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What's New
Gas Boiler servicing from
£35.00.
Mira showers on offer this month,
phone for latest proices.
Bathroom suites supplied &
fitted from £499.95, choice of colours.
Central heating power flushing
from £239.95.
Thermostatic Radiator valves
supplied and fitted from £19.95 each
All prices Plus vat @ current rate.
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Hints_Tips
Basic
Plumbing - Hints & Tips
Taking
the time to check out and familiarize your plumbing system just
now will help save time, money and possible damage to your property
by Just knowing the very basics of your system. I have provided
a form for you to print out and complete during your plumbing
survey. Why not make a copy for other member of the family or
person who may be looking after your property whilst away on
holiday.
Plumbing
survey form click here.
Help
Topics -
- Water
Supply
- Locate
The Stop Cock On The Rising Main
- Locate
& Identify Other Shut Off Valve
- Isolating
Gas Supply
- If
You Think You Smell Gas
- Preventing
Frozen Pipes
- Thawing
Frozen Pipes
- Protect
Your System
- Keep
Your House Warm
- If
Your House Is Unoccupied
- If
Your Pipes Burst
- Or
There Is No Water At The Taps.
- After
The Crisis
- Office
Shops & Businesses
- Lead
Pipes
- Earthing
- Water
Is Shut Off By Water Board
- Water
Is Restored By Waterboard
Water
Supply
 | Locate
your underground shut off valve, usually
found on the pavement or road in-line
with your stopcock in the house. This is
where the incoming main can be isolated
before your Stopcock.
| | Quite
often, the "Toby" valve is
covered in mud or stones and may need to
be cleaned out to allow the valve to be
shut off in an emergency.
| | A
Toby key is required to isolate this
valve. Click
to Purchase Buy Toby Key |
Locate
the stopcock on the rising main
| This
is the pipe that brings fresh water into
your home.
| | The
stopcock controls the flow of water and
is used to shut off the entire supply in
an emergency.
| | The
stopcock may be found under the kitchen
sink, bathroom, Cloakroom, beneath the
stairs or in the cellar or basement.
| | Ensure
that the valve turns freely, if the
valve has not been shut for a period of
time it may have become very Stiff, if
this is the case use some WD-40 and open
& shut the valve several times to
try and free it off a bit.
| | Ensure
the valve closes fully and actually
isolates the water supply! |
Locate
& Identify other shut off valves.
| Check
if there are isolating valves on the
low-pressure pipes to taps, toilet
cisterns and household appliances -
these valves enable servicing to be
carried out without turning off the
mains.
| | They
are usually located next to the storage
cistern in the loft or hot water
cylinder cupboard.
| | Check
to see they are working correctly.
| | Now
would be a good time to make a note what
valves turns off the relevant water
supply in the property. Label the valves
know for easier identification later on,
after all it might not be you that has
to isolate the water in an emergency. |
Gas
Ensure
your family know where to Shut Off the gas supply at the
isolating valve next to the gas meter. If the meter box is
outside the property ensure the Gas key to open the door is
in a place where every one knows where to find it. If the
meter is under the stairs etc., make sure there is clear
access to it at all times.
IF
YOU THINK YOU SMELL GAS
| Do
not
turn
electric switches on or off.
| | Do
Not
smoke
| | Do
Not use
naked flames
| | Do
Turn Off the
gas supply at the meter.
| | Do
Open
doors and windows to get rid of the
small of gas.
| | Call
Transco Now 0800 111 999
| | Do
Not use
any telephone from within the property.
| | Contact
a CORGI registered gas installer to
repair the gas escape if Transco are
unable to repair the fault. Transco are
not Duty bound to repair the escape but
will ensure it is made safe; a CORGI
Registered Installer has repaired this
in most cases means they will cut off
& cap the supply until it is
repaired. |
Preventing
Frozen Pipes
| Each
winter frozen and burst water pipes
inside properties cause inconvenience
and heartache to thousands of people and
can result in costly damage to buildings
and furnishings.
| | Most
of this can be avoided if simple
precautions are taken at the right time.
| | Find
your main stopvalve which turns off the
water to your dwelling and is normally
situated on the water pipe where it
enters the building.
| | Some
dwellings have the cold water supplied
directly, with the hot water supplied
from a tank; others have both cold and
hot supplied from a tank. The tank may
be on the roof, in the attic space or
within the dwelling. In most cases,
controlling stop-cocks are situated at
or near the cistern.
| | Find
out what your system is like and in
particular the location of the stopvalve
and what they control.
