by Gary Mays | Sep 26, 2012 | Consumer Issues, Health Issues, Insurance, Plumbing Emergencies, Plumbing Maintenance, Water Hammer
For the plumbing technicians at Whywait Plumbing listening to clients recollecting the days gone by when high water pressure was the norm are a frequent occurrence. For many high water pressure had been a bonus, especially when water was virtually provided for free. High water pressure enabled many to stand in one spot and water the whole garden or to literally pressure clean the car or driveway.
Both Gold Coast and Logan regions had high water pressure delivery, frequently in excess of 800kPa and often as high as 1100kPa. In reality high water pressures caused many problems with damage to pipes, appliances, taps, valves and fittings from water hammer which also reduced their operational life plus caused excessive noise in the water reticulation system.
Legally under AS/NZS 3500.1:2003, Plumbing and Drainage – Water Services, the relevant clause is 3.3.4 which states, “Maximum pressure within buildings – Provision shall be made to ensure that the maximum operating pressure at any outlet, other than a fire service outlet, within a building does not exceed 500 kPa.” This was further reinforced with amendments in 2010 to clause 3.2.1 which states, “The maximum flow rate from a shower, basin and kitchen sink or laundry trough outlet shall not exceed 9 L/min.”
These very clear definitions within Australian Standards create a dangerous situation that many home and building owners are unaware of. This is because they have the incoming mains water pressure set above the maximum legislated operating pressure of 500kPa level for most connected plumbing fixtures. These plumbing fixtures include dishwashers, washing machines, mixer taps, refrigerators with water purification and hot water systems.
Having excessive water pressure can cause you more problems than you may be aware of. Aside from damage to pipes, appliances, taps, valves and fittings from water hammer which also reduced their operational life plus caused excessive noise in the water reticulation system, you may also be voiding your property insurance and manufacturer’s warranty on any number of these expensive household appliances.
Most insurance policies and appliance warranties are void if your water pressure is above the recommended operational levels. This will always come back to the requirements of Australian Standards which is of course 500kPa.
Most hot water system warranties are void above 500kPa once again with the reference point being the requirements of Australian Standards. Many people are fooled into thinking they have a compliant system as they have pressure limiting valves installed. In reality the majority of these valves over 3 years old are faulty and in need of replacement.
As council water retailers will not guarantee supply pressures the onus is back on home and building owners to ensure they are compliant with Australian Standards. Most homes and buildings constructed since 2003 have pressure reduction valves installed after the water meter but these frequently require recalibration. Homes and buildings constructed before 2003 seldom have a pressure reduction valve installed which means they are susceptible to the fluctuations in water supply pressure.
If you think a flooded house cannot happen to you then read the story Faulty Plumbing Will Flood Your Home where faulty piping in the ceiling flooded part of a home and resulted in water damage in excess of $50,000. Luckily this homes water pressure was reduced to a compliant level of 500kPa and their insurance policy covered the damage.
If you are unsure of what your water pressure is and whether your system is compliant in regard to your insurance policies then contact Whywait Plumbing Services now to carry out a comprehensive analysis of your incoming water pressure.
by Gary Mays | Sep 10, 2012 | Consumer Issues, DIY Plumbing, Health Issues, Insurance, Plumbing Emergencies, Plumbing Maintenance, Queensland Government
At Whywait Plumbing we have lost count of the amount of flooded homes we have attended.
A flooding house caused by faulty plumbing leaves home owners angry, frustrated and often soaking wet. Whywait staff frequently have to deal with distraught homeowners who are heartbroken by the loss of family heirlooms such as photos and documents.
The problem with most plumbing is that it is hidden in the walls or the roof or the floor or is underground. While some plumbing problems are preventable it is impossible to deal with things you cannot see like pipes in walls or in the roof space.
There are steps every homeowner should take inside their home that ultimately can save you a lot of time, money and aggravation. At Whywait Plumbing we recommend you take the following steps to prevent your home being flooded from inside:
- Know where to turn off your water – always know where the main water supply valve is to your home and practice turning it off to ensure you know how to do it. At regular intervals check that the valve is working. When going on holiday turn off the water supply to your home to ensure you do not return home to a flooded house.
- Check washing machine & dishwasher hoses – the hoses to these essential household appliances are invariably manufactured from plastic or rubber. These machines are constantly left turned on to the water supply meaning the hoses become part of the plumbing system. In case of an emergency it pays to know where the valves are to isolate the machines plus check the valve is working at regular intervals. At regular intervals check the hoses for bubbles or soft spots or if there is moisture on the hose as these are signs of a potential problem looming.
