Hy-Mark Blog | Expert Tips on Home Comfort & HVAC

Competition and Fun at the OTSC

May 6, 2016

Can you think of a place where you can find robotics engineers, aestheticians, bakers, and…plumbers and HVAC technicians all working under one roof? If you did, congratulations, you’ve just invented quite the catch-all business. We’ve never seen that company, but we did get to experience this scene at the recent OTSC (Ontario Technological Skills Competition) in Waterloo! OTSC – One-day Competition Skills Ontario holds a one-day competition that brings together over 2,100 young tradespeople to compete in 67 skilled trade categories. They have been promoting skilled trades and technologies in Ontario since 1989. The winners get prizes and

In the Press: Hy-Mark Leading in Safety Standards

April 29, 2016

This month Hy-Mark was featured in Plumbing + HVAC Magazine for our commitment to safety standards. We’re proud to be recognized for our efforts in Safety, but that’s not why we do it. We do it because we take industry law seriously and because everyone deserves to get home safe at the end of each day. Hy-Mark’s investment in industry-leading P.P.E. (Personal Protective Equipment) and Safety Training Programs pays off every day when our team stays safe, and we’ll never stop continuing to improve when it comes to safety. Our Outstanding Service When you use

4 Everyday Things That Are Clogging Your Drains

April 28, 2016

Have you got yourself some seriously clogged drains? Here are the top four culprits for clogging your drains and exactly how to fix them… 1. Hair, hair, and more hair Hair is one of the number one culprits for drain clogs, particularly in the bathroom. Though you may only see a few strands going down a day, little by little it does build up in your pipes, especially when it combines with soap to form a sticky gob that is just, well…not pleasant. Long strands are the worse offenders, but even short hairs can

RHG Wins Canada’s Top Small & Medium Employers for 2016

April 7, 2016

We are beyond excited to say that once again, Hy-Mark has been recognized as outstanding. We are part of the Reid’s Heritage Group of companies, and RHG has been recognized as one of Canada’s Top Small & Medium Employers for 2016! RHG made this list in 2015 as well. This year, we can say the honour is even greater. That’s because every year, 25 percent of the companies on the list are removed and replaced with new companies. What that means is that every year our companies make this list, it is because we are not the same,

Program Your Thermostat and Save $180/year

April 4, 2016

Most homes these days have a programmable thermostat. Yet amazingly, one study found that 53% of programmable thermostats in homes were not even set up. If this includes yours, it’s time to get programming, and start saving! In theory, manually adjusting your thermostat as needed will work. The problem is, none of us are perfect, and that means we don’t remember to turn down the heat or cooling every time we leave the house. We often also don’t realize just how long our systems have been running once we are comfortable. Manually handling

How To Beat The Heat

July 28, 2015

Beat The Heat, Increase Comfort In Southern Ontario we are all too familiar with humidity at this time of year. Did you know that humidity is the second contributing factor to your home comfort? Indoor humidity levels should stay between 30-50% for ideal comfort. Having a high level of humidity can affect the ‘felt temperature’ by as much as 8 degrees(1). Why is humidity bad for indoor environments? Having high levels of indoor humidity can cause the following to happen: Encourages the

Tips for Changing your HVAC Filter

April 27, 2015

The much-debated question about your home heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is: how often should the filter be changed? There is no one answer to this question, as there are many factors to consider in changing your filter. These include: Type of filter being used – there is a clear distinction between a 1” filter compared to a pleated MERV 16 filter that is 5” thick. Type of furnace and AC – if you have a new high-efficiency furnace and/or air conditioner it will help increase the lifespan of your

The Dangers of DIY Plumbing

April 8, 2015

The DIY mentality is here to stay. With information at our finger tips we can proclaim ourselves to be experts at anything with a few clicks. Almost any kind of home repair solution can be found online, and when budgets are tight you are careful with every dollar spent. The question we’re asking: is the risk really worth it when it comes to plumbing? What Could Go Wrong with DIY Plumbing? Plumbing is a precise trade that requires practitioners to go through a long apprenticeship in order to obtain a license. When you don’t

In the Press: Innovation in Duct Materials

March 27, 2015

At Hy-Mark we pride ourselves in living out our company Core Values each and every day. Core Value #7 states that ‘We are world class innovators.’ In the March edition of the Plumbing and HVAC magazine, Hy-Mark was featured for our innovation in our use of different duct materials. Hy-Mark takes a unique approach with duct materials, from standard sheet metal to duct board, to flex ducting. All of these duct materials are being used and tested in residential applications. The article in the March edition of Plumbing and HVAC magazine compares flexible duct to standard sheet

March Break Staycation Activities

March 17, 2015

For some, the ideal vacation is flying to a tropical location to beat the winter blues. This may not be the case for everyone; the hassle of planning a trip, and the high cost at this time of year can be demanding. If you are enjoying a March Break Staycation, here are fun and budget-friendly family activities for you to enjoy this week: March Butterfly Conservatory Every March Break the Butterfly Conservatory in Cambridge puts on a special themed week that is geared towards the kids. This year you can enjoy Bug Feast 2015, and find out if

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