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Conscious Media Network

Video on Self Actualization, mentions plumbing.. so had to blog it !

Furnace Installs

I think the pictures speak for themselves, I added some to our flickr .. but wanted to share some before and after pics of installs from last week.

Is this your furnace?

Ah so nice !

Vancouver/Lower Mainland Furnace Service

We attended a home last week, and turns out a building inspector shut down the customers furnace because of a crack in the heat exchanger. Since colder times are ahead, would be a good idea to get your heating system serviced to make sure its in tip top condition. Here is a check list of what the technicians go through when they service a furnace:

Furnace Service Check List

Blower & Motor Blower & motor pulleys Blower belt Blower & motor bearings motor alignment Inducer fan Vent motor Electrical Circuit 120 volt circuit Wiring Ignition control module Pilot & Thermocouples Pilot assembly Thermocouple Hot surface igniter Flame sensor rod

Gas Line & Shut Off Valves Gas shut off valves Manifold and orifices Input pressure test Output pressure test Switches & Controls Emergency shut off switch Summer fan switch Fan control Limit control Gas control valve Gas Regulator Combustion Chamber Thermostat control Heat exchanger Primary air intake Combustion air intake Draft hood Chimney flues

Furnace Install

Social Media Networking

Building Your Brand with Your Company Blog

Last night I was fortunate enough to RSVP “YES” to a meetup for the above topic. The meetup was hosted by Ronald Lee, who is a relationship coach and dating expert here in the Lower Mainland. He brought in a guest speaker Yu-kai Chou. Yu-kai gave an eye opening presentation on social media. I was actually amazed through the whole meeting. I am going to write more in a bit.. have to dispatch the techs   .. will be back though to share the rest of my experiences and the power of the internet and GOOGLE.

Bombay Se

So Papa Plumbing actually ventured out last night and had a great time at this restaurant Bombay Se. The food was excellent and the service.. unbeatable (totally Papa Style.. hehe).. I have been to many many restaurants… and the service was just amazing here.. The staff was very attentive to our needs, the chefs kept asking if we were okay. It was great.. and the Naan was soo buttery and hot..

so yuumy.. well everything was really. !! You will have to come and check out Bombay Se !!

Mmmmm Matcha

A popular drink at the office is Matcha..Here are some facts about it.. I love getting it from Starbucks (Extra Hot Green Tea latte, extra matcha and no syrup) and there are various places on the west side that make a great cup of Matcha  Latte ! I found this great article on the web and wanted to share it with you all:

Mmmm Matcha

Matcha is the vibrant green powdered tea used in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies. It is made from the leaves of shade grown tea trees. When the leaves are harvested they are steamed, dried and then further processed to remove the veins, stems and impurities. Only about 10% of the original harvest remains, and this is called the “tencha”. The tencha is then ground to a fine powder often in a stone mill. It takes about one hour to produce an ounce of matcha, because grinding any faster would result in a burnt tasting tea. Today the highest grades of matcha usually remain in Japan for use in their tea ceremonies and the price can be as high as $100 an ounce. The majority of matcha available in the general market today is now ground by sophisticated machines, which make it affordable to the average tea drinker. Regardless of the grinding technique used, the production of matcha requires a great deal of hand labour, skill and time.

Matcha is becoming increasingly popular in the Japanese and international beverage and food market because of its versatility and health benefits. Matcha’s flavour blends well in dairy-based recipes and its powder form makes it easy to work with. Matcha is being used in ice cream, cheese -cakes, cream cheese spreads, white chocolate, latte beverages, hot chocolate etc. There is no limit to the recipes that matcha can be added to.

Matcha and Caffeine: Matcha does contain a small amount of caffeine, but like all green teas also contains L-theanine. L-theanine increases the alpha waveactivities in the brain, which creates a feeling of relaxation. L-theanine is associated with increasing the ability to focus and concentrate, but not agitate the nervous system. Researchers believe that this maybe on of the reasons that drinking tea tends to have a calming, refreshing effect, rather than the jittery effects of coffee. It has been noted that Buddist monks frequently drink matcha, green teas, oolongs ETC and rarely appear agitated or nervous. It could be the L-theanine!

The following are some of the benefits of Matcha:

Matcha on W 4th Ave

• Vitamins A,B6, B-complex, C, E, K, niacin, folate, riboflavin, thiamin
• Trace minerals calcium, magnesium, copper, iron, zinc, potassium, phosphorus, sodium
• Rich source of L-theanine & amino acids which improve calmness, mental alertness
• Strong blood detoxifer and alkalyzer due to high chlorophyll conten
• 70 times the antioxidants of orange juice,
• Nine times the beta carotene of spinach and 4 times the beta carotene of carrots
• Extremely rich in polyphenols (antioxidants) and catechins, especially epigallocatechin gallate ( EGCG )
• Boosts metabolic rate by 35-40% in regular drinkers, thus assisting in weight loss

How to Make a Matcha Latte..

1 teaspoon (or to taste) matcha 3 teaspoon sugar or 1 tsp honey 1/3 cup hot (not boiling) water 2/3 cup warm milk (or soya milk) More Matcha on West 4th

BBB

Papa Plumbing has been a good standing member of the Better Business Bureau since 1999. We did have a couple of issues with our customers, as you can see from our online report:

BBB Papa Online Report

We did our best to resolve the issues fairly with the customers. The BBB was there through every step, they mediated the disputes and provided communication between us and the customer. We can usually solve customer issues over the phone, but sometimes it is necessary for the BBB to mediate.  The BBB is an excellent organization, and whether you choose Papa or any other company, you should check out their standing with the BBB.

