When to Call a Plumber

A good plumber can be easy to find, but a great one? Well, that might not be quite as simple. There are so many reasons why you could end up needing to contact an expert like one of our team members (who fall into the ‘great’ category if our clients’ opinions are anything to go by). But with so many things that can go wrong with your water systems at home, or even in the office, what exactly defines the line between a potential emergency and a project that won’t suffer a brief wait?

Knowing when to call a plumber

In most cases emergencies will be fairly obvious. Burst pipe that won’t stop gushing water into your kitchen? Emergency. Boiler that rattles slightly when it’s turned on? Probably something that can wait a little while. When our clients get in touch with us it often surprises them that we can usually talk them through the issue over the phone – even in emergencies.

For instance, if you are facing a burst pipe, the first thing to do is to switch all valves into the off position. This will stop water flowing to the pipe and will allow us enough time to pack our tools, turn up at your home and take care of the repair there and then. But what about issues such as damp, or a faulty boiler that only provides hot water when it feels like it?

In these cases it’s still well worth getting in touch with a plumber; especially if you don’t want things getting any worse. Water is one of those resources that we can’t live without, but boy can it cause a lot of damage if it’s not controlled efficiently. A leaky pipe within a wall might seem harmless, but if the water isn’t able to evaporate bacteria could quickly spread.

And that’s what leads to damp and mould forming.

If you notice a damp spot and it seems to be getting bigger, then it is probably there for a reason. In the best case scenario it might be fixable by opening a window at night to reduce condensation as you and your family sleep. In the worst case however, the damp could have affected your internal walls and that can lead to structural damage and weakening in general.

When in doubt, call The Melbourne Plumber – that’s a rule that we live by and one that we encourage all of our clients to adhere to. If you’d like a free, no obligation quote – or to book our expert services – just give us a quick call today and we’ll take care of the rest.

Bathroom Renovations Company

Bathroom Renovation Ideas from a Melbourne Professional

If you are planning to renovate or remodel your bathroom, you should consider factors like aesthetics, physical and automation needs (such as fitting a bathtub lift), as well as resale value.  For instance, data published in the 2015 Cost VS Value Report shows that homeowners can expect to recoup 70% of the total cost of bathroom remodeling. Below are some tips and ideas for bathroom renovations.

Lighting

In general, bathroom lighting should not cast shadows on the floor or walls. To achieve this goal, you could install two ceiling-mounted or four wall-mounted lighting fixtures. In addition, the Lighting Research Center recommends paying attention to the brightness of lighting fixtures. For example, use a light bulb rated 450 lumens to illuminate the area around your bathroom sink.

Bathroom Storage

Besides the standard medicine cabinet, you can add bathroom storage solutions that suit your needs. A good example is installing a row of drawers/shelves/cabinets for storing dirty clothes, cosmetics, or personal grooming items. However, storage considerations largely depend on available space.

Floor

Use textured, non-slip flooring materials such as grout lined, matte finished, or sand glazed bathroom tiles to reduce the risk of slipping/falling and sustaining injuries. Furthermore, select water-resistant flooring options like porcelain, ceramic, or marble tiles. Remember, water-resistant flooring solutions are necessary if you intend to install subfloor-heating systems. Finally, water-resistant tiles are desirable because they are not prone to water degradation, which means they last longer than porous tiles.

Mirrors

To start with, consider installing mirrors to make your bathroom appear larger if it is small. Mirrors will also come in handy if you prefer more light-reflective bathroom surfaces. It is also worth noting that wall-mounted mirrors will blend in well and complement bathroom décor if you have a glass-enclosed shower area. Luckily, you can install mirrors that suit your bathroom décor and grooming preferences including wall-mounted adjustable or non-adjustable mirrors.

Bathroom Fixtures

When renovating your bathroom, purchase and install quality fixtures to improve the resale value of your home. According to a report published by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), most homebuyers are willing to pay top dollar for properties that are in good condition, have quality fixtures, and require little or no repairs. Even if you do not intend to sell your home, quality fixtures are cost-efficient because they do not require costly and frequent replacements.

