Frequently Asked Questions
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Cylinders
Q: Can I fix my leaking cylinder? A: Leaks in a hot water cylinder are usually caused by corrosion or from the action of hot water and pressure. If your cylinder is leaking this is usually a sign that the tank is wearing out and should be replaced. It doesn't make financial sense to repair a tank if it's reached the end of its life, which is generally 20-40 years for electric low-pressure tanks and five to 20 years for mains pressure steel tanks. (For the latter, the valve train may need upgrading to meet modern codes and installation instructions.) Turn off the tap in the piping that leads to the cylinder or the tap that controls the water to the header tank in the ceiling. If you have a mains pressure gas-heated hot water system, cutting off the mains supply will do the trick. Also turn off the power to the cylinder. You will have to wait until the water system empties before the flow at the leak slows down. A small leak in a pipe can be temporarily fixed with a rubber patch and metal clamp or sleeve. This should be followed by a permanent repair as soon as possible. Call Wilson Plumbing on (07) 573 8249 and we can repair/replace what is required to solve the problem. Q: How do I make my electric storage hot water cylinder more efficient? A: If you put a wrap around it, you will reduce heat loss, which wastes valuable energy. Wraps are available from your local hardware store. To increase efficiency, the pipes leading from your storage water heater should be lagged for the first 2 m of horizontal piping using pre-formed closed cell foam pipe insulation of 12 mm nominal thickness. This insulation material is available from hardware stores. If the pipes run upwards first, then horizontally, the lagging will still need to extend to the first 2 m of horizontal piping, as well as the vertical section of pipe. If the pipes run downwards before you get to the 2 m horizontal length, the downward pipe acts as a heat trap. You do not need to insulate beyond the first 150 mm of the downward pipe. If in doubt, call Wilson Plumbing on (07) 573 8249 to do the job for you. Drains Q: How do I unblock my drain? A: Most blocked sewer and stormwater drains are caused by tree roots penetrating broken or cracked drains. It is rare for a foreign object to go down the drain and block it, as it would have to pass through the pan U-bend or the gully trap U-bend where the waste pipes discharge. To unblock the drain, there are three methods of 'rodding':
None will actually repair the drain - just unblock it. The only sure method of repair is replacement. Call Wilson Plumbing on (07) 573 8249 if you are unable to clear the blockage yourself or need a quote to replace the drain. Drain cameras are sometimes used to give reassurance by showing evidence of the blockage. However, a plumber can usually tell you what the problem is - and where it is - just by using a hand rod, assuming they can gain access to the drain. Drains that are in good condition rarely get blocked; particularly the new PVC drains used today. So, while rodding is cheaper than replacement and can keep a drain clear for a period, you may decide it's better to fix it if the problem continues. Q: How high should the lip around a gully trap be? A: Wastewater gully traps are connected to the sewerage system. The lip must be at least 25mm above a paved surface and 100mm above an unpaved surface to stop rain entering the gully at times of high rainfall. If the gully is damaged or doesn't have a sufficient lip, the rainwater (or stormwater, as it's known) enters the gully, placing an extra burden on the sewerage system. It can even contribute to wastewater overflows during very wet weather. If you are having landscaping work done, such as new concrete paths and patios or flowerbeds, make sure the lip around the gully trap isn't affected. If yours is a modern plastic gully, you can buy an extension at your local plumbing merchant and do the work yourself. Just remove the grating, fit the extension and glue it in place. If you have a ceramic gully, you will need the help of plumber, call Wilson Plumbing on (07) 573 8249 and we will sort out your gully for you. If you do see ponding/pooling in the area, never drill a hole in the side of the gully trap to let the water drain away! Q: What do I do if my toilet, sink, bath or shower is blocked? A: A rubber cup plunger can be effective when pumped up and down for a couple of minutes. If it's a blocked sink, keep a damp rag over the overflow while you do it. If that doesn't work, remove the trap under the sink to check for blockage (remember to keep a bucket underneath!), or try flexible