BBB Home Page

They also have good tips on preventing Fraud and the latest scams.

Papa Plumbing Heating and Drainage Ltd | Better Business Bureau Review | Surrey, BC

Papa Plumbing Heating and Drainage Ltd | Better Business Bureau Review | Surrey, BC

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High Efficiency Furnaces

Just surfing the web and came across this great article from a government website.

Be Sure to call Papa Plumbing for a Free Estimate for your furnace in Vancouver and The Lower Mainland.

Its always wise to get 3 quotes when choosing a company.

Be also sure to check that the companies are good standing members of the Better Business Bureau:

http://mbc.bbb.org/

Choose the Right Condensing Gas Furnace

Condensing gas furnaces are the most energy-efficient furnaces on the market today. They are an ideal choice as a new or replacement furnace for virtually any home serviced by natural gas or propane. Here is why:

• Condensing gas furnaces have an annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) of between 90 and 97 percent, compared with AFUEs of about 60 percent for old furnaces and of 78 to 84 percent for standard efficiency units. (AFUE is the yardstick for rating furnace efficiency.)
• Because of their increased efficiency, condensing gas furnaces use, on average, 33 to 38 percent less energy than old models and 10 percent less energy than a standard efficiency model. This helps conserve Canada’s natural resources and reduces harmful environmental emissions that contribute to climate change, urban smog and other air pollution problems.
• Any extra cost associated with purchasing a condensing gas furnace will be quickly recovered through energy savings. For example, a homeowner with an old gas furnace could save about $300 a year by switching to a condensing gas furnace with an AFUE of 96 percent.
• Condensing gas furnaces are available in a range of sizes. They can be installed in the same location as the furnace that is being replaced, by the same technicians and by using the same ductwork.

How can you tell the level of efficiency of a gas furnace?

Look for the EnerGuide label

To determine the efficiency level of a gas furnace, check its EnerGuide rating on the back page of the manufacturer’s brochure – the higher the rating, the more efficient the model. Check where the EnerGuide rating is situated on the scale to see if the furnace you are buying is in the high-efficiency zone.

If your furnace is old and will need replacing in a few years – why wait?

The savings in a new high-efficiency condensing gas furnace may be the best investment you can make. The technology for high-efficiency furnaces has been available for many years and is well proven. Half of all furnaces sold in Canada are high-efficiency condensing gas furnaces. They are fast becoming standard equipment in new homes. Upgrading from an old furnace to a high-efficiency gas furnace not only increases the resale value of an existing home, but can also reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused by the use of fossil fuels. Choosing an energy-efficient condensing gas furnace is one way to meet that challenge.

Facts at a glance

• Ensure the AFUE is over 90 percent.
• Look for the Energy Star symbol.
• Use an Energy Star qualified programmable thermostat.
• Determine the right size of furnace for your home.

How the technology works

In a furnace, combustion gases generated by the burner pass across a heat exchanger and release heat before being exhausted to the outdoors through a chimney. High-efficiency furnaces use additional heat exchange surfaces made of corrosion-resistant materials to cool and condense the combustion gases (causing them to liquefy), thus releasing more heat for the home. The small amount of wastewater produced by this process is piped to a floor drain.

This condensing process has another important benefit. It reduces the temperature of the flue gases to the point where they can be vented through a PVC or ABS plastic pipe out a side wall of the house. This eliminates the need for a chimney, which is a major source of heat loss in homes with old furnaces.

About fan motors

A standard fan motor is sometimes called a permanent split-capacitor (PSC) motor. When used in continuous operation all year long, for either heating or cooling, this motor will consume more electricity than an average refrigerator. Depending on the efficiency of the motor, energy use can go as high as 800 kWh/yr. Overall, energy consumption can be reduced using higher-efficiency options.

Some high-efficiency furnaces deliver even greater energy savings by using a variable-speed, direct current electronically commutating motor to run the air circulation fan. In homes where the fan is run continuously or for extended periods, such a motor can significantly reduce electricity consumption while providing better heat distribution. Consider this type of motor for your furnace, heat recovery ventilator or heat pump.

In addition to energy savings, these types of motors have long maintenance-free continuous operation. Less heat is generated in the rotor, allowing the bearings to run cooler. This reduces motor noise and increases bearing/motor life expectancy. Variable speed motors create less heat, compared with traditional PSC motors, and therefore can reduce the summer cooling load in air-conditioned homes.

Talk to a professional

Before making a purchase decision, ask a certified heating contractor to determine the right size of furnace for your home, taking into account recent technology developments, the heat loss and heat gain characteristics of your house, and other factors. An EnerGuide for Houses evaluation can help you identify possible measures to improve the overall energy performance of your home before you finally decide on the size of the furnace.

Need more information?

Visit our Web sites at energystar.gc.ca or oee.nrcan.gc.ca/equipment.

For information about the energy, economic and environmental benefits of condensing gas furnaces, consult Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan’s) Office of Energy Efficiency’s (OEE’s) publication Heating with Gas. You can view it on-line at oee.nrcan.gc.ca/publications/infosource.

Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan’s) Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE) has many free publications that will help you understand how to save energy at home, at work and on the road. At the same time, you will be saving money and helping the environment.