Posts Tagged ‘Blocked drains’

Emergency plumber howls at the moon.

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

Blocked drains in Sydney happen everyday and all the plumbers on our team love getting out there to help people clear their blocked drain, clean up any mess from an overflowing sewer and get on with their lives.

We track the most common cause of blocked drains and apart from the very unusual, like a small puppy as seen on a previous post http://thelonedrainerandpronto.com.au/blog/plumber-rescues-puppy/   there are only a few reasons why drains get blocked.

Hair, make sure to remove it from hand basins, shower grates and drains 

Sand and soil usually gets washed into the sewer from low lying surcharge gullies and stormwater.

Foreign objects like dental floss, toilet deodorisers , kids toys or even underwear will block up sewer pipes very quickly.

The most common cause of blocked drains in Australia is tree roots, they grow into the pipes for many different reasons, but todays theory has been raised by a colleague who believes the full moon causes trees to do “something different” every month, search for more water or just “flex their muscles”, thus causing more sewer blockages.

It is a very interesting theory and we have been tracking it for about 18 months.

Every month, two or three days either side of the full moon we have a 10-15% spike in requests for help on blocked drains caused by tree roots. This month the full moon fell on July 26th 2010, and it was no exception.

Of course this only a theory, but we will keep tracking it!

If you see or hear of emergency plumbers and blocked drain specialists acting and  looking a little weird around the full moon………….let me know!

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

Trumpets and toilets

Wednesday, April 28th, 2010

The 2010 Pumper and Cleaner Environmental Expo held in Louisville Kentucky February 24th-27th 2010

We went to Louisville to see how the best of the best plumbers in the United States, look after their clients. If you have blocked sewer drains, blocked sewer pipes caused by tree roots in your pipes or tree roots in your drains or overflowing toilets the experts we met at Pumper Cleaner 2010 know how  to fix your problem.
As the name of the show suggests the focus is on pumping and cleaning up on that other topic very close to my heart, sewerage, thats right S - - T, because in our game S - - T happens.

Our short Youtube video shows some of the equipment on display and how it is used

Enjoy the trip!
Music by Chuck Mangione, “Give it all You’ve Got”

Would you use this loo?

Sunday, March 28th, 2010

 

 I have just returned from Louisville Kentucky,to visit the 30th Annual  Pumper and Cleaner Environmental Expo. 

 This is one of the western world’s greatest collections of experts, gathering to talk about S _ _ T.

 How to clean it clear it, move it, store it, collect it and record it.

Over the next few weeks I will share with you some of the sights and sounds and people that made

Louisville 2010 http://www.pumpershow.com/  the greatest plumbing expo so far this decade.

Please enjoy these images and come back to this blog page over the next few weeks to see Louisville KY through the eyes of  The Lone Drainer and Pronto.

In the meantime enjoy these images of a very unusual public toilet, 

 

I ask you, Would you use this Loo?

 

see thru loo houston

Now that you’ve seen the outside view,  take a look at the view from the inside out

 

 see thru loo inside out

It’s made entirely of one-way glass!

No one can see you from the outside, but when you are inside it’s like sitting in a clear glass box!

Could You….???       Now would you use this fun toilet?

http://www.TheLoneDrainerAndPronto.com.au

So you think you’re having a bad day?

Saturday, March 27th, 2010

Today’s blog post is from Exponential Growth Strategist (http://www.ExponentialPrograms.com) Dr Marc Dussault (http://www.MarcDussault.com).

Some days when you think you are home free, there is a trap waiting for you.

Have you ever had a day like that?

Marc takes business growth very seriously, but insists we plumbers take time to have a laugh, even at our own expense.

Thanks for the medicine Dr! 

2010-03-25-so-you-think-your-having-a-bad-day1

Drains…Minimise the Pain

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

Did you know this stuff about your drains

If you have a history of blocked drains at your home, you should read more.

(more…)

Even Wizards need a Plumber

Thursday, August 27th, 2009

To be a plumber is to be a Wizard (ace, adept, champion, genius, hotshot, magician, mavin, sensation, star, superstar, virtuoso, whizz, wiz)

This was taken from the Sydney Morning Herald on 26th August, 2009.

wizard-id-plumber3

SSSSSire CCCCertainly SSSSSounds like a job for The Lone Drainer and Pronto

 http://www.thelonedrainerandpronto.com.au/index.php

George Bush Toilets

Wednesday, July 8th, 2009

The reign of US President George W Bush has come to an end, but as this piece of urinal art proves when it comes to “Dubbya”, many people will never grow tired of taking the piss….

presidential_urinal_1

The creator of this fantastic piece is a subscriber to “toilet humour”.      His bathroom creations are unbelievable, I will soon share with you some of his other works. 

and for all you plumbers, imagine clearing a blocked drain in the outlet of this urinal, be careful now!

www.TheLoneDrainerAndPronto.com.au

smc

Why the Hills Weeping Fig can make you cry

Thursday, July 2nd, 2009

The Hills weeping fig (ficus microcarpar var.) is a beautiful tree,  in some cases  a shady archway for many streets in our Sydney Eastern suburbs.

But why are the residents of these streets pulling out their hair? (more…)

Never Underestimate the Power of Water

Friday, June 5th, 2009

The awesome power of water and the damage  it can cause has been widely witnessed in the past month, not only throughout Sydney, but along the entire eastern coastline of Australia. These problems have been caused by freak weather patterns and the failure of man made stormwater systems to cope with the sheer volume of stormwater. (more…)