Bathtub

Before buying a bathtub, sit inside to make sure you can fit comfortably. Most people will fit comfortably in a bathtub that is about 60-inches long. At the same time, make sure it has a foothold, comfortable neck support features, and easily accessible water taps. Nevertheless, the size and type of bathtub that you can purchase and install will largely depend on bathroom space.

Hiring the Right Plumber/Renovation Company

Firstly, look for a professional licensed expert to provide plumbing or bathroom renovation services. Remember some local and state authorities require homeowners to comply with building codes when undertaking plumbing or renovation projects. You should also visit the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website or review sites like Yelp to evaluate the reputation of a plumber/renovation company before signing a project contract. Another factor to consider is liability insurance coverage. In fact, some states require contractors to have a minimum amount of liability insurance coverage. Finally, look for a professional/company with years of experience in the plumbing or renovation industry.

Conclusion

Renovating your bathroom is beneficial in numerous ways including making it more aesthetically appealing and improving the overall value of your home. To enjoy these benefits, install lighting fixtures that do not cast shadows, water-resistant floor and wall tiles, quality and durable fixtures, suitable storage solutions, as well as use mirrors to create illusion of space, reflect more light off walls, or complement bathroom décor and fixtures.

How To Fix Leaking Water Taps

For some people, the only way they know to fix a leaking water tap is to call a plumber or the apartment manager. However, most of the time, fixing leaks is pretty simple, and there is no need to wait for help. Besides, plumbers can charge a lot to show up, and repairs might only take simple tools and supplies.

Fixing Leaking Water Taps

Of course, it is always a good idea to fix leaking water taps promptly. These kinds of problems never get better on their own. Besides, there is no need to waste water or pay a higher water bill than is needed.

According to the experts at The Melbourne Plumber, most leaky faucets only need new washers. Faucets are small rubber gaskets that fit right inside of the tap and help prevent leaks by creating a seal.

These are the steps to fix your leaky faucets:

1. Shut off the water:

You might be able to shut the water off to that tap under the sink. If you can’t, you will probably have to go outside to shut water off to your whole house. It’s also a good idea to place a stopper over the sink drain to keep any parts that you might drop from sliding down into the pipes.

2. Unscrew the faucet:

Most of the time, you have to pry off a decorative covering to find the screw. With a screwdriver of the right side, you should simply need to unscrew the faucet to uncover the old washer You will probably see that it is dirty and deteriorating, and that’s why it doesn’t seal well any longer.

3. Wash the parts with water and vinegar:

Of course, you don’t have to rinse out the parts. Still, it isn’t a bad to clean them off when you have them apart anyway.

4. Replace the washer and put the faucet back together:

Replace the washer with the same kind of washer. If you aren’t sure which one you will need, you can always take the old one to the store to ask. Then put everything back together in the same order that you took it apart.

Pat Yourself On The Back For Repairing A Water Leak!

After you have finished repairing your water leak, you can pat yourself on the back for doing the right thing. You are helping to preserve a precious resource. Also, you might be helping to preserve your wallet by saving on your water bill. This is a fairly job that should be completed in a few minutes!

 

Plumbing Advice For A Homeowner To Take Advantage Of

Plumber_at_workYou’ll want to take this plumbing advice into account so you can get a handle on what it’s all about. There are many places where plumbing is able to be done in the proper way for a great price. That, or you can do it on your own which is what you can learn about below.

The main thing you have to do when starting out is that it’s necessary to do an inspection. It doesn’t matter if there is no water leaking anywhere or if you haven’t heard anything strange coming from your plumbing. You’ll need to just have a general inspection done so that you can get a feel for what may be wrong that you cannot see. That, or there may be an issue that is developing that must be cared for before it becomes a problem that’s even worse.

A plumbing problem is going to have to be looked at by a professional plumber if you have no experience in dealing with one. This is due to the fact that a lot of the time, you will find that doing a repair on your own ends up costing you far more than if you were to pay a plumber to assist. Think of if you were to try to fix a cracked pipe, causing it to burst open quickly because you did the work wrong. In the end the fix by a professional would have saved you a lot more money since you wouldn’t need to have bought the supplies or replace whatever got broken.

Plumbing must be done by a professional that can provide some kind of proof they are able to do the job. Find out if they are licensed, but don’t let that be the only thing that you have in mind when it comes to if they are qualified to do the work. Look up the name of their company along with the word reviews, and then you can easily see what people have had to say about the plumbers working there in the past. Only trust in more current reviews since many companies change a lot over time.