- Check hot water tanks – if you hot water tank is inside your home usually in a cupboard or occasionally in the ceiling it pays to check it at regular intervals. A hot water tank will generally last 7 – 15 years depending on location and water quality. Once the tank is over 10 years of age it is living on borrowed time. Always ensure you know where the isolation valve is for the tank and check it at regular intervals to ensure it is working.
- Check toilets – your toilet cistern is connected permanently to the cold water supply and will either be connected to the cistern tap under the cistern by copper pipe or a stainless steel flexible connector. Leaks are common at the connections so it is wise to check the cistern tap is working and to check the copper pipe or flexible connector for kinks or signs of moisture as these are signs of a potential problem looming.
- Check sinks and basins – your kitchen sink and your vanity basins are frequently connected to the hot and cold water supply with stainless steel flexible connectors. These connectors are one of the most frequent causes of flooded homes. Frequently there are no isolation valves under the sink or basin so you need to check these connectors at regular intervals for kinks or signs of moisture as these are signs of a potential problem looming.
You cannot prevent everything and unfortunately there are no warnings to tell you something is about to burst.
You can take precautions and check the most common problems outlined above. As an added precaution you can install an AquaTrip.
AquaTrip monitors the flow of water into your property, and will shut off the water automatically in the event of a tap left running, a burst pipe, or if a tap, fitting, pipe, toilet, cistern or appliance is leaking. This will save water, reduce wastage and most critically minimise property damage.
The most important thing though is to ensure every person living in your house knows where to isolate the main water supply and how to turn it off. If you are not sure of how to isolate your water supply call Whywait Plumbing now.
by Gary Mays | Sep 1, 2012 | City of Gold Coast, Consumer Issues, Plumbing Legislation, Queensland Government
If you have not already received your first water account since the demise of Allconnex on 30 June then you are about to receive it.
Allconnex began effecting ratepayers of Gold Coast and Logan from 1 July 2010 and its demise on 30 June 2012 was cheered by many. I predict the cheering will be short lived especially for Gold Coast ratepayers who are going to be looking at enormous increases in water charges in coming years to pay for infrastructure upgrades. Very simply sewer and water pipes need maintaining, pump stations require upgrading and sewerage treatment plants require upgrading constantly.
Previously all water distribution was run by local councils and in the main they ran efficient and profitable water departments. Gold Coast Water was a world leader in water distribution winning many awards and returning $80,000,000 in profit every year to subsidise rates and other council services. Despite what many people think we have not returned to the previous business model. Now Gold Coast and Logan council’s are the retailers which is the water and waste water service provider only. The profits previously were generated by owning and operating the bulk water supply.
The Queensland Government owns the bulk water supply. For Gold Coast ratepayers this includes the Hinze Dam, Little Nerang Dam and the desalination plant . The Queensland Government sets the wholesale price that council’s pay for water. These costs are then passed on to residential and business customers to pay.
If you look at the water costs for 300 kilolitres of water below, which is the average use for a family, its obvious that Gold Coast water and waste water costs are the most expensive compared to neighbouring council areas.
Remember when your bill arrives this year and in coming years with continual increases do not blame the current Gold Coast city councillors or Queensland government but the eight councillors at Gold Coast City Council in 2011 who ignored the facts and bowed to ill informed pressure groups, voting to leave Allconnex and pay in excess of $60,000,000 to compensate Logan And Redlands councils.
Water & Waste Water Costing Example For Using 300 k/l Of Water
Gold Coast Residential
water connection fee: $201.50
waste water connection fee: $688.88
300k/l @ $3.27 per k/l: $981.00
$1871.38
Gold Coast Non-Residential (Business)
water connection fee 20mm meter: $358.90
waste water connection fee: $688.88
300k/l @ $3.27 per k/l: $981.00
300k/l @ $4.23 calc on 90% wastewater:$1142.10
$3170.88
Tweed Residential
water connection fee: $128.00
300k/l @ $2.05 per k/l: $615.00
$743.00 Tweed Non-Residential (Business)
water connection fee: $128.00
300k/l @ $2.05 per k/l: $615.00
300k/l @ $1.30 per k/l wastewater: $390.00
credit allowance of 180k/l wastewater: -$234.00
$899.00
Scenic Rim Residential
water connection fee: $280.00
waste water connection fee: $500.00
300k/l @ $3.19 per k/l: $957.00
$1737.00
Scenic Rim Non-Residential (Business)
water connection fee 20mm meter $355.56
waste water connection fee: $525.60
300k/l @ $3.20 per k/l: $960.00
$1841.16
Logan
300k/l @ $5.06 per k/l: $1518.00
by Gary Mays | Jul 21, 2012 | Cold Water, Consumer Issues, Health Issues, Plumbing Maintenance, Water Filtration
At Whywait Plumbing we are frequently asked about installing water filters to make the water from the tap taste better. This we understand and agree with because everyone should ensure the water they drink, shower in, cook with, prepare coffee and tea with is as pure and safe as it can possibly be.
