Vision Plumbing Heating Cooling Frequently Asked Questions
General FAQ
Do You Offer Payment Plans?
Yes, we do! We ensure you have financing options to pay a timeline that works for you through Financeit. We also work to let you know of any available rebates for you to take advantage of.
Do You Offer Maintenance Plans?
Yes we do! Vision offers HVAC maintenance plans for residential equipment such as furnaces, A/C units, heat pumps, and more. We call this our Vision Elite Service Plan! We also service commercial clients with maintenance programs designed specifically for the size of property and amount of equipment in operation. You can find more information on our commercial services here. Maintenance plans are a great way to avoid costly repairs and ensure your system can reach its maximum lifespan.
How Much Does An Estimate Cost?
Estimate costs will vary depending on the type of service required, the size of the job, and other factors, but general quotes are typically under $100. If you choose Vision Plumbing Heating Cooling to perform the quoted service, the quote cost is refunded and used to cover part of the work. Please contact us if you require an estimate, and we will be happy to assist. We are transparent with our quotes, and aim to be crystal clear so that there are no surprises down the road.
Do you have senior discounts?
Yes we do! Anyone over the age of 65 can save on our plumbing, heating, and cooling products & services. Contact us for details, and to claim your discount!
What Areas Do You Service?
We serve Kelowna including communities such as West Kelowna, Westbank, Winfield and Lake Country. Any outer areas do incur a travel charge such as Myra, Summerland, Vernon, Penticton, Naramata, Big White and many others.
How Soon Can You Get To My Property?
We do our best to get to your property ASAP. This depends on a number of factors, including:
- Current demand & crew availability
- Where you are located
- The priority of the work (e.g. flooding emergency vs. routine project)
We’ll give you an estimated time of arrival, and our aim is constant communication. Our service calls are booked in a two-hour arrival window due to unforeseen circumstances that may hold up the tech on a job prior to yours. We do our best to mitigate these situations however they do occasionally occur.
Does My Insurance Cover HVAC Repair Service?
It all depends on the type of insurance coverage you have, as well as the nature of the repair. Some policies cover repairs as a result of flooding or other home/ property damage. Proactive maintenance is generally not covered by insurance. We advise to contact your insurance broker or customer service team to find out more.
How Do I Choose The Right Home Solution For Me?
We’d be happy to look at your home and help ascertain which heating solution(s) would work best in your case. There’s really no one-size-fits-all option, as each case is different with factors such as home size and configuration, location, budget and more.
Toilet & Faucet FAQ
I Think I Have A Clogged Drain, What Should I Do?
Clogged drains are not an uncommon problem in households, and in general, they are no reason to panic. This usually happens in a kitchen sink, bathroom sink, shower, or tub drain or laundry/utility room sink. In washrooms, for instance, the typical reason for drain clogs is a buildup of hair and other runoff waste. Bathroom sinks typically have a drain stopper that you can pull up. If you haven’t cleaned this in a while, chances are it will be full of hair and gunk. It’s time to give it a good cleaning and wipe it down. Put the stopper back in place and run the water. If there is no improvement in water buildup, you may have a clog further down the line. Stores sell ‘drain snakes’ at a minimal cost, and if the clog isn’t too far down the line, using the snake will do the trick and pull out hair and other debris. If that doesn’t work, the clog is likely deeper – that’s when it’s time to call a professional plumber.
*Note: Avoid using chemical ‘cleaners’ as they are abrasive and usually toxic.*
How Do I Prevent Clogged Drains?
An ounce of prevention, as they say, is worth a pound of cure. Save yourself the trouble later by doing your best to prevent debris from going down the drain. In kitchen sinks, you can use mesh covers over the drain. In bathrooms, regularly clean the drains by pulling out the excessive hair or other things stuck around the drain that you can see. Then toss into the trash bin.
I Have A Leaky Faucet, Can I Fix It Myself?
Small leaks can be fixed DIY, however, we recommend taking a look to see what might be causing the leak before calling us. We can get some details and, if possible, photos from you to ensure our plumber arrives prepared to fix the issue. Some older fixtures may have been discontinued or have had configuration changes, so these photos help us identify if we need to suggest alternative solutions.
What Do I Do If My Toilet Overflows?
- First, go to the water shut-off valve at or around the toilet base. Turn the valve until the water shuts off. If the toilet does not have a valve, open the tank and rig the float to stay in its position – this way no more water will flow in.
- Next use towels or a Shop-Vac to clean up the water that’s spilled onto the floor. Thoroughly wash all surfaces that were affected.
- Either reach into the toilet (wearing rubber gloves) or use a toilet plunger to try to remove the object(s) blocking the toilet.
If this doesn’t work, give us a call. A toilet overflowing could be a sign of a larger plumbing issue. The clog may be located farther down the pipes. We can diagnose the issue and resolve it promptly and professionally.
Plumbing FAQ
Why Is My Plumbing Making So Much Noise?
Noise such as knocks and pings in the pipes and other sections of plumbing can be the result of many things. It could be a sign that the system has developed issues with pressure, obstructions, pipes becoming dislodged, or parts becoming broken or failing. Count on Vision Plumbing Heating Cooling to diagnose the root causes of these noises and provide an effective plumbing solution.
What Is Considered A 'Plumbing Emergency'?
Do you have a back-up or overflow? That would definitely constitute a plumbing emergency, especially if there is flooding involved. Or maybe you’ve got a faucet that’s spraying water everywhere, or a burst/broken pipe or other leak that’s causing water to spread. If you can, turn off any valves to stop the water from flowing which will create more damage. These types of situations need to be addressed ASAP. We can help! Call us 250-470-9552.
Is Emergency Plumbing Going To Cost More?
Depending on the time of day, day of week and/or need to reschedule other clients, emergency plumbing services may cost more. Call us at 250-470-9552 and we’ll let you know how quickly we can be on site as well as what type of surcharge may be involved.
Will My Insurance Cover Pluming Repairs?
Flooding & Sump Pumps FAQ
How Do I Know If My Sump Pump Is Broken?
How Can I Prevent Flood Damage?
If I Am Experiencing A Flood What Should I Do?
Furnace FAQ
How Long Will A Furnace & Heating System Last?
This can depend on a number of factors, like the builder, how much the furnace is used (and under what conditions), etc. Having said that, a typical home heating system should last 15 years or more. The key is proper care & maintenance. Give your furnace some TLC and these systems can last 20 years or more. The case can be made, though, to replace an existing system with a more energy efficient one, even if it’s say 10 years old. Talk with us to see what’s right for you.
Do You Have Any Tips For Efficient Furnace & Heating Operation?
Sure, happy to help! Here are a few pointers:
- Set your thermostat between 65F to 68F when you are at home, and less when you are away (or asleep)
- Use a programmable thermostat to save on hydro bills by using less energy when you are asleep or away (or turn the thermostat down manually)
- Replace your furnace filters regularly… as often as once a month, depending on number of people in the home and environmental factors
- Get a furnace tune-up annually
- Make certain that registers aren’t blocked by furniture or drapes, etc.
How Often Should You Service A Furnace Or HVAC System
It’s generally recommended to service your furnace & HVAC system annually. What happens in an annual service? A tech (like one of our crew) will visit your home to clean and inspect all parts of the system, performing any repairs as needed (and approved by you after discussion, of course). This is a great way to keep systems working more efficiently, and it can help extend the life of your heating system greatly.
How Long Does A Furnace Installation Take?
Most installations on furnaces and air conditioners are usually an 8-hour day with two technicians. You can also add humidifiers and UV lights to your system which take less time to install as individual components.