Author Archives: austest

23
Apr
2018

If a portion of your lawn has been looking a little swampy lately, or your basement has been smelling musty or sprouting mold, your underground water lines might be at fault. Since most water piping today is made from PVC or similar materials, a homemade underground pipe locator DIY’d with a metal detector isn’t going to work. When you’re worried about a leak damaging your property and home, an underground pipe locating service can help you quickly resolve and repair the issue.

Underground Water Pipe Detection

A pipeline leak specialist can use a variety of specialized equipment to find underground water lines and any leaks or defects. Even if your water pipes are metal and your homemade water pipe locator can detect them, that doesn’t help you find the leak. Figuring out how to find water lines underground is only half the battle!

A leak detection specialist can trace any kind of piping under a variety of materials and conditions to produce an accurate map of what’s going on under the surface. Some of the water pipe locator options a professional may use include electromagnetic field locators for piping that conducts electricity, or acoustic technology for a variety of underground piping systems. Ground Penetrating Radar, or GPR, can be a highly accurate way to detect any type of piping material as well as the source of the water leak.

How to Find Water Lines Underground

There are “over-the-counter” pipe detectors available for homeowners. You can rent or buy various types of locators that use electrical currents, radio waves, and sound to detect underground water piping. However, these devices can have a steep learning curve, and find piping can be labor-intensive.

More complex devices like Ground Penetrating Radar units can cost tens of thousands of dollars! A professional pipeline detection company will have this type of high-end equipment at their disposal and the experience to work efficiently and accurately to trace piping and detect underground leaks. For today’s busy households, time is precious, and timeliness is crucial to preventing expensive damage from water leaks. Using a professional leak detection and pipe locator service like Austest Pipeline Solutions can save you time, money, and frustration!

Call the experts

Going beyond just using a pipe locator, water pipe locator services can pinpoint leaks and help repair them. A specialist will know how to use details like the age of the property, the symptoms of the leak, and more to quickly find leaking pipes that are lowering your property value or increasing your utility bill. If you want to dig a garden, a DIY underground water pipe detector might be all you need. But when there’s a leak or major construction involved, the risks are much higher, and using a professional service may save you money and headaches in the long run.

10
Mar
2018

Reduce stress on water pipes to prevent costly water leaks

The plumbing system of your home experiences a great deal of wear and tear every day. Over the years, it can develop a lot of plumbing issues such as water leaks, which can cause serious damage to your property. Water leaks are inevitable but, with the right preventive measures, you can prevent them for a long time. The easiest way to do this is to reduce stress on your plumbing system i.e. your water pipes.

Why are your pipes stressed out?

With time, the plumbing system of any commercial and residential property starts degrading. The pipes start getting blocked and this increases the water pressure inside them. The more the pressure, the more stress the pipes will have to bear. Two common reasons for high water pressure are:

You have set the water pressure of your plumbing system higher than what is recommended in your area. Yes, it’s possible. Most of us don’t know what the current water pressure in our pipes are and what it should normally be. The increased pressure puts a lot of strain on the pipes, gaskets, and seals of your home’s plumbing system, thereby causing pipe leaks.
Your pipes are blocked due to mineral deposits. This happens when you are getting hard water in your system. The minerals from water leech out and get deposited inside the pipe. This reduces the flow of water thereby, increasing the pressure.

How to reduce the stress on your plumbing system

Correct the water pressure

We are addicted to high water pressure. It feels good when we take a shower or do the laundry. However, we hardly realise that the high pressured water puts a lot of stress on our plumbing system and can cause water leaks. To reduce the pressure, all you need to do is to install a pressure reducer. The recommended water pressure is between 40 and 80 psi. The pressure should not be higher than 80 psi. To measure the water pressure in your pipes, attach a hose big gauge to an outside spigot and open the line. You can buy the hose big gauge easily from your nearby hardware store. Alternatively, you can call us to measure your water pressure where we can suggest an appropriate solution.

Install a water softener

If your faucet and shower heads have white-coloured stains or build-ups, you are probably getting hard water. The build-ups are magnesium and other minerals that are present in large quantities in the water. Over the years, these minerals will get deposited inside the pipe and can block them. They can also corrode the pipes and joints. To avoid this, all you need to do is to get a water softener installed in your plumbing system, or alternatively give us a call. Our team will test the water to see if it is required at all.

