Whether your hiring a plumber, roofer, carpenter or mover, its important to be a smart consumer and research the company you are going to hire.

Here are some reliable review website’s that ensure truthful reviews from real customers:

• The first and most important place to start is the Better Business Bureau. Here is the site for Vancouver and The Lower Mainland: http://mbc.bbb.org/find-business-reviews/ I always find if I google the keywords “BBB and the location”, that will bring up the BBB you are looking for. There are certain standards that the BBB holds in the marketplace and the businesses that belong to the BBB hold these high standards. The BBB maintains a level of trust and honesty in the marketplace, so be a smart shopper and start with the BBB first.

• Home Stars: http://homestars.com Here you can find customer reviews on home service trades. The founder actually made this website, because she herself found it challenging finding the right contractors. Home Stars is very secure, I once tried adding a review from one of our customers, and it actually tracks your IP address and my review was rejected as they had my IP address recorded under Papa Plumbing. So there is definitely no false reviews or contractors putting up their own reviews. This is what Home Stars says: “We’re rigorous about ensuring that reviews are real and provide substantive information about the job and the quality of the work such that others can learn from the information provided. We are constantly improving our review verification process to ensure we have only high quality reviews on the site. Business owners are also free to respond to both positive and negative reviews, demonstrating their openness to feedback and improving their service”.
  

• Yelp: www.yelp.ca Yelp has over 50 million users and over 18 million local reviews. They are also members themselves of the BBB and maintain an “A” rating. I often check out reviews on Yelp for local eating spots. They have a smart phone app, which makes it easy to look up reviews when your on the go.
  

• Gigpark: http://www.gigpark.com/. This review website is powered by Canpages. Its also very user-friendly to use and offers real reviews from real consumers.
  

I also found using the FourSquare app or site: https://foursquare.com/ also helps. If you are at a place, you can read tips that previous consumers have left.

When you google the company, there is also a place on Google Maps which allows you to see reviews for that particular company. This also can be useful when hiring a contractor.

Its also important to realize that contractors sometimes do get negative reviews from consumers. Not all businesses are perfect! But its how the company reacts to those negative reviews that counts. Has the company taken that extra care to respond to complaints on these review sites? Did the business make a honest effort to resolve the issues? How long has the company been in business? The BBB report does a great job of outlining the company profile and complaint history. I am attaching a copy of our BBB report so you can see what it looks like and how easy it is to understand.

I am sure there are many more websites that offer great reviews, please feel free to leave comments below on any websites I have missed.

Wishing everyone success in their quest to find a contractor that suits your needs and budget. It is advisable to get 3 quotes when hiring a contractor, and of course be a smart shopper and do your research …

oh I almost forgot: GO CANUCKS GO !!

Every few months or so our supplier of heating and cooling products, Carrier Canada offers rebates for products installed. Please visit the Carrier website to download the form. If you have any questions, please click here for the Carrier question and answer section.

This is the latest rebates Carrier is giving away:

Carrier Cool Cash Rebate – Up to $1,250 Rebate or 10 year full warranty This Spring Carrier is offering consumers an incentive to purchase and install a new heating and cooling system in their home – the better the system, the bigger the rebate*! On qualifying products, consumers can receive up to a $1,250 rebate on a Carrier system, up to $350 rebate on a Carrier furnace, or $400 on a Carrier air conditioner. Additional rebates are also be available on Carrier generators, Infinity Air Purifiers, and other heating and cooling accessories. See brochure below or contact Vancouver plumbing and heating company, Papa Plumbing for product specific details. Key promotion dates to keep in mind: Purchase between Feb 18 and June 30, 2011 Installations Deadline, Jul 15, 2011 Rebate claims Deadline, Jul 21, 2011 (6pm CST) Please download the rebate table for eligible rebates: 2011_Spring_CC_matrix_Feb_18_FINAL_-_dealer_contribution_amounts.pdf Download this file

A common problem when Vancouver plumbing experts attend homes with floods is that the home owners are unable to find the shut off valves. Finding these will prevent severe damages in case of a flood.

Whether you are moving into a new house or you have been living in your house for years, your priority should be locating the shut-off valve for the domestic water supply. Once you have located this, make sure you know how to use it to shut off the water.

With Vancouver winters being full of snow and freezing temperatures, it is easy for pipes to freeze and burst. Knowing how to turn off your water immediately will save you thousands of dollars in damages and a lengthy insurance claim !

Where could your shut off be? Inside the house at the point where the water comes in from the street, backtrack along the cold water supply line to find it.

The indoor shut-off is usually one of two types: a round gate valve like the ones on outdoor faucets or a ball valve that is operated with a lever.

A gate valve is closed by turning the handle clockwise.

A ball valve by moving the lever 90° to the right.

Once you locate the valve test it by turning on water in a nearby sink and then closing the valve. If the sink shuts off, you have found the correct valve. Make sure to label the valve or hang a tag on it so the rest of the family can find it.

If you can’t shut off the water – it might have been years since anyone tried to turn that handle – use a lubricant such as WD-40 and a wrench to loosen it up then remember to test it every year or so.

If the lubricant and wrench don’t work, be sure to call a Vancouver plumber – don’t force and break the connection.

Now for the outdoor shut-off, these valves can seize up after years in the ground. You may require a visit from your local city water department to get them going again. If this is the case, call them immediately, not when water is pouring out of the windows from an underground broken main !!

