Prevention is always better than emergency reaction. Don’t get caught out with major costly plumbing problems that could have been prevented. Check out our top 10 plumbing tips that you can implement and action to avoid possible problems in the future. These plumbing tips can be applied in both your home and business premises and should also be communicated with family and staff.
Find Out Where Your Water Shut-Off Valve Is Located
This is important in both residential and commercial premises to ensure you can action shut off quickly in case of an emergency. Plumbing problems can cause major water damage to your house in just a couple of minutes. Click here to learn more about your water shut-off valve.
Avoid Chemical Drain Cleaners
You should not use chemical drain cleaners because they can cause damage to your pipes including corrosion and enter into our waterways and could potentially harm our marine life. Instead, try not to allow any food particles, hair, grime, dirt, grease and other things to make their way into the drains. Try using a plug that will capture these. If you have oil or grease enter, follow it with some hot water.
Use a licenced and certified tradesman
When hiring a professional plumber take time to investigate their qualifications and reputation around. Check that they have insurance and required licenses to operate. Professionals should also stand behind their work by offering a guarantee on their services and the products they use for repair if any.
Only the 3 P’s
Even though something says it’s flushable, it doesn’t mean it’s good for our pipes. This includes wet wipes, tissues and paper towels. These are made with added materials and chemicals that can bunch and create fatbergs in your system that will lead to potential blockages that will require a professional plumber to rectify. Even some regular toilet paper can eventually clump and clog your pipes over time.
Bamboo Toilet Paper
We recommend bamboo toilet paper like FlusheD ECO as we see that it breaks down quickly and has less chance of blocking your pipes. As it’s a tree-free material It’s also a sustainable eco-friendly alternative to regular toilet paper that would see approximately 127,000 trees per day being chopped down to produce. Bamboo toilet paper also works great for boat, motorhome and caravan toilets. You can purchase FlusheD ECO bamboo toilet paper and get it delivered to your home or office Australia-wide here.
Save water by fixing leaking taps
A leaky tap or pipe can waste anything up to 20,000 litres of water per year. That’s a lot of water wastage not to mention money particularly if you have multiple leaking taps. Make sure you are fixing these immediately or making sure staff and family members are letting you know when this happens to ensure quick rectification. It could be as simple as a tap service that can rectify the leak.
Be Water-Wise – Download the App
There is a range of water-saving apps available for iPhone and Android. These apps can help you track your water usage, estimate wastage from drips in your home, and get a better understanding of how much water is actually available in your area. Some of these include Drip Detective, Water Buddy – Water Usage Tracker, and Water Timer.
Avoid your Hot Water Heater from Bursting
Hot water heaters generally have a 10-year life span. You can find the manufacturer date on the data plate located on the heater to determine how long your heater is. Installation is usually 3-6 months after the manufacture date. Other signs to look for that may see your Hot water heater is on the way out is discoloured/rusty water coming from your bath or basin taps. When this happens speak to a professional like the team at CRG Plumbing to see what options might be right for your premises.
Don’t turn it too tight
Avoid over-tightening your plumbing fittings and taps as it can lead to stripped screws and broken bolts and possible tapware damage. A soft hand tightening should be sufficient. If your tap or fitting continues to leak it may need a simple service.
Avoid Harsh Toilet Cistern Cleaners like Blu Loos
Although you might think it is cleaning your toilet, toilet cleaners like Blu Loos can cause damage to the rubbers and plastics in your cistern as it is a slow-release cleaner and often sits in your cistern for a period of time causing more damage than good.
If you are looking to install a Vulcan hot water system, contact CRG today on 02 4656 4064 or fill out our contact form to enquire online.
