51 Reasons to Love Your Plumber

Last week we made another blood donation at the LifeBlood mobile donor caravan at Coogee Oval.

During a few moments of contemplation while some of the good stuff was taken from my left arm, I had this realisation.

Its nearly September 30th 2023, and with the Australian summer and the Christmas holiday season and the end of the year only 92 days away, here’s 50 more reasons to love your plumber:

1. Punctuality: They respect your time by arriving on schedule.
2. Friendly Demeanor: A pleasant attitude makes interactions more enjoyable.
3. Professionalism: Plumbers conduct themselves with professionalism in all dealings.
4. Accountability: They take responsibility for their work and any issues that arise.
5. Communication: Good plumbers communicate clearly and effectively.
6. Accessibility: You can easily reach them when you need assistance.
7. Emergency Preparedness: Plumbers are equipped to handle urgent situations.
8. Efficiency: They work quickly without sacrificing quality.
9. Upfront Pricing: Many plumbers provide cost estimates before starting work.
10. Experience with Older Homes: We’re skilled in working with older plumbing systems.
11. Thorough Inspections: Plumbers inspect your plumbing system thoroughly to identify hidden issues.
12. Innovative Solutions: They offer creative solutions to unique plumbing challenges.
13. Flexibility in Scheduling: Accommodating your schedule is a priority.
14. Friendly Advice: Plumbers give helpful tips for maintaining your plumbing.
15. Transparent Billing: Clear invoices break down the cost of services.
16. Courteousness: They treat your home with respect and politeness.
17. Clean Appearance: A professional appearance instills confidence. Could need a haircut.
18. Availability for Questions: We’re happy to answer your plumbing-related queries.
19. Waste Removal: Proper disposal of old parts and waste is their responsibility.
20. Quality Materials: They use high-quality materials for repairs and installations.
21. Flexible Payment Options: Some plumbers offer payment plans or financing.
22. Licensed and Certified: Qualified plumbers have the necessary licenses and certifications.
23. Hassle-Free Repairs: We’ll handle all aspects of the repair process.
24. Adherence to Safety Standards: Safety is a top priority on the job.
25. Respect for Your Property: Plumbers take precautions to avoid damage during work.
26. Protection for Your Flooring: They use protective coverings to keep your floors clean.
27. Genuine Care: Good plumbers genuinely care about your plumbing issues.
28. Problem Diagnosis: They accurately diagnose the root causes of plumbing problems.
29. Longevity of Repairs: Repairs are done to last, saving you money over time.
30. Insurance Claims Assistance: We can help with insurance claims for plumbing-related damage.
31. Energy Efficiency Tips: Plumbers provide advice on reducing energy consumption.
32. Dependability: You can rely on them for consistent quality work.
33. Customization: Tailored solutions to meet your specific needs.
34. Water Pressure Optimization: We ensure your water pressure is just right.
35. Versatility: Plumbers handle a wide range of plumbing problems.
36. Accessibility Features: They can install accessible plumbing fixtures if needed.
37. Aesthetics: Attention to detail in installations for an aesthetically pleasing result.
38. Project Management: Coordinating the multiple aspects of some plumbing projects.
39. Prepared for Unforeseen Issues: They’re ready for unexpected challenges.
40. Emergency Prevention: Plumbers help prevent plumbing emergencies.
41. Eco-Friendly Practices: Some plumbers focus on green plumbing solutions.
42. Prompt Response to Inquiries: Quick responses to your calls or messages.
43. Family-Owned Businesses: Supporting local, family-owned plumbing businesses.
44. Community Involvement: Some plumbers do unseen work in the community.
45. Clear Documentation: Detailed records of services provided.
46. Consistency in Quality: Reliable service you can count on.
47. Follow-Up Services: We check in after service to ensure everything is working correctly.
48. Custom Maintenance Plans: We can give tailored plans for ongoing plumbing care.
49. Warranty Fulfillment: Honoring warranties for their work.
50. Peace of Mind: Ultimately, they provide peace of mind knowing your plumbing needs are in capable hands.

Any great plumber is a valued part of your household, offering expertise, reliability, and peace of mind for all your plumbing stuff. They’ll even carry your groceries in from the car

So next time you need to call a plumber……..

Should plumber’s give free quotes?

Some plumbers provide free quotes. Many don’t!

For simple jobs a plumber can usually give you a rough estimate over the phone if you provide enough accurate information that may include suitable images of the works and the site. However, more complicated projects usually need a site inspection and sometimes exploratory surgery if you want a realistic quote.

