Category: Plumbing

As you probably know, the roof is the most important part of your house, as it protects against the harsh climate and like other parts of the building, your roof needs regular care and attention. One very noticeable aspect of a roof is the guttering, which runs around the property at the bottom of the roof line, which is usually made from PVC. Your guttering provides an essential escape route for rainwater, which runs into the vertical downpipes and into the drains.

Is Guttering Necessary?

You might be wondering why guttering is necessary, after all, the excess rainwater could run down the walls and into the ground; yet this is to be avoided at all costs. The water would gradually seep into the walls and that would impact the integrity of the structure, leading to costly repairs. Without guttering, you would have to somehow waterproof the exterior walls and rainwater would continue to run down whenever it rained. 

Replacing Your Guttering

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Like everything, guttering has a lifespan and when you consider rain, sleet, frost, snow and sunlight are attacking your guttering, eventually it will need replacing. Luckily, you can rely on an Essex guttering supplier or a trusted store near you to provide you with affordable yet top quality supplies. Most of these stores also deliver to your door.

The lengths of the guttering are fitted to brackets that are screwed to the soffit boards, with connectors that slide together. It is important to have a slight incline running to the downpipes. 

PVC Is Maintenance-Free

If the guttering and the supporting brackets are made from PVC, that would eliminate maintenance. Aside from regular cleaning out, your guttering should stand the test of time. If you are looking to brighten up the front of your property, wipe the guttering with a wet cloth and it should clean up, while checking that the guttering is secured to the wall is advised. If one section were to work loose, water would flow from that point and that could cause damage. Schedule a roof inspection every 6 months, which would entail cleaning out the guttering, which can easily get blocked with wet leaves and small branches.

Unblocking Downpipes

As all water and debris is channelled into the downpipes, they can easily become blocked and a power wash would usually clear a clogged pipe. You could try poking a long rod down the pipe but you risk compounding the problem, which might require specialist help. If, for any reason, you need to repair your guttering, you need to be competent working at height and have a good set of ladders with someone standing at the bottom. It’s hard enough to stand on the top of a ladder, let alone having to work and handle sections of guttering. If you are not confident, order the materials online and ask a local roofer to carry out the repairs.

If you select top quality guttering and have it installed by professionals, you can expect to enjoy many years of trouble-free use and with PVC, there is no maintenance required.

It’s no fun to deal with plumbing issues. Plumbing issues can range anywhere from simple pipe leakages to a major plumbing issue that will require a plumber. When it comes to plumbing, many people will wait until it is too late to take care of the problem. Plumbing issues will only get worse if they are not dealt with as soon as possible.

Here are Some of the Top Plumbing Tips You Should Know

Use Special Anti-Blocked Toilet Paper to Prevent Blockages

One of the most common plumbing tips for preventing blockages is to use less toilet paper. Yes, it is true that there is special anti-blocked toilet paper that prevents blockages. However, using normal toilet paper will just put you in more trouble. When you flush, it pushes a lot of dirt and grime into the pipes, making matters much worse than they already are. The oil and grease will also build up along with the blockage.

Regular Maintenance Checks

Some other common plumbing tips include doing simple maintenance checks on the pipes on a regular basis. For example, have you ever noticed how hard it is to flush a drain? This is because the trap, which is supposed to prevent waste from backing up into the pipes, often has too much buildup inside it. If this is the case, simply run some water through the pipes until it clears up. This simple process will prevent the trap from getting too full of grease and cause a blockage.

If you have a bathtub, make sure that it drains properly. Also, check the faucet regularly to make sure that the drain does not get clogged with hair, food, or soap; otherwise, it can lead to a serious drain blockage. If you notice that your drain gets clogged, try using a plunger to open it up a bit. You might be able to dislodge the obstruction and avoid a major problem.

If you’ve been having problems with your hot water or electric connections, you should call a plumber soon and if you require an upgrade of your entire plumbing system, you can use a scrap copper recycling pick up service to get cash for the old scrap metal and put that toward your new system. Some people mistakenly believe that leaks are just minor problems and don’t require immediate attention. However, ignoring a leaking faucet or appliance could lead to a much larger problem. For this reason, you should pay special attention to any leaks you find in your home.

Use a Toilet Float

If you notice that your toilet fills up with too much water and causing you trouble, you can easily fix this. First, check to make sure that the water line is not clogged. If not, then you should have a toilet float. A toilet float is a small rubber device that attaches to the bottom of a toilet to help relieve the inconvenience of a full tank.

Use a Plunger

Another one of the top plumbing tips out there deals with the use of a plunger. When you notice a clog, all you have to do is turn on your bathroom sink and use the plunger on the pipes below the surface of the sink. If you’re looking for easy solutions, you may want to try using a plunger, but if you want to avoid a blockage, then you should call a professional.