There are a number of things to consider when hiring a sydney plumber

First you should do some searching and gather a list of 3 or more licensed plumbing Sydney service company’s that you consider to be strong candidates.

This means interviewing them individually over the phone, asking them pertinent questions and talking to them about the specific residential plumbing repairs needed.

When doing this, you should keep in mind the following questions that need to be answered:

• Is their plumbing insurance and licensing updated? Will it continue to be during the timeframe your repairs require?
• Are they a certified master plumber with a crew of employees and do they have Worker’s Compensation in place for all crew members?
• Also are all members of the crew licensed with insurance? Take not of the interaction between employees, such as their general courtesy, politeness and if they are willing to respond to questions.
• Are they certified professionals within the industry and members of their local plumbing association?

Professional plumbers should be prepared to discuss their work plans, be on time, have a schedule of their job site goals and be ready to explain customer costs or other relevant details.

Their willingness to do this should not be met with impatience, disinterest or annoyance.

Do these professional plumbers take their job seriously? Do they arrive in uniforms, dressed like professional, displaying their company name, having identification or a business card at the ready?

Take note of their body language, eye contact and general behavior. A licensed plumbing sydney service should be prepared, willing and ready to get started working. Do these professional plumbers have an emergency repair service?

One you can reach 24 hours a day via a working cell phone number? Can they be contacted after normal business hours?

Is there a big price difference between standard plumbers rates and emergency costs? This is something that should be compared with quotes from other certified professional plumbers, who offer similar industry services. Are their employees licensed and trained to repair multi-family systems for homes?

What unique or specialized services do they provide customers and what are the fees associated with these? Also do all these employees seem knowledgeable in general business methods for household plumbing installs, repairs and general maintenance. Are their employees able to explain the options available, concerning new household fixtures, and what the pros or cons are with each type?

In doing this, do they give detailed information that is useful or are their explanations vague and off track conversationally.

Do individuals working on residential plumbing use video technology to get a more effective inspection of plumbing fixtures, possible leaking or other issues?

Is their work green friendly, and what qualifies them as eco-minded in their business approach?

This is becoming more important in the modern plumbing and construction industries, being ecologically sound saves pollution from impacting the environment and helps provide a better future for the world, as we know it. You maybe asking yourself, why are all these details important to question? This is a long list of details, but there is good reason to discuss them with any potential plumbing contractor and their company. A true professional plumbing contractor should have the expertise and experience that guarantees they will be able to handle the job, plan for problems, keep to a time schedule and avoid any unnecessary project management problems.

This list is only information that covers the bare basics, so it would not be wise to hire someone that isn’t able to provide proof of their work or answers to some very basic industry related questions.

This will give you the peace of mind that is necessary to feel comfortable as a new client of customer, so you will know that you are trusting the work of your project to a skilled, trained, educated and capable individual plumbing contractor or professional plumbing service. These are the general things a new customer should assess, when hiring and interviewing any potential plumbing company.

Try not to waste time unnecessarily, because your time is as valueable as the plumber in question, but avoid hiring just anyone for your professional plumbing needs. Your interview process should attempt to gather information, so you can make a wise decision and hire someone that is best suited for your residential or commercial repair project.

Avoid any potential candidates that fail to pass your screening process, then request proof of cridentials and liscensing for the reaminaing plumbers. Also ask for recent customer references and client referals, and be sure this includes individual contact information. At some point you will have made a definate selection, and you will meet up with the professional plumber of your choice.

Together you both can go over the specifics for your household plumbing repair needs, hammer out the finer details, such as pricing and contracts.

Be sure everything is put into a written contact and a formal agreement, but before you sign anything allowing work to begin.

A professional plumber will lay out all necessary details and have an outline presenting the project for your plumbing work. This should include plumbing licensing and project management specifics, contact information, professional credentials, work site address, project details, material costs, breakdowns of all necessary equipment, individual worker rates, applications for permits and a formal schedule that will be followed for the duration of the project. Your projected plan should include any and all details about the worksite from start to finish with beginning and ending dates.

Copies of all this information should be made available to everyone signing the contract, but this is something that any real certified plumbing professional will already have ready for customers or clients.

The final contract must be dated and signed by all parties, otherwise the agreements are rendered non-legally binding. So make sure to be attentive to every step in this process, then get ready to have your hom or commercial property be attended to by a certified professional plumber and their work crew, then be prepared to be amazed at what professionalism really looks like.

Nothing is more inconvenient than a blocked sink.

It literally puts your life in pause mode as you are unable to use it, be it the kitchen or bathroom sink.

