Giving something back.
The Plumbing industry has been very good to me and my family.
Every year around January we have anywhere between 5 and 20 boys (or their mothers) contact us looking for a plumbing apprenticeship. We have trained 9 apprentices in 20 years (plumbers apprenticeship is 4 years). (more…)
With 3 growing boys living at home, they eat like there is no tomorrow and playing rugby, cricket and doing patrols at Coogee Surf Club, we have plenty of washing and dishes to wash up every day.
So much so, that both appliances broke down at the same time.
Yes it happens to plumbers as well!
So we had our brightest plumbing apprentice just instal a new diswasher and washing machine and it made me aware of the importance of these water appliances and how we should maintain them.
1. Their hoses are rubber, with hot water they perish and may rupture so check them regularly
2. Many people turn these control valves or taps off at the end of every wash. In our house that would be impossible
3. Turn taps off when going on holidays. Don’t forget to turn them back on
Just recently, our emergency plumbers rescued a young mother who had been to Adelaide for three weeks. The hose feeding her washing machine ruptured causing many dollars worth of damage. Her washing machine shorted out electrically (needs a new machine), the laundry /bathroom was covered in mould from the steam (needs repainting), assorted bits and pieces damaged, carpets in the hallway waterlogged, and the parquet flooring at the end of the hallway had buckled and will need major repairs, then re-sanding and staining. Not to mention the aggravation of removing all furniture and of course the young children from the home for several days whilst these procedures are carried out. The fumes from the floor staining will be intoxicating
Temperature & Pressure Relief valves. Dont forget to activate them
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?
Here are some pointers to detect gas leaks early so that appropriate measures can be taken to avoid major damage.
If you are not sure when it comes to a gas pipe problem, always call a licenced plumber and gasfitter.
How Much Water Is Wasted When I Continue To Let My Toilet Leak?
When a meter’s flow indicator moves and you know that all the water outlet are off, both inside and out, you can be sure that somewhere in your lines, there is a leak. The continuous drip of a leaky tap or a constantly running toilet will add dollars and cents to your water bill in a hurry. When this happens, it is time to call for toilet plumbing services. (more…)
Many people have no clue to what natural gas smells like, so how can they recognise if they have a gas leak? Chemical compounds are placed in the natural gas to give it an odour, and most often it smells like rotten eggs. This odour was chosen to ensure that when a person smelled it, they would be alerted to a problem. People trained in utility services, including plumber services, have equipment and havebeen taught skills to recognise and locate leaks in a gas line. (more…)
Why Dripping Taps and Leaking Toilets will cost More $$$ with Sydney’s New Water Desalination Plant
Do you have a problem with a leaky tap or toilet? You will be amazed how much money dripping taps and leaking toilets will cost you per day. On an average, one house with three taps that leak at a rate of 60 drips per minute will cost you the price of 64 litres of water per day. This adds up to a whopping 23,000 litres of water per year. The price of water will go up as new plants are added, such as Sydney’s New Water Desalination Plant. The key to keeping money in your pocket is to contact plumber services Sydney and fix the leaks! (more…)
During Advanced Business Mastery I had the pleasure to meet Peter August from Australian Bullion Company. www.austbullionco.com.au
Peter’s knowledge of Gold and other precious metals had us all amazed, and his wealth of experience with stories about the mystical and precious metals he deals in.
In the early 1980s when the price of gold was around $400 per ounce. I was called to help an elderly lady with a blocked sink. I removed all the usual cleaning products; Detergent, sponges and a nest of plastic bags.
Two of the plastic bags were surprisingly heavy to lift.
I needed both hands and all my strength to lift these two bags onto the kitchen bench. Inside both the bags was a gold bar roughly the size of a house brick. I felt I was in Aladdin’s cave! The elderly lady was standing over my shoulder. She didn’t offer…. and I didn’t ask. I went out to the truck to get some more tools and when I came back in, the bags and their precious contents were gone.
Based on the standard mass of a gold bar and the price at the time, I estimate that one of those bars would have been worth about $160,000.
Meeting Peter reminded me of this story. After retelling it to him, he pointed out that earlier this month (September 09) gold had reached a price of US$1000 per ounce, and then estimated that one of those bars would have been worth at least US$400,000.
Not a bad mornings work.
Peter J August, Managing Director of Australian Bulion Company
Green Loans have been set up by the Australian Government in order to provide subsidised loans to make houses more environmentally friendly. This is a great way to provide financial assistance to households (more…)
Recently The Lone Drainer and Pronto were called to repair a leaking toilet cistern in Bondi Junction, I was surprised to see this toilet not only had a flush button but came with a remote control as well. The client informed me that this toilet actually contained a bidet built into the toilet seat, complete with retracting heated water spout, air dryer, and instant seat heater, all of which are adjustable to suit individuals comforts and anatomy. Whilst the bidet is a very popular plumbing fixture in Europe, by comparison, I have come across few during my many years of plumbing in Australia.
The bidet toilet seat is a compromise.
Whilst this can be deemed as a “luxury” item for most, our client revealed that a relative of theirs who has suffered a stroke also had a bidet toilet seat installed. This has proved to be of great assistance to them and their family when using the bathroom, with loss of mobility in extremities after the stroke. What a great idea, a bidet toilet seat could be of great assistance for the elderly, disabled, infirmed or even people with sports injuries
http://www.TheLoneDrainerAndPronto.com.au/unmasked.php
smc