by Plumbaround | Nov 11, 2024 | Uncategorized
Christmas Plumbing Issues: What to Watch For
As the holiday season approaches, our homes and businesses fill with the warmth of family gatherings, festive celebrations, and all the activities that make this time of year so special. Yet with all the extra foot traffic, cooking, and entertaining, plumbing systems in both residential and commercial settings are pushed to their limits. Here are some of the most common plumbing issues you might encounter, so you’ll know exactly what to expect—and how to handle it if things go wrong.
Home Plumbing Issues
Holiday gatherings mean more guests, resulting in more strain on bathrooms, kitchens, and water systems. A common holiday plumbing issue is clogged drains. During holiday meals, it’s easy to toss food remnants down the sink, not realising that holiday classics like potato peels, fat trimmings, or even bits of bread can cause substantial blockages. Grease from roasting and frying is also a serious problem; when washed down the drain, grease solidifies in pipes, and creates stubborn clogs that can quickly disrupt your kitchen.
With increased overnight guests, showers see heavy usage often resulting in slow-draining showers as hair, soap, and other residues build up. Increased numbers of guests using bathrooms can also put pressure on toilets, sometimes leading to blockages and, in worst cases, overflowing. Not to mention, hot water systems can struggle to keep up, leaving guests with cold showers—a quick way to dampen the holiday cheer.
Business Plumbing Issues
For businesses, especially restaurants, hotels and retail spaces, the holiday rush can be a double-edged sword. Commercial restrooms experience higher usage from customers and employees, which can lead to overflow problems in toilets and sinks. Increased usage puts a lot of pressure on these plumbing fixtures, and clogged toilets or sinks can quickly ruin the customer experience.
In restaurant kitchens, drains and grease traps face intense pressure, as holiday specials and increased cooking volumes lead to more oils, fats, and food waste being flushed through the system. When not properly maintained, grease traps can clog, overflow, or emit unpleasant odours that affect both staff and customer experiences.
Plumbaround, Your Holiday Rescue Team
Firstly, we suggest you look at the challenges from now and book us in. We find every year that clients leave it to the last minute and then we are fully booked.
Should an issue arise, our emergency response team is ready to resolve any plumbing crisis promptly and efficiently. With our experienced team, we ensure that plumbing issues don’t interrupt your holiday operations or celebrations.
Contact us today at (07) 3038 1038 or fill out a form here. When it comes to holiday plumbing needs, preparation and professional support make all the difference.
For more information about our Christmas plumbing services, click here.
by Plumbaround | Oct 3, 2024 | Uncategorized
Queensland is known for its charming, older homes, especially around Brisbane. While these homes have unique character and history, they often come with their own set of plumbing challenges. If you’re a homeowner or potential buyer of an older Queenslander, here are some of the most common plumbing problems you may encounter:
1. Low Water Pressure
Older Queensland homes frequently suffer from low water pressure, which can make simple tasks like showering or washing dishes, inefficient and frustrating. The causes could be aged and corroded pipes, mineral build-up, or systems that aren’t equipped to handle modern water usage. Replacing outdated piping or installing pressure-boosting devices can improve your water pressure.
2. Outdated Hot Water Systems
Hot water systems in older homes are often outdated, resulting in unexpected breakdowns and surprising cold showers. Whether it’s struggling to meet your household’s needs or spiking your energy bill, an old hot water system may need upgrading to a more energy-efficient model.
3. Slow Drainage
Slow drainage is a common issue in older homes, typically due to years of build-up in the pipes or outdated designs that weren’t made for modern waste loads. At Plumbaround, we use advanced drain cameras to inspect your plumbing system thoroughly, identifying blockages and problem areas with precision. This ensures we can offer targeted solutions, whether it’s a deep clean or a full pipe replacement, to get your drainage system running smoothly again.
4. Outdated Piping
Older Queensland homes often have galvanised steel or copper piping, which corrodes over time. This can lead to discoloured water, leaks, or even pipe bursts. If your home has these outdated pipes, replacing them with modern materials like PVC or PEX can prevent more severe issues and protect your home in the long run.
5. Leaking Taps
Leaking taps might seem like a minor issue, but they can often be an early sign of more significant problems. Worn-out washers, corroded valve seals, or high water pressure, can all contribute to drips and leaks. Left ignored, these small leaks can lead to wasted water and higher bills.
6. Tree Root Invasion
In Queensland, tree roots can pose a serious threat to older homes’ plumbing systems. As roots grow, they search for water, often finding their way into tiny cracks in underground pipes. Over time, they can cause blockages or even break the pipes completely, leading to significant damage and costly repairs. Regular maintenance and inspections are crucial to prevent tree root intrusion in your pipes.
How Plumbaround Can Help
At Plumbaround, we specialise in identifying and solving plumbing issues common in older Queensland homes. Whether you’re dealing with low water pressure, outdated hot water systems, or tree roots, our team of experienced plumbers is here to help. We can assess your home’s plumbing and recommend effective solutions. Contact us today at 07 3038 1038 or fill out a form here.
by Plumbaround | Sep 5, 2024 | Uncategorized
by Plumbaround | Aug 8, 2024 | Health and Safety
New Lead Requirements for Plumbing Products Related to Drinking Water in Queensland: What it means for the industry?
