The Top Common Plumbing Problems
Pretty much, every homeowner has a couple of basic instruments that can help in fixing minor pipe issues. If you are having a clogged toilet or slow drain, it may just need some real effort and a plunger to make it function as before. However, if the problem persists, you are always welcome to Vanmach Plumbing and Heating office.
Plumbing Maintenance
One of the best ways in avoiding expensive plumbing repairs is by having a normal up keeping plan. A careful and regular assessment of your home can help spot and allow you to fix potential issues before they develop further.
Concealed holes in the sink channels or underneath water heaters are something that you need to carefully take into account as after some time, they can cause damage. Water that saturates sheetrock or mortar will add to the development of mould. Permeable tile or wood ground surface can also stain when wet.
Routine DIY Maintenance Tasks
If you want to avoid some costly repairs, it’s always advisable to maintain a regular schedule of your maintenance routine. You may use your sinks and tubs almost every day, yet you probably won't see minor issues except if you put aside time for an investigation. Do take time to check your home and investigate your pipes. Look at all uncovered funnels, including under sinks and behind can tanks, for any indications of dampness.
Turn on water fixtures in sinks, showers and tubs so that you can be able to see the water pressure. Every one of them ought to have a consistent stream. Note how rapidly the water depletes after you test the faucet. While you're investigating for potential issues, flush the toilet to guarantee that it doesn’t run at the base, which is an indication of a broken wax seal.
Get in touch with the Vanmach Plumbing and Heating.
Proficient Inspections
Examinations from an affirmed plumber will give you an additional view of your home's pipes and drains. The inspector will check the water heater, garbage disposal and every area of your home’s plumbing system.
Dribbling Faucets
It can be very irritating when the dripping sound from the kitchen doesn’t stop throughout the night when you are trying to rest.
Not all sinks have washers to keep down the stream of water. Ceramic taps, likewise called disc or canister taps, use strong plates that fit together to shape a seal.
Low Water Pressure
If the water is not flowing naturally and at a good and steady pace, then this is an indication of low water pressure. It is often due to your water supplier to fix this issue. It is rarely an issue with the water pipes at your home.
Running Toilet
If you have a running toilet, this can cause all sort of issues. One of the biggest is that it will significantly impact your water bill due to water wastage. The issue with toilets can happen because of many reasons, therefore, it is important to call emergency plumbers near me to fix this issue immediately.
DIY Versus Professional Plumbing : Things to Consider
In this ongoing DIY age, almost every house-owner or renter has some essential tools within reach to tackle minor plumbing issues. A slow drain or a clogged toilet often requires a plunger or an elbow grease to start functioning smoothly again. Even routine tasks like replacing a worn out drain cover or washer are quite simple and easy enough to call a professional plumber.
According to qualified 24 hour plumbers in london, staying up to date with regular maintenance schedules is a smart approach to cut down the costly plumbing repairs.Thorough inspections carried out at routine intervals are the key to identify small issues before they become severe.
Routine DIY tasks for plumbing maintenance
- You have to set aside a little time to carry out the routine inspections. Go through your home carefully and inspect the exposed plumbing network for any sign of leaks or moisture. These leaks are common at places like underneath a sink, the exposed pipes and behind the toilet tank. Check out if there’s any sign of corrosion on the copper or brass fittings. Damp metals are more prone to corrosion and corroding metals give way to leaks easily.
- To check out the water pressure, turn the water faucets in showers, tubs and sinks. A little variation in pressure is normal between the various water outlets but all of them should have a steady water flow.
- After testing the faucets, it is time to check out how fast water drains away. According to experienced emergency plumbing repair experts associated with Vanmach Plumbing and Heating, slow drain usually indicates a clog.
- While you are inspecting, be sure to flush the toilets to see whether they leak at the base. If they do then you’ve the issue of faulty wax seal.
Professional plumbing inspection
Professional plumbers, on the other hand, provide a more in-depth inspection of your drains, pipes and plumbing fittings. They also cover the water heater and garbage disposal. To cover every part of a plumbing network, trained plumbers use remote cameras and video cameras to detect leaks and faults.
