Plumbing Tips

Money Saving Plumbing Tips

Tap Problems Call Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water & Gas When 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

Plumbing 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.

Hot water problems, where do I go in Bunbury?

Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water & Gas of course, your trusted plumbers in Bunbury.
Check out some of our recent hot water work.

Hot Water Conversion

Jake has just completed this hot water conversion for some local clients. There are times when you want some hot water shower, right? It’s very relaxing! Instead of just imagining a soothing hot water shower, why not install a hot water converter? Let Mainline Plumbing do it for you!

Interested in converting your existing storage hot water unit to a new 6 star continuous flow instantaneous? Contact Mainline Plumbing for all your plumbing needs – including hot water converter installation. Call us today on 99791 1608 (Bunbury) or 9759 1317 (Dunsborough) to find out more!

Hot water unit

Continuous Flow Hot Water Unit

Now this one was a little bit different! Conversion from a 170 litre internal gas storage hot water unit to a new Rinnai B26 external continuous flow hot water unit. You see, we can deal with your issue – whether its installing a new hot water unit or upgrading your existing water unit. We want to make you comfortable and want only the best for you!

We are the hot water specialist for the greater Bunbury area. Mainline Plumbing offers a number of plumbing services – call us today on 9791 1608 (Bunbury) or 9759 1317 (Dunsborough) to find out more!!

Rinnai B26 external

Electric Storage Hot Water Unit

Great view today for Wes replacing an electric storage hot water unit. What a good day to be working today! Mainline Plumbing is happy to help you out with your plumbing needs. Remember, be it gas or electric, instantaneous or storage, we can do it all for you!

Mainline Plumbing & Cheap Hot Water & Gas have all your hot water needs covered. Call us on 9791 1608 (Bunbury) or 9759 1317 (Dunsborough) to discuss your needs with us – and we can arrange a free inhouse inspection to check around the damage and possible repair or new installation.

Replacing an electric storage hot water unit

Hot Water for Everyone

Commercial? Domestic? Industrial? Whatever your needs are, we can address it for you – we are the hot water specialist servicing in Bunbury and the surrounding areas. We know the importance of hot water options today, so we want you to know that Mainline Plumbing can help you.

Call Mainline Plumbing & Cheap Hot Water & Gas now on 9791 1608 (Bunbury) or 9759 1317 (Dunsborough) to discuss your hot water options today!

Stop Flushing Money Away – What Not To Flush Down Your Toilet

Toilet A plumbing disaster can cost you thousands of dollars and nobody wants to spend their money on a bathroom flooding or a pipe bursting because someone flushed the wrong thing down the toilet. Plumbers are called out to thousands of emergency jobs per year to repair plumbing damage due to large blockages and faults, resulting in costly bills to the homeowner. Knowing what not to flush down the loo can keep your pipes clear and working efficiently, resulting in less chance of a blocked drain or worse.

Whilst many of these items may come as common sense to most, some are wrongly considered entirely safe to flush down the toilet and into the wastewater system. They include:

Pets
Wet Wipes
Cooking Oils and Fats
Cigarette Butts
Sanitary Items and Dental Floss

Pets

Whilst it may seem like common sense not to attempt to flush your family pet down the toilet, a staggering amount of people still flush pet fish and mice down the toilet when they ‘pass on’. That’s a very nasty site for your plumber when they fish around in your pipes to find a dead/decaying body as the source of the blockage. Just like humans and bigger pets, deceased small pets need to be buried or disposed of responsibly – not flushed away.

Wet Wipes

Despite the packaging on so many of these products claiming them to be flushable, wet wipes and many moist toilet paper wipes are not biodegradable. The thicker, stronger fibres of these products mean they do not break down nearly as fast as normal toilet paper and contribute to blockages in both residential pipes and the wastewater sewage system.

Cooking Oils and Fats

Drains are drains, no matter where they run from. You don’t pour cooking oils and fats down the kitchen sink drain, so don’t tip them down the toilet. These mixtures act as the very best agents for small particles to stick too inside your pipes and create slimy walls along the way, not to mention pollute the water supply as it washes into the sewage system.

