July 3, 2020

The Benefits of Basement Waterproofing for Your Toronto Home or Business

Is basement waterproofing a good investment? You bet it is. Unless you don’t want to prevent flooding, cut energy costs, and breathe cleaner indoor air, that is.

These are only a few of the very important benefits of waterproofing your basement. And we have plenty more to share where that came from. 

Below is a guide on all the benefits of basement waterproofing you need in your home. Check them out right here.

Basement Waterproofing Prevents Flooding

Do you use your basement as a guest room, for storage, or something else? Maybe you’re still deciding. In any case, we’re sure that a filthy, indoor lake is not the purpose you have in mind for your basement.

To prevent flooding/water damage to everything you have down there, your basement needs to be waterproofed.

Save Money

Obviously, repairing all the structural damage described above will cost a lot more than waterproofing your basement in the first place. That’s in addition to the cost of replacing any furniture or other personal items ruined by flooding.

Save Energy

Another way basement waterproofing saves money is by reducing your heating and cooling costs. Moisture in your basement evaporates into your indoor air. And high indoor humidity requires your HVAC system to work harder to keep your home at the desired temperature.

Waterproofing stops this humidifying cycle and, thus, reduces your monthly energy bill.

Reduce Health Problems

Humid indoor air also encourages the growth of mold, mildew, and bacteria. As you know, such indoor health hazards are notorious for worsening conditions like asthma and indoor allergies. This combined with humid indoor air means that asthma attacks will be a far more common occurrence in these homes.

But there’s something even worse than that. The indoor mold growth might even contribute to the development of asthma in young children. Waterproofing your basement, then, is essential to improving the health of those in your household.

Protect the Structural Integrity of Your Home

One of the most important things to remember is that your basement is built into the foundation of your home. Thus, any damage to your basement is damage to your foundation. And that’s extremely bad for the structural integrity of the whole building.

First, swelling groundwater cracks through the concrete of your basement. Then, temperature changes expand these cracks even wider. Finally, your warped, cracked foundation wreaks havoc on the floors above.

This type of structural damage can easily become catastrophic.

Increase the Value of Your Home

Furthermore, waterproofing can also make you money. All the benefits on this list can be used as selling points when you decide to sell your home. This is sure to increase the value of your home.

Basement Waterproofing Near You

Do you need basement waterproofing? If you read this guide, and don’t have your basement waterproofed already, then you know the answer is, “Yes.”

We can help. Fill out the form here for a free service quote and we’ll get back to you very soon.

(647) 784-8448

Call us for immediate response

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alarUncategorized, WaterproofingJuly 3, 2020
January 9, 2020

All you Need to Know about Underpinning. Affordable Underpinning offered by Tornado Plumbing

When building a new structure or only renovate one, underpinning is the method of strengthening the basis known as building-foundation. In this article, we will talk about the reasons why every construction should go under the underpinning process, but most importantly what you should look for when picking a company to make the underpinning for your property.

When is Mandatory to do Underpinning

Underpinning might be required for many reasons such as:

  • The primary foundation is not reliable or durable;
  • The reason why the structure was built has changed;
  • The characteristics of the soil holding the foundation have changed;
  • The building of nearby constructions requires soil excavation;
  • To build another story to an existing building;
  • To prepare for natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods is recommended also to do some basement underpinning and waterproofing.

What you should receive when doing underpinning to your house

There are many companies that offer underpinning services, but when looking for one that offers an affordable underpinning solution, you want to be sure they check some major aspects such as:

  • Initial investigations to decide if extra work is needed;
  • Plan and certification made by an engineer;
  • A complete quotation of the expected work;
  • Construction permission;
  • Foundation stabilization;
  • Jacking of the foundations;
  • Force grouting;
  • Root stops;
  • Plumbing examination to guarantee there are no leaking;
  • Engineer surveillance and certification.

As you can see, there are many reasons why you should consider doing underpinning to your house. Also, there are many aspects when picking a company to work for you. Picking an organization that offers affordable underpinning solutions is not as easy as one might think because most of them reduce the quality of their work along with the price.However, if you are from Etobicoke, Mississauga or surroundings, we, the team from Tornado Plumbing are more than happy to come, take a look at your property and offer the best features for the most affordable underpinning solution.

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alarUncategorized, WaterproofingJanuary 9, 2020
Exterior waterproofing Drain cleaning and unclogging photo picture
November 7, 2019

How Waterproofing can Increase the Price of your House? Secrets Provided by our Experts

We all know how important is to have a house protected by any water intrusion. This kind of “invasion” can come from almost every part of your home, such as roof, basement or walls and can produce severe damage.

This being said, people nowadays, when buying a house are interested in the subject of waterproofing. This means that if you are a house owner you might want to waterproof your property and not only for your own comfort but also in the probability of selling the house at, as real estate agents like to call it, to increase property value.

What raises property value?

You know that when buying a new house, the client is mostly interested in the state of that property. The better it seems, the higher the price.

