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).
We’ve all been there. You’ve just finished dinner and a long day, and you just want the washing up to be done so you can crawl into bed. Or you’re groggily walking into the kitchen the morning after a big night and can’t believe the mess you made.
In these times it can be tempting to wash anything and everything you can down the sink. It’s easy, it’s fast and it means you can have a clean kitchen sooner. So, what’s the harm, right?
Wrong. While we know it’s easier, washing a number of different things down your sink can be dangerous for your plumbing system and lead to cracked pipes, blockages or worse.
Here’s our advice for 10 things you should avoid washing down your kitchen sink.
1. PASTA
The plumbing system that connects to your sink has a fixed width. The semolina in pasta can cause it to absorb liquid and swell which means that too washing too much down the drain can block, or worse, corrode your pipes.
2. BONES
Especially those from beef, pork, lamb or poultry. Bones from these animals are big enough that they can cause a blockage in your sink and leads to overflows that can damage your plumbing system and your property.
3. GREASE
This liquid can stick to the inside of your pipes, and the pipes that your water flows into in the street, causing major blockages over time. If you’re looking for other options, leave the grease to cool first, and then dispose of it in your rubbish bin.
4. FLOUR
Much like pasta, flour coagulates when mixed with water. This mixture when washed down the drain can coat the edges of your pipes and catch other bits of food or debris that is washed down, which can cause a blockage and break down your pipes.
5. UNUSED MEDICATION
Tipping or dissolving unused medication down the sink may seem harmless, but the truth is that the chemicals you’re getting rid of may end up back in your drinking water and the environment.
6. EGGSHELLS
The impact of eggshells down the drain is very similar to flour. They can build-up and cause blockages and overflow quickly and easily. Try putting these in your compost or rubbish bin instead.
7. MILK
This one often catches people off guard. Milk, like all dairy products, is considered a highly polluting substance due to its high oxygen demand. This means that when it is released into environments with sewage, it can deprive other organisms of oxygen to survive.
8. PAPER PRODUCTS
You remember spit balls from primary school? Those things you’d load up into a straw and rocket at a friend? Picture that but bigger and blocking your drainage and causing overflow in your kitchen. Putting paper products down the sink is nothing but trouble for your pipes.
9. FRUIT AND VEGGIE STICKERS
These bad boys belong in the bin. When they get washed down your drain, they can they clog your pipes and also block filters in water treatment plants due to their adhesive being unable to dissolve in water.
10. COFFEE GROUNDS
Everyone loves a good brew in the morning – but what you might not is the blockages that can occur when you tip coffee grounds down the kitchen sink. Grounds can stick together and cause a blockage that cannot be easily moved with water. Instead, try using these grounds as part of your compost.
IT’S TIME TO MOVE YOUR RUBBISH BIN A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE SINK
Disposing of liquids, solids and the in-between properly will help you preserve your pipes for longer and avoid any other damage occurring to your property as a result of blockages and overflow.
If you do find yourself stuck in a mucky situation though, don’t fret! The team at Salmon Plumbing are more than happy to help you. Give us a call on 07 3862 2600 for any plumbing assistance you might need.
To learn more about how you can care for your home’s plumbing system, check out our blog.
The next time a pipe bursts in your roof, or you get an unexpected leak in your home, the team at Salmon Plumbing in Brisbane are more than ready to assist you.
Plus, we’re more than just a collection of pretty faces. There are plenty of features of our business that differentiate us from the QLD plumbing market, to start though, we’ll just give you the top 5.
1. WE’RE OPEN 24/7
If there’s one thing we’ve learned in our 30 years in the plumbing industry, it’s that problems don’t just happen during daylight hours.
Our years of experience have taught us that the metropolitan Brisbane community needs around the clock assistance. This is why we now ensure we’re available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Our scheduling system enables us to always have a plumber available to assist you with any unexpected problem – no matter if it’s in the middle of the night or just before lunch. And you can call to make a booking any time.
2. WE HAVE A HIGHLY SKILLED TEAM
We know that our Salmon Plumbers are our biggest asset. In fact, we’ve taught more than half of our team ourselves! We’ve raised them from the small fry apprentices they came to us as, to the full-time licensed plumbers turning up at your door today.