Cigarette Butts

cigarette butt They may seem small enough, but ciggie butts are worse flushed than they are butted out and tossed in the bin. Butts just do not break down (have you not seen those stubborn butts still sitting on street verges after being rained on all winter?) and lead to big problems with blockages and pollution.

Sanitary Items and Dental Floss

Pads and tampons are made from cotton but tend to swell when exposed to large amounts of water. A large swollen clump of tight cotton is a recipe for disaster when flushed down a sewerage pipe. Condoms do not break down for years and dental floss gets wrapped around everything inside the pipes and creates a framework for blockages. Popping these items in a plastic bag and disposing of them in the bin is not only environmentally friendly, it’ll ensure your chances of a blocked or damaged pipe is significantly reduced.

Who Can Help Me with A Blocked Drain Or Toilet?

The team at Mainline Plumbing and Cheap Hot Water and Gas have seen it all when it comes to blockages and damages in pipes, both residential and commercial. For more advice on plumbing precautions, or to book a quote for some plumbing maintenance, call 9791 1608 (Bunbury) or 9759 1317 (Dunsborough) today.

Grow native plants and save water

Save water, tips on saving water in your garden.

Do you love gardening? A lot of us love to grow plants and feel at ease when they are inside their garden. Most people find gardening a great stress reliever. It’s a way to relax and enjoy the great outdoors at the same time. When growing plants, it require a lot of TLC – you talk to your plants, let them enjoy enough sunshine and most of all, sufficient water. When it comes to watering your plants, what are your tricks to save more water? Well, you can use save

A lot of us love to grow plants and feel at ease when they are in their garden. Most people find gardening a great stress reliever. It’s a way to relax and enjoy the great outdoors at the same time. When growing plants, it require a lot of TLC – you talk to your plants, let them enjoy enough sunshine and most of all, sufficient water. When it comes to watering your plants, what are your tricks to save more water? Well, you can use save

When it comes to watering your plants, what are your tricks to save more water? Well, you can use save rainwater and use it on plants but did you know that growing native plants will save you water?

Planting native plants can save you water because they are naturally adjusted to the local climate which means they require less water to survive. They can survive with the area’s typical weather pattern.

How to know if your plant is native?

The definition of a native plant varies. A plant that has been in Australia for 200 years is considered native but some others would still consider these plant invasive. A good way to check if a plant is native to if it grows naturally in your area. You can ask the staff at your local nursery, they will be able to advise natives that grow well in your conditions. They can give you an idea which plants will grow best in your area and the plants watering needs.

What type of plants do you have in your garden?

Are they high maintenance plants or have you planted a native garden? Not only do native plants look fabulous but they are low fuss too! Be waterwise and plant a native garden at your place.

Waterwise tips and plumbing needs.

For all your plumbing needs and other water saving tips contact Mainline Plumbing & Cheap Hot Water & Gas.
Call the friendly team today on 9791 1608 (Bunbury) or 9759 1317 (Dunsborough).

Save water, capture it in a large bowl or the sink

We always wanted our surrounding to be clean, especially the food that we eat. One way to ensure that your fruits and veggies are clean is to wash them water first before eating or cooking. Water has the ability to clean our food and retain its nutrients for us to consume.

Wash fruits

Reasons to wash your veggies

Dirt on fruit and veggies often contain natural fertiliser like manure. Can you imagine putting such thing to your mouth? Fruits and veggies can also be contaminated by animals and poor hygiene among the workers who handles the produce.
Microorganisms like yeast, mould and bacteria can make your fresh produce spoil in a short period of time. When eaten, it can give you a nasty stomach ache.
Human pathogens like E.Coli and salmonella could live in an unwashed fruit too.

For your health, it is best to wash your fruits and veggies first. When washing your fruits and veggies, how do you do it? Do you wash it under running water? If yes, then you might have cleaned your fruits and veggies but you are wasting a lot of water! Once you turn that tap on – you don’t realise how much water you’re actually wasting. Why not get your fruits and veggies clean and still save ample amount of water? That way, you can have clean food to eat while not feeling guilty of wasting too much water.