Never pay for services from a plumber that you have randomly met online or elsewhere and don’t know much about. If you cannot find out who they work for, what their company has been like in the past, or just some kind of reference then you may not want them doing the work. When you let someone with no experience care for an issue, or someone that is not licensed properly, then they may not do the job right causing you a lot or problems while also not getting your money back.

Make a habit out of calling the plumber every few months. Even if there are no problems, try to contact them at least twice a year just to get a checkup done on your property. This is to be safe, and it will help you to know if there are problems that may need to get fixed before they become worse. One good time to always have a plumber come out is before winter because pipes are known to freeze and if any of them are rusted or cracked this could totally ruin them.

Once you are able to work with a plumbing issue it’s easier to know what to do the next time one occurs. Hiring a professional or doing this yourself is something you have to take carefully. Whenever you have a home you have to take care of its plumbing or it will end in disaster for you.

Ten Plumbing Tips Everyone Should Know

If you are a homeowner, there will eventually be a time when you will need to call a plumber. While there is nothing wrong with this, it should certainly not be an everyday occasion. Here are some helpful tips that will help you take care of your system and make your calls to the plumber less frequent.

1. Keep sanitary products out of your toilet. This is a very common problem, and one that is easily remedied. Instead of using your toilet to dispose of these items, you should put them in the wastebasket. If you throw them in the toilet, there is a chance that they will eventually clog your drain and/or wreak havoc on your septic system. This applies to all products; even those that claim to be flushable.

2. Never pour oil down any of your drains. Many people believe that running hot water in the drain while disposing of oil is a great way to get rid of it. After the water is no longer running, the oil can becoming solidified as it enters the pipes. It is best to throw used oil in a sealed container and dispose of it in the garbage.

3. Avoid pouring hot water into your toilet. When you are cleaning, it can be tempting to use boiling hot water to remove any grime that has built up on it, but this would be a huge mistake. If the water you pour into the toilet is hot enough, it can cause the bowl to cleave. While it is fine to use warm water, you should avoid hot at all costs.

4. Don’t put tough or fibrous food in the garbage disposal. Things like meat skin, corn husks, avocado peels and onion peelings should be disposed of in some other way. When these types of foods are put in disposals, they can get caught and cause plenty of problems. It is also likely that your motor will stop working sooner rather than later.

5. Be careful when pouring old cleaning water in toilet bowls. There are many people who do this without realizing that sponges, brushes and other cleaning supplies are in there. In cases where they flush before realizing this, the toilet is damaged and it is absolutely necessary to call a plumber. Even if you don’t believe there is nothing in the water, it is always a good idea to double-check.

6. Avoid placing items on the top of the toilet tank. Many people place things like brushes, toilet paper and hair accessories there. You should be particularly careful about this since something can get jostled and land in the bowl. If this happens and you flush without noticing, it can damage the pipes.

7. Do not store wastebaskets underneath the sink in the kitchen or bathroom. Many people do this in an effort to be inconspicuous, but it is not a wise choice. Every time it is removed and replaced, it may hit the pipes located there. Once they are hit a good number of time, it can cause leaky, damaged pipes.

8. Pour hot water down the tub/shower drain every month in order to remove any excess debris that may have gotten lodged there. For best results, the water should be boiling. Things like hair and sop scum can build up in drains and create problems over time. Cleaning it out with hot water can help stop a problem before it starts.

9. If there is a problem that seems far beyond your scope, you should definitely call in a professional. While minor issues can be fixed with home supplies, like drain cleaner and plungers, you should not attempt to do anything you are not familiar with. Even if you believe that trying to do it yourself with save money, that would be a huge mistake. There are many people who try doing things themselves and they end up paying much more later than they would if they had called a plumber initially.

10. Grind ice in your garbage disposal every once in a while. The hardness of the ice will help keep the blades sharp. This may seem like something that is too much for your system, but it is actually quite effective. If you decide not to do this, it is likely that you blades will get dull faster than expected and you will have to replace the system.