Lead pipes date back to the ancient Roman times. Today, health experts research suggests there is no safe level of exposure. While it’s toxic to everyone, fetuses, infants, and young children are at the greatest risk for lead poisoning because their brains and bodies are rapidly developing and more easily absorb lead than do those of older children and adults. But adults are also at risk, particularly from cardiovascular disease due to lead exposure. As levels increase, these harms become more severe.
The 2022 edition of the National Construction Code (NCC) has introduced significant changes regarding the allowable lead content in plumbing products used for drinking water in Queensland. Effective from May 1, 2026, all copper alloy plumbing products that come in contact with drinking water must contain no more than 0.25% lead. This regulatory update is aimed at improving public health and ensuring the safety of drinking water for Queenslanders.
The key changes
Deadline for Compliance
By May 1, 2026, all copper alloy plumbing products installed in systems conveying drinking water must comply with the new lead content limit, and products not meeting this standard will no longer be authorised for use.
Product Certification
Only products marked with the “Lead Free WaterMark” will be authorised for installation following the deadline. Until then, existing WaterMark certified products, including those with reduced lead levels, can still be used.
Affected Products
The new lead requirements apply to all copper alloy products in constant contact with drinking water. This includes fittings, valves, backflow prevention devices, taps, mixers, water heaters, water dispensers, and water meters.
Inventory Management
Plumbers are encouraged to use their current inventory of copper alloy products before the compliance date to avoid potential losses.
Not only are plumbers impacted by the NCC’s new requirements, but business and commercial property owners, Body Corporates, and Facilities Managers will also need to be aware of the new regulations and maintain compliance. That’s where we come in.
As a trusted local plumbing service and an affiliate of the Master Plumbers’ Association of Queensland, we ensure that all our clients are aware of, and advised of, the new lead requirements and their implications.
Implementation and Compliance
To ensure a smooth transition in compliance with new standards, it is crucial for plumbers and tradesmen alike to stay informed and start adjusting their inventory and procurement practices now. The Mater Plumbers Association of Queensland (MPAQ) and other industry bodies provide valuable resources and guidance to help plumbers navigate these changes.
For more information and to see how we can help you, give us a call on 07 3038 1038 or send an email to [email protected].
By adhering to these new requirements, we can contribute to a safe and healthier environment, ensuring that the drinking water supply remains uncontaminated and safe for all.
by Plumbaround | Aug 1, 2024 | Uncategorized
Spring is most people’s favourite time of year – temperatures start warming up, there are more hours in the day, baby animals are everywhere, plants become greener and flowers start blooming. Psychologically, Spring can make us feel happier, more energised and motivated to do some spring cleaning or get outside and do some work in the garden.
Your new-found burst of energy to spring-clean your home can be invigorating but we want to ensure that while you’re at it, you don’t overlook your home’s plumbing. Routine Spring plumbing maintenance can help highlight any minor issues before they turn into major ones.
Now that we are heading into Spring, we thought we’d help you with 10 plumbing tips:
#1 Check all your indoor and outdoor taps. It’s possible some of your pipes might have been affected during the colder months so it’s a good idea to check all your taps.
#2 Replace broken or missing strainers. Strainers help to stop drains from clogging up with hair, soap, food and other debris. To save money on drain cleaning, replace any broken or missing strainers.
#3 Check for toilet leaks. A few drops of food colouring in the cistern will soon reveal whether the toilet is leaking. If the water in the bowl changes colour (give it 30 minutes), there’s a good chance you have a leak.
#4 Exercise your water valves. Open and shut all the water valves that supply sinks and toilets to prevent them from getting stuck (a buildup of lime is a classic offender for this). Replace any that don’t function properly.
#5 Test your toilets. The replacement of worn tank parts is simple and inexpensive. To ensure your water bill stays low, test your toilets flush correctly.
#6 Clean your shower heads. Using dishwashing liquid and water, with an old toothbrush, clean out your shower heads and dry them completely. This not only prevents rusting but also gets rid of mineral deposits and any bad bacteria.
#7 Perform a water heater check-up. If your hot water is really “hot”, turn down your water heater temperature to under 50 degrees and check for signs of corrosion and leaks. Puddles of water, rust, lime or soot can be tell-tale signs of wear and tear. If your water heater is over 10 years old, it’s probably the right time to get a plumber to inspect it thoroughly.
#8 Clean gutters and downpipes. Debris, especially from trees close to your property, can quickly end up in gutters and block downpipes, causing leaks and water damage to your home. Clean out your gutters and downpipes using a high-pressure hose or auger, or alternatively call a plumber to do a professional job for you.
#9 Inspect exposed pipes under sinks and vanities. If you notice staining of your cupboard shelves underneath the pipes, you probably have a leak caused by ageing, stress or link wear and tear. Take note and call a plumber.
#10 Check for worn appliance hoses. Make sure you check your water supply hoses to your washing machine and dishwasher as these can be prone to wear and strain. In fact old, worn or kinked hoses have been known to be the cause of many in-house flooding catastrophes. Don’t let that happen to you. If your hoses are more than ten years old, call a plumber to replace them.
The plumbing at your residential or commercial property is important to us at Plumbaround. Our team of Qualified Master Plumbers can perform routine inspections, report on findings, and complete any work that needs to be done, providing you with peace of mind that all your plumbing systems are well maintained and ready for Spring.
We are the plumbers you can rely on!
Contact Us for a chat and an obligation-free quote. We service Brisbane and surrounding suburbs.
