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Posts Tagged ‘london plumber<’
The mains pipe that connects your home to the water utility supply should always have a functional shutoff valve. Since this stopcock is normally located outside your property, it is subject to the elements and can rust over time. Mr-Skill says that the last thing you need when there is an urgent requirement to close off the water supply is a non-functioning tap! All water-main pipes are either 1-inch or ¾-inch, so you should check before you order a replacement shutoff valve. 
One of our regular London plumbers warns that this is a moderately difficult task, because you don’t know what you are going to encounter when you get going. He insists that this is a job best left to the experts, so perhaps rather find a plumber and leave the guesswork out of it. Mr-Skill has a number of pre-screened members just waiting to be at your service. That said, it certainly does not hurt to know where your shutoff valve is, so that you can check its condition from time to time.
Why Maintain or Replace?
Actually, there could be a number of valid reasons for wanting to shut off your water supply:
- The Hot Water Heater has developed problems and needs to be repaired
- Any one of the plumbing joints in your home could be weak and leaking
- The toilet is overflowing and does not switch off when the cistern is full
- There will be times when you need to shut off the water to replace a hand basin, sink or even a bath
- You hear a dripping sound on one of your ceilings, which, on checking, turns out to be a leaking pipe in the roof
When any of the above problems present, get a plumbing quote right here on Mr-Skill. Always remember that there is a good reason why it takes so long for a plumber to qualify. If it were that easy to fix plumbing problems, you can bet a penny to a pound that most of us would be instant DIY plumbers!
Tags: bath, cistern, DIY, find a plumber, fix it, handiman, Home Maintenance, leaking, london plumber, mains, plumber, plumbing quote, plumbing.joints, repair, shut-off, tank, toilet, valve, water, water heater
Posted in Plumbing, Heating & Gas, Project Advice | Comments Off
Alan – he’s one of our regular London plumbers here at Mr-Skill – tells us that he gets several desperate calls from customers faced with sudden large water bills. Invariably, the problem traces back to a leak in the system somewhere in the property, or in the house, and more often than not invisible to the eye. A simple leak-detection service from one of Mr-Skill’s pre-screened members will quickly identify the problem area, and alert your plumber to what needs fixing.
Check the Obvious 
Unless you are a trained plumber, chasing and fixing water leaks is not something you should consider taking on yourself. That said, there are a couple of quick checks you could conduct to confirm that you do in fact have a leak. The first indication is usually an abnormally high water bill. Perhaps you have been watering the garden excessively over the last month – or maybe someone else in the household has?
Find and turn off your water-main. This is usually located near the front door or at the point-of-entry to your property. Now, turn off any other isolator switches you know about, the hot water cylinder for example. Remember to play safe with gas-fired water heaters before isolating the water supply to them too.
Time to open all the taps in the house both hot and cold supply. Allow the water in the system to drain down – your water supply should reduce first to a trickle, and then just a drip or two. Return to the water meter and check that the dial or digital counter has ceased clocking. If it is static, it is reasonable to assume that you have no water leaks, and that your consumption has simply been higher than usual. If the meter continues to clock though, you most certainly have a leak, and this needs urgent attention. 
Once you have confirmed the presence of a water leak, you can get a plumbing quotation right here on Mr-Skill. Then you can just sit back and relax, knowing that your high water bills will soon be a thing of the past.
Plumbers Know Best
Plumbers spend a long time gaining qualifications. They have to learn all the ropes under supervision, and then prove themselves in terms of theory too. So, when it comes to water leaks, you can be sure that any one of the professional members here on Mr-Skill has received the necessary training, and is ready to assist you. Find a plumber right here, and you could be in line for one of the many special offers on tap now.
Tags: boiler, cold water supply, excessive bill, find a plumber, gas boiler, high water consumption, hot water supply, leak, leak checks, leak detection, london plumber, mains, meter, pipe, plumber, Plumbing, plumbing quote, special offer, water drips, water leak, water mains
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Apart from the annoying noise a constantly dripping tape makes, just knowing that you are wasting water is incentive enough to fix the problem. The longer you leave it, the worse the problem becomes because each time you close the offending tap that bit tighter, you are actually stressing the washer further. To some, even changing a tap washer is not something they feel comfortable with. If that describes you then it’s time to find a plumber here on Mr-Skill. 
Replacing the Washer
Provided you follow a few simple checks, replacing washers is one of the easier jobs around the home. First, make sure you have the correct size replacement – taps come in standard sizes so having a handy pack of assorted washers makes good sense. You will also need some screwdrivers and a wrench. Here’s what you do:
- Isolate the water supply to the dripping tap, and then open the tap to drain it.
- Carefully prise off the plastic cover on the tap handle. Now use the correct screwdriver to loosen the screw at the tap head.
