How to Maintain a Safe Gas Heater?

Winter has settled in through Bunbury and the South West with brisk mornings, cool days and chilly nights making us all trying to keep cosy and warm. There is no denying heating is a luxury many can’t do without during a South West winter. If your homes heating source is a gas heater it is imperative to ensure your families health and safety by following the recommended precautions.

While there are many ways to maintain and ensure your gas heater is safe read on to learn 5 tips including:

Have your gas heater serviced regularly by a licenced gas professional

Don’t ignore the smell of gas

Avoid hazards

Ensure adequate ventilation

Don’t use outdoor heaters indoors

Have your gas heater serviced regularly by a licenced gas professional

To ensure your gas heater is working safely, effectively and efficiently it should be only serviced by a licenced gas professional. Hazards and faults that may not be able to be identified and repaired by someone other than a trained professional can be dangerous and lead to bigger problems if left and not repaired.

Don’t ignore the smell of gas

As natural gas is odourless, a distinctive odour is added to warn of a gas leak. If you suspect you may have a gas leak or can smell gas, act straight away. Turn the heater off and call a licenced gas professional immediately.

Avoid hazards

Make sure your heater is placed in a suitable position in the room. Avoid placing a heater close to furniture or in a place it can be knocked over by children or pets. As tempting as it may be to hang clothes over your heater to dry or warm them, this is a serious hazard and should never be done.

Ensure adequate ventilation

Although the purpose of your heater is to keep a room warm, you should ensure there is adequate ventilation in the room you are heating. It may be nice to keep warmth in a small room, but the lack of air circulating can cause issues. Heaters have permanent ventilation openings and it is important to ensure these are also open and are not blocked.

Don’t use outdoor heaters indoors

Never use heaters designed for outdoor use inside your home. Doing so is extremely dangerous and extremely risky.

Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas can service your gas heater in Bunbury and the South West

Keep your house warm this winter with peace of mind your gas heater has been serviced. Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas are fully qualified licenced gas plumbers who are fully trained and experienced in servicing gas heaters. Known as the ‘trusted name in the plumbing industry’ the Mainline team are reliable and happy to answer any questions relating to any of your plumbing needs.

To book in your gas heater service or for any of your plumbing needs including hot water service and repairs call the team today on 9791 1608.

Some information are from Kleen Heat

How to Save Water in Your South West Home

A home with fully functioning plumbing is a luxury we often take for granted. While keeping your homes plumbing in good working order ensures your family isn’t inconvenienced by a plumbing problem, it is important to understand how it can also help to save water. Conserving water is crucial, we don’t have an endless supply. Doing your part to save water around your home helps protect and preserve our environment, save energy, minimise the effect of water shortages and build safe communities.

How can you save water in your South West home? Read on to learn 5 ways including:

Have Leaking Toilets Repaired
Reduce Shower Times
Fix Dripping Taps
Brush Your Teeth with the Tap Off
Be on the Lookout for Leaks around Appliances

Have Leaking Toilets Repaired

Fixing just 1 leaking toilet in your home can save around 9000 litres of water each year. How do you know your toilet is leaking? If your toilet continues to make noise for longer than a few minutes after being flushed, it likely there is water still running. Water pooling at the base of your toilet or on your toilet floor is also a sign of water leaking.

Reduce Shower Times

A long, hot shower on a cold winter’s morning, is the ideal way to start your day. While this is a luxury you can still enjoy, save water and save energy by reducing shower times to 4 minutes. This is something your whole household can do to all play their part to save water.

Fix Dripping Taps

A dripping tap may not appear to waste a large amount of water. Right? Wrong! A tap that drips just 10 times per minute adds up to 600 drips per hour and over 14,000 drips a day. This is equivalent to around 3 litres of water a day. The result, an unnecessary waste of water (and money!)

Brush Your Teeth with the Tap Off

Leaving the tap running while brushing your teeth is wasting water. Turn the tap off while brushing your teeth and turn back on to rinse your toothbrush and mouth after brushing. Remind yourself and others in your household to do this is by putting a small sign above your bathroom sink with a reminder to turn the tap off while brushing.

Be on the Lookout for Leaks around Appliances

Water leaking or pooling around appliances is a sure sign there is a water leak. Be on the lookout for leaks around appliances including dishwashers and washing machines. Move these away from the wall and check the floor behind for any signs of drips or leaks every few weeks.

Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas are the trusted name in the plumbing industry for all your plumbing needs in the South West

The team at Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas are the ‘trusted name in the plumbing industry’ and offer fast, effective and honest workmanship for all your plumbing needs. If your homes plumbing is wasting water, call our team today to have it inspected and repaired.

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

What Causes Water Pipes to Burst?

A burst water pipe is a common plumbing problem and an emergency plumbing issue that can’t wait to be repaired. If you find a burst water pipe at your property, it’s important to switch off the water at the mains and call in a professional plumber for help. When a water pipe bursts, the sooner you call a plumber the less water will be wasted and quite often the less extensive the repairs required too.

Many homeowners are left baffled when they have a water pipe burst as they were not even aware, they had a plumbing problem. What causes water pipes to burst? Read on to learn a few warning signs to look out for and common culprits including:

Unsecure Pipes
Water Pressure Problems
Corrosion Over Time

Unsecure Pipes

If you hear a loud clanging noise when turning taps on and off in your home, it normally means you have a plumbing problem. Water pipes lie within the wall cavities of your home and if these water pipes are not secure, they can begin to move around each time water is turned on and off. Over time, the movement of the pipes can weaken the joints, and what causes water pipes to burst.

Water Pressure Problems

To ensure water pipes function as they should, water pressure needs to be at a normal level. Too much water pressure can cause pipes and other plumbing fixtures to burst. A professional plumber can test the water pressure in pipes and if pressure is too high a pressure reducing valve can be fitted to adjust it back to the ideal level.

Corrosion Over Time

A combination of iron oxide and other mineral deposits can build-up over time causing the inside of water pipes to gradually narrow. As this continues to occur, water is no longer able to escape through resulting in the water pipe eventually bursting.

Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas are available 24/7 for plumbing emergencies

If you have a burst water pipe – call a plumber immediately.

Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas understand that plumbing emergencies can occur at any time of the day or night. For this reason, they provide a 24/7 emergency plumbing service to Bunbury, Busselton, Dunsborough and the South West.

If you think you may have a plumbing problem or would like your water pipes to be pressure tested, contact the team at Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas in Bunbury on 9791 1608 or Busselton/Dunsborough on 9759 1317 today.

Why Does My Toilet Keep Blocking?

A blocked toilet is one of the most common household plumbing issues. If your toilet keeps blocking and you are at a loss as to why, it can be surprising to learn the cause. A blocked toilet is a problem that needs to be inspected and repaired. If your toilet keeps blocking, it’s time to call the team from Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas.

The Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas team can help find the cause of your blocked toilet. Common causes include:

Age
Foreign Objects
Sewerage Issues

Age

If your toilet continues to block and you have ruled out all the other possible reasons why, it may be time to replace it with a more up to date model. Many older toilets are first generation low flow toilets and don’t have enough pressure when flushed to effectively clear their drain and trap. As a result, despite doing everything right they still regularly become blocked.

Foreign Objects

Toilets are designed to only flush toilet paper. Why? Toilet paper is made to dissolve quickly in water. Any other object, even if it says it’s flushable, should not be flushed down toilets. Recurring blocked toilets in a home can simply be as foreign objects unknowingly continue to be flushed. Items such as tissues, paper towel, cotton tips, flushable wipes, food scraps, cooking oils and chemicals should not be flushed down a toilet. It is important to ensure all your family understands this too. Children are fascinated with flushing items down the toilet. If you have an inquisitive child in your home, keeping the toilet lid shut and toilet door shut is a good idea.

Sewerage Issues

If several toilets in your home or workplace continue to block or you have blocked drains plus a blocked toilet, a sewerage issue may be the culprit. Main sewer lines can become blocked due to a build up of waste, foreign objects or even tree roots in the main drain and sewer lines.

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. If you want to get to resolve your blocked toilet issues, they are ‘the trusted name in the plumbing industry’.

Contact the team today in Bunbury on Bunbury on 9791 1608 or Busselton/Dunsborough on 9759 1317.

My Water Pressure is Low – What Do I Do?

Water is a precious resource many take for granted and it’s often only when there is an issue we realise how dependable on it we actually are. Low water pressure is an issue most homeowners face at some stage. Daily activities like showering and watering the garden become frustrating and time consuming, leaving homeowners frustrated until the issue’s resolved.

