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Blocked drains are among the most common plumbing issues and can be quite problematic. A blocked drain not only causes inconveniences due to overflowing and bad odour, but also poses a health hazard. There are few reasons from which a blocked drain issue may arise:

Excess toilet paper: Blockage created by toilet paper is the most common cause behind blocked drains. When an excessive amount of toilet paper is flushed down, it may accumulate inside the drain.
Tree roots: The slightest crack in your drain pipe can serve as an entry point for tree roots, which would then grow inside the pipe.

Other factors that can lead to blocked drains include changes in soil slope, misalignments, foreign objects thrown into the toilet and breakages.

Once a drain gets blocked, it gives rise to a number of issues which help to alert homeowners about it. Some of the common signs of a blocked drain are:

Slow drainage: The most prominent sign of a blocked drain is that your sinks or shower would drain slowly or even not drain at all if the blockage is too severe.
Foul smell: Another indicator of a blocked drain is the foul smell that’s generated as the blockage in the drain starts rotting.
Sounds: In case if your drainage pipes sound different than usual while draining water, a blockage can be the reason behind it.

Professional plumbers, particularly those from reputed plumbing companies, carry a wide range of equipment that they can use to unblock a drain. Here are some of the common tools among them:

Drain cameras: These cameras are used for detection purposes. Attached to flexible rods, small CCTV cameras are inserted into the drain and they provide real-time visuals to the plumber’s screen.
Water jetter: A water jetter is a tool which sprays high-pressure water into the inner walls of the pipe to break down any build-up and wash away debris.
Plunger: A plunger consists of a rod with a suction cup attached on one end. The suction cap is used to seal the opening of the pipe and pull to create a vacuum and loosen the blockage.

Unless the blockage is right near the drain cover, you would need specific tools to unblock the drain. You may start by uncovering the drain and looking for the blockage. In case if you don’t see it right away, you may also use a gloved hand to feel for it. If you find the blockage to be in a deep location, you would have to use an auger or drain snake to clear it. A water jetter would be necessary to clear out debris stuck very deep inside the drain. Professional plumbers usually carry all these tools. If you are unsure about how to unblock a drain or do not have the necessary tools, you may simply hire a plumber.

There are several ways in which a smelly drain can be cleaned. However, the easiest way to go about it is to use a solution of vinegar and baking soda. Here are the few simple steps you would have to take:

Start by running some hot water down the drain.
Next, pour a cup of baking soda into the drain.
Follow it up with two cups of vinegar.
Allow the solution to fizz for some time.
Leave it undisturbed for at least one hour.
Flush hot water into the drain again to wash down the solution.

The prime advantage of this method is that baking soda and vinegar are common kitchen ingredients. However, you may contact a professional plumber if it doesn’t work.

In case if your drains are failing to function properly and emitting gurgling noises, there might primarily be two reasons behind it:

Venting system issues: The drainage pipes come with venting systems that allow air to flow through them without disturbing the flow of the water. However, a blockage in the venting system could stop the drains from working properly. Venting systems are often blocked by the build-up of grease and dirt or by birds’ nests.
Blockages: Gurgling sounds may also be created as a result of blockages in the drainage pipes. As the water strains to push past the blockage, it creates such noises.

In either case, you would have to get the blockage cleared by professional plumbers.

Chemical drain cleaners are highly toxic and can be quite dangerous. It poses a threat not only to your drains, but to the health of you and those living around you too. These drain cleaners eliminate blockages by generating high amounts of heat to melt them. The same chemicals could also corrode your pipes from the inside, causing more harm than good. The chemical drain cleaners are capable of melting through tough blockages. If some of it comes in touch with your skin, it could easily cause severe damage. You should keep these drain cleaners as a last resort and make sure to choose a relatively safer one. It is best to consult a professional before using a chemical drain cleaner.

Toilets may get blocked once in a while and it is not a huge issue. However, if your toilet keeps getting clogged frequently or you are unable to clear the clog easily with a plunger, there might be a problem. Some of the possible reasons behind a blocked toilet are:

Throwing foreign objects into the toilet, such as kids putting their toys there can easily create a blockage.
Flushing too much toilet paper into the toilet may result in a clog.
If your region is supplied with hard water, your toilet may get blocked due to a build-up of water-borne deposits.

