If you need a plumber in a hurry, choose one such as the TRK Group; they offer a reliable, efficient service and more importantly are available 24 hours a day. This is essential, as leaving leaks and bursts for any length of time can cost a fortune in repair bills – and not just for your pipes and plumbing. However, many of the reasons we are compelled to call a plumber out are related to issues that could all too easily have been avoided in the first instance. Here are 5 ways in which you could potentially be landing yourself with expensive repair bills, and how you can avoid doing so.
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1.Drilling into your water pipes
In an effort to keep costs down, many people prefer to tackle small DIY tasks themselves and this is fine, as long as they know what they are doing and can do the job properly. When the job you are doing requires you to drill a hole or knock a nail into your wall, or floor, then you need to be aware of where your water pipes are. Hit one of those and you could cause a leak. The problem is, the leak may only be small and you won’t notice until it has caused considerable damage, requiring professional assistance. A simple tool called a Laser Level will allow you to easily find out which areas you should avoid drilling in.
2.Blocked Toilets
There are only three things you should flush down your toilet: urine, faeces and toilet paper. Flush anything else down there (and far too many people do), and you are asking for trouble. Other waste will not break down in your plumbing and can result in the pipes becoming clogged, your toilet becoming blocked and then possibly overflowing. So, if it isn’t one of these three things it simply does not belong in your toilet.
Hot tip: unfortunately, even flushable wipes can cause blockage, as they are not as ‘flushable’ as they claim.
3.Blocked external drains
Sometimes an indoor plumbing issue can result from a problem outside the home. It is important to keep your outside drains and gutters, including any downpipes, clear of debris. During periods of very heavy rain, especially those that follow a lengthy period of good weather, drains can become blocked and back up into your home. This can be caused by heavy rainfall, but it can also be a result of debris being washed into your drains.
4.Overtightened taps
Nobody likes a dripping tap. The sounds is annoying, and often we think we haven’t turned it off properly and we turn it off even harder. The problem with over-tightening your taps is that you can make the dripping worse. The harder you turn a tap off the more wear you will cause to the tap washer, which is what causes it to leak. Of course, the more it leaks the more you think you just need to turn it off properly, until finally the leak is so bad that you will need to call someone in to fix your tap.
5.Clogged plug holes
Make sure you keep your bathroom plug hole free from deposits of hair, which, when combined with soap residue, can clump together and create a blockage in the pipes. In your kitchen, there are a number of culprits that can block your plug hole. The number one culprit is cooking fat, which can solidify in your pipes when you pour it down you plug hole – leading of course to a blocked sink. The list of what you shouldn’t put down your drain isn’t limited to cooking fat, and some of the items might surprise you.
Essentially, if you follow the tips above, you should only need to call a plumber out in a real emergency – and not one you may have inadvertently created yourself!
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