| Frequently Asked Plumbing Related Questions |
| Q: |
Should I remove my exterior hose during winter? |
| A: |
Yes, leaving a hose on an outside hosebib will not allow water to drain and thus will freeze. This could potentially cause a broken pipe in your home. |
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| Q: |
How often should I have my septic pumped? |
| A: |
An average family of four should have their septic pumped every 3 to 4 years. Adding “Bio-Clean” enzyme can extend the life of your septic system and reduce “pump outs” as well. Click here to find out more about Bio-Clean. |
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| Q: |
How often should I change my furnace filter? |
| A: |
If you are using inexpensive “blue” filters, then change it once per month during winter. If you are using pleated filters, see recommended intervals on packaging. Install an American Standard AccuClean filter and change just once per season. |
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| Q |
Should I turn off my washing machine water valves after every wash? |
| A: |
Yes, by doing so you have less of a chance of a flood by a hose breaking and less strain on internal washing machine parts. We can install easy to operate lever valves and FloodCheck hoses with a 20-year warranty to make sure you never have a flood. |
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| Q: |
Is it a good idea to shut off water to my whole house when going away? |
| A: |
Absolutely! You will have less of a chance of a water catastrophe if a leak should develop. This way only what is in the pipes will leak out. |
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| Q: |
How long does a water heater last? |
| A: |
It all depends on the condition of your water. Most heaters will service you for at least five years. Between five and ten years careful watching and annual maintenance is necessary. Once a heater is over ten years old you are on borrowed time, plus it might make sense to go to more energy efficient equipment to save energy costs. |
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| Frequently Asked Building Repair/Maintenance Related Questions |
| Q: |
What is ice damming and how do I stop it? |
| A: |
Ice damming is a result of snow and ice melting on the roof over the living space of the house and freezing on the roof over the eaves. Proper roof ventilation, adequate attic insulation and the installation of ice and water shield along the lower 4-6’ of the roof line will minimize the chances of ice damming. |
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| Q: |
The trim on my house is not that old, why is it rotting out already? |
| A: |
Frequently, in an effort to save money bare or primed pine trim is installed without being painted on all sides and edges, and only the exposed face receives a coat of paint. All exterior wood trim or paneling should be sealed or painted on all sides and edges prior to installation to prevent absorption. Another alternative to pine trim is PVC or urethane trim. If wood is desired, cedar makes a better choice as it is more resistant to insect and water damage. |
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| Q: |
The tiles on my bathroom floor are loose – why? |
| A: |
Tiles usually come loose for 2 reasons: 1) a water leak causing damage to the sub-floor. Or 2) insufficient support or too thin of a sub-floor. We recommend a minimum of 1 ¼” of sub-floor and underlayment under any tile floor. Routine caulking can also minimize leaks. |
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| Q: |
I painted over some old water damage and the stain came back. Is it still leaking? |
| A: |
Not necessarily. Water stains must be primed with an oi based stain blocker. Latex primers and paints will let the stain bleed through over time. |
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| Q: |
Woodpeckers are damaging my house. I must have termites, carpenter ants or bees. |
| A: |
Not always true. Woodpeckers do go after insects and can cause extensive damage. However, sometimes they can cause damage searching for insects when none are present. I have seen extensive woodpecker damage to urethane trim. The reverse also applies: just because you can’t see them does not mean you don’t have termite or ant problems. Ants and termites usually avoid cedar and don’t eat vinyl. The sheathing and framing of a house can be damaged by insects with no apparent damage on the outside. Indications are staining on interior walls, soft spots on walls or sagging/collapsing walls, if severe. |
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| Frequently Asked Remodeling Related Questions |
| Q: |
What type of construction does MSI do? |
| A: |
Residential custom remodels, additions and commercial in-fills. |
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| Q: |
Can MSI help with design ideas? |
| A: |
Yes. We can design many projects in-house and will certainly work with your architect for any larger projects. |
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| Q: |
What size moulding should I use? |
| A: |
When dealing with mouldings, Crown for instance, choose whatever size you think will look good in a room and multiply the size by two. Moulding tends to make a room seem bigger. |
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| Q: |
Could I have a larger door or window in a particular area of my home? |
| A: |
More times than not it is possible to install a larger door or window. A few common alterations need to take place – usually in just a couple of days. |
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| Q: |
Are we limited to standard shower bases? |
