Newman Plumbing Services Melbourne

Servicing Gas Appliances

2012-02-17T16:30:00.000+11:00

Carbon Monoxide {CO}

We were asked the other day by a customer in Balwyn about the servicing of gas appliances and the dangers of Carbon Monoxide {CO} poisoning.
So we thought it was important to share some of the information involved.
Within a gas appliance, the gas is regulated and passes through a fine injector in order to allow the correct proportion of gas and air to mix within the combustion chamber where the fuel is burned.

The gas appliance has many safety measures to ensure that gas will not flow through the appliance until it is required and that it can be burned safely. When gas is burned it is converted to water vapour and carbon dioxide, both of which are harmless gases, being present in the atmosphere and within the air we breath. However, if for some reason insufficient oxygen is available in the air used for the combustion process, incomplete combustion can occur and as a result carbon monoxide is produced.
Fuels that we burn including coal, wood, oil and gas are hydrocarbons, which are made up of hydrogen and carbon in various proportions. Both of these elements can be burned in the presence of oxygen and if completely consumed, are converted to harmless carbon dioxide{CO2} and water vapour {H2O}. However, if insufficient oxygen is available to support the combustion process, carbon monoxide {CO} may be produced because the carbon is not fully converted to CO2.
Carbon Monoxide does not have an odour and therefore cannot easily be detected. An appliance can discharge small quantities of these combustion products into the home without detection.
Common symptoms that often simply attributed to stress or tiredness from overwork. If in doubt, have your fuel burning appliances checked by a qualified licenced gas fitter.

Typical effects of carbon monoxide {CO} poisoning.

Percentage of CO Symptoms / effect in adults

in the air

Less than 0.01 Slight headache after 1-2 hours

0.01-0.02 Mild headache plus feeling sick and dizzy after 2-3 hours

0.02-0.05 Strong headache, palpitations and sickness within 1-2 hours

0.05-0.15 Severe headache and sickness within half an hour

0.15-0.3 Severe headache and sickness within 10 minutes:

convulsions and possible death after 15 minutes

0.3-0.6 Severe symptoms within 1-2 minutes and death

within 15 minutes

1% or more Immediate symptoms and death within 1-3 minutes

Very small proportions of carbon monoxide within a room can prove fatal very quickly.

It is important to note the location of the emergency control valve at the point of entry to your home. This should be accessible at all times so that, if required, the supply can be shut off very quickly.

Carbon Monoxide {CO} gas is the result of incomplete combustion. Fuel requires oxygen to burn, and even if insufficient oxygen is reaching the fuel, combustion will still occur, but the fuel will not be completely consumed and CO will be given off.

Where an appliance has an air supply via a grill, do not block it.

Due to the potential danger of incorrectly installed gas fittings, the installation of pipework and the provision for it falls under very strict regulations and should only be performed by a licensed gas fitter.
It is illegal to work on your own gas installation pipework or appliances.

Only use a Licensed Gasfitter to service your appliances

Hot Water Tips

2011-12-12T20:02:00.004+11:00

How hot should the water be?

Your hot water service has an adjustable thermostat suited to your hot water model. You may select the temperature suitable to you. Remember that if you operate the heater at low temperatures you may run out of hot water. On the other hand high water temperatures use more gas.

Not enough hot water?
Is the Temperature and Pressure Relief valve running at the side of the unit?
Do you have the correct size heater for your requirements?
Is one outlet {especially the shower} using more hot water than you think?
A careful review of the family's hot water usage and if necessary check the shower flow rates with a bucket and watch. If it is not possible to adjust water usage pattern an inexpensive flow control valve can be fitted to the shower outlet.

High gas bills.
Is the Temperature and Pressure Relief valve running excessively.
This valve is at the top of the heater and is essential for efficient operation. Normally it releases a little water through the drain pipe during reheating period after hot water is used.
NEVER BLOCK THE OUTLET OF THIS VALVE OR ITS DRAINPIPE FOR ANY REASON.
Is the hot water too hot? Set the temperature dial to midway between HOT and WARM if the control knob is white or to 3 if the control knob is black.
Is there a leaking hot water pipe, dripping hot water tap? Even a small leak will waste a surprising quantity of hot water and gas.
Temperature and Pressure Relief valve running.
It is normal and desirable that this valve allows a small quantity of water to escape during the heating cycle. However, if it discharges more than a bucket of water in 24 hours, there may be another problem.

Heater appears to be leaking.
When the heater is first lit up condensation may form within the burner area. Condensation can also be formed when the heater is filled with cold water after heavy usage of hot water. This is quite normal, especially in winter months, and will dry off as the water is heated.

For High Efficiency models.
The plastic drain near the bottom left hand side of your heater will often lose a dribble of condensate. This condensate flow is caused by the normal, very efficient operation of the heater and does not come from your tap water.

A licenced plumber should always carry out work to your plumbing system

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Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards

2011-11-23T16:19:00.015+11:00

"You can save money, energy and water by using more efficient tap ware "

What is the WELS scheme?

The Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme requires certain water-using products to be labelled for water efficiency. The products covered under the scheme are clothes washing machines, dishwashers, showers, toilets, urinals and taps, with flow controllers optional. The scheme helps consumers make informed decisions when buying water-using products to save water and money.

What does the WELS label mean?
The WELS water rating label carries two important pieces of information to help consumers compare products:
a one to six star rating on the product’s water efficiency
a number showing the water consumption per use or the water flow per minute.
More stars and a low number = better water efficiency.
The products are tested by a National Association of Testing Authorities accredited laboratory. These results are used to determine the star rating for each product. – check the star rating

Did you know?
A water-efficient washing machine may use only one-third the water of an inefficient model.
An old-style single-flush toilet could use up to 12 litres of water per flush, while a standard dual flush toilet uses just a quarter of this on a half-flush.
A standard showerhead may use up to 25 litres of water per minute whereas water-efficient showerhead might use as little as seven litres per minute, which is less than a third.

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A licenced plumber should always carry out work to your plumbing system

Is your plumbing a shipwreck!

2011-11-16T08:38:00.008+11:00

Quite often we tend to our customers needs where a little bit of maintenance could have prevented costly repairs. Whether it is a leaking valve on the side of a mains pressure hot water unit, blocked downpipes and storm water drains flooding around the home in a heavy rain event. Leaking taps that finally give up on a weekend causing a costly after hours call out. With a little bit of maintenance to plumbing appliances or services around the home you can avoid an inconvenient "shipwreck". Checking the condition of the hot water service at the side of the home and replacing it before it lets you down. A lot of the newer hot water units are far more economical to run than some of the older style units. Some new units with their stainless steel tank give a ten year warranty for peace of mind and provide an efficient five star rating. Not to mention these newer hot water units provide lots more hot water for the family home.

A lot of the older style steel cylinder hot water units are so inefficient they have a low 2 star rating.

Kitchen sink mixer taps that weep at the side and run down into the sink are a classic weekend after hours call out. The kitchen tap has been weeping for months and finally give way on the weekend. These type of after hours call outs can be averted as Newman Plumbing carry quality kitchen mixer taps and an array of other tapware for quick changeovers for the bathroom or laundry during the week. Leaking basin taps or shower taps can be replaced during the week in a pre arranged appointment to suit all involved. While the taps are being replaced Newman Plumbing generally check the water pressure to your home which can help with further diagnosis of plumbing problems around the home. High water pressure can cause noisy plumbing and the reason behind leaking taps and recent toilet cistern repairs. High water pressure can cause problems with dishwashers, washing machine hoses and hot water valves. Water hammer within the home is also contributed by high water pressure. Sometimes it is just a case of being aware of potential problems that can occur and being able to isolate the problem.

A licenced plumber should always carry out work to your plumbing system

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Water damage to foundations

2011-11-11T14:06:00.004+11:00

We recently cleared stormwater drains for a customer in Camberwell. The home was experiencing flooding under the house every time there was a decent rain. Unlike clearing a sewer drain, clearing a blocked stormwater drain can be quite extensive and costly as the drains can be blocked for quite some time before an owner notices the damage occurring and takes action. Our new customer was looking for a plumber in Camberwell and contacted Newman Plumbing. We advised our new customer of the problems and costs involved before commencing. It was quite a task as the drains had been blocked for some time. We were finally able to clear the stormwater drains with our drain cleaning machines and inspect the old earthenware stormwater drains with our drain camera. We could demonstrate the condition and amount of tree root invasion that had occurred to their blocked storm water drains. The customer was relieved to have their stormwater drains running clear again because they had a friend with a similar problem. Their friend had damage to their house foundations where expensive underpinning was carried out to the foundations of the home.

This can result in water getting into the crawlspace under the house. If the problems with the foundation are not taken care of the issues will get worse causing water to collect in the crawlspace and mold and mildew will grow creating possible health hazards and further damage to timber supports. All the while the damage to the foundation walls continues to worsen, weakening the strength of the walls.

If the slope of the soil away from the house is not enough to keep the walls of the foundation dry it might be necessary to install a drainage trench. This will direct water away from the foundation under the ground. It can be a bit of an expense to have a trench dug and the drain pipe installed but if the water damage problem is severe enough the expense will be worth it. Once the cause of the water damage has been taken care of it is important to repair the damaged foundation. Most of the products used to fix gaps and cracks in the foundation are just applied to the inside walls of the basement or crawl space but this is a job for experts in this area because sometimes underpinning of foundations are required. This is an expensive job and is best left for a qualified proffesional to carry out these type of repairs.

So the moral of the story is it is important and cheaper in the long run to keep your drainage systems maintained in a proper manner to help prevent costly repairs to your home.

Blocked Stormwater Drain Rotted Timber Stump

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A licenced plumber should always carry out work to your plumbing system

Drains Blocked With Tree Roots and Dirt

2011-09-22T14:50:00.003+10:00

A customer in Canterbury was being flooded under their home every time there was a heavy rain event. We diagnosed the problem to actually be towards the front of the property. The drain was inspected by our drain camera where we were able to demonstrate the amount of tree root invasion that had occurred within their stormwater drain. There was a lot of fibreous tree roots upstream from the stormwater outlet which was located at the curbe and channel in the street. The stormwater drain was cleared by our water jet and further inspection of the drain could be made with our drain camera.