Prevent costly water repairs

We hope these preventive measures help you keep your plumbing system healthy for years to come. If you are already facing water leaks or any other plumbing issue, get in touch with us for quick and reliable solutions.

30
Jan
2018

Having a powerful drainage capacity, the toilet has quickly become our personal trash transporter. We often feel tempted to flush down waste instead of using a trash can. Just close the lid, flush, and it’s gone! If you have the habit of flushing unnecessary things down the toilet, please be aware that your toilet is not a flushable bin. It is meant to flush down ONLY THE WASTE GENERATED BY A HUMAN DIGESTIVE SYSTEM and nothing else.

For years, our blocked drain experts have been clearing the drains and during our time, we’ve seen people flushing down unexpected items including baby diapers, floss, cigarette butts, hair, band aids, and a lot more. These things can get trapped in the drainage system and block your drain system.

Here is a list of the top 5 things that you must not flush down the toilet:

Flushable wipes / disposable wipes /baby wipes

Flushable wipes are NOT flushable. Even if their labels claim that they are safe for sewers and septic systems, we strongly recommend that you do not flush them. They are too thick to be flushed and therefore, they have become one of the biggest reasons for blocked drains in Melbourne in the last few years. Every year the local councils spend thousands of dollars to get these flushable wipes removed from their drainage systems. As responsible citizens, we should dispose of the wet wipes in trash bins instead of choosing the easier method of flushing.

Hair

Human and pet hair and fur are another big reason behind blocked toilets. Like wipes and cotton swabs, they will form giant balls inside the drainage system and will create your drain pipes to be blocked. The best way to dispose of hair is to put them in the trash can. You can even make compost out of it!

Medicines

Since pills are water soluble, flushing pills won’t cause any blockage yet you must not dump them in the toilet. Let us be responsible towards nature and hand over our expired and unwanted medicines to our local pharmacy. They have a safe disposal mechanism. All you need to do is to drop your medicines at their store.

Pet Litter

As mentioned above, toilets are meant to flush only the waste generated by a human digestive system, which means, it’s not OK to flush pet litter. Cat poop is made of clay and sand. If you flush it down the toilet, it will clump and cause blockages. Furthermore, cat litter contains toxins and parasites that cannot be filtered by the sewage system. Dog waste doesn’t clump in the drainage but we suggest that you still don’t flush it down the toilet. The best way to deal with pet poop is to throw it in the trash or compost it.

Think about what you’re flushing down your toilet

Other than these items mentioned, you must not flush diapers, tampons, pads, cotton swabs, band aids, leftover food, dental floss, cigarette butts, facial tissues, coffee grounds, eggshells, flammable or explosive substances, and any form of plastic.

It is easy to toss things in the toilet, flush, and forget but, sooner or later, you will have to pay a heavy price for it. If you are already dealing with a blocked toilet, contact us today to schedule a time for us to inspect your toilet drain pipes.

14
Jan
2018

Summer plumbing problems and how to avoid them

Holidays, barbeques, beach trips and an abundance of fresh produce; summer is the best time to have fun with your family and friends. However, the warm weather can be overtaxing for your plumbing system. The bathroom, the washing machine, and the dishwasher will be overused during this period and if you don’t take the necessary precautions, you could face severe plumbing disasters. Here, we have listed some common summer plumbing problems and how you can deal with them:

How to avoid a clogged toilet

While you are busy preparing for the barbeque, the kids could be flushing unnecessary objects down the toilet. They may be wasting a lot of water or maybe using too much toilet paper. To avoid severe plumbing problems such as a clogged toilet, train your kids not to flush anything down the toilet. Also, train them to use only a small piece of toilet paper every time they use the bathroom. Have a trash bin in your bathroom so that your guests and kids can dispose the waste correctly instead of flushing things down the toilet. Common clogs can be cleared easily using a plunger but flushing down unnecessary things could cause severe drain blockages and require professional help. Learn some of the most common hacks to clear blocked toilets or sink and prevent further damage to your property today.

