Plumbing problems crop up when you least expect them – the proof is in our daily lives.  A blocked toilet at a dinner party you’re hosting (excess lamb?), a tap not turning off while your mother-in-law’s visiting. You witnessing an overflowing when invited to bring a plate to a friend’s home. If you encounter such problems, remember: calling an emergency plumber in Sydney is the perfect solution.

There are several plumbing issues that must be dealt with immediately. Here’s a list of them:

Of the plumbing emergencies listed above, we’d like to focus on water leaks. Not all water leaks are easy to spot. We discuss how to detect water or plumbing leaks below.

Not all water leaks are visible to the naked eye – or nose. That’s because you can’t go behind the walls or under the floor to find them. But there are other ways to detect water or plumbing leaks – we list several below. Once you’ve determined there’s a leak, it’s best to call a 24-hour plumber in Sydney (call us) to fix it.

You most probably keep your old water bills (if you don’t, start now) for your records. Make it a habit of comparing your latest water bill with a previous one. Is the water consumption the same or did it shoot up? If it’s higher, do you know why? Did you have family staying over? Did everyone who lives with you start taking baths instead of showers? Assuming you’ve used the same volume of water as before, a spike in your water bill indicates a water leak.

Haven’t the foggiest idea where the water leak is? The first step to take is to locate and check the water meter in your house. Look at the front of your house for it. It should have a plastic or metal cap covering  it. You can call a plumber and ask about where to look, too (let us help). After you’ve found it, turn off all the taps and unplug all the appliances connected to the water supply.

Done? Now, go back to the water meter, take the reading, wait an hour or more and take the reading again. Is there a difference between the two readings? If so, you can find out whether the leak is inside or outside by turning off the inside stop valve. This is usually found in the garage or basement – in an underground box or outside wall of your home.

Take the water meter reading after shutting inside stop valve, wait an hour or more – and take another reading. The water leak is outside your home if the two readings are different from each other. If there is no change in the readings, it means the water leak is within your home.

[By the by, your home has two water stop valves – and it’s important to know where each is situated. In Sydney, which enjoys mild winters, the exterior stop valve is most probably sitting right next to the water meter.]

Do some sleuthing under the kitchen cabinets that have water pipes, and the same for the bathroom cabinets. Look carefully at your hot water system, washing machine and dishwasher (take a peak beneath them, too).  Check to see if the toilet’s leaking, and if there is standing water in the bathroom, sink, tub or shower.

If water is running in the toilet bowl, the tank is leaking. If you can’t detect whether the toilet tank is leaking or not, put some dye inside the tank and wait. After several minutes, the dyed water should show up in the toilet bowl if the tank is leaking.

If it’s an outside leak, take a look at the grass surrounding your home. When you roam your eyes about your garden or backyard, are there patches of grass greener than the rest? Or puddles of water here and there? That means there’s a leaking pipe beneath the soil.

A water leak detector is extremely helpful if you’re living in an old home where the pipes haven’t been replaced. If they’re old, they’ve already corroded to a certain stage and are vulnerable to leaks. There are many types of leak detectors and leak detection systems available. But, it’s a better idea to have a plumber come with their leak detector and check for leaks.

Plumbing, hot water, or gas emergency at home, real estate property, or strata? Call Ready Set Plumb on 0422 704 670, or fill out a web form if it’s not an emergency. We’re a family-owned business with more than 17 years of experience in the plumbing industry. Apart from a 24 7 plumber in Sydney, we provide transparent quotes, workmanship and lifetime labour guarantees. Take advantage of our $0 call out fee – let us come and assess your plumbing problems, today!