After years of problems with water flooding at the side of their home and the potential for serious water damage to building foundations, our customer was relieved to see the amount of tree roots removed as well as the dirt built up within the drain over the years. The drains still appeared to still be in reasonable condition considering the amount of tree root invasion and the large trees in the front yard which they didn't want to touch! Further drain cleaning with the water jet upstream from the cleared section removed more dirt and ensured clear flow from upstream downpipes. This also helped confirm the initial diagnosis was correct. The main problem with the drain was at the front of the property and our customer was able to keep their garden and landscaping intact.

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Toilet Repairs

2011-09-12T16:40:00.003+10:00

Does your toilet need attention!

At Newman Plumbing with our years of experience we service many brands of leaking toilets on a daily basis. Whether repairing or replacing toilets we always use parts from reliable manufacturers such as Caroma. Due to our experience in maintenance plumbing we know this is especially important when replacing toilets. We recommend these brands to our clients as it ensures that replacement parts will be readily available for any future maintenance. A new dual flush toilet professionally installed by qualified plumbers can save a lot of water over time.

A licenced plumber should always carry out work to your plumbing system

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Plumbing Valves

2011-09-02T09:29:00.002+10:00

Wise Old Owl

When replacing hot water units, Newman Plumbing use the existing valves where possible. When new valves are required, we only use quality valves due to their proven reliability and service. Quality companies that stand by their products and warranty. One company we use is RMC valves due to their proven reliability and wide range of valves, including pressure and temperature relief valves, tempering valves and non return isolating valves to suit all requirements. Isolating valves and pressure reduction valves to protect dishwashers and other household appliances. These connection points are all common plumbing points where leaks can occur around the home so this is where quality counts! Mains pressure reduction valves are sometimes required due to excessive water pressure. The installation of a pressure reduction valve installed on the mains pressure supply can prevent a variety of plumbing problems within your home, such as noisy plumbing, water hammer, leaking valves, and constant repairs to taps and toilets. So its a qualified licenced plumber that can diagnose these types of problems and provide an educated solution.

A licenced plumber should always carry out work to your plumbing system

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New Taps

2011-09-02T08:55:00.010+10:00

Flat out with taps leaking at home!

At Newman Plumbing we carry a range of quality tapware. As maintenance plumbers we have extensive experience in servicing, repairing and replacing all types of taps. So the supply and installation of a new basin set, shower, bath or laundry taps can be replaced without fuss. The installation of new tapware can really spark up a bathroom or laundry without a major renovation! We also carry quality kitchen sink mixer taps with great warranties ready for that quick changeover. All our taps are professionally installed and where practicable, new isolating stop taps are fitted to the hot and cold water connection points under the bench for future maintenance. Leaking taps and toilets in the home can be annoying, not to mention the waste of water that we are all concerned about today. So don't put up with those leaking taps at home anymore! Contact us today for an appointment.

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Home Heating

2011-08-24T15:08:00.007+10:00

Trying to keep warm this winter !

For a warm home it's essential to keep your heating appliances serviced and maintained.

The frequency of cleaning the heater will depend on local conditions, so regular inspection should be performed. To ensure that your heater continues to operate at peak efficiency, it should be serviced at two year intervals by a licensed gasfitter. This service of the heating unit will include all maintenance and adjustments to components such as burners, ignition system, fan assembly and heat exchanger. If a return air filter in the return air grille is fitted regular cleaning and checking every few weeks in peak season is good maintenance. A blocked filter can seriously affect the heaters performance and economical operation. As with all gas appliances it is important that no articles are placed on or against your heater. Not only for the fire risk but this type of obstruction can prevent proper airflow and effect the operation of your heater. This is also why it is important to ensure that the flue terminals on external heaters are kept clear of plant growth or any other obstructions. As with all types of servicing, cleaning the heater and ensuring that the system is operating at maximum efficiency guarantees peak performance, it also allows any minor problems to be detected early. This ensures that the heater will always be ready when you need it.

Only use a Licensed Gasfitter to service your gas appliances

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Excess Water Bill

2011-08-11T08:33:00.005+10:00

How to read your water meter

A customer we attended to this week in Eastern Suburbs, Melbourne asked a very common question.

How do you read the water meter and make sense of it all?

The customer was quite concerned about their water consumption because they had experienced a burst cold water pipe in their front yard a month ago and had just received their water bill!

Most houses have there own meter. The water meter is usually located towards the front of the property, near the left or right boundary. In duplexes, flats or strata titled properties, there may be only one meter servicing all of the dwellings or one for each residence.

It is useful to know the location of your meter because a stop tap, which controls the flow of water, is normally next to the meter. In an emergency, such as a burst water pipe, you can use the stop tap to turn off the water supply to prevent waste and damage to property.

Your water meter is a useful tool in helping manage your water consumption. If you are not using water in your house, your meter should stop ticking over. In this way you can use your water meter to check for leaks. Record the reading of your meter and ensure no water is used on the property for a few hours and then check the meter again. Take into consideration if your hot water system is filling, or if dishwashers, washing machines, toilets or garden irrigation are in use, or on timers. Any movement of the dials {including both red and black numbers} on your water meter after this time indicates there may be a leak on the property. If this is the case you should contact Newman Plumbing to have it repaired.

There are many types of water meters.

If your meter looks like the one above, read the black and red numbers left to right. The black numbers show how many kilolitres {1,000 litres} have been used. The red numbers show how many litres have been used. Only the kilolitres are represented on your water bill.
The current reading on both meters is 1234 kilolitres and 567.8 litres, 1234.5678 kilolitres.
If your meter looks like the one below, kilolitres are represented by the black display, and litres by the dials. The dials are read from right to left. When the pointer rests between two numbers read the lower number.

We hope this all makes sense!

All plumbing repairs and alterations should be carried out by a licensed plumber
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Preventative Sewer Drain Maintenance

2011-08-02T11:13:00.009+10:00

Is your plumbing just hanging on!

Have you experienced blocked sewer pipes caused by tree roots?

- Put a stop to it with Vaporooter Foaming Sewer Root Inhibitor -

With the use of the latest technology, Newman Plumbing can diagnose and help prevent

emergency after hours call outs with your sewer drainage. Many old sewer pipes,

especially those laid before the 1980's are susceptible to the infiltration of tree roots.

Traditional methods of cutting tree roots actually allow the tree roots to grow back bigger and stronger than before, thereby exacerbating the tree root problem in sewer drains.

A better solution - Use modern technology.

Step 1 Clear the blockage by waterjet.

Step 2 Inspect by camera and supply DVD for customer assessment.

Step 3 Apply Sanafoam Vaporooter system using herbicides to prevent infiltration of the tree roots and deterioration of sewer pipes. The system is applied annually and will not damage trees.

A properly maintained system will be cost effective with a 12month guarantee for peace of mind. The earlier we attend to your sewer pipes the less deterioration of the pipes will occur. It is your choice how many stages you proceed with.

Newman Plumbing is a Licensed Vaporooter applicator.

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Hot Water Heater Location

2011-07-29T12:37:00.019+10:00

Recently we were called out to a home in Surrey Hills to service an internal hot water unit that had been installed in a garage. It was to our great concern that the lawn mower and a can of fuel were stored nearby. There are lots of safety issues with hot water units that need to be recognised. Not only for the safety of the installation but also for servicing and efficient operation of the hot water unit. The position of the hot water service installed at your home should be close to the most frequently used outlet and its position chosen with safety and service in mind. Make sure members of the family, particularly children will not touch the flue. Clearance around the hot water unit must be allowed for servicing of the hot water unit. With this in mind the water heater must be accessible without the use of a ladder or scaffold. For maintenance purposes the temperature pressure relief valve lever should be accessible and the front cover and burner can be removed for service. An internal water heater that is installed in a room or enclosure must have adequate ventilation. There are strict regulations for ventilation and positioning of internal hot water units. The water heater must not be installed in an area with a corrosive atmosphere where chemicals are stored or where aerosol propellants are released. Remember the air may be safe to breath, but when it goes through a flame, chemical changes take place which may attack the water heater. It may sound obvious but it is amazing how newspapers and similar articles are stored close to water heaters which is such a dangerous practice. These are just a few points of safety regarding the position and installation of your hot water service.

There are lots of regulations that are related to the installation of hot water units and their position. The warranty of a new unit can become void if relief valves or other safety devices are tampered with or if the installation is not in accordance with the instructions.

Its worth taking a look and finding a "better" spot to store the mower and the can of fuel!

Gas appliances should be installed and serviced by a licensed plumber

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Drain Camera Solutions

2011-07-22T16:51:00.002+10:00

With the use of modern technology such as drain camera's and pipe locator's you can save a lot of money avoiding unnecessary excavations and damage to landscaped gardens. Melbourne residents are able to use this latest technology to assess the condition and any problem areas within their drains and sewer pipes in their property. A lot of our customers assume that the cause of an overflowing sewer drain is something has been flushed down the drain and blocked the pipe. Most of the time the cause of such drain blockages can actually be confirmed to be tree root infiltration in the old earthenware type drains. These type of drains are commonly found within the older style properties in Melbourne. The drain camera is a great tool to confirm the cause of a drain problem, where a constructive solution can be obtained with the use of modern technology.

In many situations the use of the drain camera can locate the exact location and depth of the problem area. The drain camera along with the pipe locator can allow the plumber to precisely identify the position where tree roots have infiltrated the drain or there has been movement in the earth and damaged has occurred to a drain. All this is viewed on a monitor and can also be taped onto a DVD for future reference.
You can imagine the time saved not to mention the money saved by the use of this technology. To be able to pinpoint a problem area or to just confirm the old earthenware drain is still in good condition and just needs to be maintained.
The drain camera is a great tool in accessing problems in drains and to provide an educated solution.

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Hot Water goes Kaboom

2011-07-08T11:45:00.001+10:00

A recent article came to our attention.
The story was about an exploding mains pressure hot water unit.
"The hot water unit exploded on the roof of a factory in a large regional town in Victoria. The hot water unit travelled almost half a kilometre before it landed on the back porch of a house. Luckily no one was sitting there reading the morning paper at the time. Still, at 5.30am it was a pretty rude awakening for the occupants."

Apparently the thermostat failed and the hot water service kept heating up and it exploded. The pressure temperature valve must have also failed, been blocked or capped off. An extremely dangerous situation all round!

The story was relating to "do it yourself" projects that had gone wrong.