You may have experienced a couple of minor sink blocks that are not a cause for concern.

Sometimes the solutions are easy and inexpensive, but a major sink block would require you to keep quite a chunk of cash ready to pay to the plumber.

Below is the stuff you need to avoid disposing down your sink

1. Food: Without thinking much about the consequence, you may carelessly wash of food particles off plates in the sink. This is the number one cause of sink clogs. Food particles, especially like pasta, coffee grounds, potatoes etcetera obviously mix with the water in the drain. This results it to turn into a paste form which coats the inside of the pipes.
2. Oil and Grease: Greasy and oily stuff are in a liquid state when you use it and therefore it might seem alright to dispose of it in the sink. What you may not have realized is that this grease and oil once down your drain, cools and hardens forming a sludge like substance that is capable of causing a block.

In the event of a sink block, you could try out any of the alternatives as mentioned below:

• Home Remedy Home remedies exist for nearly everything, including a blocked sink. All you need to do is to first pour hot water down the sink. Then immediately throw half a cup of baking soda and wait a couple of minutes. With a cup each of water and vinegar, make a mixture and pour it in after the baking soda has had time to settle. While giving it around 10 minutes to react, you can cover the sink drain with the drain plug. Finish this home remedy with one last pot of hot water down the sink drain. This method gets rid of slime and sludge resulting in clear pipes again.
• Plunger Being easy and convenient, this is the first thing that comes to mind in the event of a clog. For best results, first partially fill the sink with hat water. Then place the plunger over the sink drain. With rapid upward-downward motions, work the plunger. After doing so for thirty seconds, take off the plunger and you will notice the water beginning to drain. If not, continue doing so until it unclogs. In case this doesn’t work, you always have the last option mentioned below.
• Call an expert Since plumber charges are expensive, some may think it is better to fix the clogged sink themselves. But by doing this, not only would you waste an additional amount of money (as you will most likely end up calling a plumber), but you may cause damage while trying to repair it. This would lead to the plumber fixing more than what was the original problem.

Your garbage disposal has one job – to clear away the kitchen scraps. However, you too need to be cautious while disposing of your kitchen waste. Be sure not to throw away certain chunky or oily stuff down your sink.

After all, your kitchen garbage bin exists for a reason!

Water heater damage & faults

Water heater damage & faults to your hot water unit can be a tricky disaster, not only because it is quite difficult for a trained technician to repair, but also because most people hardly pay attention to their water heaters until theres significant damage done.

Here in Sydney, weather and age are the biggest culprits and can take their toll on most water heaters.

While you can avoid big problems by regularly scheduling maintenance, the fact of the matter is that sooner or later your water heater will need some sort of repairs.

Being able to spot the signs of hot water unit damage is a valuable skill that could save you a lot of money. The sooner a problem is spotted, the quicker a plumber can be to fix it.

Listed below are only a few of the most common signs of hot water heater damage:

 

• Lack of hot water. The most common and obvious sign of a bigger problem. If it takes a long time for the hot water to arrive at your faucet, if your hot water runs out quickly, or if your hot water is never really hot, it is time to have a look at your water heater.
• Discoloured water. This should be an obvious a sign that something is not right. If flakes of rust and other discolouration are present in your tap water when you turn it on, this is a sign that there might be some corrosion or rust anywhere in your hot water system.
• Odd noises. To be frank, any strange noise from your water heater should be something to worry about. Gurgling generally occurs when water passes through a build-up on the bottom of your tank.
• Leaking can take place anywhere in the system. It too is a serious problem and most likely will mean that the heater itself will need to be replaced. If you’ve spotted a sign of water heater damage, call us to help!

Have you ever realised the importance of a stormwater drain?

It is a necessity which ensures that all excess rain and ground water from surfaces like the streets, car parks etcetera, runs into the storm drain.

Therefore stormwater is basically all the water that flows from the streets, gutters, pipes and eventually into the main drain.

Your stormwater drain is likely to get blocked due to certain factors

• It could be due to natural factors like dirt, silt, sand, tree roots, leaves and mud. These occur over a course of time and cannot really be helped until a blockage arises.
• Inaccurate pipe aligning occurs if the pipes have been installed by a non-professional. Since these roots thrive on moisture, it becomes easy to get into the stormwater drain pipes that are inaccurately aligned. Additionally these tree roots may also mix with other rubble as mentioned in the first point to cause a major clog.

