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Water Damage from Brocken Pipes

Posted by on February 10, 2014

Water damage can vary from a small amount of wood warping or swelling cabinets to more serious damage like buckling of floorboards and damaged walls.

Small drips of water can cause damage in a specific spots. It is essential that you locate the leak be detected early enough so the damage can be limited.  A Geelong plumber will be able to assist you locating the leak. Unfortunately small leaks usually only happen while water is in use and only stop when the water is tuned off. Taps usually only leak when water is running through them. This makes the leaks can very hard to detect.  You might notice a wet spot but it will eventually dry out. You may open and close a bathroom or kitchen cupboard door many times before seeing any damp or wet patches.

Water leaks that occur from drainage pipes supplying your home with water have water flowing into them constantly so the leaking will be constant.  This is great as it makes it easier for a Geelong plumber to locate the leak.  Importantly, with any leaking pipes the sooner they are repaired the less damage they are likely to cause.

Below are a few prevention tips to avoid water leak damage to your home:

  • Check the water supply lines and pipes to major appliances for wetness, bulging hoses or other signs of deterioration.
  • Unclog the drain if pipes are draining slowly and check pipes under the sink for signs of water leaks. You might need a Geelong plumber to help you unblock the drain.
  • To reduce leaks and avoid major repairs, replace your hot water system every eight to twelve years. A Geelong plumber will be required to help you install a new hot water system.
  • Check for wet patches on walls or in gardens after dry weather months.
  • Place food dye in the toilet cistern to check for leaks in the toilet. This works really well to locate leaks.
  • Make sure all your appliances are turned off such as taps, toilets are not dripping; washing machine or dishwashers and other appliances are not running.  After you have turned everything off, check if your water meter is still ticking over.

If you suspect a water leak in your home, it is recommended that you call a  plumber Geelong immediately.

 

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What Are a Plumbers Duties

Posted by on February 2, 2014

Hot Water System Options

  • Natural gas – can be used in both water heaters and continuous flow heaters.  Natural gas systems are rated according to their energy efficiency and come in both internal and external models.  Gas storage heaters have a smaller capacity than electric ones as they are able to heat the water up at any time of the day or night as opposed to within a certain time period only.
  • Off peak electricity – has similar operating costs to a natural gas system but is only available where the hot water system has a storage capacity one hundred and sixty litres or more.  The hot water is generally heated overnight for use throughout the day.  It cannot be used by continuous flow systems and is available for both internal & external use.
  • Solar energy – can provide up to seventy percent of your hot water free of charge, making it a very environmentally friendly option.  They are the cheapest systems to operate but do have a high initial purchase price.  All solar hot water systems come with a “booster” source of power  to provide hot water during times when there is little sun.  Mains pressure and constant pressure is available.
  • Peak electricity – is used for electric continuous flow units and storage water heaters that are smaller than one hundred and sixty litres in capacity.  They can be expensive to run but are very popular in areas where space is limited such as in units and apartments.
  • LPG – is used in areas where natural gas is not available.  It is suitable for both continuous flow and storage hot water systems.
  • Solid fuels – this includes wood, coal, briquettes and so forth, so the cost of the fuels can vary widely.  Solid fuels can be used on their own or in conjunction with off peak electricity or solar in constant pressure hot water systems.  They cannot be used with mains pressure systems unless a heat exchanger is used and can not be used in continuous flow systems.
  • Heat pumps – is high efficiency and uses around seventy percent less electricity than other electric hot water systems.  They work by extracting heat from the atmosphere using a refrigerant gas and a compressor and using that heat to heat water stored in a tank at ground level.

Services/Hiring a Hot Water Systems Specialist

Hot water system suppliers can assist with:

  • Advising on a suitable hot water system
  • Installation
  • Service and hot water system repairs (hot water system service and repairs)
  • Supply of the hot water unit
  • Minor plumbing

Ensure that they are able to help you to choose the correct system for the number of people in your household.  They should also allow for possible changes in the use of the hot water system in the future brought about by such things as an expanding family, the introduction of new appliances such as dishwashers and so on. A reputable plumber can install or replace al types of hot water systems, including electric, gas and sola hot water systems

Ensure that the system comes with a warranty, and that the supplier is willing to provide installation in a reasonable time-frame.  It is also useful if your supplier can provide emergency repairs or be able to direct you to someone that does.

