Have
a question about plumbing or drain cleaning? Here
you will find some everyday tips and tricks of the
trade. If you do not find what you’re looking
for, then submit a question to our Master Plumber,
Roy Van Allen. Roy has 25 years of experience in the
5 boroughs of New York. You can expect an answer in
most cases within 24 hours of submitting your question
at the bottom of this page. |
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What
do I do if my tap is leaking?
A dripping tap is normally caused by a worn washer.
To
replace the washer, follow these instructions:
Turn off the water supply. Dis-assemble the tap by
unscrewing the cross-screw situated beneath the hot
or cold indicator on the top of the tap. Remove the
tap body by unscrewing the headgear nut. To do this,
hold the tap tightly in one hand unscrewing the nut
with the other. Replace the washer at the base of
the unit. Re-assemble the tap. Turn the water supply
back on and check whether the tap is still leaking. |
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How
do I unclog my sink?
The most obvious cause of a blocked sink is debris
going down the plughole creating an obstruction preventing
water from flowing freely down the plughole.
To
unblock a sink, follow these instructions:
Try using a plunger first by covering the plughole
with the rubber end of the plunger ensuring that it
is covered in about a centimetre of water. Then cover
the overflow with a rag and pump the wooden handle
to create a suction. This should remove any obstruction.
If this does not work, try dis-assembling the waste
system under the sink: |
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Make
a space under the sink and place a bowl or similar
underneath the trap to catch any water. Dis-assemble
the trap by unscrewing the top nut which is attached
to the bowl and the second nut which is attached to
the plastic waste pipe. Once the trap has been removed,
clear any debris which has collected in it. Re-assemble
the trap by reversing the instructions above. |
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What
could cause my toilet to overflow? And how do I correct
this problem?
If the water level in the toilet cistern gets too
high, the only outlet for the water is the overflow
pipe. A dripping overflow can be caused by a number
of things. There may be too much limescale in the
system or the float might need replacing if it is
punctured or worn out. Alternatively, a worn valve
washer may cause the water level to rise as the water
leaks into the cistern. |
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Limescale
1. Limescale maybe caused by a build up of calcium
from your water supply. Some areas of the country
are more susceptible to limescale than others. In
particular, if you live in an area which is very chalky,
you are likely to experience limescale to some degree.
To control limescale we recommend that you use a water
softener periodically.
2.
To replace an old or punctured float, follow these
instructions:
Turn off your water supply. Drain cistern by flushing
the toilet which needs the new float. Unscrew the
existing float from the ball valve arm and replace
with a new float. |
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3.
To replace a valve washer, follow these instructions:
Turn off your water supply. Drain cistern by flushing
the toilet which needs the new ball valve diaphragm.
Unscrew the large plastic nut at the end of the ball
valve arm to free the ball valve. Remove the old large
rubber diaphragm from the ball valve and replace it
with a new one. Re-assemble the valve and turn the
water back on. |
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What
is the proper way to unclog my toilet bowl?
If your toilet is blocked, follow these instructions
to unblock it: Place the rubber part of a plunger
over the bowl outlet and pump the handle gently. The
suction created should force the obstruction down
the pipe and clear the toilet. If the plunger does
not work, try forcing an old sheet as far into the
bowl outlet as you can. This creates suction which
will hopefully remove the obstruction by forcing it
down the pipe. |
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