| | The
hot water supply can also be controlled
by a stopvalve which is usually located
in the cylinder cupboard on the pipe
which connects near the bottom of the
cylinder.
| | This
stopvalve controls the flow of water to
the cylinder but does not normally empty
it.
| | Should
it be necessary to empty the cylinder,
call a plumber. |
Thawing
Frozen Pipes
| Un-insulated
pipes exposed to freezing temperatures
are likely to become blocked with ice.
| | This
commonly occurs in cold un-insulated
lofts. Garden taps are also prone to
freezing.
| | You
may not be aware of the problem until
the water refuses to flow when you turn
on a tap.
| | Trace
the location of the blockage by
following the run of the frozen pipework.
·
| | Because
copper is a good conductor of heat, you
can usually thaw a pipe using an
electric hair dryer.
| | Warm
the pipe gradually, working back from
the affected tap or valve.
| | Treat
old lead pipe in the same way, but warm
the whole pipe evenly.
| | If
you cannot use a hairdryer, wrap the
frozen pipe in hot towels. ·
| | Insulate
vulnerable plumbing to prevent it
freezing again.
| | You
can buy lagging bandage to wrap round
the pipework, but the job is much easier
using foamed plastic tubes split
lengthwise to fit over standard size
pipes. |
Thawing
Frozen Pipes
| Un-insulated
pipes exposed to freezing temperatures
are likely to become blocked with ice.
| | This
commonly occurs in cold un-insulated
lofts. Garden taps are also prone to
freezing.
| | You
may not be aware of the problem until
the water refuses to flow when you turn
on a tap.
| | Trace
the location of the blockage by
following the run of the frozen pipework.
·
| | Because
copper is a good conductor of heat, you
can usually thaw a pipe using an
electric hair dryer.
| | Warm
the pipe gradually, working back from
the affected tap or valve.
| | Treat
old lead pipe in the same way, but warm
the whole pipe evenly.
| | If
you cannot use a hairdryer, wrap the
frozen pipe in hot towels. ·
| | Insulate
vulnerable plumbing to prevent it
freezing again.
| | You
can buy lagging bandage to wrap round
the pipework, but the job is much easier
using foamed plastic tubes split
lengthwise to fit over standard size
pipes. |
Protect
Your System
| Insulate
pipework in exposed places.
| | Insulate
the top and sides of the cold water
tank.
| | Do
not insulate under it warm air rising
from the room below will help stop the
water freezing.
| | Insulate
external taps and pipes and toilet
cisterns in outside lavatories. Fit
flaps of carpet, etc., at top and bottom
of door to W.C.
| | Have
dripping taps or faulty W.C. cisterns
repaired or the waste pipe may freeze up
and cause flooding.
| | See
that taps are turned off properly,
especially last thing at night.
| | Put
plugs in baths, wash basins and sinks.
| | Stop
draughts near pipes and tanks.
| | Close
windows.
| | Put
a small heater near pipes liable to
freeze. |
Keep
Your House Warm
| Insulation
is not the complete answer to freezing
up.
| | It
only delays the effect of frost. Regular
heating of your home is the most
effective protection during long periods
of very cold weather. |
If
Your House Is Unoccupied
| Leave
the central heating on for short periods
to maintain a reasonable temperature.
| | During
winter times it is advisable to have a
neighbour regularly check your property
to ensure all is well, they may need to
increase the central heating temperature
to help prevent frost damage.
| | Give
your Neighbour instruction about where
your water supply shuts off.
| | Alternatively
drain the water system.
| | If
you drain the system: Turn off main cold
water stopvalve Open all taps Flush all
toilet cisterns Drain pipework through
the draining taps which should be at the
low points of your water system.
| | If
you do not leave your central heating
operating, then also drain this system.
Although you may drain down your
plumbing / heating system, this is no
guarantee that pipes will not burst, as
water will usually remain in some of the
pipe work and fittings.
| | Be
Extremely careful when re filling the
system and do not leave it unattended
during the re filling process and for at
least 1 hour after the system is filled
up. |
If
Your Pipes Burst
| Shut
off the water at the stopvalve and open
all taps to drain the system quickly.
Isolate the power supply to immersion
heaters, showers , heating system etc.
so there is no further damage to the
system. |
Or
There is no water at your taps
| Do
not switch on or light any water heating
appliances whether fuelled by gas, oil,
solid fuel or electricity.
| | Examine
the water system for fractures in pipes
and fittings also for any sign of pipes
being pulled from joints.
| | The
presence of ice on the outside of a pipe
is often an indication that it has
burst.
| | If
you notice any of these symptoms TURN
OFF THE CONTROLLING STOPVALVE and call a
plumber.
| | If
no damage is visible open all taps and
thaw out pipework with an electric fan
heater or hairdryer.
| | Start
at an open end and work back from it.
