Vlog

• In a block of units water meters are not always in the order you would expect
• This problem occurs more often that you would expect
• Check out more of our VLOGs & don’t forget to like and subscribe!

In today’s video, our Plumbdog Richard has a small dilemma. He’s working in a block of units and the four meters at the front of the properties have not been installed in any particular order. The obstacle that Richard is facing is a common problem with many properties with a similar dilemma.

The Video

Watch our Perth plumber Richard share how he identifies the correct water meter.

It just a few minutes, and he identifies which water meter stop tap belongs to the house we are working on. This is how he did it.

Before observing the water meters, Richard had already turned one of the taps on at the property. This allows a steady flow of water through the water meter making it quite easy to identify when the other properties are not consuming water.

Just to go that one step further, he selflessly marks the meter so that anyone else working on the property in the future knows which one belongs to No. 3.

If you’re having a hard time working out which one is your water meter then you can follow this this technique to eliminate those which are not yours and identify your correct water meter. If you still can’t identify your water meter then you can always give us a whistle and we can help sort out any of your plumbing problems.

We pride ourselves in having all the gear and every idea.

• Have you noticed a rumbling or popping noise from your hot water system before?
• Most people think it’s just a normal sound since the water is boiling
• Did you know that the quality of your water could be greatly reduced because of your hot water system?

Have You Heard your Hot Water System Making a Popping or Rumbling Noise?

There’s a good chance that you’ve heard your hot water system making some rumbling sounds. There’s probably also a good chance that you didn’t think much about it because that’s what happens when water boils right? If that’s the case then it’s best to read on.

The sound might be caused due to the accumulation of minerals like magnesium in the bottom of the tank. When you use the hot water system or heater for a longer time, the magnesium rod that is present inside the unit starts to degrade due to the hot water. The mineral particles get loose from the rod and get accumulated in the bottom of the bank making the noise and warm air comes out constantly if you want to replace the magnesium rod and reduce the rumbling noise, better to hire the professional plumbers who have years of experience in this field.

Why Hiring Plumber From Plumbdog Plumbing Is The Best Choice?

Professional Perth Plumbers like Plumbdog Plumbing (did you like that tongue twister?) are one of the most trusted and reputed plumbing service providers having an experienced plumbing team using the latest skills and techniques that will help in repairing your hot water systems, block drains, gas plumbing, general plumbing services, water leak detection and more. We like to say that we have “All the Gear and Every Idea!”

Sediment Build-Up Will Affect the Water Heater System

A small amount of build-up wont make any difference. However, a large amount of sediment will surely make the difference to the functioning of a hot water system. A deep layer of sediment accumulated at the bottom of the heater tank can create the following issues-

1. Slows down the transfer of water causing the water heater to get overheated. The overheating of the system can damage the lining of the hot water system and weaken the steel tank, which will cause further leaking of the tank.
2. If you are using the electric water heater, the sediment can cover the electric heating rod that causes the rod to burn out later, causing the popping sound.
3. Too much sediment will displace the water in the tank; it means that you do not have any available hot water in the tank.
4. Lowering the water heating capacity. Thus it will increase the water heating bills.

These are some of the issues that are caused by the accumulation of sediments in the hot water system. If you notice any one of these above-discussed issues, you can surely hire the expert plumber who will provide the best services to clear the sediment and clear the dirt from the hot water system. If the sediments and mineral accumulation is removed in the right manner, there will be no further sound coming out from the heater.

In the plumbing industry, the rumbling or popping noise is called ‘kettling’ and this indicates that your hot water system needs major service. In this type of scenario, our obedient Plumbdog plumber will visit your location, replace sacrificial anodes and complete a tank flush to remove the anode residues.

In the video, our obedient Plumbdog shows that the magnesium rod present inside the hot water system as the sacrificing rod will slowly degrade and the magnesium gets accumulated in the bottom of the heater. The rod gets replaced, and the hot water system is thoroughly cleaned.

• Blocked Drains – Tree roots don’t just break through and block drains, they can also squash pipes causing blockages
• Using specialised CCTV and our custom made High Powered Water Jetters, we can clear the blocked drain and clearly identify any potential future plumbing issues
• Check out more of our VLOGs & don’t forget to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel!

In this video, our obedient Plumbdog Richard is on an 8-year-old property in South Fremantle, Perth. The property owners have been facing recurrent problems with a blocked toilet ever since they built the property. As the client says that this issue is cyclical, initially, Richard feels that the Air Admittance Valve, installed behind the toilet, is the problem as it might occasionally be letting the air inside the drain.