Additionally, we also keep our team’s skills up to date. All of our licensed tradesmen undergo continual professional development in a range of business areas, including technical skills, customer services and product training.
3. WE’RE PEOPLE TOO
Part of the problem with 21st century plumbers is that they think that everything can be done by a system. And while that is efficient, is not eFISHant, at Salmon Plumbing, we believe that when it comes to the phone, you need that human element.
When you call in for assistance, you don’t want a robot, you want to hear a friendly voice and know that there’s someone there to help you, no matter the time or the problem.
That’s why when you call Salmon Plumbing, a member of our dedicated scheduling team will take your details and help with your enquiry. You will never get an answering machine or call centre operator with us.
4. WE’VE GOT THE SYSTEMS FOR MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY
While we prioritise that human element when it comes to answering our phones, Salmon Plumbing does have a number of systems to support our plumbers to ensure they can attend your property and resolve your issue as quickly as possible.
We have invested in powerful job and project monitoring systems. Additionally, our vehicles are also tracked by satellite navigation. This enables us to respond to your job, emergency or otherwise, quickly and efficiently anywhere in the metropolitan Brisbane area.
5. WE LEAVE NO MESS BEHIND
We know some of our customers have been burned in the past by plumbers who may have gotten the job done but destroyed half their property in the process.
At Salmon Plumbing, we’ve taught our tradesman that cleaning up is just as important as solving a problem.
Our staff are trained to lay down mats to protect your floor and other surfaces when attending, and they are equipped with a cleaning kit and vacuum cleaner so that all we leave behind is a job well done.
SALMON PLUMBERS ARE THE ONLY FISH IN THE SEA YOU NEED WHEN IT COMES TO PLUMBING.
Our around the clock assistance, qualified staff and dedication to customer satisfaction is what makes us a leading plumber in the Brisbane metropolitan area.
We offer a range of plumbing services to potential customer, from hot water system installation and replacement, to blocked drain or pipe resolution, to emergency plumbing assistance.
To learn more about our services, or to get high quality assistance in a pinch, give us a call on 07 3862 2600 today.
When the colder months roll around and the warmth of your bed becomes harder to leave in the morning, it’s likely that plumbing is the last thing on your mind.
Now, however, is the perfect time to perform some routine maintenance around your home that can ensure your plumbing system is clean and clear for another year around the sun!
Completing these three tasks annually in the wintertime, when the weather is cooler and more pleasant, will mean you can preserve your plumbing without breaking too much of a sweat.
1. Clear out gutters and downpipes
Overflowing gutters can cause roof leaks and damage to your home’s structure. Over time, they can also break down your guttering system and impact its ability to protect your property.
As winter is generally considered to be drier, it’s a great time to clean out your gutters and downpipes. This routine maintenance can then prevent issues from occurring when summer, and the rain, roll around.
If you don’t feel like getting your hands dirty, you can also contact one of the team at Salmon Plumbing to come out and do the job for you!
2. Check your roof for any leaks or damages
Summer storms in Queensland are intense, and can challenge the best of properties. So, the winter is one of the best times to investigate any leaks or concerns you’ve had with your roof.
This task in particular can be pretty hard and dangerous without the right training or knowledge, so for this one we recommend getting the help of a plumbing pro-fish-ional (hint, hint!)
3. Consider the health of your hot water system
A love for cold showers is pretty rare to find, even in the summertime. In winter, however, a cold shower is just plain cruel!
To avoid the shock to your system that an unwanted cold shower can bring, the lead up to winter is also a good time to consider the health of your hot water system.
Have you found that water has been slow to heat up? Or perhaps that the heat isn’t hot for long enough? These are warning signs that it might be time for a new hot water system.
Your best bet is to contact a plumber for a routine check-up. They will review the overall health of your system and report back to you on whether or not it’s time for a new one.
So there you have it! Three ways you can use the winter time to properly preserve your plumbing.
If you’d like a professional to help you out with any of the issues we’ve mentioned above, feel free to contact the team at Salmon Plumbing.
