by BPD Team | Oct 6, 2019
According to a recent survey, plumbers are right up there in the list of least trusted professions along with estate agents, politicians, and worse still bankers. While it’s true that the plumbing trade just like any other trade has its fair share of rip-off merchants and clueless cowboys, it also has its fair share of trustworthy, professional, and competent tradesman.
However, is finding a good plumber really that difficult? Not if you follow these golden rules.
Ask around
Okay so I’m assuming that you don’t know a good plumber, well there’s a good chance that someone you know does. This being the case then all you’ve got to do is to spread the word and make it known that you’re on the lookout for a reliable and trustworthy plumber. Speak to friends, family members, and work acquaintances.
Failing that, if you’ve had a good experience with another tradesperson, such as a builder, electrician, or A/C repair technician then why not ask them if they can recommend someone. Local tradies always know who’s doing the right thing.
Do some research
Any decent plumber simply has to have a website these days and if so, this is where you get to play detective. Check out online reviews, or alternatively, check out their Twitter/Facebook pages and get a feel for how they’re interacting with their customers.
If they don’t make timely responses to customer requests or are worse still, are ignoring them all together then you’ll probably get a good indication of where this is likely to go. It really is a good way of gauging whether someone is serious about their customer service or not.
Licensing and guarantees
So now you may have found the perfect plumber you still need to be sure that they’re both competent in that they have the right licensing to carry out the job you need doing; and confident in their abilities so that they can back up their work with a guarantee. If both boxes are ticked, then you’re nearly home and dry.
The Price
One final thing…Ask them to give you a quote for the job and compare it to another similar quote but make sure you’re comparing oranges with oranges.
A good plumber will want to see the extent of the job first before they commit and this is understandable. After all, there’s nothing worse than quoting a price for what was deemed by the customer to be a ‘simple straight forward job’ only to find that the job turns out to be much more extensive.
If after this you’re happy with the quote, and they’re happy that they can do the work for that price, then bingo…you’ve got yourself a plumber.
Looking for a reliable local plumber in Brisbane?
If you have a plumbing or drainage problem then you need to speak to Brisbane Plumbing and Drainage. We’re a family run business that has been serving the people and businesses of Brisbane and the surrounding suburbs for many years. So for fast reliable service from a local company that cares, contact us today and let us give you a no-obligation quote.
by BPD Team | Oct 4, 2019
Is there a horrible smell coming from your kitchen sink? Perhaps your bathroom sink is taking forever to drain, or maybe there is an unusual gurgling sound coming from your bath. Whatever the issue, there’s a strong chance that it could be caused by a blocked drain.
The problem is that once you have a blockage, it doesn’t usually go away without help and therefore the issue is only likely to get bigger over time. Often it isn’t until a person finds that their toilet is backing up or they have an overflowing drain that they finally realise that something needs to be done.
But what causes a blocked drain in the first place. Here are 5 of the top reasons:
Debris and foreign objects
Without a doubt, the number one cause of blocked drains is due to foreign objects and debris. From fat deposits to food debris through to hair and face wipes, even a small blockage can cause a build-up of materials, which if not dealt with can escalate into a far bigger problem.
Overflowing gutters and drains
Flash flooding or heavy rain
When drains are subjected to sudden torrents of water similar to those experienced during flash floods and torrential rain, objects such as leaves, mould, and soil that can build up naturally in drains get swept along with gallons of fast running water.
Unfortunately, storm pipes and vents are not designed to handle large amounts of water and debris, which could lead to issues like blocked stormwater drains and blocked downpipes. For this reason, it really does pay to get your drains cleared of debris on a regular basis.
Broken pipework
In some cases broken or crumbling pipework can stop the natural flow of drainage which in turn can cause blockages as the water starts to back-up. Broken pipework can be a result of too much water flowing through at any one time, like in the case of a flash flood. However, it can also be caused by invasive tree roots, age, or simply poor installation in the first place.
Badly installed pipework
During the last property boom in the early 2000s houses were being constructed pretty quickly to accommodate the growing number of home buyers. In order to turn a profit some building companies were cutting corners and as a result, many badly installed pipes were laid.
Many are only now coming to light as poorly constructed or even misaligned pipework starts to collapse and crumble causing blockages. Unfortunately for the homeowner, this can be a costly business.
Lack of gravity
Drainage relies on gravity to function effectively. If flow pipework isn’t laid on the correct slope or angled to allow the water to drain away easily, it can eventually cause a build-up of debris and particles which in turn will cause a blockage.
If you’re concerned that your drainage isn’t functioning as well as it should, then you need to contact Brisbane Plumbing and Drainage. With years of experience in dealing with drainage problems, we know how to fix the problem quickly and efficiently. Contact us to find out just how we can help you.
by BPD Team | Oct 3, 2019
Burst pipes are becoming an increasingly common plumbing problem both in the domestic and commercial sectors. As modern-day conveniences mean that many of us integrate more complex plumbing systems into our homes, offices, and business premises, it’s no wonder that fractured pipework is a regular occurrence.
The damage a burst pipe causes
The issue with any burst pipe is that it isn’t solely the cost of a new pipe and the labour to fix it. Instead, significant costs often lie in the ensuing destruction or water damage that a burst or fractured pipe causes.
Did you know for example that even a small burst pipe just a few centimetres in diameter can lose around 400 litres of water every hour? That’s enough to fill two large baths. If you do the maths you’ll quickly realise that you only have to be away from the house for as little as 24 hours to know that when you return you could be looking at around 9600 litres of water being dumped inside your premises. That’s enough to cause major devastation in anyone’s book.