Sediment buildup inside the pipes is known to slow down the water flow. Licensed plumbers quote hefty prices for their services but at the same time they provide a higher value for your hard-earned money. Licensed 24 hour plumbers in Vancouver possess the necessary equipment to perform pressure test to detect hairline leaks.
DIY plumbing may be the present trend but there are certain cases which must be resolved by a trained professional. These areas include:
- Installation of new pipes, tubs or sinks.
- Issues with the water heater.
- Leaks in the septic tank or the sewer line.
Remember these words of caution and your DIY will never fail.
What to do if your house floods - Emergency Plumber
A flooded home is a cause of concern. It has the potential to damage several properties in the house. A house can get flooded due to the pipes no matter how small the issue is and in some cases, it can be caused by bursting of pipe. Regular checking and inspecting of pipes is a good way to prevent this disaster from happening. Otherwise, you have to call your plumber for Basement Flood Clean-Up. This is because you will be able to spot any defect in your pipes at early stages. There are several ways by which a house can be flooded. Below are some of them.
Ways by which a Toilet Can Flood Your Home
The toilet can be an avenue by which your house can be flooded. It can happen in the following ways.
- Toilet clogs caused by foreign objects dropped into the toilet bowl. This can cause the toilet to overflow and flood the floor
- There can be a loose connection in the valve on the wall behind the toilet, and this can cause water to drop continuously onto the floor.
- There can be a crack in the tank, and this can make water drip onto the floor.
- Water can pool around the toilet when you flush. This is as a result of the wax seal breaking and causing a leak when you flush.
Ways a Water Heater Can Flood Your Home
- The water tank can leak as a result of corrosion
- A leak can develop as a result of the drain valve or relief valve
- The leak can come from the supply pipe leading to the water tank itself. This can lead to a water pool around the tank floor.
- Leaks can also come from the heating element gasket in the water heater.
Ways a Dishwasher Can Flood Your Home
- Putting too much soap in the dishwasher can cause the dishwasher to erupt and soapy water to flood the house
- A broken pump seal or faulty pump can cause a leak under the dishwasher
- Water can flow from the dishwasher when the dishwasher door gasket is not properly sealed.
- Leaks can come from cracks in the water hose and cause water to pool around the dishwasher.
- Water can leak to the floor from a crack in the spray arm. Water can pool on the kitchen floor from under the dishwasher.
Ways a Washing Machine Can Flood Your House
- Just like the dishwasher, too much detergent added to the washing machine can cause the soapy water to overflow on the floor around the washing machine
- Wear and tear associated with age can cause the seal around the drain pump to crack and leak water onto the floor
- Water supply hoses, especially rubber hoses behind the washing machine can spring a leak easily and flood the house.
- Leaks can also come from the hose that drains water away from the washing machine, especially during the spin cycle. The water, if not controlled, can cause serious damage to the house.
When to call an emergency plumber
It is of necessity to have a plumber's number on hand in case of an emergency. Whenever you notice water pooling around your major appliances like the washing machine or dishwasher, or even the water heater, you should call for an emergency plumber for Basement Flood Clean-Up. This is because the water must have pooled under the equipment long before they flow out and become visible on the floor.
When water collects under this equipment, they create an avenue for mould growth, and thus affects the quality of air inside the house and can cause serious life-threatening diseases and infections.
Notifying a plumber immediately you notice leakages from the pipes or a pool of water on the floor is one way to prevent damage to your property.
If you have water leaking from any of your water pipes in your house, contact Vanmach Plumbing and Heating today for immediate response. We have an experienced and professional team to rectify any plumbing issues you have.
Plumbing Checks To Make On A New Home
When moving into a new home, you can’t always know the condition that the electrical wiring and plumbing system is in.
Why Make Plumbing Checks?
Plumbing checks are necessary for new homes as the previous owner may not have had their plumbing systems checked in years. This is risky as it’s common for plumbing systems that have not been well maintained to become damaged easily, causing things such as leaks which can cause severe damage to your home.
