technician.
Do high-efficiency products really make a difference?
Replacing your furnace with a high-efficient furnace can save you thousands! going from a natural draft furnace to a high efficient unit will pay you back within 4 years and within 6 years from a mid-efficient when factoring in natural gas savings. Poulin Plumbing & Heating offers Rheem high efficient furnaces that carry 10 year parts and lifetime heat exchanger warranty. We guarantee our labour for 3 years and we pull permits all of our installs. We direct vent our furnaces which means air is taken directly from outdoors for combustion and exhausted directly outdoors, this eliminates the need for cold air combustion pipe in the mechanical room and thus reduces cold air in the basement! Some installers will only run exhaust to outside and draw combustion air from the room, this saves them money but will end up costing you more on your gas bill. We take pride in ensuring our high efficiency furnace installations are just that! efficient!
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Replacing your natural draft hot water tank with a high efficient power vented hot water tank will cut your bills down substantially especially if there are multiple bathtubs, showers or body-sprays in your home. A power vented tank is an excellent option if you're looking at a more efficient option without stepping up to a tankless hot water system. They offer excellent hot water capacity and recovery with less maintenance than an on demand water heater. They use much less natural gas than a tradition tank but much more hot water.
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Replacing your current hot water tank with a tankless water heater, weather it's a power vented or atmospheric style, will cut your utility bill in half! They only heat the water that you use instead of keeping a large volume of water hot regardless of if its being used or not. Tankless water heaters are the most efficient and cost effective way to supply endless hot water to you and your family. We at Poulin Plumbing & Heating proudly install Vesta on demand water heaters. These European designed boilers are made in Korea and come with a 12 year heat exchanger warranty as well as 5 years on all other components, that's better than any tank style water heater!
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Should I repair or replace my furnace system?
Deciding whether to repair or replace your current furnace system is dependent on multiple factors such as age of furnace, how well it's been maintained and the current condition of major components.The best way to maintain your furnace is to have annual maintenance inspections to catch issues before a furnace breakdown and prevent more costly repairs in the future. Things such as blower motors, control boards or inducer motors con be costly repairs and depending on the age of your furnace it may be better to invest in a whole new furnace than sink hard earned money into the old one. Issues such as a dirty flame sensor, failed pressure switch, or cracked hot surface igniters are lower cost repairs and would make sense to repair.
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Ways to extend the life of your furnace include booking a tune-up every 1 or 2 years to ensure it is running optimally, Change the furnace filter every 2 to 3 months and have your ducts cleaned every 2 years, or every year if you have fur babies. If you're furnace is high efficient make sure it never runs without a filter as this can plug up the secondary heat exchanger causing no heat by tripping the high limit switch. It can also lead to less efficient cooling or freeze up of the air conditioning evaporator coil. Contact us to book your next service or for a complimentary in home evaluation.
Should I repair or replace my hot water tank?
A hot water tanks useful life is 6 to 10 years and varies depending on how well it has been maintained, the demand that's been put on it over the years and the water quality in the plumbing system, ie is there a water softener or not? Sometimes a tank that is older may be worth repairing if its a simple fix such as a thermocouple/thermopile or flammable vapour sensor tripped. If a more expensive component such the gas control or blower fan fails and the water heater is over 5 years old or out of warranty then it would be more economical to install a new water heater. Sometimes a T&P valve may blow and leak water, this may be caused by either a water pressure issue or simply an expired temperature and pressure relief valve. The installation of a pressure reducing valve (PRV) or a new T&P valve would easily resolve this issue.
Tank manufacturer warranties are typically 6 years but old hot water tanks will have an 8 year warranty. You can search the warranty by going to Bradford White, Rheem or AO Smith website and searching your units serial number. This will tell you your water heaters date of production as well as warranty expiration date. If you're in need of a hot water repair or require a new hot water heater please do not hesitate to contact us today.
Is a water softener really worth it?
Calgary has extremely hard water and as a home or business owner your best defense against it's damaging effects is a water softener! We at Poulin Plumbing & Heating proudly offer high efficient Aquamaster Pro softeners. Made in the USA, these units come with a 10 year warranty and also backed by our 3 year installation and labour warranty. A water softener is a wise investment in your home as it will save you thousands on costly plumbing repairs. The problems hard water can cause are numerous and include toilet fill valve failure, faucet cartridge wear, shower head and tub filler calcification, kitchen faucet leaking and dripping problems, water pipe leaking issues, pipe bursts, water valves seizure, toilet flapper wear and premature hot water tank or tankless water heater failure. When you add up the potential cost of plumbing repairs that will be required over the years of not having a water softener the decision is an easy one! Call Poulin Plumbing & Heating today for a complimentary in home evaluation and quote.
What are common toilet issues ?
Hearing water run continuously in one of your toilets? its likely that the flapper or flush valve has worn and requires replacement.
Your toilet is not filling with water? the toilet fill valve could be calcified or failed completely.
Perhaps the toilet is sweating onto the floor due to very high usage? consider an insulated toilet tank!
Is your toilet loose or rocking ? the toilet flange could be cracked and this eventually will lead to the toilet leaking onto the floor or ceiling below.
We offer full toilet tank rebuild or replacement as well as complete toilet repair of replacement. Contact us today for your toilet repair needs.
Should I replace my Poly B water pipes ?
Homes built from the early 70' to mid to late 90's may have water lines plumbed in poly b pipe. It can be identified as a light grey plastic pipe with copper or plastic fittings and copper crimp rings. Poly B plumbing is prone to leaks and bursts especially from hot water. There a few things you can do to maintain your poly b but unfortunately it is only a matter of time before it leaks or bursts. Installation of a chlorine reducing water softener, running hot water at 125 degrees F and installing a pressure reducing valve can all help to increase the lifespan of your poly b piping. The clearest indication that your poly b is failing is when it starts to develop small pinhole leaks in short succession. Do not waste money repairing small sections of pipe as this issue will only accelerate in frequency. Replacement of poly b with modern PEX piping is the best solution to avoid costly and disruptive insurance claims. Contact us today for a poly b re-pipe of your water lines.
What are common Issues with humidifiers ?
Whole house humidifiers offer relief from Alberta's dry air all year round and they seamlessly integrate into most HVAC systems. They do require maintenance and can experience failure. below are some common issues and solutions to those common humidifier problems.
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My humidifier is turned up at the humidistat and water is flowing down the drain yet the house seems to be dry. Ensure that the damper is in the open position providing ample airflow across humidifier media pad. Ensure system is wired correctly to force the HVAC blower to run during humidification demand. Check media pad to confirm saturation .
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My humidistat clicks but no water flows into the unit. Check for 24 volts at solenoid, if power is present then the solenoid needs replacement. If no power present there is a control or wiring issue and you need to call a certified technician.
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My humidifier is leaking from the front cover onto the floor. The most likely reason for this is that the media pad is plugged with calcification and requires replacement. There is also a chance that the flow restrictor or distribution fitting has failed and is allowing too much water to enter the media pad.
We at Poulin Plumbing & Heating can supply and install bypass or steam humidifiers in your home utilizing the existing furnace or boiler system ducting. We install Aprilaire as well as General Aire but we service or repair all brands of humidifiers.
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Serving Calgary and the surrounding areas for all your plumbing and heating installation or repair needs!