You really have to question the money saved by not gaining the expertise and services of a trained professional licenced plumber. Not only to service your hot water service or gas appliance but while at your home they can make you aware of any potential problems and safety issues regarding your plumbing appliances around your home.
Often while servicing a ducted heating unit, the hot water unit is nearby and quick observations can be made and advised to you.
The condition and life expectancy of an appliance. The condition of relevant valves, isolating stops. Advice on correct temperatures and operation of your gas appliance. There are lots of stories to do with appliances failing and causing damage to homes. Not as dramatic as the previous hot water story!
But leaking valves and water damage or just appliances not functioning properly and costing more to run.

Only use a Licensed Gasfitter to service your appliances

Leaking Hot Water Valve

2011-07-01T20:36:00.000+10:00

With the cold weather around, hot water units and ducted heating are working hard.
It is important to maintain these appliances and ensure they don't let you down.

A customer in Balwyn experienced damage to their home due to a leaking pressure temperature relief valve on their mains pressure hot water unit. The hot water service was located on a blind side of their home and on the high side of the property. The valve had been leaking and discharging a lot of water over a considerable amount of time. The water was running under their home and pooling under the house. Due to this extra discharge of hot water pooling under the home it was causing the nearby timber floor boards to get wet with the steam. This steam caused the timber floor boards to "cup" inside the home. It was only after noticing the damage occurring to the timber floor boards that they investigated the problem.
The hot water service was serviced where a new pressure temperature relief valve was fitted and the damaged floor boards were replaced by a carpenter at considerable cost.

The overflow pipe from the hot water service discharges to a pipe and is now monitored and maintained by the home owner.
It is normal for water to discharge from a relief valve when the unit is heating up water.
For more information on Pressure Temperature Relief Valves please see previous Blog.

Gas appliances should be serviced by a licensed plumber

Stormwater drains full of Silt

2011-06-23T13:11:00.003+10:00

A new customer this week was looking for a plumber in Camberwell and contacted Newman Plumbing. They were experiencing flooding at the rear of their period style home. The stormwater drains were the old terracota style that discharged to a council drain at the front of the home. The drains were completely blocked with a build up of silt and sand from a rear paving area and years of dirt washed down from the homes spouting and roof area. The stormwater drains were cleared with the latest technolgy drain cleaning equipment.

The powerful hydro water jet removed the build up of dirt in the drain. The stormwater drains were flushed of dirt and leaves with the powerful water jet using an array of different nozzles. A further access point was obtained by the use of a drain camera and pipe locator. The old earthenware drain was quickly excavated and access was gained to clear the front section of the stormwater drain through to the council drain in the nature strip. The powerful hydro jet with 4500 psi pressure, forward and rear facing jets cleared and flushed the drains. The condition of the drains could be checked with our drain camera. The drains were very old but still in good condition and an access point was raised to ground level for future maintenance. With this new access point at the front of the home, it will be easier to maintain the stormwater drains in the future and also provide an overflow point in the case of heavy rain events.

Gas appliance servicing

2011-06-15T15:19:00.001+10:00

A customer this week in North Balwyn was let down by their ducted heating unit. The heating unit had not been serviced for some time and was in need of some care!
With the cold winter months quickly upon us, the ducted heating unit and hot water unit at the side of the home is working hard. It pays to have your gas appliances serviced on a regular basis. Not just for the safety factor but also for an efficient and reliable appliance. There's nothing worse than a cold shower first thing in the morning or no heating of an evening. With regular servicing and maintenance of gas appliances they should give you years of quality service in your home. It is important that gas burners are working properly. Pilots and other gas controls are checked for their operation and wear. Heating fans should be clean and circulating free. There are lots of components and valves that need to be operational and in good working order. A regular maintenance service to your gas appliance can ensure trouble free heating and hot water.

Only use a Licensed Gasfitter to service your appliances

Forget Master Chef, here's Master Plumber

2011-06-09T08:28:00.000+10:00

This was an article that grabbed our attention this week.

"There has been reality TV shows about chefs, fashion designers, singers, dancers, business people. Now it's the plumbers turn!

Young Talent of the year is a prime time BBC reality TV show finding top young talent across the UK.

Aimee Patterson has been revealed as the winner of the BBC3 Talent show Young Plumber of the year. The BBC series Young Talent of the Year, which first ran in 2009 celebrates dedicated young professionals who are devoted to perfecting their craft.

There are five episodes, each of which focuses on finding the brightest talent from a particular profession.

The show, which was broadcast on BBC3, featured four young plumbers who had been handpicked from hundreds of applicants. Their skills were tested to the limit with four gruelling tasks by the two judges. The country's best young plumbers went head-to-head for the title of Young Plumber of the Year in a fierce competition. It came a battle of the sexes as the sole female entrant battled it out with the guys unblocking drains and toilets, showing off their pipe skills and getting creative with mind blowing fountains. They were tested on their technical knowledge in a question and answer section. Aimee did very well under considerable pressure and was thrilled to win."

We thought this was very inspiring and a great story.

(Reference: Outlet. The Official Reece Customer Update. Issue 115 June 2011)

After Hours Emergency Call Out

2011-06-02T11:48:00.001+10:00

An emergency after hours call out was attended to last Friday night in Blackburn. A distressed customer rang with water streaming from their bathroom vanity. Our customer had serious concerns of the bathroom flooding and causing costly damage. We tended to the property in a prompt manner and alleviated the plumbing problems with the faulty bathroom tapware.
Our customer was unaware how to isolate the water supply at their front water meter. It is important to know where you can turn the water off to your home. It is normally at the front water meter or an isolating valve at the side of your home. The water meter to most homes is at the front of the property near the footpath. A good indication of the location of your water meter is the front hose bib tap. The tap is nearly always close to the water meter. Once you have found your water meter it is good maintenance to ensure it is always exposed and the garden hasn't grown over it. Remember it might not be you that is looking where to turn the water off on a Friday night in the dark! It doesn't hurt to turn the water supply off in normal conditions to ensure the valve is working correctly and you are confident that this is the isolating valve and it works!
There is also an isolating stop at the side of mains pressure hot water units. If it was a hot water tap that was causing a problem this valve at the hot water unit could be turned off without turning all the water supply to the home off.

This is also very good to become familiar with. There are two valves at the side of a gas hot water unit. One is for the gas supply which normally only turns 90 degrees and isolates the gas to your hot water unit. The other valve should be the water stop tap. A lot of new cold water stop taps have a black round handle and turn the same as a normal stop tap.
With regular maintenance and proper care for your tapware in your home you can prevent costly after hours emergency call outs and the distress that comes with them!

A licenced plumber should always carry out work to your plumbing system

Showers wasting Water

2011-05-27T12:22:00.001+10:00

With the recent drought it is important to remain conscious about water conservation.

We were working recently in a magnificent period home in Mont Albert where our customer was questioning their water bill and the amount of water being consumed. We carried out a water audit on the home where all the appliances and tap ware were identified for their consumption. With beautiful old style bathrooms with the larger style "gold plated shower roses". It came to our attention that these shower roses were water wasters. Our customer was not about to remove them and replace them due to the look and integrity of their bathroom. We installed water restricting discs within the connection of the shower roses to reduce the flow to 9 litre per minute and nobody would be the wiser! The Gold shower roses remained and our customer is now saving more water.

Work out how much water you use in the shower - To do this, multiply the flow rate of your shower head by the length of your shower in minutes. If you don't know the flow rate, you calculate it this way. All you need is a bucket with increments on the side and a timer. Run the shower for 1 minute, collecting the water in the bucket. Turn off the shower and measure the amount of water in the bucket. If you collected 10 litres, the flow rate is 10 litres per minute and if you usually have 10 minute showers, it means you use around 100 litres of water every shower. Most showers combine around 30 per cent cold water with 70 per cent hot water, so in that 100 litre shower your hot water consumption will be around 70 litres.

Old shower heads typically have a flow rate of about 25 litres a minute, where as modern shower heads can have flow rates as low as 6 litres a minute. If you have a 10 minute shower every day, swapping an old shower head for a modern one could reduce the amount of hot water you use daily by around 133 litres.
If you have an older style shower head and cut down your daily shower time from 10 minutes to 5 minutes, you could reduce your daily hot water consumption by around 87 litres. If you have a supper efficient shower head with a flow rate of around 6 litres a minute, cutting back your daily shower time from 10 minutes to 5 minutes will still save around 21 litres of hot water a day.

It's simple maths; a 10 minute shower with an inefficient shower head will use about 175 litres of hot water; a 5 minute shower with a super efficient modern shower head uses about 21 litres of hot water. If you update your shower head and start taking shorter showers at the same time, your hot water consumption will drop by around 154 litres for every shower. That's 154 litres of water that your hot water system doesn't have to heat every day! Newman Plumbing carry a range of water saving tapware.

Sanafoam Vaporooter Blog

2011-05-23T13:27:00.000+10:00

We normally research and construct our own blogs at Newman Plumbing to put up on our website.

We came across a blog that was written about us and our services so we thought we would share this with you;

Sanafoam Vaporooter blog written by Helen Garner.

One of the things that plumbers find essential in their maintenance and repairs of water pipes is a device called the Sanafoam Vaporooter. It is used by many plumbers as an effective method of getting rid of plant roots that sprout up inside the water pipes, as most are laid underground in the paths of tree roots. Lets discuss exactly what a Sanafoam Vaporooter is.

What is a Sanafoam Vaporooter?

Sanafoam Vaporooter is a method of sewer and drain root control. Now, you may ask what exactly are we talking about. We are talking about an effective and cost reducing sewer treatment that takes care of those adventurous roots that grow into your sewer pipes or drain pipes. Drain pipes and sewer pipes are laid underground where they can be accessed by probing tree roots. Tree roots are strong and cracking open a pipe is not a difficult task for them. After which, they get even more attracted to the water in the pipes and start growing denser. This results in a blocked drain or sewer as the roots slow down the water flowing through.

Plumbers might suggest using a water jet or an electric eel and using this will definitely clear some or all roots, which depend upon the skill and workmanship of the plumber. But tree roots are a problem that has a tendency of sprouting back if they are not taken care of permanently. Tree roots will gimmick the reaction of a running, that is, grow back thicker in the drain pipe, like pruning your hedges makes them grow back stronger and thicker.
This becomes a costly and unavoidable cycle you get trapped into. A solution to all this is the Sanafoam Vaporooter.