A gas leak in your home is dangerous enough to be considered an emergency. If not brought under control immediately, it could lead to a major fire hazard. It could even lead to losses of life and property if the leak is too severe. Moreover, a gas leak in an enclosed space can cause the oxygen levels to drop and turn the air toxic. This is why it is advisable to open up every window and door if a gas leak occurs in your home. You would have to hire a gas fitter to get the leak fixed again. However, make sure that you go for a plumbing company offering emergency services to avoid delays.

In most cases, it is the smell of gas that alerts homeowners of a leak. It would smell like rotting eggs, which is quite a distinct and easily identifiable odour. The leaking pipe might also emit a hissing sound as the gas is pressurised inside the pipe and forces its way out of it. If you do hear the sound and are able to identify a specific pipe to be possibly leaking, you may feel its temperature using your hand. A leaking pipe should be colder as the falling pressure would cause the temperature to drop too. However, you should always get a licensed gas fitter to check for a leak at the very first sign of it.

Usually, a gas leak is hard to find without adequate equipment as natural gas is colourless and cannot be seen. However, if you smell gas or start receiving strangely high bills you might want to check for a leak. Here are a few ways in which you can try to detect the leak:

Start by listening for a whistling or hissing sound from the pipes.
Once you suspect a particular pipe to be leaking, place your hand on it. If it is colder than it should be, chances are high that it is the leaking pipe.
You may also create a solution of soapy water and rub it over the pipes. While an undamaged pipe wouldn’t show any changes, bubbles would form in the soap solution over the leak as the gas escapes through it.

Although natural gas is an efficient and cheap source of energy, not all the streets have natural gas connectivity. Before you hire a gas fitter, visit the natural gas website to check if the gas connection would be available in your home. If it turns out that it would be possible to get natural gas in your house, you can start by getting the gas metre installed. The utility company would carry out this job. Then hire a gas fitter to extend the natural has connection into your home. However, only licenced fitters are allowed to install gas connections as any mistakes might create huge hazards.

The smell of natural gas in your house is likely a sign of a gas leak. Hence, if you smell gas, you should make no delay in preventing the danger from aggravating. Cut off the gas supply by turning off the valve so that no more gas is leaked. Make sure that no naked flames are lit in your property, as the leaked gas can easily catch fire. Open up all the windows and keep the doors open to let out the leaked gas. An accumulation of natural gas in your home can turn the air toxic and pose a health hazard to you and your loved ones.

Generally, a gas leak is detectable from the distinct odour of natural gas itself. However, professional gas fitters use various equipment to verify if it is really a gas leak. They are also capable of identifying the exact source of the leakage and then fixing it. A gas leak detector is the most common device used for the purpose, as it is specifically designed to detect natural gas in the air. One of the most important reasons why you should hire professional gas fitters when you suspect a gas leak in your home is that they carry all the necessary equipment and know how to use them.

In case if you feel that it would be beneficial to have your gas meter placed elsewhere, you might want to get it relocated. However, bear in mind that you can’t relocate it by yourself. Not only is it hazardous, but also illegal for anyone other than a licenced gas fitter to relocate a gas meter. Before moving the gas meter, the connection would have to be turned off. Certain types of equipment are needed to carry out the process safely as well. This is why, it is always advisable to hire a professional plumbing company in your region to have your gas meter relocated.

In case if your hot water system isn’t producing adequately heated water, or the water isn’t hot enough, a number of reasons might be responsible for it. Some of the probable causes are:

It is possible that an excessive amount of sediment is preventing your heating system from working properly. It occurs when the tank isn’t cleaned annually or when the water is hard water.
A malfunctioning thermostat might stop the system from heating the water.
If the tank is too small to meet your household demands, it could run out of hot water easily.

Generally, adequate maintenance can keep a hot water system running for a long time.

