common plumbing issues
Running Toilets
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There are two valves that make up your toilet cistern; and
inlet valve and a flushing valve. Your toilet runs because one of these valves
has failed. Typically, when one fails, the other will fail within a short
period, so it is best to replace both at the same time. You may also need a new
inlet valve. If your toilet is old and
in poor condition, this is a good time to look at different options of
upgrading.
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Leaking Taps
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Single level mixers are usually the first tap to leak in a
house, as they get a lot of use and have a swivelling spout. This is often
caused by worn o-rings inside the tap. With such a wide variety of taps on the
market, finding the correct o-rings can be difficult and time-consuming. It may
be faster and less costly to look at replacing your tap. When purchasing a tap,
you will need to make sure you choose a tap which suits your high or
low-pressure system. I recommend Methven taps, as they are designed and made in
New Zealand, for New Zealand conditions.
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Burst water pipes
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There are a number of water pipes that were used 20-30 years
ago which have become brittle and tend to break down at the joins. We can
repair leaking joins or burst pipes, but ultimately, you will need to re-pipe
your house. Insurance will usually cover you for the damage caused by the first
leak, but not subsequent leaks.
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Blocked kitchen wastes
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Often the kitchen is a long way from the rest of the
plumbing in the house, making a long waste pipe to the drain. When a waste
disposal unit is fitted to this, and insufficient water is used to wash this
down, a blockage can occur. Also, fats and oils can solidify in the waste pipe
if not enough warm, soapy water is used to flush them down. I use a tool which
pulsates water down your drain to clear the blockage.
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Low Pressure cylinder overflowing
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This is caused by the Ajax valve on your cylinder failing. This happens due to age or from the lack of a filter on the water coming to your cylinder. When this happens, the valve may be able to be cleaned, or it may need replacing.
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