You might also ask your Vancouver plumber about putting a second shut-off valve inside the house where it belongs.

If there is ever an emergency Papa Plumbing is open 24/7, you can always call Papa. We would be able to guide you over the phone until a technician arrives on site.

Here is a list of City Water departments and their phone #’s in case of emergencies. If there is no answer or its after hours, you can contact your local fire department for guidance as well.

City of Vancouver: 604-873-7000

City of Surrey Engineering Department: 604-591-4340

City of Delta Engineering: 604-946-3260

City of Burnaby Engineering: 604-294-7944

City of Richmond: 604-276-4000

City of Coquitlam: 604-927-3500

City of Port Coquitlam: 604-927-5411

City of Langley: 604-534-3496

Township of Langley: 604-532-7300

City of White Rock: 604-541-2181

City of New Wesminster: 604-526-4691

City of North Vancouver: 604-988-2212

District of North Vancouver: 604-990-2450

City of West Vancouver: 604-925-7100

District of Maple Ridge: 604-463-5221

I hope I didnt leave any city out !!

In conclusion, all I can say is

GO CANUCKS GO !!!! BRING HOME THE STANLEY CUP !!!

Papa Manj from your local Richmond plumbing and heating company explains a boiler service. This particular boiler install was done in Surrey today. This week alone, we performed a Langley boiler installation, a Vancouver furnace installation and a Burnaby air conditioner installation. Its been a busy week ! These are the main points that Richmond plumbing and heating technicians will go through when they visit your home:

• Richmond plumber will Check operation of safety limit control controls.
• Richmond plumber will Check pressure relief valve.
• Richmond plumber will Check water pressure and temperature set points.
• Richmond plumber will Check expansion tank.
• Richmond plumber will Check operation of thermostat.
• Richmond plumber will Lubricate circulating pump as required.
• Richmond plumber will Check radiant floor temperature control device (mixing valve or equipment).
• Richmond plumber will Check pressure switches and vent blower (if applicable).
• Richmond plumber will Inspect burners and clean if required.
• Richmond plumber will Examine vent connector and inspect venting system.
• Richmond plumber will Check the vent damper operation (if applicable).
• Richmond plumber will Check and adjust pilot light (if applicable).
• Richmond plumber will Check flame rectification.
• Richmond plumber will Measure the stack (flute) temperature.
• Richmond plumber will Check gas piping to boiler.
• Richmond plumber will Check and adjust manifold gas pressure.
• Richmond plumber will Clock appliance to verify correct input.
• Richmond plumber will Combustion / ventilation air adequate.
• Richmond plumber will Check for elevated carbon monoxide levels.
• Richmond plumber will Inspect heat exchanger.
• Richmond plumber will Check temperature difference between supply and return piping.
• Richmond plumber will Check for Carbon Monoxide.

Hope you find this video helpful !

p21.mov Watch on Posterous

Here is a picture of the beautiful sunset in White Rock !

White Rock is so Beautiful ! Our heating installers and plumbers love working in the White Rock area, who wouldn’t ? This past year we worked in various Strata complexes in the White Rock area. Our heating technicians serviced furnaces, serviced boilers, and serviced fireplaces. We also have replaced several heating units in these White Rock Strata complexes. Here is a list of a few services Papa Plumbing has performed in the White Rock area:

White Rock Air Conditioner Repairs
White Rock Boiler Repairs
White Rock Boiler Installation
White Rock Furnace service
White Rock Furnace Installation
White Rock Heat Pump installation and repair
White Rock Garburator repair
White Rock Hot Water tank installation
White Rock Hot Water tank repair
Renovations in the White Rock area
White Rock sink repair
White Rock toilet repair
Unclogging drains in White Rock
Video pipeline inspection in White Rock

The above is to just name a few.

Our White Rock plumbing specialists, heating and drainage specialists are here to serve you ! You can use this coupon as well.

Call us for a free quote or for any job 604-538-1866 !

Get your furnace or fireplace serviced between May 1st-2011 to Oct 31st-2011 and you wil be eligible for a $25 Save-On-Foods™ gift card for each eligible appliance serviced.

This is the link to the Fortis BC website where you can download the application form and learn more information about this great promotion in Vancouver and all parts of BC.

A furnace service or fireplace by Vancouver plumbing and heating company, Papa Plumbing will include the following:

Furnace Service Check List

Gas Fireplace Inspection

• Clean glass and unit according to the manufactures guidelines.
• Check the entire vent system and termination for condition and operation.
• An inspection of the explosion relief flappers and glass door gaskets to ensure a proper seal
• An inspection of the burner, vents, and air openings.
• An inspection of the gas valve, gas components, and pilot systems.
• Verify correct operation of all optional equipment: fans, thermostats, remote control, safety switches.
• Keep the fireplace area clear and free of combustible materials, flammables or items that could be damaged from high heat.
• Test for carbon monoxide leaks.

Wow ! What a great first game against the San Jose Sharks !! Papa Plumbing loves the Canucks. Here is a picture of our plumbing technicians, heating technicians and drainage technicians with Fin ! Can’t wait until Game 2 !! Go Canucks Go. I should mention the Stanley Cup was made by sheet metal expert Mike !

Vancouver Furnace Heating Technician Mike