Questions about plumbing work are some of the most frequent enquiries we receive on the Build website so we asked Shinners Plumbing managing director Kevin Shinners to answer some of the most common ones below.
Why does my washing machine keep making banging noises?
A little more information is required i.e. is the noise coming from the drum of the machine? If so, it may be just be that the clothing load is unbalanced. Or, if the banging is coming from the back of the machine (around the hoses) it may be what is called water hammer. This can be caused by the solenoid valves in the machine water supply shutting off suddenly, which makes the hoses and water pipes vibrate. Often a water hammer arrester is needed to overcome this problem.
My toilet keeps running, what should I do?
If accessible, lift the lid off the cistern and check to see if the water level is high and running over the lip of the internal overflow pipe. If so, the ball valve washer needs to be checked and possibly replaced. If the water level is not overflowing then the flush seal washer may be faulty or perished and may need replacing. Either way a plumber needs to be called to carry out a service.
What can I do about low water pressure in my home?
Firstly, check that all taps and outlets have a similar problem. If it is only one or a couple of taps then it may only be that the aerators on the outlets are blocked and in need of a clean. If all taps, including external taps, have low water pressure then there may be a problem with the meter or the pipe work external of the property, including the water main, which means that the relevant water authority should be contacted to check it out. This is a free service water authorities provide if the dwelling is of recent construction.
If the water authority check is all clear, the service from the meter to the house may be the problem, either an old galvanised pipe that has corroded or an obstruction in the line. The other possibility may be a leak that is undetected and not coming to the surface.
My water bill was unusually high, how do I check if I have a leak?
Check that no taps are dripping or running and that no toilet cisterns are running through, then turn off the main tap on the street side of the water meter. Check the meter reading and record it.
Make sure no one uses a tap or toilet for around one hour and then check the meter again to see if the dial has moved. If it has, then a plumber needs to be engaged to investigate further.
I want to do a mostly DIY bathroom renovation. When and for what jobs do I require a plumber?
My advice would be to consult a plumber before commencing any planning or works as the plumbing is the most important and often the most expensive part of a bathroom renovation. It can also sometimes require an application to be submitted to the relevant water authority to carry out plumbing alterations.
A plumber can offer more practical methods of configuring the layout to save time and money later.
If you have any other questions you’d like answered, post them in the comments below and we’ll forward them through to Kevin.