- Remove the tap head using a wrench, having covered the chrome parts with protective masking tape.
- This should reveal the damaged or worn washer, which you must remove and renew with a similar product.
- Refit the tap head and holding screw, not forgetting the plastic tap cover.
- Time to switch on the water supply.
- Fully open the tap you’ve just worked on and quickly close it again. Repeat a couple of times so as to let the new washer bed in correctly.
- Check for leaks, but there should be no further dripping.
Advisory: If your tap shows any sign of leaks it could indicate that you have old plumbing needing replacing. Mr-Skill has a number of member plumbers who would be happy to provide you with a plumbing quote.
Last Word
Sidney has been a plumber for ever, and changing a tap washer is something he could do in his sleep with both hands tied behind his back. Sid, one of our regular London plumbers, says it isn’t that easy if you encounter older plumbing with stubborn taps that don’t seem to want to let you change the washer that they’re covering. One false move and you could damage the bath or basin, not to mention the surrounding tiles. Where on earth will you find that replacement tile to match the one you’ve just chipped or cracked? Mission impossible springs to mind!
Tags: assorted washers, basin, bath, close, drip, dripping tap, find a plumber, isolate mains, leaking tap, leaks, london plumber, masking tape, open, plumbing quote, screw drivers, standard size, tap washer, tile, water, wrench
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About the only way to save money on plumbers is not to have a need for their services in the first place. We are of course talking about those easy DIY jobs such as drain clearing and unblocking your loo. But there are some jobs that only a qualified plumber can attend to, and it’s for these kinds of jobs that we are offering free advice on how to go about choosing one.
The Seven Most Important Considerations
When requesting plumbing services, don’t be shy to ask these important questions before selecting them: 
- Are they qualified and currently registered?
- Do they come across as professional on the ‘phone?
- Are they willing to reveal their charges once they know what needs doing?
- Are they loading the costs when it comes to replacing broken or worn parts?
- Do they come across as friendly?
- Ask if they clean up properly when finished.
- Do they offer a guarantee?
Let’s analyse the above in more detail before you go about selecting your preferred plumber. Remember that Mr-Skill has an impressive list of pre-screened professionals, so you could find a plumber right here without further ado!
Qualifications
Skills in the plumbing trade take several years to develop, starting with a proper apprenticeship under the experienced watch of a mentor. Skills alone are not sufficient, because plumber need to prove they have what it takes. This they do by studying and passing several exams set by City & Guilds. 
Responding to Your Call
If you have a concern after speaking to a plumber about your problem on the ‘phone, picture them in your house!
Charging
Plumbing is a highly competitive sector, and quoting should be straightforward and simple once they know what needs doing. Estimating time and materials is part of any plumber’s training. You could easily compare by getting a plumbers quote right here on Mr-Skill.
Parts and Spares
Ask your plumber if he has a problem with you shopping around for the parts he thinks you need. If he’s cagey, then the chances are that he is loading prices.
One of our London plumbers wraps up with this advice. Any well turned out plumber should clean up nicely when he’s finished as part of the service. It’s a simple matter of being proud of what they do and how they do it, and don’t forget to ask about guarantees too.
Tags: apprenticeship, City & Guilds, cleaning up, DIY plumbing, experience, find a plumbing-heating-and-gas expert, friendly plumber, guarantee, knowledge, london plumber, plumber, plumbing-heating-and-gas quote, professional plumber, qualified plumber, quote, training
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There is a certain calmness and serenity, when you enter a home with an indoor water feature trickling away gently in a room. Here, we are going to help you design and set up your very own magic indoor fountain, and because this is the merry month of May, there’s no better time to do so. This not difficult to achieve, in fact we rate this one as “easy” to complete, and you may not need to find an electrician either.
What You’ll Need 
- Suitably sized urn with hole in base
- Submersible water pump (as used in aquariums)
- Nozzle head and extension pipe
- Waterproof ceramic basin for the urn to stand in
- Some decorative pebbles and plants
- Heavy-duty plastic sheet to waterproof and house your display
Visit your local outdoor centre, and get a garden and landscaping quote. Then, if you feel confident to go it alone, purchase all of the above items to suit your budget. Decide where you want to display your new indoor water feature. Set down the plastic sheet to protect the floor on which the feature will stand. You will need a power socket to run the electric water pump – not too close, we all know that water and electricity don’t mix!
Place your ceramic basin in position. Place the water pump at the bottom of the basin. Attach the extension pipe to the pump (remembering to seal the joint at the base of the urn), and then lower the urn over it. Once the water is added, the pump will fill the urn with water which will cascade over the rim of the urn and collect in the basin. The water is continuously re-cycled by the pump.
