Don’t let bills break your budget in winter

The winter season is usually the time when wallets get hit the hardest. People tend to spend more time indoors, trying to stay warm and when it is time to venture out, the option of cheap outings to the beach and the park are replaced by the movies or dinners at often not-so-cheap restaurants.

Post-winter bills can be the most dreaded in households. The ongoing use of heaters, ovens, cook tops, hot water, electric blankets and dryers guarantee that expenses soar and it becomes obvious that it’s not only our bodies that feel the heat, but our bank accounts too.

To help manage your winter bills, follow these simple steps that can save you money when it counts;

• Reduce the usage of ventilation fans, they don’t actually capture warm air very well.
•  Get into the habit of rugging up when you’re at home, you’ll be surprised by how much wearing jumpers, pants, socks and slippers around the house, rather than turning heaters up can save you.
• If you’re not in a particular room, then don’t waste money heating it up, wait until you need to use that room to warm it up.
• Keep household heating devices well kept and up to date, the older the heating system, the more likely it will burn your money.
• Cutting down your  shower time, particularly when you are using a lot of hot water can save you a heap.
• Let any natural sunlight or warmth into your home, open windows and blinds and let the heat in.
• Call Pipe Perfection if you’re concerned or simply want advise about your heating devices.

Make sure you heating are well looked after

Are your pipes buckling under pressure?

Issues with water pressure can be extremely disconcerting when going about your everyday business. Showering, washing up and even watering the garden can become frustrating tasks when you can’t get the water pressure you want.

Often friction in the pipes from the main line to your house is the cause of this loss of pressure. So too if the pipes already installed are of a smallish size, usually 20ml is the standard size for a house. If you’re not sure about the size/capacity of your pipes, give us a call, we’re happy to help.

Blockages can also be the cause low water pressure, it’s best to send an expert to clear the lines, but a quick DIY trick is to pour a moderate amount of hot water down your drains to remove any matter clogging your lines. Remember, prevention is better than cure, so remember to regularly clean your drains and refrain from flushing foreign objects down the sink/toilet.

Looking after your pipes is the best way to save you $$$

 

Are your pipes buckling under pressure?

Issues with water pressure can be extremely disconcerting when going about your everyday business. Showering, washing up and even watering the garden can become frustrating tasks when you can’t get the water pressure you want.

Often friction in the pipes from the main line to your house is the cause of this loss of pressure. So too if the pipes are of a smallish size, usually 20ml is the standard size for a house. If you’re not sure about the size/capacity of your pipes, give us a call, we’re happy to help.

Blockages can also be the cause of low water pressure, it’s best to send an expert to clear the lines, but a quick DIY trick is to pour a moderate amount of hot water down your drains to remove any matter clogging your lines. Remember, prevention is better than cure, so make an effort to regularly clear your drains and refrain from washing foreign objects down your drains.

Regular maintenance of your pipes is the best way to save you $$$

What to do when you’re toilet can’t handle the load

For many people, one of the most embarrassing plumbing disasters that can happen in your own home is a toilet backing up. Even worse is if it happens when you’re using someone else’s toilet and at the push of a button, the toilet paper starts rising up, instead of flushing down. If you ever get stuck in this tricky situation, try these quick DIY tips, they might just save you a red face.

• Grab a good plunger, ensure there is a decent seal between the toilet and the plunger as you push and pull back and forth. Try running the plunger under hot water, this creates a better grip to the toilet.
• If you’re not at home and couldn’t bear the thought of asking someone for a plunger, try pouring a few cups of hot water down the toilet bowl, this helps break up….. matter.
• Dish washing detergent is also very effective in breaking stuff down, try adding a small amount to the bowl.

However, some blockages are just too stubborn and you will just have to call a plumber, no matter how embarrassing. Please don’t hesitate to give us a call if this is the case, we’ve seen it all before, so no need to stress!

Maintaining Ceramic Tiles

Glazed ceramic tiles are an ideal material for tub and shower walls. They are impervious to moisture, easy to clean and durable enough to withstand a lifetime of hot, sudsy soakings. However, tiles are not maintenance free. Every tiled wall is only as strong as the thin grout joints between the tiles. Once the grout starts to soften and crack, it’s only a matter of time before water seeps in and damages the mortar and drywall behind the tiles.

Don’t wait for an entire wall of grout to fall out before taking action. The best way to avoid major wall repair is to regrout any joint when the first crack or stain appears. When it comes to maintaining grout joints, an ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure. It’s also easy and inexpensive.

Cleaning grout is as  simple as buying those triangle shaped devices and removing old grout. Grout can also be cleaned with Baking Soda, as well as ScumBuster’s.

Give Pipe Perfection a call if you’re worried about the state of your tiles.

The process of grouting may be more complex than you think. Get a professional to do it.

