by BPD Team | Jul 20, 2020
Your plumbing system is a very important part of your home’s structure and yet the majority of people take it for granted until there’s a problem. Not only does a network of pipes bring clean water into your home but it also takes dirty water away, which is a priceless service in any modern home today. Unfortunately, many people mistreat their plumbing system without even knowing it. Failure to take proper care of your plumbing system can cause damage which may be expensive to repair, not to mention the inconvenience it can cause.
Let’s take a closer look at 5 things which could be wreaking havoc with your plumbing.
Rubbish
Glass, metal, paper, plastic, and other items of rubbish can cause major problems and damage your plumbing system, often entering through toilets, drains, and rubbish disposals. Never use your drains as a rubbish bin as this can cause a drain blockage which is likely to necessitate a call to your local plumber.
Remember to avoid flushing things like nappies down the drain or cat litter, as these can and do cause major blockages, which can be costly to remove. Instead, make proper use of your rubbish bin and have several dotted around your home.
Cooking oil
Okay, we’ve all done it, but it’s really not wise to pour cooking oil from your frying pan down your kitchen sink. Cooking oil and fat solidifies once it cools down and can collect in pipes and septic systems leading to problems and blocked drains which will eventually need repair.
Tree Roots
Often people plant trees close to their homes for shade or privacy never considering the fact that these trees will grow larger and spread their roots. Most plumbers will agree when we say that tree roots are one of the biggest culprits for causing damage to your drains. As trees use their roots to search for water, they can find their way into pipework through small cracks causing major drainage problems which are usually costly and stressful to repair.
To prevent this happening avoid planting trees close to the lateral line, choose trees and shrubs which grow slowly, and replace any that are getting out of hand.
Hair
Hair clogging your shower drain is a messy sight at the best of times and although it causes minimal disruption to your plumbing system, if combined with fats and rubbish, it can cause a nasty blockage.
Liquid drain cleaners
Although these products seem like the perfect quick fix, they often contain harsh chemicals which can cause damage to a plumbing system, plus they’re not necessarily good for the environment.
What’s more, if you find they don’t work the first time, it’s not uncommon for most people to repeat their use a couple more times which is not only a waste of time it could create problems for your plumber when he/she comes to fix the problem properly.
If you have a plumbing problem, big or small, then contact your local Brisbane plumber. Brisbane Plumbing and Drainage has been servicing Brisbane and its suburbs for a great many years and offers an affordable, reliable, and efficient plumbing service. Call us today and we’ll send one of our trusted technicians straight to you.
by BPD Team | Jul 7, 2020
If you find yourself confronted with a plumbing problem, trying to deal with it on your own can be tricky. The reason is that when smells start emanating from your bathroom, or you hear banging sounds in your pipework, or bubbling noises when using the tap, it’s usually indicative of an underlying and often more complex problem. For this reason, it always pays to contact your local plumber.
With this in mind, here are the top 8 signs that people should call out a plumber right away.
Backed up pipework
If you frequently experience backed-up drains or sewers then chances are you have a blocked sewer line or a broken pipe. An inspection of your drains using a specially designed drain camera is the best way to find out exactly what’s causing the issue, contact an experienced plumber who can help.
Poor water quality
Is your water a cloudy colour or does it have a musty smell? If the answer is yes then chances are you have deteriorating pipework or problems with your storage hot water system. While pipes or hot water tank may not have broken or burst yet, this is often an early sign that disaster is just around the corner.
Noisy pipework
In some cases when pipework bangs it’s just the initial water flow going through. In this case, it isn’t always a cause for alarm. However, if the noise persists or gets worse it could indicate that you have loose parts or weak spots that need repairing.
Burst water pipe
Clogging
Let’s face it, sinks get clogged. Usually, however, it’s rectified with a quick ‘once over’ with the plunger. However, if it persists or the blockage doesn’t seem to disappear, then this is usually indicative of a blockage further down the sewer system. An experienced plumber will help to unravel the mystery.
Bubbling water
If you hear bubbling noises after you’ve flushed the toilet or used the tap, this is often an early indication of broken or faulty pipework. By contacting a plumber early, they can get to the cause of the problem and fix it before it escalates.