Sewer line backups

Melbourne is well-known for its changeable weather condition, especially during the spring and summer months when you can expect severe thunderstorms, hailstorms, heavy rainfall and a drop in temperature. Excessive rainfall can cause sewer line backups. The rainwater along with sand and sediments may seep into the drain pipes via cracks and cause drainage issues. To avoid such unwanted and unhygienic plumbing problems, you should get your sewer line inspected at the beginning of the summer. Our team will find out if there is a susceptible sewer line backup issue and, accordingly, we will suggest the most efficient solution.

Clogged garbage disposal unit

Garbage disposal clogs are common plumbing problems but they are more frequent during summer when you have guests and kids at home. With kids running around the house and frequent visits from friends and family, it could be difficult for you to make sure the garbage is disposed of correctly. Luckily garbage disposal clogs are preventable with just a few precautions:

Any firm garbage should go into the trash and not the garbage disposal unit. This includes melon rinds, carrots, corn cobs, bones, coffee grounds, etc.
Do not dump the leftover food into the garbage disposal unit. Put a trash bin near the sink and make sure everyone is dumping the leftovers in it.
Celery and leafy vegetables can get stuck in the blades of the garbage disposal unit and damage it. You can compost them or throw them in the garbage.
Do not pour used cooking oil/grease down the drain. The oil will solidify down the drain and cause blockages.
To keep your disposal unit clean, run cold water for 15 seconds before and after use.

Slow shower and washer drain

Without beach visits, summer will be incomplete for Melbourne residents. Such outings are the hallmark of summer but they could leave you with a bunch of plumbing problems such as slow pressure in the shower and water draining slower in the shower. The sand, gravel, and mud that you will bring back home can choke your drainage system and damage your washing machine. Here is what you can do:

If possible, use public showers at the beach to wash off the sand from your body and clothes.
You can also rinse off in your backyard before heading for a shower.
Do not put your clothes directly in the washing machine. Rinse them off the backyard with a bucket full of water to wash off the sand, mud, and gravel.

We hope these tips help you keep away the common summer plumbing problems. If you need fast, reliable and efficient find a leak specialists call us at 1800 532 533.

11
Dec
2017

Prepare your home to prevent any plumbing from breaking down

When you are busy preparing for your grand Christmas party, the last thing you want to deal with is a clogged drain or a hot water system failure. Plumbing issues are unexpected but they are more likely to occur during the holiday season. From hot water system to garbage disposal, your plumbing system will be overused when you have guests at home. Here are some valuable tips that will help you avert a holiday season plumbing disaster:

Get your plumbing system inspected

Many of you won’t like the idea of calling out a plumber when you already have so many things to do before Christmas. But, if you haven’t got a plumbing inspection done in the past six months, you must make it a priority. It is a good idea to take out some time before Christmas to get your home’s plumbing system checked in advance instead of calling an emergency plumber when you have guests at home.

Give your hot water system a break

From showers to washing dishes and doing the laundry; hot water is a basic need and when you have guests, the need increases. So, don’t be amazed if you keep running out of hot water during the holiday season. All you can do is:

Turn the temperature bit higher but it should be below 125 degrees
Avoid wasting hot water by checking all connections inside and outside your home
Space out showers by at least 10-15 minutes
Turn off the system when you don’t need hot water

Check your toilets for plumbing problems

A clogged drain is perhaps the worst plumbing issue that anyone would ever want to deal with. To avoid such a plumbing problem during the holiday season, here is what you can do:

Make sure you have a bin in all of the bathrooms and near the kitchen sink. Ask your guests to use the bin for trash. Often, we assume cigarette butts and cotton swabs won’t be a problem when they go down the drain. Even though they’re small, they could get stuck in the drain pipes and clog them. Instruct the kids to dispose of their candy wrappers in the bin.
Use a drain strainer to catch the hair in the bathroom.
Space out the showers so as to let the drains do their job properly.
If you notice slow drainage, try these hacks to clear a blocked drain, sink and toilet and If they don’t work, call our emergency plumbers.

Prevent kitchen sink clogs

Do not let oil or grease flow into your drain pipes. The oil will harden soon and will clog the drain. The safest way to get rid of grease is to pour it into a heat safe container and deal with it later. If you or your guest have mistakenly poured the grease down the drain, leave hot water running into it and pour some detergent as well.
If your guests are assisting you in the kitchen, request them to throw off the vegetable peels and other scraps into waste bins.
Scrape off the excess food from the plates before placing them in the sink or in the dishwasher. The best way to do this is to use paper towels.
Use a strainer screen or basket in kitchen sinks to prevent food scraps from going down the drains.