Sanafoam Vaporooter works with the use of a combination of herbicides that are released into the drain pipe or the sewer pipe, which then kills the roots that are inside the pipe. The herbicide works a little way up above the pipe, but does not affect the tree or shrubs which are above ground. Also, this medicine does not get absorbed by the tree, thus preventing the tree from dying.
It is advisable that the Sanafoam Vaporooter should be used within six to eight weeks of installing your sewage system. And this should be done again annually to prevent the cracking damage caused by live tree roots to your pipes. Cracked pipes can result in an overflow of raw sewerage which is a) unhygienic and b) embarrassing if it happens when you have guests over. Checking the growth is not only cost effective, but smart too.

If you are looking for Plumber in Melbourne who offers you the services of the Sanafoam Vaporooter, then you should contact Newman Plumbing. Please check out their website at http://www.newmanplumbing.com.au/

Helen Garner has been in the Plumbing industry for over a decade now and is actively involved in developing new ideas for a better service to the customers. She is also an avid traveller and an active blogger who spends an hour daily to share her experiences and learn from others.

Its nice to receive positive feed back.

Thank You Helen.

Hot Water Temperature

2011-05-16T17:54:00.001+10:00

How hot should I have my hot water?

This is a very common question asked from a customer in Doncaster.
The temperature of the hot water is set by the installer and should be adjusted to suit the customers needs. The temperature within a stored hot water cylinder should be adjusted to no higher than 60C at the top of the cylinder. If it is set higher than this, the water may scald the user, and also limescale deposits may form in hard water areas. Equally, the water should not be stored at a temperature much below this as the growth of legionella bacteria may occur.

Legionella is rarely a problem in domestic homes. The bacteria are killed off above 60C and will not survive very long at this temperature. However, they can survive within the temperature range of 20-45C. They can be dangerous to people and are transmitted when water is in a misty or vapour form, so areas around shower outlet sprays could be vulnerable if the water is maintained at too low a temperature. The best alternative to use where cooler water temperatures are required it to store the water at 60C and then use a mixing valve, which mixes hot water with a quantity of cold water to reduce the temperature to the desired level.

Tree roots in sewer drains

2011-05-11T14:07:00.001+10:00

Blocked Sewer Drains. What a nightmare! Nobody likes blocked sewer drains. Everything in the household may be put out of action as a result of this kind of blockage. If left unattended and ignored the problem only becomes worse. But with the right equipment and know how the problem can be resolved in a prompt and efficient manner.

A customer in Surrey Hills was relieved with the technology and specialised equipment that was used by Newman Plumbing to clear their drains. With an established garden and narrow pathways to their period style home, it was modern equipment that prevailed. The old earthenware drains were invaded with tree roots from the rear of the home to the front of the property. The powerful water jet made short work of clearing the entire bore of the earthenware sewer drains. Different water jet nozzles used to remove the adventitious tree roots and the drains were flushed clear. Inspection of the earthenware drains with our drain camera provided reassurance of the condition and integrity of the drains. Our customer was curious has to just how "The tree roots survived so well in the pipes"
Tree roots require oxygen to grow. They do not grow in pipes that are full of water or where high groundwater conditions prevail. Roots thrive in the warm, moist, nutrient rich atmosphere above the water surface inside sanitry pipes.
The flow of warm water inside the sanitry sewer pipe causes water vapour to escape to the cold soil surrounding the pipe. The leading tip of tree roots can detect minute differences in moisture and nutrients and tend to grow in the direction where these can be found.

On reaching a crack or joint in the pipe, tree roots will penetrate the opening to reach the nutrients and moisture inside the pipe. This phenomenon continues in winter even though trees appear to be dormant.
Once inside the pipe, roots will continue to grow, and if not disturbed, they may completely fill the pipe with multiple hair like root masses at each point of entry. The root mass inside the pipe becomes matted with grease, tissue paper and other debris discharged from the residence.
The homeowner will notice the first signs of a slow flowing drainage system by hearing gurgling noises from toilet bowls and observing wet areas around ground drains after completing the laundry. A complete blockage may occur if no remedial action is taken to remove and further control root growth.

Noisy Pipes

2011-05-06T14:56:00.001+10:00

Noisy pipes can make living around a plumbing system very annoying. Sometimes the pipes bang, sometimes they squeak, and sometimes they chatter!
Water hammer is one reason pipes play their tunes, but it is not the only reason. Not all pipe noises are the same. The type of noise you hear gives a strong indication to the type of action that will be required to solve the problem. You must listen closely to the sound being made in order to diagnose the problems properly.

Water hammer is the most common cause of noisy pipes. Banging pipes are a sure sign of water hammer. Water hammer occurs most often with quick closing valves, washing machine valves, but it can be a problem with other fixtures like taps and toilets. The condition can be worsened when the water distribution pipes are installed with long, straight runs. When water is shut off quickly, it bangs into the fitting at the end of the pipe run or at the fixture and produce the hammering or banging noise. The shock can produce some loud noises. Installation of water hammer arrestors which are a piston like valve, can help resolve the water hammer problem. Alterations to the plumbing by installing offsets in the long runs of piping can also reduce water hammer.
Unsecured pipes are prime targets when you are having a noise problem. If pipes that make up the water distribution system are not secured properly, they are likely to vibrate and make all sorts of noise. Not only is this annoying to the ears, it can be damaging to the pipes. Pipes that are not secure in their saddles can vibrate to the point that they wear holes in themselves. If enough stress is present, the connection joints may even be broken. Pipes that are not secured in the proper manner may create load banging sounds. This noise imitates the noise made by a system that is experiencing a water hammer. Squeaking and chattering noises may also be present when pipes are not secured properly. The problem of poorly secured pipework is easy to fix, if you have access to the pipes. Unfortunately, the pipes and their saddles are often concealed by plaster walls!

That squeaking noise you often hear from water pipes is almost always a hot water pipe. Whether the water distribution pipe is copper or plastic, it tends to expand when it gets hot. As hot water moves through the pipe, the pipe expands and creates friction against the pipe saddle. The expansion aspect of hot water pipes is not practical to eliminate, but you can do something about the squeaking noise. The simple solution, when you have access to the pipes and saddles, is to install a piece of rubber or any other suitable insulator. Your goal is to prevent the pipe from rubbing against a timber support when expansion occurs. All new hot water pipes come already lagged but this expansion problem can still occur.
There are a variety of noises that can occur within a plumbing system for a variety of reasons and there are several solutions that can be installed to help. With the installation of quality pressure reduction valves, non return isolation valves or just securing the pipework. The professional licensed plumber can help locate and diagnose the solution.

Sanafoam Vaporooter Treatment

2011-04-28T10:58:00.001+10:00

One of the services that Newman Plumbing provide is the licensed application of Sanafoam Vaporooter.
Vaporooter pioneered the chemical root control industry over 40 years ago to extend the useful life of sewer systems while eliminating maintenance costs.
Vaporooter foam is a unique combination of herbicides that is placed in sewer lines to kill roots on contact and inhibit future root growth. Only roots within the pipe and a very short distance outside the pipe are affected; trees and shrubs immediately above ground are not harmed. Vaporooter is composed of:

A herbicide which penetrates root cell walls and then bursts them; causing the root to die and decay.
A root growth inhibitor that attaches to surface-active organic material to inhibit further root cell division and growth with a twelve month warranty
A surfactant blend that strips away grease and slime from the roots permitting deep penetration into the root mass.
A foaming agent which provides a durable, fine-textured “vehicle” to carry Vaporooter into maximum contact with roots and pipe surfaces through professional application.

Newman Plumbing is a licensed Sanafoam Vaporooter Applicator

Winter Heating Energy Costs

2011-04-27T13:40:00.001+10:00

With winter on its way and a rise in heaters getting serviced, ready for the cold months ahead. There has been a few queries to do with energy efficiency of heating appliances and how to try and manage lower energy bills. A customer in Balwyn North was asking how to work out the efficiency of their ducted heater.
The largest chunk of household energy bills goes towards keeping homes cool in summer and warm in winter. In very cold areas, heating alone could account for about 70 percent of your energy bill.

Costing a gas appliance - The consumption of gas appliances is measured in megajoules {MJ}. Multiply the consumption of the appliance by the cost of gas in your area to find out how much it's costing you to run. For example, if your heater uses 20 MJ an hour and you pay 1 cent per megajoule of gas, it's costing you 20 cents an hour to run.
Gas appliances are more energy-efficient than their electrical counterparts, they're cheaper to run. They also produce fewer carbon emissions. In fact, if you switch from electricity to gas for your hotwater system and cooktop, you could reduce household greenhouse gas emissions by about 25 percent. Add in gas heating system, and you would further reduce both your energy bills and carbon emissions.
Turn the thermostat down - Many heaters have thermostats, so you could set the temperature as high as 30C or more commonly 23C or 24C. If you're using a thermostatically controlled heater, consider that every time you increase the setting on the thermostat by just one degree, you're adding 10 to 15 percent to your running costs - perhaps more. If you want to stay warm and save money at the same time, aim for a temperature somewhere between 19C and 21C.

In Melbourne and places that have cold winters, central heating is a good option, and it's often a standard feature of homes in this type of climate. A central heating system delivers heat to the whole house from a single heat source. Minimise running costs by being selective about spaces to heat, when to heat them and how warm they need to be. Because hot air rises, heated air delivered to a room at ceiling level will stay there, leaving the bottom half cold. Some ceiling vents are designed to direct heat to the body of a room, so if you choose to install them, make sure you're getting the most effective vents possible. The heart of the ducted gas heating system is the central gas furnace. It heats up air that then travels through ducts to various rooms around the house. Ducting usually runs under the floor or through the roof space, with vents located either in the floor or the ceiling. This kind of heating works best when the rooms of the house are grouped into zones. Each zone should have its own thermostat so the temperatures can be set independently. That way you don't waste energy heating unoccupied rooms. or overheating rooms that only require a low level of heating.
It is important to have your heater system serviced on a regular basis so it is running efficiently and safe.

Only use a Licensed Gasfitter to service your appliances

Blocked House Drains

2011-04-18T17:19:00.001+10:00

It pays to have your sewerage and storm water drains checked on an annual basis. Especially if your home has a history of drainage problems. Root growth and blockages can cause extensive damage that may mean drain excavation and replacement if not maintained. Maintenance is a much cheaper option than the result of major excavation due to broken drains and the damage they can cause to foundations, concrete driveways and landscaping around your home.
If your sink drains are chronically slow and you live in an older home, the problem may be an accumulation of grease and sludge in the lines. No amount of plunging and chemicals is going to fix this. Rectification of the problem can require use of either electric drain cleaning machine or high pressure water jet to clear the affected sewerage drain. Electric eels and high pressure water jets can be dangerous if used by inexperienced operators and we would recommend you seek qualified help for clearing your drain blockages.