With plenty of experience, our crew are happy to help you devise a solid maintenance plan that will see your plumbing system have a happy and healthy lifecycle. To find even more ways you can look after your plumbing system, click here to check out our blog. Otherwise, call us any time on 07 3073 9211.
When it comes to saving money on plumbing projects, there is something we think you should know.
Those same Youtube videos, Pinterest hacks, and family recipes that are keeping your toilet bowl sparkling clean or your house odor-free may be doing more damage than you think.
As plumbing professionals, we want to make sure you’re not doing more bad than good when it comes to your home or business’ plumbing. So, we’ve decided to bust five popular plumbing myths and show you the right ways to look after your water and sanitation systems.
Myth 1: You can flush more than toilet paper
One of the most common issues Salmon Plumbers have faced is attending to, what we call, a UTB, a.k.a an Unidentified Toilet Blockage. See, when it comes to your bathroom, there are many things that might appear flushable, but actually they aren’t.
Objects like paper towels, maxi pads, tampons and makeup remover wipes are not designed to go down the toilet and can easily cause a blockage if they are flushed.
Nothing except toilet paper, not even flushable wipes, should be flushed down the toilet.
Myth 2: You should use bleaching tablets to clean your toilet
Bleach can be a very effective toilet cleaning agent. However, when left to sit in your toilet for too long (usually more than 10 minutes), it can damage the toilet bowl surface and degrade many of its working parts.
A drop-in bleach tablet continually releases bleach over an extended period of time. So, by placing this in your bowl and simply walking away, you run the risk of issues above, or in some more serious cases, the complete corrosion of your toilet bowl!
While it may require a more hands-on approach, manual cleaning processes with the occasional inclusion of bleach will help you achieve the safest and best clean for your toilet.
Myth 3: You only need to think about your pipes when there’s a problem
Hair and shampoo in the shower, food and coffee grounds in the kitchen sink, and more, can all accumulate in your pipes over time. So, while you may not think anything is immediately wrong, the slow build-up of a blockage may mean water could start backing up without warning.
To avoid issues like these occurring so suddenly, arrange regular inspections of your home or business’ plumbing system. This can help you identify problems before they become costly, and enable you to learn the best tactics for maintenance from the plumbing professionals.
Myth 4: You can flush fish down the toilet
Before sending a fish to the porcelain pet heaven, you need to be certain it is no longer alive.
Many fish that are flushed can end up surviving their journey through the sewer system. From there they can become oversized and reproduce at alarming rates. This can put a number of natural ecosystems at risk.
Myth 5: You can use drain cleaner to avoid calling a plumber
If you find drains in your home are gurgling or slow to empty, don’t reach for the baking soda and vinegar or drain cleaner right away. It’s actually best to contact a plumber to remove the blockage that is impacting your system.
Liquid drain cleaners, and drain cleaning methods, are not actually that effective at clearing blocked drains. What they are 100% good at, however, is eating away at your pipes and flushing dangerous chemicals out into natural ecosystems.
Fact: Your local plumber will have the best advice for plumbing issues
When you can, it’s best to call your local plumber if you are facing a problem, or need some advice for care and maintenance.
By consulting a professional, you can trust that you are taking the best care of your property’s plumbing system.
Do you want to know the trade secrets for cutting costs on your next water bill? Or how you can identify the right time to replace your hot water system? What about when to take a leaky tap seriously?
Today, I’ve decided to open the floodgates and let the answers to some of Salmon Plumbing’s most frequently asked questions come swimming out. In this read I’ve got everything from trade secrets to top strategies for care and protection, and more.
You’re sure to learn something that will help you look after your property’s plumbing system and ensure you save a few dollars when it comes to next month’s water bills.
So, what are you waiting for? Let’s dive in.
FAQ #1: How does a plumber identify what is blocking a drain and get rid of it?
When investigating this kind of issue, plumbers will use various equipment and knowledge to analyse the situation.
They will likely take note of the location of the blockage (e.g. the bathroom vs the kitchen) and ask you a few questions to understand what is generally sent down the drain.
Plumbers will then use special tools, like CCTV cameras, water jetters and plumbing draining rods to investigate the issue further and break down the blockage.