Another worrying issue with a burst or fractured pipe is that because most pipework these days is buried either above the ceiling or under the floor. Which means there’s a strong chance you won’t even notice there’s a problem until it’s either coming through your ceiling or ruined your flooring.
For these reasons, it’s imperative that the risk of bursting pipes be minimised. Here’s how you can do exactly that.
As with anything, prevention is better than cure, and as such there are steps that you can take to prevent flooding due to a burst pipe from occurring.
Know where your main stop valve is located
Having already mentioned that the majority of pipework is hidden from view it can make it difficult to locate the problem. Clearly, the obvious step would be to switch off the water at source – namely your stop valve. That’s provided, of course, that you know where it is.
Stop valves are notorious for being located in some strange places, so make sure you know where yours is so that you can get to it quickly if and when you need to.
Keep all outside piping and taps insulated
Piping, including drain pipes for heating and overflow pipes, has a tendency to expand and contract when exposed directly to either cold or hot weather. This can cause a weakening of the joints over time and eventually, the pipe could burst, particularly when it’s under pressure.
For this reason, it’s in your best interest to make sure any pipework exposed to the elements is lagged. For outside taps, you can also purchase fitted covers.
If you’re unsure about what pipes need to be lagged or even how to do it, then you can always contact an experienced local plumber who can help.
When you go away
If you’re away from the premises for longer periods of time it’s best to turn off the stop valve completely. Then drain any water from the system, and close your taps again. This ensures that you won’t come back to a flooded house. Make sure you check your hot water system manual for shut down procedures.
Burst pipe repairs
Unfortunately despite these prevention tips, burst pipes remain a problem and when they do you need a reliable plumber you can call on. In the Metropolitan area of Brisbane, that’s Brisbane Plumbing and Drainage. With our emergency service available 24/7 one call to us and we can get the problem fixed fast.
When speed is of the essence it’s comforting to know that whether it’s 3 am on a Sunday morning or 4 pm on a public holiday you have a ‘go-to’ plumbing service who can help. Don’t delay contact us today
by BPD Team | Oct 3, 2019
Flushable wipes are really convenient. They can be used for a huge variety of purposes – from wiping a bench to being used as toilet paper – and can just be flushed down the drain when you’ve finished using them… or can they?! According to Queensland Urban Utilities, there are around 3,500 blockages a year in their systems and wet wipes play a considerable part, with around 120 tonnes of wet wipes removed every year (at a cost of around $1 million).
Even though the packaging clearly states ‘flushable’, wet wipes can cause some serious issues when it comes to drain blockages eventually leading to fatbergs. Due to this, some Brisbane-based scientists have decided to test whether wipes really are flushable… and the results so far aren’t that great. Queensland Urban Utilities is leading the trial, and have found that although a lot of wipes perform ok under the tests, none of them performs well enough to suggest they should actually send down your home’s piping.
In order to suggest that a wet wipe is suitable to be flushed, it must break down or disperse in a drain so it doesn’t cause a blockage. If wipes that aren’t flushable make their way down piping, then fatbergs can occur. According to Queensland Urban Utilities, a 7-metre long fatberg was removed from a Bowen Hills sewer last year with a crane, which is not ideal (for anyone who is unsure, a fatberg is a huge mass of solid waste in a sewerage system, consisting especially of congealed fat and personal hygiene products that have been flushed down toilets). So, this indicates that a majority of wet wipes (if not all), aren’t really ‘flushable’ after all.
Realistically, it is strongly recommended that you do not flush any wipes down the toilet, even if they say they can be. This means you will avoid any kind of blockages or issues when it comes to your household piping and wet wipes, and you won’t be contributing to other drainage issues when it comes to plumbing later on down the line.
If you have in plumbing questions or think flushable wipes may be causing a problem in your household’s piping, give Brisbane Plumbing and Drainage a call on today and we can help.
by BPD Team | Oct 2, 2019
Choosing more efficient tapware, showerheads, and appliances help Australia save water.
When WELS (Water Efficiency Labeling and Standards) began in 2005, projections were made on the reduction in the demand for water and energy to the year 2021. Since then, a study completed in 2008 showed even greater savings than the 2005 projections had been achieved.
A study by the Institute for Sustainable Futures in 2017 found that residents have saved over $1 billion on water and energy bills and over 112 billion litres of water this is 4 years ahead of the expected 2021 results.
At the launch of the WELS initiative, it was estimated that by 2021 using water-efficient products will help to:
- reduce domestic water use by more than 100,000 megalitres each year
- save more than 800,000 megalitres (more water than Sydney Harbour)
- reduce total greenhouse gas output by 400,000 tonnes each year – equivalent to taking 90,000 cars off the road each year.
Over one-third of the water savings will come from more efficient showers, about 34 per cent from washing machines and 23 per cent from toilets and urinals. By choosing to use more water-efficient products in the home, Australians will save water and reduce their water and energy bills.
By 2019 over 22,000 products had registered for a WELS rating, showing just how much the demand for water-efficient products has grown in the past 14 years.
More information on WELS labelling and rating system visit the Australian Government Water Rating website – waterrating.gov.au
For installation of all WELS products call Brisbane Plumbing and Drainage today.
References – https://www.waterrating.gov.au/about/review-evaluation/environmental-effects#evaluation-environmental-economic
