Emergency Services

  Blocked drains are one of the most common household plumbing problems that can cause significant inconvenience and even damage to your property. If not addressed promptly, blocked drains can cause a range of problems, from bad odors and slow-draining water to overflowing sinks and toilets. Fortunately, with the help of an expert plumber, unclogging blocked drains can be done quickly and efficiently. Identify the problem The first step in unclogging blocked drains is to identify the problem. An expert plumber will use special tools such as a drain camera to inspect the drain and determine the cause of the blockage. Some of the most common causes of blocked drains include grease buildup, tree roots, hair, and foreign objects. Once the plumber has identified the cause of the blockage, they will be able to recommend the most appropriate methods to resolve the issue. Prevention Prevention is always better than cure, and there are several steps you can take to prevent blocked drains ...

  Washer taps work with a rubber seal that rests on a metal seat. If this unit hardens or wears away, a leak will occur. You can close the tap more tightly to stop the leak temporarily, but you risk further damage to the tap. Leaking taps are annoying. You don't need a plumber to fix them.  Turn off the water Turn off the water at the local valve, if available. If not, turn it off at the main valve in the basement, utility room or crawl space. Turn off the hot water supply as well. Dismantling the tap Remove the handle and loosen the screw located under a decorative cap in the centre of the handle. The cap can either be unscrewed or snaps off when you prise it open with a knife blade. Once you have removed the screw, lever the handle off the shaft and remove the sealing nut. The entire shaft is then exposed. Turn the stem to unscrew it. To avoid damaging the tap with a spanner or pliers, cover the area with insulating tape or a cloth. Inspect the stem If the stem is only dirty...

  The toilet is one of the simplest mechanical items in your household that is used on a daily basis. If you know how it works, you can fix any problems yourself, without the need for specialised plumbing tools. This guide will help you understand the key parts of a toilet and recognise and fix common problems. Flush lever This part of the toilet gets the most wear and tear. The lever that flushes the toilet is probably the most commonly broken moving part of the toilet . The lever is a rod that leads from the handle to a chain that operates the flapper valve. Several things can go wrong with these handles. When steel is stored for years in a humid place like the toilet tank, it naturally begins to deteriorate. Eventually, the rod corrodes to the point where it breaks. Manufacturers have switched to making the rods out of plastic as it is cheaper and does not rust. However, they also break. Regardless of whether your tank is made of plastic, steel or brass, you will usually need...

 They can be particularly annoying if the toilet is close to a bedroom. The main reason for this problem is that cisterns are usually the most heavily used parts of a plumbing system. However, a noisy toilet cistern can be repaired with simple plumbing tools and in a very short time. There can be many reasons for a noisy toilet cistern. Dirty valve One of the most common reasons for a noisy cistern is that dirt and debris has built up in the fill valve. A honking or whistling sound is caused by the water pressure running over this dirt and debris. Fixing this problem is quite simple. The first thing you need to do is turn off the water supply, then open the top of the valve and check for debris. If you find any dirt, remove it and replace the valve. Switch the water supply back on and check the pipe for any leaks . This should stop the noise from the cistern. Water hammer This can be caused by a worn valve diaphragm disc, which is relatively easy to repair. You only need to replace...

  Leaky faucets are not only nerve-wracking, but they can also rack up expensive bills. Small leaks that go unfixed can use up to three gallons of water, and a plumber's bill to fix the leak can be expensive and totally unjustified. Loose nut If you've only recently connected the tap and it's already leaking, the fault is probably that you've left the connection a little loose around the sealing nut. This nut is located underneath the handle and is hidden in a decorative handle on most modern taps. Remove the handle so that the tap mechanism is visible. Tighten the loose nut with an adjustable spanner. Worn washer If the tap is relatively old or the nut is tight, the next problem is a worn, damaged or hardened washer. This usually results in water dripping from the handles or pooling around the handles. Shutting off the water supply Before you begin, make sure you have shut off the water supply at the stop valve, which is usually located directly under the sink, or by...

