Gas hot water systems

Posted on: October 19th, 2010 by admin
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It’s unfortunate, but most people don’t look for a new hot water heating system until their old one has broken. This is the best time though to look for gas hot water systems to replace the old one. Not only will gas hot water systems be more effective than the previous electrical powered ones, but they will also save you more money in the long run.

One of the main reasons that this system will save you much more money in the long run is how it is built. Since heat rises, the system has been built so that the pipe that supplies the cold water to the unit is placed at the very bottom of the tank. Cold water is pumped in through the bottom and is then heated inside the tank by the gas. As that water becomes warmer it will slowly rise to top so that the hottest water remains at the top while the coldest stays on the bottom. When you are ready to use the hot water it is shot up from the top of the tank. This means that you will always have hot water readily available.

It may not seem like it but there is a right water heater for everyone. Obviously they all do the same thing but some are built for larger families and some for smaller. Most people don’t know how much water they use in the day so they are never sure exactly what sized water heater they should purchase. It goes without saying that larger families should buy larger water heaters, but which one is the right size? It always helps to talk to one of our professional’s first as they have first-hand experience with it and have installed water heaters for every kind of family and have gotten feedback from all of them.

Make sure that you also get one with a high Energy Star rating on it. The higher the rating the more energy you can conserve. This is better for the environment and also better for your wallet. You may not think about it but also brand name has a very large impact on what you should buy. If you buy brand names such as Dux, Bosch, Rinnai and Rheem you are sure to have a better experience.

There are many factors you must put into consideration when buying gas hot water systems but know that your money will always be well spent if you put the right research into it and keep an open mind. If you would like to know more call our plumber’s and ask for personal advice.

Water leaking and how to fix it

Posted on: October 16th, 2010 by admin
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Water leaking can happen from almost every single appliance that you have in your house. Fixing the leak is one thing but finding it is totally another game. If you’re not sure where a pipe or appliance is leaking water, this article will help you in your endeavour.

Before you try to actually find the leak you should probably make sure that the water you are finding is actually a leak. Just like on a car, condensation can build up around any type of cold water container. If it is an especially hot day outside and you find a small puddle of water underneath your appliances it could simply be from the condensation. When the humidity from outside lands on a colder object such as a pipe or piece of metal it will cool down and form water. If you come back in the day and the puddle is gone or has not grown any larger than it is probably this. If the water comes down though at a substantial rate then you have yourself a leak.

What most people don’t know is that water leaks can be claimed under insurance.

For more information on how to claim and repair water leaks, please contact the Local Sydney Plumber at 1300 556 896


Six Common Sydney Plumbing Problems

Posted on: October 16th, 2010 by admin
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Below are six common plumbing problems requiring urgent repair, details of how your plumber would respond to these problems.

1. Toilet cistern flushing problems

All toilet repairs come with 12 month warranty

Toilet cistern flushing problems are arguably the most common reason that customers need to call. To turn the water supply to your cistern off in a rush, find the control tap underneath or inside the cistern. The typical response would be to inspect the problem with the cistern mechanism and replace the faulty valve or seals.

Tip: Keep an eye on your toilet cistern and if it doesn’t seem to be flushing properly, it may be worthwhile to call our plumbers.

2. Blocked drains

Repair your blocked drain, Guaranteed.

A blocked drain is another common plumbing emergency requiring urgent assistance. The course of action taken by a plumber called to fix the problem would typically be to clear the choke causing the blocked drain using a high pressure water jetter or a plumber’s snake. In the case of a reoccurring blocked drain, a CCTV drain camera inspection may be necessary to help identify the problematic section of pipe work and then replace it.

Tip: Early detection of a blocked drain will usually reduce the cost in clearing it. Signs to listen and watch for include a gurgling sound coming from the floor waste or toilet and the drain outside the house overflowing while water is being used.

3. Split hot water heaters

Inconvenient though it is, hot water heaters tend to split in the early hours of the morning, as this is when fewest people are using water and water pressure is at its highest. This usually means that an emergency plumber is required to turn off and drain the hot water heater, and then return during business hours to install a new hot water heater.

