A series of how to plumbing questions and answers

After years of being asked the same, how to plumbing questions, I decided to compile a list of the most common, and share them on line.

Enjoy the discovery of how things work, while saving on your plumbing bills

Why does my hot water cylinder rumble?

There are two main reasons your cylinder can rumble, the first is that your heating element is covered with sludge (more common in older cylinders)

To rectify this you need to drain your cylinder and flush a few times.

Step 1 Turn off power to cylinder.

Step 2. Turn off incoming water supply (usually you'll find this supply valve in the cylinder cupboard.)

Step 3. Find drain cock and open. This is usually teed into the supply pipe just before it enters the cylinder. (before you drain a cylinder, open all taps to allow air into the cylinder. Failure to do this will collapse the boiler) NB some modern tapware will not allow air into the system so be careful.

If in doubt, undo the top nut of water pipe coming from boiler. This will let air into the boiler as it drains.

Step 4. If there is no drain cock, check out gully for a nut and drain plug.(undo)(your gully will look similar to the picture below)

Gully

Step 5. Once you have drained cylinder turn water supply back on for a minute while drain cock or drain plug are closed.

Step 6. Repeat step 4 and 5 several times. This action disturbs the sediment on the bottom of the tank and flushes is out of the system.

Step 7. Turn element power back on and see if we have success.

Rumble part 2

The second reason your cylinder rumbles, is a faulty thermostat (this is the probe that turns your power on and off to your element.)When your thermostat fails, you will see water shooting out of your hot water exhaust pipe on a low pressue system. On a mains pressure system you'll experience severe rumbling.

Solution: Replace thermostat. Unless you have good knowledge of electricity get a sparky to complete.

To replace thermostat.

1. Turn of power and pull fuse.

2. Take of cover to element.

3. Test power supply is off. (with tester)

4. Undo wires to thermostat and replace.

5. Put cover back on and turn on power.

What causes gurgling in my pipes when I pull the plug out.

This is one of the most common, how to plumbing questions I recieve.

The gurgling you hear, is air rushing through your trap (water seal)see below

Trap

The cause is one of the following.

1. Your waste pipe is too long. By the time the water travels down and along the waste pipe, it has pulled so much air from the system that a vacuum is created.Air will now race through your trap to fill that vacuum.

2. Your pipe has a partial blockage. Again because there is not enough room for air and water to flow down together you end up with a vacuum.

3. Another fixture is using the same waste pipe.Again too much water for the size of the waste pipe, no room for air to travel along with waste water. Your guessed it a vacuum is created.

4. Your waste pipe has bowed, causing pocket of water to exist that again fill the entire space of the waste pipe with water only.

Solution

You can now get air inlet traps that let air into the system yet still retain the water seal neccessary to stop smells coming up the drain.Replace the existing trap with one of these babies and you'll be laughing. Well maybe not ideal for causes 2 and 4 but it will do the job until you replace the waste pipe.

Water temperature too hot, how to plumbing explains what to do.

Your hot water cylinder should store water at 70C/158F.(This temp kills bacteria) This is controlled by your thermostat.

How do I change the temperature?

Your how to plumbing guide to the rescue!!

You can set your thermostat by taking off the cover at the base of your hot water cylinder. (make sure your power is off.)

Now stick a sheathed plumbing screwdriver (this screwdriver guards against shocks) into slot and line up slot with desired temperature.

Thermostat

Now having set your temperature at70C/158F the water at your taps should be 55C/131F ????

How does this happen?

Your water should pass through a tempering valve/ antiscauld valve.This mixes cold water into the hot line, to make sure the water is at a safe temperature.

If you don't have tempering valve my personal reccomendation is to turn your water temp down to 55C/131F

The threat of scaulding is much higher than bacterial growth in your boiler. Especially in treated city supplies.

How do I increase the water pressure at my faucet.

This is one of the easiest solutions of the how to plumbing questions.

The most common cause for low pressure at your faucet, is a blocked aerator.

This is the filter on the end of your spout that helps provide a nice flow of water to your sink, bath or basin.

Unscrew the tip of the spout that contains the aerator.

Soak in vinager for 10 minutes.

Clean with brush

Now reassemble and run water:)

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