In order to prevent things such as water damage, mould and mildew it’s important to have regular boiler checks. So if you’ve just moved into a new property and aren’t sure about what to look out for within your plumbing systems, then keep reading! As we’ve devised a list of things for you to look out for, and if any of these problems occur we recommend contacting a qualified plumber as soon as possible.
Leaky Taps And Toilets
Not only is this problem wasting your money, but it can be extremely annoying – especially when trying to sleep at night. A simple dripping tap, if left all day can cause extortionate extra costs on your water bills, so it’s important to get this checked before it worsens or costs you a lot more than it would to repair.
This is the same circumstances as a running toilet; an ongoing running toilet occurs when the float is set too high. If set too high, when your toilet is flushed water spills into the overflow tube which then won’t allow the fill valve to shut off – meaning that the toilet then keeps running.
Toilets alone are the main culprits of water usage within your home, so by leaving it continually running you are going to be spending ridiculous amounts on your water bills – although its a common problem so be sure to check this in your new property!
Find Out if Your Home Has Lead Pipes
Lead pipes were used widely in old plumbing, it was cost-effective and seemed to be extremely sturdy and easy to use. However, as time has progressed, we have discovered how toxic lead is to human bodies at high exposure. If your drinking water is travelling through lead piping, then it’s possible that the lead is contaminating your clean water.
Lead in a high enough quantity has the ability to cause death, so if you think that your home was built before the 1970’s, then we would recommend contacting a plumber straight away.
Check All Your Pipes Are Insulated
During the winter months, it’s easy enough for your pipes to freeze up. You should check that your pipes have been lagged and are protected from harsh weather such as rain, snow and ice. As well as this you should ensure that your hot water tank is insulated.
In the event of your plumbing pipes freezing up you should try and defrost them. Most people call out plumbers in the case of this simply because they don’t know what to do. Using a hairdryer, you can hold it on your pipes from a reasonable distance, and it will begin to defrost the pipes. Although it may take some time, it stops you paying fees for a plumber to do the same thing.
Check For Water Damage, Damp And More
Damp is a severe issue within a home; it’s unlikely that you’re going to move into a house after being made aware of it having mould. But sometimes people are really good at hiding their home imperfections, so we recommend taking a good look around the house before making an offer or moving in.
Damp is normally hidden in home extensions; this is in the case of where the home extension has been fitted improperly by cowboy builders. So we recommend using qualified builders for any property extension work to reduce the possibility of a botch job.
Damp, mould and mildew can cause serious health issues, especially for those with respiratory issues such as asthma. So we suggest checking hidden places such as behind wall cavities and in lofts and garages to ensure that there is no damp or mould in your home. As well as this look out for problems caused by leaky roofs and water damage in the property, this can also cause issues and can make it hard for you to sell on your property in the future.
Water damage can also be caused by leaky pipes, so check your home’s pipes to avoid the risk of them leaking into your home.
Locate Your Internal Stop Tap
It’s important to know the location of your internal stop tap; it’s the only thing that can completely stop the flow of water into your home. This important in case there is a problem with your homes plumbing work, and you have to turn the water off, in certain instances, this could be the only thing that can stop water damage in your home during a leak or flooding.
So it acts an emergency stop button for your water system, it’s important that you also make your family aware of its location in case there’s a situation that may require the need for them to turn the water off. Whether your children are home alone or your neighbours are watching your home for the weekend, it’s important that you point out its location just as a precaution.
Your plumber may use the internal stop tap during repairs or boiler replacements as they will need to stop the flowing water in your home.
Check Your Home’s Plumbing!
So whether you’re putting your own home up for sale, or you’re moving to a new property it’s important that you check all of these things to ensure that your homes plumbing is in safe working condition.
Signs Of A Good Plumber
A good plumber can be hard to find these days, so many people are hiring not trained apprentices or posing as qualified plumbers and carrying out shoddy work.
Why Hire A Good Plumber?
