Knowing what’s a plumbing emergency and what can wait till the next business day is not always cut and dry.
Sometimes it may seem that things are under control until suddenly they very clearly in a ‘raw sewage’ kind of way, not. Other times you call your plumber at 2 am only to work out that what you thought was a significant water leak was actually water coming from the sprinkler your neighbour left on by accident.
Of course plumbing problems can be very subjective. One household may be happy to soldier on until Monday having refreshing cold showers, while for another no hot water would be a top repair priority.
In every case your local emergency plumber will ask you a series of questions when you call to get an idea of the problem over the phone to ensure they are ready to deal with your issue when they arrive.
7 reasons you should definitely call a plumber
There are several incidences when calling an emergency plumber is just practical. They include:
No water – first check with your local water authority to ensure there are no mains outages in your area. Brisbane residents can check Urban Utilities for reported or scheduled faults and interruptions here – urbanutilities.com.au
No hot water – as we mentioned above this might not seem like an emergency for some but getting it checked out as soon as possible is a good idea.
Gas leak – this is a definite. If you suspect you have a gas leak it’s essential to treat it as an emergency and turn off the gas supply to your home at the mains valve or gas cylinder and contact your emergency gas plumber immediately.
Burst pipe – water gushing out of a broken or cracked pipe can quickly cause substantial damage to your home of property. Turn off the water to your home at the mains tap and contact your 24 hour plumber without delay.
Leaking hot water system – storage hot water system tanks can gradually or suddenly start to leak. As they are designed to constantly refill the amount of water produced from even a small leak can be substantial over a matter of hours.
Blocked toilet or sewer drain – no one wants to deal with a blocked toilet or sewer drain for any longer than needed. Often clearing a blocked drain can be a quick job (depending on what is causing the blockage).
Blocked stormwater drains – this issue is especially important during rainy periods. Blocked stormwater drains can back up around your home quickly causing substantial flooding during a storm.
Not sure if your plumbing problem is urgent or an emergency? Give our team of experienced Brisbane plumbers a call. We’re ready to help 24/7.
Gas appliances are widely used – but did you know they are categorised into 2 categories – Type A and Type B Gas Devices.
The type A gas appliances are mass-produced and used commonly for residential or light commercial purposes. However, type B devices are used mainly for industrial and heavy commercial purposes. Whether you are a homeowner or a commercial business owner, it is vital to understand the differences between these two and who can work on these systems.
In this article, we discuss the Type A and Type B gas appliances and what licenses are required to install these gas devices. If you have any questions or need more information on our gas fitting services, do not hesitate to contact us.
Type A Gas Appliances
These gas appliances are used primarily for domestic and light commercial purposes and have approval badge from the Australian Gas Association (AGA).
Type A gas appliances include:
Gas cooking appliances like stoves, cooktops
Gas log appliance
Gas refrigerator
Domestic barbecue
Gas-fired ducted air heater
Gas air conditioner ( capacity to consume gas no more than 500 MJ in an hour)
portable gas generator (capacity to consume no more than 500MJ in an hour)
radiant gas heater for outdoor and non-residential use
Commercial gas catering equipment like:
Atmospheric steamer
Barbecue griller
Chinese cooking table
Food warmer
Boiling water dispenser
Oven
Pasta cooker
Who can install type A gas devices?
An individual who has a gas work license can work on Type A gas devices
Type of license
Gas Work license – A full gas work license allows an individual to carry out all types of gas work on a gas system
Gas work license(servicing) – Allows an individual to service, repair and test Type A gas devices
Gas work license ( servicing and caravan certification)
Gas work license (hydrocarbon refrigerant) – Allows an individual to work on devices which use fuel gas as refrigerant
Type B Gas Appliances
These appliances are not approved by the AGA and require special certification before installation.
According to the Gas Safety Act, type B appliances ave a gas consumption of more than 10 MJ/h and doesn’t include a type A appliance.
Type B gas appliances include industrial and commercial appliances like:
Boilers
Incinerator
Refrigeration system
Fuel gas system for vehicles
Gas turbines
Process kilns
Rotary calciner
Burners
Furnaces
Steam appliances
The installation of these appliances needs to comply with the Australian standard AS 3814. You also need to take permission from
Who can install type B gas devices?
An individual who has a gas work authorisation can work on type B devices.
Types of authorisations
Gas work authorisation is of 4 types:
Industrial appliances
Servicing
Motor fuel
Major projects
Need gasfitter for residential or commercial purposes?
Whether you need a gas installation, boiler repairs or need emergency gas repairs, you can count on Brisbane Plumbing and Drainage. With our 24 x 7 emergency services, we have your back any time, come rain, hail or shine!
Our gas fitters are qualified to install gas devices for any job whether it is a residential, light commercial installation or an industrial gas installation. Contact us on 1300 616 203 or complete our online gasfitting enquiry form.
Gas Fitters and Plumbers undertake different training and licenses to work in their respective fields. However, some plumbers obtain license for gas fitting work so they are eligible to install gas hot water heaters, gas appliances, etc.
Can your plumber install your gas stove or any other gas appliances? It depends.
A qualified local plumber can provide some gas fitting services like installation, repair and maintenance of gas pipes and fittings.
A qualified gas fitter can work on gas systems but not carry out any plumbing work.
However, an individual who has completed plumbing and gas fitting apprenticeship can perform work on both plumbing and gas systems.
