Spot and Stop Hidden Pipe Leaks: Tips from a Plumber in Sydney

Three things are certain in life: Death, Taxes, and Plumbing Issues.

You read that right.

Every home or business all over the world will, sooner or later, have to deal with plumbing issues. From blocked drains to water pressure issues, or a sewer issue that might not be directly tied to your property, which requires the attention of the city you live in, plumbing will take money out of your pockets.

Two of the most common plumbing issues in Sydney are clogged drains and leaking taps. In this blog, you're going to learn all about the common plumbing issues, their easy fixes, and when to call a plumber in Sydney.

Residential Plumbing Issues

Leaky Taps

As stated in the introduction to this blog, leaky taps are a Sydney homeowner's most annoying plumbing problem. Even more annoying is that it can quickly devolve into a pocket-drainer. The constant drips are irritating and can end up wasting lots of water that add up to your bill – water you never used!

The Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), on its Your Home website, says that a drip per second from a leaky tap that's left unattended for a year wastes 12,000 litres of water! That's enough water to fill SIX BATHTUBS! And all of it is water you have to pay for!

Leaky taps are caused by worn rubber washers or O-rings, corroded valve seats, or loose packing nuts. And there's no way to prevent it because these parts get worn out due to being used. The simple solution is to constantly check and change them. If the leaks blindside you, follow the steps below to fix it yourself

• Turn off the water supply to the sink.
• Remove the tap handle.
• Remove the valve cartridge or spindle.
• Replace damaged parts, put the tap back together, and turn the water back on.

If the leak continues after this, replace the whole tap. If the leak continues after replacing the tap, contact a qualified plumber in Sydney.

Running Toilets

Some homeowners deal with toilets that can't stop running. This is usually due to one, a combination or all of the problems listed below:

• A worn or unbalanced flapper: There's a rubber flapper at the bottom of the water closet tank that's supposed to be a seal when you flush. Over time, it will wear out, and water can leak into the bowl.
• Short or tangled chain: Poor installation or overuse can make the little chain that links the flushing lever to the flapper too tight. The result is a permanently running toilet–if you're lucky!
• Faulty fill valve: If the mechanism that shuts off the incoming water after a flush is bad, water will keep flowing.
• Float level misadjustment: Float balls control the fill levels of a WC tank. If the balls are badly installed, you find yourself with a permanently running toilet.
• Mineral buildup or debris: If your area has hard water, some debris and minerals can build up and cause the other parts of the toilet to get worn out quickly, leading to a running toilet.

Sydney Water warns that a running toilet wastes up to 260 litres of water per day, so here are quick fix tips in case you're dealing with this:

• Take the lid off the tank, then flush to inspect.
• Replace flapper and/or flush-valve kit.
• Check float ball and adjust height properly if necessary.
• Add a few drops of food colouring to check your DIY fix. Check back in 15 minutes. If bowl water is coloured, the flapper is still leaking. Secure it properly.

For anything else, call a plumber in Sydney for help!

Blocked Drains and Toilets

Plumbers keep preaching, but this keeps happening. And to be honest, it's not an entirely preventable problem. Those loose strands of hair, that negligible soap scum, that small cotton ball that falls into the toilet, and those food debris that fall into the sink from the dishes before you do them–these are the things that block toilets and drains.

This is why plumbers keep preaching, so that people are more deliberate about these things. Prevention is always better than a cure. Use strainers in our sink to catch food particles. Your floor drain should have strainers as well to catch that loose strand of hair that has become one with the soap scum. Clean your sinks, shower drains and toilets with hot water.

Make sure you also learn all about the early warning signs of a blocked toilet or drain, so that you can nip it in the bud. Call in a blocked drains Sydney expert for drains, so they can use their equipment, like snakes and hydro-jets, to clear out the drains.

Low Water Pressure

You could be taking a shower and, all of a sudden, the water pressure reduces. Or you could turn on your kitchen tap, and from a steady stream, the pressure drops. Don't ignore it. Go check the master shut-off valve and any pressure regulator valve near the meter. Before you do that, though, check other taps in the house to be sure that your shower head or your kitchen tap is the only one affected.

If that one water outlet is the only one affected, face it. If not, then check the valves to see that they're open. If you open them and the water pressure remains the same, you need a plumber.

