Salmon Plumbing Guarantee to ARRIVE ON TIME to your scheduled appointment.
In the rare instance that your plumber has been delayed due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, we promise to give you a MINIMUM 30-minutes notice of ANY change in arrival time and will offer to reschedule, if that’s more convenient for you
If we don’t give you at least 30 minutes notice in advance, we will happily give you a FREE Hour of Service on your plumbing job.
This offer is not to be used with any other offer.
Does not apply to quoted jobs.
Discounts will not be applied to overdue amounts.
Deposits
Deposits are not refundable however partial or total refunds of deposits may be made at the sole discretion of Salmon Plumbing.
Cancellations
Salmon Plumbing reserve the right to charge for lost time as a result of cancellations and or postponement made less than 2 business days from the scheduled appointment time.
Warranties
Salmon Plumbing offers a 6 and half year warranty as per the Queensland Building & Construction Commission (QBCC).
Whether you’re looking to give your kitchen a contemporary, Instagram-worthy makeover, or simply want to save time and money, installing an instant boiling and chilled water tap in your home can have all kinds of benefits. Once thought of as a luxury item, taps that give instant boiling, chilled, and even sparkling water are fast becoming the must-have fitting for Brisbane homeowners looking for stylish tapware that’s both innovative and energy efficient.
The great news is that Salmon Plumbers can help you choose and install the perfect instant all-in-one boiling, chilled and sparkling water tap for your kitchen.
The Benefits of Installing an All-In-One Water Dispenser
Still not sure if it’s the right choice for you? Let’s look at the many benefits of having an all-in-one boiling, chilled and sparkling water tap.
Time Saving with Instant Boiling and Chilled Water on Tap
Waiting around for the kettle or a saucepan of water to boil is a thing of the past when you have boiling water at the touch of a button. Whether you’re making a cuppa, cooking dinner, or sterilising bottles for your hungry baby, you’ll love the time-saving benefits of having boiling water in an instant.
Similarly, having a chilled water dispenser on tap in your kitchen negates the need to fill and keep bulky water jugs in your fridge, or wait for ice cubes to freeze. You can enjoy refreshing, ice-cold water any time you like. You can even adjust the temperature to your exact liking from 6°C up to 15°C.
Space Saving
Not only can you declutter your kitchen bench by saying goodbye to your kettle, but you’ll also love the space-saving design of new boiling and chilled water taps that, unlike others on the market, don’t take up a huge amount of under-sink space, making them perfect for units and townhouses. With a sparkling water tap on hand, you can stop stocking up your fridge with plastic bottles full of fizz. That’s great for entertaining, and even better for the environment!
Energy Saving and Environmentally Friendly
Boiling water taps and chilled water taps feature heat exchange technology for energy efficiency, water-cooled technology that cools water efficiently, and standby mode to conserve energy. Plus, they minimise water wastage, as you only use what you need!
Premium Filter
Want better-tasting, cleaner water? Of course you do! Renovating the kitchen to include a tap that gives you instantaneously boiling, chilled and sparkling water means that you’ll also enjoy the peace of mind that comes from having a premium filter that removes sediment, chemicals, minerals, parasitic cysts, and lead from your family’s drinking water.
Boiling Water Taps for Child Safety
If the idea of having boiling water on tap appeals to you but you are concerned that it could pose a hazard to small children or vulnerable people in your home, fear not. These innovative taps are far safer than having a full boiling kettle sitting on your bench or stovetop. Instant boiling water taps come fitted with safety features to protect your loved ones so that they can’t be accidentally turned on. Additionally, they run at a low pressure to prevent boiling water from splashing back and scalding users.
Give Your Kitchen a Sleek, Contemporary Feel
The best kitchen renovations couple functionality with timeless aesthetic appeal – and all-in-one dispenser taps offer both. With a range of stylish designs and finishes to choose from, it’s easy to find one that perfectly suits your décor and kitchen aesthetic.
