Handy tips
1. Building a home
Building a home can be stressful. Dealing with the builder, electrician, plumber and landscape gardener places demands on your time and patience. This is why it is important to choose a tradesman who will work in partnership with you.
When the time comes to finalise your plumbing arrangements for your new home you should consider the following points.
Select your plumber wisely
Your plumber should be prepared to spend time with you. Consult with them. Discussing exactly what you expect and reviewing your design can save you time and money.
Look for a plumber who will provide you the after sales support as sometimes things may go wrong.
Make sure your plumber is a registered Master Plumber (The Master Plumbers’ Guarantee covers up to $15,000 to rectify substandard workmanship and up to $25,000 in the event of member insolvency) and is qualified to carry out the work you hire them to do.
It is always a good idea to inspect previous projects undertaken by your prospective plumber. This is an excellent way to gauge the quality of their work.
Questions You Should Ask Your Plumber
- Are they licensed to do the work you require?
- What are the costs likely to be and does that include any traveling costs?
- Ask for a referral of previous work if you feel this is relevant.
- Ask how your plumber expects payment i.e. C.O.D or will they leave an invoice.
Review your plans
Before your plumber gets underway discuss in detail with him/her exactly what you want. Have him/her review your building plans to ensure what has been designed for you can be achieved.
It may be possible for him/her to simplify your plumbing requirements thus saving you time and money without compromising functionality and quality. This is especially true when dealing with drainage.
Choose accessories wisely
The fixtures and fittings available for today's kitchens and bathrooms are almost unlimited. Now you can have what you want in whatever shape, style or colour you fancy. But while almost anything's available for a price, sometimes the price tag isn't an accurate measure of what the fitting will cost in the long term.
Many of these taps and mixers are specifically designed for use on mains pressure or low pressure systems and the wrong tap on the wrong system can lead to very disappointing performance.
When you are selecting fittings consult with your Master Plumber to ensure it is suitable for the environment it will be installed in, the type of water pressure in your area and the purpose you wish to use it for.
2. Coping With a Crisis
Yes, we can be there in 60 minutes or less. But it's still handy to know what to do while you're waiting. Below you will find helpful advice for a number of emergency plumbing situations:
Gushing Water
When there's water pouring through the ceiling or coming out of a tap that's jammed open, there are 3 things you generally need in a hurry -
- A big bucket
- An idea of where your "toby" lurks
- Our Number (0800-4-60-247)
The "toby", which controls the water supply to your house, is usually within half a metre or so outside of your front boundary in a small iron box with a hinged lid. If you can't find it in an obvious place, search the undergrowth around your boundary. If it's still elusive, contact the previous tenants/owners or your local authority.
It's important to have the telephone number of a Master Plumber handy. There are a number of problems that can occur at anytime, and usually at the most inconvenient time possible!
Leaks
Leaks in a hot water cylinder are usually caused by corrosion or from the action of hot water and pressure. A leaking cylinder is usually a sign that the tank is wearing out and should be replaced. Turn off the tap in the piping leading to the cylinder or the tap which controls the water to the header tank in the ceiling. If you have a mains-pressure, gas-heated hot water system, cutting off the mains supply will do the trick.
You will have to wait until the water system empties before the flow at the leak slows down. A small leak in a pipe can be temporarily fixed with a rubber patch and metal clamp or sleeve. This should be followed by a permanent repair as soon as possible.
Blocked Drains and Toilets
A rubber cup plunger can be effective when pumped up and down over a blocked toilet, sink, bath or shower drain. The suction effect often clears any blockage but if it doesn't work, call us @ 0800-4-60-247!
Valuables Down the Sink
If you've just washed your hands and then realise you're short of a ring or a precious stone, there's a good chance the goodies can be recovered. The item may still be trapped in the curve of the waste pipe, so the first step is to stop any flow of water right away and call us (0800-4-60-247). We may be able to find the object by dismantling the waste pipe.
Taps that Won't Turn Off
A common household emergency is when a tap won't turn off and the tap handle goes around without any effect on the water flow. It's even worse when it's the hot tap; there's steam everywhere and you're watching your evening bath water going down the gurgler. Usually this particular emergency has been building up over a period of time. The tap may have needed an extra turn or so before it would stop the water and the continual force of tightening the tap has eventually strained the shaft meaning a new tap needs to be installed. By turning off the outlet tap from the hot water cylinder you can save most of the hot water until your plumber can attach a new fitting.
If your local council has been working on the main in your neighbourhood, pebbles and grit may get into your pipeworks. If this happens and the taps are blocked, or worse, get jammed open by the debris, give the council a call and tell them what's happened. They should send out someone promptly to flush out the systems and get any bits and pieces out of the taps. If you do notice any problems, try to minimis the taps you have to use.
Some emergencies need never arise if action is taken to remedy problems at the first sign that something is amiss with the plumbing system. However, you can come through a crisis with most of your nerves intact if you are prepared for the worst. That means knowing how to turn the water off at the toby and the hot water cylinder. And importantly, keeping our number handy (0800-4-60-247)!
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