There will be occasions when calling a plumber may be your only option. The point of the advice here is to help you avoid having problems on a regular basis. While it does help to have a good plumber on speed dial, your calls should be fairly sporadic. As long as you follow the advice here, you will minimize all of your plumbing woes.

Solid Advice For Hiring The Best Plumber

As you can probably tell, it is not difficult to find a plumber. The difficult task is finding one that is worth the investment. Great plumbing service can be quite expensive, and it would be a pity to spend money on someone who is not the best at what they do. Here are some valuable tips that will help you find a high-quality plumber.

Ask For License Information

Whether you believe it or not, there are some areas that allow plumbers to operate without being licensed. If you live in one of those places, this tip would not apply to you. For the others, you should always ask for specific information when you are told that a contractor has a license.

The reality is that they may be working with an expired license or they may truly have no license at all. You should ask for their license number, full name of the business and the expiration date. Once you have this information, it is your job to call around to make sure that the information you have provided is valid.

Look For Someone With Experience

This is not a jab at people who are new to the business, but it is always a good idea to look for contractors that have a good amount of experience. Plumbing is very technical work that requires advanced knowledge, and one small mistake can turn into a huge catastrophe. If you see that a company has been in business for quite some time, that means it is very likely that they are highly skilled and qualified to help with your plumbing.

Avoid Dropdown Prices

Everyone who looks for a plumber hopes that they can find one that is not going to charge them an arm and a leg. The problem with this is that it sometimes prompts them to select someone whose prices are far cheaper than they should be. While there is nothing wrong with competitive pricing, you should be concerned if someone is charging you much less than they should.

The best way to know if they are charging too little would be to get quotes from several companies. If any of the quoted rates are far lower than the rest, you should cross them off of the list. This usually means that the contractor plans on cutting corners or using low-quality parts.

Require References

Having someone tell you that they have done great plumbing work does not mean that this is a fact. You should always require references from anyone who you plan to have working on your plumbing. Common issues people have with plumbers include terrible people skills, badly done work and trying to ask for more money than the agreed upon amount. Calling a few references will give you a good idea of whether or not the contractor you are considering is the best choice.

Written Contracts

While you might want to trust your instincts and select a candidate you have a good feeling about, this is never a good idea. Get everything in writing before allowing any work to begin. If you request a written contract and the plumber has no qualms about providing one, this is a positive sign.

Since there are so many plumber available out there, it is important for you to be very diligent when researching each candidate and making your final choice. As was mentioned earlier, it can be pretty expensive to hire someone to come out and do your plumbing work for you. The advice here will ensure that you find someone who is worth it.

 

Plumbing – Common Problems and Causes

plumber-plumbingPlumbing is an installation of water pipes in the system for the distribution to buildings, for heating, sanitation and drinking water. When you set up a new house, plumbing is one of the essential activities you should consider, due to the necessity of it.

Some people may think that a plumbing issue is easy to handle by themselves, and they are not aware of the damage that might happen because of it, as it may cause even more problems in the long run. So, hiring a professional is most likely the right decision.

Everyone should know when it is the right time to hire a plumber, you don’t have to wait until there is a risk to gain more damage.
The plumber is the one who installs or repairs plumbing fixtures and piping systems and equipment such as water heaters.

Why we should hire a professional plumber

Extensive damage to water pipes, this is a problem usually caused by freezing and it takes a lot of time to be fixed, so you need  to consider hiring a professional to fix it properly.

Other reasons to hire a professional plumber

Installing plumbing fixtures requires a professional, since this work needs to do be done in a correct way, the first time around.
When you want to remodel your house, professional plumbers will be effective to determine the best way of action, and he can also provide solutions for maximum cost savings.

Plumbers can make sure you have water whenever you need it, by replacing damaged pipes. Fixing leaks and replacing damaged pipes will save a lot of money on energy bills.

Cleaning your drain by yourself is usually a waste of time. professionals have the right equipment and can do a superior job.

Working with hot water, pipes and garbage disposals is more difficult than it seems. Why sacrifice your comfort to do these difficult jobs. Hiring a professional plumber is a much better option.

Doing these jobs yourself might be dangerous, as you will probably have to deal with a lack of experience and to insure your safety, and the safety of you family members living in your house, it is advisable to hire a professional to finish these jobs safely.