 

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How to increase the Life of your Hot Water System

Posted by on January 28, 2014

As houses start to get old, there are certain maintenance issues that need to be attended to. Examples include air conditioning, window seals breaking, garden maintenance with weeds that keep growing and more. Very often people ignore maintenance on their hot water system. This can result in replacement of the system every few years

There is a great solution to extend the life of your hot water system. By replacing the anode every two years you could almost double the life span of the system. The best part of all this is that you do not need a plumber to replace an anode valve. You can do it yourself. I know what you are thinking… what is an anode valve? An anode is the long metal rod that runs from the top of the how water system to the bottom.

There are massive savings to be made by replacing the anode valve every two – three years. To put this into a simple equation, if we say that on average a hot water heater is replaced every five years and we can double that to ten years by replacing the anode valve every two or three years:

–       anodes cost about $50

–       4 anodes will cost about $200

–       approx cost to install a hot water system $500

Using this method, you will save about $300 plus the cost of a new hot water system every ten years plus a whole lot of headache. Not bad!

To replace an anode valve is no big job. Anodes are available to purchase from most hardware stores. Follow the steps below to replace your hot water systems anode:

  1. Turn off the water going into the tank and also turn off the power supply leading from the tank.
  2. You need to drain approx twelve to sixteen liters of water from the tank
  3. Use a socket wrench to remove the existing anode valve.
  4. Install the new anode valve. Its recommended to wrap Teflon tape around the threads of the new anode. Be sure to tighten it with a good socket wrench.

In four easy steps, you have just saved yourself hundreds of dollars for not much fuss. Be sure to tell your friends and family about this little trick so they too can save lots ofmoney!

For more information and other articles, please look at the Geelong 24 Hour Plumbing Handy Hints

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Plumbing Geelong 101

Posted by on January 23, 2014

At its base, plumbing is a very basic model as it follows three simple laws of nature:

  1. Gravity
  2. Pressure
  3. Water that wants its own level.

If you can understand this, then you are on the right path to understanding the mysteries of being a plumber. This will aid you in making many fixes in your home’s plumbing system saving you lots of trouble, time and money!

Every business or plumbing system is structured with  different subsystems that are logical. The first system brings fresh and clean water into your house. The second system removes used water from your home or business. Water that enters your home or business is under pressure, which forces it to travel. This pressure ensures that the water can travel upstairs, downstairs wherever it is required in the home . To monitor the amount of water being used in your location, the water travels through a water meter.

All plumbing systems contain a main water shutoff or stop value. Generally, this is located close or nexto to the meter. In most plumbing emergencies, the first thing to do is locate the stop valve to turn the water inflow off. Its nb you turn the water supply off quickly, as your house or business will be flooded within in no time.

However, should you discover that the plumbing issue is located in a sink or near a toilet, then you do not need to use the shutoff to stop supply to the whole system. It is very common that most fixtures have a stop valve to prevent flooding.

Cold water incoming to the house is immediately ready for your usage. However, your hot water will need another step prior to your use. A pipe carries the cold water to your hot water system. From the hot water system, a hot water pipe transports the hot water to all taps and appliances that require use. In order to maintain the temperature on the hot water system, a thermostat maintains the temp that you set. The devices heating elements automatically turn on and off to maintain your most desired temperature. The recommended hot water temperature for a home is somewhere between 140’F and 160′ F. saying that, some homeowners set the hot water temperature to a hundred and twenty degrees F as its more economical.

It is  more common that some dishwashers require high water temperatures to help with the drying process. In these cases, the dishwasher will have their own mini water heaters to increase the temperature by an additional twenty degrees F.