So you’re a fan of home renovation shows and DIY plumbing videos? Who wouldn’t be? There’s nothing more satisfying than dealing with home maintenance yourself – and you can really save a buck. Right?
Don’t be so sure!
Plumbing is a licensed trade and plumbers carry their own insurance for a reason – what looks simple on the screen can go wrong in a whole lot of ways, especially when enthusiastic but unqualified DIYers pick up the tools.
So take a step back for a moment and consider the ramifications of what could happen if things don’t go according to plan. Some jobs should be left to the experts – and your home plumbing system is one of them.
What about minor DIY plumbing?
Have you ever changed a washer and heard banging in your walls afterwards? That’s called water hammer, an issue that many optimistic DIY plumbers have learned about the hard way. When you hear that noise after turning off a tap, the entire pipe network is shaking, loosening it up and risking a burst wall pipe.
Even the simplest plumbing jobs can cause major headaches when not undertaken by qualified professionals. Let’s not even get started on what happens if someone is injured as a result of your work.
What will DIY plumbing cost you?
When it comes to DIY plumbing, it’s worth remembering that if you mess it up, the proverbial you-know-what can hit the fan fast. And if it does, whatever money you saved in DIY skills might end up costing way more in repairs.
Yes, we’re Master Plumbers with decades of experience so it’s only natural that we think you should avoid DIY plumbing – and if you read the policy fine print, you’ll find that in most cases, your insurance company agrees.
It’s not just a case of comparing your skills to that of a professional plumber. Your plumber has insurance for their workmanship so in the event that they make a mistake, their insurance will cover it. Your home insurance is likely to have clauses related to DIY work – so if they suspect you could be responsible for damage, your claim could be denied.
Think you’ll be able to hide the fact that you’ve fiddled with the plumbing yourself? Unlikely. Your insurance company will send an assessor to investigate the damage to your home and determine the cause of the incident. If dodgy DIY is discovered, you’ll be liable for the damage. If in doubt, we recommend digging out your home insurance policy and checking all those terms and conditions.
Don’t risk it
While the temptation to tackle a plumbing issue yourself to save time and money is understandable, it’s rarely the smart option and could end up costing you dearly in the long run.
It’s also worth noting that plumbing is a licensed trade in Australia. This means, with a few exceptions, a valid plumbing license is required before you can undertake plumbing work. These regulations aim to protect the community’s health and safety standards by ensuring plumbing disasters don’t occur.
So, before attempting any DIY plumbing, it is crucial to determine what you are legally allowed to do, and when you need to call in the help of a licensed plumber.
Preserve your home’s value, avoid a costly disaster, and leave the plumbing work to Salmon Plumbing.
Got a water drama and looking for free plumber quotes, especially from North Brisbane plumbers? When it comes to household maintenance and repairs, the prospect of a free quote can seem enticing. Plumbing problems always seem to arise at the worst possible time and it’s natural to want to save money by comparing repair quotes from several tradespeople. However, plumbing quotes aren’t the same as new car quotes where you can simply call several dealerships to find out who is offering the best price.
To properly quote you, a plumber must attend your home or business to thoroughly assess the problem. That takes time and expertise – and very few tradespeople can afford to offer their time and expertise at no charge. So when seeking plumber free quotes, it’s important to understand what the true cost may be.
What’s involved in getting a plumbing quote?
Comparing the price of retail products is relatively simple. Let’s say you’re shopping for a TV. You can visit the websites of every retailer selling the brand and model you want and easily compare prices. If you’re good at haggling, you might go one step further and contact each retailer to ask for their best quote. As the consumer, you can gather quotes from as many retailers as you like and providing this quote costs those retailers nothing.
Obtaining a plumbing quote is very different. A plumbing professional uses their training and expertise to accurately diagnose and quote the necessary services. For instance, if you’re having problems with your hot water system, many variables could be causing the issue. From minor repairs to major faults, each job will vary in complexity. This makes a sight-unseen “ballpark quote” impossible to give.