You would have to observe where the leak is taking place before deciding if you can still use the hot water system. All the hot water systems come with a Temperature and Pressure Valve at the top. When excess pressure builds up inside the system, this valve expels it. It is quite possible for some water to leak during this expulsion and you do not need to be worried about it. However, a leak taking place elsewhere can be quite dangerous and it is advisable to not use the hot water system in that case. If you notice such a leak, turn off the system and contact a reputable plumbing company immediately.

Water pressure in a hot water system can get reduced due to a number of reasons. Some of the potential causes among them are:

Faulty installation: Unless you got the system installed by a reputed and reliable company, it is possible that mismatches in pipe diameters, excessive bends or other installation issues are the reason.
Blockages: In case if your pipes are blocked by rust, sediments or debris, it would reduce the water flow and cause the pressure to drop.
Tempering valve issues: In a water heating system, the tempering valves prevent the water from overheating. However, a faulty tempering valve can cause problems like low water pressure.

The lifespan of your hot water system would depend on various factors. Some of the important ones among them are:

The brand of your water heating system.
How well you take care of the system.
Whether the tank is flushed every year or not.

Typically, you may expect your water heating system to last for eight to twelve years if it is from one of the leading brands and you take good care of it. With regular maintenances, it would not only last for its entire expected lifespan, but may also serve you well for several additional years. You may consult an experienced plumber for tips regarding how to extend the lifespan.

Several brands offer hot water systems that you may choose from. However, it is recommended to go for leading brands like Everhot, Rheem, Therman and Rinnai. In case if you do not have much experience regarding water heating systems and their brands, you might want to consult a professional first. By discussing your requirements with an experienced plumber, you would be able to choose the best water heating system for your home. This is especially effective as a plumber who installs, repairs and carries out maintenance for water heating systems from different brands would have hands-on experience and knowledge regarding the systems.

Simply follow the manufacturers’ recommendations in this matter, as found in the manual. Typically, most water heating systems need to be flushed only once a year to wash out the sediments. There are, however, exceptions in some cases. For example, certain regions are supplied with hard water rich in deposits of lime, magnesium, etc. As the water enters the tank, the sediments tend to settle down and calcify. As calcified sediments are much harder to clean, you might need to flush the tank more often in such a situation. However, it is always advisable to consult a licenced plumber and get the tank checked before deviating from the manufacturer’s recommendations.

To understand the reason behind this, you would first need an understanding of how the plumbing systems usually work. In most homes, all the fixtures are connected by common water pipes, for hot water as well as cold water. This means that the pipe which supplies water to your shower also supplies water to your taps and toilets. When a toilet is flushed, cold water is immediately diverted to refill it and this causes the water from the shower to turn hot. On the other hand, turning on a hot water tap would result in a drop in the temperature of the water from the shower as the hot water would get diverted.

A number of factors determine how frequently your hot water system has to be serviced. Some of these are:

How old your system is.
How much use the system undergoes every day.
The type of water entering the hot water system.
The presence or absence of any issues.

Generally, it is recommendable to service a hot water system every few months to check if the relief valves are functioning properly. The tank would need to be flushed annually to clear out sediments. If you do not find any specific instructions in the user manual, you may check with an experienced plumber.

Tap leaks are mainly caused either by a broken washer or a problem in the O-ring. An O-ring issue results in a leak from the tap’s body, while a broken washer would cause water to continue dripping out of the tap even when it is turned off. A broken washer is comparatively easier to fix and here is how you may go about it:

Plug the sink so that you don’t drop any small parts into it.
Remove the handle, the shroud and the body of the tap.
Remove the broken washer.
Replace the washer with a new one of the same size.
Put your tap back together and check if it works.

If this doesn’t fix the issue or the problem is not due to a broken washer, you may hire a plumber to check it out.

A running toilet can be quite irritating, as it would result in the constant sound of flowing water through your plumbing system. Moreover, it also wastes large volumes of water over time, leading to expensive water bills. However, you wouldn’t be able to fix the issue without the equipment and training necessary for the task. It is advisable to look for a reputed plumbing service provider in your region and hire their services to fix the running toilet. Some of the common causes behind this issue are:

A high float device causing an overflow
A worn-out flapper valve
A slow leak.