FAQ #2: What are the benefits of installing a solar hot water system?
Solar hot water systems are one of the biggest underdogs in plumbing.
Whether it’s money, or perhaps a political stance, people seem to continuously underestimate the value that these eco-friendly systems can add to your home (and wallet!). A solar hot water system can:
Minimise the electricity needed to heat water and lessen energy bills as a result.
Reduce the greenhouse gas emissions generated by heating water.
Offer an aesthetically pleasing alternative to large tanks taking up space in your yard.
Make you eligible for a solar hot water rebate.
Installing these systems may be costly at first, but the long-term savings and environmental impact you can make, will see you recoup your spending and then some.
FAQ #3: Why is my water bill so high?
An unusually high water bill can be a real slap in the face when you’re not expecting it. If you’ve noticed a recent spike in your monthly costs, there may be an underlying problem that is causing excess water usage at your property. Here is a list of some of the possible culprits:
Leaky toilets, taps, irrigations (think lawn sprinkler systems), or lines (underground pipes that connect your home to a water meter)
Inefficient fixtures (consider the age of the plumbing appliances in your home, outdated fixtures can use more water in less efficient ways!)
Lifestyle changes (consider the seasons, are you doing more laundry in winter? Or, perhaps filling up your pool in the summer?)
Water waste (consider the water habits of your roommates, are they leaving the tap on while they brush their teeth? Taking long showers? Maybe overwatering the lawn?)
These issues might not be the first that spring to your mind, but they are worth investigating. If you find that after looking into them, you’re still experiencing unusually high water bills, then it’s time to call in a plumber to inspect your system.
FAQ #4: Is a leaky tap really a big deal?
If you care about the amount of cash in your wallet and the quality of your plumbing system, then yes.
Like I mentioned earlier, a leaky tap might be a sneaky culprit for unusually high water bills, meaning that ‘drip-drip’ isn’t just keeping you awake at night, it’s costing you money!
Additionally, there are so many reasons that a tap could be leaking that it’s worth investigating even if it you consider it to be insignificant.
It could be something as simple as a problem with the O-ring, a small disc that holds the tap in place. Or, it could be a sign of something more serious, like valve corrosion, problems with the washers, or broken pipes or fittings.
FAQ #5: Why do my drains smell horrible and how can I get rid of the smell?
Drains are meant to prevent smells from coming back into your home. So, if you find yourself wrinkling your nose when you walk into the bathroom, you might have a problem. Luckily, it’s usually an easy fix.
Most odd smelling drains are caused by a dried out trap. See, every drain has a U-shaped trap designed to hold a small amount of water. This water blocks sewer gasses from travelling back up your plumbing and into your house. When the trap dries out, there is no barrier, hence the smell when you enter a room.
The simple solution is to pour water down drains in your house that aren’t used often. This builds the barrier back up and should, hopefully, get rid of the smell.
However, if that odd odour persists, it’s probably time to look at calling in a professional plumber to thoroughly inspect your system and track down the problem.
FAQ #6: How do I know when to replace my hot water system?
There are a few hints that it might be time to look at investing in a new hot water system for your property. The biggest and most obvious being that you are frequently calling your local plumber for repairs.
Outside of this issue, some other factors to consider are:
How hot your hot water is when it comes out of the tap
How long your water is taking to heat up
The age of your hot water system (if it’s older than 10 years, you might find new models are more energy efficient and nicer to your water and electricity bills!)
FAQ #7: My pipes are making a banging sound – what’s going on?
This problem is most commonly known as a water hammer. It can be caused by a range of different issues, so it’s important to identify what is exactly causing the problem before you investigate home remedies.
A plumber is your best bet in this situation, they can help you identify what is causing the water hammer. Plus, a quick diagnosis from an experienced professional will help you resolve the problem sooner and ensure you’re treating it correctly ASAP.
Do you have a plumbing question that wasn’t answered here?
We’ve got plenty more answers and information about caring for, and protecting, your property’s plumbing system on our blog! You can check it out here.
Otherwise, feel free to contact us on 07 3073 9211! We’d be happy to answer any questions you might have.