To accurately quote your plumbing job, the plumber will need to:
travel to the site
conduct a thorough inspection to assess the problem
diagnose the actual cause (this may not be as straightforward as you think)
engineer a solution
determine the cost of the solution in terms of parts and labour required.
When calling on emergency plumbers Brisbane residents and businesses can expect that the plumbing emergency will be assessed to determine urgency and prioritised accordingly. After hours call out fees are standard practice in emergency plumbing. Depending on the work required, a quote may be provided for further rectification works once the immediate plumbing emergency has been dealt with.
So are plumber free quotes actually free?
When skilled tradespeople offer free quotes, it’s reasonable to assume that they will recoup the cost of the initial callout in one way or another. There are typically two ways they might do this.
1. Higher Rates
When a callout and quote are provided for free, the tradesperson recoups their time via the quote provided – typically through higher rates on parts and labour.
2. Basic Assessment
To minimise their unpaid time, the tradesperson conducts a brief and superficial exploration of your problem. Without a proper assessment, the tradesperson may err on the side of caution by:
quoting for the worst-case scenario to ensure all potential parts and labour are covered (even though it may turn out that the problem is much less serious)
providing a quote with many exclusions or quoting for services that provide a bandaid solution rather than a permanent fix.
Pitfalls of fixed prices
Fixed-price work often sets the cost at the maximum possible rate for completing the job, regardless of its complexity. This approach may lead to premium pricing even for straightforward tasks like unblocking drains. Additionally, fixed-price quotes often come with exclusions, potentially resulting in unexpected costs as the project progresses.
Tight purse strings may make a cheaper quote look enticing but beware plumber free quotes. You might find you get what you pay for!
A comprehensive quote not only outlines the scope of work but also highlights potential exclusions and additional trades that may be required to complete the job effectively. A comprehensive quote gives you the complete picture so that you can make an informed decision.
The cost of providing a thorough assessment and transparent quote is not insignificant. Tradespeople invest time and resources into understanding the problem thoroughly and presenting viable solutions. After all, they are the experts and that is why you’ve called on them.
Looking for plumbing cost savings in other ways
You can save on your plumbing costs by:
Making the most of the plumber call-out fee by having the plumber deal with some of the other “smaller” maintenance issues while they are on premises – saving you a future call out fee and helping you save on water bills. You may be surprised at how much a leaking tap cost on your utilities bills, especially if it is the hot water tap that is dripping.
Choosing deals offered by the plumber and the manufacturer – particularly on hot water systems. Right now Salmon Plumbing can save you between $250* and $350* on your new hot water unit when we replace your old hot water heater with a Rheem Heat Pump water heater. Get in quick before the offer ends. Check out our current Rheem Heat Pump Deals.
Welcome to Brisbane, where everyone has a mould or mildew colony somewhere in their home. Mould and mildew spores thrive in a warm, sultry environment and will thrive in bathrooms, walls, ceilings, under your home, or in any room where there’s sufficient condensation. It’s frustrating. It’s unsightly. Depending on the kind of mould, it can be a health hazard, but sometimes, it’s a sign of a disaster waiting to happen. Here’s how to know the difference.
First, Is It Mould or Mildew – What’s the Difference?
Mould and mildew are both filamentous fungi – or multicellular fungi. Mildew grows ‘flat’ and is white or grey in colour whereas mould comes in a variety of colours and appears raised. Both mould and mildew pose health risks, but some types of mould can cause serious illness, especially to children and people with pre-existing health challenges. Living with indoor dampness and fungal contamination is associated with a 30-50% increase in your risk of developing asthma. From a plumbing point of view, mould vs mildew makes little difference, because the root cause of a mould or mildew outbreak is moisture.
Where Is the Mould or Mildew Growing?