wire to dislodge a possible blockage in the pipe. If none of this works, call Wilson Plumbing on (07) 573 8249. Q: How do I retrieve valuables lost down the sink? A: If you've just washed your hands and realise you're short of a ring or precious stone that was there before, there's a good chance the treasure can be recovered. The item may still be trapped in the curve of the waste pipe, so the first step is to stop any flow of water right away and call Wilson Plumbing on (07) 573 8249, we may be able to find the object by dismantling the waste pipe. Frozen pipes Q: How can I prevent my pipes freezing or bursting in winter? A: You can reduce the risk by repairing leaking taps and fittings, and lagging external water pipes. Also, check that your hot water cylinder vent pipes aren't susceptible to getting iced up. This means you may have to lag all of the vent pipe if it is out through the roof. Also, if you have a relief valve at the end of the vent pipe, make sure the valve is pointing down so it can't be blocked with a plug of ice. Keeping the house warm in winter is a good way to help avoid frozen pipes. As most homes now have ceiling insulation, all plumbing pipework and header tanks in the attic should be insulated if you have any chance of frost. In alpine or severe frost areas, lagging with a small heating element running through it should be considered. These usually use around 15 watts of electricity but keep pipework from freezing. Running costs are very small compared with the price of repairing the damage caused if freezing pipes burst. If your pipes do become frozen, turn off the water supply at the street, turn the power off to the Hot water Cylinder and call Wilson Plumbing on (07) 573 8249 to attend to your frozen pipes. Hot water Q: How can I adjust the water temperature coming out of my hot taps? A: If your water's too hot, it can be downright dangerous! Each year, children are admitted to hospital with burns caused by water coming out of the tap too hot. Children are particularly at risk because they have relatively slow reaction times, their skin burns more quickly and deeply and at lower temperatures than adults, and they have a smaller body area. An alarming number of NZ homes have hot water that's dangerously hot. At 60°, a child's skin can sustain a serious burn in one second. At 54°, it takes 10 seconds to burn. A safe bath temperature for young children is between 37° and 38°. When you're running the bath, always put the cold water in first and stay in the room to supervise. Test the bath temperature with the inside of your wrist before putting your child in. If you think your tap water may be too hot or too cold, contact Wilson Plumbing on (07) 573 8249 so we can check the temperature and advise you on ways of adjusting it, if necessary. This may include lowering or increasing the temperature in the cylinder, or installing tempering valves, temperature limiting taps and shower mixers. Tempering valves control the temperature of the delivered water by mixing cold water with hot as it leaves your hot water cylinder. The New Zealand Building Code requires that all new and modified existing hot water systems in people's homes have hot water delivered to bathroom fixtures at no more than 55° Roofing Q: Can I repair spouting myself? A: Usually spouting, gutters and downpipes work quietly and efficiently to take water away from the house on to stormwater drains. Spouting channels rainwater from the gutters to downpipes, so a blockage or hole in the system can mean rivers of water. If problems arise, you can check that leaves or moss haven't built up and blocked outlets - an autumn clean out is a good idea. When taking a look, wear soft-soled shoes to give you a secure grip. Set the ladder on a firm base and ensure it is at least a metre higher than the roof. If you have a combination stepladder, make sure the hook is in place at the hinged section. If a blockage isn't the culprit, then age could have caused metal spouting and downpipes to rust. This problem is best attacked as soon as possible - rust spreads fast and if caught in the early stages less spouting may have to be replaced. The most common spouting material today is PVC. Light and hardwearing it doesn't require painting and it is relatively easy to install. While DIYers can install their own rainwater systems, Wilson Plumbing can do the job for you. We have the skills to ensure the product is right for the job and that the installation is correctly done. We will also know whether you need a building consent. Generally, consents aren't needed for small spouting jobs, but requirements do vary around the country. |
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