Handy Plumbing Hints

Buying A Home – Pre-Purchase Plumbing Inspection

your home is a major investment. Ensure that you have a 100 point plumbing inspection and report completed prior to purchasing your new home. This includes:

• All roofs, flashings, gutters & downpipes
• Stormwater pit & drain inspection
• Hot water system, digital gas leak testing of gas pipes
• Testing of all taps, toilets
• CCTV sewer inspection
• Location of sewer stormwater and pipes
• Inspection of sub floor plumbing and much much more.

This pre purchase report could save you thousands on unexpected plumbing issues and repairs in the future. Call us on 1300 633 533 to arrange your pre-purchase Plumbing Inspection.

 

Your home

• Locate your water meter shut off valve, gas meter shut off valve, hot water heater shut off valves and electricity box in case of an emergency.
• Service your hot water heater every 5 years,..This will drastically extend its working life.
• An excessive water or gas bill may be a leak. Constantly leaking/running toilets and leaking taps will increase your water bill. Re-embursements are available from your energy/water supplier, on proof of repair from your plumber.
• In high water pressure areas, a pressure limiting valve should be installed. This will extend tap washer life, hot water heater life, reduce water bills and decrease any chance of a burst or broken water pipe.
• Dampness, moisture on walls, water marks or stains on ceilings usually represent a leak. Have it looked at by a Plumber before any further damage.
• A Wet patch in lawn may be a under ground water leak.
• Make sure your roofs and gutters are free from leaves, branches and debris. Great idea to install leaf/gutter guard where tree’s overhang a roof,in bush fire zoned area’s, or where water is being collected for re-use…i.e. Stormwater tanks.
• Collect rain water in a rainwater tank, and use it for gardens and outdoor use. Its free water.
• Keep instructions, warranty cards and manuals for all your appliances handy.
• Have the emergency phone number of your plumber and other emergency services handy.
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Drain Tips

• Remove hair deposits and small debris from drain surrounds in shower/bath, this will prevent future blockages.
• When drains begin to gurgle, smell or operate slowly, it’s a good idea to treat the drain with caustic soda. It may save a service call with a plumber. Caustic soda is available from your local supermarket.
• No food waste, grease, oil or cooking fat to go down any drain. This will prevent future blockages.
• No sanitary towels, nappies, cigarette butts or similar to go down toilets. These generally will block a drain. Toilets are for natural waste only.
• Do not use recycled toilet paper in problem drains. Recycled paper does not have the ability to break down in drains, like standard paper.
• Check/flush your sewer and stormwater lines annually. Treat problem drains as necessary, to prevent an emergency call.
• Don’t hire electric eels yourself. If the user is in experienced, it could cause further damage and personal injury.
• Locate your water, sewer and stormwater lines, and prevent any tree planting directly over or near any water, sewer or stormwater line. This will prevent future pipe and tree root damage.
• Get a copy of your sewer diagram from your local authority, this will save your plumber time in the case of an emergency or a blockage, and will assist in preventing planting/positioning of new trees over the sewer line.

Gas Tips

•  Service your gas room heater every 2 years, to prevent malfunction, and ensures correct operation and correct safe emission levels. Contact your plumber.
• Great idea to place a bowl of water in the room, during heating. This will add moisture back in the air, and be slightly more comfortable.
• An excessive water or gas bill may be a leak. Constantly leaking/running toilets and leaking taps will increase your water bill. Re-embursements are available from your energy/water supplier, on proof of repair from your plumber.
• Locate your water meter shut off valve, gas meter shut off valve, hot water heater shut off valves and electricity box in case of an emergency.
• The smell of gas in a particular area may be a gas leak. Have it tested and checked by a plumber.

Hot Water Tips

•  When going away on holidays turn off the cold water valve at the bottom of your hot water heater, switch off the power supply for the water heater at the electricity box, or shut off the gas supply at the hot water tank.
• Lift up the pressure relief valve, to relieve any pressure in the system.
• And when you return home just remember to carry out the same steps in reverse order. It’ll only take a minute and it could save you a distressed call to a plumber.
• Relieve your temperature and pressure relief valve on your hot water heater, at least twice a year. This will ensure correct valve operation and flush out any debris build up inside the valve. This is the valve on your water heater with the small half circular pull lever. This valve is part of the five year service that must be replaced…It will extend tank life.
• Turn down your hot water heater thermostat. This will extend tank life, and save on energy heating costs. You may need a plumber to do this.
• Service your hot water heater every 5 years,..This will drastically extend its working life.

Taps and toilet Tips

•  Never over tighten tapware. When turning off taps and the tap comes to a halt, there is no need to keep tightening after this point. YOU ARE ONLY SQUASHING THE TAP WASHER. This is very critical in hot water shower, laundry and bath tapware.
• When taps become noisy, whistle, leak or create hammering sounds, it’s usually a sign of a deteriorated tap washer, as a result of over tightening taps.
• Where arthritis or muscle strain becomes an issue, install ceramic disc tapware, in lieu of tap washers. Tap operation is dramatically improved, and turning on and off taps becomes really easy, with no force required.
• Where hygiene is an issue in bathrooms, sensor operated (hands free) basin mixer taps are available.
• Make sure you install a water save device on all tap outlets. Convert your existing toilet cistern to dual flush. They will pay themselves of in water savings.
• An excessive water or gas bill may be a leak. Constantly leaking/running toilets and leaking taps will increase your water bill. Reimbursements are available from your energy/water supplier, on proof of repair from your plumber.
• Drink filtered tap water, it’s far cheaper than bottled water.