Many people attempt to clear their own blocked drains by poking their household hose down the sewer or storm water line to try and flush out whatever is causing the blockage. This approach is rarely successful but if you do decide to try this make sure you remove the nozzle and fittings from the hose first. The nozzle can (and will) get snagged down the drain pipe and attempts to retrieve the hose by force can result in the nozzle detaching itself. Now you not only have the original blockage but the wayward nozzle is now compounding the problem. It is about this time that you wished you had already contacted a professional plumber for the job! Be careful of what you flush down toilet drains. Sewer systems are designed for biodegradable toilet tissue only. Flushing of things such as disposable nappies, household paper towel or sanitary items can and will result in expensive blockages. Don't flush grease down the sink - it may look like it is gone but it will build up in your drains and block eventually. A professional plumber with the appropriate drain cleaning and diagnostic drain camera equipment will make light work of blocked drains. The technology used to clear drains provide an insight into the condition of your drains. The drain camera can look inside the drains and you can inspect the condition of your drain and the offending blockages can be cleared. A professional diagnosis can be made by plumbers in Melbourne, Newman Plumbing for future maintenance and any drainage problems to be rectified.

Carbon Monoxide {CO}

2011-04-12T21:07:00.014+10:00

We were asked the other day by a customer in Camberwell about the recent advertising to do with servicing of gas appliances and the dangers of Carbon Monoxide {CO} poisoning.
So we thought it was important to share some of the information involved.
Within a gas appliance, the gas is regulated and passes through a fine injector in order to allow the correct proportion of gas and air to mix within the combustion chamber where the fuel is burned.

Typical effects of carbon monoxide {CO} poisoning.

Percentage of CO Symptoms / effect in adults

in the air

Less than 0.01 Slight headache after 1-2 hours

0.01-0.02 Mild headache plus feeling sick and dizzy after 2-3 hours

0.02-0.05 Strong headache, palpitations and sickness within 1-2 hours

0.05-0.15 Severe headache and sickness within half an hour

0.15-0.3 Severe headache and sickness within 10 minutes:

convulsions and possible death after 15 minutes

0.3-0.6 Severe symptoms within 1-2 minutes and death

within 15 minutes

1% or more Immediate symptoms and death within 1-3 minutes

Very small proportions of carbon monoxide within a room can prove fatal very quickly.

Where an appliance has an air supply via a grill, do not block it.

Only use a Licensed Gasfitter to service your appliances

Hot water unit anode

2011-04-11T15:23:00.001+10:00

Newman Plumbing

One of our valued Customers in North Balwyn we attended to this week was asking about the insides of there hot water unit!

They had a faulty pressure temperature relief valve that was leaking water. We replaced the faulty pressure temperature relief valve and serviced the hot water unit. The hot water unit was wasting a lot of water, although the garden was very green near the hot water unit! We were talking about their hot water service and how it was a stainless steel cylinder which contained the hot water at a high temperature. I advised our customer that their unit was a stainless steel cylinder and it did not require an anode which you find in the conventional vitreous enamel steel type cylinders. The anode is a rod that petrudes into the hot water unit and over time water will rust the anode before "attacking" the actual steel cylinder. The stainless steel tank that they had can store water at a much higher temperature than a vitreous enamel tank. Our customer already had a gas Aqua Max hot water unit, so they did not have to worry about changing an anode as the unit does not require one. We basically talked about the construction of different hot water services and the different advantages of their mains pressure gas hot water unit.

Here is an illustration of an anode and the inside of an electric hot water unit with an anode.

Leaking Taps

2011-04-04T16:52:00.003+10:00

A customer we were called out to in Templestowe was distressed with water flowing excessively from a basin tap. It was an after hours call out and the problem was a split washer that had been leaking a little bit for quite some time and finally it gave way and was flooding the bathroom. The home had quite high water pressure and the leaking tap had been ignored for some time. The faulty taps were repaired over the basin and an appointment was made during normal hours for a pressure reduction valve to be fitted to their main cold water supply. The mains water isolation tap was also faulty and required replacement. The customer advised us that they had a history of "burst taps" and the plumbing was "noisy".

In order to prevent water hammer in the plumbing system always turn taps on and off softly. Water hammer can be caused by something as simple as a tap washer or the isolating valve on your hot water service. Fixing water hammer can be a process of elimination and, in certain cases, may require the installation of a pressure reduction valve or a water hammer arrestor especially with high water pressure.

Don't overtighten taps when turning them off. Turning off a tap too hard can split the washer and a drip will turn into a flow and a costly emergency call out from the plumber! If the tap is continually dripping have it serviced before it wears the seat and the cost to repair becomes greater.

If a tap does start running the only way to isolate it is to turn off the main supply to your home. It is important to know where the isolation stop is located at your home which is at the location of your water meter. Its important to know the operation so that you know how to isolate your water should a problem arise. The water meter should be maintained so it is visible and easy to locate in an emergency.

There are several reasons that taps may leak here are some of them!

1) Turning the tap off too tightly splits the washer and causes leaks.
2) Wear and tear simply over time the washer will wear out from being turned on and off, this will cause a leak.
3) Dirt and grit getting flushed through the line and lodging into the washer seat.
4) Cheap washers that have a short life span are used sometimes.
5) The hot water washer can split due to the rubber expanding and contracting.
These are the most common reasons for leaking taps.

Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards "WELS"

2011-03-29T08:30:00.001+11:00

A customer in Camberwell was enquiring about the "Water Efficiency Sticker" that was attached to their new taps packaging and what it was all about.
Hot water, appliances, refrigeration and heating stand out as areas ripe for change. When you buy a household appliance, look out for the water or energy star rating labels. Both these star ratings will help you save energy and reduce your carbon footprint as well. Showerheads, toilets, taps, washing machines and dishwashers come with a water efficiency rating label known as “WELS” {Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards.} This lets you compare the water flow rate or water consumption of different products. The more stars on the label, the more water efficient. Heating water consumes a lot of energy, so reducing your water consumption can make a huge difference to your energy use!
Appliances such as dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers,
fridges, freezers and many air conditioners, have an energy star rating label that lets you compare how much electricity and gas different products use. The more stars on the label, the more efficient the appliance uses electricity or gas.

Star ratings on old equipment.
Energy ratings can help you buy the most energy-efficient appliance, but there is a trick! As new and more efficient products come on the market, the star rating is set higher every few years, which means that new appliances then have to perform better to achieve a star rating. So if you see a star rating on a very old appliance, remember that newer ones may have the same number of stars but even better efficiency.
Now there's some good tips!

Water damage to building foundations

2011-03-21T15:07:00.001+11:00

We recently cleared stormwater drains for a customer in Kew. The home was experiencing flooding under the house every time there was a decent rain. Unlike clearing a sewer drain, clearing a blocked stormwater drain can be quite extensive and costly as the drains can be blocked for quite some time before an owner notices the damage occurring and takes action. They were looking for a plumber in Kew and contacted Newman Plumbing. We advised the customer of the problems and costs involved before commencing. It was quite a task as the drains had been blocked for some time. We were finally able to clear the stormwater drains with our drain cleaning machines and inspect the old earthenware stormwater drain with our camera. We could demonstrate the condition and amount of tree root invasion that had occurred to their blocked drains. The customer was relieved to have their stormwater drains running clear again because they had a friend with a similar problem. They had damage to their house foundations where expensive underpinning was carried out to the foundations.

The foundation of a home is extremely important. After all, it is what the entire house is built on. A foundation that is in poor repair can collapse and bring lots of damage and very expensive repairs. This is something that no one ever wants to have happen. Foundations take a beating over the years from water which collects in the soil around a house. After a time, the water seeps into the walls of the foundation. The wet foundation walls expand and contract with the changes of the seasons and eventually cracks and gaps form in the walls.
This can result in water getting into the crawlspace under the house. If the problems with the foundation are not taken care of the issues will get worse causing water to collect in the crawlspace and mold and mildew will grow creating possible health hazards and further damage to timber supports. All the while the damage to the foundation walls continues to worsen, weakening the strength of the walls.

It is important that there is a working drainage system around the house to help prevent water from building up around the foundation. Keeping water away from the walls of the foundation lessens the damage caused when the walls are wet. The gutters of a home are part of the drainage system. They should be kept free of debris and the downpipes should be connected to the stormwater drain and then the water can be discharged off the property. Stormwater drains discharge to the street and also to council barrel drains. It is important to know where your stormwater drains discharge to and that they are running clear. The soil around the house should slope down and away from the house so that water will not collect around the foundation.
If the slope of the soil away from the house is not enough to keep the walls of the foundation dry it might be necessary to install a drainage trench. This will direct water away from the foundation under the ground. It can be a bit of an expense to have a trench dug and the drain pipe installed but if the water damage problem is severe enough the expense will be worth it. Once the cause of the water damage has been taken care of it is important to repair the damaged foundation. Most of the products used to fix gaps and cracks in the foundation are just applied to the inside walls of the basement or crawl space but this is a job for experts in this area because sometimes underpinning of foundations are required. This is an expensive job and is best left for a qualified proffesional to carry out these type of repairs.
So the moral of the story is it is important and cheaper in the long run to keep your drainage systems maintained in a proper manner to help prevent costly repairs to your home.

