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NEED A PLUMBER? WE’RE IN YOUR TERRITORY!

  • Ticking Water Meters when water isn’t in use is a good sign that you might have a water leak.
  • Having a uniquely stunning property can also mean it ca be difficult to detect water leaks. 
  • On the property today, our skilled Perth plumber detects leaks with minimal damage to the property to keep things aesthetically stunning. 
  • Pipes erode over time and sometimes fixing just one broken pipe might not do the trick. 
  • We pride ourselves in being genuine maintenance plumbing specialists specialising in water leak detection & repairs.
  • Check out more of our VLOGs & don’t forget to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel!

 

In today’s video, top dog Richard is on a beautifully architectured property in Victoria Park, Perth, Western Australia. The task in hand is to find and fix a potentially massive leak at the residential property. The plumbing on this property is all over the place making it a good challenge for our Plumbdog to find and fix the enormous leak.

Signs of a Water Leak

Noticing that the water meter was still ticking even when the water was not in use, the client sought professional help and gave us a whistle!
After testing the meter, Richard notes that the dial is spinning peculiarly fast, indicating a potential water loss of up to 20 liters per minute for this property.

All The Gear and Every Idea

Our vans are stocked with all the gear and Richard uses advanced water leak detection equipment to start the inspection on the property’s long driveway. After checking over a particular area to spot the leak, he can hear a significant amount of noise from below the deck. Rather than simply removing the whole deck or main parts of the deck to check for the water leak, he inspects through the small panels on the side first. This minimises any unnecessary damage to the aesthetics of the property.

Finding & Fixing the Leak

After lifting the small panel, he can spot the downstream flow of running water. After inspecting a little closely, he figures out the leak source, which is a broken fitting. Two water lines are running parallel to one another, and one of them has been broken due to a massive tree root. The tree root has broken one of the screw fittings, and the enormous pressure of water has further destroyed it by wearing it out and eroding its other parts. Seeing the extent of damage, it’s clear that the leak has been present over a substantial amount of time.

To fix this issue wholly itself, Richard will now replace the pipe’s destroyed fitting with a new one. One of the pipe fittings types that we like is auspex which he will use today. The old hepworth pipe fitting has now been replaced with the auspex to ensure that this situation does not occur again in the near future and the pipes function smoothly.

Inspection

After the repair work is completed Richard does another check of the meter reading. Unfortunately, he finds out that the meter is still ticking a little, thankfully not anywhere close to the last time. However, it indicates leak of several liters happening somewhere, which means another burst pipe somewhere else on the property. These situations call for the process to be repeated until the next problem area is identified.

In case you detect any possibility of a potential leak on your property, then do not wait for any further. Give us a whistle at the earliest to prevent damage of this magnitude, as it will not only burn a hole in your pocket but cause a lot of accidental water loss. Also don’t forget using a licensed plumber also means that they can help you with a leak loss report which is a report for the Water Corporation which confirms that the leak repair has been carried out by a licensed plumber. This allows you to send the report to the water corp to seek a deduction for lost water.

  • A straight swap is as it sounds where you literally replace a like for like hot water unit.
  • It isn’t always as straight forward as pulling out the old and connecting the new hot water system. We explain why.
  • Compliance and safety are of utmost importance for the household.
  • Testing the hot water system properly after installation is equally as important.
  • Watch more of our VLOGS here.

 

Different Types of Hot Water System Installations

There are different types of hot water systems including electric, gas and solar hot water with different options like storage or continuous flow and with a range of brands available and even housing designs, no two jobs are the same.

Because of the different number of scenarios, most plumbing websites advertise prices with installation for what we call ‘straight swaps’ or ‘like for like’ which is the base minimum to get an existing unit replaced without having to install new pipes or any major modifications in order to get the new hot water system installed.

Usually what will happen is:

  • Unit is purchased with installation
  • Plumber will arrive and check a few things to make sure the new unit can go in.
  • If changes are required, then an estimate is provided and payment taken on site for the changes required to get the hot water system installed.

[Note: There may be some scenarios where a straight swap is not permitted. For some properties the location of the hot water system is not compliant with current regulations. You may have seen in our recent blog where a hot water unit was too small for the property. We changed from a gas continuous flow to a gas hot water storage unit to help reduce costs of installing completely new pipes]

Today’s Video: A Straight Swap of a Gas Continuous Flow Rinnai Infinity B20

For the job today, we have a straight swap of an old and new system of the same make and model which makes it relatively straight forward. Important to note however that just because it’s a straight swap, there is still the possibility that the new unit may not be installed.

To start off with before installing, our obedient and compliant Plumbdog makes some checks.

Initial Checks:

  • The supply pipe is ok. Check.
  • The pipe on this property is close to the gas meter. Check.
  • The Hot Water System is not close to windows and doors. Check.
  • The System is not too close to the flue and at least 300mm from the eaves. Check.

Everything stacks up and a straight swap is ok which means no extras to our customer and the price is as advertised on the website.

