5stinky

Save water and money.

thosrbirnie — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 18:42:59 +0000

Water conservation not only saves the world’s water supply, it also saves you money! By changing your daily routine slightly you can save money by saving water. Here are some simple tips to help you with water conservation.

This first tip is pretty obvious but is ignored by a lot of people. Turn off your taps! When you’re shaving, brushing your teeth, washing your face etc. Letting the water run is wasteful so turn it off until its needed.

Installing a water aerator in your faucets will conserve about 5 to 10 gallons of water per person a day. Water aerators are inexpensive and can be found at most hardware stores.

Make sure you are washing full loads in the dishwasher and when doing laundry.

Don’t use your toilet as a waste basket.

Water lawns and plants in the early morning or at dusk. This will ensure the plants are getting the most of the water dispensed with as little evaporation as possible.

Ensure you have no leaking pipes, toilets or faucets.

These are simple tips that will help reduce the consumption of water in your home. Making small changes make a big impact.

Protective Plumbing Program

thosrbirnie — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 20:02:47 +0000

Some areas in Hamilton have been affected with basement flooding because of the severe storms this city has been hit with in the past year. Many residential property owners have experienced flood damage in their basements due to sewer surcharge. For homeowners that are proactively making improvements to their home to prevent this flooding from reoccurring the Protective Plumbing Program has been implemented. For residential property owners who qualify, this means a grant of up to $2000 is available for those replacing their backwater valve or sump pumps. For more information visit www.5stinky.com

Happy World Plumbing Day!

thosrbirnie — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 20:13:55 +0000

Ladies and gentlemen, today is World Plumbing Day and though it is not yet recognized in every city we have confidence that it will sweep the nation. After all, plumbers are a vital part of keeping every community running smoothly. We are committed to helping society with all of their plumbing issues, no matter how stinky they may be. So if you know a plumber today, show your appreciation and spread the word about World Plumbing Day! Without us, you would have to deal with your stinky situations alone!

How far are you willing to go to add another bathroom?

thosrbirnie — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 20:26:55 +0000

We’ve seen and experienced some REAL plumbing messes in our 65 year history. You wouldn’t believe some of the things we’ve found in people’s drains, pipes, toilets, etc.

That said, this is one of the ghastliest remodeling/plumbing nightmares I’ve ever seen… Martha Stewart, Colin & Justin, eat your heart out…

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2011/real_estate/1101/gallery.gallery_of_horrors/index.html

The Deep Freeze… Snowmeggedon… I suppose it could be worse!

thosrbirnie — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 14:29:42 +0000

It’s -20 something across Southern Ontario. You’ve just come in from shoveling snow… you’re cold… bitter and in pain from slipping on a few ice patches underneath the snow… and all you can think about is getting into a nice warm bath or shower. It’s going to be so relaxing.

Ooops, wait, you can’t… you’ve got a bigger problem, your pipes have frozen.

If you open a faucet and no water comes out, don’t take any chances. Call a plumber. If a water pipe bursts, turn off the water at the main shut-off valve (usually at the water meter or where the main line enters the house); leave the faucet(s) open until repairs are completed. Don’t try to thaw a frozen pipe with an open flame, as this will damage the pipe and may even start a building fire. You might be able to thaw a pipe with a hand-held hair dryer. Slowly apply heat, starting close to the faucet end of the pipe, with the faucet open. Work toward the coldest section, and good luck.

Sigh… and it’s only early February!

5Stinky hits the blogs!

thosrbirnie — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 16:34:32 +0000

Forget about watching Mike Roe and the World’s Dirtiest Jobs… we’re going to give you a glimpse into that world right here in this blog! Yes, the plumbing business can be a crappy one (no pun intended), and yes, it’s a stinky business, but we love it.

Thos R Birnie & Sons has been servicing the Hamilton, Halton, and Niagara regions, in addition to the Tri-Cities for over 65 years! We provide the kind of service you would expect from a family business, built on honesty, hard work, and integrity.

We’ll update this blog regularly with questions & answers from the “Stink Link”, plumbing tips, maybe throw in a couple of horror stories for shock and awe! For you fans of DIY, this is one blog you’ll want to subscribe to!