Mould and mildew can simply be a symptom of Brisbane’s weather, and how we manage it. Every summer, we crank the air-conditioning, and we wake to condensation on our windows. That moisture provides an ideal habitat for fungi to settle in. But it’s not a sign of plumbing problems (more likely that your air-conditioner settings need adjusting and it’s probably time to get your system cleaned and mould treated). Set your air-conditioner to ‘dry mode’ and on mild days, opt for open windows instead.
Mildew or Mould in Your Bathroom or Other Wet Areas
All bathrooms get mouldy from time to time. Your kitchen too, is a hot spot for warm moist air. Mould around the seals on your shower is annoying but not a plumbing problem. But mould in your walls could be a very serious problem. It’s not just your bathroom, kitchen and laundry walls, any wall that houses a pipe could be a candidate for a catastrophic plumbing problem. Mould as a result of a water leak however is a costly disaster waiting to happen, or more accurately, is already happening!
A musty smell in your bathroom
Damp, dank air in the bathroom, even when it’s been properly ventilated
Mould under sinks or basins, or around pipes
Damp patches on carpet or moisture on walls and floors in neighbouring rooms.
Mould behind a toilet or near the sewer drain
Mould around the baseboards or in a concentrated area of a wall
Warping or softening of your walls or floors
Mould or Mildew on Your Ceiling
Again, condensation is the usual culprit for mould on your ceiling but sometimes, ceiling mould can be a sign of a leaking pipe in the ceiling cavity or a leak in your roof. This can penetrate your walls in no time – and cause extensive damage. Note that wet area ceiling paint contains mould inhibitors, so while the water could be pooling in your ceiling, you may not receive an early warning from your ‘mouldy housemates.’
Softening, sagging or misshaped ceilings
Mould or mildew in an isolated spot on your ceiling
Mould or mildew in any joins in your ceiling (especially in metallic roofing)
Loosening or mouldering of architraves or frames
Musty smells and ‘dank’ air.
Under Floor Mould in Homes – Brisbane’s Newest Mould Problem
Diagnosing under floor mould colonies has become a ‘high demand service’ for plumbers in Brisbane. Flooding can introduce new mould spores to your property and the trapped moisture and extra damp soil allows for a fungal colony to thrive under the floorboards of a raised house. But flooding is also tough on your drains, even drains that run through your foundations. If you find mould under your house or smell it permeating up through your floors, you should call Salmon Plumbing immediately. If a pipe or drain is leaking under your home, it can impact the foundations of your home, causing concrete cancer or timber rot in stumps. It’s imperative that you find out what’s causing the mould before disaster strikes.
Is Mould Diagnosis and Treatment Expensive?
The longer it goes undetected the more expensive a mould problem becomes. Mould colonies take 24 to 48 hours to start growing once they find an appropriate wet environment. Within 2-3 weeks it’s visually noticeable. By the time you notice a new mould patch on your walls, floors or ceilings, the leak is already up to three weeks old.
Imagine pouring a bucket of water onto your carpet every day for three weeks, and then keeping it tightly contained in a drywall box, with little ventilation. It smells. The carpet is ruined. The water soon starts to destroy everything nearby. The mould is living its best fungi life. That’s what could be going on in your walls, or worse. Meanwhile the original leak continues to get worse, and worse, until a trickle, becomes a burst.
How Do We Diagnose Mould Problems in Your Home?
Salmon Plumbing offers an affordable mould diagnostic service in Brisbane.
Call us to book in a consultation.
Our plumber will come to you, inspect your mould or mildew issue and find the source.
Your plumber will confirm if it’s a leak related problem or if you need to seek the help of a roofer or an air-conditioning technician.
If your plumber determines that your mould or mildew issue is likely related to a plumbing problem, they’ll outline the next steps for leak detection and repair.
If we find a plumbing problem, the cost of your initial diagnosis will be included in the repairs. The plumbing cost of repairing a leaking pipe in a foundation, wall or ceiling depends on:
How long the leak has been flooding the area.