Testing After Installing the Hot Water System

Even though we’ve literally replaced everything as it was and connected the pipes to the same places on the new unit, our job doesn’t stop there. We need to test to make sure everything is functioning properly.

Test Gas Pressure

We test using a gas gauge to make sure the right gas pressure is flowing and performing properly. Too much or too little gas has an effect on performance which leads to unnecessary costs to you when running the hot water system.

[Plumbdog Tip: Check for the red tape under your system to see if it’s still there. If it is, then most likely the plumber hasn’t checked the gas pressure]

Test Temperature Inside the House

The fact that manufacturers are putting signs to check temperatures after installation means that there are plenty of installers out there who are not adequately testing. This is part of our standard procedure. Even though the hot water unit is supplying water at 50 degrees Celsius, there are numerous reasons why 50 degrees isn’t achieved inside the house and we need to adjust accordingly.

At Plumbdog, we hold our plumbers to high standards and have procedures for safety and compliance for the safety of our customers and our team. Following these procedures means that our customers enjoy a hot water system that works efficiently providing hot water while operating efficiently burning the gas and not your hard earned money.

If you’re in the Perth area and need a new hot water system, or even if you need to service or repair your hot water system then give us a whistle!

The kitchen and bathroom sink are often put through continues abuse with food scraps, hair, soaps and other items been washed down the drain. Over time this can lead to blocked sinks and damaged plumbing.Plumbdog have put together a simply list of some tell-tale signs that you have a blocked sink:

  • Does your sink have a bad smelling odour? With everything that goes down the sinks drain, they can cause bad smells and this can be a sign of a blockage
  • Does water take a while to wash down the drain? This one is pretty obvious that you have a clogged sink
  • Can you see water at the top of the drain? See this could indicate that it’s not draining out properly.

There are many more potential causes of blocked sinks, but mentioned above are the obvious ones. If you are in doubt, the best thing is to do is to call and experienced blocked sink plumber such as Plumbdog – Perth’s leading blocked drain specialists.

The gals and guys at Plumbdog are experienced in the latest plumbing techniques and equipment. They will always:

  • Arrive on time when they say they will
  • Identify themselves through identity badges, licenses, uniform and branded trucks
  • Treat you and your property with respect
  • Be prepared by carrying all there necessary gear and tools in their truck
  • Be efficient and thorough
  • Communicate with you so you know what the situation is
  • Tidy up once the job is done

 

So the next time you sink is misbehaving or you are concerned about using blocked drain cleaners, give Plumbdog a call or book your plumber online.

We know how distressed some of our customers are when they call with a water leak. Calling a professional plumber is often the first thing that many homeowners think to do when experiencing problems with the plumbing network within their home. Whilst that is often the best course of action, there are occasions where you may be able to fix the problem yourself. We put together this little guide so that you can do a quick water leak detection check around which might save you some frustration and water wastage. There may even be an easy fix to a small water leak.

  • Blocked Pipes and Drains

Blocked pipework is one of the most common causes of water leaks in your property. Months’ worth of hair, oil, grease and grime can quickly build up to create a blockage that prevents your sinks and basins from draining as they should.

Locate the source of the leak to ensure that the pipework nearby isn’t clogged and is causing an increase in pressure within the system. Going forward, be sure to keep your drains clear to prevent any further problems.

  • Excessive Water Pressure

High water pressure is often characterised by a ‘banging’ sound when you operate a tap. What you will notice is that water is trying to flow out from your tap too quickly and will also be trying to find an outlet elsewhere in your plumbing system.

The installation of an anti-hammer valve will rectify this problem, but we also suggest reducing your hot and cold water pressure to prevent any further problems.

  • Worn Seals

Every water-based appliance or fixture is fitted with a seal to prevent the leakage of water. If the seals on your washing machine, refrigerator, sink or toilet are worn, they may be allowing water to pass this important barrier.

The installation of new door seals for your appliances and new seals around your basins and toilet may rectify the problem.

  • Faulty Pressure Relief Valves

Another common cause for water leaks is the presence of a faulty pressure relief valve (PRV). If this is the cause of your problem, locate your valve and lift the lever several times which should clear the blockage.

If at this point the leak stops, you have solved your problem. If it doesn’t or your valve is old and hasn’t been operated in a while, we suggest calling us instead to replace the valve entirely.

  • Broken, Worn or Loose Washers and O-Rings

Every pipework joint is fitted with a washer and O-ring which is designed to create a tight seal and prevent leakages. Occasionally, these ancillaries break or become dislodged which can result in a leak.

Try tightening the joint which should move the washer back into place and stop the leak. If this doesn’t work, we suggest replacing the worn or broken item with a suitable replacement.

Plumbdog: Plumbers Perth – Providing Plumbing Services across Perth

If you are still experiencing a water leak within your home, call us today so that we can schedule a plumber to attend your property. Plumbdog are your leak detection specialists. Whistle And We Will Come! You can reach us at 1300 884 146 or drop us a message.

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