Rise in your water bill
Have you noticed an increase in your water bill over the last few months that you can’t account for? If this is the case, then it could point to a leaking mains water pipe. Did you know, for example, that even the tiniest pinhole just 1 mm in diameter can lose up to 20 litres of water a day? If your pipework is buried underground, then it could be weeks or months before you notice a difference.
Low or no water pressure
If you have no water at all and your water supply hasn’t been cut off, then nine times out of ten it’s a broken pipe. Moreover, if you normally have good water pressure and one day you find that your water pressure is poor, then this could also be a sign that something isn’t right with your plumbing.
Soggy patches in your garden
If you notice that certain patches of your garden are constantly waterlogged despite the fact that it hasn’t rained for weeks, this may indicate a burst or badly leaking pipe. Remember if it’s on or under your property, then the responsibility falls with you or your plumber to repair it.
If you have a plumbing problem in Brisbane then you really should talk to the experts at Brisbane Plumbing and Drainage. We’ve been serving the residents and businesses of the city and the surrounding areas for many years. With our experience, no job is too big or too small. Why not contact us today for a no-obligation quote.
by BPD Team | Dec 19, 2019
Just imagine coming home from work, opening the front door and stepping onto your carpet and it feels just like a sponge. Worse still, how about opening your front door to be confronted by 20-30cms of water cascading towards you. The reality is that even a relatively small water leak has the ability to cause this much damage in as short a time as 30 minutes. If you do find yourself in this situation then you need to act fast.
Isolate the electricity
The very first thing you should do before you go wading in is to think safety. The risks of electrical shocks are far higher when there’s water about so as a precaution switch off the electricity at the mains which is usually located in your home switchboard.
In flood or water damage situations we recommend a professional electrical check before the power supply to your home is reconnected.
Look at the colour of the water
Not all water damage involves clean water. A backed-up sewer or toilet, for example, can release black water that not only smells bad but is also incredibly toxic and harmful, particularly if you come into contact with it. If this is the case then call your plumber or a professional restoration company. They carry special equipment to deal with such overflowing sewage situations.
If on the other hand, the water looks reasonably clean, then its generally safe to enter.
A burst pipe can cause water damage fast
Turn off the water at the mains
Sometimes it can be difficult when faced with situations like this to uncover the source of the leak, to save valuable time switch the water supply off at the mains. At least this way you’ve halted the flow of water, even if you haven’t located the problem yet.
Call your local plumber
Now it’s time to find and repair the issue. Your local licensed plumber is trained to locate and fix problems quickly and efficiently such burst pipes, backflowing toilet, or rainwater overflow.
Remember when it comes to water damage speed is of the essence. By acting quickly then there’s a good chance that you’ll save your belongings, your property and indeed, a lot of money in the long term.
Start the cleanup process
The key thing to remember with water damage is the longer walls, floors, furniture, and your belongings are underwater, the more chance of permanent damage. So it’s important that the cleanup operation gets underway as soon as your plumber and electrician say it is safe to do so.
If the flooding is particularly bad then it may pay to call in a professional flood and water damage restoration company. They’ll have specialised water removal equipment which can disperse large quantities of water quickly.
In the meantime consider removing anything not fitted which has come into contact with the water, such as soft furnishings or mats, and place them outside in the sun to dry off.
Ventilate and dry out
A forgotten after-effect of water damage is mould. Mould is a living organism that if left to grow can cause serious respiratory health problems, not to mention making a real mess of your walls and floors.
For this reason getting as much fresh air movement into the property, especially within the first 24 hours, is key.
Our plumbers are ready to help
If you have water damage or flooding in your home or business call our trusted and experienced Brisbane Plumbing and Drainage plumber now. We operate a 24-hour emergency plumber service, so whatever time of the day or night we can help.
Call us and we’ll be there!
by BPD Team | Dec 19, 2019
If you find yourself wading through your kitchen ankle deep in water, then it’s pretty obvious you’ve got a problem and therefore calling out a plumber near you is a bit of a no-brainer. However, what about when the signs of a potential plumbing problem aren’t quite so blatant? When should these ‘more subtle’ signs be taken seriously? Let’s take a closer look.
1. Bad smells
If you are continually experiencing a general bad smell coming from the drains and can’t find the source of it then you could potentially have a sewer problem. A healthy plumbing system is designed to trap or vent smells away from the house. Although some pretty ghastly odours can emanate from sewers, the thing to note is that the foul-smelling stench that’s permeating your house can also be pretty toxic.