Low Pressure Hot Water Float Valve

2011-03-16T11:57:00.001+11:00

Gravity feed low pressure hot water

A customer in Ashburton this week had water overflowing from their roof! As it turned out it was coming from an overflow pipe which was discharging from their electric low pressure hot water service in their ceiling space. There was a faulty float valve that was leaking and causing the flood. We replaced the valve and purged the lines to remove airlocks within the hotwater lines. The header tank was flushed and cleaned and the plumbing reconnected. After adjusting the valve to suit the water levels, the customer was curious of the hot water service that they had inherited as they were new owners to the property and were not familiar to low pressure hot water units. So i explained that the low pressure hot water unit that is found in the ceiling of older style homes has a smaller header tank that supplies the cold water feed to the hot water service. Also known as a gravity feed hot water unit, the smaller cold water feed tank is sometimes attached to the side of the hot water unit or it is installed at a higher level above the hot water unit with plumbing to suit. On some occasions the hot water unit can be on the ground floor and the cold feed tank installed high up in the roof space to gain water pressure for the bathrooms. As it is the height difference between the cold feed tank and the taps that makes a difference with gravity feed hot water supply. Which is completely different to a mains pressure hot water unit where it is the pressure of the cold water that pushes the hot water through the unit. In a gravity feed hot water unit there is a cold feed from the base of the header tank to connect to the hot water cylinder and a expansion tube that feeds back up into the top of the cold feed tank. This expansion pipe allows for the expansion of water as it is heated within the hot water service unit to rise in the expansion pipe and discharge to the cold feed tank on occasion. On the side of the cold feed tank is the mains pressure cold water inlet. There should be an isolating stop nearby that can close the water supply to the feed tank for future maintenance. The cold feed from this isolating stop is connected to a "float valve" that is securely fastened to the side of the cold feed tank. The horizontal float valve operates by opening and closing a plunger against a seat through the action of a lever arm attached to a float. The lever arm is interconnected to the plunger via a cam. As the water level drops, the float and lever arm move in a downward direction allowing the plunger to move away from the seat, which opens the valve. When the water level rises, the float and lever arm move in an upward direction and the plunger moves towards the seat until it seats fimly against the seat and shuts the valve off.

There are a few maintenance issues that do occur with these type of float valves.

1/ Dirt, rust deposits and the like can get caught under the seat of the valve and leak.

2/ Very high water pressure can cause noisy plumbing when filling.

3/ Maintenance of the valve due to replacing washers and in poor water quality areas damage valve seats.

They are generally a very reliable valve where the float arm can be adjusted to suit the water level within the cold feed tank. There are several things to be aware of with these type of heaters.

With all adjustments and maintenance to plumbing they should be carried out by a licensed plumber with the experience to quickly pin point potential problems at hand.
Our customer was looking for a plumber in Asburton and was recommended plumbing in melbourne Newman Plumbing by a neighbour. Plumbers melbourne, Newman Plumbing is a professional licensed plumber in melbourne so if your seeking a plumber in Alphington, plumber in Ashburton plumber in Ashwood plumber in Balwyn plumber in Balwyn East plumber in Balwyn North plumber in Blackburn plumber in Blackburn North plumber in Blackburn South plumber in Box Hill plumber in Box Hill North plumber in Box Hill South plumber in Bulleen plumber in Burwood plumber in Burwood East plumber in Canterbury plumber in Camberwell plumber in Clifton Hill plumber in Collingwood plumber in Deepdene plumber in Doncaster plumber in Doncaster East plumber in Donvale plumber in Fitzroy plumber in Glen Iris plumber in Glen Waverley plumber in Hawthorn plumber in Hawthorn East plumber in Ivanhoe plumber in Kew Plumber in Kew East plumber in Mitcham plumber in Mont Albert plumber in Mont Albert North plumber in Mount Waverley plumber in Nunawading Plumber in Park Orchards plumber in Richmond plumber in Ringwood plumber in Surrey Hills plumber in Templestowe plumber in Templestowe Lower plumber in Vermont plumber in Vermont South don't hesitate to contact us and arrange an appointment for plumbers Melbourne in the Eastern Suburbs.

An overflowing low pressure hot water service leaking in a ceiling overhead is the stuff of nightmares! They need to be respected and maintained in a proper manner by a qualified professional.

Leaking Taps

2011-03-09T16:03:00.006+11:00

A Customer in Burwood this week had several leaking taps throughout their home. The major leak was coming from a kitchen flickmixer tap which had seen its day! It was old and tired, so we replaced it with one of our quality chrome kitchen mixer taps. The new tap that we installed has a five year warranty on the taps cartridge and is suitable to the homes high water pressure and hot water temperature. We fitted some new isolating stops to both the hot and cold supply under the kitchen bench so our customer could turn off the water supply to the new kitchen mixer tap from inside the home. This provides easy isolation of the water supply for future maintenance and you can then also isolate a problem without turning the water off to all the fixtures of the home. It also helps to have these isolating stops fitted to help balance out the different flow rates between the hot and cold water supply.

The customer was aware of the waste of water and was surprised at how easily it added up.

Fix leaking taps

Each tap that leaks one drop of water per second, will add $1 to your monthly water bill. If you have three leaking taps in your household, that's a waste of $36 per year. Not to mention the wasted water - each dripping tap will waste between 30 and 200 litres of water per day!

There are several reasons that taps may leak, here are some of them!

At Newman Plumbing we carry a range of exclusive quality tapware for that quick replacement, including quality kitchen flickmixer taps. We only use proven and trusted washers and seals for our repairs and advise our customer of the best solution to those annoying leaking taps around the home.

Cold Water Supply

2011-03-07T12:24:00.004+11:00

We were called out earlier in the week to a burst pipe in Surrey Hills, where water was leaking behind an ice-maker fridge. The customers son could hear the fine spray of water and had the foresight to turn the mains cold water supply off at the isolation stop next to the water meter. The eleven year old boy was right on the money as there was a burst pipe behind the fridge. We removed the fridge and made the appropriate plumbing repairs, all along answering the inquisitive questions from the new found, up and coming plumber! It was great to see that the young boy had a general interest in what was going on with the water supply and why. So here are a few of the answers that the young boy was seeking on the day.

Tap water is a principal component of "indoor plumbing", which became available in urban areas of the developed world during the last quarter of the 19th century, and common during the mid-20th century. The application of technologies involved in providing clean or "potable" water to homes, businesses and public buildings is a major part of sanitary engineering.

The availability of tap water has major public health benefits, since it typically vastly reduces the risk to the public of contracting water-borne diseases. Providing tap water to large urban or suburban populations requires a complex and carefully designed system of collection, storage, treatment and distribution, and is commonly the responsibility of a government agency, often the same agency responsible for the removal and treatment of wastewater, {sewerage}.

Modern indoor plumbing delivers clean, safe, potable water to each fixture point in the reticulation system. It is imperative that the clean water not be contaminated by the waste water disposal side of the plumbing system. Historically, this contamination of drinking water has been the largest killer of humans. Specific chemical compounds are often added to tap water during the treatment process to adjust the pH or remove contaminants, as well as chlorine to kill biological toxins. Local geological conditions affecting groundwater are determining factors for the presence of various metal ions, often rendering the water "soft" or "hard". Tap water remains susceptible to biological or chemical contamination. In the event of contamination deemed dangerous to public health, government officials typically issue an advisory regarding water consumption. In the case of biological contamination, residents are usually advised to boil their water before consumption or to use bottled water as an alternative. In the case of chemical contamination, residents may be advised to refrain from consuming tap water entirely until the matter is resolved.

In many areas a compound of fluoride is added to tap water in an effort to improve dental health among the public. In some communities "fluoridation" remains a controversial issue. As the fixtures and appliances perform their function, most produce waste/sewage that will require removal by the waste/sewage side of the plumbing system. Tap water can sometimes appear cloudy, and this is often mistaken for a mineral impurity in the water. Cloudy water, also known as white water, is actually caused by air bubbles coming out of the water. Because cold water holds more air than warm water, small bubbles will appear in water with a high dissolved oxygen content that is heated or depressurized, because this reduces how much dissolved gas the water can hold. This condition is completely harmless, and the cloudiness of the water disappears quickly as the gas is released from the water.

The waste water from the various appliances, fixtures, and taps is transferred to the waste and sewage removal plumbing system via the sewage drain system. This system consists of larger diameter piping, water traps, and is well vented to prevent toxic gases from entering the living space.

We hope this helps answer a few questions about water reticulation, where Melbourne has some of the best quality water in the world due to good practice and great plumbing sytems in place.

Tree Root Invasion

2011-03-03T15:18:00.001+11:00

A customer in Hawthorn East was being flooded under their home every time there was a heavy rain event. We diagnosed the problem to actually be towards the front of the property. The drain was inspected by our drain camera where we were able to demonstrate the amount of tree root invasion that had occurred within their stormwater drain. There was a lot of fibreous tree roots upstream from the stormwater outlet which was located at the curbe and channel in the street. The stormwater drain was cleared by our water jet and further inspection of the drain could be made with our drain camera.

After years of problems with water flooding under their home and the potential for serious water damage to building foundations, our customer was relieved to see the amount of tree roots removed as well as the dirt built up within the drain over the years. The drains still appeared to still be in reasonable condition considering the amount of tree root invasion and the large "Lilli Pilli" tree in the front yard which they didn't want to touch! Further drain cleaning with the water jet upstream from the cleared section removed more dirt and ensured clear flow from upstream downpipes. This also helped confirm the initial diagnosis was correct. The main problem with the drain was at the front of the property and our customer was able to keep their garden and landscaping intact.

Hot Water Service

2011-02-23T21:16:00.002+11:00

A Customer this week in Camberwell asked what the advantages were with their new Aqua Max 390 mains pressure hot water unit. So we explained to them that the Aqua Max 390 has a patented inbuilt mixing valve giving them 390 litres in the first hour of hot water delivery. While the tank holds 155 litres, the stainless steel cylinder can store water at a much higher temperature than a vitreous enamel tank. The mixing valve {Control A} adds a controlled mix of cold water at the units hot water outlet, giving 205 litres of more hot water delivery in the initial draw, at 60C or at the setting you choose when Control B is set at 4.5 or higher.

With 185 litres recovery per hour after that, the Aqua Max 390 is the largest volume domestic storage water heater available.

{A} A water mixing valve labelled "Control A" which controls the temperature of water delivered from the unit. By opening the water mixing valve the heater can deliver water below 50C while the tank water is maintained above 60C.

{B} A thermostatic valve labelled "Control B" which controls the temperature of the tank water.

Constructed from high grade stainless steel, the Aqua Max stainless steel cylinder will resist corrosion for a substantially longer period than the conventional vitreous enamel and bonded ceramic cylinders as well as copper heat exchangers used in continuous flow units. With it's high efficiency star rating and the stainless steel constructed storage tank there is NO anode to replace re future maintenance. A ten year warranty for the stainless steel cylinder, as well as a 12 month warranty on the whole unit for parts, ensure you have peace of mind. These are a few reasons why we choose the Aqua Max 390 hot water service for our customers.

They are just an easy unit for our customers to operate and to service.

