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Can Your Plumbing Cope With Christmas?

Santa's hands using a toilet plungerChristmas is a time for family get togethers and visitors, which is what the festive season is all about. It can also be a time of stress, especially for your home and its functions behind the walls. Extra inhabitants mean extra pressure on utilities, and in the summer months it is inevitably the plumbing and water supply that is hardest hit.

Whether it’s 2 or 12 guests coming to stay for a week or just the day, your toilets, showers and sinks take a hit as people use these for everyday living as well as when entertaining. Extra kitchen waste, extra toilet waste and major water usage are just some of the  factors to consider when Christmas is happening at your place.

Some easy ways to prep your plumbing for the festive season include:

  • Potential Blockages
  • Prepare Ahead In The Kitchen
  • Check Your Gas Bottles
  • Hot Water System Ready
  • Free Up All the Bathrooms

Potential Blockages

Blocked drainageGive your pipes a sniff now to avoid plumbing disasters when you least need them. If your pipes are a bit on the smelly side, or draining particularly slowly already, it’s best to call in a plumber now to clear the pipes before your guests bring increased usage with them.

Prepare Ahead In The Kitchen

Busy kitchens and extra bodies bring extra waste and some people’s disposal habits can result in your pipes being clogged with food waster. Oils, grease, gravies and small food items such as pips and skins can end up in your sink and eventually in the plumbing. Have paper towels handy and strainers over your sink holes to catch any extra debris.

Check Your Gas Bottles

Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas can assist you with connecting your BBQ to your home’s gas system to avoid running out of gas when entertaining or at the most inopportune times. It saves you money and product wastage, as well as the stress of remembering just another job on the list at Christmas time.

Hot Water System Ready

Hot water installedHow’s the flow in your bathrooms? Can your hot water system keep up with several extra bodies using hot water not only for showers but for washing dishes and running the washing machine as well? Set up a roster system with your guests to stagger out the showers either morning or night and run your dishwasher when everyone is in bed to relieve the pressure on your hot water system. If you think your system might be a bit on the older side and will struggle with increased workload, call Mainline to have it looked at today.

Free Up All The Bathrooms

Do you have 2 or more bathrooms and toilets that are hardly used? Or even don’t currently work? Turn on these toilets for extra guests and make sure all your bathrooms are available to be utilised by your guests. Plumbing doesn’t love being overloaded in one area. Also, make sure a bin is available for toilet rolls and other non-flushable items such as sanitary pads, baby wipes and paper towels to avoid them being flushed down the loo and blocking the pipes.

Can Your Plumbing Cope With Christmas?

Have your plumbing pipes and gas lines checked now before the rush by Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas to get your home ready for the festive season. For friendly, reliable service by local, licensed tradesmen, call 9791 1608 (Bunbury) or 9759 1317 (Dunsborough) 24 hrs, 7 days a week.

Household Tips to Prevent Blocked Drains

Blocked drainage

With us all protecting ours and the community’s health by staying safe and staying home (except for essentials) it’s important to ensure everyone in your household knows the do’s and don’ts when it comes to preventing blocked drains. Whether your house is home to one or multiple adults and children or just multiple adults, the extra demand on the plumbing can cause unexpected issues to arise. 

People are often surprised to learn common culprits when it comes to blocked drains. Help to minimise the risk of the drains in your house blocking by following these tips including:

  • Use your FOGO bin for food scraps
  • Clean cooking fats and oils off cookware before rinsing
  • Clear hair from bathroom drains 

Use your FOGO bin for food scraps

A few scraps of food left on a plate and rinsed down the kitchen sink is OK, right? Wrong! Whether you wash your dishes by hand or in a dishwasher, it’s important to ensure all food scraps are removed before dishes are washed or rinsed. Put your green Food Organics, Garden Organics (FOGO) bin to its correct use by scraping any food scraps, allowed in your FOGO bin, into a biodegradable bag and placing the bag in the FOGO bin. Kitchen scraps that can go into your FOGO bin include fruit and vegetable scraps, meat and bones, tea bags and coffee grinds, eggshells, dairy products, seafood, take away food and baked goods.

Clean cooking fats and oils off cookware before rinsing

cooking oil

Spending more time at home may result in spending more time in the kitchen. It’s important to remember when fat cools, it solidifies. When washed down drains it will not only cause drains to block but can be harmful to our waste waster system. Before rinsing or washing cookware such as baking trays or frypans or bakeware such a cake tins, ensure cooking fats and oils are cleaned off thoroughly.  

Clear hair from bathroom drains 

Did you know we lose on average between fifty to one hundred strands of hair each day? Our bathroom basins and showers are a common place for fallen hair to accumulate. If this hair isn’t cleared from drains, it eventually makes its way down the drain causing a blockage. A daily check and removal of any loose strands of hair sitting in basins or the bottom of the shower will help to prevent the likelihood of this happening.  

Call Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas for all your blocked drain and plumbing, gas and hot water needs.

