by BPD Team | Oct 2, 2019
Let’s face it we all take our household plumbing for granted right? When it’s working we don’t even bat an eyelid, but when it isn’t we’re usually straight on the phone to the nearest plumber asking them to come and sort it out. Take a blocked sink for instance, do we really need to call out a plumber right away? In short no. Instead, there are certain things that we can do that just might alleviate the problem before we bring in the trusty professionals.
Unleash the plunger
When your sink is blocked or isn’t draining away quickly, then it pays to dig out the plunger. Give it a dozen or so pumps and if it’s a minor blockage this should dislodge the obstruction.
If you haven’t got one to hand, they’re inexpensive to buy and can be purchased from most hardware stores.
Unscrew the sink trap
If the plunger doesn’t do the trick, then you might want to look underneath your sink. In other words, check the sink trap.
What can happen is that sometimes debris gets caught in the pipe and blocks the passage of water. It’s always worth unscrewing the trap located on the U-bend to clear any excess debris or food waste.
It may sound obvious but make sure you put a bucket underneath when you unscrew the trap to catch all the excess water and anything else that falls out.
Brine solution
If the U-bend is clear and water still isn’t draining away, then there may well be an issue further down your pipework towards your drain. If this is the case then you might want to make up a brine solution of hot water and salt.
Although generally more of a preventative measure as it stops grease from building up in your drains, it can also dispel small amounts of grease or fat that have built up, and sometimes this is all it takes. In addition, the natural oxidisers contained in the salt will neutralize any funky drain smells too.
Drain cleaning solution
If all else fails and the sink still isn’t clearing then you may want to bring out the big guns and purchase a chemical drain cleaning solution. These are often very similar to what the professionals use, but a word of warning… they are extremely potent so if you are going to use them, make sure you ventilate the room, follow the instructions precisely, and wear protective clothing.
Some can damage plastic pipework, so if you do have this type of pipework then make sure the cleaner you use is compatible with plastic.
If the above fails or if you don’t like the idea of using harsh chemicals on your drains, contact your local licensed plumber.
The team at Brisbane Plumbing and Drainage have the expertise to solve all your plumbing and drainage needs including blocked sinks or drains. Book a plumber today!
by BPD Team | Jan 19, 2019
Keeping your home drains healthy is very low on most peoples list of ‘to-do’s’. Most homeowners are like firefighters, they put out home maintenance fires as they become really urgent. Things like a broken hot water system, leaking roof, or a tripping safety switch receive immediate attention and often involve significant emergency funds. All these issues, if managed proactively with ongoing maintenance, could be avoided and the costs involved reduced by a long way.
Your homes’ plumbing systems fall into this category too. They’re often forgotten about until a ‘home maintenance fire’ occurs, such as a blocked drain, backed up toilet, or a flooding stormwater drain.
The enormous fatberg recently discovered in Sidmouth, a town in the south of England, is proof that not keeping an eye on your drains can leave you in a very smelly, sticky, costly and unfortunate situation.
The colossal mass of fat, oil, grease, wet wipes, and so many other foul items measuring around 64 metres long is clogging up a large sewer drain in the small seaside town. It’s estimated that clearing the fatberg will take crews in breathing gear using water jetters, shovels and pickaxes up to eight weeks.
The fatberg was discovered during a routine inspection just before Christmas and was thought to have accumulated over several years. (Possibly the ‘routine inspections’ weren’t quite routine enough.)
Home drainage systems are just as susceptible to fatbergs. In fact, due to the smaller size domestic drains can block up faster and more often than mains sewers.
Preventing blocked drains
Carrying out regular plumbing inspections and drain cleaning, yearly is recommended, can prevent fatbergs in your home sewer system.
Another way to prevent blocked drain is to keep your plumbing healthy by only using it for what it is designed for – efficiently removing grey water (water from the sink, shower, bath, and laundry) and black water (from the toilet) from your home.
What it’s not designed for is to be a rubbish bin. You can’t dispose of all manner of household rubbish down your sink or toilet and expect it to just wash away. Most of it will end up blocking your drains causing your very own fatberg.
What not to dispose of down the drain?