So let’s see the ways to increase house value when it comes to waterproofing.

These being said, if a possible customer comes to view your property and see minuses such as a sloppy yard, bad roof, and cracked walls, you will probably sell your house at a very bad price, if any.

This is particularly true when considering pool areas because people interested in buying a pool house, they especially want that part to look perfect. Another great important aspect is the basement. If your residence is up on the hill and has a basement made into the hill, it can lead to itself, which could lead to possible water damage if the water is not led away well, making that even a little crack to become a big problem over time.

This is why our experts from Tornado Plumbing, recommend you to do an inspection each year to be sure that any subterranean or surface parts well and won’t provoke any water issues. This will help you very much to increase property value.

In a free market, selling your house can be trickier than you think and getting a good price for your goods is even harder. So, if you are from Etobicoke or Mississauga, give us a call and we will be sure that your house will have everything it needs to have an increased property value.

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alarUncategorizedNovember 7, 2019
October 4, 2019

Clogged drain – Causes and Solutions Provided by our Experts

There is nothing more stressful than a clogged drain. Why? Because it takes along other issues such as flooding or paying for a clogged drain repair. But let’s see first what causes a blocked drain. This way you will know what not to do.

Clogged drain situations

Food pieces that don’t break like eggshells or grease will build up in your pipelines and produce a clog in your drain in time. This usually happens at your kitchen sink.

Now, moving to bathroom-related issues, hair is a very big issue when it comes to your shower or tub’s drain. But it is not the only problem. Soap is just as responsible. Soap and hair together create a deadly combo for your drains and unless you have a backup drain, you will encounter nasty residues.

How to do a Clogged Drain Repair

Let’s find out the best things you can do to fix your clogged drain.

Using Boiling Water

Boil a big amount of water, at least 4 liters. When is boiling hot, pour it slowly into the drain, leaving some seconds of pause after each pour.

Using a Bent Wire Hanger

Get a normal wire coat hanger and level it out. Turn one end over in a way to generate a little hook. Shove it in the drain cover. You should be capable to get out a lot of things that are obstructing the drain. In the end, turn on hot water.

Using Baking Soda and Vinegar

For this to work, you need to mix a third of a cup of vinegar and a third of a cup of baking soda. Let it fizz and pour it into the drain. Let it sit there for at least one hour before pouring hot water.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many reasons for why your drain can get clogged. Also, there are things that you can do at home to solve this nasty issue.

However, sometimes the problem may be more serious and old school tricks won’t solve anything. In these cases, you need to contact a specialist to come and do a pipe cleaning.

If you are from Etobicoke, Mississauga or surroundings, the team from Tornado Plumbing is more than happy to assist you in this matter, so don’t hesitate to contact us.

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alarUncategorizedOctober 4, 2019
September 28, 2019

Everything there is to Know about Drain Replacement Explained by Experts

Drains or sewers? What is the difference between them? Is the process the same for drain installation and drain replacement?

These are all questions that will find their answers in this article, so stay tuned.

The distinctions between a drain and a sewer

Before moving forward, let’s see what are the main differences between drains and sewers.

A drain is a tube that drains from buildings water and waste from a building. You can find a drain in each sink, tub or shower.

On the other hand, a sewer accumulates water and waste from the drains from multiple buildings.

Small description of the drain replacement process

The drain replacement process is not a very complicated one if done properly. Let’s see the steps that are required.

Step #1. Prepare the Work Space

Traps are regularly full of drain water. Because of this, you should put a small bucket under it and also have some towels prepared for unwanted spills. A flashlight will also come handy.

Step #2. Lift the Trap Bend

Take out the trap bend. To do this, unthread the slip nut, then turn them by hand. Extract the trap straight down to separate it from the rest of the components and empty it.

Step #3. Eliminate the Trap Arm

Lift the trap arm by releasing the slip nut binding it to the drainpipe in the wall. If it is stuck, turn it back and forth when pulling.

Step #4. Test the New Trap

Be sure that trap arm is lining up with the wall pipe and the tailpiece.

Step #5. Position the Nuts and Washers

Provide a slip nut and washer on the top of the sink’s tailpiece with the washer slope leading down.

Step #6. Join the Pieces

Slip the trap arm in the drain hole in the wall. Match the trap bend at the edge of the trap arm and on sink tailpiece. Push the slip nuts upon the connections, and loosely attach them on the threaded hubs.

Step #7. Test the Connections

Turn on the water. If any joint leaks, then tighten the slip nut smoothly till there is no more leaking.

Conclusion

This is all you need to know about any drain replacement you might need. Just another thing you have to remember is to also check the roughing drains.

Yes, it is not a complicated process, but I strongly recommend you to hire a professional to handle this work. So, if you are Etobicoke or Mississauga, feel free to contact us and we will handle the heavy work. If not, we are happy to answer any questions you might have.