The extent of the damage to plumbing infrastructure.
How difficult it is to access the leak.
The cost of materials needed to repair the leak.
The root cause of the leak (force, corrosion, age etc can all damage pipes, some are easier to repair than others.)
How to Minimise the Cost of Repairing a Leaking Pipe
Check your insurance wording carefully.
Monitor your water bills for any unexplained increases.
Choose a professional plumbing company equipped with CCTV and modern leak. detection tools – this saves you time, and time is the biggest factor in tradie charges.
Choose a Brisbane plumber that provides pipe relining (read more about our pipe relining option). This allows for leak repair WITHOUT digging up the entire foundation!
Ask your plumbing company about their experience with leak repairs.
The Best Way to Save Big Time on Wall, Ceiling and Foundation Leaks?
The biggest way to save money on leaking pipe repairs is to catch them early! Your plumber can repair the pipes, but the cost of fixing structural damage can be astronomical. If you see a new, concentrated area of mould or mildew in your home, call a plumber right away. Do not wait for the mould patch to spread. Do not put it on your to-do list. Call us the moment you notice a new mould or mildew patch. It’ll save you money, and possibly your health!
Tap and toilet repairs around Brisbane aren’t a joking matter. The sound of that dripping tap late at night can be unbearable, costing you precious sleep and money. Worse, a leaking hot tap will cost you both of those as well as the additional electricity to heat that wasted water. A slow drip can waste up to 1 litre of water per hour equating to approximately one bathtub of lost water per week.
Although it may be tempting to try to fix it yourself and might appear to be easy, it isn’t always the case and can very quickly turn into a disaster. Always call a professional for repairs to leaking taps and toilets in Brisbane, because a simple mistake can prove very costly later. At Salmon Plumbing we:
Use purpose made, quality tools to undertake the repair
Are licensed, experienced professionals
Use only quality washers, o-rings and jumper valves on your taps
Always reseat existing tapware to ensure an effective seal between the jumper valve and seat
Salmon Plumbing uses and recommends an extensive range of quality tapware to cater for even the most fastidious buyer. Our plumbers carry a range common taps to be fitted on showers, basins, sinks, laundry tubs and baths. If you’d like an even wider choice, have a chat with our friendly team who can help you with your decision and arrange a plumber quote.
Do you have a dripping or leaking tap?
Use the drip calculators below to work out how much water your household is wasting.
Slow Dripping / Leaking Tap
Count the number of drips from your tap in one minute.
Fast Dripping / Leaking Tap
For drips faster than 5 drips per second, hold a measuring cup under the dripping tap and count how long it takes to fill up to 240ml.
Toilets & Cisterns
Salmon Plumbing’s experienced technicians carry an extensive range of parts to repair most common makes and models of toilet suites. This includes cistern isolation valves, service pipes, inlet valves, outlet washers and rubbers. In most cases, we can fix your toilet on the spot!
We supply and install full toilet suites or just the cistern and toilet pan individually depending on your needs and the current installation. If you would like advice on tap and toilet repairs or replacement around Brisbane, contact Salmon Plumbing Brisbane today.
Making the most of your plumber’s visit
Don’t wait for a small issue to become a big problem. Having your plumber take a look at multiple jobs at one time is a great way to save time, money and the potential of a later call out of an emergency plumber. If you have a leaking toilet, make the most of your plumber call out fee and have your flexi-hoses, dripping taps and slow moving drains looked over at the same time.
We know that plumbing emergencies are, by their nature, a surprise bill when you least expect it. If you need a pay later plumber, give us a call and enquire about our interest free financing options.
Looking for a reliable commercial plumber in Brisbane? We’ve been offering a range of plumbing services for commercial and industrial enterprises across the Brisbane area, since 1991. We install and maintain commercial plumbing solutions from well-known companies that have a proven track record and have built a good reputation in the commercial sector.
