Plumbing Tips Archives - Page 3 of 6

Whether you are re-setting an old toilet following a bathroom renovation or installing a brand-new water-efficient toilet, removing and replacing a toilet is a simple and straightforward job that you can complete in a day.

STEP 1

Switch OFF the water before you do anything! If your bathroom doesn’t have a stopcock in the room, switch off the water at your main supply. Most homes will have the stopcock next to, or close to the toilet, switch it off and disconnect the pipes from your water supply to the base of the toilet cistern.

STEP 2

To empty out the remaining water in the toilet, keep flushing until the cistern is empty. Then use a dry sponge and a bucket to remove any water that is still left in the toilet bowl. You will also need some rags to wipe up any remaining water in the outlet pipe, it’s okay, this is clean water.

STEP 3

This is the *fun* part! If your toilet has been bolted to the floor simply undo the bolts to remove it. If your toilet has been cemented into the floor, you will need to chisel out the cement and then break the toilet off. Remember to wear a pair of safety goggles to protect your eyes from any flying bits and a good pair of strong gloves to protect your hands. Once the toilet has been removed, use a bucket of water and a cloth to clean the floor. Don’t sweep it up as you will only create more dust.

STEP 4

With the toilet removed and any excess concrete chipped off the floor you may encounter a *smell* coming from the outlet pipe, this is normal, just plug it up with some plastic bags while you work.

STEP 5

Fit the new toilet into the outlet pipe until it is snug, then fasten the toilet to the floor, pop the cistern of top of the base and fasten everything together, you will also need to fasten the cistern to the wall. While you normally use sanitary fixings or rawl bolts to fasten the toilet to the floor contractor adhesives works well too. You can use a glue to affix the base of the toilet onto the tiles.

STEP 6

You will now need to fix a new wax seal between the outlet pipe and toilet. If it hasn’t already been cut, cut it so you can fit the seal around the outlet pipe at the back of the toilet and push it into the main outlet pipe. Ensure there are NO gaps or holes anywhere as water will leak out and onto the floor.

STEP 7

And, now for the tricky part, when you buy a new toilet it won’t come pre-assembled, you need to put everything that fits into the cistern together.

When you are all done, connect the water supply, switch on the water and check for leaks. If you have any issues call 24 hour plumber 1300 896 508, or even better, let Plumbers Direct install or replace your toilet for you!

When you need an emergency plumber, Plumber’s Direct are Sydney most trusted service for all your commercial plumbing needs. Plumbing systems are complicated, and if you or your tenants notice anything that seems wrong; blockages, knocking, leaks etc. call the team of emergency plumbers on 1300 896 508. With a plumbing service available 24/7 you know you can call a plumber out at any time of the day or night.

When you need help with repairs, upgrades or general maintenance, Sydney calls Plumbers Direct – they can take care of all your plumbing needs –

Leaking showers and taps –

these drips and leaks add to your water bill. If you think you have a leak – perhaps due to complaints of high water bills, call Plumbers Direct and have your system looked at.

Leaking toilets –

not only can these leaks be noisy and irritating, but they are also wasting your money.

Burst pipes and leak detection –

over the years we have helped many agents in Sydney deal with and fix broken, leaky and noisy pipes. Pipes that have burst or are leaking inside your home or business are both dangerous and can be a huge hassle. Emergency plumbers can resolve issues and look for any possible trouble spots.

Blocked Toilets –

are your worst nightmare. Not being able to use the toilet properly, especially if your tenants have a restaurant to run, is a problem you don’t want to suffer. It’s a stressful time, but Plumbers Direct can fix the issue fast and have the venue back to normal in no time.

Blocked, overflowing or cracked drains –

at Plumbers Direct we can solve issues inside your home and under your home.

Gas Fitting –

gas is NOT a do it yourself weekend job, call in the professionals – they can help ensure the security of your premises when it comes to installing a gas line.

Roof Guttering and Downpipes –

Plumbers Direct are specialists in installing, cleaning and repairing downpipes and guttering. Bad gutters and downpipes can cause damage to structures, we can get in and solve the issue before any major damage has occurred.

Hot Water repairs –

it can be quite expensive replacing a hot water tank, let Plumbers Direct take a look first, they may be able to save you hundreds of dollars and repair the problem, rather than replace your old system with a brand new one. Simply call and arrange a consultation, one of our team will be there at a time convenient to you.

Kitchen and Bathroom renovations –

we offer stress-free residential and commercial kitchen renovations that can improve your kitchens plumbing and appliances, with a simple, hassle-free process that gives you peace of mind. New bathroom? We can cover all aspects of your bathroom’s plumbing, so you get the best appliances, installed the best way possible.

These are just some of the reasons Sydney real estate agents choose us for all their plumbing needs. Call today on 1300 896 508 to discuss your problems or issues.

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When you are buying a new home, you want to make sure everything is functioning just as it should. Likewise, if you have been in your home 6 months or 16 years, you still want everything *running smoothly*. When you first move in you check the roof for leaks, check the floorcoverings for signs of water damage and you check your taps for leaks.

You still might encounter issues weeks, months or years down the track and these issues could end up seriously damaging your home and cost you a great deal of money if these issues are left unchecked.

Next time you are doing an inspection around your home – check for these signs. Of course, it’s a good idea to have a plumber come and inspect your home regularly to check for any issues.