Accidents happens because of broken pipes, that may lead to damages of your property, which will cost you more than you planned for, while hiring a professional can help you to protect your property and minimize costs.

Regular check-ups by a professional plumber will prevent a lot of problems before they happen and will save you a lot of money.

You can rest assured that the work will be done in a careful manner to prevent any leakage in the house. A licensed plumber will ensure you that the job is done professionally, and without any wastage of money and time.

Note: You should think patiently before you take a decision to replace a water heater by yourself, because that might be very dangerous.

What causes plumping issues?

Sometimes, water pressure gets too low, it is a problem that may be caused by different factors, like obstructions in the pipes of the water, low pressure from the water supplier, etc.
If there is no hot water, this is one of the problems for which it is hard to find its cause, it is difficult to fix and the cause may be in the heating elements.

Gas heater issue include:

– Frozen pipes: when pipes freeze you should check if any pipe already burst. If it has, that’s bad news and you should immediately find a plumber. The plumber can replace the frozen pipes easily.
Damage in pipes and leaks will cause a waste of a lot of water and may even cause a mold problem. Even if the leak is small, it may cause a bigger problem in the long run.

Common causes of blocked drains

Blocked drains are an annoying and one of the most common problems in a lot of homes. There are a lot of factors that may cause blockage in drains, the most common one a foreign objects or debris that is stuck inside the drains.

There are many things that may cause the accumulation such as soap, hair and toilet paper, which usually starts as a small obstruction and continues over time to collect materials in order to prevent the flow of water. To prevent further problems, this requires immediate attention.

Heavy rains and storms may block drains because these collect leaves and may damage the property. Broken pipes can block drains because water can’t move freely in broken pipes and the main cause of that is the use of bad pipes and a poor installation. If this problem happens in underground pipes, it will cost a lot of money. This, it should be installed by professionals. Incorrect pipe installation can lead to the same problem.

Understanding The Work Done By A Plumber

Plumbers have a number of jobs they do and are hired for on a regular basis. The common expectations has plumbers dealing with blocked toilets and nothing more. Of course, they have a lot more to offer and they are generally called on for a number of other jobs other than residential toilet related concerns. In fact, this is one of their least important jobs at the end of the day. Here is a deeper look into what a plumber is responsible for and why they play such an important role in the grand scheme of things.

Install Plumbing Systems

Plumbing systems have a big role to play and it is essential for the plumber to know how to install, repair, and replace them. Not only are plumbers able to deal with these systems regardless of the technology that is being released onto the market, they are also able to assess the damage that has been done and provide an accurate timeline for how long it is going to take to repair and what it is going to take to have it fixed in the first place.

plumber-tapRepair Leaks

Leaks are a part of the job description for plumbers. There are leaks that can occur all around the property beginning from the toilet and moving to the pipes that are inside the walls. There are different types of leaks and the severity can also vary from project to project. The plumber is not only responsible for detecting the leaks that are present, but for also repairing them as fast as he/she can. It is essential to stop the leak from spreading and getting it up and running as fast as they can because of how vital the pipes are to the rest of the property and its functioning.

Waste Water Disposal

Waste water can accumulate over time on certain properties and it is important to disposal of this waste water as soon as you can. If this is not done, it can start to reek and it can also do dmaage to the property as a whole and that is the last thing a property owner wants. This is why, plumbers are asked to assess the waste water that is present and ensure that it is taken care of as soon as possible. With the right equipment, the plumber is able to get rid of the waste water effective immediately for property owners.

Check Pipes For Safety Purposes

Piping is essential when it comes to plumbing and plumbers have a big role to play when it comes to checking and repairing the piping that is present. Most people will assume, they are only able to check the piping, but that is just a part of the job. They are also able to cut and replace the piping while being able to repair it as well. These are all important parts of their job when it comes to various commercial and residential projects that come up.

This is what a plumber is responsible for on a day-to-day basis around the clock. Each plumber has specific projects they are seen working on from time to time, but in the end, they are responsible for all of the tasks that have been listed here and many more. They will often sign up with construction companies and work under them in order to get the right amount of projects on a yearly basis. There are others who will open up businesses and work from that angle. Plumbers are able to do a range of tasks when it comes to the property and its piping.