Since majority of the time nothing much can be done about to prevent a blockage, here are a few options that help unblock a stormwater drain:

1. Hydro-Jet: The hydro-jet drain machine is a high pressure water pump that blasts water into your drain pipes. The high pressure pushes away the cause of blockage. This is the best method in case of thick sludge, leaves and small amount of roots.
2. Electric Cable Machine: When the cause of the blockage is massive tree roots, then this electric cable machine is your best bet. A portion of the ground will be dug up so that the drain pipe can be cut in the area of the blockage. Using the electric cable machine, the tree roots are easily cut off. Also the roots in the surrounding area of the drain are pulled out using this machine to prevent a second occurrence of this nature.

If you have a blocked stormwater drain, you will need to act fast because if proper control measures aren’t taken immediately, it leads to an unhygienic and hazardous situation for humans and their surroundings.

Are you experiencing plumbing problems?

Almost every person faces a plumbing issue once in a life either at home, work or surrounding areas.

Plumbing systems are one of the most important, delicate and complex systems which require proper and timely maintenance. No matter how well the pipes are installed, plumbing problem can arise anytime.

If you find any leaky pipes, faucets, blocked drains or any other plumbing problem, get it immediately repaired to protect further loss.

Hiring a skilled plumber for any plumbing issue is beneficial as they use the proper techniques and tools to do the work perfectly.

Some of the most common plumbing problems you may face in day to day life are:

1. Leaky Pipes:

This is the most common plumbing problem that everyone faces. In the beginning, many people ignore this without knowing that a leak pipe can cause damage to property and health if not repaired on time.

2. Clogged Drains:

Drains are the victims of wear and tear as they are being used a lot. Larger items when passing through the drains, they block it. Hiring a skilled and talented plumber can help you get your drains running properly as earlier.

3. Sewer Line Blockage:

A sewer line blockage is one of the most disgusting plumbing problems. This can happen due to corrosion or collapsed sewer pipe line outside the home. Most of the times, an old pipe made of concrete can get collapsed. Many plumbing companies in Cupertino offer video inspection of sewer lines which makes it easier to find the problem and repair it.

4. Pipe Corrosion:

Generally, old pipes made of iron or galvanized steel gets corroded. Getting them replaced by a plumber is the only solution. A corroded pipe if not replaced can burst, causing damage to life and property.

5. Burst Water Heater:

Waking up on a cold winter morning and not getting hot water for bathing is the most annoying thing. Your water heater might have stopped working due to poor or no maintenance. If it has been 12 to 14 years that you are using the same water heater, then there are chances that it might have to be replaced.

6. Low Water Pressure: Not getting proper water in a tap is another plumbing problem. The reason behind the low water pressure could be clogging of the aerator.

7. Faulty Faucets:

Leaky faucets are very annoying.

They waste a lot of water and your money too on water bills. Some of the common causes of faulty faucet could be mineral deposits, corrosion and breakage of parts such as washers, gaskets and O-rings.

8. Broken Pipes:

A common problem is a break in the pipe that is coming inside or going out of the home. If this happens, it is essential to call a plumber straight away and get it fixed at the earliest. It might require replacement of a length of pipe where the breakage occurred and welding the new material in its place. If you face any of the above mentioned or any other plumbing issue, call a skilled plumber to get it fixed on time.

This way, you will save money and further damage to your property.

Inline Plumbing is one of the longest running, plumbing company’s in Sydney.

We are proud to have earned an enviable reputation for dependable plumbing service throughout greater Sydney area.

We install and repair the total spectrum of hot water systems, including gas, electric and solar hot water heating, on-demand hot water systems, together with all plumbing fixtures, corresponding to sinks, taps, toilets, standard and luxury shower heads and components.

We also connect gas appliances and anything requiring a water connection.

With customised tools and know-how, we that can definitely help you where others have to check their manuals.

Homeowner Plumbing Tips & Advice

Homeowner’s insurance generally covers residential water damage if the damage is unexpected and accidental, such as damage caused by burst pipes.

It does not cover damage of the kind covered by flood insurance, i.e., rising water from outside; or damage triggered eventually by absence of upkeep.

A water damage claim is usually a sore point to insurers as well as to potential home buyers, signaling a likelihood of repeat water claims. It is always better to guard your house from water issues than face the perils associated with increased insurance premiums and lowered home marketability.

Diagnosing Water Problems

Take a look at your water bill. By comparing monthly usage figures, you may get tipped off to a small leak before it becomes a giant problem. Major unexplained variances in your water bill are sometimes an indication of water leakages.

Use a water pressure gauge to find out if your residential water pressure is set too high. The ideal household water pressure is 60–80 pounds per square inch (psi), but many homes are set at 100 or higher.

Attach the gauge to an outside faucet and switch the water on full to determine the water pressure. Inspect water lines and fittings every year.