Call your local emergency plumber on 1300 896 508 if you find any of these signs

Traces of water around your home’s foundations, water stains on your foundations or walls indicate that there is a drainage issue outside your home. To find the source check your guttering for any blockages and look for any standing water.
You see *standing water* in your yard. It’s normal for water to pool on your lawn for a while following rain or a thunderstorm. However, if you notice puddles long after the sun has returned and it hasn’t been raining for a few days there could be an issue. Water should *run off* from your property. If it’s not, you should talk to a drainage expert, it could be a cracked or leaking pipe below the surface, or you may need a drainage pipe to *pull* water from your lawn and into a drain.
Your foundations are starting to crack. Small, thin fissures in your foundation are quite normal, but if you notice a large hole that is continuing to grow, your foundations could fail. If the floor of your home has become uneven – your foundation could be in trouble. Changes in your foundation allows room for water to get in which only exacerbates the problem.
Depending on the extent of the damage it can put your whole house at risk. Call in an emergency plumber if you notice ANY of these above warning signs so you can get your foundations checked and repaired if necessary, to avoid any unnecessary damage.
Your sewer overflows every time it rains. Blocked sewer can be from something as simple as a build-up of leaves and debris, but, if your sewer has been installed incorrectly clearing the guttering won’t resolve the issue. Call in a professional and see if you need to replace your sewer before it rains again.
Does your home smell like mildew? If you find signs of mould in your home, it could be coming from above or below. Accumulated moisture from a leaking roof will see mould growing on the ceiling or the walls near the ceiling. If mould is around the floor area, or the bottoms of the walls, it may be coming from underneath your home, water could be pooling and isn’t draining away properly.

Leaking Taps –

When you turn an outside tap on, and you get water leaking from around the handle it could mean a loose packing nut or a faulty washer. Using a wrench or pliers try tightening the nut first. If the leak persists even after you have tightened the nut, turn off the water to the house, remove the tap handle and unscrew the nut. You should be able to pull off the old washer and take it to your emergency plumber or hardware store to find the right replacement.

Pipe cutting –

It can be difficult to cut a thin metal pipe with a hacksaw without mangling the cut or squashing the pipe. To get a good cut insert a wooden rod into the end of the pipe, you want to cut. Wrap one end of the rod with tape to make the rod the same inner size of the pipe. Clamp your pipe and wood into a vice and cut through both the pipe and the wood for a perfect cut.

For bigger or tighter cuts, use a dull blade –

When you need to cut a larger pipe use a reciprocating saw fitted with an older, dull wood blade. Using a new metal blade with sharp teeth tends to grab onto the pipe, and a metal blade actually MELTS plastic instead of cutting it. Dull wood blades cut into plastic without melting the plastic.

For a leak-free connection – de-burr the pipe –

Any burrs on the end of a pipe that is left over will create small channels in the cement when you push the fitting into the pipe. This is how you get leaks, always scrape away burrs with a utility knife before joining the pipes.

Don’t re-use, always buy new fittings –

Rather than re-using old copper pipe fittings, recycle them. It is difficult and time-consuming to take fittings apart and clean them, buy new fittings instead. There is always a chance the old fitting will leak.

Check your supply lines –

Plastic or rubber lines that run from appliances, toilets and taps to shut-off valves can become brittle over time and crack due to age. Eventually, they will burst. Take time at least once a year to inspect all the supply lines to your home. If you find leaks, cracks or corrosion, call your plumber on 1300 896 508 to come out and replace the line.

Have a leak? –

Valves are one of the main culprits because they have moving parts and seals that can wear out. If you do find a strange puddle look at the valve to see if it is leaking. This is one of the most common reasons a plumber gets called out, but it’s an easy fix. Try turning the packing nut slightly – if you over-tighten it the valve won’t turn, if this doesn’t stop the leak, call your local plumber on 1300 896 508 for assistance.

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As a homeowner, it can be difficult to work out what issue requires you to make a call to an emergency plumber. Sadly, things can go wrong – often in the middle of the night, and you need to decide quickly whether to call an emergency plumber or not.

These are some common plumbing issues that occur around the home.

Burst Pipes

Water from a burst pipe can quickly damage your walls, flooring, furniture etc. There are a few things that can cause a pipe to suddenly burst including low-quality or faulty plumbing fixtures, age, or an accidental impact. If you have discovered a burst pipe turn the water off at the mains as soon as possible and call Plumbers Direct – your emergency plumbers on 1300 896 508. The pipe will need to be repaired before the water can be restored to your home.

No hot water

You can manage for a few days without hot water (especially in summer), but in winter or as the days cool down hot water becomes a necessity. The lack of hot water could be due to many things – check the power supply to your hot water system. Is there electricity or gas available in the rest of the house? It is a good idea to check BEFORE you call your plumber.

Water leak

It doesn’t matter where it is coming from; a water leak is bad news. Sometimes hot water storage tanks leak, drains can crack causing a surprise leak, or tap washers fail. A small trickle of water can become a torrent so turn your mains tap off as soon as you can and contact your emergency plumber to avoid an excessive water bill and any damage to your home.

Gas Leak

Leaking gas is dangerous. If you smell gas or suspect a leak, turn off your gas at your homes main valve IMMEDIATELY, open all the doors and windows to allow fresh air into the house and call Plumbers Direct for a gas fitter. Gas is extremely flammable and can cause asphyxiation in confined spaces. Don’t use any electrical equipment, lights, matches, lighters or any type of naked flame when there is a possible gas leak.

Backed up toilet

While a healthy plumbing system should effectively get rid of all waste if a blockage occurs the results can be quite messy. Call an emergency plumber as soon as you can.

If you aren’t sure about the problem, call an emergency plumber on 1300 896 508 for a service anyway. We can discuss the situation and keep you going until business hours if the problem isn’t urgent. Of course, if the issue is critical we will be around to fix the issue as soon as possible.

Replacing your toilet in seven steps