Plumbing and Electrical Specialists

Company:	Location:	Contact Info:
Powerspeed Electrical	Ferndale	011 – 791 5564
Parkmore Plumbing & Electrical	Randburg	082 – 804 8388
JHB North Plumbing & Maintenance	Roodepoort (serving Randburg)	011 – 675 2696
Pride Home & Office	JHB (serving Randburg)	011 – 640 2283
Safrelec Plumbing & Electrical	Midrand	086 – 035 3500
Coswic 24/7 Plumbing & Elecrical	JHB (serving Randburg)	011 – 888 3614
Modern Plumbing & Electrical	JHB (serving Randburg)	011 – 648 8699
Brilliant Constrution	Honeyridge	072 – 657 2826
DL Contractors FixSmart	JHB (serving Randburg) Serving Randburg area	079 – 528 1537 0861 – FIXSMART (3497 6278) 011 – 463 5165 076 – 168 5131

 

Helpful Tips on everyday Plumbing

 

The following are useful Tips on DIY Plumbing for your Home, information acquired from the following website: http://www.practicalrepairs.com 

Sources of Toilet Trouble

There are two places that toilet problems can arise. The first is a clog in the toilet’s S-trap or somewhere in the waste water disposal line. Clogs are fairly easy to remove or dislodge using a toilet auger, a plumber’s snake, or even a straightened out coat hanger. Problems arise to the level of needing plumbing services if the clog is caused by something rigid, like a pencil or a toothbrush. Since you can’t see it or extract the cause of the clog using an auger or some other tool, the toilet may have to be removed and its base – connecting pipes examined. This sort of toilet trouble is best left to a plumber unless you are proficient in withdrawing and replacing toilets.

The second source of toilet trouble is the mechanism that controls the water level in the flush tank.

This device has the moving parts that are prone to wear and deterioration over time. The flapper valve may become worn, the brass valve stem may become clogged or corroded, or the float and its attaching rod may become misaligned or even broken. The simple solution here is to replace the troublesome component or components with new. These components are available at most hardware and plumbing supply stores.

Toilet Tank Repair: 1.
If the flush valve (ball cock) doesn’t close properly and shut off the supply of water when the tank is full, the float rod that connects to the float ball may not be lifting the rod high enough. Try gently bending the rod to increase the ball’s position. The water level in the tank should not be more than ¾ inch below the top of the overflow tube.

If the float ball has water in it, replace it with a new one. However, if the water continues to flow after the water has reached the proper level, the flush valve may have sediment or mineral deposits preventing it from closing properly. You can replace the assembly or just the washer and the valve seat. In most cases, it is just as inexpensive to replace the entire assembly with modern flush control devices that are available in most discount stores. Always turn off the water supply before removing the flush valve assembly. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when replacing the flush valve assembly.

Toilet Tank Repair: 2.
If water is constantly running into the bowl, the flapper valve may be worn or the drain hole may have a build up of sediment or minerals. Turn off the water supply, drain the tank and scrub the valve seat with suitable cleaning pad or sandpaper. Replace the flush valve (some tanks have a “flapper ball” or a “stopper ball”) if required. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Toilet Tank Repair: 3.
Toilets and toilet tanks are prone to leak at two points. Water supply line connections leak if they are not seated properly or tightened down enough. This is a simple check and fix, however, it is possible to over-tighten a plastic connector unless you are careful to hand-tighten it as specified. Next, toilet leaks at the base are likely to be caused by an improperly seated or a poorly sealed toilet. To correct this problem, first try tightening the bolts that secure the toilet to the floor. Be careful not to over-tighten the bolts, as you may crack the ceramic bowl. If that doesn’t fix the leak, you probably have a bad seal.

Toilet seals are made from beeswax and fit around a collar on the base of the toilet. You may want to leave this job for a plumber, as it is possible to replace a seal with a new one and still not fix the leak if the seal isn’t seated properly. In either case replacing the wax seal and securing the toilet bowl to the floor properly will cure your leak difficulty.

With just a few moving parts and sources of problems, toilets should be trouble-free devices. Hopefully, this article has provided you with enough wisdom for you to fix your leaky toilet quickly and easily when you need to do so.