Call the experts

AusTest Pipeline Solutions wishes you and your family a very happy, healthy, and clog-free Christmas. If you are facing any plumbing issues and require an emergency plumber, do not hesitate to call us for immediate help.

08
Dec
2017

How to protect your home from water damage during natural disasters

Natural disasters can be very devastating. In March-April 2017, Cyclone Debbie claimed more than 12 lives in NSW and Queensland. In October 2017, flooding occurred in Central Coast Queensland. The Great Southern Region and West Victoria also experienced severe flooding and storm-like situations this year. Unfortunately, we cannot do much to prevent a natural disaster. But, if you take proper precautionary measures, you will be able to prevent/minimise water damage and safeguard your home against a flood, storm, and other natural disasters. Our water leak technician team has some valuable tips for you:

Inspect and repair your roof

If you haven’t had your roof inspected in the past few years, get it done as soon as possible. Nothing can be more devastating than a leaking roof. Other than the unsightly water stains, roof leaks can invite major water damage remediation. Get the leaks fixed, the loose shingles secured and the tiles fastened with screws and wires. If you are planning for a complete roof restoration, ask your roofing contractor to suggest you impact-resistant materials that are capable of standing up to extreme weather.
Install or repair gutter guard to prevent gutter clogs. Also, get the gutter and downspouts cleaned regularly.

Waterproof the basement

If you notice water seepage in the basement of your home after a rainfall, get it resealed on a priority basis. Water leaks in the basement indicate that the once-waterproof basement floor and walls have deteriorated. This calls for waterproofing your flooring and walls again.
To prevent water damage in your basement, make sure the ground slopes away from your home’s foundation. There is no ideal sloping height but it should be no less than 6 inches.
Install a sump pump in the basement to pump out the water that has seeped inside. Make sure the pump operates on batteries as well so that it can work even when there is a power outage.
Install water detection alarm in your home. These alarms work just like the smoke alarms. The sensors can be placed in the basement, laundry room, bathroom, kitchen, and other areas of your home. Whenever there is a leakage, the alarm will be triggered, warning you of potential danger.

Equip your home’s plumbing system to deal with flood water

Water damage remediation is expensive work. So, you must ‘wet-proof’ your home by installing foundation vents that will allow water to flow away instead of rising inside your home.
You may dry-proof the walls of your home to keep away the flood water.
Rising water may cause sewage to back up into your home. To prevent this, get a backflow valve installed in your drain line. It’s also important to have your backflow valves tested regularly to ensure they do their job.
Make sure you do an annual inspection of the hoses leading to the washing machine, dishwasher, water heater, etc.
Do an annual inspection of the seal and caulking around the showers and tubs to ensure that they are watertight.
Get an emergency pressure release valve installed in the plumbing system of your home. This device will protect your home when there is an increase in water pressure due to floods, hurricanes, and even during the winter season when the pipes freeze.
Everyone in your family must know where the main water shut-off valve is. During earthquakes or hurricanes, the pipes may break and create havoc. Shutting off the main water supply can save you from unnecessary water damage restoration.

Natural disasters can strike anytime. So, prepare an emergency kit having some canned food, water, a flashlight, and emergency medicines. We hope these tips will help you stay safe.

If you do find a leak in your water systems or suspect you have a blocked drain that may flood under heavy rain, get in touch with Austest Pipeline Solutions who are Melbourne’s most trusted leak detection team. We can have someone on your property to help you out quick smart.

18
May
2017

Simple Ways to Protect Costly Water Damage

Even though water is essential, it has the potential to damage your property. Water damage is a major cause of property loss, weakening the foundation of your home and the pillars that hold your property together.

Make no mistake, even just a little water can be damaging. Damp the walls causing the paint to peel off leaving the wall utterly weak and unsightly. It also dampens wood and invites rust and mildew as well as ants and termites. This usually results in serious structural problems.

Clogged leaves and leaking roofs are common culprits here. Without a proper mechanism in place, water will continue to flow in, flow for minutes, hours or even days before getting noticed. The best thing would be to hire a leak detection services company early to avoid further damages to your home.