Therefore if you have a nasty smell which lingers for longer than a day or two contact your local licenced plumber to get to the bottom of your smelly drain problem.
2. Blocked drains
We’ve all experienced a blocked drain at some point. Chances are that to deal with it you’ve gone to your local hardware store, purchased a bottle of drain cleaner and emptied it down the drain. Then you’ve waited 15 minutes or so, given it a quick (careful!) plunge and bingo – problem solved.
However, what if the problem returns after a few days or weeks. Should you go through the same process again? Of course, you shouldn’t.
The reason being that it smacks of further problems deeper into your drain system and no amount of plunging and bottles of ‘super clog buster’ is going to eradicate it. Therefore it’s time to pick up the phone and call a plumber. They’ll have all the necessary equipment to get to the bottom of your drain problem once and for all.
3. An annoying leak you didn’t know you had
So you open up your water bill only to find it exceptionally high. The problem is that no one’s been using any more water than normal. This indicates that you could well have a hidden water leak.
A skilled plumber can trace their way around your plumbing system using specialised leak detection equipment until they’ve located the source of the leak, thus saving you loads of money in the long run.
4. Running out of hot water
If your hot water system just doesn’t cope anymore you could be in need of an upgrade or repairs. Whether it’s a gas, electric, solar, or heat pump hot water unit, unless you’re a qualified plumber or electrician, you shouldn’t really be tinkering about with it. Even if you consider yourself relatively handy and have some rudimentary skills, that is one job that you should always leave to the professionals.
So there you have it! Four warning signs that you really shouldn’t ignore.
If you need to call out a plumber then contact Brisbane Plumbing and Drainage. We have the expertise and the solutions for all your plumbing needs.
by BPD Team | Dec 14, 2019
If you’ve ever wondered why plumbers charge a call-out fee, we thought we’d explain: A plumber generally charges a fee for each new maintenance job that he attends and put simply, it’s necessary to keep him in business. Call out fees in the Brisbane area currently, start at $85 and on weekends or after hours can reach as high as $300 which doesn’t include the cost of labour or materials.
What the call-out fee covers
This fee is designed to cover the following costs to the business:
- The time it takes to reach your property
- The time it takes to put specific equipment in the vehicle that may be required for a specific job type.
- The fuel required to get to the property.
- Costs involved in the car upkeep.
- Relevant insurance cover to protect you and the tradie.
- A plumber doesn’t live off the call out rate instead they are paid by what they earn an hour.
Plumbers are notoriously targeted by the tax office in Australia because they have a tendency to over-claim on expenses and not declare all of their income. Reputable plumbers will employ a good accountant to make sure they claim for the right expenses and to make sure that all income is declared. The cost of the accountant is also included in the charge out fee.
Should a customer be worried about how a plumbing business is being run?
In short, yes! And here’s why.
Unlicensed or uninsured
Firstly if a call-out fee is extremely low or non-existent, or the plumber is quoting a lot less than others, it could be that the plumber is not paying all their business expenses and this could include up to date licenses and insurances. So you could be using a plumber who is unlicensed or uninsured and in the event of any damage being done to your property this fact will render your house insurance to be void.
Inferior materials/shoddy work
Secondly, if the plumber is charging too little then he/she could be using inferior products or non-compliant materials, or they could do as little as possible to fix your plumbing issue which may result in you having to call out another plumber to properly repair the original problem.
Bankruptcy
Finally, should the plumber go out of business in the middle of your bathroom renovation, then you’ll have to pay for another plumber to finish the job and usually this will often cost more than your original quote. Some customers pay upfront for the entire job as part of a ‘contract’ and in this case, they’re left without a bathroom and facing a long appeal process to try and recoup their money.
It always pays to hire a professional company with a good reputation. It’s far better to pay a bit extra for quality than risk paying more in the long run because you were trying to save money in the first place.
Brisbane Plumbing and Drainage have built up a rock-solid reputation in Brisbane and much of our work is from referrals. It doesn’t get much better than that. If you need a quote for any plumbing or drainage work then give us a call. We’re a fully licensed and insured plumber you can trust.
