5 Most Common Plumbing Repairs

Plumbing or drainage Emergency

Having a plumbing emergency can often be a worrying event, especially if you have an uncontrollable leak and need an emergency plumber to help!

A plumbing emergency in your home can be disastrous, in the short term you can lose water and heating supply while in the long run, you might have water damage or damaged appliances and fittings.

When you have a plumbing problem on your hands a fast response from a local, experienced plumber can be the difference between a small job and expensive water damage here at LocalPlumber-UK we cover the whole of Essex which means we can be at your property fast however if you live outside of Essex you can find a list of local plumbers near you at Plumbers - UK Directory

We’ve listed the top 5 common plumbing repairs and some handy tips for you to keep reducing the risk of something going wrong!

Leaking Toilet

Leaking Toilet – The average person flushes the toilet five to six times each day, which is the equivalent of over 2,000 flushes per year.

Toilets account for nearly 30% of the water usage in your bathroom, so keeping your toilet in good condition is essential.

Toilets do not require a significant amount of maintenance, just regular care and cleaning

Regular weekly cleans will help reduce limescale build-up which if leftover time can in itself cause issues.

If you notice leaks, problems flushing, or other issues with your toilet, it’s best to address them immediately rather than ignoring the problem, which can lead to more significant damage and ultimately a more expensive repair cost. 

Leaking Pipes

Leaking Pipes - No one likes to hear the sound of water dripping.

At first glance, it may seem like a simple leak coming from under your kitchen sink or a leaking pipe that can be easily be contained but, did you know a leaky pipe could possibly mean that there is something more serious going on with your pipes that then could cost more to put right plumbing repairs such as leaking pipes should be fixed as soon as possible? 

When pipes corrode, they leak and cause endless problems for both you and your home.

Leaks can be as small as a drip, but they can also prove to be something much more disastrous to your home and belongings.   

Some simple steps to help reduce the risk of burst pipes include regular visual checks, if you see a small leak get it checked and repaired as soon as possible. 

Winter months are when pipes are most prone to burst due to the cold temperatures.  Keeping all exposed pipework lagged will reduce this risk.

Sink and Tap Repairs

Sink and tap Repairs - Whether it’s used for cooking, washing, or drinking, your kitchen sink is used every day.

It is easy to forget how much our kitchen sinks can endure.  If your kitchen sink is leaking, don’t hesitate to contact a plumber.  

Although the constant dripping may not seem like a big deal, it can easily cause significant damage to your home. 

 

So what’s a couple drips, right? It might seem as though it’s no big deal, however, you could waste dozens or even hundreds of litres of water each year when you ignore a leaky tap or sink.

Even if your tap only leaks once per minute, it will waste over 130 litres over the course of a year. If your sink drips 4 times per minute, it can add up to nearly 600 litres of wasted water a year! A common misconception is that a leaking tap just needs the washer replaced. 

9/10 times a dripping tap is caused by the cartridge inside the tap failing and needing replacing. 

Whilst this can be a simple repair job, unless you are confident in what you are doing, always call in a professional.

Leaking Showers

Leaking Showers – Shower repairs can range from a leak from the actual shower unit, an electric shower not working or a leak from the shower tray, any of these can be a real headache especially if they go wrong in the summer months!

Showers can be rather complicated and difficult to work on unless you’re a professional and know what you are looking for, for faulty showers always use a professional.  

 

One of the biggest causes of a leaking shower tray is when the silicone seal becomes mouldy.  

Most mould at the first sign can be treated with a spray, but if it is particularly bad it will need to be cut out and replaced with new. 

A simple way of prolonging the life of the silicone is to wipe it down once the shower has been used to avoid any moisture sitting on the silicone. 

There are many different shower manufactures here is just a few

• Bristan
• Mira
• Groche
• Aqualisa
• Triton

Appliance Installs

Appliance Installs – Most if not all homes have a washing machine and or dishwasher and generally when one breaks down, especially our washing machine it becomes something that we simply cannot live without!

With the average washing machine being used 270 times per year, it is vital that these are maintained as best as possible. 

The installation of most appliances is reasonably straight forward with most people opting to install the machine themselves, but it is still a very common job for a plumber to do. 

 

To increase the lifespan of your washing machine, simply make sure that once a month it is cleaned with a cleaner that is readily available online and in most supermarkets. 

To help with that horrible damp smell make sure you leave the door open after use for some time to allow the drum and door seal to dry and even give the door seal and quick wipe round with a towel after to absorb moisture that has been left after the wash!

Thanks for reading our blog and keep an eye out for our others!