The problem is, you will only notice the water leak when it’s visibly seen on your walls and ceilings. This only puts the house occupants in danger but often costs thousands of dollars to repair.

Besides the damp on walls and roofs, common sources of water damage in homes include:

– Water heaters, washing machines or dishwashers – they let out water and cause severe damage when their hose connections or hoses cause an undetected leak.

–Freezing outdoor pipes – can cause basement flooding which destroys the foundation of affected homes.

-Worn out plumbing connections and hoses.

-Indoor sprinkler systems – that are shoddily installed are more likely to have water leaks.

While water damage can be severe and costly, it can always be prevented with simple proactive measures. Here are simple steps to avoid water damage and save you money.

Keep an eye out for water leaks and fix them

A water leak is the most common cause of water damage. But it’s not just from appliances, pipes or the sprinkler system that water can seep in, you should also be vigilant against rainwater.

Rainwater can also seep into the house from leaking roofs. If any of these goes on for a while, it can lead to structural rot, mould and mildew. Sometimes it can also attract termites and ants that like to chew soggy wood because of the softness.

Fortunately, water leak detection should be easily done if you are regularly checking for problems.

How do you go about checking for water leaks?

Inspect your roof at least once every year. Any loose, damaged or missing shingles and cracked fillings can let in water and should be repaired immediately.

Look out for any dark, wet spots under the pipes inside your sink cabinets. Other signs to look for include stains on ceilings, water drips and toilets that produce unusual sounds.

Ensure your gutters are constantly clean

Debris build-up in the gutters can stop water from flowing. As a result, water cascades on the side of the house, damaging its siding and ultimately the house’s foundation. So, always try to keep your gutters very clean.

Ensure your drainage system works properly

Good drainage is key to a properly working structure. Normally, poor drainage tends to weaken your foundation fast, as it may cause uneven settling, cracks and pathways through which water can enter your home.

Your yard should be accurately sloped to direct water away from your foundation.

Test your equipment regularly

Pay attention to your sump pump. Remove accumulated water in your water-collecting sump basin located in the home’s basement at least once a year.

Of course, you should check this when there are frequent storms. Here’s how to test your sump pump:

Slowly add water to the sump pump pit to fill it up. A float similar to the one in your toilet should rise if the pump is working properly. This is what turns on the pump. Then watch to see if the water level recedes to confirm that the pump is working.
Unplug the main pump then test your backup pump the same way.
There should also be an outside pipe that would catch water coming from the sump pump. Examine the inside of this pipe for any debris or dirt that could clog the drain.

Call on the experts

These simple steps enable you to detect and solve problems promptly. To ensure that your house is safe from water damage, best to enlist a professional leak detector or drain inspector. We will take preventive measures and address any issue promptly as we are available for you 24/7.

10
May
2017

The Principle Behind Leaks

A water leak on your property can cause your water bill to skyrocket if not detected and repaired in time. A single leak can result in thousands of litres of water being lost.

Most of us might have faced a common problem around the home – water leak issues. These leakages can disturb anyone’s sleep by the continuous noise of water dripping. This noise may distract your focus or can become embarrassing in front of guests. However, in today’s era, everything is possible now to get rid of such leaks with the help of plumbing solutions. There are several ways plumbers can detect water leakages but to pinpoint the origin of the leak it’s best to hire a leak detection company so you can repair the problem right from the source.

Water leaks can occur anywhere in your water supply network and drainage system. But it’s in the toilet that leaks are most likely to happen.

Here are the common areas where a leak usually occurs:

1) Toilet flapper valve:

A toilet will have a leak if its flapper valves are not working properly. The flapper is the rubber valve that sits on top of the flush valve. It seals the flush valve to prevent water from entering the toilet bowl before the toilet is flushed.

If this rubber flapper ages, it can become brittle, warped or cracked. When this happens, water will flow continuously into the toilet bowl from the tank through the valve.

You’ll need only to replace the damaged flapper in most cases. Or you may have to replace the toilet’s filling mechanism to resolve the leak.

2) Flush handle:

Problems with the flush handle can cause significant toilet leaks. For instance, the flush handle, the chain or the level bar may be getting stuck after each flush, so you need to tug at the flush handle after every use.

When this happens, you need to adjust the nut securing the handle in the toilet tank or replace the flush handle itself.

