Central Coast, NSW residents must call handyman for any type of home renovation or repair, including plumbing services. DIY corrections are strictly limited for homeowners for safety reasons.
Many people tend to delay minor problems or neglect the maintenance of the household because of the potential costs. However, postponing these issues can cause significant household damage, which later increases costs. Find out more about DIY in Australia here.
DIY preparation instead of DIY repairs
While DIY is not allowed in the NSW area of Australia, plumbers appreciate residents who take the time to learn about their homes' water systems. If you have a basic understanding of the system, you can tell if something is not working properly, no matter how small the problem is.
If you notice a small leak or unusual water usage and contact a plumber immediately, you can save yourself significant damage, repair costs, and energy bills compared to someone who is not informed. There are other tips professionals recommend that homeowners should be aware of in order to be prepared for potential problems, including:
** Know where the shut-off valve is when you move into your home
Whenever you discover a leak in the house, no matter how small, it is important to know where the main water supply valve is in case the water needs to be turned off quickly. The time you spend looking for this valve can cause significant home damage if the leak quickly gets out of hand. When you locate the valve, highlight it in some way with paint or decoration and make it easily accessible without blocking access.
It is also important to ensure that the sewer inspection shaft is easily accessible to the plumber. Too often there are calls regarding blockages and these are buried with the inability to locate them unless plans are sought from the council. This can take significant time, effort, and expense on your part.
Instead, make sure this is readily available and there is an essentially obvious marker to indicate the location so the plumber can spend time cleaning the drain rather than playing a detective exploring the inspection shaft. Because of the potential dangers, blocked drains initially represent an exceptionally high fee. While the expert is looking around, substantial fees apply. Save your time and money.
** Pay attention to your water usage
If you find that your water bill is getting higher and higher, or your meter continues to run even when the water is not in use, it is an indication that the system is leaking. The first place you want to check is always with the toilets and the faucets.
Conducting your examination may help the experts upon arrival. However, you shouldn't waste much time before turning to a reliable plumber like the one at H2Coast Plumbing. The extent of damage from a pipe burst can be exceptional, with significant loss possible. A leak must be found in good time and repaired quickly.
** Maintenance of the hot water system.
The suggestion for users of a “hot water storage heating system” is to release the overflow valve or “TPR” at least every three months to prevent sediment build-up. Performing this type of maintenance will give you optimum performance and avoid the dangers of a faulty valve.
You should also have a licensed installer perform a thorough inspection of the unit every six months or whenever there is evidence of a leak, instability of service, or damage to the cylinder. If you find there are leaks on the outside of the cylinder, the device will need to be replaced as it cannot be fixed by a plumber.
There are usually small patches of rust on the bottom of the unit that are just surface rust and this is fine. If the area is strong or structural, or if rust is also running down the sides, a replacement is needed. If the system tilts, there is a possibility of repair by replacing the concrete base, but these things need to be fixed immediately. Any service over 10 years old should be checked to make sure it is in good condition, has no leaks, and is not leaning in any way.
** Aging tapware should be replaced regularly.
There is a “minimum water saving rule of 9 l” for every property that has to be fulfilled. To ensure that your water usage is within limits, your old faucets should be updated regularly as this is a common cause of water leaks.
** "Flexi-hoses" bursting is a common problem.
Flexi hoses are usually located under the cisterns in the kitchen, toilet, washstand and laundry and must be carefully observed to avoid flooding from a burst pipe. As soon as they part, it is reminiscent of a water hose left in a house for several hours and causing great damage. If there is a problem, you will notice bulges, creases, fraying, leaks, rust spots, twists, or water marks. The response must be immediate.
Last thought
Investing in an NSW home is significant, so maintenance and servicing are essential to protecting components and maintaining value. One of the most important elements is the plumbing system, which can also be the greatest risk to the integrity of the home. It is important for the homeowner to research the system to get a full understanding of how it works. When informed, you can be prepared for problems so that immediate action can be taken to prevent possible harm. Take this opportunity to learn about common installation issues on the Central Coast.
The better prepared you are for problems that arise, the more time you save for the expert trying to solve the problem and the more money you save not only on repairs but also on damage that may have occurred.