Just as you change the batteries in the smoke detector each year, you ought to take a few minutes to inspect under sinks and around automatic washers, bathrooms, ice makers and water softeners.

Prevention Upkeep

Know where your water shutoff valve is found and make certain that the whole family knows the way to shut off household water supplies for instances when an abrupt pipe or hose breaks or cracks.

When you go away, switch off the water for your dish washer while you’re on vacation.

Many owners have returned from holiday to discover their automatic washer hoses have burst, flooding the house.

Never leave your home for an prolonged time with appliances, like dishwashers, washers or dyers, still working.

A slab leak is a serious problem in your house, mainly because it can be very hard to detect or access.

The problem becomes apparent when a pipe that is built into the base of your house, beneath a concrete courtyard or another inaccessible location, springs what would usually be an ordinary leak. These days, plumbers can use advanced technology to identify the leak and repair the pipe, but the main issues arise when detecting it.

The further along a slab leak goes, the increase in damage it causes, and while Sydney has its share of professional plumbers, they won’t be much help if you don’t know how to catch the signs of trouble when they come about.

Hence, here are three ways to detect a slab leak that can save you a lot of cash.

1. Spikes in Your Water Bill
   The quickest and easiest way to detect a slab leak is to literally follow the money. If your water bill suddenly spikes in cost, particularly if you haven’t been using the water more than you usually would, then it could indicate a leak. Additionally, if the leak cannot be easily spotted, it is likely that there is a problem in a pipe that is tucked away, such as a slab leak.
2. Noises
   Running water does make a noise, and in fact, this forms one of the many ways professional plumbers can detect a slab leak: high-tech sound detectors. The everyday person most likely don’t have access to this sort of equipment, so keep your ear peeled for sounds of trickles, drips or running water on your property when there is no apparent source.
3. Puddles and Spots
   If you’re fortunate, the slab leak will form a puddle or even a moist spot where none should occur, waving a big red flag right at the source of the trouble. Nevertheless, even if there is no obvious moisture, you can still detect a slab leak if you notice cold or warm spots on your concrete, where the leaking water below it has altered the temperature.

If you experience any of the warning signs as mentioned above, and believe it could potentially have a slab leak problem, then call us right away!

How to Fix a Leaking Hot Water Heater

If your hot water heater’s drain valve is leaking or doesn’t allow for good water flow, it’s time to replace the valve.

This is a relatively easy job you can do yourself in about 30 minutes.

You’ll need a

• replacement drain valve
• an adjustable wrench
• Teflon tape
• flat-blade screwdriver
• a garden hose
• and a couple of rags or towels.

Refer to the hot water heater manufacturers website for ordering the drain valve for your specific water heater or contact a staff member at Inline Plumbing for some friendly advice.

Caution: When Draining Your Hot Water Heater

Before we begin, a note of caution: draining your water heater may put you at risk of being scalded by hot water, so please, be careful.

First, turn off the power to your electric water heater at the circuit breaker. For gas heaters, you should also turn off the gas supply.

Next, fasten a length of garden hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the heater. Run the other end of the hose to the nearest floor drain or outside the home. Don’t try to use a bucket; there’s simply too much water in the tank. Close the shut-off valve at the cold water inlet line.

Open a hot water faucet somewhere in the house that will relieve the system pressure inside the tank.

Now, open the drain valve and allow the water to drain. You’ll probably notice some small, white particles of sediment as the flow gets started. Remember, the water will be hot. Be sure no one is near the drain hose so they don’t get scalded.

When all the water is drained out, close the drain valve and remove the hose. Remove the old drain valve with a wrench.

Some additional water may drain out during this step, so have a few rags handy.

Leaking Hot Water Heater Fix – Now you’re ready to install the new drain valve.

Use Teflon tape to seal the threads. Count out at least six wraps of tape. And once it’s tightened, make sure the new drain valve is in the closed position. Now you’re ready to fill the tank again. First, open a hot water faucet at a sink or tub somewhere in the house.

Then open the shut-off valve at the cold water inlet line. You’ll hear the heater start to fill. Check the new drain valve to make sure there are no leaks or drips. And when you have a steady stream of water from the open hot water faucet, turn the faucet off. Turn the power on to the water heater at the circuit breaker.

For gas heaters, turn the gas supply back on. You may need to relight your pilot per the instructions in your use and care manual. Finally, allow the water to heat back up. Recheck the new drain valve one more time to make sure it’s tight with no leaks or drips. And it’s a good idea to check again for leaks after 24 hours.

That’s it. You now have a water heater that will drain properly anytime you need to flush the tank or do a repair.