Fully Insured Commercial Work by a Licenced Brisbane Plumber
Not only will we turn up on time when you need us, you can trust that as proud members of the Master Plumbers Association of Queensland the work performed by Salmon Plumbing is completed to the highest standard and will be fully compliant. QBCC contractor licenced, Salmon Plumbing is fully insured and stands by the quality of our work with a 7 year workmanship warranty.
Trusted Commercial Plumber that Understands Brisbane Business
Salmon Plumbing understands business. We know that plumbing problems in the commercial sector are not simply an inconvenience – they can stop a business in its tracks. We provide emergency plumbing services 24/7, 365 days a year and will be there when you call. You can rely on us to turn up fast and get the job done in a timely fashion, with the minimum of inconvenience to your business.
TRADEWASTE
Commercial and Industrial enterprises often generate waste as a by-product of their manufacturing process. This includes chemicals, metals, detergent, grease and oil, and food scraps. This waste has to be adequately treated before it can be discharged into the sewerage system.
Salmon Plumbing offers a range of quality trade waste solutions to restaurants, hospitals and medical centres, chemical manufacturers and metal finishers from established trade waste product manufacturers like Fox, Everhard and Gerberit.
Rainwater systems are very popular in Australia, and are a great commercial investment. They are good for the environment and good for you. In areas with good rainfall, the savings on the water bill can be very significant. We install three different kinds of water tanks – plastic, stainless steel and the Eco Sac.
Salmon Plumbing offers complete solutions in commercial hot water for schools, nursing homes, apartment complexes and retirement villages. We offer a variety of options such as gas, solar, electric and heat pump hot water.
Pumps are used in several plumbing solutions such as rainwater systems, solar hot water, and trade waste management to divert the flow of water. Salmon Plumbing is the licenced installer for several quality brands of water pumps.
Salmon Plumbing, the Commercial Plumber Brisbane Trusts.
So whether you need a new hot water unit for your business, need to upgrade your shower facilites at your gym, or are looking for a comprehensive solution for your restaurant – we can help.
There is nothing worse than the sinking feeling of realising you have a plumbing emergency unfolding on your property and it is a public holiday! Maybe the plumber that you normally use is not available because he wants to enjoy the public holiday and has gone fishing. Meanwhile you may have a rapidly expanding pool of water threatening major property damage. Not to mention the possibility of no running water for several days and having to rely on friends, family, and neighbours for the necessities. It might be time to reconsider which plumber you keep on your fridge for your plumbing problems.
Don’t panic! John Salmon and the team at Salmon Plumbing have Brisbane residents covered EVERY day – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Including public holiday plumbing emergencies.
While it is easy for us to say don’t panic, a wall of water can send anyone into a spin. So here is HOW to stop the water in a plumbing emergency.
Steps to Take in Your Brisbane Plumbing Emergency
Turn the water off at the source if possible (check under the sink or near your toilet).
Turn the water supply off at the mains. You should do this even if you have turned the water off at the source.
If you live in a house, you will usually find a water mains tap or valve at the very front edge of your property under a council plate.
If you live in an apartment, you may find this under the kitchen sink or laundry area. Sometimes your water mains are located in a box outside of the building with a mains valve for each individual apartment or unit.
If your water leak is located near any electrical appliances, turn your power supply off at your electrical mains power board.
Call your local Brisbane Emergency Plumber, Salmon Plumbing on 07 3862 2600 – even on a public holiday.
When you call Salmon Plumbing, our experienced customer service staff will get details of your emergency, establish the urgency of the situation, and send a plumber out to you straight away.
Our plumber will arrive fast with a fully equipped truck to take care of your plumbing emergency.
We will make repairs to stop the plumbing emergency and will offer professional advice on whether additional work is required to deal with any underlying cause of the emergency.
Cleaning up is just as important as solving the problem. We take care so that all we leave behind is a job well done.