Funny plumbing facts to make you giggle

Here are some lighthearted facts about plumbing that we thought you might find just a little amusing to get you into the spirit of Easter:

• Copper piping has been around for approximately 3000 years, the Egyptians were one of the first to use it all those years ago when laying their own piping.
• 3 years is the average time that a person will spend on the toilet in their lifetime.
• Over a 10 year period, a dual flush toilet will cost you around $250, whilst a single flush comes in at $760, which would you prefer?
• A 2000 year old toilet was discovered in the tomb of a Western Han Dynasty King in China, although much different from today, the toilet was made out of stone and was probably not very comfortable!
• Mario and Luigi are considered by many to be the world’s most famous plumbers.
• Everyone has a one in 10 000 chance of being hurt by a toilet in their lifetime.
• Despite popular belief, Thomas Crapper (make a note of the link between his surname and the popular use of the word to describe the toilet) did not invent the first toilet, he simply bought the patent rights for it.
• The biggest myth is that the direction water moves in after a toilet has been flushed is the result of which hemisphere we live in. It’s to do with the direction that the rim jets are positioned.

We hope this made you smile, even a little. Have a safe and happy Easter everyone from the team at Pipe Perfection.

Happy Easter Everyone

What is that gas smell?

Although there may not be a big difference between the smell of the gas you choose to run your BBQ from, there’s certainly a big difference in the price.

Today, the benefits of natural gas seem to have been forgotten, with LPG being a more popular choice for Aussie BBQ’s, however the facts are simple and after reading this you may want to consider the switch:

• Natural gas is generally a quarter of the cost of LPG. So, with LPG you might be paying up to 4 times as much. Imagine what you could be doing with all that extra cash.
• Natural gas is everlasting; if you are connected to mains gas than you never have to fill up a gas bottle again!
• Converting from LPG to natural gas can be a hassle free process, just call us.
• Many natural gas BBQ’s are just as cheap to buy as LPG ones.
• There is no difference in the way your BBQ’d food will look or taste.

So, provided you are a great chef (or you know someone who is), converting to natural gas will save you $$$ AND your food will still taste just as good. Call us today, if you have any questions about converting from LPG to natural gas, we’re happy to help.

Switch to natural gas?

Get your plumbing season-savy

With summer coming and going so quickly that if you blinked once you missed it, autumn is now upon us and it’s a really important time of year to protect your home and your family from the tricky mishaps that can occur around this time of year.

• Ensure that your faucets (water inlets, handles and spouts) are working properly, i.e. not leaking or cracked because cracks can worsen and cause a lot of damage if left unrepaired, especially in the colder seasons. Give us a call if any of your faucets look like they need to be repaired or replaced
• Seal exposed entry points and any uncovered areas around piping to stop foreign objects from blocking these drainage systems. Try Waterproofing Tape.
• Get to know where your water main is, just in case you need to shut off in an emergency.
• Trim your trees regularly, to ensure that branches don’t get too close to the house and to prevent fly away leaves from getting into your guttering and down pipes, causing blockages.
• Rake away all leaves and debris from the front of your house.

If you get stuck, call us to assist with securing your roof flashing and unblocking your gutters/drains.

Need help to repair your roof over autumn?

Getting tanked- the healthy way

Join the latest craze and get tanked now! No, we’re not talking about getting sloshed with your mates on the weekend, were talking about installing a new rainwater tank.

It’s often hard to get experts to agree on anything. Yet most agree that a resurgence in the use of rainwater tanks in urban areas is a good thing. So is it really worthwhile? We think, yes.

• Shave loads of $$$ off your water bill by utilising rainwater in your garden, to wash your car and even to fill up your pool.
• Call Pipe Perfection to install a tank with mains back-up, so we can connect the tank in a way that will supply your washing machine and refill your toilet.
• Water harvested by rainwater tanks is drinkable and some people even prefer the taste to standard tap water.
• It helps the environment when you are preserving water.

So which tank would suit your home best?

- For smaller gardens, try bladder-type or Modtanks, they preserve space effectively.

- Toroid tanks are actually built underground (but require minimal excavation) , so you don’t lose any of your garden space and you can actually connect the Toroid to other tanks, for a larger water collection.

Please don’t hesitate to give us a call today if you have questions about tank installation and water savings.

Simple steps to buying the right home

Want to buy your dream home without making a mess of your finances or your happiness? Take this check list on board before you take the homebuyers plunge. It’s not every day you get to buy a home and you don’t want to make too many mistakes.

• Remember what you want from a home; write a list of what’s important to you and what you would be willing to compromise on.
• Get to know the area that you want to buy in and the facilities available. Ask yourself if you want an area that’s good for public transport with nice parks and schools, or if you value something that has more of a social scene, or both?
• Try not to get yourself into too much debt. Sometimes it’s better to settle for a few less creature comforts, than to be miserable watching your debts increase beyond what you are finding bearable.
• Be cautious of real estate agents. Remember that their job is to sell the house, so get independent property reports if you feel appropriate.
• Remember time is of the essence, don’t rush into buying a home just because you want one now. Spend time researching your options.