How to Unclog a Bathtub Drain:

Using a chemical drain cleaner might seem to be the quickest solution, but is it really the best? Alternative solutions can be fun and work just as well as drain cleaning chemicals. One solution is to empty a cup of salt down the drain, followed by flushing with a kettle full of boiling water. You can help the clog to break free by using a toilet plunger, but be careful of the boiling water. If the drain is still clogged after this, it is likely that there’s something plastic stuck in the pipe. Try using a plunger to dislodge it.

This usually works, as long as you remember to plug the overflow. This calls for detaching the cover plate, removing the components and the stopper. With the parts removed, it’s a good time to clean them up. Now, plug the hole in the tub with a rag and use the plunger to force water down the drain, dislodging the clog in the process. The clog is now history, the drain is working again, and the tub is ready for the next bath.

A short piece of wire can be inserted into the drain in order to break the clog free. Coat hangers are ideally suited for this purpose, as they are just flexible enough to work their way through the bends in order to get a good grip on the wire, try wrapping one end with tape or a cloth. Wear gloves when forcing the wire into the drain and rotating it. Force the wire to loosen any debris inside. If there is something blocking the wire, make an attempt by going through the overflow opening.

Using a plumber’s snake is your next option to unclog a bathtub drain. These are inexpensive and it’s a good idea to have one snake’s handle. When the cable goes as far as possible, tighten down the thumbscrew, turn the crank around until it passes the obstruction or works its way around the bend in the pipe. As the tip turns inside the drain, it will grab onto of anything it finds. If it’s only a bend in the drainpipe, the snake will work itself around the corner and you can push it further into the pipes. Once you’ve reached the end of the cable and the clog persists, it must be further down the pipe. A professional drain cleaning service may be the just option to clear out the problem.

If none of these attempts to clear the clog work satisfactorily, try the chemical solution. Drain cleaners these days are safe to use and won’t harm your pipes or the septic system. They can, however, be dangerous when used other than directed by the manufacturer. Commercial drain cleaners should never be mixed with any other chemicals. A good safety practice is to wear gloves and goggles before, during, and after using any chemical drain cleaner. You will see the manufacturer’s safety advice and warnings on the product’s label. Don’t forget to read them carefully, as they can help protect you from needless injury.

If all else fails and the drain is still clogged, chances are pretty good that the clog is quite a bit further into the sewage system. It’s a good time to get a phone book and call a plumber or a commercial drain cleaning company.

How to repair a kitchen sink sprayer:

One handy item that seldom causes trouble in the kitchen is the kitchen sink sprayer. Sprayers consist of only a few components that can fail: The hose that attaches to the kitchen faucet, a spray head, and a few moving parts in the handle. In spite of the sprayer’s simplicity, however, they are prone to developing leaks which are easily repaired.

The most common cause of a leaking kitchen sink sprayer is wear and mineral build up on the sprayer’s perforated disc from having hard water. The sprayer head is easily dismantled and cleaned using a straight pin to dislodge the minerals fouling up the works. You could also soak the spray head’s parts in vinegar or a mineral dissolving chemical solution.

Another reason that your kitchen sprayer may not work is a simple one. The flexible hose that attaches to the faucet under the sink may be kinked. You should have a good flow of water out of the kitchen faucet, which is a good sign that everything in the water supply side of the plumbing is working. If the only trouble is with the sprayer, have a peek inside the kitchen sink cabinet and see if the hose is kinked anywhere. If it is, it’s a simple matter to reach in and straighten out the hose.

Replacing a sink sprayer is not a difficult job. Replacements are available at most hardware and home discount stores. It’s always a good idea to take the old sprayer and spray head with you when you are out shopping for a replacement. There isn’t a lot of variation in spray heads, as they only perform one function that of spraying water on demand.

Repairing a kitchen sink sprayer is one of the easiest of all plumbing repair jobs. If the cause of the problem is a mineral build-up, no tools are required. Watch out for signs of leaks in your kitchen sink sprayer, keep the spray head clean and it will provide you with many years of satisfactory, trouble-free service.