Not all plumbers are qualified gas fitters, so before you hire a gas fitter:
Check the license – In Queensland a gas work license must be obtained from the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy.
The gas fitters must also be registered with the Queensland Building and Construction Code as a contractor.
In Queensland, various legislations regulates the gas fitting industry:
Gas work can be carried out by gas fitters who hold a gas work license
Licensed Gas Fitters can work for residential, commercial or industrial purposes
Gas fitters can work on Gas Device (Type A) if they have a gas work license and Gas device (Type B) if they have gas work authorisation. Anything not listed in Type A comes under the category of Type B
What to look for in a gas fitter?
Plumbing and gas fitting are different professions and have different qualification process and licensing requirements.Gas Fitting work should only be performed by qualified individuals. You can void the warranty on your product or lose insurance if you attempt to Do-it-Yourself or hire an unlicensed individual for the same.
Consider hiring a company who has fully insured and licensed plumbers and gas fitters. You can not only save money but have a hassle free service as the company can send you a licensed gas fitter who can install your gas hot water heater which involves both gas and plumbing work.
Scope of work carried out by Gas Fitters
Install, maintain, test, alter and repair gas systems in a building
Gas systems include gas devices, containers, fittings, flues and pipes
Gas hot water system installation, repairs and maintenance
Installation of appliances like ovens, gas stoves, heaters and fireplaces
Installation of gas bayonet fittings and gas meters
Fix gas leaks
Emergency gas fitting
Need licensed gas plumbers in Brisbane?
Gas work can be dangerous if not performed by qualified gas plumbers. At Brisbane Plumbing and Drainage, we have qualified gas plumbers and gas fitters who can carry out gas work for residential and commercial purposes. We provide services in Brisbane, Logan and Ipswich. Contact us on 1300 616 203 or fill in our online job booking form for more information.
Which tool is better to unblock drains – plumbers eel or water jetter?
Blocked drains can be a totaly nightmare! The stinking smell, backing up water, slowly draining sinks, and gurgling toilets are just some of the signs of blocked drains. Luckily the drains can be cleared easily with the help of important tools in the arsenal of a plumber like a plumbers eel or water jetter. But which is better to clear a blocked drain?
The ideal method used to clear the drain depends on the cause of the blockage and its location.
Clearing a drain using an electric eel
Also known as a drain snake or plumbers snake.
It has a flexible steel pipe attached to a motor that is used to clear blockage inside the drains.
They are good for removing non-solid stuff located just below the drain opening like toilet paper and indoor blockages.
It cannot clear grease or remove tree roots stuck inside the pipe.
It can be physically demanding and hard to use.
It has a short range pipe and cannot reach all the areas of the drain.
The time taken to clear blockages depends on the depth and extent of the blockage. In comparison to water jetters, they take far more time to clean the blockage.
Electric eels have an aggressive mechanism and can cause extensive damage to thin or old pipes.
Using a water jetter to unblock a drain
Water jetters have been around for the past 20 years and make it super easy to clear blocked drains.
The flexible soft hose is easy to use and doesn’t hurt the back.
It uses high-pressure water to remove stubborn blockages and can clear hard objects like tree roots and clogs of grease particles easily without damaging the pipes.
The water jetter has a long hose and can reach the inaccessible areas of the deep along the pipe easily without damage.
Only high pressure water is used, no chemicals are required to clean the pipes so it is environmentally friendly.
Water jetters are excellent for commercial drain cleaning. For example, restaurants might benefit from routine water jetting as the pipes get blocked with grease or food particles.
Water jetters are efficient and use less time to clear blocked drains.
Fixing blocked drains are best left to fully licensed plumbers. Your plumber can determine the right tool – electric eel or water jetters – to unblock the drains. For a reliable and quick service to your blocked pipes issue, get in touch with Brisbane Plumbing and Drainage. Call us today on 1300 616 203 or complete our online job booking form.
Pipe relining provides a practical cost-effective solution to repair damaged pipes in hard to reach locations such as under a pool or house. It is also often used as a fast repair option for drains when time of of the essence to minimise disruption to business operations.
Drain relining process
The pipe relining process is a method of repairing an existing pipe without needing to dig up or excavate the damaged section saving time and often money. It can be used for all types of drain pipe problems from cracks due to heavy vehicle movement or repeated blocked drains from tree root intrusion to misaligned joints or broken pipes.
Often referred to as no-dig or trenchless pipe relining as minimal, if any, digging is usually required to carry out repairs.
Clearing a drain using a water jetter
No dig pipe repair
The relining process involves:
CCTV drain camera inspection is carried out. This allows the technician to identify the exact location of the damaged pipe as well as giving them a clear idea of the cause and extent of the issue.
Any blockages or obstructions are removed to allow a smooth surface for the new liner to adhere to.
The section of the liner is cut to size and embedded with resin.
The liners are then carefully positioned over the damaged section or sections of the pipe.
The liner is then inflated using compressed air or water to fit the inside surface of the old pipe, sealing any holes or cracks.
This inner-liner is then cured using UV light or heat hardening the lining and resin to create a strong, long-lasting new inner pipe.
Once the pipe liner has hardened the drain is inspected again to ensure the repair is successful and the new lining is smooth to avoid debris catching as it passes causing further issues.
Relining technologies
Different relining products vary a bit but a good quality liner will last up to 50 years providing long term repair solutions for homes and businesses.
Not sure if pipe relining is the right solution for your drainage problems? Speak to our Brisbane plumbing team for expert advice on your drain repair issues.