Tip: Run hot water in a white bath or basin. If the water appears slightly rusty, it would suggest that the inside of your hot water heater is deteriorating and it may need replacing.

4. Burst or leaking water pipes

Leak detection available

Burst or leaking water pipes often cannot be ignored and require immediate attention. After locating the leak or break in the pipe (if not already obvious), an emergency plumber would turn off water supply and repair the pipe, and then resume supply and test for leaks.

Tip: If possible, turn off the water at the main and wait until the next day and call a plumber during business hours to avoid paying emergency rates. This may not be possible if it occurs on the weekend and water is required, though.

5. A tap that can’t be turned off

Full service on taps comes with 12month warranty

Taps that are unable to be turned off often require an emergency plumber. The course of action taken would be to turn off supply and service or replace the tap. Your emergency plumber would then resume the water supply and check that the tap now works, as well as test for any leaks.

Tip: Taps normally become stiff and difficult to turn before becoming completely jammed. If you notice your tap is becoming difficult to turn on and off, call a plumber during business hours.

6. Gas leaks

Gas leak detection available

Gas leaks can be dangerous and a waste of both fossil fuels and money. An emergency plumber/gas fitter called to attend a gas leak would normally trace the leak to find its source, and then shut off the gas supply and repair the section of pipe that was leaking. The gas supply would then be resumed and tested.

Tip: Familiarize yourself with the location of your gas meter so that you can turn off the supply quickly in the event of an emergency.

The above are only some of the plumbing problems requiring urgent repair. Where possible, it is always worth calling your plumbing service during business hours to avoid having to pay the after hours rates of an emergency plumber.


Drain blockages

Posted on: October 16th, 2010 by admin
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Every household faces drain blockages once in a while. These blockages can be at different spots of the house draining system, but are all equally annoying if they are not handled efficiently and as soon as possible. Here, some useful advice on how to locate the draining blockage and get rid of it is given.

Firstly, it is necessary to determine where the tubes are clogged. This is something that Local Sydney Plumber are excellent at. If there is no drain blockage immediately in the house, then there is a problem with the pipes leading outside of it. Different buildings and houses have different draining systems but mostly the pipes running underground meet at the inspection chambers (or manholes), gullies and stacks. These are the spots that are inspected for bigger drain clogs.

It is by no means pleasant to do this, and if you feel uncomfortable contact your plumber to check it for you. Plumbers from Local Sydney Plumber will be happy to assist you with this. The cost of the drain blockage repair will be paid by you if you own a private property and do not share your draining system with anyone. However, if your neighbors contributed to the clog in the pipes then you’ll probably share the repair expense with them.

The situations that are much more common though are drain blockages in the house, such as clogged bathroom or kitchen drains. The clogs are usually a result of grease, soap and hair getting into the pipes. These can be removed in a couple of ways, depending on how severe the clog is.

Usually, people will attempt to use a commercial chemical product and run it down the drain, or a combination of vinegar and baking soda. These can work in the case where the drain blockage is not serious. However, if it happens that the blockage is great, and then a professional plumbing tool must be used. There are some elementary ways which Local Sydney Plumber uses to help you with these.

Often the way we use to remove a severe clog is to use the plumbing snake. If there is a huge obstruction in any pipe in your house, we suggest you do not try to use the snake yourself but contact your plumber. The snake is a long flexible metal tube that is used to either push through the clog in the drain or take the clogging material out of the pipe. If there is a trap in the pipe before the obstruction then it is removed and the water collected in a bucket.

A plumber will be very careful when performing this step if some chemicals were tried on the drain blockage before. If the chemical was harmful to the skin or the eyes, then the snake is not used, but some other method that is less risky.

There is a number of ways in which you can alleviate the problem of drain blockages in your household and Local Sydney Plumber can provide all of them. However, caution is needed and if you determine that the clogged pipe cannot be cleaned with whatever you have in your household, it is best to call the professionals.


Why are blocked drains such a big problem?

