Emergency Services

 Do you hear strange gurgling sounds or notice an uneven flow of water when you turn on the faucet? While it's a relatively common problem, air in your water pipes can be annoying and, in some cases, a sign of underlying plumbing issues. Fortunately, there are ways to detect and fix it yourself before it becomes a more serious problem. What causes air in your water faucets? Common causes include recent plumbing repairs, a sudden change in water pressure, or draining and refilling your water heater. In some cases, air gets trapped when the water supply is turned off or if there's a leak in the water line that allows air to enter. In rare cases, it could also be due to problems with a well system or a malfunctioning pump. How to Remove Air from Water Pipes The good news is that fixing air in your water pipes is often a simple process. Here's how: Shut Off the Main Water Supply Locate and turn off the main water valve for your home. It’s typically found near the water meter or...

  Is your toilet leaking internally? If water does not flow out of the floor, your ghost flush has an internal leak . There could be something wrong with the rubber door that allows water to flow out of the flush and causes the toilet to constantly fill up. Checking the integrity of the toilet door You can perform a simple test with food colouring to determine whether it is the flapper that is causing the toilet to leak. Simply put a few drops of food colouring into the rear tank of the toilet. Leave it for about 30 minutes. If you see the same colour in the toilet bowl, you will know that it is the flapper that is causing the leakage inside the toilet. Are there any signs of damage or debris on the flush flapper door? Clean the flush door and the flush valve surface to potentially stop the toilet leaking. Check that the flapper chain is correctly adjusted and that the flapper fits tightly around the flush opening. Replace the toilet flapper if necessary If this does not solve the ...

  We all know that domestic leaks occur, and surprisingly often. What we often don't know is why they occur. If the pipe has not been damaged, why should it suddenly start leaking? Are the pipes defective? Is the leak a sign of something terribly wrong? Most common household leaks are simply a consequence of age and wear and tear. Finding, repairing and preventing these leaks means knowing where they come from and what to do before they happen again.  Common causes of plumbing leaks? Generally speaking, all pipes leak sooner or later, but several factors can speed up or slow down the time when this happens or cause the initial leak. Here are the most common initial causes of hydraulic leaks: Broken seals. Most household appliances have seals installed at the point where water flows through them. Like any other part of an appliance, these seals can break or wear out over time. When this happens, some of the water that should enter the appliance may instead leak out. Clogging. ...

  Toilet bowl If the wax or other material used to seal the base of the toilet bowl is defective, a leak can occur and the bathroom floor can become damp. Before attempting this repair, the water supply to the toilet must be turned off. Once the system is dry, remove the bowl and clean the pipe. Then put the bowl back in and close it carefully. If the seal is in place and the bowl continues to leak, it is possible that there is a crack in the porcelain. This is extremely unlikely. In this case, however, repairing the toilet is impossible and the entire bowl will have to be replaced. Toilet tank The most common toilet repair problem is a continuously flowing tank caused by a leak somewhere in the tank. The best way to check if your toilet is suffering from this toilet repair problem is to put a few drops of food colouring into the tank and see if the water in the bowl turns the same colour. If the water in the cup contains the food colouring, it means that there is a leak. Spare pa...

  A toilet tank that fills slowly can be very frustrating, but fortunately it is usually solved very easily. Here are some tips for troubleshooting the toilet tank when this problem occurs. Partially open valve A common problem with slow-filling toilets comes from the water supply valve underneath the tank. If it is partially open, be sure to open it fully so that the water can flow as freely as possible into the tank. Pipe clogging Another problem that causes the toilet tank to fill too slowly is clogging of the valve pipe . To solve this problem, turn the valve close to the wall to shut off the water. Then, remove the hardware from the valve and use a bottle brush or wire to unclog the pipe. Placing a cup on the pipe, open and close the valve a few times to make sure the pipe is completely clean. Then fasten the hardware onto the valve. Low water pressure Another possible reason why the toilet tank fills slowly is low water pressure. In this case, the installation of an auxiliary...

  Check the safety valve Before draining a water heater , check the safety valve, which prevents the tank from bursting due to excessive pressure. How to make sure that the valve works properly? Switch off the water heater. Then snap the valve lever in the cold water supply line. Finally, to minimise the mess, place a bucket under the safety valve. Once the valve is open, listen for air and look for water.  Run the drain line Run a garden hose from the drain of the water heater to the outside of the house. If the tank is below ground level, you will probably need at least two sections: one going from the tank to a portable pump and another going from the pump to the outside. If the water heater is located somewhere other than in the basement, gravity should be sufficient. To be on the safe side, allow the water in the switched-off water heater to cool down before opening the drain valve.  Flushing the tank After opening all hot water taps in the house, proceed to open the...

 Turning off the water supply Before starting any operation, be sure to turn off the water supply . This can easily be done by closing the shut-off valve usually located under the sink, or from the main source. Then open the tap to drain the water still in the pipes. For safety, keep some towels handy. Loosen the upper part Loosen the upper part, which is usually similar to a plug, using a pair of orange-beak pliers. Then pull it out. Remove the screw underneath At this point you should find a screw that secures the handle to the valve system. Using a screwdriver, unscrew this screw to extract it. Remove the tap washer At this point you will find the fittings that connect the tap to the valve system. You will probably need a spanner to unscrew them. If corrosion makes this difficult, you may need to use a handle puller. At this point there should be a screw that, once unscrewed, will allow the tap washer to be pulled out easily.  Sometimes there is a nut instead of the screw. ...

  Have you ever heard a loud banging noise coming from the pipes after turning off a tap? This is water hammer, a common plumbing problem that can be more than just a nuisance: it can potentially damage your plumbing system . What causes water hammer Water hammer occurs when a water valve is suddenly closed, causing a shock wave that knocks pipes against walls or each other. This can happen in washing machines, dishwashers, bathrooms and sinks. Is water hammer just a residential plumbing problem? It can occur in any plumbing system, including commercial and industrial buildings. Large installations, such as factories, municipal waterworks and power plants, are also susceptible to water hammer. In these contexts, the potential for damage can be significant and requires specialised water hammer mitigation strategies. Are some dwellings more prone to water hammer? Some homes are more prone to water hammer, particularly older homes with outdated plumbing systems that may not include mo...