In case if you are receiving unusually high water bills, chances are that there might be a plumbing leak in your home. If the leak is occurring in one of the fixtures, it should be easily visible. However, if you don’t find such a leak, you may check out the pipes closely to see if you can spot any. It is to be noted that much of the plumbing system in a home stays inside walls or underground and can therefore be invisible to you. A sudden dampness in a specific section of the wall or the growth of green grass or moss at a specific spot might indicate a leak. However, if you fail to find it, a plumber can certainly help you out.

Unless the leaking pipe stays in the open, you wouldn’t be able to detect it right away. However, if you suspect a leak you may still look for water puddles in your home, especially near the pipes. In case if there is water dripping through your ceiling, a pipeline up there might be leaking. If such obvious signs aren’t visible, you may observe the walls to look for any dampness that might have been caused by the pipes lying inside the walls. Also, try to look for green patches of moss or grass in your property, as such growth can take place due to the availability of leaking water.

If you discover a major water leak in your home, the first thing you should do is contain it. The accumulation of water can damage your property and belongings. Try to dispose of the water by placing a bucket under the leak. Wipe up the leaking water immediately, as stagnant water would lead to the growth of moulds and create an unhealthy environment. If possible, try to maintain airflows by keeping the windows and the door open and a fan running, so that the leaking water would try up easily. Then call a reliable plumbing service provider and hire professional plumbers to get the leak fixed.

Plumbing leaks may arise from a variety of causes. However, here are a few common ones among them:

Ageing: If your home is old, the plumbing is likely too. As a result of ageing, the pipes start to corrode and leak.
Tree roots: Pipes are often penetrated by the roots of trees attracted by the availability of water, leading to leaks.
Rapid changes in temperature: Pipes can get damaged as a result of rapid expansions and contractions due to changes in water temperature.
Poor installation: If a pipe isn’t properly installed in the first place, it would be prone to leaks. This is why it is necessary to get the installation done by experienced plumbers.

In case if you find brown water coming out of your tap, rust is likely a reason behind it. As pipes get old, they corrode and rust. The rust keeps on accumulating, until it reaches a point where the water can wash it down the pipes. Changes in water pressure may cause the rust to come loose too. However, the brown water may also indicate a problem in your hot water system. If only the hot water is brown but the cold water isn’t, it is likely due to the accumulation of rust inside the water heater. In either cause, you would need the help of a professional plumber.

A knocking sound emanating from the pipes isn’t necessarily something to be worried about. Sometimes, air bubbles get trapped in the piping and create such noises while trying to get out. Another possible reason behind such noises is that the pipes haven’t been secured properly. Although it isn’t a cause of worry, you might want to get rid of the sound as it is irritating. If the problem is due to improper fittings, an experienced plumber would be able to fix it easily by securing your pipes as needed. You may consult a reliable plumbing company if you are still unsure about the origin of the sound.

Pipe relining is a technique popularly used by the well-established plumbing companies to repair broken, leaking or blocked pipes. This process is particularly used in the case of underground pipes such as drains and sewers, where the alternative would be to dig up the pipe and replace it. In the pipe relining method, a resin-coated liner is introduced inside the pipe. When the liner is inflated, it takes a cylindrical shape and the resin hardens to form an inner pipe under the broken area. This inner pipe would be durable and prevent any further damage. Pipe relining is a safe, effective and reliable way to fix pipes.

If you compare pipe relining to the alternatives, it is certainly the cheapest way to get your broken pipes repaired. In fact, relining is a cost-effective method that would help you save money. In the older method, where the entire pipe was dug up and replaced, the costs would include:

Hiring the labour to dig a large area.
Removing the pipe and installing a new one.
Rehabilitating the surrounding area.

The older method also caused considerable damage to the property, landscape and environment. Relining, however, is much more environment-friendly and cuts down on the associated costs. The reputed plumbing companies charge fairly reasonable fees for pipe relining services.