The Known History Of Plumbing

Most of us would have trouble coping if we suddenly had to do without plumbing. However, it has really only been the past century that brought good plumbing to the masses. That does not mean that the history of plumbing is short because there has been evidence of this art being around for thousands of years. It just was not something that was available to most people or most places.

Ancient History Of Plumbing

Empires that rose and fell long ago left evidence of very clever plumbing. This is usually in the great cities, and even more commonly, it is around the palaces and villas of the wealthy.

For example, the Minoan Palace of Knossos, from almost 4,000 years in the base, had at least four distinct drainage systems. This was from 1700 BC on the Isle of Crete. The drainage systems led to great sewers that were built with stone.

The ancient pipes were made from terra cotta, the material that is used today for planters. These pipes were laid and buried under the floor of the palace, so they were out of sight. These pipes transported water to a number of faucets and fountains that were made of gold, silver, and marble. They are believed to have supplied both cold and hot water.

In the ancient Roman empire were the most famous examples of plumbing of this lost world. It is this example that allowed modern inventors to come up with the ideas for modern plumbing in the Western World. Very brilliant engineers and skilled craftsmen figured out how to erect the great aqueducts that supplied water to cities from lakes and rivers that were many miles away. This water fed to villas, fountains, and of course, the very famous Roman bath houses.

The bad thing about the Romans is that they used a lot of lead in their plumbing. In fact, the term, plumbing, comes from the Roman term for lead. Sadly, this could be toxic over time. Today, scholars believe that lead poisoning of the people may have led to the decline of the Roman history and some of the worst examples of Roman leaders.

The Romans may have declined, but before they did, their influence spread far. It is, in fact, in the English location of “Bath,” the site of Roman baths, that plumbing was lost and then reemerged. But sadly, after the Romans pulled back and lost their great empire, the habit of bathing almost fell into disrepute.

Surprising, it was bathing, not the need for drinking water, that really had encouraged plumbing in the first place. During the early years, the habit of bathing became associated with wanton behavior, and it was not a habit that early Christians cared for. However, a nobleman in 16th century England revived much of the habit of bathing. With bathing, came a need for plumbing, of course.

Of course, London was just awful at this time. In ancient times, people could actually catch fish in the Thames. But it had become the place dispose of waste from the city’s growing population, and the water smelled awful and wasn’t really suitable for use.

toiletThe First Toilet

Sir John Harrington build a water closet in England for his Queen Elizabeth I, his godmother. She was known as the queen who bathed only one time a month. Apparently, this first toilet was constructed inside Richmond Palace, but the Queen never actually used it and the inventor was actually ridiculed for it.

This really demonstrates how people’s attitudes have changed. It would be hard to imagine living without toilets today, but they were something that sophisticated people made fun of a few hundred years ago.

Tips On Finding The Best Plumber In Melbourne

Looking for a plumber in Melbourne, but don’t know where to begin your search? This is a problem that a lot of people have in the city and it has a lot to do with just not knowing where to begin. If you had a foundation in place where you would know what to look for, it would become easier to not only find a plumber, but to find the best one in the entire city right away. Let’s take a look at a few tips that you should be taking into account whenever you are looking for a plumber.

Ask Around

You should always be willing to ask around and see what people are saying on the market. Who are the plumbers that are the best at what they do? How much do they charge? Are they worth it? This is something that should always be done whether it is with a plumber or with an electrician. Make sure you ask those who live around you.

Read Reviews

You need to make sure the plumber that you are going with or are considering is a person that has a lot of positive online reviews. This is a wonderful thing that has come about with the advent of some of the recent technology that is being released onto the market. You have more and more people reviewing plumbers and that makes it easier to find the right fit for your needs.

Meet Them

You should always be looking to sit down with them and speak about what they are able to offer. This makes it easier to note any issues that might come up when dealing with them. You don’t want someone who is just after your money and is going to do a lousy job on your property.

Use the tips that have been pointed out here to make sure that the plumber you go with is the best at what he/she does. The days of just going with the first plumber that you come across are long gone and those who do this are not going to get the kind of deal they had been hoping for. You need to make sure you are getting the complete package and that is only going to happen when you know what to look for and you target only the best in the field.