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We are able to construct shower bases to just about any size or shape to fit your bathroom. We can even install a heated shower base. |
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| Q: |
What product should I use for my deck surface? |
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There are many options. Keep in mind that some cedar products cost the same as simple treated lumber. Hardwoods are slightly more expensive but require less maintenance and hold up better to weather and traffic. Man made materials require almost no maintenance and some cost less than hardwoods. |
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| Q: |
I would love raised panels but aren’t they too expensive? |
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There is a product called MDF Profiles that can be routered on 4x8’ sheets to look like raised panels for about half the cost. |
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| Frequently Asked Landscape Irrigation Related Questions |
| Q: |
Will an automatic sprinkler systems waste water? |
| A: |
NO. In fact, it will conserve water. A professionally designed and installed irrigation system is precisely timed and controlled to deliver only the amount of water necessary, at the correct time of day. Unlike hand watering your lawn, you will not over-water with an automatic sprinkler system, or forget to shut off your garden hose. |
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| Q: |
What is a backflow prevention device? |
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A backflow prevention device is a complex “check valve” that is installed upstream of your irrigation system. Backflow prevention is the most important and necessary component of your irrigation system because it eliminates the potential for contamination of the water in your home and the homes of your neighbors. |
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| Q: |
Do I really need backflow prevention with my irrigation system? |
| A: |
YES! Current plumbing code requires by law that all lawn sprinkler systems include a backflow prevention device. |
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| Q: |
Do you repair existing sprinkler systems? |
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YES. We repair, upgrade, service and maintain all leading brands of existing or previously installed irrigation systems. We also provide spring start-up and fall winterization services. |
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| Q: |
Do you provide service contracts? |
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Yes, we offer both basic and premium service contracts. Email or call us for more details. |
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| Q: |
Will the system be too complicated for me to use? |
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No! Sprinkler systems are very easy to operate. We will set up the system controller with your individual water schedule. Then all you have to do is sit back and let the system do all the work. And the watering schedule can de easily changed if necessary. We will work with you to explain the system's operation. |
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| Q: |
My home is on a private well, can I still have a sprinkler system? |
| A: |
In most cases Yes, but it is very important to design the sprinkler system around your well's capacity. The well depth, static water level, horse power of the pump, and depth of the pump are all factors that must be considered. |
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| Q: |
What is drip irrigation? |
| A: |
Low volume, drip, or dripperline irrigation is the application of water directly next to the plant, either with the water being applied on the surface near the plant, or in the ground, being delivered directly to the root zone. |
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| Q: |
Where can I use drip irrigation around my house? |
| A: |
The most popular place for drip and dripperline irrigation are planting beds and gardens. It's here that most homeowners spend a lot of time and money, and it's the place that really makes the home more attractive.
Hanging baskets, raised planters, and vegetable gardens are other places that need water, and which can be very easily irrigated with drip irrigation. |
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| Q: |
Can I add low volume to my existing irrigation system or change a zone of sprinklers to low volume? |
| A: |
Yes to both questions!
Adding low volume irrigation to an existing irrigation system is as easy as adding another valve, assuming you have an unused station on your controller. If you do not have an extra station on your controller, we can use a small battery powered controller. |
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| Q: |
Does drip irrigation really save water? |
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You bet! In North America, there are often 30% - 70% savings in water alone.
Because of wind, evaporation, run-off, sprinklers that are out of adjustment, crooked, or buried too low, or when the irrigation system is operated during the day, many overhead irrigation systems are lucky to be about 50% efficient. Drip irrigation water is applied slowly and efficiently into the soil, right where the plants need it. That means your plants get the water they are meant to have, stimulating their growth, reducing the disease so frequently found with wetted foliage and saving as much as half of the water of an overhead irrigation system. |
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