Traditionally, a plumber would use a cable machine to snake your drain. This method has proved to be not very efficient as the clogs return within a short few months. One of the reasons that this method does not work, is there is no way to get to the root cause of the drain blockage. Over time the build up process continues and you end up with the same problem.

Hydro Jetting uses a special high-powered water jet stream to flush out your drains, making them exceptionally clean.  The hydro jetters used by Melbourne 24 Hour Plumbing local plumber have the ability to deliver water at incredible cutting force under thousands of pounds of pressure per square inch. Hydro Jetting will remove the debris that has accumulated in the drain over the past months and even years. You are left with a drain system that is functioning as it should be, clear of debris and waste build up.

Further benefits of Hydro Jetting is that it is so powerful, it can even remove tree root debris that has gotten into your sewer pipes. With hydro jetting technology the tree root debris is completely removed and you are back to having a clean sewer drain quickly.

Many restaurants require Hydro Jet drain cleaning. Grease builds up very quickly in restaurants. In some restaurants, a sewer line can become impacted in 3 months with grease causing the bar area to flood and the floor drains in the bathrooms to over flow with sewer water. Hydro Jet drain cleaning is one of the most effective options when it comes to grease blockages.

The hydro Jet drain-cleaning machine is a truck or mounted on a trailer that is powered by an engine. The machine pressurizes water to roughly 4000 psi through a hose with a special nozzle attached that scours the inside of the drain pipe removing the build up of grease and debris that have formed inside the drain pipe. When the cleaning nozzle is inserted into the drain it slowly breaks down the grease so that it can safely drain into the sewer system. Its important to have Melbourne 24 Hour Plumbing hydro jet your restaurant or bar every 3-5 months to keep your establishment operating without any plumbing interruptions.

There are times when hydro jetting does not work. This can occur if there cracks in your sewer and drain pipes. Cracks in the pipes are a sign that the strength of the entire system has been compromised and needs to be repaired promptly before completely collapsing.

Your plumbing repairs are important for the maintenance of your home. However, you may be tempted to choose a plumber based on price. Choosing the cheapest plumber is not always the best way to go even if you have a very tight budget. It’s a very common saying “you get what you pay for” which is very often true when it comes to choosing a reliable and quality plumber.

Be sure that you choose the right plumber who has great references and has the proper qualifications to fix your problem correctly. An average plumber might be able to identify the problem and have a crack at fixing it. However, they probably wont have the necessary tools and equipment to fix the issue such as blocked drains. They will need a drain camera to place down the drain to ensure there is no cracked piped and if there is a cracked pipe, where is it located. Once the blockage is found, professional plumbers will have the necessary tools to remove the blockage. Many low budget plumbers refer their work to a plumbing professional such as Melbourne 24 Hour Plumbing or Mr. Plumber Sydney

Importantly, speed and reliability to get a plumbing job completed is another reason to use a professional plumbing business. A professional should provide you better service as they have the correct tools to perform the task at hand within a shorter time frame. Usually, a professional plumber will give you an indication of long it is going to take them to complete the job thus not giving you any last minute surprises.

Plumbing problems are often without notice. They will happen when you least expect it and often happen on the weekend when fewer plumbing businesses are operating. This makes it extremely difficult to get a plumber out to your house on the weekend, public holiday or 2am in the morning! Be sure that you have the name and number of a professional plumbing business that has an emergency 1300 or 1800 hotline. A professional plumbing company will be reasonable with their call out rates in an after hours emergency. Importantly, if you have a great relationship with your plumber they will probably by sympathetic to your emergency and not charge you an arm and a leg!

Some companies offer a maintenance program to prevent blockage drain, leaking toilets, dripping taps etc from occurring. Maintenance if the best form of prevention to stop problem plumbing issues occurring.

Tools and materials

The tools and materials you need to change a washer are available from hardware or plumbing supply stores. You will require: adjustable spanner to fit tap nut Valve or tap washer Body washer O-ring Silicon lubricant or Vaseline Needle nose pliers

Method

1. Turn off the water mains: this stops all water flowing into your house. The tap & water meter for homes will probably be out on the street or in your front yard adjacent to the street. If you live in a flat or townhouse the mains tap will probably be inside, for example in the bathroom or a cupboard. Turn on a tap in or around the house to make sure that the water has ceased to run. (If the water has not stopped running, it will be necessary to call a professional plumber). If the mains tap has not been used for many years, you may need a pair of multigrips to help turn it off.  Ensure you need to know where the mains tap is to be able to turn the water off in an emergency. If you are not sure where it is, even if you don’t need to change a washer, find out now!

2. Undo the head nut: once the mains water has been turned off, undo the head nut on the leaking tap.

3. Replace the washers: you could just replace the tap washer, but it is a good idea to replace all three washers at the same time. These are: The large washer around the head nut, which is called the body washer (usually orange in colour). It should lift off quite easily. The O-ring on the spindle. To change the O-ring, you need to fully close the tap until the O-ring appears. Then, with a pair of needle nose pliers (or a screwdriver or a sharp knife), prise or cut it off. The new O-ring should easily stretch and roll on to the spindle.

Lastly, replace the tap washer. It may simply slide out of the spindle or stay sitting in the body of the tap, in which case you will need a pair of small pliers to remove the washer.

4. Reassemble: first ensure the spindle and the threaded areas are lubricated with a silicon lubricant or Vaseline.

5. Turn the mains back on: once the tap is reassembled, open it half way and then turn on the mains. When turning the tap off after the washer has been replaced, use gentle finger pressure. Over-tightening will cause a lot of damage to the tap seat. A tap should only be tightened until the water flow stops, no further. (Note: If the tap is still leaking after you have replaced the washer, it means the seat is “pitted” and you will need a plumber to regrind the seat for you.

Further information

Most of inside taps take 12mm (1/2″) washers; while outside taps (garden taps) take 3/4″ (18mm). Washers cost around $2.00 to $3.00 each. The most popular washer (used by most plumbers) is a heavy-duty washer suitable for hot and cold taps, with a copper base and a yellow top (Delaware valve) – approximately $3.00 each. This same type of washer is good for outside garden taps – 18mm costs approximately $3.00 each.

If your taps are very old, take the worn-out washer to the hardware or plumbers’ supply store so that you get the right washer for your tap.