EMERGENCY PLUMBING IN CAIRNS

A: We are on call 24/7 to field your questions and attend your emergencies. Call now on 07 4054 3455 if you're in Far North Queensland and you need a plumber you can trust.

A: The recommended temperature for domestic hot water is 50 degrees Celsius. If your hot water system is missing the mark it may need adjusting. The method can be different depending on what type of system you have such as solar or instantaneous. Some models have a display that will tell you the exact temperature and some may only have a dial. If you're in doubt we can take out the guesswork and make sure it's correctly adjusted.

A: There is a test you can do to confirm if water is leaking from your cistern into your toilet bowl. First, carefully take the lid off your cistern, then simply put a few drops of food colouring into the water. Replace the lid and go about your business for as long as you need but be sure to check back before someone flushes the toilet! If you have a leak, the colour of the water in the bowl will be the same as in the cistern. The next step is to contact us, so we can fix it.

A: Blockages can be caused by a build-up of ‘soft' materials like grease and fat or more ‘solid' materials like roots. There are escalating methods to address the drain blockage, starting with flushing the pipe with hot water. If it's only a soft blockage, hot water can dissolve or dislodge the cause, so it's worth trying this first. If the blockage persists, try a combination of baking soda and vinegar. Be sure to block off any places where pressure can escape. The chemical reaction creates oxygen, which may force the blockage out. If the water still isn't draining like it should, try a chemical drain cleaner, unless you have a septic tank. If a chemical drain cleaning solution can't dissolve the blockage it may require plunging to dislodge. Make sure the suction cup is under water and all other outlets are plugged up, like dual kitchen sink drains. If this fails, call us. We can use our CCTV camera tool to see exactly what is causing the blockage. We can then advise what should happen next.

A: The first thing you should do if you have dropped something down the drain is not panic and shut off the water. Sink pipes are constructed with a bend called a ‘Trap,' the varieties named after shapes such as S Traps and P Traps. They are designed to prevent sewage smells from wafting up the pipes, but this is also where small items can end up. This is the first place you should check but be sure to place a bucket underneath before you do anything more. Some pipes have an outlet called a cleanout at the lowest part of the bend, but if yours doesn't have one don't worry, just give us a call and we'll see what we can do.

A: This is a sign you may have a blocked drain. Materials you flush or rinse down your drains can build up and become blockages. Grease and fats from food, hair, paper towels, tissues, wet wipes and other items can clump together and become big problems. Even some items that claim to be flushable probably shouldn't be put down the toilet. Another reason your drains may be blocked could be tree roots entering pipes or even old pipes breaking down and collapsing. Not only will your sinks take longer to drain, you could experience low water pressure. This is when you should give us a call. We can diagnose exactly what the problem is and fix it.