When it comes to a leaky tap, or a blocked drain it’s natural to think you can fix it yourself quickly and easily. Being able to save money can sound tempting, but as Brisbane’s commercial plumbers and gas fitters for over 10 years, we’ve seen a lot of DIY plumbing jobs that end up being more expensive than if they were fixed properly the first time.
Here are a few common DIY attempts that we see when it comes to plumbing; and how they can lead to further damage.
Drain Blockages
This is something that we’ve all had to deal with at some time. A slow draining pipe can be very frustrating and might seem like an easy issue to fix yourself. A common reaction is to pour Drain-O down and remove the trap (s-bend or u-bend) to give it a good clean.
Sounds simple enough. And sometimes this isn’t going to cause more issues than it solves. But that’s not always the case.
Chemicals can be corrosive to some drainage pipes, using them in older plumbing can lead to more damage to old and fragile pipes. They can pose threats to people and pet health, their fumes can also remain in the air for some time, causing potential irritation or harm. If your blockage issue is coming from a cracked pipe, these chemicals won’t do anything except run into the ground and could affect surrounding plants or leach into waterways.
When it comes to drainage issues, Emu Plumbing & Pipe Relining will always use our CCTV technology to explore your drainage issues to find the root cause of the problem. This way we can repair the drainage in the least invasive way and fix it properly, so you won’t have the issue recurring.
Hot Water Heater Repairs & Replacement
Changing over a hot water system might sound easy, but it’s actually a lot more involved than just plugging in a new hot water tank. There are many rules (eg: AS3500 plumbing code) we abide by in order to safely install a new hot water system. Hooking up a hot water system incorrectly can lead to water, gas or electrical leaks – all of which have the potential for fatal consequences.
Always hire a professional plumber and gas fitter to ensure that your hot water is not only hooked up correctly, but is the most suitable system for your situation. Your qualified plumber can recommend the best system for you and your property, for not all hot water systems are created equal. There are many choices available and if you’re not a professional you may be choosing the wrong system.
Leaking Pipes
If you notice a leaking pipe, your first thought could be to use some tape to “fix” it up, or maybe put some sort of “magic sealant” around the connections. Chances are this might work…for a little while. If a pipe is cracked and not repaired or replaced correctly, the damage is likely to spread and cause more (often hidden) damage. It’s important to call a plumber with CCTV pipe inspection and relining technology to explore what’s going on and to help you find the best solution to your leak.
Working with a professional team of plumbers and pipe reliners can get your pipes back in top notch condition and quickly. Pipe relining can last 50 years, this is going to be a bit better than the old duct tape or 100mile an hour tape!