Cloths soaked in hot water can also be
placed on the pipe
| | .
Heat the dwelling generally with
appliances not connected with domestic
hot water or water-based central
heating.
| | If
the house has to be left unattended,
shut off the main stopvalve and drain
down whatever can be drained. Call a
qualified plumber. |
After
the crisis
| If
you have been unfortunate enough to have
suffered damage or inconvenience as a
result of burst pipes and flooding, have
you taken action to prevent any
recurrence?
| | All
underground pipes should have adequate
cover of at least 30" or 750mm.
| | The
position or location of pipes which have
burst or frozen in the past should be
re-considered.
| | Perhaps
they can be removed from their exposed
place to a less vulnerable position, or
the area more successfully heated
| | Alternatively
can their insulation be improved?
| | Grants
may be available from your Unitary
Authority for providing insulation to
the recommended standard. |
Office,
Shops & Businesses
| The
results of burst pipes can be expensive
causing damage to stock and equipment,
loss of business and inconvenience to
your customers.
| | Install
trace heating on pipework and tanks in
areas which are difficult to heat and
are exposed.
| | If
the premises are to be unoccupied for
any length of time (eg. over holiday
periods) ensure that someone is
responsible for checking the premises
regularly and is able to take
appropriate action in the event of sever
weather.
| |
REMEMBER if you are a metered customer,
you are liable for water lost through
bursts inside your permises. Take action
NOW to avoid future difficulties |
Lead
Pipes
| Older
properties may still have lead pipework
and some lead could be transferred from
the pipe into the water you drink.
| | You
may decide to replace your lead supply
and lead plumbing. If you do the water
board will replace there part of the
service pipe free of charge.
| | You
will be charged by your plumber for the
rest of the work involved, From the
boundry of the property to your point of
entry into your property..
| | If
you have a lead supply pipe you share
with your neighbours and you agree with
them to replace it, we suggest separate
pipes be laid where possible.
| | Although
lead is no longer considered to be a
major health problem in Scotland, with
only very rare cases of lead poisoning
being reported, it is still important to
ensure that lead levels in drinking
water are minimised to prevent possible
effects on the intellectual performance
of children.
| | Young
children may be at special risk because
of their high consumption of water.
| | The
U.K. Water Supply (Water Quality)
Regulations specify a maximum
permissible level of lead in the water
supply of 50 micrograms per litre or
parts per billion.
| | A
supply with a level below that figure is
regarded as satisfactory by current
standards.
| | However,
the World Health Organisation has
reviewed desirable standards of a number
of substances, including lead, in the
light of new medical and scientific
evidence, and has recommended (in
November 1993) a reduction from its
present guideline value for lead of 50
micrograms per litre to 10 micrograms
per litre.
| | This
lower value could in practice only be
achieved by replacement of lead pipework.
Any revision of the U.K. Water Quality
Regulations is a matter for the
Government. |
Earthing
| If
your property has a metal water service
pipe which is used for earthing, this is
no longer thought to be safe, and has
not been allowed since 1966.
| | Building
built before then may still be earthed
in this way.
| | The
increasing use of plastic water pipes
reduces the effectiveness of your pipe
as an earth.
| | We
suggest the you get advice from your
electrical supply company or another
approved electrician
| | .
You may have to pay for this service.
| | Safe
earthing of electrical appliances in
your house is your responsibility. |
Water
Is Shut Off By Water Board During Repairs To Underground
Pipes
| Ensure
that all taps are turned off and are
kept that way while the water supply is
off. Stopcock(s) are normally located
where the supply enters your property.
| | These
taps should be left in the open
position.
| | The
Water board can assist you in locating
these taps if necessary.
| | Do
not drain hot water tanks and cisterns.
| | Washing
machines, dishwashers, instant water
heaters, water softeners, etc. should
not be used while the water supply is
off. |
Water
Is Restored By Water Board
| The
Waterboard will inform you when the
water supply is being turned back on and
will ensure that properties are occupied
before restoring the water supply to
them.
| | When
the water is turned on, run the cold
water tap in your kitchen until the
water is clear.
| | If
you have any problems after the supply
is restored contact the local office at
the number provided on the water mains
relining notice. |
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