There are many culprits when it comes to the cause of low water pressure. No matter the reason, it’s an issue best left to the professionals at Mainline Plumbing Cheap Hot Water and Gas to investigate and repair.

3 of the most common causes of low water pressure include:

A Build Up In Pipes
Plumbing Leaks
Corrosion

A Build Up In Pipes

A fractured water main can cause sand and dirt to freely enter your homes piping causing water pressure issues. Even without a fracture, minerals naturally found in water, build up and leave deposits as water flows through pipes. It only takes a small amount of sediment to cause a blockage. Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas have the correct equipment and tools to manoeuvre deep down into pipes to investigate and clear blockages, allowing water to freely flow again.

Plumbing Leaks

A costly water bill and low water pressure are good indicators there is a plumbing leak somewhere in your home. Some leaks are easier to detect than others. A leaking toilet can often be identified as the sound of water running can still be heard after the toilet has been flushed, while an outdoor leak is often visible by water pooling in a certain area.

To test for a plumbing leak, shut off your water supply and record your water metre reading. Come back an hour later and see if the metre reading has changed. If the water usage has risen, there’s a good chance you have a plumbing leak and are in need of a plumber.

Corrosion

Plumbing piping is built to last with most homes getting more than 20 years out of their pipes. Despite this timeframe, corrosion still naturally occurs and begins to build up over time. Although each case is assessed individually, often replacing the pipes is the best solution.

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

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. The team are fully equipped to investigate and repair all aspects of plumbing plus hot water and gas. Contact the team today in Bunbury on 9791 1608 or Busselton and Dunsborough on 9759 1317.

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.

5 Tips to Have your Plumbing Summer Ready

Summer has arrived in the South West! As temperatures continue to rise, so does the demand on our water supply. Did you know? It’s estimated that during summer, a family’s water usage can increase by up to 50%. Therefore, it’s important to ensure your plumbing is in good working order. This will not only avoid you wasting precious water but avoid a nasty surprise when your water bill arrives.

There are other areas of your plumbing that must be summer ready too. Read on to learn 5 tips to have your plumbing summer ready courtesy of Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas including:

Check toilets
Fix dripping taps
Inspect washing machine hoses
Check for water pooling in the garden
Avoid food and oils being washed down drains

Check toilets

School and Christmas holidays puts extra demand on the toilet/s in your home. A scorching summers day mixed with flood and smells from a toilet are not a good combination. If you have noticed your toilet is making strange noises, leaking or not flushing correctly have it repaired now. It is also a good idea to set some ‘toilet rules’ too including what to flush and what not to flush.

Fix dripping taps

Did you know a dripping tap can waste over 20 litres of water per day? This not only wastes precious water and can be the culprit of a spike in your water bill, but a tap left dripping will get worse over time and can even begin to stain your sink.

Inspect washing machine hoses

Days at the beach and several clothes changes each day sees a spike in the amount of weekly washing over summer. Before this extra demand occurs, visually inspect the hoses of your washing machine ensuring there are no cracks, holes or slits. The lifespan of a rubber washing machine hose is approximately 3 years.

Check for water pooling in the garden

The roots of trees and large plants go searching for water during summer. These roots can be invasive and often make their way into water pipes underground. The result can be these pipes become blocked or broken. If left, the roots will continue to feed off the water in the pipes and continue to thrive and grow, causing a major plumbing problem. An indicator there may be cracks or breaks in your underground pipes is water pooling in areas of your garden for no reason.

Avoid food and oils being washed down sinks

While you should always be careful what gets washed down the sink, summer holidays see an increase in the amount of food being prepared and consumed in the home. Fats, oils, food scraps and sauces do not belong down drains. Over time, they build up and block pipes. Ensure all food scraps are cleaned off plates and put into the compost, before rinsing plates. A great idea is to have strainers on each kitchen sink to help minimise the risk.

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

The team at Mainline Plumbing Cheap Hot Water and Gas pride themselves on offering a friendly, reliable and professional service to Bunbury and the South West. If your plumbing needs attention before summer, call the team for expert advice on 9791 1608 in Bunbury on 9759 1317 in Dunsborough/Busselton.

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.

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