Brisbane is about to enter the cold and flu season and much of Australia has strict quarantine processes in place due to Coronavirus. We thought it would be vital to share plumbing tips when facing a pandemic to keep your home healthy.
With the rise of sickness in Australia, it’s prudent to consider how we can decrease risk of infection and keep our homes protected. These plumbing tips to help you stay healthy during a pandemic aren’t scare tactics, more habits to practice to ensure good hygiene is in place.
Regularly clean surfaces to remove spread of bacteria
It’s inevitable that someone in the family will get a cold and while incubated at home, their hands will touch the toilet door, toilet cistern, taps and etc. Regularly clean these surfaces where hands touch to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses. Also encourage regular hand washing after using toilet facilities. It’s recommended for hands to be cleaned for 30 seconds to effectively remove bacteria.
Close the toilet lid when you flush
If you’ve ever been to a hospital toilet, there will always be a sign to ask for the lid to be closed when the toilet is flushed. The reason for this is to contain any bacteria or medicinal particles into the air when the toilet is flushed. The same practice can happen at home to prevent faecal bacteria landing on surround surfaces in the toilet. This can spread gastro if not contained.
Organise a plumbing inspection on your hot water unit
It’s important for your hot water unit to heat water at 60 degrees before it is released into the pipework. Anything below this can onset the growth of legionella bacteria, which can be detrimental to your family’s health. Any taps or showers that aren’t used regularly should be turned on once a week to remove the threat of growth of the bacteria in the pipes. A plumbing inspection to your hot water unit will ensure two things.
The unit is heating the water to the temperature needed and any tempering valves are working correctly.
Check the unit for any potential problems which could see you run out of hot water in the cooler months.
Check rainwater tank for pooling of water to prevent mosquito spread diseases
Mozzies love your rainwater tanks, so it’s important to check there is no pooling of water around your tank and home when it rains. Also check the mesh sieves to prevent mosquitoes breeding in the rainwater tank. You can read more preventative measures on how to prevent mosquitoes making a home in your rainwater tank here.
Install a water filter
Drinking water is essential for hydration. But do you know what is lurking in your drinking water from the kitchen tap? While Brisbane is blessed with clean drinking water supplies, there can be added chemicals or micro plastics you’re not aware of ingesting. To give you peace of mind, getting a water filter installed at the kitchen sink will ensure you’re drinking the best water possible. We are also able to service and install Zip Hydrotaps. Give us a call so we can give a quote for supply and installation for this popular chilled water tap.
Plumbing is essential for your health by providing water for drinking and cleaning, and the remove of waste through sanitary fixtures. Be sure to make Salmon Plumbing your first point of call when organising inspections or installations to improve the plumbing health of your home.
You can read what our practices are during the Coronavirus Pandemic to protect you and our staff during this time here.
Salmon Plumbing Ladies: Virginia (Left) and Claire (Right)
International Women’s Day is celebrated every year on the 8th March. The theme for 2020 is ‘I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights.’
Traditionally, International Women’s Day is
celebrated worldwide, offering an opportunity to celebrate and recognise the
wonderful contribution women have made in the workplace and in society. It’s
also a time to reflect on what changes still need to be made when it comes to
gender equality.
In generations past and still in the
present day, the plumbing industry has been a male-dominated industry. But the
times are changing – for the better, with women actively pursuing a career in
plumbing.
I thought this would be a great opportunity
to share with you the women who help the QLD Plumbing Industry thrive. Their
leadership, skill and work done behind the scenes are what drives better
outcomes for plumbing businesses in QLD.
These women have brought equality into the
plumbing industry and they should be commended and recognised for what they do.
The
Administration Team Behind the Scenes at Salmon Plumbing
I might be biased, but Salmon Plumbing has the best administration staff in QLD. Without them, our business would not run. Virginia, Claire and Tina are at the forefront of our business, taking your calls, organising the bookings and managing the paper trail that comes with running a plumbing business. Their genuine attitude to help, friendly customer service delivery and exceptional administration skills keep Salmon Plumbing in business. While what they do is done behind the scenes, if they were to quit tomorrow, we wouldn’t be able to function.
