Pipes Making Noise?

Pipe noises range from loud hammering sounds to high-pitched squeaks. The causes may be loose pipes, water logged air chambers, or water pressure that's too high. Anchoring exposed pipes is a simple solution; other remedies such as anchoring pipes concealed inside walls, floors or ceilings, may call for a professional.

Pipes are usually anchored with pipe straps every 6 to 8 feet for horizontal runs, 8 to 10 feet for vertical.

Banging - When you anchor a pipe, especially a plastic one, leave room for expansion.

Don't use galvanized straps on copper pipes.

Squeaking - Only hot water pipes squeak. As the pipe expands, it moves in its strap, and friction causes the squeak.
Solution: Cushion it as you would a banging pipe.

Water Hammer - This noise occurs when you turn off the water at a tap or an appliance quickly. The water flowing through the pipes slams to a stop, causing a hammering noise.
Check for Loose pipes

For help with those noisy pipes contact Fix Your Plumbing.

Don't lose your hot water this WInter

At this time of year your hot water system is working harder than ever to bring you nice hot showers and baths. A new water system can be expensive but you can extend the life of your system with a few simple checks.

1. Have a look at the age of the unit, hot water unit years to human years is 9 to 1. A long life of a hot water unit is 11 to 13 years.
2. Remove any rubbish from the base of the unit, keep the base and top dry and clear.
3. Exercise the valves on the side of the unit, this will keep them working well and not over pressure the unit if one fails.
4. What will happen if your unit leaks? Is your unit inside where it can flood? Do you have materials that can get wet if it does leak?

You can tell the age of your hot water unit, just look for an information panel like this at the top.

 

 

If you do need to replace your hot water system then consider the size of the unit you need. If your family has grown you may need a larger capacity system or if down-sized a smaller system may suffice.
Contact Fix Your Plumbing today for information and advice on all electric and gas hot water systems.

Toilet Leak

Check the toilet for leaks by removing the top off the tank and listening very closely. If you hear any hissing at all, try to locate where it is coming from. If you locate the area where the leak is coming from, assess it and determine if you can fix it. If you can't, then call a plumber.

• If nothing is noticeable, add some food colouring and put a couple of drops in the tank (not the bowl). Wait several minutes (don't flush) and if you have coloring in the bowl, you have a leak in the flapper at the bottom of the tank that is allowing water to seep through. At this point you can assess it if you want to do the repair yourself, or call a plumber.

• If you have more toilets, go ahead and repeat the process with each toilet to make sure you don't have more than one problem.

Even More Bathroom Design Happiness

There is a lot more to bathroom design than what it looks like. The right choice of products can actually help bring peace and harmony to your home. So if your bathroom feels like a battlefield in the morning, it may be time for change. Contact Fix Your Plumbing today.

Tip 5 - Avoid a chilly, damp morning

 Tip 6 - How to deal with bathroom clutter

More Bathroom Design Happiness

There is a lot more to bathroom design than what it looks like. The right choice of products can actually help bring peace and harmony to your home. So if your bathroom feels like a battlefield in the morning, it may be time for change. Contact Fix Your Plumbing today.

Tip 3 - How to deal with a non-hair-wash day

 

 Tip 4 - Don't be left out in the cold

Bathroom Design Happiness

There is a lot more to bathroom design than what it looks like. The right choice of products can actually help bring peace and harmony to your home. So if your bathroom feels like a battlefield in the morning, it may be time for change. Contact Fix Your Plumbing today.

 Tip  1 - Avoid the headbutt

 Tip 2 - How to make more with less

Burst Water Pipe? Now What?

Could you turn your mains water off right now? If the answer is no then it's worth finding out where your main tap is located on your property. The time spent looking for the main water tap in a plumbing emergency such as a burst pipe can be the difference between a minor water leak and a flood.
For houses - turn the water off at the mains by using the stop cock tap which may be located near the front hose tap, at the mains near the property boundary on the water meter or underground in an identified chamber.
For units - turn the water off at the mains inlet pipe to the unit by using the stop cock tap, which may be located near the front hose tap, near the roof at the front entrance, in an underground pit with a removable cover or elsewhere—indicated by a number somewhere on the building.
If the burst pipe is outside the property boundary (eg. on the footpath) contact Qld Urban Utilities or your local water service provider then call Fix Your Plumbing