Unfortunately, a cowboy plumber could end up being your worst nightmare. The damage they cause is often extensive, and it can be challenging to get your money back as they disappear without a trace. Poor plumbing work can cause serious issues in your property; you could end up spending way more than you anticipated and can have extensive damage to your property from floods and pipework back up’s.
If this happens to you, it can be really frustrating and hard to come to terms with the damage that a cowboy plumber has done to your home. A good plumber takes pride in their work and shows it off extensively – you can most definitely tell the difference between shoddy plumbing work and high-quality plumbing fixtures even without any plumbing experience! So if you have had your fair share of awful plumbers and want to know how you can spot good plumbers, we have devised a list of the common qualities of an experienced, qualified plumber. So keep reading!
Make Sure They Have Accreditations
Most of the time, dodgy plumbing work often includes boiler servicing, which can leave you in an extremely dangerous situation if not carried out properly – you are susceptible to gas leaks and even Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Most certified gas engineers will have accreditations to back up that they are qualified to carry out servicing, repairs and boiler fittings.
If your plumber can’t provide you with any proven accreditations, we recommend using a company that does – as this means they are either not experienced enough to be eligible or aren’t even qualified enough to apply. You can typically locate plumbers with approved accreditations on sites, or plumbers will normally advertise their accreditations on their website to show customers that they are accredited and qualified. If a plumber approaches you claiming that they can carry out boiler work, yet they are not gas safe approved – do not use them as they could put you in danger.
Straight Pricing
If a plumber provides you with a straight, honest price after taking a look at the job, then this is the sign of a good plumber. Often cowboy plumbers will provide a number of quotes, and if you refuse to pay or think that the price is too high, they will knock more off of the price so that you pay.
As well as this, while they carry out work in your home, bad plumbers will often find more things to do or make up scenarios to charge you more money. The reality is that they think homeowners have no idea of what they’re talking about, but it’s common sense. If you are seeing prices add up yet you have no proof any work is being done, or the plumber cannot keep you updated with the process, the likelihood is that there are no extra issues. Never pay a plumber upfront, this gives them the perfect opportunity to disappear undetected with your money, always wait until the job is completed and is of a good standard.
Punctual And Well Presented
If your plumber turns up looking like they have just rolled out of bed, this should immediately be a warning sign. Generally, people who provide good quality work, represent this in their appearance. By this we mean if your plumber has turned up in old raggedy clothes and not uniform, this could be a sign that they are not who they claim to be. Most plumbing businesses have plumbing uniform to make them stand out from the rest and to represent their company.
As well as this, if your plumber is coming and going as they please at different times daily, this is unacceptable. Or if they are just not turning up at all, this is a prominent warning sign. Cowboy plumbers often replicate their quality of work in their behaviour, those who take pride in their career and pride themselves on providing high-quality plumbing work are often on time and prompt – however if life does get in the way, and your plumber does get held up, they will keep in good contact and make you aware as soon as possible.
Testimonials
What better way to judge the quality of a plumbing company than from those who have had previous encounters with them. Of course there is room for human error, and unfortunately, people do sometimes love to be slightly dramatic. So not all plumbing companies are going to receive 100% reviews each and every time.
However, this does not mean to say that if your chosen plumbing companies have received plenty of negative reviews from previous customers that they are reliable. Most people will be brutally honest in reviews and speak the truth, if you come across a company with the majority of their reviews negative – steer clear as this is often a good warning sign!
Leaves No Mess
When being a guest in somebody’s home, even to carry out slight plumbing maintenance it is essential that you treat the residents, as well as their property with the utmost respect. This includes cleaning up after yourself as if it were like you were never there. It is rude and unfair to make a mess in somebody’s home and to leave it there for them to tend to.
A good plumber will always leave their workstation like they were never there, boiler installations and general plumbing work can be messy, but a qualified and high-quality plumber will always ensure that it is cleaned up.
Find Yourself A Good Plumber Today!
Now using these to tips you can ensure that you locate and hire a competent, qualified plumber rather than a cowboy plumber. If you need boiler repairs please be sure to contact a member of our team today! We hope that this article was helpful, if it was then why not share on social media?