Information, tips and hints about plumbing - things you can do to help yourself prevent an emergency or at least minimize the damage until the A2Z Professional Plumber comes along.

Courtesy of;

Commonly occurring plumbing related problems, and answers from the experts. Both questions and answers in this frame - questions only in the left hand frame, for quicker navigation.

My Water Heater Seems To Have Stopped Working

As this may well be a problem with the heating element it's important that the first thing you do is turn the power off, or you may well burn it out. As there are high voltages associated with this part of the heating system it is NOT recommended that you do any  investigating unless you really know what you are doing.

Burst Pipes

The first thing to do with burst pipes is turn off the main valve. This will stop any more water coming into the house, and reduce the pressure of the leak. However, if the storage tank is full then there could still be quite a lot more water to flow out, so opening all other taps will probably help in reducing the amount coming from the leak. Get buckets etc to catch any remaining water coming out, and then deal with any flood water and damage. If there is any significant damage to furnishings, it's worth taking pictures for insurance purposes!

Cutting out the burst section and fitting a new section of pipe yourself is not really feasible for anyone other than the very competent "do it yourself"  enthusiast who understands plumbing joints etc. So this will be a job for the plumber.

Hopefully the pipe will be visible, or simply behind a kitchen unit or in an area where it is still reasonably accessible. In which case the plumber will be able to cut in a new length of pipe quickly and efficiently - they've done it thousands of times before! Clear everything away before they arrive and make as much room as possible for them to operate in.

Dripping Taps

This is almost invariably due to a faulty tap washer. You can simply install a new tap, or replace the washer. Both jobs are within the ability of the competent DIY enthusiast with the right tools, but there can be complications, so if in any doubt get the professionals in. If you're buying new taps it's worth trying to see what diameter base and inlet pipe the original has, to make swapping them as easy as possible.

• Make sure all your pipes work and are wrapped to alleviate the possibility of pipes freezing.
• Check that your storage tank is tagged and has proper fittings.
• Check that your tank insulation will actually extend below the storage tank, if you have a basement. This allows warmth from below to take the chill off the tank.
• If your hot water tank is in an exposed area, get it wrapped and inspected now.
• Take extra care with pipes in cold weather. Wrapping pipes is advised.
• Have your hot water tank and other appliances regularly serviced.
• If you own or are in a rented property, all appliances must be serviced annually.
• Make sure there is a valve on the hot water tank.
• Only allow qualified plumbers to service your water heaters and related pipes.
• Do not allow any unqualified person to touch any of your appliances. They could, if not skilled, cause major damage in the home.

Things you can do to prepare for the arrival of
your plumber, to speed up his visit and allow
him to solve your problems quicker!

Your Main Valve!

There should be a valve on the mains feed into your house. This is often under the kitchen sink. It's very likely your plumber will need access to this, so you should know where it is, and remove anything in its way.

Your Heating System

If the problem is with your heating system, be sure you know where the drain cock is (it will usually be on the main tank.) If a heating pipe gets punctured or starts to leak for any reason you may need to drain down the system. (Plumbers are not always available at a moment's notice!). Be sure you know how to use the cock. You may need a length of hose to pipe the water out of the house. (It will be more than a bucket-full!).

Courtesy of;