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How to Extend the Life of your Hot Water Heater

Posted by on January 20, 2014

As houses start to age, there are certain maintenance issues that need to be attended to. Examples include air condition, window seals breaking, garden maintenance with weeds growing and more. It is very common that people ignore maintenance on their hot water system. This can result in replacement of the system every 5-6 years.

There is a solution to extend the life of your hot water system. By replacing the anode every 2 years you could almost double the life span of the system. The best part of all this is that you don’t need a plumber to replace an anode. You can do it yourself. I know what you are thinking… what is an anode? An anode is the long metal rod that runs from the top of the how water system to the bottom.

There are massive savings to be made by replacing the anode every two years. To put this into a simple equation, if we say that on average a hot water heater is replaced every 5 years and we can double that to 10 years by replacing the anode every two years:

–       anodes cost about $50

–       4 anodes will cost about $200

–       approx cost to install a hot water system $500

Using this method, you will save about $300 + the cost of a new hot water system every 10 years + a whole lot of headache. Not bad!

To replace an anode is no big job. Anodes are available to purchase from most hardware stores. Follow the steps below to replace your hot water systems anode:

  1. Turn off the water going into the tank and also turn off the power supply for the tank.
  2. You need to drain approx 12-16 liters of water from the tank
  3. Use a socket wrench to remove the existing anode.
  4. Install the new anode. Its recommended to wrap Teflon tape around the threads of the new anode. Be sure to tighten it with the socket wrench.

In four easy steps, you have just saved yourself hundreds of dollars for not much fuss. Be sure to tell your friends and family about this little trick so they too can save money!

For more information and other articles, please look at the Geelong 24 Hour Plumbing Blog.

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Shortlist to Preventing Plumbing Emergencies

Posted by on January 16, 2014

Test Your Main Water Valve

The main water valve controls the water system in your home. Your first action to take with a burst pipe in your home or business is to turn off the main water supply. This will aid in preventing further leakage or damage until a qualified plumber arrives. The water supply valve is typically located near the main water supply to your home. It’s important that the valve be in working condition at all times.

There is a simple way to test that the valve is working. Go to your bathroom and turn on the water in a sink or bathtub. Turn off your main water valve. The water should completely turn off. If the water continues to run, it means your water valve is damaged or broken. You will need to consider calling out a professional plumbing company such as Melbourne 24 Hour Plumbing , Manly Emergency Plumber or Mr Plumber Sydney to replace the control valve.
Take Care of Your Drains

Plumbers often remove a variety of unexpected items from drains including hair and grease. Drains that are not taken care of can become blocked over time. To prevent blockages from occurring, it is of importance that no fat and grease is poured down your kitchen drain. Moreover, avoid allowing excessive hair going down the shower drain in the bathroom. Ensure your children’s small toys are not flushed down the toilet!

One of the major causes of blocked drains in Australia in tree roots. Tree roots cause large amount of damage and often causes recurring blockages. Tens of thousands of dollars are spent removing tree roots from drains across Australia ever year. We strongly suggest that you consider choosing where to plant trees and what species of tree to plant. Many local council websites have recommendations of what trees to plant. Its important that you spent some time planning of what trees to plant and where. This will save you money in the future.

Check Any Leaks

Leaky fixtures and faucets may indicate internal problems such as missing or broken o-rings or loose pipes. We recommend that you take care of minor leaks before they become big nuisances. The bigger the leak, the more expensive it is to repair. By removing the faucet spout, you will be able to check the o-rings and if required, replace them. If your sink still leaks, it is a great idea to call a plumber to do a routine inspection. Repairing minor damage will save you a lot of money in the future. Moreover, fixing water leaks will save you money on your water bill. Its also great for the environment to save water!

By maintaining the plumbing in your home or business, you will be able to prevent major plumbing emergencies that could end up costing a significant amount of money. Calling a plumber to fix minor leaks and other issues before they get worse is a great way to invest in your home and increase your peace of mind. Maintenance is essential to any home or business!

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