M Plumbing is an independent, family-run, professional and qualified business serving Manchester and the surrounding areas. We have compiled some standard plumbing fault advice to help you with a plumbing issue.
Leaks & Burst Pipes Plumbing Fault Advice
Pipes are most likely to burst after freezing temperatures. The pipes expand as the water freezes, and they are then put under pressure, causing them to crack as the frozen water expands or as the pipes are defrosting and the water is rerun. Leaks can come from a leaking dishwasher, washing machine or an overflowing blocked toilet.
If you have a water leak, turn off your water and electricity at the mains and clear up the wastewater as quickly as possible. It can cause significant damage to your floor, walls and belongings and then quickly call a plumber. A plumber will quickly establish where the leak has come from or which pipe has burst and can rectify it quickly using their plumbing knowledge and tools.
Leakage is a common problem in the home and can lead to significant problems if not addressed promptly. A leaky tap or dripping pipe can cause significant damage, especially if water is allowed to accumulate. The following advice will help you identify the location of a leak in your home and fix it before further damage occurs.
Check your plumbing system regularly.
You should regularly check all taps and pipes in your home to ensure they are working correctly and do not have any leaks. This will also allow you to check for other signs of problems with your plumbing system, such as rust stains or deposits on faucets, shower heads and other fixtures.
If you notice any signs of leakage, shut off the water supply to the affected area immediately and contact a plumber for professional advice on how best to proceed with repairs. Look for signs of leaks under sinks or near hot water cylinders (e.g., near taps) and around toilets and bathroom sinks, where toilets are often connected directly to drains leading outside the home through underground pipes known as “soaker hoses”.
Broken Toilet Plumbing Fault Advice
A broken toilet is unpleasant, and if the basin breaks, it can cause a massive amount of wastewater to your floor or water stains on a ceiling below the bathroom. Toilets can sometimes leak slowly, and you won’t always know about them immediately, which can cause many problems and smells later down the line.
If your toilet has a significant leak, immediately switch off your mains water and electricity and clear up the water as quickly as possible. If it is a smaller and slower leak, you can generally turn off your toilet water supply at the back of your toilet. Your best bet is to call a plumber who will quickly establish the issue and efficiently repair it with minimal mess and a lack of toilet facilities.
Blocked Toilet Plumbing Fault Advice
A blocked toilet is not pleasant. If your toilet is blocked it can fill to the brim, and when flushed, it can overflow. Give the water level 10 minutes to drop, and then try using a plunger to see if you can unblock it. If it doesn’t drain, don’t flush it again, as the water will overflow and cause you a nasty mess.
Call an emergency plumber who will be able to unblock it quickly and will know where the blockage is coming from, either the toilet pipe bend or further down into your waste pipe.
Moving a Radiator Plumbing Fault Advice
Moving a radiator ultimately depends on whether you want to give it a go and if you have the plumbing knowledge to tackle the job. You need basic plumbing knowledge and an understanding of the fundamental principles of a central heating system to move a radiator.
If you do decide to do it yourself, then be prepared for anything to happen when you are doing it. We advise you to call a plumber and ask for advice or a quote to move it. They will know how complicated the job is and the equipment and experience to do it.
Leaking Radiator Plumbing Fault Advice
There can be many places a radiator can leak from, and your first job is to find out where the leak is. Dry the radiator with a towel so you can see where the leak is, as it is easy to misidentify the source of a leak when a radiator is wet. A leaking radiator may seem simple to repair. However, you need to understand the workings of a radiator to do this effectively. If you decide to repair it yourself, you will need to prepare for water to gush out when you start repairing it, so put a lot of towels on the floor around the radiator and use a large pot to catch as much water as you can.
If you have a slow leaking radiator, you should get it fixed quickly as it can damage your floor or walls, or even worse, the water can gush out, resulting in the dirty water from the radiator and pipes soiling the area. We advise calling a local plumber who will quickly establish the problem and how they can fix it.
Cold Radiators Plumbing Fault Advice
If your central heating is on and your radiators are cold, your heating system could be full of sludge, stopping hot water circulation. Bleeding your radiators yearly helps eliminate air bubbles that build up in your heating system pipework. Bubbles affect the efficiency of your heating system and create “cold spots” in radiators, which reduce the surface area emitting heat into your home. You will need to know the basics of plumbing to bleed your radiators.
Cleaning a heating system can be a big job, and you need plumbing knowledge to do it, so it is best to get a professional plumber who will diagnose the problem and fix it quickly for you and flush it your system through.