Every local plumber you speak to will have a list of their top offenders, here’s ours:
- Wet wipes – no not they are NOT ‘flushable’, regardless of what the packet says. This includes – toilet wipes, baby wipes, bathroom/kitchen/BBQ/cooktop cleaning wipes, those little hand wipes they give you in fast-food restaurants, etc.
- Sanitary items
- Food scraps
- Nappies and nappy liners
- Makeup remover pads or wipes
- Cotton buds and balls
- Cooking oil, grease, or fat
- Keeping these items out of your drains will help to ensure your drains remain free of the dreaded fatberg.
If you’re having issues with the drains of your Brisbane home give out team a call we’ll find the blockage and clear it quickly.
by BPD Team | Dec 22, 2018
Should you hire a plumber or a plumbing contractor?
Many people are confused about the difference between plumbers and plumbing contractors. When it comes to hiring a plumber for a job, you need to ensure it is completed by a qualified person no matter the size of the job. ‘Plumbers’ and ‘Plumbing Contractors’ are used often in the industry but they are very different. In this article, we discuss the differences between the two and what you should look out for when you hire a plumber.
Difference between Plumbers vs Plumbing Contractors
So what’s the difference between the two? Keep reading to learn more.
Plumbers
Plumbers carry out the routine tasks around your home or business like clearing blocked drains, toilet repairs, and installing fixtures like taps, showerheads, sinks, etc. They are permitted to work as employees under a licenced trade contractor, i.e. they cannot work for themselves or invoice customers.
Plumbing Contractors
Plumbing contractors can do complex and specialised tasks compared to plumbers. For example:
Apart from performing specialised tasks, they hold additional licenses and qualifications to complete complex tasks.
Licenses plumbers must hold
In Queensland, plumbers need to adhere to the regulations set by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission. There are 3 types of plumbing licenses depending on the experience and qualification of an individual:
- Provisional Plumbers Licence – This licence is available to individuals who have completed a plumbing apprenticeship. The individual must hold this licence for a year and work under supervision before they can apply for their open licence.
- Occupational / Open Licence – This level of licence can be applied for after the completion of a minimum of one year under a provisional plumber licence.
- Plumbing and Drainage Contractor / Nominee Supervisor – To contract with the public to perform work, a contractor’s licence is required. An individual who has completed Certificate IV in Plumbing and Services and is able to meet the financial requirements of the licence can apply for a contractors licence.
- Plumbing and drainage work has a Zero Dollar Value – any work that costs more than $0 should be performed by an individual holding a trade contractor’s licence.
Which is right tradesperson for your job – a plumber or a plumbing contractor?
There are so many plumbing companies to choose from, so how do you decide who to hire?
It’s good to remember that not all plumbers have the same skills, knowledge, and industry experience. When in doubt, consider hiring a plumbing contractor. They have more experience and the qualifications to handle all sorts of jobs, plus they’ll have insurance to protect your property if anything goes wrong. It is recommended to engage the services of licensed plumbing contractors for peace of mind and reliable services. Before you hire someone, make sure you check their licence.
Your local plumbing contractors in Brisbane
The Brisbane Plumbing and Drainage team of plumbers and gas fitters can handle all sorts of plumbing tasks from burst pipes and broken toilets to complex tasks like pipe relining and TMV testing. At Brisbane Plumbing and Drainage, we hold a trade contractors licence and provide reliable and quality plumbing services.
For more information or if you would like to book a plumbers give us a call on 1300 616 203 or complete our online job booking form.
by BPD Team | Dec 18, 2018
The abundance of unscrupulous people in the drain cleaning and sewer business has reached an all-time high. You only have to pick up the local paper or switch on the local news to hear about the people who have fallen foul of such scams. If you’re looking for a plumber to take care of your blocked drain, here’s how you can avoid becoming a victim.
Avoid doing business with anyone you haven’t contacted first
Many plumbing scammers will look to prey upon vulnerable people particularly the elderly and infirm. They’ll turn up out of the blue and tell you that you have a problem with your drainage. In reality, they’ve probably already done their homework and know that you either live alone or are elderly and are the perfect fit for a scam.