Posted on: October 15th, 2010 by admin
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There is probably not a single person who avoided having to deal with plumbing problems. These problems are what we all know well, from clogged drains to bursting pipes. You are lucky if you only face a minor problem. However, sometimes blocked drains can be really nasty to say the least. Everyone has faced a clog in the house pipes at least once in their life. Usually, these are just small issues which can be solved in a matter of minutes. Clogged kitchen or bathroom drains are not a problem. Just pour a powerful chemical and it will remove the pipe blockage in a second.

However, there are some situations which cannot be solved so easily. For example, there might be a heavy clog in one of the pipes connecting all the main drains in the house. Furthermore, big pipes leading outside the house or an apartment can also be clogged. When any of this happens, it becomes your worst nightmare.

The reason why is, that in order to get rid of these blockages you need to inspect the entire drainage system of your house. If there is a major clog in one of the main pipes, you won’t be able to take care of it yourself. How you will know this is that a number of drainage points in your house, such as sinks and toilets will not have a proper water flow. Your toilet will probably be overflowing or have a very slow

flow of water. As for the sinks, they might have no water running down the drain. These are problems that need to be taken care of on a bigger scale. Count on the fact that you will have to call your plumber. Even though professionals, such as Local Sydney Plumber employees, will be able to solve it efficiently, it will probably take a few hours to deal with this problem.

Having blocked pipes can really be an annoyance. You need to do chores around your house you might be expecting guests or just need to go out. Of course, you have to change your daily plans when blocked drains occur in your house. At Local Sydney Plumber we are aware of how much this bothers our customers. With us you can count on the fact that any pipe blockage will be taken care of quickly.

Similar situation occurs when pipes leading outside of your house get clogged. You might have to call your neighbors to share the work or the expenses with you. And we all know how difficult it is to gather people around in these busy times.

Bottom line, it is by no means pleasant to have any drains in or outside of your house blocked. It is because you might end up with a ton of work upon your back. Some serious drainage issues will put you off your planned track. No matter how irritating this may be, you can do nothing but call your plumber to fix it for you.

The home plumber checklist

Posted on: October 14th, 2010 by admin
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Every household faces plumbing problems at times. These problems can range in seriousness from a simple sink clog to bursting big drainage pipes. In situations like the mentioned ones, people usually opt to call the plumber. However, professional help might take a while to come and fix the problem. There are situations where you can solve the problem yourself or at least inspect it properly before your plumber arrives.

The most common and not the most pleasant of problems are drain and pipe blockages. You might have a milder or a bigger clog in some drainage pipes. Most often, clogs originate from kitchen waste, hair or grease stuck in the pipes. These are quite easy to solve yourself but not very nice to observe. There are a few things you might want to have on you in case any of these clogs happens.

Usually, a typical household will have things like flash lights, screw drivers, wires, hammers etc. If you are willing to equip your house with some plumbing tools, it can only benefit you. This way you will be prepared for a plumbing emergency. The tools you can have are plungers and drain augers. These tools will help you get rid of nasty drain clogs.

A plunger is a universal tool for getting rid of drain clogs. Simply thrust it back and forth on the opening of a vacuumed drain, and it usually does the work. Avoid pouring chemicals down your drains. These will only get you into trouble, as they may damage your hands and eyes and even burst if you are trying different ways to unclog blocked drains.

For bigger clogs you will want to use an auger or even a plumbing snake. The former one is easier to handle. You will either take the clog out of the pipe or push it down the drain. Not the nicest sight, but worth the repair.

For sink drainage blockages, you will need a flash light to locate the problem. In most cases the blockage is on the trap in the pipe leading down from the sink. Here, you will need to remove the pipe and also the clog wearing gloves. If you had used chemicals before this operation, it is recommended that you wear an eye protector because the chemicals may pop out of the pipe and harm you.

In addition, the pipes leading outside the house may be clogged. Check the manholes using your flash light. For these blockages you will need to contact the plumber.

Drain clogs are probably the most irritating things that can occur in a household. They are also the most frequent ones. You should be prepared for them and always have some tools to fix them. Even though they may be odd to do, they are nothing to panic about. Some other problems that can happen are usually not as serious as big drain clogs, but as long as you are cautious and confident, you can fix them.