Radiator Replacement Plumbing Fault Advice
Replacing a radiator is much like moving a radiator. However, you should already have the correct and required piping in place. It is a big job, and your radiator and pipes must be drained before you start. You will often need plumbing tools you don’t have in your toolbox to replace a radiator, so it’s always a good idea to call a professional plumber who can efficiently replace your radiator with minimal mess.
Shower Replacement Plumbing Fault Advice
If you fit an electric shower, you must be qualified to work with electrics safely. If you call a plumber to do this sometimes complicated job, they should be Part P certified, which means they are qualified to fit electric showers. If they aren’t, then you would need to find one who is or an electrician who can do the electrical part of the fitting. In light of this, we advise you to call a plumber to replace an electric or non-electric shower, as it can be a fiddly and complicated job and dangerous if you don’t have the knowledge and equipment to do it safely.
Leaking Ball Valve Plumbing Fault Advice
A leaking ball valve can show when your overflow pipe is leaking, and it may indicate that you have a problem with the float valve. The float valve is usually a plastic ball at the end of a metal arm in your water tank, and it is usually found in your loft or airing cupboard. It controls the tank’s water level and will cause your overflow pipe to leak if faulty. If you think you have a leaking ball valve, it is best to call a plumber who will identify if this is the problem and have the equipment and knowledge to repair it quickly and safely.
Tap Installation Plumbing Fault Advice
Replacing a tap can be relatively easy with basic plumbing knowledge, experience, and good plumbing tools. If you don’t have these components, a good plumber can replace a tab quickly and cheaply.
Slow Drainage Plumbing Fault Advice
Slow-moving or lack of drainage is standard in bathroom and kitchen sinks and is usually because of blocked drains or pipes. The problem is caused by hair, soap scum and food waste caught on the stopper or pivot rod, causing a blockage in the pipes or drains. The first thing to try is a good sink or drain unblocker and follow the instructions. If this doesn’t ease the blockage, it is best to call a plumber, as you may need more professional help.
Leaking Taps or Repair Plumbing Fault Advice
Fixing even a tiny leak from a tap can save you litres and litres of water in a year and a build-up of limescale and water damage to units and surfaces. A dripping or leaking tap usually means the tap’s washer needs replacing. However, it can also be caused by damaged valve seating. Both jobs are relatively easy to attempt yourself, but it is even quicker for a plumber to identify and repair quickly, efficiently and at a minimal cost.
Pipe Reconnection Plumbing Fault Advice
You can quickly reconnect internal pipes with suitable pipes and some plumbing tools. A professional plumber should always do a mains water pipe; sometimes, this needs to be done by your water supplier if it is outside your property boundary. A qualified plumber can advise you on this, so it’s always a good idea to check before you do anything.
Replacing an External Tap Plumbing Fault Advice
Much like replacing an internal tap, this job is relatively easy if you have some plumbing knowledge and a good set of tools. There is usually a tangle of waste pipes and hot and cold water feed pipes under your sink, which connect to an outside tap, making it more tricky. A good plumber will quickly replace or fit an outside tap, which won’t cost much.
Leaking Ceiling Plumbing Fault Advice
If you notice a leak coming through a ceiling or a watermark, quickly turn off your water at the mains and call your local plumber. You never know how bad the leak is; if the water builds, it can quickly come through and damage your ceiling and belongings. Electrical wires often run through a ceiling for connection to the mains supply or lighting, so always turn off your electricity at the mains as soon as you know there is a leak and quickly call an emergency plumber.
Water Tank Leaks Plumbing Fault Advice
A leaking water tank is easy enough to fix if you have the time and experience. However, it can be dangerous as a significant amount of pressure builds within your tank and will cause the T&P Valve to release scalding steam and water. The drain valve, which is located near the bottom of your tank, can leak from deterioration over time. Again a good plumber will quickly identify where the issue is and be able to fix it quickly for you meaning you don’t have to go without hot water and heating for a prolonged period.
At M Plumbing, we offer the following:
- Trusted local emergency plumbers
- Trusted local drainage engineers
- Local heating engineers
- Same day service
- No call-out charge
- Time served tradesmen
- All work guaranteed
- Clear and fair pricing
- Domestic & Commercial Plumbing Services
- Plumbing Fault Advice
If you need a local and reliable, qualified plumbers in Worsley for an emergency, installation, repair or maintenance service in Greater Manchester or the surrounding areas, then contact us at either 0161 660 7522 or 07838 178 672 and one of our expert team can help you with any questions you may have or they can quickly arrange for one of our team to come out to you.