Avoiding a Plumbing Disaster While Your Home is Empty
Going away this long weekend? Here are a few things you can do to avoid a plumbing disaster while you are away:
Turn internal plumbing appliances off at the tap – dishwashers, washing machines and plumbed in fridges are a few of the main culprits of holiday plumbing disasters.
Inspect any flexi-hoses for bumps, bulges, protruding wires and kinks and have a plumber replace those that are worn or older than 5 years. Flexi-hoses can burst unexpectedly and cause significant property damage.
Have a friend or neighbour keep an eye out on your property – water running unchecked down the drive or bulging patches of lawn are a sign of something gone amiss.
Consider switching off the power to your hot water unit and turning all the water off at the mains.
Is your bathroom still emitting pungent odours hours after your partner sat on the porcelain throne doing the daily Wordle puzzle? Have you tried multiple air fresheners only to return later to have the smell punch you in the face once again?
Before completely overhauling your partner’s diet or investing in expensive gut cleansing powders, consider whether the bathroom smells are coming from your pipes, rather than your partner. Chances are they are also getting a nose full of the smelly drains, and maybe even thinking it’s you!
DIY Fixes for Bathroom Smells and Smelly Drains
Sometimes stinky plumbing smells need to be dealt with by a plumbing professional. But the good news is there are a few things you can try first.
Fill the P-Trap
The first place to start is with the p-trap – this is a U-shaped pipe found underneath the basins, baths and showers (not the fluffy rug your nan used to put around the base of the toilet!) When it is filled with water, as it should be, the p-trap acts as a barrier that prevents gases from your sewer system rising up through the pipes into your home. If you have a bathroom where fixtures haven’t been used for some time, the water may have evaporated. In this case, simply running the tap to refill the p-trap may be all you need to do.
Check for Leaks in the P-trap
If you still have smelly drains even after running water down them, checking your p-trap for leaks is the next step in getting to the bottom of the issue. Even a small leak in the U-shaped pipe can be enough to let the potent gases sneak up through your system. This is something you may be able to replace and fit yourself. However, if you have any concerns, or lack the necessary tools for the job, calling a plumber is the best course of action.
Check the Sink for Blockages
It’s gross to think about, but all the things that go down your sink drain other than water (such as hair, toothpaste, soap, or food remnants) can cause a blockage in the pipes that takes on a life of its own and begins to stink!
In cases where the build-up is mild, pouring a cup of baking powder followed by a cup of white vinegar into your sink or shower drain and leaving for 10-15 minutes before running the hot water may be enough to clear the clog in the pipes and deodorise drains. You can also try unclogging the drain yourself with a plunger.
However, in more extreme circumstances, a plumber may use a drain snake or high-pressure hydro-jet to unblock the pipes.
Ignoring a blocked drain and hoping it’ll just go away can quickly turn into a costly mistake. So if these DIY methods don’t work, get your plumber on the phone!
Is the Smell Coming from the Toilet Rather than the Drains?
Are you struggling to keep a lid on the smell coming from your toilet? Smelly bathrooms aren’t always down to smelly drains or your honey spending too long on the dunny.
There are several reasons why your toilet might be the source of the foul smell.
Just like with the p-trap under your sink, the water in the toilet acts as a barrier to stop sewage gases from entering your home. If your toilet bowl isn’t filling up as it should, this could indicate a broken seal.
If there is no caulk around the base of your toilet, water and urine can gather in the crevices, grow bacteria and smell very unpleasant if left unchecked.
A loose or wobbly toilet may indicate a broken pan collar seal or wax ring which can result in toilet water leaking out and puddling on the floor and sewer gas escaping into the room.
Don’t let the stench of smelly drains or other unpleasant bathroom smells overtake your home! Contact Salmon Plumbing today.
A proper backyard drainage system is crucial for any property – and especially those located in Brisbane’s humid subtropical climate. Without adequate backyard drainage, excess water can accumulate or flow across your property, leading to soil erosion, waterlogging, foundation damage, and potential flooding.