However, after an inspection, Richard dug behind the toilet, which an inspection opening is legally required for every bathroom. Noticing that water was being held, this indicated that a blockage in the drainage pipe would have been the cause.

Clearing Blocked Drains with High Powered Water Jetter

Using our locally custom made high pressure water jetter, we can clear pipes that others simply say can’t be done. If you’ve seen our other youtube videos, you would have seen how our boys make it look so easy to clear blocked drains.

CCTV Inspection

After clearing the blocked drain, Richard investigates the pipe’s condition using a CCTV drain camera. The opening from where the camera has been installed is almost 6 meters beneath the pipe’s initiation point. As the camera moves inward, notice where the pipe’s lining is ruptured. It looks like this could have been a problem since the house was first built.

As the camera moves further along, the pipe’s shape goes from round to misshaped. This misshape has contracted to the extent that even the tiny camera gear cannot make its way through. After examination our Plumbdog has determined that the pipe runs under a tree, and the tree roots have squished the tube narrow, creating a massive blockage is the way of flush’s inflows.

Cleared Drains & Recommendations

After fixing the problem we don’t just stop there. Having all the gear and every idea, we not only fixed the blocked drain issue in time for a long weekend, we are also able to put together a recommendation and quote to get the problem resolved for the long run. This will stop the need for frequently calling out a plumber when the problem persists which saves time, money and the inconvenience of having to deal with this issue over and over again.

If you are facing problems with blocked drains, then do not wait any longer and give us a whistle immediately. The longer you wait, the worse the situation will get and will burn an even bigger hole in your pocket.

• Common hot water problem – There’s low pressure from the hot water system and the water isn’t very hot. 
• Common cause – The hot water system has been left there doing its thing for years without a major hot water service or any maintenance at all. 
• Watch our local Perth Plumber, Top Dog Richard, at work on a property in Thornlie, Western Australia
• Check out more of our VLOGs & don’t forget to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel!

On the job today, our customer is facing trouble getting hot water with a steady flow. The hot water system is a Rheem Stellar 360 gas water heater, manufactured in 2012. There’s no service sticker on the heater, which means it most likely hasn’t been serviced at all since installation.

The Tempering Valve

In a hot water system, the tempering valve is responsible for delivering the perfect hot water to 50 degrees inside the house. The valve mixes the right portion of hot and cold water to strike the ideal balance and prevents the user from burning due to water overheating.

The tempering valve installed on this property is calcified, suggesting it has been worn out, which is an excellent sign as it has done a fair job all these years. But to maintain the smooth functioning of the hot water system, you ought to replace it once every five years.

Taking his thorough investigation forward, the next thing that Richard checks is the water isolation valve, which on turning on, makes a rumbling noise that implies the overdue of the tank’s major service. This sound is the sign of complete degradation of magnesium anodes, which also means that there is most likely sediment in the base of the tank.

Other Checks

Examining the water isolation valve, cold relief valve and hot relief valve, all else appears ok.

Our obedient Plumbdog goes inside and checks the water temperature using the thermometer, which reads 43 degrees, seven degrees below the desired temperature. The flow of the water, too, is not up to the mark.

Fixing the Hot Water Issue

The ideal way of addressing this issue from the root is by opening the water heater and replacing the degraded anodes with new ones. The replacement and service is a costlier option but recommended for longevity of the hot water system. Due to budget constraints on the costumer’s end, we have a fix that won’t dig a massive burn in the pocket but our customer is still aware of the consequences of not performing a major service.

Note: because this a quick fix, there’s a fair amount of possibility of residue being stuck inside the valve with the residue already sitting in the tank. This fix could last a long time or it could quickly get blocked up again.

Warning

The tempering valve does a great job at regulating water temperature and stops the residents from getting scalded. The water in the house may be very hot but it’s not hot enough to cause and harmful damage.

We always recommend hiring a professional to do the job. Not only are we qualified and experienced with the right tools for the job, we are also insured and are aware of the consequences to each part of the process.

If you are keen to try replacing the tempering valve on your own, be especially aware that the water directly from your tank is much hotter than the water that comes out of the tap in your home. It can cause severe burns and as you can see from the video, hot water can continue to flow from the tank depending which system you have.

Final Check

Richard goes back inside the house and checks if the water is adequately heated. On checking, the thermometer reads precisely 50 degrees, which is the desired result, and the flow of the water has improved considerably.

If you face a similar issue at your place and need a Plumber in Perth, then do not wait any longer and give us a whistle! Our Plumbdogs will fix your plumbing problems using the knowledge of their expertise. We pride ourselves in being genuine maintenance plumbing specialists. Not only do we have all the gear and every idea, our specialist services also include water leak detection and repairs and finding and fixing blocked drains.