Fast plumbers

Posted on: October 13th, 2010 by admin
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Throughout Australia today, there are a number of quick plumbing services you can find. There are many of them located in or near Sydney. These companies offer a good service for your household’s plumbing problems, but none of them are as good, efficient and professional as the Local Sydney Plumber.

Firstly, our company has a pretty good coverage of the territory we operate in. Supplied with excellent transportation systems, we are able to arrive on the spot in no time. Therefore even if you live a bit away from the city center you can count on a fast and professional emergency plumbing service. As a plumbing work provider, we are experienced in our work. Thus, you are sure to get a reliable service done by experts.

The company that guarantee’s to provide you with their plumbing services in a blink of an eye is the Local Sydney Plumber. We serve our customers across the entire Sydney Metropolitan area and specialize in a number of plumbing repairs such as hot water systems, drain repairs and general plumbing work. We have fully equipped trucks at our disposal for efficient service provision. There is also a call center for any advice that you might need. The center works 24 hours 7 days a week. Even if you only need an advice on the plumbing situation or household maintenance, feel free to give us a call.

Our returning customers are aware of our extra services that a new customer needs to be pointed to. Coupled with the repair we do for you, in your home or office space, we provide free home analysis and free pipe camera inspections. This is because we do not only care to get the work done quickly but also thoroughly. Every single one of our customers is therefore happy with our service and will never contact another plumbing company.

Local Sydney Plumber provides you with licensed experts who will perform any plumbing job in no time. Having worked within the Sydney area for almost half a century, we have learned everything there is to know about fast service. We improve on our services daily, which is the reason for us being able to cover a broad area efficiently. Our dispatch teams are located in every district of the Sydney area. This enables them to respond to your call within minutes. We boast the fact that we are always punctual, regardless of the time of the day or the day of the year. As we like to put it ‘we work even on our birthdays’. This means that nothing will prevent a fast plumber from coming to you and fixing the problem.

If you are worried about the costs of our services, you can stop worrying right now. Local Sydney Plumber boasts the fact that we provide top quality services at a reasonable price. Do not think that your business will be financially ruined just because you had to call the plumber to come quickly and fix your problem.

So, if you need a fast plumber in the city of Sydney, contact Local Sydney Plumber at any time. We are always happy to help you.


Unblock a blocked drain

Posted on: October 12th, 2010 by admin
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Having a backed up blocked drain is one of life’s pleasantries. Although it may be frustrating to take a shower that takes hours to empty, luckily for you this is a common problem that can be easily remedied. Of course the fastest way to fix this problem would be to call a professional blocked drain plumber but if the problem is small enough you too can fix it yourself.

The first way you can unblock a blocked drain is to get a drain cleaner that can be found at most grocery stores or any home improvement store. Most of these cleaners that you can buy on the open market are acid-based or a type of alkaline solution. When poured down the drain the two mixtures combine and dissolve any clog that may happen in your drain. For those that wish to have a more natural approach to unclogging drains, there is also an enzyme-based drain cleaner which has a less harmful effect on the environment.

Sometimes though the clog is a lot closer than what you think. On many types of showers there is a hair and dirt collector that is located at the very top of the drain. It doesn’t matter how much drain cleaner you pour down it won’t get rid of it, but the great thing about this is you simply have to remove it and pull out any extra hair or other various items that may have been trapped within it. This is the most common problem with all showers and only takes a couple of seconds to clear up.

Sometimes though, the blockage must be physically removed. You can go through a lot of woe and sorrow before you finally realize you do not have the right tools to clear this clog. This is when you should contact our certified plumbers. It’s best to call our plumbers after you’ve tried the other two options. Chances are something a bit more durable than regular dirt is clogging up your drain. It only takes a plumber a couple of minutes to clear the clog but it would have been impossible otherwise unless you had called for him or her.

If you do try to tackle this task alone though be sure to wear proper safety gear. Where goggles and gloves as if you use any type of drain cleaner it can irritate the skin. Also, pressure can build up in the pipe as a drain cleaner takes effect and cause unwanted fluids immaterial to shoot back up the pipe. Although this is rare it is always better to be safe than sorry.

A blocked drain happens all the time and luckily it is a very easy problem to fix. If you know even a little bit of plumbing you should have no problem with it and even if you are totally clueless our plumbers will be more than happy to assist you.