Add sufficient clean water to the system, and then run it to see if any topping-up is required.  Once you have the water side of the feature set up, you can add pebbles and plants as you please. These additions will have the effect of displacing some of the water, so make sure that you don’t overfill the water feature.
Many of our London plumbers love building water features, so if you think this is all too difficult, then you can find help through Mr-Skill. Nearly time to switch on and sit back and admire your handiwork! You could also add some exciting light displays around your new water feature, so that you can enjoy a different ambience at night.
Tags: basin, calmness, cascade, electrical socket, extension, find an electrician, fountain, garden and landscaping quote, indoor, indoor water feature, lights, london plumber, pebbles, plants, plastic sheet, pump, re-cycle, serenity, urn, water
Posted in Electrical Work, Gardening & Landscaping, Plumbing, Heating & Gas | Comments Off
It really is quite astonishing to discover what can enter our drains, and cause a blockage. Often, the problem is not visible as with tree and shrub roots finding ways into drain pipes, and creating havoc. Sometimes, we only become aware of a problem when we see an accumulation of water and other debris near drain covers. Some jobs are going to require you to find a plumber, because of the specialist nature of the work. Here are some preventative measures you can take to avoid unnecessary callouts.
What You’ll Need
- A tool to remove the drain cover, such as a crowbar
- A hose connected to the hot water supply
- A plunger that covers the drain diameter
- A drain rod, if you have one
- Gloves to protect your hands
Before you start, why not get a plumber quote to solve the problem? Remember that Mr-Skill’s plumbers are required to guarantee their work, so you can use them in confidence.
Steps
- Remove the cover of the obstructed drain. Drain covers can prove difficult to budge if they have not been lifted for a while so you may need a crowbar
- Turn the hot tap on fully and push the hose as far down the drain as you can. The higher the pressure and the hotter the water, the more effective the solution
- If the water in the drain starts welling back up, place the plunger over the drain and plunge it back and forth. This creates a suction or vacuum effect and helps dislodge the debris
- Tip a large pot of boiling water down the drain – this will neutralize any grease or oil that may have entered.
- If you are confident that your drain is independent of the sewer system, pour a commercial drain cleaner down and wait for the chemical action to complete. Flush after 15 minutes with hot water
- If the waste water is not running freely after all the above attempts and you own a rodding set, you could try clearing the drain with a back and forth motion,
One of our London plumbers advises, “Blocked drains outside our properties are not always easy to clear and may not be our responsibility. Sometimes roots completely clog up a drain. They can even cause fractures, particularly in older clay pipes.”
Tags: blockage, blocked drains, boiling water, clay piping, crowbar, debris, drain cleaner, drain cover, drainage, drains, find a plumber, hose, hot water, hugh pressure, london plumber, plumber quote, plumbers, rods, roots
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Carbon monoxide is a colourless, tasteless odourless gas that is the product of incomplete combustion of carbon-based fuels. These fuels include gas, oil, coal and wood, but all are however safe when used correctly. According to the Health and Safety Executive, approximately twenty people die in Britain every year from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by wrongly installed gas appliances, and flues that  have not been properly maintained and cleaned. If there ever was a reason to Find a Heating Engineer, then surely this is it.
These people all probably died from a sudden intake of the deadly gas that prevented their blood from carrying oxygen to their tissues, skin and other organs. The gas may however also kill almost imperceptibly over a longer period of slow leaks. These are the sensible precautions you could follow to avoid this happening to you and your family.
o Make sure that any work carried out in your home is done by a Gas Safe registered engineer who is competent to do the particular job. You can get Gas Fitting Quotes right here.
o Arrange for regular inspections by a Gas Safe registered firm as recommended by them.
o Ensure that any room containing a gas appliance is adequately ventilated, and that any chimneys, vents and flues do not become blocked. If you have one, get your chimney swept annually,
o  Never use any heating appliance that burns carbon-based fuel without a flue installed by a Gas Safe registered fitter. Paraffin and cabinet heaters are never completely safe and should not be used.
o Fossil-burning appliances outside the remit of Gas-Safe registered fitters should be regularly inspected by another person competent to do the work.
There could hardly be a London Plumber who does not also recommend the installation of audible carbon monoxide alarms in every room, although these are no substitute for proper maintenance. This is because in the event of sudden failure, carbon monoxide could kill you in your sleep. Sobering words today from Mr-Skill.
Tags: alarm, appliance, audible, carbon monoxide, check, chimney, clean, CO, coal, colour, competent, danger, die, find a heating engineer, fitter, flue, gas, gas fitting quote, gas safe, inspect, install, installation, kill, london plumber, maintain, odour, oil, poison, register, registered, safe, service, smell, sweep, swept, taste, vent, wood
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