rain The last few weeks have meant a busy spring Serving many plumbing and roofing contractors in Winnipeg.
Environment and Climate Change Canada says Winnipeg recorded about 114 millimetres of precipitation in May alone, roughly double the amount the city received that month.
Dallas Friesen is the owner of Lynn Plumbing, Heating & Cooling. As rain after rain falls, they work around the clock to prevent or mitigate emergencies. “This spring has been very unique in that we didn't get a lot of snow in the winter, but we got a lot of rain. As a result, surface and groundwater are entering your sewer system at an unprecedented rate, keeping our team busier than ever before,” said Friesen.
With air conditioning season just around the corner, the company is booking appointments about a day apart for duct repairs and working through a backlog to ensure customers don’t have to wait long for their air conditioning systems to start up.
“We're expecting 25 or more in the first week. Then we'll get 40 to 50 calls a day, and our staff will have to work overtime and work really hard so we can handle it,” Friesen said.
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Transcona Roofing said it was receiving around 50 to 70 new calls a day from customers about leaks due to the heavy rain in recent days. “This has delayed the project somewhat. It means we have to contact the customer to let them know we are a little late arriving at the project site,” said project manager Rhys Fraser.
Fraser said Winnipeg's weather is usually unpredictable, but this year has been even more so. “We do go through periods where it's 20 degrees one day and 5 degrees the next. That kind of fluctuation has a big impact on the roof system, causing some shrinkage and expansion. So we're getting calls about leaks quite a lot.””
He said rainfall, temperature changes and new construction throughout the city are keeping them busy.
Frazier said they try to keep workers on the roof on days when crews can't safely get on the roof. “We try to keep our employees happy and get the hours they need to survive and live well. So what we try to do is keep certain tasks on our roof systems that can be done on rainy days, like moving rock on large roof systems, or moving material, receiving material, things like that.”
If you're a homeowner looking to make some repairs or start some projects, there's good news. Whether it's plumbing and refrigeration or roofing, both companies we spoke to believe that supply chain issues won't be as much of an issue this year as they have been in years past.
At Lynn's Plumbing, Heating and Cooling, they're ready to go. “We are fully stocked and prepared right now and have all the materials we need. We don't have to worry about running short on equipment or certain air conditioning products. So if you call us today, we can install it tomorrow.”
The same is true for Transcona Roofing. “I don't foresee too many issues. We still want to know when to order the product so we can give ourselves a month. Think ahead so we know we'll get it in time.”
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