What frequently confuses us is clients saying yes I would like a filter but it is expensive to install and maintain so I am better off buying bottles of water. This astounds us on so many levels as about 40% of bottled water is regular tap water which is 1120 times more expensive than tap water costing on average $3000 per kilolitre compared to $3.27 per kilolitre from Gold Coast City Council or $5.06 per kilolitre from Logan City Council.
Whywait Plumbing can supply and install water filters from $202.15 with the ongoing maintenance costs for replacement filters from $22.30 which is only the cost of 70 bottles of water. Bottled water is not the solution it is the problem with people paying an astounding premium for a product that is frequently full of contaminants such as arsenic, fluoride, antimony and pharmaceutical drugs.
We all need to drink more water as your body is 70% water with your blood, muscles, lungs, and brain all containing water. You need water to regulate body temperature and to provide the means for nutrients to travel to your organs and tissues. Water also helps transport oxygen to your cells, removes waste, and protects your joints and organs. Drinking too little water or losing too much water leads to dehydration. Symptoms of mild dehydration include thirst, pains in joints and muscles, lower back pain, headaches and constipation.
You lose water through urination, respiration, and by sweating, and you lose more water when you’re active than when you’re sedentary. Diuretics, medications and alcohol increase the amount of water your body loses. A strong odour from your urine, along with a yellow or amber color, may indicate that you may not be getting enough water. Lost water must be replaced by the water in the foods you eat and the beverages you drink.
Everyone has different needs on how much water they need to drink. At least twenty percent of the water you need comes from the foods you eat. The rest comes from the beverages you drink. As a general rule 8 glasses of water a day are recommended although this depends on the amount of physical activity you undertake and the climate where you live.
Water is the best choice for re-hydration because it’s cheap and has no calories or added ingredients. Sweetened soft drinks have added sugar that adds extra calories but no additional nutritional value. Sports drinks contain minerals that may help keep your electrolytes in balance, which is good for recovering after a hard gym work out, but contain sugar and calories that you may not want. Vegetable juices can be a good choice because they have vitamins and minerals your body requires. Fruit juices are okay in moderation but frequently contain high sugar levels that you do not want. Caffeinated beverages such as tea and coffee count, but too much caffeine can effect you.
Generally we all need to drink more water and the best way to ensure we drink the water our bodies require is to ensure a good quality and good tasting water supply is always readily available in our home or place of work. The best way to guarantee this is to install a water filter which is good for you and good for the environment. A water filter is a logical and cheaper alternative to bottled water as a single filter can prevent thousands of plastic water bottles from ending up in landfill and waterways further polluting our environment.
At Whywait Plumbing Services, we install, maintain and repair all types and models of water filtration systems. Whole of house or single above sink, you can trust Whywait Plumbing to provide the right solution for you and your family.
by Gary Mays | Jul 13, 2012 | Bathrooms, Climate Change, Consumer Issues, Drain Odours, Health Issues, Leaking Pipes, Plumbing Maintenance
Mould is a common problem in bathrooms in South East Queensland due to our sub-tropical climate. Like most problems prevention is vital and often very simple.
Black mould on bathroom tiles
Because your bathroom and especially the shower area are the wettest areas in your home it is not uncommon to see black mould growing in the grouting and silicon sealants. Mould loves your bathroom because it is the perfect atmosphere to create the ideal conditions for mould growth in the cracks and gaps in the tiling. Consequently black mould grows in behind and through the grout joints on the tiles. As can be seen on the photo on the right black mould loves getting in behind the silicon seal on the internal corners whether it be the wall or the floor.
The most common area to find mould is in your shower where it is nourished by your body oils, shampoo and soap residue that are left behind every time the shower is used.
Poor air circulation actively assists mould growth as the warmth and moisture created in the enclosed area of a shower offer further ideal conditions for mould growth in the dark areas of the shower around the internal corners and the shower floor drain. Poor air circulation is easily resolved by ensuring you install a good quality bathroom extraction fan above the shower that turns on automatically to remove all of the steam and water particles while you are using the shower.
If you are suffering from black mould growth in your bathroom then Whywait Plumbing recommend that you act early to remove it before permanent stains are created. To get rid of early mould growth the best solution is to use a paste of baking soda and vinegar. Simply mix one cup of water with white vinegar and water to create a smooth paste. Then apply the paste to the areas where mould is growing, gently scrubing it with an old soft tooth brush until it starts to turn white and then leave it. After half an hour rinse off all the paste using your shower spray and if any mould still is visible you will need to repeat applying the paste and scrubbing it until all of the mould has disappeared.
