Plumbing FAQs – Part one

Date published: 4th November 2013

When you’ve been in the plumbing industry for several years, you quickly get to grips with the most common questions people ask about their plumbing. So we’ve listed them here and given our answers so that you have a handy cheat-sheet for plumbing problems that crop up regularly.

How do I unclog my toilet?

Everyone’s toilet is prone to clogging up from time to time. The first thing you need to remember is don’t keep flushing in a desperate bid to unclog whatever’s going on down there. Get hold of a plunger and see if you can clear the clog that way. If the problem is too much loo roll in the toilet, let it sit for a few hours and try flushing again once the paper has started to break down.

Do those drain cleaners actually work?

When that dirty water just won’t drain out of your sink, you know it’s time to do something about it. But what? Commercial drain cleaners can be quite effective but it all depends on why your plughole is blocked. Don’t just chuck any old substance down there, make sure that you buy the right cleaner for the job and you should find that it sorts the problem. If you don’t want to splash out on these drain cleaners (they can be quite expensive) you could always try using a plunger. Following that, throw some recently boiled water down the drain (be careful!) and you might find that sorts the problem.

If nothing works, it’s time to get a plumber out. They can identify the problem quickly and get your drains flowing again in no time.

What should I do if my shower head is leaking?

If your shower head is leaking, it could be that the O-ring needs replacing. To find this, unscrew the shower head from the swivel-ball ring and look for something that looks like a seal. If it’s looking a bit tatty, replacing it will probably fix the problem.

How can I stop my tap from dripping?

This is the most frequently asked plumbing question. A dripping tap is a pain as the noise can disturb you in the middle of the night and if you’re on a water meter, it can end up adding extra charges to your bill. Dripping taps can be caused by a vast number of issues. For this reason, it’s usually more time-effective to get a plumber in to check it out. They’ll be able to fix the problem quickly and efficiently for you.

How do I install my new dishwasher?

In order to install your shiny new dishwasher, you’ll need to extend your hot water supply line to your dishwasher and then connecting the drain of your dishwasher to the drain pipe located under your sink. If you can do all that without needing step-by-step instructions, happy days! If you can’t, it’s honestly a good idea to get a plumber round to do it for you.

These are just a few plumbing FAQs but we’re running out of space! Keep an eye on the site for your next installment.