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alarUncategorizedSeptember 28, 2019
February 7, 2019

How to leave a review about our business on Google

Here at Tornado Plumbing we are confident in the quality of our work and that’s why we encourage our clients to leave review about us on Google. Since not everyone knows how to do it, here is a quick step-by-step guide:

On Desktop or Laptop

    1. You need to have an email registered with Google (i.e. JohnDow@gmail.com). If you don’t, please register one here
    2. Then in your browser (Firefox, Safari, Chrome etc.) you need to open Google Maps and make sure you’re signed in to your Gmail account.
    3. On Google Maps search for “Tornado Plumbing” in the search-box.
    4. In the left column, scroll down and click “Write a review”

Google Maps

  1. Next, in the pop-up window click the number of stars you’d like to give to Tornado Plumbing (5 stars is the highest score) and write the text of the review. Also, you can attached photos of the job that was done.
  2. After your review is reviewed by Google and published, it will be visible to everyone on Google Maps. If you decide to make any changes (edit or remove) to a review or add more photos, you can always do that.

On Android devices (phones or tablets)

  1. Go to Google Maps app on your phone or tablet
  2. Search for “Tornado Plumbing” in the search-box or tap on it, if already have it on the map
  3. Next, tap on the name “Tornado Plumbing” or the address of our company
  4. Then tap “Reviews” at the top
  5. Scroll all the way down to 5 empty stars and click the number of stars you want to give as a score (5 stars is the highest score)
  6. Also, you can write a review in the text box and upload photos of the job

On iPhones and iPads

  1. Go to Google Maps app on your iPhone or iPad (you may need to install it from Apple Store, if it’s not installed)
  2. Search for “Tornado Plumbing” in the search-box or tap on it, if already have it on the map
  3. Next, tap on the name “Tornado Plumbing” or the address of our company
  4. Then tap “Reviews” at the top
  5. Scroll all the way down to 5 empty stars and click the number of stars you want to give as a score (5 stars is the highest score)
  6. Also, you can write a review in the text box and upload photos of the job
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alarUncategorizedFebruary 7, 2019
February 7, 2019

Building walkout in Etobicoke

Tornado Plumbing offers many services to improve basements, including basements walkouts which are a highly desirable feature among homeowners in Ontario because they help increase the functionality of the basement room. Generally, basement walkouts that are added after original construction are tricky to build and require professional experience.

One of Tornado Plumbing clients in Etobicoke wanted to add an exterior basement entrance to improve the versatility and value of his house. Tornado Plumbing discussed the walkout design and planning during the initial consultation stage and installed the basement walkout using high-quality materials to add aesthetic appeal to the house.

 

Since the house is not on a slope and the basement is underground, much work had to be done to provide the homeowner with a separate entrance. In this particular case, the complicated process of building walkout basement in Toronto included excavation, underpinning, waterproofing, masonry, and concrete works to build the steps and the walkout area.

 

First, we dug a trench down to the footings and saw cut out the doorway for a new walkout in the wall to the basement. Next, we installed the underpinning in the walkout area to protect the foundations from moist and frost which is very important in our freezing climate. Then we arranged a catch basin and connected it to sump pump to protect the basement walls from water. After that, we dealt with concrete works and poured the concrete footing for walkout walls. We installed rigid insulation and did waterproofing around the walls to keep the basement dry. Last we built two walls along the trench and the steps.

 

When the work was finished, the owner was pleased with the results because now he has a quality exterior exit and stairs down to the basement level and can have an escape route in case of emergency or even use the basement as an option of expanding his living space.

Looking for more information?

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alarUncategorizedFebruary 7, 2019
February 7, 2019

Sump pump installation project in Mississauga

One of Tornado Plumbing clients in Mississauga area had a flood problem in their basement and need a sump pump installed. They have a concrete floor in the basement, so all we had to do is to create a hole in a concrete floor down flush with a floor level.

We were lucky to have the stone under the concrete, which implied that all the water would easily drain down to the hole with the pump. After digging a hole we had to install the basin with a cut off bottom there. This way the water would easily get into the basin with the sump pump and the level of the water in it will be the same as under the concrete. It is important to put the filter fabric under the basin, so that any of the silt will be filtered and the pump will be protected from dirt with could cause clogging. On top of the fabric we put some clean stone, just to keep it down and prevent from being sucked into the pump. We also put a paver on top of the stone to avoid any small stone from getting sucked in and it also creates a flat surface for the pump to sit on.

Inserting the Pump

Then we put the pump into the water just to make sure it is properly leveled and that the switch is on the correct height. Next step was piping up the pump, we attached a one-way pipe at the 45 degree angle to the wall. Then we laid the pipe along the wall strait up to foundation and installed the PVC pipe to come out of the wall along the ground to the point where the grade slops down to avert the water from the house and prevent it from going back to the foundation.

Voila the job is done, then we just fixed the concrete around the basin and clean up, to make sure everything looks good as if there was no construction anywhere close!

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alar0 commentUncategorizedFebruary 7, 2019
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