3) Overflow tube:

For a properly working toilet, the water level in the tank should be at the fill line level, about half an inch below the overflow tube. If the water fills up to the point that it spills out the overflow tube, it should be adjusted.

You can turn the adjustment screw to correct the problem or lightly bend down the float arm so that the water can shut off somewhere below the overflow tube.

Overflow tube leaks are often easy to detect. Dripping water may be loud enough to hear from a few meters away. Other toilet leaks are however silent and may be difficult to detect. Silent leaks can cause significant losses before they are found out. You’ll notice however that most of these toilet leaks are easy and rather inexpensive to repair.

Faucets

These often leak when the rubber or washer is worn out. On your sink, the washer is usually located right under the handle.

With the right tools, it shouldn’t be difficult to replace a worn washer on your sink faucet. You’ll however have to shut off the water at the main shutoff valve or under the sink before you can commence the work.

Concealed leaks

Water leaks can occur in concealed places. These are often hidden in walls or underground and can stay undetected for extended periods of time. Depending on the size of the leaking spot, concealed leaks can waste litres of water every day.

Condensation

Though not traditionally recognized as a leak problem, condensation can be a damaging form of a concealed water leak. Mild condensation is okay, but when the water or drainage pipes are excessively porous, they can damage your walls, floors, ceilings, and woodworking with time. Consider insulating such pipes to stop or reduce this water loss.

If you know the tell-tale signs of a leaking water system, you can fix it before the water bill skyrockets and keep gallons of water from being wasted.

How will you know when there’s a water leak?

There are several ways to know when there is a water leak in your water supply or drainage system:

a) Look for stains on the ceiling and other surfaces:

Evident signs of wetness, stains or discolouration on the ceilings, walls, floors and woodwork indicate concealed water leaks. There could be a cracked water pipe or damaged joinery somewhere on the walls that are letting water out. And if you see some on the floor, there is a leak underground.

b) Extraordinary increase in water bills:

You’d expect your water bills to go up if the consumption patterns in the family have recently changed. An increased number of people in the family, recent masonry or construction work in the home; the list of reasons can be long and diverse. But if none of these has recently happened and the water bill has increased significantly, you could be losing water to a leak.

c) Food colouring test:

Remove the toilet water tank lid and add a few drops of food colouring in the back of the tank. You can swap food colouring with dye tabs from any home centre in your local area. Wait for around 30 minutes then observe the water inside the toilet bowl. You should not flush the toilet over this time. Any sign of colour in the bowl will be a sign of a leaking toilet. There could be a problem with the flapper or flush handle that lets water (with the colour) come through. Clear water on the other hand is a sign that water is not leaking.

Once you are done with the test, flush the toilet immediately to avoid stains from the dye or food colouring.

Conclusion

It is good to repair underground water leaks immediately or get the drain pipe inspection on time to avoid substantial losses, the best strategy is to have a preventive maintenance check. AUSTEST Pipeline Solutions are here for you to resolve your water leak issues with its advanced equipment services. Contact Austest to get in touch with us and book an inspection today.

02
May
2017

How To Clear Blocked Drains – DIY

How to clear blocked drains? Whether it’s a small house or a big home with the whole family, kitchen and bathroom sinks can get clogged at any time. Considering the amount of waste that gets flushed down household pipes, it’s only understandable that residue will get trapped in the drains from time to time, and you should be prepared to clear a drain pipe, sink, or toilet when it happens. If you’re having guests over, it’s even more important to know how to handle a holiday plumbing issue!

Refresh your drains with soda!

Ever heard that a nail put in a glass of soda will dissolve and eventually disappear with time? It’s true. This may take you by surprise – soda is great for vanquishing a clog in your drains. It can even be more effective than many commercial clog removers packed with strong dissolving agents.

Get started with a two-liter bottle of room-temperature soda. Pour the lukewarm soda down the drain and let it fizz for a moment, working its corrosive power for up to an hour or two depending on the strength of the clog. Then run hot water to wash everything down.

The soda is loaded with phosphoric acid. That’s why it can effectively break down build-up which often clogs drain pipes. It can remove harder substances like the limescale that are often difficult to remove with regular cleaners. The soda method can work well to clear blocked sink drains, especially if you’ve noticed a gradual decrease in draining speed likely caused by buildup rather than a foreign object.