Save water, capture it in a large bowl or the sink

How? Get a large bowl or fill your sink with water. By capturing it in a large bowl or the sink, you can wash your fruits and veggies properly. After it is cleaned, you can then use the water to your indoor plants. See, you get clean food and managed to water your plants with the same water. No water is lost!

Do you need plumbing services?

No matter what your plumbing need may be, call Mainline Plumbing & Cheap Hot Water & Gas on 9791 1608 (Bunbury) or 9759 1317 (Dunsborough). We are ‘the trusted name in the plumbing industry so call us today and let’s talk.

Mainline Plumbing is open 24/7, to fix your Sewerage Pipe

Is your sewerage pipe broken? Your pipes busted and cracked. It’s the weekend, who you gonna call?

Mainline Plumbing & Cheap Hot Water & Gas of course.
A little damage on your plumbing system can cause more than just a costly repair – it could lead to extensive and pricey property damage. Sewerage pipe damage can also lead to health issues and need to be addressed straight away by a licenced plumber. A small leak can become a large problem in a very short time space of time so call Mainline Plumbing & Cheap Hot Water & Gas now and we will have any leak sewerage or other pipes sorted for you straight away.

Common Causes of Sewerage Pipe Damage

Tree roots
Vehicle traffic
Site works

Mainline Plumbing – Sewerage Pipe Specialists

At Mainline Plumbing & Cheap Hot Water & Gas we are fully equipped with a team of licenced plumbers and qualified gas fitters. We also have specialist tools that can clear trees roots, unclog drains, get round tight corners and more. sorting all your sewerage and piping problems out for you.

If you might have a broken sewerage pipe, a bad smell or any other plumbing problem?

Don’t wait a moment longer – contact Mainline Plumbing & Cheap Hot Water & Gas. We can attend to all your plumbing problems and dramas any time of the day! Yes- we are available 24/7 to take your call.

Sewerage Pipe Problems – Mainline Plumbing is open 24/7, 365 days a year!

Sewerage Pipe trouble or any other plumbing problem? When you are looking for a company that will answer the phone on the weekends, contact Mainline Plumbing & Cheap Hot Water & Gas today.

For ‘the trusted name in the plumbing industry’ call 9791 1608 (Bunbury) or 9759 1317 (Dunsborough).

What to do if I have a blocked drain?

Blocked drains driving you mad?
A damaged or collapsed drain won’t work properly; it runs the risk of leakage water or sewage into your home. Did you know that there could be a simple solution to your problems? There are many reasons behind the damage and the blockage – one that our experts can deal with. Here at Mainline Plumbing & Cheap Hot Water & Gas, whether it is blocked toilets or drains, our plumbers can fix it!

Mainline Plumbing in action

We all know that it doesn’t take much to end up with a blocked drain, especially in the bathroom. With a combo of hair and toothpaste – it’s never going to be a happy ending. However, it always seems to happen when you’re planning that big party or having visitors staying over.

Is your drain showing any of these signs?

Water is draining very slowly
The water is beginning to back up out of the sink drain
The water in the toilet bubbles when you run the tap
Gurgling noises are coming from the drains
There’s a smell of decaying food wafting from the kitchen sink
There are pools of water forming near a sink or the bath

At the first signs of a slowing drain, be sure to call Mainline Plumbing & Cheap Hot Water & Gas. Don’t wait until it’s a major block! We’ll be there in no time.

Sometimes you can clear the drain yourself. Turn the tap on and partially fill the sink with water. Using a plunger, work it up and down several times, remove and repeat a few more times. If it’s a double sink that you’re working on – one of the drains will need to be plugged off.

All too hard? Call our plumbing professionals at Mainline Plumbing & Cheap Hot Water & Gas. Day or night – we will be waiting for your call.

