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!

Tree roots are usually worse for drainpipes than a typical blockage. An issue occurs in that even when roots are cleared that penetrated the drain pipes, the pipes still remain damaged The water that leaks out of the drain will attract more tree roots which may then enter the drain, and cause it to block up again.

A pipe that penetrates tree roots also often creates a ‘lip’ that serves to catch material flushed down the drain. This makes it easier for the drain to become blocked. The only permanent and recommended solution for drains that continually become blocked by roots is a drain camera inspection. A drain camera identifies the problem section of pipe. After the problem area is identified, you will need to excavate and replace the damaged pipe.

There are a few steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of a blocked drains caused by tree roots. For all new and replacement drain installations, we recommend PVC pipes as the best below ground pipe material to stop tree roots. When properly installed, there is a much-reduced chance of root penetration. PVC pipes are also less likely to collapse with ground subsidence, and usually come with a manufacturer’s guarantee for 50 years.

When it comes to tree roots, it can be difficult to prevent problems from the roots of tress that have already been there. Having said this, after clearing a blocked drain your plumber can usually identify how far down the line the blockage occurred, where tree roots caused the blockage and which tree or trees are likely to be the cause.

We often recommend that new trees should not be planted in the vicinity of your drain lines. If you are not sure exactly where your drains run, ask your plumber. Before planting new trees it is also worth doing some research into which tree species will best for your garden and your drainpipes. Before you know it, a small plant can very quickly becomes a big tree with an extensive root system that may cause blocked drains. Later removal can be very costly, and in a lot of cases may be restricted by your local council.

Many local council websites list known problem tree species that tend to penetrate drains. It is worth having a look at this list! You might spend a little time now investigating what trees not to buy, but this will save you a lot of time and money in the future!