The paste above will work perfectly on mould that is detected and removed early but if you have a real infestation then use a 50/50 mix of water and bleach in a spray bottle. Ensure you have adequate ventilation in the bathroom before you begin lightly spraying the mould. Once again spray then leave for half an hour, rinse off and spray again until all of the mould has disappeared.
Mould behind the silicon sealant on the internal corners will require more thorough work. First use a utility knife to scrape off all of the silicon and you may need to use a blade to scrape the remnants clear off the tiles. Once all of the silicon has been removed spray the mould with the 50/50 bleach until it has all disappeared. Once the mould has gone rinse the area clean and dry it thoroughly with a hot air dryer to ensure there is no moisture trapped in the open joint. Finally reapply a good quality mould resistant silicon to the joint which is specifically designed for high moisture areas.
If mould reappears within a few weeks then you may have problems with leaking pipes or fittings that require a thorough investigation by Whywait Plumbing to ensure you are not damaging internal frames and wall linings.
Remember mould is only a sympton of a bigger problem and ignoring will not make it disappear. If in any doubt call Whywait Plumbing for advice on how to deal with mould in your bathroom.
by Gary Mays | Jul 3, 2012 | Bathrooms, Consumer Issues, Health Issues, Plumbing Maintenance, Sustainable Plumbing
Traditionally toilets flushed 11 litres or 3 gallons of water every time they were flushed with the water all flowing along through a drainage system that was designed for large flows of water. Unless a drain was broken or roots entered the drain it was not common for a drain to block. That was of course until the advent of reduced flow dual flush toilets.
Now that toilet only flushes 4.5 litres of water on a full flush and 3 litres of water on a half flush into the drainage system. Coupled with reduced flows from every other tap this has produced a situation where drains designed for large flows of water have had the water flow reduced by 60% in most cases.
The increase in blocked drains due to the reduced water flows has been a big boost for plumbing companies such as Whywait Plumbing with drains clogging up for no other reason than lack of water flow. Often there is a dual problem of incorrect fall on the drain which creates high spots in the pipe leading to the drain becoming clogged at that point.
In Singapore scientists at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have invented a new toilet system that will reduce the amount of water needed for flushing by up to 90 per cent compared to current toilet systems. Dubbed the No-Mix Vacuum Toilet, it has two chambers that separate the liquid and solid wastes. Using vacuum suction technology, similar to those used in aircraft toilets it uses 0.2 litres of water for urine and 1.0 litres of water for solids.
The No-Mix Vacuum Toilet installed in a standard public toilet which is flushed 100 times a day, is expected to save 160000 litres of water a year. The NTU scientists are now looking to carry out trials by installing the toilet prototypes in two NTU public toilet facilities. This trial is important due to the issues that plumbers are already aware of with the drains blocking at 4.5/3 litre flushes so a 1.0/0.2 litre flush is expected to exacerbate this problem in existing buildings.
The No-Mix Vacuum Toilet with it’s two chambers that separate the liquid and solid wastes also will turn human waste into electricity and fertilisers. The No-Mix Vacuum Toilet will divert the liquid waste to a processing facility where components used for fertilisers such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium can be recovered. At the same time, the solid waste will be sent to a bioreactor where it will be digested to release bio-gas which contains methane. Methane is odourless and can be used to replace natural gas used in stoves for cooking. Methane can also be converted to electricity if used to fuel power plants or fuel cells. ‘Grey water’ (used water from the laundry, shower and kitchen sink) can be released back into the drainage systems without further need for complex waste water treatment, while leftover food wastes can be sent either to the bioreactors or turned into compost and mixed with soil, resulting in a complete recovery of resources.
The No-Mix Vacuum Toilet uses will be limited in traditional buildings but will be useful for eco resorts, new housing estates, hotels, resorts, and especially communities not linked to the main sewerage system or unable to be connected and so require their own sewerage facilities.
Associate Professor Wang Jing-Yuan, Director of the Residues and Resource Reclamation Centre (R3C) at NTU who is leading the research project, said that their ultimate aim is not only for the new toilet system to save water, but to have a complete recovery of resources so that none will be wasted in resource-scarce Singapore. “Having the human waste separated at source and processed on-site would lower costs needed in recovering resources, as treating mixed waste is energy intensive and not cost-effective,” Prof Wang said. “With our innovative toilet system, we can use simpler and cheaper methods of harvesting the useful chemicals and even produce fuel and energy from waste.”
The development of a No-Mix Vacuum Toilet has great potential for use on the Gold Coast in the development of tourist facilities in environmentally sensative areas where traditional sewerage systems cannot be installed.