Three ways to clear a blocked pipe

Posted on: October 10th, 2010 by admin
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Pipes can easily be blocked and clogged by simple things such as hair, grease and kitchen waste. Putting off cleaning them is never a good idea. Not only will water slowly start to back up but the actual smells and odors will start to come from the hole itself and onto your property. If you ever see any signs of a blocked drain you should take care of it at once as replacing pipes can be quite expensive. By stopping a blocked pipe right away saves you money in the end.

The first thing to do to clear a blocked pipe is to see where the blockage is. Sometimes it’s just hair that is few inches down in the pipe and can be easily removed with a small tool. It’s never advisable to stick your hands down there as you never know what exactly your drain has accumulated over time. In fact if you have a problem with your bathtub you can usually remove the drain and then remove the hair from the hair catcher and that solves the problem most of the time. If there is no noticeable clog within a few inches of your drain you will probably need our plumbers.

You can rent and electric eel and do it yourself. The eel will have a further reach and will allow you to unblock the drain by extending the prongs and removing the waste. As you do this make sure to run a little bit of water to make sure that what you’re doing is working and to help aid in moving the clog further down the pipe. Just make sure that the blockage doesn’t get wedged again as you do this. After you have the clog eliminated wash down some cleaning fluid to disinfect the area as some unwanted vermin may have created their new homes in the pipe since then.

There are also some plumbing fluids you can buy at any do-it-yourself store to aid in your struggle. Buying something such as Drain-o usually will help the unclogging process. Essentially two liquids are stored inside of this container. When you pour the two liquids down the hole they combine and create a type of foam. This foam will expand and start to deteriorate the clog and break it up so that when you run water down your pipe it will wash away the clog and force it farther down. Take caution when using this method as the foam and liquids are very strong and should never come in contact with your eyes or your skin. To be safe, wear proper equipment such as gloves and goggles as sometimes harmful vapors will come up through the hole after you have poured the mixture down it.

Most of the time these methods will fix the problem, however if the problem persists contact our plumber’s immediately to help you with your problem.


What causes a blocked sewer pipe?

Posted on: October 9th, 2010 by admin
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A blocked sewer pipe is one of life’s many hassles. The bad thing about it is your life comes to a halt if your sink, bathtub, or any other type of drain gets blocked up. Although fixing it can be sometimes troubling it is much better to prevent it and allow people damage and abuse of their dreams without even knowing it. Here are some of the many things that can cause your sewer pipes to get backed up and how you can prevent it.

One of the many causes of backed up sewage lines is grease. If your kitchen sink is acting up and you don’t know why this might be one of the problems. Grease is left over animal fat that is left over from cooking. Most people don’t give this a second thought because the grease is in liquid form when they pour it down the sink. However, don’t forget that grease will harden up pretty quickly once it cools down. If you run cold water down after the grease when you dump it in it’s going to harden quickly and start to block your pipe. This grease is extremely hard to remove once it’s in there and usually only our plumbers will be able to get it out. You should always pour your grease in a separate container and dispose of it separately and make sure not to pour it down the drain.

Most people don’t think of this but trees can also affect your piping system. If you have any trees growing nearby your underground pipes they can easily break through and cause clogging. It’s hard to believe that wood could pierce clay or PVC pipe, but the very tips of roots are diamond strong and are meant to even go through concrete so you may have shrubbery and tree roots plugging up your pipes.

The one thing to remember is to be careful with unclogging your pipe system. It’s always better to use a snake than to use chemicals. Using cleaning chemicals to unclog the drain has a chance of hurting yourself and the environment. Pressure can build up in the pipes as you pour it down the drain and can cause a type of backwash or even create a harmful vapor. In the end a snake tool is more effective and safer. To be absolutely safe you should contact our qualified plumbing professional’s to fix your blocked pipe.

No one likes a blocked sewer pipe. So it’s best to nip this thing in the bud and try to prevent any blocked pipes rather than fix them after the problem has happened. Proper home maintenance is key to saving money on repairs and investing them in something more useful. Contact our plumbers if you have any more questions concerning your blocked sewer pipe’s.