No matter where in Australia you live, or how modern your home is, one thing all Aussies have in common is that they will at some point have to deal with a plumbing emergency. Ignoring minor issues can often lead to major problems.
Fortunately, the expert 24-hour emergency plumber Brisbane locals turn to has the solutions for all your plumbing issues. Despite this, there are a few basic tips your plumber wants you to know. Simple hacks can help you contain the damage to your property while you wait for your plumber.
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Basic Hacks Every Homeowner Should Know
Plumbing issues can be as basic as changing valves or replacing older taps, to dealing with major drain blockages and pipe bursts. In many instances, a few simple tips and hacks can minimise the damage to your home and property.
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Know Where Everything is
The golden rule with plumbing in your home or workspace is to know exactly where everything is. This is essential for the water mains, gas mains, and power switches. Keep in mind that some emergencies may require you to turn these off to minimise the damage to your home.
The last thing you need is to have water streaming into your home from a burst pipe, and you don’t know where to turn the water off. Depending on the emergency, you may have to turn the power or gas off as well. If you’re a tenant, be sure to ask your landlord about the location of these switches.
2. Be Strict About What Gets Flushed
Overflowing toilets and blocked drains are still among the top reasons why your plumber may have to attend an emergency at your home. Both of these issues are often caused by the items that are being flushed. Avoid blockages caused by wet wipes and nappies by not flushing these items.
3. Don’t Pour Oil or Grease Down the Sink
Another major plumbing issue that’s quite common in Australian homes is blockages caused by pouring oil or grease down the kitchen sink. You may think that these liquids can easily flush when they’re still hot.
The reality is that once oil and grease get cold, they solidify around the existing debris in your pipes. This forms what is known as a “fatberg” and can cause severe blockages that can affect the whole neighbourhood. Opt for recycling your used oil and grease.
4. Be Cautious With Harsh Chemicals
A common DIY trick homeowners resort to is using harsh drain cleaning chemicals to clear out any blockages. While this works for minor clogs, your plumbing team want you to know that some types of harsh chemicals can damage pipes and plumbing components. It’s a good idea to opt for a more natural approach in the early stages of the clog.
You can do this by opting for a baking soda and vinegar solution for kitchen and bathroom blockages. Here’s the most common method to follow:
- Pour a kettle of boiling water down the drain
- Follow this with half a cup of baking soda
- Add half a cup of vinegar after the baking soda
- Leave the drain for about 20 minutes
- Pour boiling water into the drain for about three minutes
- You might have to repeat this process for tougher clogs
A vinegar and baking soda solution works well as a cleaning and anti-bacterial alternative to loosen small clogs and keep your sink odour-free.
5. Don’t be Rough With Plumbing Fixtures and Fittings
Some basic plumbing issues can be resolved by you at home. Common examples of this include replacing worn taps and connectors. When doing this, some homeowners over-tighten fittings and connections. In some DIY projects, the tighter the screws, the better.
Your plumbing fixtures are not one of those instances. Over-tightening can result in stripped or broken screws. The best solution here would be to keep the connections hand-tight. Always ensure that you buy connectors that fit correctly.
6. Always Use Plumber’s Tape
Another pro tip from our plumbing team involves using quality plumber’s tape. Affordable and easy to use, plumber’s tape is the best way to prevent water leaks around pipe fittings and joints by sealing the pipe threads. This can easily be done by using high-quality plumber’s tape, sometimes referred to as Teflon tape.
Simply wrap the tape around the threads about three times before you connect the fittings or joints. If you’re not familiar with plumber’s tape, a simple tip to identify the tape is as follows:
- Yellow is for gas lines
- Pink is for water
- White is generally used for household purposes
Final Thoughts
It’s always a good idea to have a professional work on any major plumbing issues in your residential or commercial property. However, as a homeowner or tenant, it’s essential to know a few plumbing basics that will go a long way toward preventing minor issues from escalating. Be sure to have your 24-hour plumber’s number handy so that you can get professional assistance when you need it!
