I have a relatively new home (built 2002). I suspect I have a cracked shower breach, (I hope I have used the correct term) and as a result I have to constantly change tap washers because of over tightening. The seats have been cleaned etc. Rather than go to great expense in the removal of tiles etc to replace the breach do you have any experinence with the X-Valve. This product is made by Methvens and can be seen at the Word Plumbing info web site. Many Thanks Ray H - Flagstaff Hill

Hi Ray,

Great question.

I'm not familiar with the Methven X Valve however from the website it appears to be similar to a standard spindle with a ball mechanism internal to the spindle instead of a jumper valve.

The X valve is not mentioned at all on the Methven Australian website which may mean that it's yet to have the Australian standards approval.

I also have concern that you mention the breecher is split, regardless of what kind of spindle is installed you will still need to replace the breecher the spindle alone will not fix this issue.

If you would like we could attend and test the breecher for you to see whether or not a new breecher is actually required. There may be other solutions we could investigate for you.

- Ken

Our kitchen sink taps won't stop dripping. We cannot possibly turn them off any tighter. The kids cannot turn them on. We have tried every washer on the market without any success. What do you think is wrong with our taps?? Thanks for you advice. Tina - South Lake WA

Hi Tina,

Thank you for your question.

Unfortunately just changing your tap washers is often not enough to stop your taps from leaking. 

A full tap ware service includes re-seating the tap seats, changing the O-rings and fibre washers and lubricating the spindles. I suspect in your case that your taps may require re-seating. When taps are leaking this is often due to water passing the tap washer. This passing of water can create a groove in the tap seat. Once there is a groove in the tap seat water will continue to pass through this groove even when a new washer is installed. This groove is required to be filed back in what we call re-seating to allow the washer to seal. Water can also leak from the O-ring on the spindle or from the fibre washer. 

There are many guides online if you wish to give this a try yourself however it is recommended this work is carried out by a licensed plumber.

- Ken

What can be done about blocked drains? We live in a suburb filled with beautiful gum trees, but our drains keep getting blocked by their roots. What can I do about this? Rebecca - Highbury

Hi Rebecca,

Tree roots can certainly present themselves as one of the biggest plumbing nightmares around the home. Tree roots are very persistent in their search for water especially during the summer months.

There are a variety of ways to deal with the problem depending on how bad the roots have become:

- The most common way of removing tree roots from drains is by the use of a drain cleaning machine. This method involves using a machine that spins a cutter down the drain to basically cut back the roots. Other machines also use a water jet to cut back the roots. This is only a preventative method as like all plants the roots grow back. Typically a drain clean should prevent the problem reoccurring for approximately 12 months however if it is bad tree root penetration it may only last approximately half a year. Many of my clients choose to have preventative drain cleans to ensure the problem doesn't occur when it is inconvenient. For example in the middle of a party on the weekend.

- In your situation if you are after a more permanent repair a camera inspection of the drain can be conducted to determine the extent of damage to the drain caused by the roots. Once the problem area is identified that section of drain can be replaced rather than replacing the entire drain. Once the drain is repaired it is very hard for the tree roots to again break through.

Please call my office on 8364 5855 if you would like to proceed with the above.

- Ken

Can I connect gas to my property? Simone - Brighton

Question:

Hi Ken, I have recently purchased a house in Brighton that does not have gas connected. I would like to eventually change the hotwater service to a gas one and also have a gas heater installed. Can gas be connected to a house?

Answer:

Hi Simone, yes certainly gas can be connected to your house.

The first thing you need to do is call the 'Natural Gas Hotline': 1300 001 001. They will confirm if gas is available on your street and at what pressure.

If gas is available you then need to choose a supplier eg. AGL and arrange for a gas inlet to be fitted.

From here this is where we come in. We can provide the appropriate gas pipework for your needs and arrange the installation of your preferred appliances.

Once this is complete we then provide a Certificate of Compliance allowing the meter to be fitted by your preferred supplier.

There are still rebates available for converting electric to gas hot water. See: http://www.maketheconnection.com.au/sa/home/

Please contact my office if you wish to have a free no obligation quotation.

- Ken

Hi Ken, is it expensive to install new tap ware/shower heads and toilet? - Amelia, Brighton

Hi Amelia,

Thank you for your question.

Changing tap ware etc. can be a great way to refresh your wet area at a fraction of the cost of a full renovation.

The cost of such a task is greatly determined by the quality of fixtures you select. Prices of tap ware for example can range from tens of dollars at your hardware store to up to hundreds of dollars at designer bathroom outlets. Labour wise it is not a very time consuming task.

Our tradesman are able to advise from site the most suitable tap ware to suit your budget and home. If you wish we can provide a quotation free of charge to supply and install the fixtures you require. If you wish to do this please contact my office on 8364 5855

A good website to take a look at the various fixture designs is:
http://www.reece.com.au/bathrooms

- Ken

I have a dripping cistern tap. How much do you charge for a call of this nature? Sharon - Stonyfell

Hi Sharon,

Cistern taps are a very common call-out for our business.

More often than not the easiest way to repair these is to supply and install a new one. Cistern taps range in quality from around $10-$20 dollars and can usually be changed over within the first 15 minutes. Total cost of this job is therefore very low in comparison to some other plumbing issues. I would estimate $100 at the most.

If you would like to arrange a convenient appointment time please give me a call

- Ken

We have problems with our evaporative air conditioner. Are you able to repair this or do we need an air-con technician? Joel - Hyde Park

Hi Joel,

Great Question.

We certainly can assist in the servicing of evaporative air conditioners.

The most common problems with evaporative air conditioners come from leaks. There is a ball float which controls the amount of water in the reservoir. If this is faulty the reservoir can overflow causing a leak. The surrounding area is also prone to roof leaks. If you have water around your air-conditioner it is usually one of these 2 things.

Regular servicing of you unit is essential for the most efficient operation. In particular the pads of the unit should be cleaned regularly. The unit should also be drained and isolated during winter time and checked over before using in the summer time.

To discuss the specific requirements of your job please contact my office. We would be more than happy to help

- Ken