Things to avoid putting down your sink

Grease! It only hardens up and then sticks inside your drain. Empty your leftover grease and fat into a container and dispose of, ensuring none of it goes down your sink.
Coffee is another one. The coffee grounds can stick together and become backed up in your drain and can cause serious issues.
Egg shells. They create a granular waste that connects to other forms of waste, making it difficult for the piping in the drain.
Anything absorbent. Such items as segments of paper towels to cotton balls will absorb everything and will only add weight to the system.

Fortunately, many of these items can be placed into your household compost and can easily end up in your garden.

Another tip too! In future, stay away from chemical drain cleaners. They might seem like a quick fix, but they are very harsh and have been known to cause corrosion to your pipes.

Mainline Plumbing for all of your plumbing needs

Whether it’s a problem with your hot water, plumbing or gas – call Mainline Plumbing & Cheap Hot Water & Gas every time. We operate 24 hours of the day and 7 days a week. We have the experience and the know how. We believe in respect, integrity and customer focus.

Mainline Plumbing & Cheap Hot Water & Gas always arrive on time for your total peace of mind. Give us a call today for all of your plumbing needs on 9791 1608 (Bunbury) or 9759 1317 (Dunsborough), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Toilet leaks are energy and money leaks!

It is important that we use our water wisely and not waste it. It is a limited resource and as the population rises the demand for resources will increase. With climate change concerns, pervasive droughts, and high energy prices, nearly everyone is looking for ways to conserve resources and cut costs.

Toilet leaks

So, what can we do? Listed are some of the many ways to conserve water at home:

Use water tanks to catch rainfall. Currently, most of the rain just gets washed down the drain.
Make sure you’ve got a full load of laundry before you hit the ‘start’ button on the washing machine. Likewise, the dishwasher.
Fix any dripping taps or leaky toilets.
Buy efficient appliances. New appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers have water rating labels on them that tell you how much water they use.
Insulate hot water pipes. This avoids wasting water while waiting for hot water to flow through and saves energy.
Older style toilets use around 18 litres of water per flush! The latest ultra-low-flush toilets can use as little as 4.5 litres for a full flush and 3 litres for a half flush.
Keep a container of water in the fridge so that you won’t need to run the water down the sink until it’s cool enough to drink.
Washing fruit and vegetables in a half-filled sink instead of under running water is a great way to cut back on water wastage.
Encourage your friends and neighbours to be part of a water-conscious community. Promote water conservation in community newsletters, on bulletin boards, and by example. Encourage your friends, neighbours and co-workers to “do their part.”

The toilet is one of the most water-intensive fixtures in the house. If there is a toilet leak, you might be wasting about 750 litres of water every day. Imagine flushing your toilet more than 50 times for no reason at all!

Common toilet problems

Water Trickling into the Bowl, or “Phantom Flushes”
Water Trickling into the Tank
The Bowl Empties Slowly
The Dreaded Clog
Leaky Seals

Checking for toilet leaks can be difficult if you don’t know how to. You could try this very simple method to check for leakages:

Remove the toilet tank lid.
Drop one dye tablet or 10 drops of food colouring into the tank. (Dye tablets are often available for free through local water providers).
Put the lid back on. Do not flush.
Wait at least 10-15 minutes and then look in the bowl. If you see coloured water, you have a leak. If not, you don’t.

If you find any leaks or are having some doubts, you can contact the professionals. Mainline Plumbing & Cheap Hot Water & Gasthey are the plumbing and hot water specialists that can help you with advice and repair your toilet leaks.

Is your toilet leaking?
If so, that’s money just running down the drain!
Start saving both water and energy!

Save on your water bills and contact Mainline Plumbing & Cheap Hot Water & Gas, Bunbury’s Trusted Local Plumber today on 9791 1608 (Bunbury) or 9759 1317 (Dunsborough).

Save Water, Save Energy, Save Money

Water is an important part of our daily lives and we use it for a wide variety of purposes, from waking up in the morning, taking a shower, brushing our teeth – to grabbing a cup of coffee or tea, but do we understand how much we use?
Water tips

In our local communities, water also plays a big role. Local businesses and industries use water, fire fighting, municipal parks and public swimming pools all needs water. Public water systems that bring reliable water supply to our taps every day.

