Think twice about do-it-yourself plumbing

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Crown Plumbing and Heating in Smithville has been serving the area for over 30 years with reliable work backed by a 100 per cent guarantee. Plumbing repairs, design and installation, heating, air conditioning, water heaters … they do it all.

Inevitably, as a homeowner, there will come times when you will encounter plumbing problems. The temptation might be to try to do it yourself and save some money, but that usually proves to be a false economy in the long run. You might have a simple or complex job on your hands, from installing an outdoor hose faucet to re-piping a portion of your home.

Of course, you must drain the water from your home’s pipe system before you begin the needed repairs. This would involve first locating the main water supply shutoff for your home, which could be in any number of places. You would then need to turn the valve in the correct direction, but if the valve is old, you might find it sticky and very difficult to turn, in which case you could use a rag to help with the grip.

You would then need to fully open all faucets and flush all toilets, allowing the water to run until it becomes a slow drip. Then you need to flush all toilets one more time to empty the bowls. When the duration of drips extends to four to five seconds, you would then be safe to start working on your plumbing fixtures and fittings for repairs.

That’s only for starters. Once you are finished with draining the water, you would need to deal with the numerous other elements involved in the job at hand. The risk is you may find yourself way in over your head and possibly have more damage and complications than you began with.

Instead, why not call a business you can trust to make sure it is done right the first time? The plumbers at Crown Plumbing and Heating are all highly qualified and constantly taking courses to keep their skills up-to-date to provide you with the highest quality of service.

If you have a plumbing-related issue, contact Crown Plumbing and Heating and let them take care of it before it becomes a headache. They are at 405 Mud Street East in Smithville and can be reached at 905-945-3883

