Month: August 2022

Have you ever tried draining your sink in vain? Toilets are modern-day convenience for human waste but a terrible option for disposing of other items, the result being blocked drains in your home and sinks that refuse to empty !!

Flushing household products and other items can clog drain pipes, contaminate water systems and cost a fortune to repair and replace. Keep your sink on top performance by avoiding putting the following items: 

Tissues

Tissues and paper towels are not meant for the sink and placing it down the sink may cause a severe blockage. 

Paper towels and facial tissues are suitable for absorbing sweat and water and do not dissolve like toilet paper. A sink that doesn’t get rid of all the water can become a breeding ground for pests & bacteria. Therefore, dispose of paper towels and tissues in the garbage bin and not the sink.

Disposable diapers

Disposable diapers are a common option for personal hygiene. However, they’re not meant for the sink or the toilet.  Although the packaging may read “flushable wipes”, the truth is that they do not break down quickly as tissue paper. Therefore, attempting to flush any disposable tissues or wipes can cause a clog in a pipe. Keep a clean-lined trash can in the bathroom and dispose of them often. You can also buy nappy bins that can store nappies in a very hygienic method.

 

Tampons and menstrual products

Tampons and other feminine hygiene products are not meant for the flush. Tampons look too small to cause a clog in the toilet pipes. However, they absorb water and swell. 

Feminine hygiene products should never be flushed because they can mix with other items to cause a big mass of obstruction. The hanging string on the tampon can wind around tissues, wipes, pads and other items, making the system a serious mess. Save yourself water overflow by disposing of feminine hygiene products in the bin.

Dental floss

Dental floss is usually made of Teflon or nylon. These materials do not break down easily in water. Additionally, they can build up around other non-biodegradable materials around them and cause blockage. It is best to toss the floss in the trash and not the sink. Otherwise, repeated flushing in the sink can cause a severe backup and overflow in the sewer line, causing you a fortune to repair and replace.

Fat, oil, and grease

The rule of thumb is never to flush food down the sink. Fats, oils, grease from food items and dirty utensils can cause severe drainage problems. The grease cools down and lines the drain pipes. Gradually, the pipes become clogged and prevent water from flushing down the drain.

Let the grease solidify and scrape it off the utensils. Then, wash in warm soapy water. After every wash, it is best to allow a stream of hot soapy water down the drain to melt the grease off the pipes. You can also use a drain cleaner to help clean out your drains, but this can damage the pipes if not used correctly.

Conclusion

Throwing different materials down the sink or toilet may seem harmless as water flushes them out of sight. However, the items can cause severe damage and cost you a fortune. Avoid unnecessary headaches by disposing of materials appropriately. If you do have any issues with blocked drains (both internal or external drains/pipes), Plan B specialises in  clearing blocked drains. Contact Plan B for all your plumbing needs today.

There’s nothing as annoying as getting a splash of cold water on your back when you expect a warm soothing jet of water. It gets more depressing when the shower frustrates you on a cold winter morning.  Get a professional plumber to fix your shower if it keeps giving you cold and warm water jets. The following are common reasons why your shower may run cold water:

• A broken showerhead mixer valve 

The function of the mixer valve is to deliver warm water according to the set parameters on the showerhead. It mixes hot and cold water, but it fails to add enough hot water to the cold if it’s faulty. And if it does, it does not maintain the temperature for the required shower time. Call a professional plumber to replace the broken showerhead valve and restore function. If you try to fix it yourself, you can often cause more damage, which can lead to more expensive plumber bills.

• The tank’s water has depleted

You can have an instant water heater or a reservoir in the ceiling that feeds the shower for the bathroom. The supply is limited to a particular capacity if you have a reservoir that feeds the water to the shower in your bathroom. And if you have teens or visitors in the house or additional people using the bathroom, the water in the tank can get depleted faster than on other days. The water can also finish when you simultaneously use the dishwasher or a washing machine.

• The water heater temperature is incorrectly set

This is another potential reason your shower could have cold water even when your water consumption habit has not changed. The shower head regulates the water heater and determines how hot the water should be. The default setting is normally around 48-50 degrees celsius but can be altered to give varying water temperatures. You can call a plumber to check if the default setting has been tampered with or if there’s a problem with the shower head. They can also adjust the default temperature for you if you prefer your showers a bit hotter.

How to keep the shower running hot

You can manage the shower temperature by using these tips:

1. Plan your hot water use to run alternately. For instance, the washing machine, dishwater and bathing can be done at different times of the day to ensure there’s sufficient supply for all the activities.
2. Installing scald-guard valves on the faucet prevents the default temperature setting from snapping. You can call a plumber to fix it for you to protect your children and older family members. 
3. Replace the toilets in the house with water-efficient models because they stabilize shower temperature when flushed. Older, less efficient models can deplete water more quickly, making the shower go cold.
4. Hire a plumber to fix a faulty mixing valve which will stabilize showerhead temperatures.
5. Invest in a low-flow showerhead to conserve water volumes, especially during long showers.

Takeaway

If your shower is running cold this winter, you should reach out to your local plumber (Plan B) to have a look at it. You can try to fix some of the issues yourself, but you may end up causing more damage. You also may not have the time or the patience of a technician to fix the problem in your shower. Therefore, contact your friendly local professional plumbers from Plan B Plumbing who can help troubleshoot and repair (and if necessary, upgrade & install) your shower or hot water system to help you restore function to your shower.