To know when you reline your pipes, you would have to get your pipes checked and serviced regularly. Else, you wouldn’t be able to know when your pipes need relining until the problems actually arise. Preventative maintenance would not only extend the lifespan if your pipes, but would also allow you to foresee any problems in the near future. Typically, an experienced plumber would take a detailed look at the condition of your pipes and let you know if they need to be relined any time soon. The leading plumbing companies offer reliable maintenance services that you may hire at regular intervals.

Currently, the reputable plumbing companies offer comprehensive relining services that include almost any type of pipes. Even bends and junctions can be easily relined using sophisticated tools and relining materials. This also makes the relining process much cheaper as the entire pipe no longer needs to be relined. Simply the portion of the pipe which has been damaged gets relined, thus saving materials and cost. Bends and junctions are often prone to damage and break or leak easily. Professional plumbers who have enough experience in relining can help you out, even if the leak is located in a spot difficult to repair.

Developed by the German company Brawoliner, this is known to be the world’s best relining technology. Brawoliner holds considerable repute as a manufacturer of relining materials and technologies, constantly carrying out extensive research in this field. The best plumbing companies use Brawoliner technology while relining pipes, due to the reliability of it. A relining job carried out using this technology is expected to last at least 50 years. As problems in underground pipes are especially troublesome, the durability of Brawoliner technology is a great advantage. A homeowner wouldn’t have to worry about having to get the pipe relined again any time soon.

Offered by the leading plumbing companies, trenchless pipe relining is a sophisticated relining technique. Unlike the older relining methods, a trench isn’t dug. At most, the plumbers might need to dig a hole or two that they would be able to fill up with ease. This has become possible as a result of the introduction of Brawoliner technology in pipe relining. As this process doesn’t involve digging, it has earned the name ‘trenchless pipe relining’. It is much more hassle free and efficient compared to the older methods of relining broken pipes. As this method requires less or no digging, you wouldn’t have to worry about the landscape of your property being damaged.

Like any other product, the lifespan of a relined pipe depends on the quality of relining material and equipment used. If you get the job done using leading materials from leading brands like Brawoliner, you may expect a really long lifespan. The relining could easily last five decades or more in that case. You might want to note that it is highly recommended to use Brawoliner technology, as it is proven to be reliable and durable. In fact, if you hire one of the leading plumbing companies, it is Brawoliner technology that they would be using. In that case, you can easily expect a long lifespan.

In the past, there were certain limitations to what type of pipes could be repaired. For example, a pipe which is broken near a bend would be hard even impossible to repair. However, it is now possible to repair any type of pipe through relining. The leading manufacturers of relining equipment and materials have come up with liners that can operate inside relatively complex pipes and successfully seal any damaged area. In case if you have a broken or leaking pipe, you may consult a reputable plumbing company to see if they can fix it. The well-established ones hire experienced plumbers who are adequately equipped for the job.

An overflowing storm drain poses a potential threat to your property and you would want to get it fixed without any delays. Typically, stormwater drains overflow as a result of a blockage preventing the water from flowing as it should. Unless the blockage is near the surface and you can clear it easily, you would have to hire a plumber for it. However, you might want to keep in mind that clearing a stormwater drain isn’t a very simple task. Rather, it is something that should be performed only by a licenced professional. If you are unsure about where you can find a reliable plumber, just contact a well-known plumbing company instead.

When you find a burst water main in your home, the first and foremost thing that you should do is reduce the immediate damage. Turn off the main valve to cut off the water supply to the burst area. Next, you might want to turn on the faucets to drain out the water still trapped inside the pipes. Once you stopped the outflow of water through the burst, contact a reliable plumbing company. Make sure that you pick one that offers emergency services and quick response, because a main pipe burst should be addressed at the soonest. They would get the burst pipe fixed as soon as possible.

If you are unable to turn off the water and your home is at the risk of flooding, you should certainly treat it with urgency. If you live in an apartment, your home would have an isolation valve that you can turn off. Doing so would cut off the water supply all over your flat, including the faulty fixture. In case if it is a house, you would have to turn off the main water valve for the same purpose. Try to clear out the excess water by collecting it in buckets or diverting it to a drain. Then call a professional plumber to get the issue fixed without any delay.

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions