Archive for the ‘Plumbing Hints and Tips’ Category

“I still have my feet on the ground, I just wear better shoes.”

Saturday, September 4th, 2010

All plumbers know that apart from looking after our hands, our feet are equally as important. No feet, no action!
Last week, as the major players on the Australian political scene were making their final pitch to the electorate as the federal election drew closer, I was out doing some canvassing of my own.
I was busy pitching to the smart Real estate property managers of Bondi Beach the benefits of having a great plumbing team like The Lone Drainer and Pronto, look after their emergency plumbing repairs and the benefits of using Vaporooter sewer root control.
As I walked down Gould street I came across the Running Company Bondi. The owner Chris Chapman had a smile as big as Bondi and it was only minutes before he had me on his walking treadmill, filming my walking/running gait with some simple, but powerful video tools.
Buying shoes from someone who actually knows about running shoes makes a huge difference. Chris’ advice was so professional and made so much sense. Chris had me on his treadmill in each different shoe I tried on, to check how my feet were landing with his video equipment. Buying running shoes from a runner and shoe expert makes a lot of sense and since suffering a bad lower leg injury about 14 years ago I’ve suffered with knee and hip pain whenever I run. So when Chris showed me the running analysis he uses I realized why.
As with advice on emergency plumbing repairs, if you’re wearing the wrong pair of trainers you could be setting yourself up for all sorts of problems in a few weeks, months or years from now. It seems most sales people at the big chain stores just don’t know this stuff, which is why it’s important to get checked now before you get injured. If you suffer from any sort of knee pain or shin splints when you run, or want to prevent future problems I highly recommend you spare an hour of your time and come along to meet Chris at The Running Company Bondi.
The importance of getting the right advice about plumbing repairs or your trainers is self evident. Oh, I made a decision about my new runners pretty quickly.

Two weeks later we are still without a new Government.

We live in very interesting times and you have to keep moving forward or consider the alternative…

A place for inspiration and relief

Monday, July 19th, 2010

In previous blog posts on urinals  and toilets, I showed you a field goal in a urinal to reduce spillage as well as the infamous fly in the urinal at Schiphol Airport. So once again, courtesy of Exponential Growth Strategist (http://www.ExponentialPrograms.com) Dr Marc Dussault (http://www.MarcDussault.com)  here is another photo, this time of  an unknown location in Amsterdam. This is just another example how we can all take life a little less seriously and enjoy ourselves a little more.

 

 

 

The next time you come across an interesting bathroom or other plumbing related installation, please take a picture and forward it to me - this blog is a collaborative effort from people travelling all over the world to bring you a mosaic of photos, articles and facts that are curious, intriguing and fun.

 

What do you know about your gas supply?

Monday, May 31st, 2010

Winter starts tomorrow and if gas is your preferred method of heating then read on… Natural gas is a great resource to have in any home for ovens, cooktops and hot water heating. However leaks in a high pressure gas line can be extremely dangerous especially if they go unnoticed or are allowed to continue unchecked. The massive explosion in Bondi Junction last year is an example of how horrible a gas blast can be.

If you live in a building with multiple gas meters, it is really important to know where your gas meter is and how to turn your gas meter off. Make sure all the gas meters in your building are labelled or numbered clearly, so that in the event of an emergency, you can turn your gas off safely.

Which gas meter is mine?

Which gas meter is mine?

Here are some pointers to detect gas leaks early so that appropriate measures can be taken to avoid major damage.

  1. If you suspect a gas leak, mix some bubbles, detergent with water, and cover the suspect area. If bubbles expand, you have found the leak.
  2. Don’t ignore a gas leak. Gas can be dangerous! Not to mention your bills will be increased
  3. Disconnect your plug in gas heater in summer.
  4. When reconnecting the heater in winter, the bayonet is difficult to plug in, it is probably dusty. Dust and lubricate the connection, then try again.
  5. Don’t mess around with gas. If you are not sure don’t touch!

If you are not sure when it comes to a gas pipe problem, always call a licenced plumber and gasfitter.

An ounce of prevention will keep your drains running

Saturday, May 29th, 2010

Today pleasure was to meet   Dr “Elliot”… This man is incredibly organised.

We were called to his home to run our drain cleaning equipment, the world famous “Rattlesnake”  high pressure water drain cleaner, through his house drains downstream to the sewer boundary trap at the rear of his property, adjacent to the swimming pool. 

He has had blocked drains in the past and declared he didn’t want the inconvenience of a blocked sewer pipe during the upcoming holidays when his extended family would be visiting and his old sewer line would be put under pressure.

The thought of having his beautifully manicured garden dug up or even disturbed, inspired this house proud professional to maintain one of his homes main arteries.

He compared our house visit to check his drains, just like a patient having a  health check  with their Doctor, especially as we get a little older. Pipes and people! 

Dr Elliott knew where all the access points to his sewer were located, how to test his sewer and all the symptoms of a blocked drain. It was a pleasure to work with such a professional

An ounce of prevention will keep your drains running. Oh, and if pain persists………… see your Doctor

7 easy ways to extend the life of your Water Heater

Saturday, May 22nd, 2010

As  we head into winter, and your heading home for a shower after work or rugby or netball training

Have you ever turned on a hot water tap and the water was cold?

