Dependable Edmonton Plumbers

At Papa’s Plumbers, we treat every home like it’s our own—because that’s how family does it. We’re here whether you’ve got a leaky faucet, a clogged drain, or need an Edmonton plumber for water heater repairs.

Common Plumbing FAQs

What causes clogged drains?

Clogged drains can be one of the most common (and most frustrating) plumbing problems people face.

Things that can cause clogs include:

• Hair
• Food waste (garburator waste)
• Oils and grease
• Foreign items like kids toys or cutlery
• Pipe failures
• Human waste
• Excessive amounts of toilet paper
• Using paper towel or other heavy paper products that are not meant to go down the drain
• Cat litter
• And this is just the start!

How much does it cost to unclog a kitchen sink?

All clogs are different and they all take different equipment and amounts of time to clear. Unclogging a kitchen sink isn’t the same as clearing the drain. Punching a ⅜” hole through a grease clog in 1.5″ pipe will not solve the problem for long, but it is quicker to do. Cleaning the pipe for worry free years to come (with proper maintenance) takes longer and costs more.

In short, it all depends on the type of clog and your budget for repairs and maintenance.

Are garburators a good investment?

If used properly, a garburator can be a useful kitchen tool. Sadly we rarely use them in a manner that doesn’t eventually cause a drain issue. Most people have their own opinion on them and we have our opinion too. If you are debating having a garbuartor installed, one of our experienced technicians would be happy to provide you with all the information you need to make your own informed decision.

Does home insurance cover plumbing​ repair and replacements?

The answer to this depends on your insurance company and what type of plan you have. If you are wondering about whether potential repairs and replacements will be covered, it’s best to get in touch with your insurance provider.

Can a tenant call a plumber?

Anyone who has a phone is welcome to give us a call!

HOWEVER, by calling a plumber and scheduling a service call, you are also taking responsibility for payment. Most times, its best to have your landlord call or have them present to authorize the work and pay the bill.

How does a plumber find a water leak?

Water leaks can come from many different sources. Sometimes they are visible and sometimes they are not, sometimes there is access to the source of the leak and sometimes we need to cut holes in the ceiling or drywall. Some leaks are “active,” meaning that the water is continually dripping, and some only leak when a specific fixture is being used. Finding leaks and fixing them properly comes down to skill and experience. Like the old saying goes …”You don’t pay a plumber to bang on the pipe. You pay them for knowing where to bang.”

How to fix plumbing leaks​?

Different types of leaks call for various methods of repair.

Factors affecting the method of repair include:

• The type of pipe it is (drainage or potable supply)
• the material the pipe is made of (plastic, copper, or hybrid)
• Whether the leak is present in a pipe, a hose, a valve, or any other type of connection you can think of.

If your house is flooding, the first step is to find the main water shutoff valve. This is usually located close to the furnace or water heater in the basement (if you own a detached or semi-detached home), and close it.

This buys you time and stops additional water from flowing and damage from happening. At this point, you will likely be able to tell if the shutoff valve is in good condition and functional. If not, there will still be water flowing from source of the leak.  Then call a plumber!

Repairs can be anything from replacing the part that failed. This could be a hose, valve, or fixture. Repairs could also involve cutting out a damaged portion of pipe and replacing it with new. Something to keep in mind, is that patches are temporary, and should only function to buy you some time until you are able to get the issue fixed properly.

How do I find a good plumber​​?

Easy! Just call us – problem solved.

A good plumber is the same as a good mechanic, a good dentist, a good hairstylist. Sometimes you learn the hard way by figuring out who NOT to hire next time.  Sometimes you rely on word of mouth or even what their website looks like. Without going through a lot of trial and error, a good place to start is with the company where a real person that answers the phone, their knowledge level, and their compassion. This still doesn’t guarantee the plumbing experience of your dreams, but can give you an idea of the company and the happiness of their employees. At Papa’s Plumbing, we want the chance to earn your trust and become your go-to for all your plumbing and heating needs and repairs.

How often should you flush out drains​?

Depending on the level of use, kitchen sinks with garburators tend to need more  flushing than the toilet in the basement bathroom you never use. Floor drains need water added to them regularly, as they are prone to drying out. When the water evaporates from the floor drain and the drain gets dry, it can cause sewer gases to enter your home. Sometimes a bacteria can be added to your drains to help keep them flowing more freely, but this falls more under maintenance. If the drain is clogged, it needs to be cleared first.

Kitchen drains should be flushed more often. When everyone used to wash their dishes in the sink, the sink drains were flushed at least once a day with a sink full of dish water.  Then dishwashers became more and more common. Dishwashers use a lot less water and are great for the environment, but don’t necessarily allow for your drains to be flushed as much as they need.

How do you clean sink drains​?

Unclogging kitchen sink drains can be one of the more stubborn drain clearing jobs. The waste in them may need more time and various types of equipment to clear properly. Equipment needed for clearing a kitchen drain can range from kinetic devices, to traditional snake cables, to water jet cleaning.

How do you drain a hot water heater tank? ​

The only time you need to drain your water heater is to replace it, and when they need to be replaced they usually drain themselves… However regular flushing is a good idea. When water is heated past 140 degree F, the calcium and magnesium in the water comes out of solution and turns into something like tropical sand in the bottom of your tank. This “mineral sand” prevents the water heater from heating the water efficiently and can cause damage.

How often should you flush a hot water tank?

Manufacturers generally suggest flushing a water tank once a year depending on water hardness in your area. Having a water softener helps reduce the need for flushing the system, however it can cause premature wear of the water heater anode inside it.

If you are unsure about whether your hot water tank needs to be flushed, give us a call and one of our friendly, knowledgeable technicians would be happy to take a look!

Do on-demand water heaters require more maintenance?

On-demand water heaters require more maintenance mainly due to the hardness of the water used in them, thus requiring that they be flushed on a regular basis. The flushing of an on-demand system generally requires a chemical to be pumped through the unit to dissolve the minerals. In a home with on-demand water heaters, water softeners can greatly help reduce the level of maintenance needed. If you have an instant hot water tap at your kitchen sink, water softeners can help reduce the level of maintenance needed for these, too.