By Vimal Siva November 20, 2025
The team at Crown Plumbing & Heating in Smithville, Ontario, wants to offer you some tips on the most effective ways to save money on your energy bill this winter. Heating costs are expensive, so implementing energy- and cost-efficient ways to keep the heat inside your home during the colder months is an easy and effective way to save you money. The first thing you should do is have your furnace on an annual maintenance program to make sure it is clean and working safely and efficiently. This is important because furnaces in need of repair have to work harder to heat your home. More important, a faulty furnace can be dangerous, as it produces carbon monoxide that must be properly vented out of your home. Make sure all your windows and doorways are properly sealed. Simple solutions to keep them as airtight as possible include using spray foam or caulk to seal any openings around lighting fixtures or ceiling fans, and applying weatherstripping around your doors and windows. Sealing air leaks is easy way to save up to 30 per cent on your energy bill. Proper insulation in places like your attic is crucial to keeping heat inside your home because heat rises and will escape through your attic. Ask an expert to come in to check out your current insulation to determine if it has the right R-value, which measures the amount of heat that passes through it.  Another simple thing that is often overlooked is to make sure your vents are not blocked by furniture or other objects. Blocked vents mean heat cannot be evenly distributed throughout your home, and could also result in an overheated furnace. Make sure you have a digital thermostat that can be manually set to control the heat setting in your home. This is useful to avoid using energy in peak hours or when you do not need it; for example, while you are at work during the day. Air ducts are akin to the lungs of your heating and cooling systems. If they are improperly designed or clogged, it can hinder airflow in your home, causing it to work harder and use more energy. Request to have them checked during your annual furnace inspection to make sure they are working efficiently. These are just a few tips on how to save money on your energy bill this winter. For more expert advice, call Crown Plumbing & Heating at 905-945-3883 today. You can also email them with any questions you may have.
By Vimal Siva November 20, 2025
The team at Crown Plumbing & Heating in Smithville, Ontario, know how awful it is when your furnace breaks down during the winter months. This is why their expert technicians want to offer you some tips on how to prepare your furnace to ensure that it is winter-ready and working at its best to keep you and your family warm this winter. One of the first things you should do is check your filter, and change it if has not been done recently. High-quality filters that are cleaned or replaced about every three months can help you save money on energy costs, improve the air quality in your home, and help your heating system run more efficiently. The blower belt and motor are the two most important parts of your heating and cooling systems, and need to be maintained at least once a year. Belts can become worn and start to fray over time, causing your heating system to work harder to heat your home, while also taking longer to distribute the heat. The motor is constantly in use and needs to be adequately lubricated. If not, it will become damaged more quickly due to constant friction. Two great tips are to check your belt to see if is beginning to fray and need repair, and make sure to oil your blower motor. Carbon monoxide poisoning is deadly, which is why it is important to make sure your blower doors are sealed before you turn on your furnace. Blower doors are responsible for making sure gasses produced by your furnace, like carbon monoxide, safely exit your home. Also, take the time to check that your carbon monoxide detector is in top working order. It is also important the area around your furnace is clear, especially if it is contained in an enclosed area. Make sure there are no boxes or other paper products, paint, aerosols or any other flammable products stored near your furnace. The best way to ensure your furnace is winter-ready is to have it on a regularly scheduled maintenance program provided by professionals. The Crown Heating & Plumbing team will thoroughly inspect and check your furnace to ensure it is running efficiently and safely, all winter long. Call Crown Plumbing & Heating at 905-945-3883 to book an in-home furnace inspection today. You can also email them with any questions you may have. 
By Vimal Siva November 20, 2025
Crown Plumbing & Heating in Smithville, Ontario, has been providing professional plumbing and HVAC services for homes and businesses in Smithville and the surrounding areas since 1983. Their expert technicians have answered hundreds of service calls for furnace repairs, and understand how frustrating and inconvenient it can be when a furnace malfunctions during one of the coldest days of the year. There are many reasons why furnaces stop working, or are not working at their best. In both instances, it is frustrating to have a furnace that is working inconsistently, or costing you a lot of money in energy consumption and repairs. So how do you know when to stop repairing your furnace and replace it instead? The best way is to have your heating system inspected by a specialist, like those at Crown Plumbing & Heating who knows how a furnace should operate and can advise you on the most cost-effective option. Unless you built your current home, you may not know how old your furnace is or how well it has been maintained. If you have replaced your furnace but have not maintained it annually, it may also not be in optimal working condition. This is especially true if your furnace is over 15 years old, the time frame the experts suggest you either upgrade or consider furnace replacement options. This means that the first thing you need to determine is how old your furnace is by either calling the manufacturer or calling in a professional. One telltale sign that your furnace may need replacing is if you have to frequently call for repair services; however, if it is a newer model, replacement repairs or maintenance are probably all that is needed. If your bills are going up but your usage is the same, this is an indication that your heating system is not working properly. Also, if it frequently cycles on and off, or is becoming increasingly louder with buzz or hum noises, it is most likely time to replace your furnace. The best way to know for sure is to call an HVAC specialist at Crown Plumbing & Heating. They will do a furnace inspection and check to see how efficiently it is working, and let you know if you should repair or replace your furnace. If you are uncertain about whether your furnace needs repairs or replacing, call Crown Plumbing & Heating at 905-945-3883 for a free estimate or to book an in-home consultation. You can also email them with any questions you may have.
By Vimal Siva November 19, 2025
Crown Plumbing and Heating in Smithville knows that your home’s heating and air condition system is one of the most important aspects of ensuring you live in a safe and comfortable environment. It can also be one of the most expensive. You may encounter problems with your furnace, air conditioner, thermostat, ducts, heat distribution and more. As with plumbing, you might be able to solve some simple problems on your own. For example, if your unit will not turn on, you can first check the power and make sure a circuit breaker hasn’t tripped or a fuse burned out. Reset the breaker or replace the fuse if that is the source of the problem. If not, check your thermostat and set it several degrees above or below room temperature (depending on whether you are using the furnace or the air conditioner respectively). If that also doesn’t work, you may have to replace the thermostat. There are a few other simple problems you might be able to solve through measures such as topping up a low or depleted refrigerant level or by cleaning filters, but in many cases, your heating and air conditioning issues will require the attention of a professional to be dealt with correctly. Crown Plumbing and Heating has been solving heating and air conditioning problems in residences and businesses for over 30 years and they should be your first call if you are in Smithville or surrounding areas. They are an authorized dealer of such leading brands as Luxaire, Goodman and Ruud and their staff are continually taking courses to keep their skills up to date and provide you with the best possible service. They have served countless satisfied customers over the decades and have won a number of recognitions, including the Grimsby Lincoln News 2010 and 2011 Gold Reader’s Choice Awards for plumbing. A family owned and operated business; they offer a 100 per cent guarantee on their labour. Contact Crown Plumbing and Heating today for professional and reliable service in all your heating and air conditioning needs. They are located at 405 Mud Street East in Smithville and can be reached at 905-945-3883.
By Vimal Siva November 19, 2025
Crown Plumbing and Heating in Smithville knows what it takes to get your plumbing job done right, whether it is a less-complex task, such as replacing a toilet, or a complex one, such as re-piping large portions of your home. When a plumbing issue arises and you are considering whom to hire to do a job, you might want to scan the listings or go by word of mouth from others who have had good experiences. Of course, you want to save money, but at the same time, you have to beware of fly-by-night operations that at first blush might look to have the potential to save you a few dollars, but will actually leave you in worse shape than when you started. A reputable plumbing service will provide you with an estimate after it does a thorough inspection and determines how much work will be involved in the project. Beware of anyone who tries to give you an estimate without seeing what needs to be done. Then get the estimate in writing, as a verbal one holds no legal validity. Also be wary if the estimate you receive is drastically less than what most plumbers would charge for a comparable job. Do a background check on the company, making sure they have a physical address, instead of just a post office box or a cellphone number. Make sure you pay only when all work is completed, although for larger projects it is normal to advance an amount for the purchase of parts and materials. Finally, be suspicious of significant increases in costs in the middle of the project, which may mean either ineptness or dishonesty on the part of the plumber. Finding a plumbing company that meets all these criteria and that you can trust can be a difficult task, but you can make it easy on yourself if you live in Smithville or surrounding areas. Bill Crown Plumbing and Heating is family owned and operated, has been serving satisfied customers for over 30 years and offers a 100 per cent guarantee on their services. Their plumbers are continually taking courses to stay up to date, so contact Crown Plumbing and Heating today for professional and reliable service. They are at 405 Mud Street East in Smithville and can be reached at 905-945-3883.