“We never know the worth of water till the well is dry.” – Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia, 1732

Where does all this water come from?

“Water covers 71% of the Earth’s surface. It is vital for all known forms of life. On Earth, 96.5% of the planet’s crust water is found in seas and oceans, 1.7% in groundwater, 1.7% in glaciers and the ice caps of Antarctica and Greenland, a small fraction in other large water bodies, and 0.001% in the air as vapour, clouds (formed of ice and liquid water suspended in air) and precipitation. Only 2.5% of this water is freshwater and 98.8% of that water is in ice (excepting ice in clouds) and groundwater. Less than 0.3% of all freshwater is in rivers, lakes, and the atmosphere, and an even smaller amount of the Earth’s freshwater (0.003%) is contained within biological bodies and manufactured products. A greater quantity of water is found in the earth’s interior.” – Wikipedia

Heating water for showering, bathing, shaving, cooking and cleaning also requires a considerable amount of energy. Homes with electric water heaters, for example, spend one-fourth of their total electric bills just to heat water. Therefore, you can’t have water without energy and with energy comes the bills.

Adapting simple steps and using water-saving technologies will help reduce the energy consumed at home and ensure reliable water supplies today and for the future generations. Preventing water pollution in nearby lakes, rivers and local watersheds are also one of the benefits of water conservation.

Small things can make a big difference in an overall view. This can be applied to our daily life, especially in the laundry or in the kitchen area. How do we lower the overall water usage in these areas? Ways to conserve water:

Laundry water saving tips

Make sure you’ve got a full load of laundry before you hit the ‘start’ button on the washing machine.
Measure laundry detergent and use HE detergents for HE high-efficiency top-loaders and front-loaders. Regular detergents are too sudsy and using too much can cause these washers to use more water by extending the rinse cycle.
Select the right setting for the load. The heavy-duty soil setting can use more water and extends wash time. For most loads, the normal settings will do.
Appropriate water level setting— often small, medium or large—for the load if that’s how your machine works. This feature automatically determines the load size and the amount of water needed.

Dishwasher water saving tips

Run full loads of dishes only.
Install a new ENERGY STAR high-efficiency model to save water and energy.
Pre-rinsing is not required with many new dishwashers. Read the instruction manual for your machine to determine if you can minimise the rinse water usage.

See Mainline Plumbing & Cheap Hot Water & Gas weekly tips to get some great money saving ideas.

Call in and see the friendly team at 144 Forrest Avenue in Bunbury for all your needs.

Save money by using your pool cover.

Saving money can be as easy as covering your pool all year round.

Did you know you could be losing a lot of water from your pool through evaporation?

Are you constantly having to top up your pool?

In summer evaporation is by far the main contributor to water loss in your pool which will drive your water bill up. A pool can lose water every day and with the warm temperatures that amount is increased.

Cover your pool and save

Outdoor and indoor pool’s water evaporation can be lessened by using a pool cover when it is not in use. Using your pool cover even in summer is the most efficient and economical way to reduce water loss.

Pool covers are very easy to use.

Just remove the cover before swimming and replace it when you are done.

Remember NEVER swim in your pool with the cover still on.

Pool covers

Besides offering energy savings, pool covers also do the following:

Conserve water by reducing the amount of make-up water needed by 30%–50%
Reduce the pool’s chemical consumption by 35%–60%
Reduce cleaning time by keeping dirt and other debris out of the pool.
Keep your pool warmer when the temperature drops off.

Do you have a pool cover?

You will be amazed by how much water evaporates over the summer months.

Save water and the environment.

Need a plumber?

Mainline Plumbing & Cheap Hot Water & Gas are your local Bunbury Plumbers, we service all the surrounding areas for your plumbing requirements both preventative and emergency.

Call Mainline Plumbing & Cheap Hot Water & Gas today on 9791 1608 (Bunbury) or 9759 1317 (Dunsborough).

We are here to help 24 hours a day – 7 days a week!