  As a DIY enthusiast, you may feel confident that you can tackle various home improvement projects on your own. However, certain problems require a more comprehensive approach and professional expertise. One such problem is when you hear running water even though there are no visible leaks and nothing is switched on. This problem can indicate serious plumbing issues in your home , including hidden leaks or faulty pipes. Rule out water leaks The first step to solving this problem is to rule out water leaks. Start by checking all visible pipes and fittings for signs of leaks. Look for wet spots on the walls, ceilings or floors. Check connections and fittings for signs of corrosion or damage. If you find signs of a leak, turn off the water supply to that area and call a plumber to fix the problem.  A moisture meter is a device that measures the moisture in a material such as drywall or flooring. Use the moisture meter to check areas around pipes and fixtures for signs of water. ...

  Plumbing is one of those skills that if you know it, you can do it... and if you don't, you're basically lost. But anyone can learn a few secret brilliant plumbing hacks that can solve small problems that plumbers would charge big money to fix. Use secret, brilliant plumbing hacks to solve common, everyday plumbing problems like leaky taps, clogged drains, running toilets and the little things that plumbers would charge a lot of money to fix. With these tricks, you can avoid high plumbing costs, save money on your water bills and solve problems because that's what DIY is all about. Plumbing hacks With little tricks and repairs that plumbers know, you can fix common home problems that drive up your water bill and potentially cause bigger problems later on. With common household products and a little insider knowledge, you can fix a variety of plumbing problems you'll frequently encounter. As long as you have a few common hand tools and some fairly common items, you ca...

 Understanding leaking bathroom sinks Before we get our hands wet, let's understand the possible causes of a leaking bathroom sink . A bathroom sink can leak due to problems in three main areas: the tap, the drain pipe and the sink. Leaking taps are often due to worn components. Whether it's O-rings, valve seats, washers or the cartridge, time, use and hard water can wear down these parts and lead to leaks. Leaks in drain pipes are usually caused by loose connections or cracks in the pipe. Over time, the joints between different sections of your pipe can loosen or the pipe itself can crack, causing water to leak out. Leaks in sinks are usually due to a poor seal around the drain. The putty or sealant that holds the drain in place can break down over time, allowing water to leak out. How to recognize the type of leak The first step to fixing a leak is to recognize the type of leak. Here's how to recognize them: Tap leaks : Look for continuous dripping, even when the tap i...

  Before you start Regardless of whether the bathtub faucet is a double or single lever faucet, certain parts can be replaced instead of installing a new assembly. Remove the old parts and take them to the hardware store to find a suitable replacement, as there are many possible shapes and sizes. Two-handle bath tap There is a rubber seal on the back of the tap that touches the metal seat of the tap when closed. If a leak occurs , the rubber seal is most likely torn, corroded or severely compressed. In any of these cases, the sealing ring can no longer hold back the water. Replacing the rubber seal fixes most leaks. Single lever bath mixer tap Behind the single-lever bath mixer tap is a valve cartridge: a single unit made of plastic, metal and rubber that controls the flow of water. If a bath mixer is leaking, the entire valve cartridge or its rubber O-rings may be worn or corroded. Valve cartridges generally cannot be repaired. Instead, they are replaced with a new valve cartridg...

  There are a number of problems that can cause a toilet not to fill or flush. One such inconvenience can occur when the toilet tank does not fill or appears to empty by itself. This problem is often caused by the float or filling valve being too low in the tank. However, it can also be caused by the chain of the release lever getting stuck under the flap. If there is suddenly no more water in the tank, it could be one of these problems. How does a toilet work? The water enters through the connected water pipe at the bottom of the toilet tank. The water is collected in the tank by a large rubber seal, the so-called baffle plate. When the tank fills with water, a float rod or a float bowl is forced upwards.  Reasons why there is no water in the toilet tank Incorrect position of the float or fill valve One of the most common problems that can cause the tank to be empty is the position of the float or fill valve.  To fix the problem, simply remove the lid of the toilet tank...