Do you have blocked drains in your home? Mainline Plumbing Cheap Hot Water and Gas are your local experts for all your plumbing, gas and hot water needs.

Known as the ‘trusted name in the plumbing industry’ call their team for friendly, reliable and trusted service today on 9791 1608 in Bunbury or 9759 1317 in Busselton/Dunsborough.

Where Can I Find a Plumber in Bunbury?

Worst root infestation

Plumbers provide a service to homes, properties and businesses on a regular basis. At the first sign of a plumbing issue, a trusted name in the industry should be your first call. Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas are known as the “trusted name in the plumbing industry” and pride themselves on being the first point of call in the South West.

They have been servicing the greater Bunbury area for more than 40 years and offer fast, effective and honest workmanship. Whatever your plumbing needs, their team of fully trained professionals are only a call away and offer a 24/7 emergency service too.

Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas pride themselves on offering an outstanding customer experience, here are few reasons why:

  • Customer Focus
  • Professional Trades and Quality Workmanship
  • Fast and Efficient Service

Customer Focus

Servicing the needs of clients is of high priority. The Mainline team are available to answer any plumbing questions and offer expert recommendations suited to their customer’s individual needs. They understand the importance of keeping customers informed each step of the job being completed plus offer an after sales service too. Their customer focus provides safe and friendly service that give customers peace of mind and sees them return time and time again plus refer to family and friends.

Professional Trades and Quality Workmanship

Goldline gas cooktop installed

Having your plumbing, hot water or gas repaired by a professional is a necessity if wanting to make an insurance claim. Providing local employment opportunities, Mainline employs skilled tradesman and provides ongoing support and training to stay up to date with industry standards. The team of plumbing and gas fitters travel in vehicles that are fully equipped to handle any situation, so whether you require help with plumbing, hot water or gas, they can be relied upon to be fully equipped.

Fast and Efficient Service

Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas understand plumbing issues can affect business and daily life. When a plumbing issue occurs, time can impact the extent of damage. Therefore, the team of tradesmen ensure they provide a fast and efficient service. If your plumbing issue requires immediate attention, a same day service is available or in a plumbing emergency, a 24/7 service is available.

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

The Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas point of difference is the no call out fee or after hour’s penalty rates in the greater Bunbury area. When next in need of a plumber, call Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas “the trusted name in the plumbing industry” in Bunbury on 9791 1608 or Busselton/Dunsborough on 9759 1317.

Money Saving Plumbing Tips

Tap Problems Call Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water & GasWhen it comes to household appliances and fixtures, you may feel like there is little you can do to control the energy expenditure and subsequent cost. Plumbing pipes and drains flow freely throughout your walls and underfoot and can be forgotten until a problem arises. However there are ways to save money on your water and plumbing costs.

Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas are your local specialists when it comes to plumbing. Servicing the South West for over 35 years, Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas can assist you with all of your plumbing queries and issues that may arise and are focused on providing a superior service to all of our customers.

Some areas you can save money in your home include:

  • Water Bill
  • Plumbing Maintenance
  • Just Use Less!

Water Bill

Water conservation is essential, especially as our summers seem to get hotter and water stores are rapidly declining. Save natural resources as well as consumption costs by:

  • Checking taps, hoses, shower heads and water outlets for leaks
  • Make sure your toilet isn’t running constantly. A great way to check for the smallest leak is to press a small amount of toilet paper to the back of the bowl – if it gets wet, you’re wasting money.
  • Gradually change shower heads to lower pressure, water-wise models.

Plumbing Maintenance

PlumbingPlumbing problems and emergencies can be expensive to repair so getting on top of small issues can save you big money in the long run. Checking pipes for possible blockages and cracks, walls for the start of water damage and your mains valve for any damage or excessive usage can ensure you spot any potential problems and arrange a professional to fix now, before they become bigger, and more expensive and inconvenient!

Just Use Less

  • Are your kids taking super-long showers?
  • Do you excessively use your washing machine or dishwasher?
  • Do you all use a full toilet flush every time?
  • Is your garden retic working adequately, in the early morning and has no leaks?

Excessive use of plumbing fixtures can increase wear and tear, as well as wasting water in the process. Introduce timed showers, wash small amounts of dishes by hand and encourage water-wise behaviours amongst the younger members of your family to ensure water conservation for years.

Who Can Help Me With Money Saving Plumbing Tips?

Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas place our customer needs as our top priority. To ensure you don’t suffer the inconvenience and cost of faulty plumbing and water emergencies, Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas are only too happy to assist with preventative maintenance and assistance throughout the South West. Call Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas today on 9791 1608 (Bunbury) or 9759 1317 (Dunsborough) for all of your plumbing enquiries.

Why Does My Toilet Keep Blocking?

Toilet Problems

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

Sewerage

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?

Shower

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

Burst Pipe

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?

Leaky Faucet

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

Dripping Tap

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?

Blocked drains

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

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?

New bathroom tapware

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.

Blocked drainage

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

Kitchen sink

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

Is your plumbing summer ready?

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.

Free Quotes

Call Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas on 08 9791 1608 for a free quote
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