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How Much Water Is a Leaking Tap Wasting?

While the sound of a dripping tap seems to echo through the house at night, there are more important reasons than it being annoying to have it repaired. Water is precious and saving water helps to preserve our environment. There are many small things we can all do to help save water in our homes, one of them being having leaking taps repaired.

Ever wondered just how much water a leaking tap is wasting? Read on to learn the amount of water a leaking tap can waste over periods of time including:

• A day
• A month
• A Year

A day

A leaking tap which leaks 10 drips of water a minute may not seem serious. Right? Wrong! 10 drips of water a minute adds up to 600 drips an hour and 14,400 drips a day. That is the equivalent to about 3 litres of water.

A month

A dripping tap leaking 10 drops of water each minute, adds up to 90 litres or more over a month. How much water is 90 litres? To put it into perspective a running tap can use 10 litres of water per minute. Imagine turning on your shower or a tap and leaving it running for no reason for 9 whole minutes! The result, a big waste of water and a spike in your water usage.

A Year

The longer a leaking tap is left, the worse the leak can become. The worse the leak, the more times a tap drips each minute and the more precious water wasted. In some cases, a dripping tap that is left for a year can lose up to 20,000 litres of water. That is enough to fill a small pool.

Do you have leaking taps? Call Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas

Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas are your local experts when it comes to plumbing maintenance and repairs. They have the expertise, tools and equipment required to assess and repair your leaking taps and plumbing problems.

Call the team today on 9791 1608 (Bunbury) or 9759 1317 (Dunsborough) for trustworthy advice on all your plumbing needs and a FREE quote.

When Should I Call a Plumber?

Many homeowners trust their ability to “do it yourself” to fix a plumbing problem around their home. While some issues are straight forward to take care of, at the first sign of a plumbing problem, a trusted and reliable plumber is the first call you should make. The sooner an issue is assessed and repaired, the less chance of extensive and costly damage occurring.

Here are a few instances when you know it’s time to call a plumber:

• No Hot Water
• A Burst Water or Sewerage Pipe
• An Overflowing Toilet
• Visible Water Pooling in Your Garden

No Hot Water

Hot water is a luxury we take for granted so when it disappears, it can cause great despair to homeowners and their families. If you turn on your hot water taps and hot water is no longer freely flowing, it’s time to call in the professionals. A lack of hot water can be caused by many issues including a blockage, leak or damage to the heating element in your hot water system.

A Burst Water or Sewerage Pipe

When a water pipe is broken, water begins to leak into places where significant damage can occur. A burst pipe has the potential to flood your home so no matter the time of day, call a plumber for emergency help.

The bad smell produced by a burst sewerage pipe can enter your home causing discomfort to you and your family. If the burst pipe is close to your home, it has the potential to make it unbearable to even be indoors.

An Overflowing Toilet

A blocked toilet can begin to overflow resulting in an undesirable scenario. Not only will your house smell unpleasant, but waste may even overflow onto the floor. Yuck! To avoid this nasty scenario, call in a plumber at the first sign of a blocked toilet. This way you can clear the blockage and prevent the toilet from overflowing in the first place.  

Visible Water Pooling in Your Garden

If you notice water pooling in an area of your garden and not sure why then it’s time to call a plumber. The cause of this issue can include cracked or damaged pipes, a reticulation issue or a sewerage problem.

When water is visible, it can mean extensive damage has already occurred.

Do you need a plumber? Call Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas

Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas are your local experts when it comes to plumbing maintenance and emergencies. They have the expertise, tools and equipment required to assess and repair your plumbing problems.

Call the team today in Bunbury on 9791 1608 or Dunsborough/Busselton on 9759 1317 for trustworthy advice on all your plumbing needs and a FREE quote to have your plumbing issue repaired.

Can Hair Block My Bathroom Drains?

There are numerous culprits when it comes to the cause of blocked bathroom drains, however did you know one of the most common causes is hair? Whether it be human hair or pet hair, short hair or long hair, all types of hair can contribute to a bathroom’s drains becoming blocked. 

Read on to learn more about why hair and bathroom drains are not a good combination including:

• Why Hair Blocks Drains
• Stopping Hair from Blocking Drains
• Clearing Hair from a Blocked Drain

Why Hair Blocks Drains

When washed down the drain, oils from our body, soaps and shampoos become trapped in drainpipes, eventually causing drains to block.  When you add strands of hair being washed down drains on top of this, the severity of the blockage increases. Why? Oils washed down the drain are sticky and as such, when hair is then washed down it sticks to the oils forming a solid deposit and another surface for oils to become stuck. Like a snowball effect, as oils and hair continue to be washed down drains, deposits continue to build eventually creating a large blockage.

