Earthquake-Ready Plumbing Checklist: How to Protect Your Home from Damage

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Although we don’t like to think too much about it, we live on a faultline so our city is seismically active and earthquakes are frequent. Even seemingly small rumbles can compromise your home’s plumbing. With this in mind, it’s worth performing a few checks that could reduce the chance of water damage and increase the chance of having a usable plumbing system after an earthquake.

We recommend doing the following checks at least annually as well as after any significant shake.

Earthquake Plumbing Checklist
  • Pipework – check all visible pipes (including under the house and in the ceiling if accessible) for leaks/cracks.
  • Hot water cylinder – are there any leaks?  Is it securely strapped?  Does it have an overflow tray?
  • Water toby – do you know where it is and how to turn it off? Is it working properly? (See our post about water tobies here for more helpful information)
Emergency Water Supply

We have installed an emergency rainwater tank outside our own house. We wrote a post about it, which you can read here to learn more about how they work.   It’s reassuring to know we have 200 litres of water stored if we need it.

When using water from a tank to drink or brush your teeth, the usual precautions are recommended – either boil the water or add a few drops of household bleach. Rainwater tanks can be strapped to protect your extra water supply in earthquakes.

You won’t regret taking a little time to go through the checklist above. Attending to each point will reduce the plumbing issues you experience after an earthquake. There’s peace of mind knowing that you’ve done what you can to be prepared. If you spot something that you would like to have checked/fixed or you would like a rainwater tank installed at your place, please get in touch.  Craig would be very happy to help.

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Protect Your Family from Hot Water Burns

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Hot water burns are serious. When we have young children in the house, who might play with a tap, or elderly family members who may have slower reactions, we must know that the water at the taps and showerheads in our house is at a safe temperature. A tempering valve is used to control the temperature and prevent scalding.

What’s a tempering valve?

A tempering valve mixes hot water from your cylinder with cold water from the mains or supply tank to deliver water to taps at a safe temperature.  In a home, that temperature must, by law, be below 55 degrees.  In some other places, such as retirement homes and childcare centres, it must be below 45 and 40 degrees, respectively.

Can’t I just turn down my hot water cylinder?

No.  Hot water cylinders are set at a minimum of 60 degrees in order to kill bacteria and ensure the water is healthy. When water drops below this temperature, the likelihood of a person becoming sick from using the water increases.  A tempering valve is fitted to the hot water outlet pipe coming from the hot water cylinder. After the water has been heated enough to kill bacteria, the valve mixes it with cold water to bring it down to a safe temperature.

How do I know if I already have a tempering valve?

Tempering valves are mandatory in new builds and Council-consented jobs involving plumbing.  It is considered good plumbing practice to inform customers if they don’t already have one installed in their home.  You can look for a tempering valve on the pipework of your hot water cylinder.  Most have a black, blue or clear circular plastic cap on them. If you have a valve but your water temperature feels as if it could be too hot, it may no longer work and need to be replaced.

Tempering valve

Look for a tempering valve in your hot water cupboard. They are essential to prevent hot water burns

What if I don’t have a tempering valve?

Contact Plumb!  We can talk to you about your needs and book an installation so you and your loved ones are protected from hot water burns. Contact us now