FAQs

To check if your water pressure is low, you can conduct a simple test on your own. Grab a 1-2 litre jug and a timer, such as one on your smartphone. Turn on the water at full force into the jug for 6 seconds, then stop. Calculate the volume of water in litres (e.g. 0.9 litres) and multiply it by 10 to determine the flow rate in litres per minute (e.g. 0.9 litres in 6 seconds equals 9 litres per minute). A flow rate of less than 10 litres per minute is considered low, 10-15 litres per minute is acceptable but could be better, and 15 litres or more per minute is good. If you find your water pressure is low and want to improve it, there are steps you can take to enhance it.

Search for the isolation valve below: rotate the central ball a ¼ turn with a flat-headed screwdriver. When the screwdriver is aligned with the pipe, the valve is open; when it is perpendicular to the pipe, the valve is closed. Once you have isolated it, there should be no more dripping or leaking until you can schedule a plumber to inspect and fix the problem.

To address a leak, your initial step should be to shut off the water supply by finding and closing the main shut-off valve. This will prevent further water from entering your home and reduce potential damage. Unless you're skilled in DIY repairs, it's advisable to contact an emergency plumbing service for assistance. While waiting for the plumber's arrival, you can attempt to locate the source of the leak, which could be a ruptured pipe, malfunctioning faucet, loose pipe connection, or faulty fixture. Use absorbent materials like old towels and sheets to soak up as much water as possible. Our emergency plumbing service aims to respond to calls on the same day and operates around the clock, ensuring assistance is always available.

One possible solution for when you have trouble reaching or turning your stop tap is to consider installing a Sure Stop device. This remote stop tap can be placed in a convenient location and operated with a switch instead of requiring a twist to shut off the water supply.

Cover the end of your mixer tap with your hand and fully open the hot tap. Subsequently, open the cold tap to push the cold water mains into the hot feed pipe, displacing any air locks up into the tank for venting. After completing this process, close the cold tap and remove your hand from the mixer tap to observe the hot water flowing once more.

A buildup of sludge in your central heating system may be the culprit, leading to inefficient radiator performance and temperature inconsistencies, such as radiators that are chilly at the top and warm at the bottom. In most cases, a powerflushing service is the most effective solution to this problem.

A frequent reason for a 'kettling' sound in a boiler is the accumulation of limescale due to hard water. Limescale deposits in the heat exchanger hinder water flow, leading the water within the exchanger to boil and turn into steam, causing expansion and the audible noise. Various solutions such as changing the heat exchanger, powerflushing the system, or introducing an inhibitor can address this issue. It is advisable to seek guidance from a certified heating engineer to determine the most suitable course of action.

It is highly advisable to have your boiler serviced every year for several important reasons. Regular servicing helps maintain its efficiency, enables early detection of possible problems, and allows for prompt corrective measures to prevent larger, costlier issues. Annual servicing also ensures compliance with most manufacturer warranties if still valid. Moreover, it enhances safety by reducing theoxide leaks, which can be fatal, and significantly decreases the likelihood of breakdowns. To save on servicing expenses, consider scheduling maintenance during the summer months.

Releasing the built-up air from your radiators by bleeding them is essential for ensuring they heat up uniformly. It's recommended to bleed your radiators in the fall before restarting the heating system post-summer. If you notice any noise during warming or cold spots on your radiators, it's crucial to bleed them promptly.

These are 5 main steps for bleeding your radiators. 1. Turn the heating off; 2. Find the bleed valve and key; 3. Open the bleed valve by inserting the key and turning anti-clockwise; 4. Close the bleed valve; 5. Turn the heating back on again.

To ensure your boiler operates at peak performance, consider implementing the following maintenance routine: schedule an annual inspection, introduce a corrosion inhibitor, fit a magnetic filter, release trapped air from your radiators, periodically activate the boiler during the warmer months, perform a powerflush, and insulate exposed outdoor pipes.

If your heating system is not functioning correctly, it may be a sign that there is a buildup of debris within the system. This can lead to inefficient heating, with radiators failing to warm up evenly, often resulting in cold patches, particularly at the top. In such cases, a powerflushing treatment is typically the most effective solution to rectify the issue.

Treating your central heating system with an inhibitor is an effective method of preventing sludge accumulation, and it's a more cost-effective approach than dealing with the problem after it's developed, which can require a costly powerflush. Regularly replacing filters can also play a significant role in maintaining a healthy system.

It is possible that the condensate pipe has become frozen due to extremely cold weather conditions. You may be able to fix this issue on your own by defrosting the pipe and resetting the boiler.

In extremely cold temperatures, your condensate pipe is at risk of freezing. To prevent this, consider wrapping the exposed pipe with insulation to shield it from the elements. Insulation materials are readily available at most home improvement stores. If the pipe does become frozen, you can typically defrost it yourself with minimal effort.

Frequent discussions revolve around this topic, but it is generally more cost-effective to use a timer for your heating system, especially when the house is unoccupied for certain periods. This approach ensures that you only heat the house during the times when it is required.

In general, the upkeep of the pipes and drains within your property, such as those connected to toilets, sinks, baths, and showers, as well as any guttering and pipes linked to your property, falls under your responsibility. You are also accountable for the underground pipe section leading from your property to where it meets a public sewer. It is your duty to ensure proper maintenance and address any blockages that may occur. The Water Provider is responsible for addressing problems with public sewers and the pipes that link properties on the street.

Blocked drains can be caused by various factors, including improper disposal of items like food waste and fats down sinks and toilets, external debris like leaves entering the drains, tree roots causing damage underground, and structural issues with the pipes themselves.

Since drainage pipes are hidden beneath the ground, it's often hard to detect blockages. However, warning signs such as slow-draining sinks and toilets, overflowing outside drains, and unpleasant odors emanating from the drains can suggest a problem. To confirm the issue, a drainage survey is necessary, which involves inserting a camera into the drain to visually inspect the situation. This allows us to accurately locate the blockage and identify its cause, enabling us to take targeted action to resolve the issue.

For optimal results, we advise that we provide the necessary components for any repairs we conduct. This approach enables us to ensure the authenticity and quality of the parts used, as we only source genuine manufacturer parts from trusted suppliers. While we can accommodate customers who wish to provide their own parts, please note that this would require signing a waiver, releasing us from liability for any issues that may arise from the performance or compatibility of those parts.

We acknowledge the inconvenience of waiting at home all day for an engineer, but most of the jobs we handle are urgent calls and repairs. This makes it challenging to predict the duration of each job, leading us to adjust our schedule multiple times a day to address emergencies promptly and manage our resources efficiently. However, we provide a courtesy call from the engineer about 30 minutes before their arrival time, allowing you to return home just in time for their visit without having to wait.

Home emergency insurance plans provide coverage for various home appliance problems and emergencies, although each policy will have its unique terms and conditions that must be met. These conditions may involve considerations such as the age and maintenance of your boiler, its proper installation, claim limits, and waiting periods. It is important to carefully review and understand the specific terms of your policy before purchasing it.