This isn’t just a blocked drains DIY – you can also use soda periodically to “flush” your drains to help avoid blockages!

How to Clear a Blocked Sink with Boiling Water

This is an easy DIY method of unclogging a blocked drainpipe. The high temperatures in hot boiling water should be able to do the work.

Hardened grease and soap residue are some of the most common substances that build up over time and clog your drainage pipes. That’s why you might be surprised to find your kitchen or bathroom sink clogged even after you’ve been so careful about not washing down food particles or chunks of bar soap.

The hotter the water, the more effective it will be. Pour hot boiling water down the clogged pipe and allow it to work for some time. The hot water will dissolve any organic matter in the sink and melt away any hardened grease.

Grease and accumulated soap residue may hold some food particles creating a strong, solid build-up in the pipes. Once the hot water dissolves the grease holding the particles together, the solid residue in the sink can then easily be washed away even by cold running water from the tap. You can use boiling water to unclog your sink several times in a row, repeating as necessary until the clog dissolves.

Caveat: Don’t use hot boiling water to unclog a PVC pipe – the heat could cause the joints of the PVC to loosen. This will result in additional cost due to repairs, but it’s easy to avoid: Just check under your sink beforehand. Neither should you pour boiling water into a porcelain sink bowl directly, as it can crack. Be sure to pour the water straight down the drain.

Use vinegar and baking soda to remove clogs

Pour half a packet of baking soda down the clogged drain without adding any water. Then add half a cup of vinegar down the pipe. Use a metal stopper or some rags to stop up the drain and let the two substances react for 30 minutes. Remove the stopper and pour hot water down the drain.

Plunger for more stubborn clogs

A hand plunger may be necessary for a sink or toilet that has a large, stubborn obstruction. The suction action of the plunger can help to dislodge clogs so they can be washed away down the drain.

Plunging a Blocked Sink or Tub Drain

Yes, a plunger is not just meant for use on a clogged toilet, it’s a great tool for use on a clogged sink, too. Start by filling the sink halfway, a bathtub to about four or five inches. Having removed the metal strainer or stopper, place the plunger over the drain and ensure you have a firm seal. Then force the debris down the drain using quick sharp plunges. Check to see your progress from time to time.

A sink plunger is what you often see in cartoons – they tend to be smaller with a shallower, cup-shaped plunger cup than a toilet plunger.

DIY Blocked Toilet Plunging

The plunger is the go-to tool to clear a blocked toilet. The soda and hot water methods can help loosen the obstruction in a clogged toilet if using the plunger alone doesn’t work at first.

A toilet plunger has a bell-shaped rubber cup with a flange to create a tight seal around the toilet bowl drain. A clogged toilet likely already has some water in it – if not, add enough to cover the bowl’s drain. Insert the plunger into the drain, but don’t try to form a seal yet – let water enter into the drain below the plunger. This pushes out the air under the plunger to form suction.

Similar to plunging a sink, you want to use quick, sharp plunges to dislodge the debris. To help avoid toilet clogs, avoid flushing unnecessary things down the toilet!

Types of Plungers

It’s ideal to have both a sink plunger and a toilet plunger available in your home. Although a toilet plunger can be used on bathtub and sink drains, the smaller size of the sink plunger can be easier to use, and you won’t have to worry about sanitary issues.

Drain snake – the ultimate DIY tool

This piece of equipment gets the job done on any type of drain clog. It is a long, flexible metal rope with a metal spiral at its end. You can get one inexpensively from your local hardware supply stores. The long steel wire will spiral its way into the drains, effectively removing any clogs built up in there by brute force!

You can twist the snake once it is up against a clogged drain to remove the clog. The steel wire is often designed to allow for it to bend around most pipes without a problem. This is the ultimate tool for clearing blocked drains, but can be intimidating if you’ve never used one before.

While these DIY home techniques can be extremely effective in getting rid of sink clogs, sometimes you might be unlucky enough to run into something unexpected. If that ever happens, consider hiring a professional to help resolve the problem. Aus-test has seasoned experts that will come to your aid immediately when you contact them.

Having Your Drains Relined To Fix Your Leaks

Drain damage normally happens for many homeowners and happens when you least expect it.

Luckily, we have reliable drain relining experts who know how to fix these problems. They can tell you whether you need to reline or replace the damaged drain.

