Clear My Blocked Drain

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When your drain is blocked, you need help straight away!  Although the problem may have been brewing for a while, there’s no way of knowing until you start experiencing issues.

 Signs of a Blocked Drain

The main tell-tale signs of a blocked drain are –

  • water takes a long time to drain down a plughole
  • the water level in your toilet bowl is rising
  • the water level in your outdoor gully trap is rising or overflowing (gully traps are designed as an overflow point for when the drain blocks)
What Happens if a Blocked Drain is Left Too Long

It’s important to get a blocked drain cleared early. If a blockage is left for too long, issues begin to appear.

They can be inconvenient, such as reduced water pressure and foul smells. But they can also create health risks such as bacteria growing in the drain and sewage backing up.

Leaks and flooding can cause damage to the house and property.

The longer a blockage is left, the higher the risks and the more expensive the repair is likely to be.

Causes of Blocked Drains

The most common causes of a blocked drain are –

  • a buildup of debris, such as toilet paper, soap and cooking oils
  • tree roots growing through joins and/or cracks in the drain pipes, preventing water and debris from flowing past them
How Will My Blocked Drain be Cleared?

Our plumber would initially try to clear the block with manual tools. Using manual tools is sufficient to clear a less serious blockage and is also the most cost-effective method.  If the blockage is stubborn, specialist equipment is required.

Plumb has access to equipment for both diagnosing and clearing blocked drains.  We use cameras to see what’s going on inside the pipe and what’s causing the problems. High-pressure water sprays are used to clear roots and other debris away.  There’s also a locating tool that accurately measures the position and depth of the drain so that it’s quick to find the right place if we need to dig down to the pipe.

We can then carry out any necessary work, based on what the camera and locating tools show us.  Once your blockage has been cleared and your drain repaired, we spray the drain and surrounding area with disinfectant to keep everything hygienic.

 

It’s best to get your drains cleared when you first notice the early signs of a blockage to prevent them from becoming a larger problem. If you have a blockage or a drain you are suspicious of, contact us now. We’d be glad to help.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Autumn Playing Havoc with Your Spouting?

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Time to get the guttering cleaned out!

The Autumn leaves are beautiful but…they fill our guttering with leaves.   If you’re not a plumber, you may not be aware of some of the problems these leaves can create.  If not cleared from guttering/spouting, they can cause:

  • guttering to overflow when it rains
  • deterioration & rusting of metal guttering (due to dampness caused by accumulated debris)
  • blocked downpipes and stormwater drain pipes (if the debris gets dislodged by heavy rain, for example, and travels through the system)
Is it time to get your guttering cleaned?

The most obvious signs that you may have a build-up of debris in your guttering or downpipes are:

  • guttering that overflows when it rains
  • grass or small plants growing in your guttering

By getting your guttering cleaned and your downpipes checked for blockages, you can protect your guttering to prolong its life.  You could also avoid blockages in your drain pipes, which can be difficult & expensive to clear.

If you have trees near your home that regularly deposit leaves in your gutters, you may want to consider having gutter guard installed to prevent blockages.

With Winter around the corner, it’s a great time to get Craig to clean your guttering and check you guttering & downpipes for leaks & blockages.  Being over 6 foot tall and good with heights, he’s just the man for the job. He can also wipe your spouting clean while he’s up there to save you a job.   Or you may like him to install gutter guard so you won’t have to think about cleaning out your gutters again.  Alternatively, Craig can check your guttering for leaks and blockages as part of a Plumb WOF.

Keep dry,
Craig & Julie

Rainwater Tanks – for Emergencies & General Purposes

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Be prepared! - Rainwater tank for emergency water storage.

Be prepared! – Rainwater tank for emergency water storage.

Craig has just installed a rainwater tank at the back of our house.  It will save us the tedious task of washing and filling numerous bottles of water each year for emergencies as we now have 200 litres of stored water.  It’ll be handy for watering the garden too and our boys will enjoy having water to use right by their play garden.

How do Rainwater Tanks Work?

Once the rainwater tank and supplied fittings are installed, rainwater travels off your roof, into your spouting, down your downpipe, through a diverter and into the tank.  Near the base of the tank is a hose tap through which water can be accessed.

Using the Rainwater Tank Supply for Emergency Drinking Water

When using water from the rainwater tank to drink, the usual precautions are recommended – either boil the water or add a few drops of household bleach.  Our tank holds 200l of water, giving us well over the advised 3 days’ worth of emergency water for each member of the family. The tanks can be strapped to protect your water supply in earthquakes.

Where Can I get a Rainwater Tank?

We got our rainwater tank from the Wellington City Council service centre for $105.  It came with the necessary fittings for a regular install.  Ours was a bit complicated and required Craig to use some extra plumbing know-how and fittings but most tanks should be straight-forward to install.  The WCC tanks come in two colours – light brown and dark green.  Some plumbing and building merchants sell them but we found it reassuring that these ones are endorsed by the council and they are well-priced.

Craig is keen to help others get prepared for emergencies by installing rainwater tanks.  For a usual, straight-forward install, he can get yours up-and-running within a couple of hours.

Be prepared,
Craig & Julie

Clean guttering: avoid blocked drains & protect your spouting

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Time to get the guttering cleaned out!

Now that Winter is here, the beautiful Autumn leaves have left their trees bare and…our guttering full of leaves.   If you’re not a plumber, you may not be aware of some of the problems these leaves can create.  If not cleared from guttering/spouting, they can cause:

  • guttering to overflow when it rains
  • deterioration & rusting of metal guttering (due to dampness caused by accumulated debris)
  • blocked downpipes and stormwater drain pipes (if the debris gets dislodged by heavy rain, for example, and travels through the system)
Is it time to get your guttering cleaned?

The most obvious signs that you may have a build-up of debris in your guttering or downpipes are:

  • guttering that overflows when it rains
  • grass or small plants growing in your guttering

By getting your guttering cleaned and your downpipes checked for blockages, you can protect your guttering to prolong its life.  You could also avoid blockages in your drain pipes, which can be difficult & expensive to clear.

If you have trees near your home that regularly deposit leaves in your gutters, you may want to consider having gutter guard installed to prevent blockages.

As Winter settles in, it’s a great time to get Craig to clean your guttering and check your downpipes for blockages.  Being over 6 foot tall and good with heights, he’s just the man for the job. He can also wipe your spouting clean while he’s up there to save you a job.   Or you may like him to install gutter guard so you won’t have to think about cleaning out your gutters again.

Keep dry,
Craig & Julie