Master
Plumbers’ Association of QLD (MPAQ) Executive Director Penny Cornah and Team
The MPAQ is run predominantly by women and it is no surprise the changes the team have put into place have been for the better for QLD plumbers.
Penny Cornah has been influential in her role as Executive Director by advocating for plumbers with government leaders and initiating solutions to problems within the industry. She is a female leader in a male dominated industry. Her advocacy to see QLD plumbing businesses thrive, while encouraging equal opportunities for women to make a career in the plumbing industry, should be commended and recognised.
Penny Cornah
Women’s
Plumbing Alliance
The Women’s Plumbing Alliance is a group managed by the MPAQ and it not only recognises the work women do in the plumbing industry, it offers opportunities for mentorship and support. The group aims to address the isolation women can feel when they are running a plumbing business behind the scenes. It also focuses on initiatives to encourage more apprentices within the industry.
The group meet once a month and have
networking events throughout the year to ensure women who work behind the
scenes in their family plumbing business don’t feel isolated or
underappreciated. The group is comprised of women actively working in plumbing and
is comprised of volunteers who attend meetings and events to initiate change
and support for all women in the industry.
Women’s Plumbing Alliance
Female
Plumbers in Areas of Influence – Plumbing Inspectors and TAFE Teachers
While there are only a small number of
female plumbers in QLD, many are running their own business or have gone on to
develop careers in areas of influence like being a plumbing inspector or
teaching apprentices at TAFE. These women are truly living out the
International Women’s Day theme of Generation Equality.
For all women working within the plumbing
industry whether in jobs of influence, behind the scenes in admin or on the
tools, we say thank you for what you do. Your contribution is recognised and the
plumbing industry in QLD is all the better for your involvement. Thank you for
stepping up and standing tall for gender equality within our industry.
Old galvanised pipe was used to plumb water into homes fifty years ago. Unfortunately, many homes still have these pipes as the source of their water lines to their home. Without a doubt, there can be issues within the plumbing of the home due to not updating these pipes to copper.
Let me ask you a question. Would you drink water sitting in a rusty bucket overnight? Probably not. But this is what many of us are doing when we drink tap water that has been through old galvanised water pipes in our homes. Older and exposed plastic pipe is also not great for our health. Old pipe work is bad for our health and can cause long term issues in other areas of the home. Here are 5 reasons why it’s time to replace the old galvanised water pipes in your home.
1. It will improve the taste and odour of the water
Rusty water has a metallic taste and odour. It’s not particularly pleasant. When drinking and bathing in this water, it can be disconcerting to consider what impurities are being absorbed into our bodies from this contaminated water.
2. It will remove the probability of legionella bacteria
30% of homes with galvanised or old plastic piping in their home had tested for Legionella bacteria in their water supply. To avoid the growth of legionella bacteria, replace your water pipes.
3. Can prolong the life of your dishwasher and washing machine
The rusty water used through the dishwasher and washing machine can affect the effectiveness of the machine. It can also cause premature life span to your appliances.
4. Will avoid build-up of scale and sludge in hot water system
Hot water units can also be affected by rust contaminated water from galvanised pipes. Hot water units are expensive to replace. If you want to prolong the life of your hot water unit too, consider changing your water pipes.
5. You will have clear water
This is the best benefit of all after replacing your galvanised water pipes.
We often associate brown water as dirty
water. And essentially it is dirty water which has been turned brown due to the
rust sediment in the pipes. This water can stain clothes, leave a film on
crockery and glasses and can cause the water to be brown through the tap
faucet. A brown bath anyone?
If you want to protect your belongings and avoid a brown bath, upgrade your water pipes. Clear water is healthy and vital for washing, hygiene and general wellbeing. It will also eliminate the need for a higher than normal reliance on detergents and cleaners to keep your items clean because of the brown water. This can help save money and the environment.
For help replacing the old galvanised water pipes in your home, contact Salmon Plumbing for an inspection.
We don’t often talk about the importance of gutter maintenance. But could your gutters handle a freak hail storm? Is your water tank well maintained to ensure any overflow of water is stored in the tank?
Much of QLD is desperate need for a heavy downpour (or many) to fill water tanks and our dams to prevent water restrictions coming into place. Let alone the stress on our farmers and rural communities who rely on rain for their crops and general living.