What are the Signs of Damaged Drains?

The following signs will alert you that a problem is on the way when it comes to leak problems:

standing water
bad smell
leaking pipes

drain leak tools

Such damages should be fixed immediately because they can lead to serious problems down the line.

How are Damaged Drains Fixed?

Once the experts have diagnosed the extent of the damage, they’ll determine the best course of action – either to reline or replace the drain.

Drain relining involves repositioning the pipes and inserting protective layers on the inside sections of the drains. It starts with inspecting the damaged sections and forming a reinforced coat inside the pipe to protect it from further damage.

drain reline plumber

The Procedure of Drain Relining

Before drain relining experts start working on the pipes, they check and ascertain that they are ready for the process. To do this, they may choose to send down the drain camera inspection to find out the nature of the problem and establish how lining should be prepared and completed to provide the best results.

Solid Drain Intrusions

If the cameras find any solid intrusion, which could be the cause of the problem, a robotic cutter may be used to cut through such obstacles. High pressure water is then used to clear the drain blockage, the debris and eventually clean out the drain pipe.

Inspecting the Drain Pipe

The pipe is then inspected to establish whether it is ready for relining or not. Once more, a camera could be sent down the drain to ensure that all the debris and intrusions have been removed before relining is done.

drain relining technician

Preparations for Drain Relining

How the relining will be done is critical because it helps determine the equipment and the material to be used.

More often than not, most drain relining experts use the Inversion pipe relining.

inversion pipe relining

This process involves mixing epoxy resin with some hardened agent, which is then poured into a liner before it is rolled so that the resin is distributed evenly along the entire length.

A special drum is then used to blow the liner into the affected pipe. Compressed air could be used to blow and invert the liner into the pipe.

In some cases, winches and cables may be required to pull the pipes into position. The drain relining specialists will wait for the resin to cure and form a protective coating inside the damaged pipe. This can be hastened by using hot water.

Inspection

After lining the damaged pipes, inspection pits and junctions can be cut out using a grinder or robotic cutters.

relining pipes cutter

This is important since it helps remove blockages that may trap water behind the lining.

The experts will then check to ensure everything is in order. Visual and drainage camera checks for leaks may be used to check whether the problem has been solved or not.

drain pipe

Advantages of Drain Relining

Is non-destructive

Drain relining is one of the most straight-forward methods to ensure that the drains are in tip-top condition. It’s non-destructive since no digging and extraction is required, but with it, the problem is fixed adequately.

Does not interrupt business operations

Drain relining is popular, especially among commercial property owners. This is because business operations don’t need to be stopped as relining is being done.

drain relining expert

It’s affordable

Drain relining is cheap since no excavation is required. This means that you will only pay for the relining services.

It does not need heavy machinery and the pipes can be used again sooner than in other methods.

Only takes fewer hours

Drain relining does not need road infrastructure, paths and driveways. It does not also interfere with the landscaping, existing pipes and building floors. If the job is small, it takes a few hours compared to several days required when new pipes are to be installed.

It’s a long term solution

Pipe relining techniques could be used to line new pipes within the old ones. If the old pipe is damaged, pipe relining will help create a strong pipe inside the broken one. In fact, the relining material used is always tougher than the existing pipe.

underground drain relining

This means that you can collapse the old pipe once the job is done.

Pipe relining is popular since it is a long term solution to the damaged pipe. In most cases, it will have a 50-year design life.

Replacing pipes as a long-term solution

This is where the old drains, which may be causing drainage problems are taken out and replaced with new pipes.

The process starts with excavation of the ground where the pipes will be laid. This means that you must hire professional drain relining experts to limit damage to the existing infrastructure.

drain relining specialist

Obviously, the barrier that comes with the replacement of the pipes especially those that run under the building may include diverting the pipes, which of course is costly. Replacing the installed pipes is a long term solution especially in a situation where the old pipes have deteriorated.

In addition, if the area to be covered is large and a lot of excavation is required, you may discover other problems within your property, giving you a chance to fix them accordingly.

Conclusion

Given that all situations may not be the same, it’s best to get professional advice before you make your final decision regarding whether to carry out drain replacement or drain relining.

If you are unsure which type of service you require, you may need to consult a drain relining expert who will recommend the correct way and the right material to solve your problem.