Blocked Stormwater Drain

2011-02-21T09:00:00.002+11:00

A customer in Hawthorn this week that we serviced had experienced a severe flooding in the front part of their home. The flooding was due to heavy rain and a blocked stormwater drain. The stormwater was unable to discharge and backed up and into the roof area. The water damage to the internal ceiling and carpets was extensive. The downpipe at the front corner of the home was the main problem area. The downpipe was removed to gain access to the stormwater drains where it was revealed to be blocked by a large amount of tree roots, leaves and dirt build up. The latest technology water jet used by Newman Plumbing soon made light work of the blockages and soon there was a clear flow again. The tree roots, dirt and leaves that had built up over time could be removed by the water jet and the drains flushed clear. Several different water jet nozzles could be applied to ensure the debris was cleared. The drains were cleared to the front street where a clear flow of water could be seen.

We were able to insert the water jet upstream to help pull tree roots, leaves, dirt and debris from the stormwater drain. This is just one advantage of the powerful water jet in this situation.
The customer was reassured that the roof water could discharge away.
A new overflow was fitted to the base of the downpipe when it was reinstalled as an "insurance policy". If the drains for some reason do reblock the water can discharge at the base of the downpipe and not up into the roof area and cause extensive damage.
For professional advice and competent service contact Newman Plumbing.

How to read your water meter

2011-02-14T15:26:00.003+11:00

A customer we attended to this week in Box Hill asked a very common question. How do you read the water meter and make sense of it all?

The customer was quite concerned about their water consumption because they had experienced a leaking temperature relief valve on there mains pressure hot water unit. The valve was wasting a lot of water. We had replaced the faulty valve and tested the water supply lines for any further leaks.

There are many types of water meters.

We hope this all makes sense!

Clearing a Stormwater Drain with a Water Jet

2011-02-09T14:37:00.007+11:00

A Customer in Kew contacted us this week due to flooding that had occurred outside their home. The flooding took place at the rear around the pool area. They have an inground pool with extensive tile paving and landscaping. The paved area drained to a central small grate within the large paved area. It became obvious to us after trying to clear the stormwater drain from this small grate that there was a large amount of dirt and silt build up. It would suggest that a lot of tile grout and silt had been washed down the drain during construction as the renovations to the home had only been completed recently. We attended the job with all types of drain cleaning equipment as we didn't know what we were in for! I explained to our customer the problems due to the silt and sand build up and the advantages of using our latest technology drain cleaning water jet! The powerful water jet has an array of different water jet nozzles for clearing drains and different applications. We also advised our customer how the old style cable type drain cleaning equipment would only stir up the sand and silt in the drain and it would soon settle back to the base of the drain. The water jet could actually pull the sand and dirt build up from the drain. The water jet with rear facing nozzles drag the dirt and sand back and the jet flushes the drain clear. On this occasion we were able to access the discharge point of the stormwater drain. The stormwater outlet was located in a rear alley way. This was convenient as the customer could see the amount of dirt, sand and debris that we were able to flush out of their stormwater drain. The customer was amazed at the amount of sand and dirt that was removed from their drains. Also hard sections of tile grout and cement were also retreived from the drain to help prevent future blockages of leaves. The blocked stormwater drain was under an extensive concreted area that had been paved with quality tiles so you can imagine our customers delight when the area didn't require concrete cutting and excavation of the stormwater drains!

The powerful water jet with its several different water jet nozzles completed the job.

Customer Loyalty

2011-02-01T12:45:00.006+11:00

The Christmas rush has been and gone!
The last minute jobs that had to be done before Christmas and the long holiday period were completed. Things were wound up ready for a long earned break for both our customers and all at Newman Plumbing.

While having some quiet time with the family I was reflecting on some of the calls that we took before the Christmas break. Some of these callers were just going through the phone book directory and calling several plumbers to try and gain some "urgent" service. Some couldn't remember what plumbing companies they had called! This got me thinking about loyalty within the business and I reflected to the old days when I can remember my parents with the teletext that sat next to the telephone. In this teletext was a wealth of information with contact details, addresses and phone numbers. All contacts used on a regular basis where the shop or service contacted already had an ongoing relationship with my parents and also their friends had the same system in place. The baker, milkman, newsagency, chemist, doctor, dentist, friends and family all could be located quickly and household problems could be solved because there was already a firm and trusting relationship with the service providers.

I know for sure our loyal customers that have us in their "Computer Teletex" get priority service where we endeavour to give our valued customer prompt attention.

So whether it is http://www.newmanplumbing.com.au/ that you have formed a relationship with or another plumbing contractor. Bookmark the website and form a loyal relationship and i can tell you it will bring dividends through great service, problem solving, advice and just good old fashioned prompt reliable attention.

Plumbing under pressure

2010-12-17T12:03:00.001+11:00

A new customer that contacted us this week in Doncaster was under pressure!

Or should I say their plumbing was under pressure. They had a history of leaking tapware throughout the home, noisy plumbing such as "hammering pipework" and a loud washing machine. The toilet cisterns were loud filling with water especially at night. The home had two bathrooms where if the toilet was flushed in the middle of the night the noise of the toilet cistern filling would wake the "parents" up.

After listening to their plumbing concerns and previous history of plumbing problems it was obvious to us that there was a water pressure issue at hand. Sure enough after testing the mains cold water supply pressure, our water pressure testing gauge was reading a staggering 1300kpa water pressure. This was extremely high water pressure and was common in this area. The customers home was well maintained and had copper water supply lines throughout the home where the flow was excellent. Alterations were made to the external mains cold water plumbing supply pipes, where a quality pressure reduction valve was fitted. The new valve fitted was appropriate to the plumbing pressure and flow concerns of the home. The new quality pressure reduction valve was of an adjustable type where the cold water supply pressure was set at 500kpa. This made a significant difference in noise reductions to the plumbing within the home.
It is a real concern to plumbing appliances, tapware throughout the home, toilet cisterns, dishwashers, washing machines, mains pressure hot water units and of course possible burst pipes with such high water pressure. Warranty issues also need to be considered with such high water pressure as is indicated on appliance manufactures instructions re the "working mains cold water pressures" excepted for the appliances or the tapware installed.
The customer was relieved and so was her plumbing!

Pipe Locator to the Rescue

2010-12-08T16:48:00.001+11:00

A new customer in Kew this week was saved by the pipe locator!
The case of the missing inspection opening was solved this week thanks to modern technology. Our new customer had experienced several raw sewerage blockages over the years. The time between each blockage was becoming shorter and shorter. It was approximately nine months since they had experienced their last plumbing disaster where raw sewerage was running down the side of their home! The owner was quite distressed with the situation at hand and this time contacted Newman Plumbing to tend to their concerns.

The drains had been previously cleared by the old mechanical snake type drain cleaner where a small cutter had been used to clear the drain. The new customer was referred to us by another happy customer in the area. We cleared the property service sewer drain with the high pressure water jet and flushed the drain clear. It was quite evident to us that there was tree root invasion much to our surprise. It was not an old home with the older style earthenware drains, the drains were PVC. {plastic drains} The drain was cleared from the rear of the property to the front of the property. We obtained a property service sewer plan where an inspection point could be located at the front of the property. Dimensions of the inspection point were given and after manual excavation of the area, no inspection point was to be found.

This is where modern technology comes to the forefront! The drain camera was inserted and the drain surveyed downstream to the problem area of tree root invasion and the inspection point could be seen. The Pipe Locator was then able to locate the camera at this point and we were able to establish position and depth of the "missing inspection opening". We were able to gain access and carry out repairs to the broken drain at this point. The inspection opening was raised to ground level and a lot of time and effort saved as the inspection point was two meters away from where it was indicated on the sewer plan!
In the end it was a good result for a worried customer who was relieved and amazed with the technology of our Drain Camera and the "Pipe Locator" that saved the day!

Mains Pressure Hot Water Service

2010-12-02T08:41:00.007+11:00

We were tending to a leaking kitchen sink mixer tap this week in North Balwyn and the customer asked what mains pressure gas hot water unit we preferred. They already had an older type vitreous enamel cylinder unit at the side of their home that wasn't quite supplying enough hot water for the whole family in high demand. The old mains pressure gas hot water unit was certainly showing its age. It was a typical mains pressure hot water installation at the side of the home with adequate gas supply to support an installation of an Aquamax 390
The perfect fit for the family home with high demand for hot water and "our" favourite is the Aquamax 390 litre hot water service. The largest volume domestic storage water heater available. Aquamax 390 has a massive 390 litres available in the first hour. And with an additional 185 litres per hour recovery, your unlikely to ever run out of hot water. Complete with a ten year cylinder warranty these stainless steel units out perform any domestic storage or continuous flow hot water systems on the market.
Constructed from high grade stainless steel, the Aquamax stainless steel cylinder will resist corrosion for a substantially longer period than conventional vitreous enamel and bonded ceramic cylinders as well as copper heat exchangers used in continuous flow units.
While the tank holds 155 litres, the stainless steel cylinder can store water at a much higher temperature than a vitreous enamel tank. The mixing valve {control A} adds a controlled mix of cold water at the units hot water outlet giving 205 litres or more hot water delivery in the initial draw, at 60C or at the setting you choose when control B is set at 4.5 or higher.
Aquamax 390 - complete with its 155 litre stainless steel tank, inbuilt mixing valve, 390 litre first hour capacity, 5 star Energy Rating, 10 year cylinder warranty and external installation.

Yes we do like Aquamax hot water units!

Especially the Aquamax 390 as it is a quality and reliable unit!

Faulty Tempering Mixing Valve

2010-11-23T11:47:00.003+11:00

A customer in Hawthorn this week had a problem with low temperature hot water to an upstairs bathroom and poor water supply in the shower recess.
The home was only about eight years old with new plumbing throughout.
After much diagnosis re checking shower roses and clearing of debris in shower filters and basin aerators, the poor water supply and low temperature was improved but still present.
The home was supplied by a continuous mains pressure hot water unit with a Tempering Mixing Valve fitted to the side. After further testing this Tempering Mixing Valve was found to be faulty.
The valve internals themselves cannot be serviced. If the valve fails it must be replaced. The function of the valve can be checked by measuring the temperature of the water at an outlet nearest to the valve. If the temperature is within +/-2C of the initial set temperature, the valve is functioning correctly. If the temperature has changed by more than +/-2C it is likely due to a build up of debris in the strainers or a change in the supply condition.
The device is designed to be installed at or near a hot water heater.
When installing at or near a hot water heater be sure to have the valve mounted below the hot water temperature line. This will keep the Tempering Valve from by-passing and going to high temperature, in the event that debris has clogged the control cartridge or screens.
Installation of water temperature control products must be performed by qualified, licensed personnel. The qualified installer should be sure that the proper device has been selected correctly for the proper installation. A faulty installation can cause scalding, severe injury or death!, as advised by the manufacturer
Annual inspection and maintenance is required of all plumbing system components. To ensure proper performance and maximum life, this product must be subject to regular inspection, testing and cleaning.
The device can be installed in any position. The inlet hot supply is to be connected to the "H" side of the valve and the cold supply side to the "C" side.
A new valve that was appropriate to the household plumbing conditions was supplied and fitted. The plumbing was purged and the new valve temperature supply adjusted to suit.
The Hawthorn customer was relieved and satisfied with the outcome and knows what to look out for in the future re maintenance to their hot water supply.