But while we hope for rain, the odd storm can bring the unexpected occurrence of hail. It’s important to check your gutters and downpipes to ensure they can handle not only a heavy downpour but hail as well.
Gutter Maintenance
If your gutters are incorrectly installed, rusted
out or are blocked due to leaf debris, this can cause damage to your property.
It also leaves your property unprepared should that freak hail storm hit your
home.
Well maintained gutters can
Protect fascia boards and
roofing timbers
Prevent damage of overflowing
water to footings and foundations
Prevent water ingress during
rain events
Remove the attraction for
mosquitos carrying RRF and Zika, as pooled water is the perfect breeding ground
Prevent the breakdown of moist
leaves and debris, which can leach acid and rust gutters quickly
An inspection from Salmon Plumbing can check your gutters are correctly installed and we can identify rust and give a quote for the replacement.
Rainwater Collection Maintenance
The condition of your gutters and downpipes will determine the health of your rainwater collection system. When hail melts, it will carry whatever is sitting in your gutters, through to your rainwater tank.
A well-maintained rainwater collection system can
Prevent a health hazard of
dirty water being used
The correct strainers to the
tank can prevent mosquitoes
Extend the life of your water pump
Prolong the life of your toilet
cisterns. Dirty tank water can cause the inner parts of your toilet cistern to
deteriorate. It can also cause the toilet to smell. When a toilet flushes,
water turns into an aerosol which you can inhale and this can be bad for your
health.
Prolong the life of your
washing machine as dirty tank water can stain the inner drum of the machine and
leave an odour.
To ensure your gutters and rainwater
collection system are in good working order, contact Salmon Plumbing for
an inspection.
Brisbane can be the city of plenty and not
enough water. But we aren’t doing it as bad as our regional towns and
communities, who have been experiencing severe drought and are in desperate
need for rain. Almost two-thirds
of Queensland is in drought, and the lack of water supplies affects
industries, agriculture and can impact personal lifestyles.
Water is a precious resource and we often
take it for granted. Being mindful of how much water we use each day is
something we don’t consider, until the water supplies start to dwindle. It’s
important to understand we all play a role in conserving water and ensuring we
only use what we need.
Unfortunately, it can take a drought to
prompt a change in the way we use water, but your plumber can help automate
water conservation through a few changes around the house.
Here are 5 ways your plumber can help drought-proof your home.
1. Install a rainwater tank
Rainwater is free and collecting it in a tank can help reduce your water bill and lower your reliance on town water supplies. Of course, it has to rain in order to fill your tanks. But having a tank readily installed for when the rains do come, is a way to drought-proof your home. Collecting this water and storing it for use to water gardens, clean cars, fill toilet cisterns and wash down the exterior of your home can ease consumption from drinkable water supplies used for personal use (ie drinking, cooking and personal hygiene)
2. Install water saving aerators
Using less water in the home makes sense, but it often requires a disciplined practice. Install water saving aerators to reduce the litres of water used through the spout. Your plumber can change the taps or add aerators to reduce the water through each spout.
3. Install dual flush toilet cisterns
Most homes should have dual flush toilet cisterns, but if you have an older, single flush toilet suite, consider changing it. Dual flush toilets are another automated way to use less water than needed when flushing a number 1 away.
4. Change over to a water-saving shower rose
There are often grumbles about the pressure of water-saving shower roses, but you can shower for twice as long in a water-saving shower than a shower rose without a restrictor. It’s well worth the investment to install a water-saving shower rose on all the showers.
5. Grey water diversion
Grey water is the waste
water collected from washing machines, basins and sink wastes. This water can
be re-used to water the garden. We need to be mindful of the soaps and washing
powders used if the grey water is diverted. Some aren’t meant to be dispersed
on gardens. If you use eco-friendly products, the grey water can be diverted. Grey
water diversion may not be possible on some homes. Often a call out is needed
to advise on the best diversion for your laundry set up.
If you’re looking for ways
to reduce your water consumption in the home, give Salmon Plumbing a call. We
can help get your house better prepared for drought when water restrictions
come in place.