There are many plumbing fixtures around your home, the bath or hand basin, kitchen sink, of course the toilet.

Some homes, offices and small business  have multiple toilets, showers and basins.

As we move into the cooler months the average hot water heater becomes more important at all these plumbing fixtures.

Its easy to take this often ignored asset to your home or office for granted. Some simple actions will prolong the life of your storage water heater.

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It pays to know how and where your water shuts off!

Friday, May 14th, 2010

It’s Saturday night in the city and we received an emergency call from a long term client, HELP we have a tap over the kitchen sink that is leaking lots of water and flooding our kitchen.
Now on a Saturday night, this sounds like a job for “The Lone Drainer and Pronto“!
We were at the house within 30 minutes!
The kitchen sink mixer tap had exploded, gushing water everywhere, and our clients who were having a peaceful dinner, could not turn the water off!
The 2 valves controlling hot and cold water supply to the kitchen sink flickmixer style tap, and the Water meter at the front of the property could not be turned off.
Both the taps had siezed and the water just kept running out all over the kitchen!

Tree roots growing in my sewer pipes. Don’t let them take over!

Saturday, April 24th, 2010

Todays post is courtesy of Joe from Woollahra Sydney

Joe had constant problems with the trees around his Sydney home, and tree roots growing in his sewer pipes, blocking them repeatedly. He would need drain cleaning several times a year to cut the tree roots, as the London Plane trees around his home tightened their vice like grip on his sewer pipes and drains. When this happened, the sewer would overflow in his home and on some occasions the raw sewage would come up in his kitchen sink!

Joe found a way to deal with the tree roots in his sewer pipes, to stop them re-growing and blocking his sewer line.

 

Now, Joe and his wife Elizabeth, both teachers, travelled to south-east asia to help those less fortunate and  during their travels over summer visited Cambodia and in particular the ancient city of Angkor Wat, built in the early 12th century.

Joe at Angkor Wat Beware of tree roots!

Joe at Angkor Wat Beware of tree roots!

Joe was astonished by the power of these tree roots and how they could almost consume these ancient buildings. He  couldn’t wait to share this and other images with us.

Joe says “Don’t let tree roots take over your drains and sewer pipes”!

What’s Your Poo Telling You? #2

Tuesday, April 20th, 2010

A friend and colleague, Dr Marc Dussault (http://www.MarcDussault.com), recently visited San Francisco and came across a great little bookstore… Little did he know it was Chronicle Books the publisher of the great little bestsellers “What’s Your Poo Telling You?” and “What’s My Pee Telling Me?”… I guess this is another example of how small the world really is. These books are as funny as they are informative. If you’d like a copy, I’ve pre-purchased some inventory just for you. Give us a call and we’ll get them shipped to you… Pronto! 

 

lone-drainer-at-chronicle-books-2 

Marc chatted with the sales rep in the store and even brought up our website to show him who was selling the books in Australia!

 

How cool is that?!?!?

 lone-drainer-at-chronicle-books-11

Sydney Plumbers love our drinking water!

Saturday, April 17th, 2010

The interest over the new Sydney water desalination plant just continues to grow.

After blogging 2 weeks ago about the taste of our drinking water,  a topic that is very important to me, we have been contacted by lots of people who also have an interest in our Sydney drinking water. I believe we have here in Sydney Australia, one of the best water supplies in the world and now that we have the Desalination plant, it does secure our drinking future.

Most of our clients have shared with us their thoughts on the flavour of our drinking water, the colour of water, the taste  and smell of water and  you are all correct.

Just make sure, if you have leaking taps or running toilets have them repaired as soon as possible.

Save water where you can and keep drinking water. It makes you feel alive!

Have your taste buds changed?

Sunday, April 4th, 2010

Since the new Sydney Water desalination plant was commissioned January 28th 2010, we have had one of the hottest and yet wettest Sydney summers in recent years.

During this hot weather period, we insist that all the people on our plumbing service team, especially the plumbers out in the field, take water bottles and re-hydrate regularly.

Some on our team believe that the Sydney tapwater is “different” since the desalination plant started mixing with our traditional water source.

I had to keep drinking to test the tapwater, but, I think the water tastes a little “sweeter”

Now “potable” water as our water supply is known to  plumbing professionals, should be without

  • odour
  • colour
  • flavour

So we started to ask some of our clients what they thought, and we got some different feedback.

Some said it is sweeter, like me. Others reported the water was a different colour, some even believed the new water supply had caused their taps and toilets to leak. Mind you, these comments were received whilst repairing those same leaking taps and  leaking and running toilets.

So, is our water supply different? What are you mixing it with?  Tell us what you think via the comments box.

As an incentive for the best Sydney Water story, I have 5  exotic Golf club caps to give away, courtesy of Champion Sports.

The US Masters begins next week Thursday April 8th - Sunday April 11th, 2010 in Augusta, Georgia, So post your comments by Friday April 16th 2010 and  the 5 best Water stories will win a prize.

Oh and keep drinking water! We recommend it