Reputable companies don’t have to tout for business. Instead, they rely on a good network of clients and word of mouth, so by avoiding doing business with unsolicited drainage companies altogether you’re less likely to fall, the victim.
Keep an eye out for strange evidence
Dishonest sewer and drain cleaning technicians will usually work in pairs. This is so that one can be gathering information from the client (read this as distracting the client) while the other will be outside planting evidence. For instance, they might be spreading dirt and soil in specific spots where they might then suggest a particular pipe is broken. Others carry bags of rocks and place them in waste traps to initiate a blockage, while others will even deliberately damage drains.
The bottom line is to keep a close eye out for any abnormalities or strange evidence in your yard that just might ring alarm bells.
Make sure you’re not watching a video inspection rerun
A particularly favourite scam of unscrupulous plumbers not just in Brisbane but all over the country is the inspection rerun scam. While video inspection equipment is a necessary and helpful tool within the plumbing and drainage industry, it can be used to detrimental effect.
A scammer will play a video of pipework in a particularly bad condition and have you believe it’s your pipework, only it’s not. Obviously, you can guess what’s next – A huge bill for work that didn’t need to be carried out. A quick way to avoid this is to have the technician tape something in your garden so that you can see that the camera is actually recording first.
Remembering the basics
Finally, remember to run background checks on all service companies you’re looking to hire. While the majority of plumbers in Brisbane and throughout the state of Queensland are thoroughly decent honest folk, there’s always the odd exception, so it pays to do your homework. Check review sites and get the opinion of others before you commit to hiring.
At Brisbane Plumbing and Drainage we’ve been serving the people and businesses of the city and the surrounding suburbs for many years. We’re more than happy to provide references and testimonials and what’s more, we won’t hassle you for business. If you’ve got a plumbing or drainage issue, no matter how big or small, contact us today on 1300 740 206 for a no-obligation quote.
by BPD Team | Dec 18, 2018
Like anything, prevention is always better than cure so when it comes to your sewers and drains maintaining them can save you a lot of money, plus a great deal of unpleasantness. Here at Brisbane Plumbing and Drainage, we’ve had the misfortune to come across a multitude of drains and sewers that have either backed up or overflowed due to a lack of care and attention.
In order to avoid this from happening in your home here’s what you can do.
Check for signs of odour
A drain that’s becoming clogged or blocked often emits a foul-smelling odour. For many people, the trick is to throw disinfectant down the sink or trap where the smell is emanating from. While this can and does prevent the smell, in reality, all it usually does it to mask it.
Nine times out of ten the smell will return.
It could simply be that there’s no water left in your trap thus removing the barrier between your drain and the smelly gases in the sewer system. It might be that there is a blockage in the pipework, preventing the water to flow freely, or a blockage in your vent pipe.
All of these things are relatively easy and cost-effective to fix. However, if you ignore it, things could be more costly.
Kitchen sink drains can be smelly
A slow running drain
Another good sign to ascertain whether you have a clogged or blocked drain is when the water seems to take an age to drain away.
It could be that a quick exercise with the plunger will do the trick and clear the blockage on this occasion, but if it persists, then Capalaba residents might want to call in a registered plumber.
If you have more than one plughole, sink, or drain that isn’t draining as it should, it’s usually a sign that there’s a looming problem. Pay particular attention to blockages or clogs that occur on the first floor or basement (if you have one) because these are often a sign of a main sewer line issue.
When slow running drains occur on a second floor or higher then it’s probably a blockage in the secondary line.
Water drops
When drains and sewers start to back up, evidence will usually show in the lower levels of your home first. At the early stages, these tend to manifest themselves in the form of water spots which appear around drain holes.
If for instance you switch on your washing machine and the drain hole in your shower, bathroom, or toilet, starts to show water spots as it splutters and percolates just like a coffee machine, this is often a sign that something more sinister is occurring. As soon as you spot these telltale signs contact your local plumber.
The bottom line is that if you don’t want to be spending heaps of cash on expensive sewer problems in your home, then you need to spot the signs early on. Remember, prevention is always better than cure.
If you have a plumbing problem no matter how big or small, then contact the expert Plumber in Brisbane. For a no-obligation quote contact us today.