Hot Water System Breakdowns

Like every system made by the hands of man, your home's hot water system can break down. If yours is electric, a breaker that trips off or a blown thermal cutout can turn off the heating element. If the water isn't hot, check your switchboard first. Also, sediment can build up in the tank, so you need to check this too. Experts say that electric hot water systems need to be drained and flushed yearly.

If your hot water system is gas-powered and the water isn't hot, the burner has probably gone off. Try to turn it back on if you can, and if you can't, call a plumber in Sydney.

No hot water could also be a thermostat issue. In cases like these, the water temperature fluctuates before the heat finally goes away. Replace the thermostat or heating element if you can, but it's best that you get a plumber to do it.

If the heater's older than 10 years, none of these fixes would work long-term. Replace the old guy once and for all and be free.

Burst or Leaking Pipes

Many things can lead to pipes bursting suddenly. A bad plumbing job is one. Sometimes, cold snaps can break the pipes. Other times, it could be age. Be on the lookout for the warning signs of a potential pipe leak or burst and attend to it accordingly.

A quick reminder of the most common warning signs:

• Leaky taps.
• Wet patches on floors and walls.
• Unexpected increase in water bill.

The quickest fix for a broken pipe is to first turn off the main water supply, then turn on all the taps to release excess water in the pipes. Your next step is to call a plumber, because there's no DIY fix for leaky pipes. Sometimes, the plumbing may need reworking. If the leak is from the public main, i.e. you see water pooling up in the street where you know the pipes run through, call Sydney Water.

This is also a good time to tell you to go over your home insurance. Most of them cover incidents of pipes bursting suddenly. Make sure to keep the plumber's invoices and take as many documentation photos and videos for claims.

Commercial Plumbing Challenges

We've covered the most common plumbing challenges that homeowners in Sydney face. Now, let us look at the most common plumbing challenges peculiar to businesses.

You see, the difference between residential and commercial plumbing challenges is that one costs you business. Time is money, as they say, and when your business has to be shut down for a time because of a burst pipe or a clogged drain, it's definitely a bummer.

Commercial properties use more water fittings, use more water and produce more water waste. If the property is industrial, the plumbing is on a much larger scale. To deal with commercial plumbing challenges, a Sydney commercial plumber must battle bigger flows, contend with possibly toxic waste, and follow all health regulations while at it.

Here are some of the problems commercial properties face.

Trade Waste and Grease Traps

Trade waste is waste from high-traffic commercial buildings like factories, kitchens, and hospitality centres. This waste usually contains food debris, grease, fatty oils, chemicals, or high solid loads. They're all harmful to humans and the environment and must be treated first before disposal.

Several mechanisms exist to help catch this waste as the wastewater is leaving the premises. Bucket traps (minute inlet traps), grease interceptors, and so on must be installed in the drainage systems of such high-traffic, heavy activity buildings so that the wastewater doesn't cause a plumbing or health disaster.

These mechanisms must be installed by a licensed plumber, who must install them in such a way that they can be easily cleaned out. Owners of properties that require such mechanisms must bear in mind that only permitted waste carriers should pump out the waste caught by them.

Heavy Demand and Pressure Systems

Some commercial properties can have dozens of plumbing fittings working at the same time. Take an office complex or a shopping centre, for example. Normally, this kind of usage would destroy the pipes used in residential areas, which is why the pipes used in places like these are different. Still, they're not strong enough to withstand concurrent usage for long.

This is why you sometimes hear complaints of low water pressure from people at the top of office complexes, or why tanks take forever to fill. Booster pumps, pressure tanks and larger main valves must be installed and carefully maintained by a commercial plumber for properties like these to experience a hassle-free usage of the facilities.

The fire sprinkler systems in these kinds of buildings also have their own pressure requirements. It is a scary thought to think that the sprinklers cannot dissipate water with enough force and pressure to help everyone in the building escape if a fire breaks out.

As the owner or facility manager of such buildings, plumbers should be your friends if you don't already have your in-house plumbing team. Commercial plumbers will map out the plumbing for you and help you figure out what exactly you need to keep the place running, while also providing after-sales and maintenance services for you.

A faulty commercial water heater is enough to bring down a whole restaurant or hotel, or any commercial building, in fact. It pays to prevent catastrophes by establishing and maintaining service contracts with commercial plumbers. Moreover, Sydney laws require plumbing work on such buildings to be done by a licensed plumber.

Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connections

Cross connections in commercial properties occur when the different water systems mix. It could be the result of a botched job or backflow due to plumbing issues.

You'd hate for the people in your office complex to complain that the irrigation system is spewing out sewage water, or that the drinking fountain tastes funny. To avoid this, commercial plumbers typically install backflow prevention devices like air gaps or valves.

Installing backflow prevention devices depends on the building's hazard rating, though. Licensed plumbers will first check your building's hazard rating, advise you on plumbing maintenance, and then install the proper containment device. The plumber will then present a compliance certificate to Sydney Water after their job is done.

If your building's hazard rating is high to medium, these devices must be tested every year. If this doesn't happen, you can wake up to a million calls one unfortunate day complaining about the stench from your drinking fountain.

Complex Fixtures and Systems

From automatic water sensors to commercial-grade toilets and urinals, to large capacity dishwashers to large capacity hot water systems, commercial plumbing requires larger water supplies, larger drains, and specialised plumbing using sturdier and (sometimes) larger fittings.

For instance, in a commercial kitchen, several dishwashers will be active at a time. These require larger soap-regulating grease traps to stop grease from flowing out with the wastewater. One failed drain, and the whole kitchen goes BOOM!

Not all plumbers can install these, even among commercial plumbers. Only those familiar with them should install them. Certified Sydney commercial plumbers have the expertise and are familiar with the plumbing codes to install and maintain these systems. Do not compromise on professional plumbing support if your building has complex fixtures.

Emergency Plumbing Reaction

You've done well coming this far! Now you know all about the common plumbing problems and potential emergencies that both residential and commercial properties face. At this point, you should be thinking about contacting a plumber in Sydney.

But you should know that certain plumbing issues require quick action. You risk property damage if you don't know how to deal with some of these plumbing issues before your emergency plumber comes along.

Here are the typical emergencies and what to do about them.

• Big Leak or Burst Pipe

Shut off the water supply and then drain the remaining water from the pipes by turning on a tap. If there's an electrical fitting in the affected area, turn it off. Remove children or pets, then call a plumber right away.

• Sewage Backup

Don't use the toilets or drains if sewage isn't flowing well. That's a health emergency waiting to happen, in addition to the plumbing emergency you already have on your hands. Your next course of action is to shut off your home's water supply before calling your plumber. If you're renting, alert the property manager or building supervisor too. Get them to check other apartments so that the emergency doesn't shut down the entire building.

• Gas Leak

Many plumbers have licences to handle gas problems, so you can call a plumber if you suspect that your gas fittings are faulty. If you smell gas without knowing where it's from, your first step is evacuation. Leave any electrical appliances that are on the way they are and don't turn any that are off, on. The sparks can ignite the gas and cause an explosion. Report the gas leak to the NSW gas service and call your licensed gas plumber to repair the leak.

• No Water or No Pressure

Sometimes leaks can happen even when water isn't coming through the main supply. If you discover a leaky tap, confirm first that the supply is good. If the supply is good, but the water isn't flowing to the tap that is leaking, call your plumber. Something's broken. If it's a pressure problem, check all the pumps and gauges to be sure that they're on. Call a plumber if they're not.

What to do in any plumbing emergency

The above list details specific plumbing emergencies and quick actions to prevent further issues. This tells us that there are more emergencies than the ones listed. Therefore, there are quick actions to take for all kinds of plumbing emergencies. To prevent information overload, here's what you need to know about every other emergency:

• Shut the water (or gas) supply off.
• Don't try any desperate DIY fixes, or you could worsen the problem.
• Record the emergency for insurance claims.
• Call a plumber.

That's it. They're called emergencies for a reason.

Conclusion: Befriend a Plumber in Sydney Today!

Three things are certain in life: Death, Taxes, and Plumbing Issues.

You can't avoid death or taxes. These are final–they're debts to higher powers that you must pay. But you can avoid some plumbing issues, and with proper checks and balances, be able to spot their early signs to prevent them.

Remember, small leaks can tear a hole in your pocket because of the water that gets wasted. Clogged drains can ruin your mood. Where your DIY fixes are not applicable, please call a plumber in Sydney to help. These guys follow the country's plumbing code and NSW legislation, so the repairs come with a guarantee.

Befriending a licensed plumber in Sydney is the easiest way to protect your home, investment and peace of mind.