Investing in proper stormwater drainage in your backyard not only protects your property but also ensures a safer and more functional outdoor space for social and family activities, and any creative landscaping projects.
Whether prevention is your focus or you’re already dealing with pooling water, soggy soil, erosion, or dry rot in wooden features there are several backyard drainage solutions to consider. And, Salmon Plumbers are Brisbane’s experts in drainage, so you’ve come to the right place!
French Drains
Also known as a trench drain, rubble drain, agi drain or subsurface drain, a French drain is one of the most popular and effective solutions for redirecting excess water away from your home. Filled with gravel or rock, a perforated pipe is designed to be installed at the bottom of the trench to collect water and redirect it to a more suitable location, such as a storm drain or a designated runoff area. Commonly used to alleviate water accumulation around foundations, or in low-lying areas, they are very versatile and can be customised to suit your specific drainage needs.
Downpipe Extensions
After heavy rain, you might notice a pooling of water around the base of your downpipes. Keeping gutters and downpipes free of debris certainly helps to allow optimal water flow, however, if your existing gutter system isn’t allowing water to be redirected as you expect, consider a downpipe extension. Attached to your existing gutter system, they can extend several metres away from the house, ensuring that water is moved safely into designated areas. Available in various materials, they can match your home’s aesthetics and be quite an inexpensive solution.
Landscaping and Yard Drains
If your lawn has become more of a lake than an oasis of greenery, it might be time to up the ante and consider a more robust backyard drainage solution. A French drain isn’t likely to do the trick if your backyard has improper grading or landscaping. Water will start to gather around your foundation if the ground doesn’t have the appropriate slope. Alternatively, a yard drain that is built directly into the lawn area where flooding is common can move water through underground pipes to a point such as the street, stormwater drainage or a rubble pit (sometimes called a dry well).
Water Pumps
Depending on the severity of your drainage concerns, you may need to call in a plumber. Salmon Plumbing’s technicians are stormwater drainage experts who can assess your backyard drainage situation and suggest solutions. They may recommend a suitable water pump that can remove excess water from the affected area and pump it away to a designated drainage point, such as a storm drain, the street, a drainage ditch, or a rubble pit. Water pumps are particularly useful in situations where natural drainage methods like gravity or surface runoff are insufficient to remove excess water effectively. They come in various types, including submersible pumps, pedestal pumps, and portable pumps, each suited for different drainage needs and conditions.
DIY Drainage Solutions
Sometimes the solution is something you can tackle yourself. Do you have large, decorative rocks in your garden? If not placed properly, they can create barriers causing water to pool in undesirable locations. If you are handy with a shovel, you might want to dig a shallow drainage channel, almost like a mini creek bed. This can redirect water and help with levelling the ground – and they make an attractive garden feature, too. DIY drainage can result in blocked drains, there’s no point in laying the right drains, if you’re just going to block them.
When To Call In Backyard Drainage Experts
Understanding drainage options and implementing suitable measures can ensure a dry, healthy, and stable backyard environment. However, not all backyard drainage solutions will be suitable for your situation. Yard access can exclude some measures and others require costly digging and/or earthmoving. If you’re not sure where to begin, give your local plumber a call.
All the drainage systems in the world aren’t going to save you in the next big weather event if they are blocked. If your existing drains are not doing their job, call in the drain blockage specialists to give them the once over. With no-dig options to locate the source of the blockage and clear it (and reline broken pipes), now is the time to get those drains flowing.
Salmon Plumbing has decades of experience providing Brisbane homeowners with innovative backyard drainage solutions. Enquire today!
Salmon Plumbing is the licensed installer for several quality brands of water pumps in Brisbane. We can help you select the right water pump for your circumstances and, as a licensed installer, will install the water pump in accordance with the manufacturers’ specifications. The type of water pump you need will depend on the purpose of the pump.