  If your bath tap is old or broken , you can easily replace it with a new one yourself. The process is the same whether you have a tap with one handle or one with multiple controls. If you want to replace the handles on your tap, you need to remove them along with the stems that are connected to the pipes. To replace your spout, all you have to do is unscrew the old one and insert the new one. Removing the old tap handles and stems Turn off the water supply in your home.  Since most bathtubs do not have a separate shut-off valve, you will need to turn off the entire water supply in your home. Locate the supply pipe in your home and turn the supply valve perpendicular to the pipes. This will prevent water from flowing into the bath while you are working on it. The water supply pipe may be located in the basement or outside the house. If you do not know how to turn off the water supply, contact a plumber to help you. While the water supply is turned off, other fixtures in your ...

  Two types of valves Although they are often confused, there are actually two types of shower valves that can be used to balance water temperature and prevent burns. Pressure-balancing shower valve : With this type, the volume ratio of hot and cold water is measured and adjusted to continuously deliver water at your chosen temperature. When you turn on the water with a single handle, you control the quantity and the temperature at the same time. As you turn the knob, the amount of water increases while you simultaneously increase the temperature. Thermostatic shower valve : With this option, the actual temperature of the incoming water is measured and the hot and cold water flow is adjusted to ensure an even temperature. With these shower valves, you usually set the water temperature and the water flow with individual regulators: These valves have two regulators, one for the temperature and one for the quantity. The water temperature remains the same regardless of whether the wat...

  If you want to retrofit a bath-only installation with a shower, the easiest way is to replace the bath spout. You can install a different type of spout with an adapter that allows you to attach a flexible shower hose to the wall. Permanently attaching shower pipes behind the bathtub wall is a more challenging project, but you can do it yourself if you have basic plumbing skills. Close the main water tap in the house. Open the tap in the kitchen until no more water comes out of it. Loosen the screws holding the handles of the bath faucet. Pull off or unscrew the fittings. Unscrew the grub screw holding the bath spout, if there is one, and then unscrew or pull off the spout. Gain access to your work area behind the existing "wet" wall of the bath - the wall with the bath spout and the water pipes. Pry off the tiles from the edge of the bath to the area of the shower arm and from one stud to the other flanking the tap. Cut through the cement board or drywall with a drywall saw...

  Plumbing problems are stressful, especially when they are related to your toilet. After all, the toilet is perhaps the most important piece of plumbing in your entire home! There are a number of things that can go wrong with your toilet, and it's always the wrong time when one of these things happens. Here's how to solve the most common problems. Blockages Toilets are often clogged. It's quite stressful when the toilet overflows, not to mention disgusting. There are a number of drain cleaners on the market that advertise that you can easily clear blockages. You just pour the solution down the drain and let it do the work for you. However, drain cleaners are not a good choice. All plumbers advise you against chemical drain cleaners for good reason. Drain cleaners can eat through blockages, but they can also eat through your pipes. This can cause leaks and holes that lead to bigger problems. The most useful tool you can have to hand is a plunger. This is often enough to cl...

 With conventional taps, the knob to the right of the spout controls the cold water and the knob to the left controls the hot water. With a single-lever mixer, the hot and cold water are controlled with the same handle. Sliding the handle to the right controls the cold water, and sliding it to the left controls the hot water. Both types of taps, however, are fed by two supply pipes located under the washbasin. Switching from hot to cold water is a simple task that requires only basic plumbing skills. You can also adjust the mix of hot and cold water that the tap dispenses. Switching water pipes These are chrome-coloured knobs on the back wall under the sink with a thin plastic or metal tube running up to the tap. Turn each knob anticlockwise to turn off the water supply . Turn on the tap to make sure that the water supply is turned off before removing the supply lines. Loosen the supply pipes by turning the nut securing the supply pipe to the shut-off valve anticlockwise with a spa...