Stopping Hair from Blocking Drains

When it comes to blocked drains, trying to prevent a blockage is always best. While it’s near impossible to prevent hair being washed down drains, there are simple and cost-effective solutions to minimise the risk. Strainers in bathroom sinks and baths are recommended. These easily fit into your plug hole and can be removed, cleared and replaced in a matter of minutes. After washing your hair, a quick wipe of the shower will remove any strands of hair, preventing them being washed down the drain. If styling your hair near a bathroom basin, a good habit to get into is to wipe out the basin daily too.

Clearing Hair from a Blocked Drain

While there are some home remedies that may help to clear hair from a drain, it is a task best left to the professionals at Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas. The Mainline team have the expertise and experience to ensure a blocked drain is fully cleared. Special detection equipment allows them to identify where in the pipe the blockage is plus the Mainline Plumbing team have the correct equipment that can manoeuvre deep down into pipes and hard to reach places. 

Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas are your local professionals for blocked drains

The Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas team offer fast, effective and honest workmanship and are known as the trusted name in the plumbing industry. For all your blocked drain, plumbing, gas and hot water needs call their team in Bunbury on 9791 1608 or Dunsborough on 9759 1317 today.

What Plumbing is Needed in an Outdoor Kitchen?

An outdoor kitchen is a place outside of the house where you can prepare food and cook a meal. It is the ideal way to enhance your lifestyle as it allows you prepare and cook food while entertaining or enjoying the outdoors. An outdoor kitchen really serves the same purpose and functions as an indoor kitchen, therefore has the same plumbing needs.

Many appliances and fixtures in an outdoor kitchen need to be connected to a water supply, sewer drains and gas line. Plumbing must also comply with applicable sanitary, safety and plumbing codes in your area. The Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas team of professional plumbers can provide expert advice and handle the plumbing requirements of your outdoor kitchen including:

• Sinks and Tapware
• Ovens and Stoves
• Dishwasher

Sinks and Tapware

When installing an outdoor kitchen, a sink is a must. In terms of plumbing, decisions must be made including do you need hot water and where will the sink drain to? Depending on where it is placed, an outdoor sink may be able to be connected to an existing water line or a new water line may be needed. It is also imperative to consider correct waste disposal of what gets washed down the sink too.

Ovens and Stoves

When it comes to gas appliances, inside or outside the home, experienced and qualified gas plumbers are the only people who should be installing these. There are many strict rules and regulations that must be adhered to. In most cases, if gas appliances aren’t installed by a professional it voids their manufactures warranty. 

Dishwasher

When installing a dishwasher in your outdoor kitchen, correct drainage is crucial. Failing to provide the proper drain connections can result in incorrect drainage, which can damage your dishwasher. It is also important when pipes are newly installed, they are flushed so any debris is washed away. If not, debris can block the filter in your dishwasher and cut off the water supply.

Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas are your local professionals for your outdoor kitchen plumbing needs

The Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas team of professional plumbers and qualified gas fitters have the correct tools, equipment and experience with all aspects of outdoor kitchen plumbing. They take pride in their work to ensure all plumbing is installed correctly.  The team offer fast, effective and honest workmanship and are known as the trusted name in the plumbing industry.

Call the team in Bunbury on 9791 1608 or Dunsborough on 9759 1317 today.

How to Prepare Your Plumbing for Guests Arriving

Can you believe Christmas is less than 8 weeks away? Christmas is a popular holiday time and living in the South West, family and friends love to come and stay to enjoy the beautiful offerings of our region. As lovely as it is having house guests, have you considered the extra demands on your plumbing? Avoid a potential plumbing disaster and a stress-free festive season by ensuring your plumbing is in good working order.

Read on to learn how to prepare your homes plumbing before guests arrive including:

• Fix Dripping Taps
• Ensure Toilets are Working Correctly
• Have your Hot Water System Maintained
• Unblock Drains and Use Plug Hole Strainers

Fix Dripping Taps

When guests come to stay, the extra showers, dishes, laundry and hand washing can increase the cost of your water bill. Add in dripping taps and your water usage can skyrocket, causing a costly surprise when the water bill arrives. Have dripping taps repaired, save water and save money.

Ensure Toilets are Working Correctly

A blocked toilet in a home full of people can be a recipe for disaster. Avoid the stress and worry and ensure everyone’s comfort by ensuring all toilets are working correctly before guests arrive. A toilet that is blocked, leaking or making unusual noises is a toilet in need of a professional inspection and repairs.

Have your Hot Water System Maintained

To ensure it’s functioning correctly, ensure your hot water system is maintained regularly. The weather may be getting warmer, but even so, no-one wants a cold shower. Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas can do a formal inspection plus adjust the temperature of your hot water system to ensure there is plenty of hot water to meet the extra demands.