Leaking Hot Water Service

2010-11-18T17:16:00.003+11:00

A customer in North Balwyn this week had a "valve" leaking on the side of their mains pressure hot water service.
The valve on the side of the water heater is dripping water. Is the valve damaged or is there another problem?
A Temperature and Pressure Relief Valve is fitted to each hot water heater. Its function is to provide both thermal and pressure relief when required. This will be in the form of discharging water from the valve.
There are four types of flow which could be observed from the Temperature and Pressure Relief Valve.
- Normal Operation
When water is heated through a 50C temperature rise, its volume will expand by approximately 2%. This expansion is discharged through the T&PR valve. It is normal operation for the T&PR valve to discharge or dribble water during the heating cycle. The T&PR valve will discharge water equivalent to 2% in volume of the total hot water used in one day. Therefore, a drain line must be connected to the T&PR valve to take discharge clear of the heater to a suitable termination point. This type of discharge occurs only when a non-return or check valve is installed on the cold water supply line after the stop cock. It is normal and desirable that this valve allows a small quantity of water to escape during the heating cycle. However, if it discharges more than a bucket full of water in 24 hours, there may be a problem!
- Continuous Dribble
If there is dirt or grit present under the seat of the valve, it may prevent the valve seat from closing properly. Therefore, a continuous dribble may be experienced. This dirt may be dislodged by operating the easing lever and allowing a full flow of water to wash over the seat.
- Steady flows for long period. {often at night}
It may be possible for the incoming cold water pressure to be in excess of the pressure rating of the T&PR valve. This will result in a excess of the pressure rating of the T&PR valve. This will result in a continuous flow of water from the T&PR valve without cycling. Ask Newman Plumbing to fit a pressure limiting valve. NEVER replace the relief valve with one of a higher pressure rating.
- Heavy flows of hot water until water heater is cold-then stops until water reheats.
The T&PR valve also operates as a temperature activated safety device. If by chance both the thermostat and over temperature energy cut-out fail on a water heater, then the electrical element or gas burner would operate continuously. Therefore, when the water temperature reaches 98-99C, the T&PR valve will open allowing a flow of water in quantity discharging the full capacity of the water heater then stopping, only to repeat this at intervals. This thermal relief if provided under high temperature conditions by expansion of the polythene rod inside the temperature probe, which causes the stainless steel push rod to lift the valve off its seat. The valve stays open until cooler water surround the temperature probe, allowing the polythene rod to contract.

If thermal relief does occur, the water heater must be switched off at the switchboard if it is an electric water heater. If it is a gas water heater, the gas control must be turned off using the knob on top of the gas control thermostat. Phone Newman Plumbing to arrange an inspection on 98993442.

Note: If a Temperature and Pressure Relief Valve requires replacement, then the correct valve must be installed. Never install a T&PR Valve with a pressure rating higher than the rated working pressure of the mains pressure hot water unit.

By the way the customer from North Balwyn received prompt service re their leaking hot water unit where the hot water unit was serviced and a new valve fitted!

Recycled water for the Pilbarra

2010-11-11T16:57:00.003+11:00

An article came across the desk which was intriguing!
Recycled water leaving Tokyo may soon be carried to the Pilbara. The water could be used to wet down the iron ore dust in Pilbara ports.
Due to scarcity of water in the Pilbara, the recycled Tokyo sewage would come in handy for dust suppression and processing and would save local potable water.
In conjunction with Japan, West Australia will test the scheme which has the potential to deliver millions of water at reduced costs.
About 25% of the world's iron is exported through the Pilbara ports, with much of it sent directly to Japan each year. Thousands of freighters return empty other than the huge volume of water taken on as ballast to stabilise the ships.
The intention now is to replace the ballast water, which can exceed 5MGL, with recycled Tokyo water. There will be a trial shipment where the recycled water is carried in drums so that any chemical changes can be monitored during transit.
West Australia's trade commissioner in Tokyo said the idea had great potential.
"It would allow us to divert potable water and it's better than the ships going back empty".
Who would have thought!

Maintaining Your Asset

2010-11-05T16:12:00.003+11:00

Many people maintain their asset that they can see but overlook underground sewer pipes. For a small cost you can have Newman Plumbing inspect your sewer drain and provide a DVD which will give you complete knowledge of your sewer drain condition. You will be able to view this for yourself and hopefully avoid yourself any costly relining or replacement pipe issues in the future, also not to mention the distribution of established gardens and concrete driveways and paths.
Tree roots grow into the junctions of older earthenware pipes cell by cell and enter the pipe eventually causing a blockage. While these have been cut out by using traditional cutting methods, the tree roots always grow back bigger and stronger, just the same as trimming a hedge.
When these tree roots grow back bigger and stronger they are also deteriorating the junctions in the earthenware pipes. The better solution to maintain these earthenware sewer pipes is to ring Newman Plumbing and apply the Sanafoam Vaporooter System which pumps a foam into the pipes under pressure containing a herbacide and root inhibitor. This will maintain the earthenware pipes condition until the next annual treatment and stop any further deterioration of the sewer pipes.
Find out about your sewer drain pipe condition by calling Newman Plumbing on phone 98993442 and maintain your asset - both above ground and underground!

Another Happy Customer

2010-10-29T18:34:00.003+11:00

Last Week, Newman Plumbing had an enquiry from a homeowner in Canterbury who had a potential very costly problem with blocked sewer drains. After being advised to fix the problem would require relining of the sewer pipes costing many 1000s of dollars the Homeowner decided to get a second opinion from Newman Plumbing Pty Ltd as they had heard of the Sanofoam Vaporooter System being used by Newman Plumbing.

After clearing the blockage Newman Plumbing used the Diagnostic Drain Camera to inspect the pipes and were able to show the homeowner via a DVD that on this occasion the pipes were suitable for the Sanofoam Vaporooter System which was far more economical for sewer drain control and also included a 12 month guarantee.

An annual maintenance application of the Sanofoam Vaporooter System proved to be far more economical than relining of the pipes and once again we had a very happy customer.

The Licensed Applicator from Newman Plumbing will advise via the DVD the condition of the older earthenware pipes and if any pipes have deteriorated to the stage where relining or replacement is required. These outcomes are very expensive which makes the Sanofoam Vaporooter System a much better Solution.

Using the Sanofoam Vaporooter System on your Sewer Drains will ensure the Pipes do not deteriorate from Tree Roots to a stage where relining or replacement is required. With the ongoing maintenance program a continued Guarantee will apply and also prove to be cost effective.

Call Newman Plumbing on 98993442.

Servicing the Eastern Suburbs

2010-10-25T16:38:00.003+11:00

Newman Plumbing Pty Ltd have been providing prompt and reliable service to all calls 7 days a week since 1988.

Those services have included General Plumbing Maintenance, Hot Water Units, Leaking Taps/toilets together with blocked Sewer Drain Control and maintenance solutions.

There is three main pieces of equipment utilised for Sewer Drain Control and maintenance services by Newman Plumbing. The Water Jet Drain Cleaner is used to clear all Drain Blockages. The Diagnostic Drain Camera inspects the pipes and provides a DVD to confirm and advise the best course of action for the future. And lastly the Sanafoam Vaporooter System which uses a herbicide fumigant to prevent infiltration of Tree Roots and further deterioration of Sewer Pipes. This system is applied annually and will not damage the surrounding trees and shrubs.

Newman Plumbing provide the above services to the following suburbs: Alphington, Ashburton, Ashwood, Balwyn, Balwyn East, Balwyn North, Blackburn, Blackburn North, Blackburn South, Box Hill, Box Hill North, Box Hill South, Bulleen, Burwood, Burwood East, Canterbury, Camberwell, Clifton Hill, Collingwood, Deepdene, Doncaster, Doncaster East, Donvale, Fitzroy, Forest Hill, Glen Iris, Glen Waverley, Hawthorn, Hawthorn East, Ivanhoe, Kew, Kew East, Mitcham, Mont Albert, Mont Albert North, Mount Waverley, Nunawading, Park Orchards, Richmond, Ringwood, Surrey Hills, Templestowe, Templestowe Lower, Vermont, Vermont South, Wantirna and also Wheelers Hill.

A Chemical Solution for Blocked Drains

2010-10-13T11:52:00.001+11:00

The majority of Blocked Drains are caused by Tree Roots and normally occur with older earthenware pipes laid before the 1980s. When treated by the traditional cutting processes the tree roots grow back bigger and stronger than before and lead to the deterioration of the pipes.

We can now solve the problem using a combination of herbicides that are pumped into the sewer pipes as a foam. The foam contains both a herbicide and a root growth inhibitor. The herbicide penetrates root cell walls, bursts them and causes the root to die and decay. The root growth Inhibitor attaches to the surface of active organic material and inhibits further root cell division or growth for approximately three years.

This chemical solution only affects the roots inside the pipe, in the pipe wall and also very close to the pipe. It does not affect trees and shrubs that are above the ground as it is not absorbed by the tree. No method to remove roots in pipes has proven to deliver the same safe and effective process prolonging the life of your drain pipes.

The foaming Sewer Root Control allows early kill of small roots before they grow large enough to cause structural damage to pipework and can avoid costly relining of pipes or complete replacement. This is ideal for household sewer drains where roots have been found to be the cause of drain blockages.

Have your drain pipes assessed and save money in the long term by chemical treatment of your drain rather than continual drain cleaning resulting in structural damage to your pipes.

Newman Plumbing Unblocks Melbourne Drains

2010-09-17T10:46:00.000+10:00

Newman plumbing are the blocked drain experts in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. We use the Sanofoam Vaprooter Process to clear blocked drains of tree roots and prevent them from growing back.