  For a perfect flush, you need a functioning toilet float. A toilet float is a small device that ensures that the toilet bowl fills with water without overflowing. This small device, sometimes called a ball valve, can become misaligned from time to time, leaving you in a predicament. If you are not getting the right amount of water into your toilet bowl (too much or too little) or the toilet sounds like it is constantly running, check your toilet float. It may be that the float needs to be adjusted. It is relatively easy to know how to adjust the float. Before you call a plumber or flood your bathroom, check your toilet float and see if you can adjust it yourself.  Remove the tank lid First, remove the toilet tank lid, which is the large cap that sits on the back of the toilet. Next you need to identify the float in the tank. Every toilet looks a little different, but usually the floats are easy to identify. Your toilet float should look like a ball floating on the water in ...

  If you look forward to gardening every spring, you need to know how to care for your old outdoor water taps to keep them working well. Salty sea breezes and cold temperatures can wear down valve seals and corrode metal parts. The results can be dripping, rusty outdoor faucet handles that won't turn, or splashing from the handle when the faucet is turned on. Another possibility is that the outside tap turns constantly or cannot be turned off. Outside taps or spigots use pressure valves and are among the easiest taps to repair. All you need are a few tools, a little muscle power and some inexpensive replacement parts. Evaluate the old parts of the outdoor tap Analyse the problem before you embark on an outdoor tap repair . If the tap is dripping, you will probably need to disassemble it. If the tap is leaking where it connects to the water pipe, you may be able to fix the leak by tightening the tap. Also, you can often stop water spraying out of the handle by tightening the bush th...

  A howling noise when filling the toilet tank may be due to something simple, such as a partially closed valve. However, often the problem is that one or more parts of the ball valve need to be cleaned or replaced. To determine the cause of the howling, you must first make the simplest repairs before replacing the entire assembly . Toilet tank assemblies Inside your toilet tank are two assemblies: the ball valve and the flush valve. The ball valve controls the water fill in the tank, and the flush valve controls the flow of water from the tank to the bowl. When you flush the toilet, the lever or arm lifts the chain or wire attached to the flapper. When the flap lifts, the water is directed through the valve seat into the basin. Once the tank is empty, the plug falls back over the opening in the tank and the float ball releases the ball valve, allowing new water to flow through the tank filling pipe. Blockage or damage to the ball valve will obstruct the flow of water and cause a l...

  If you are removing a sink in the kitchen , bathroom or laundry room, you will need to disconnect the drain from the waste pipe. Unless you are planning a new sink, you will probably want to remove it and patch the wall. When you open up the wall, you will probably find that the stub has vertical connections to the basement drain and the roof. If you can find these pipes in the attic or crawl space, it is possible to cut them off and remove them. If you cannot find them, it is probably better to seal the pipes behind the wall. Locate the studs on either side of the drain stub you want to remove with a stud finder. Using a box cutter and a wall saw, cut a rectangular piece of drywall that extends at least to the sides of these studs and about three feet above the drain stub to the floor. Cut through the drywall in the middle of the stud faces so that you have access to wood to which you can attach the new drywall. Using a hacksaw, cut the PVC pipe anywhere in the wall that will a...

  A blocked bathtub or shower drain is one of the most common problems you face when using your bathroom on a daily basis. Even if the water is slow to drain, over time this leads to a slippery build-up of soap scum, dirt and grime on the bottom of the bath or shower tray, which can be unsightly or even dangerous. Regardless of what form your troublesome clog has taken, it needs to be dealt with. Fortunately, it's usually not too difficult to fix a bathtub or shower clog yourself, so you don't have to call a plumber right away. There are a number of DIY methods you can try to clear the blockage.   Removing the blockage by hand The first step is to take a look at what is causing the blockage. Remove the chrome cover of your drain by lifting or unscrewing it (whichever is appropriate for your type of drain), or pull out the plug if it's an old style with a plug and chain. The culprit is usually a build-up of hair and soap residue. If you discover hair on the bottom of the ...