Unblock Drains and Use Plug Hole Strainers

Kitchens and bathrooms are two places in the home heavily relied upon when guests come to stay. A small drain blockage can quickly escalate therefore, ensure water is freely flowing down your kitchen sink and bathrooms basin and shower.

A great way to help prevent blocked drains is by using plug hole strainers. They act like a waste basket to stop any crumbs and food scraps washing down kitchen drains and hair and grooming products washing down the bathroom basin.  

Call the trusted name in the plumbing industry – Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas

Avoid a potential plumbing disaster and a stress-free festive season by ensuring your plumbing is in good working order. The Mainline team offer fast, effective and honest workmanship no matter what your plumbing needs plus offer an emergency call out service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Call us in Bunbury on 9791 1608 or Busselton/Dunsborough on 9759 1317 today.

Help! My Water Pipes are Noisy. Who Can Help in Bunbury?

Are you greeted with a squeak, squawk or squeal when turning on taps in your home? Unusual noises coming from water pipes can not only be noisy, but cause panic for homeowners and tenants. While there are many causes of noisy water pipes, if not inspected and repaired, they can become a costly and large problem or worse still stop water freely flowing all together.

Read on to learn 3 common plumbing issues that can cause noisy water pipes in your home: 

• A Blockage
• Loose Piping
• Broken or Worn Washers

A Blockage

If a gurgling sound can be heard when turning on taps it can indicate a blockage. Foreign objects such as hair and food scraps can unintentionally make their way down drains, build up and eventually cause drains to block. It is important to be vigilant and prevent any foreign objects washing down drains. A few tips include having plugs for kitchen sinks with strainers attached to collect any crumbs and food particles. After washing your hair, collect any fallen strands of hair in the shower straight away to prevent them going down the drain.  

Loose Piping

Beneath the walls, ceilings and floors of a home are metres and metres of unseen piping. This piping can become unsecure over time causing it to make a rattling noise as water flows through. The team of professional plumbers at Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas have the knowledge and experience to locate and access these hidden pipes to perform an inspection and repairs.

Broken or Worn Washers

A common complaint from homeowners or tenants is a squealing or whistling noise coming from pipes around household appliances, such as a dish washer or washing machine. The common culprit of these noises can be broken or worn washers. Washers and hoses should be inspected for damage or leaks regularly and replaced every three to five years. Another sign your washers need replacing is although a tap is turned off, it continues to drip.

Call Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water for all your plumbing needs.

Do you have noisy pipes in your home? Servicing Bunbury, Busselton, Dunsborough and the South West, Mainline Plumbing Cheap Hot Water and Gas are your local experts for all your plumbing needs.

Call the team in Bunbury on 9791 1608 or Busselton/Dunsborough on 9759 1317 today for friendly, reliable and trusted service.

The Toilet Is Blocked In The Home I Rent – What Do I Do?

A trip to the bathroom to discover an unpleasant smell and a toilet overflowing with water or even worse sewage is a scenario no-one wishes to face. A blocked toilet is one of the most common household plumbing issues. While there are many factors that contribute to a blocked toilet, some of the most common causes are excess toilet paper, feminine hygiene products and wet wipes.

A blocked toilet is a problem that needs to be inspected and repaired.  If you’re a tenant in a rental property, there can be confusion as to what action you must take. Read on to learn:

• Who’s Responsible for Repairs
• Who to Contact
• Time Frames

Who’s Responsible for Repairs

In relation to plumbing, prior to you moving in, the landlord is responsible for ensuring all plumbing is in good working order. If a plumbing issue arises, tenancy law states landlords are responsible for repairs throughout a lease. However, if the blocked toilet is a result of damage or negligence caused by the tenant, then they are responsible for the cost of repairs.

Who to Contact

At the first sign of a blocked toilet, the property manager or landlord should be informed. If the house you rent is managed by a property manager, contact them straight away. Most property managers have both an office number and an out of hour’s phone number for emergencies. The property manager will then liaise with the owner regarding repairs. If renting a home privately, you will need to call the landlord direct. If a tenant reports an issue and repairs are not carried out, the tenant may be able to ask for compensation.

Time Frames

When determining a reasonable time to have a reported blocked toilet repaired, the severity of the blockage and extent of work needed is considered. In the case of an emergency, the repair will be made a high priority and seen to urgently while for a minor blockage the time frame will be longer. 

Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water are your local toilet specialists

With over 35 years’ experience, Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas are your trusted and reliable professionals, servicing the Bunbury, Busselton, Dunsborough and surrounding areas.

Mainline have the correct tools and equipment to clear and repair blocked toilets. Contact the team today in Bunbury on Bunbury on 9791 1608 and Busselton and Dunsborough on 9759 1317.

*Information in the article is of general nature, please refer to your rental agreement for specific details.