A great plumber will blend technology and experience to give you a quote complete with site pics and designs to include in the proposal but, that comes at a cost. That same plumber, unless he is waiting on information from another tradie like a landscaper or electrician, should get his quote to you the same or next day.

Any plumber that asks you for a quote fee know their stuff from years of experience.

Just like a consultation with your surgeon to plan and discuss your procedure before you go “under the knife”. It comes at a price.

I’ve paid for that experience. It was money well spent.

If your plumber charges for a quote, you’re more likely to get a professional and well considered opinion for your problem and he should offer a number of alternatives to suit your home and your budget. Quite often your plumber will deduct the quote fee from the price of the job; so effectively you end up with a free quote.

Plumbers are real people too and we get quotes for projects on our own homes and gardens, cars and boats, pets and holidays, and occasionally the quote is more than we expected.

I’ll usually ask questions and discuss the task with the professional providing the service.

With a better understanding of “what” and “why” the quote is so, I can ask for recommendations and if necessary, scale back the project without compromising my home. Then, depending on my budget, I’d undertake the entire project or just a part of it.

Interestingly, the internet has made us all experts in many fields. I reckon you get what you pay for!

Roll your toilet paper from the top

All of us use the bathroom. And occasionally we want to know what’s going on in other peoples bathrooms.

Bathrooms and toilets are our workplace, and the observations made from bathrooms often go unrecorded. But today, I reckon its time to share some of those observations.

A common theme is how home owners dispense their toilet rolls on the toilet roll holder. (Click here to read about the Australian patent on toilet roll holders.) Some pull their toilet paper from the back of the roll. While others pull from the top. So we carried out a little survey

Here are the top five reasons why people prefer toilet paper to roll from the top:

1. Ease of Use: When the toilet paper is positioned with the loose end hanging over the top, it is easier to locate and grab the end of the roll. This makes it more convenient and efficient to tear off the desired amount of toilet paper without any hassle.
2. Reduced Risk of Touching the Wall: Rolling the toilet paper from the top helps to minimize the chances of accidentally touching the wall behind it. This is especially important in public restrooms where hygiene is crucial, as touching the wall can transfer germs and bacteria.
3. Neat Appearance: Rolling the toilet paper from the top provides a neater and more visually appealing look. The loose end of the roll is neatly presented, making it easier to grab and tear off without causing the roll to unravel or become messy.
4. Prevents Unwanted Unraveling: Placing the loose end at the top prevents the roll from unintentionally unraveling. If the end hangs down the back of the roll, it can sometimes get caught on nearby objects or surfaces, causing the paper to unwind and waste.
5. Intuitive Orientation: Rolling the toilet paper from the top is considered more intuitive for most people. When reaching for toilet paper, it is more natural to pull it down from the top rather than from behind the roll. This orientation aligns with our instinctive hand movements and provides a smoother user experience.

While your personal preferences may vary, these reasons highlight the practical and aesthetic advantages of rolling toilet paper from the top.

If this post has got you thinking about toilet paper, why not choose Who Gives a Crap for your next shipment. Who Gives a Crap donates half of their profits to developing countries that don’t have plumbing, sewers and the toilets that we take for granted.

Women Only. The Turkish Bath Sydney

I, Dave Conroy, The Lone Drainer and Pronto, plumber to the stars of the Eastern suburbs pride myself on running a modern, forward looking business, being proud to be a multicultural Australian and always on the lookout for new ideas, both for plumbing and life.

This week however, by virtue of a visit to the Ottoman Turkish Bath and Day Spa in South Granville, I was privileged to learn something both modern and traditional all at the same time.

And no, it wasn’t the vision of a giant hexagonal white marble bathhouse, with a massive hot spa, surrounded by twenty big white marble wash basins and a huge marble central slab, everything looking like a Renaissance painting, all steam and sexy oriental music. Oh no, it wasn’t even the big marble pedestals where the clients are scrubbed and massaged by dutiful and strong and OK, I’m not shy to say it, attractive female attendants, slathering them in rosewater scented lotions and potions; no, no, no, I didn’t get to see all that, as it’s a women’s only establishment. That was just reported to me by my female colleague who experienced it all.  Afterwards she was dopily, dreamily barely able to draw my attention to the DRAINAGE system which was what she thought would interest me. 

She was right.  Drains are a big deal for plumbers and we get excited when someone does something clever. At the Ottoman Spa, they had managed to combine the most traditional hammam (that’s the Turkish word for bathhouse) architecture with the most modern of drainage systems. 

The first hammam was built in 1453 when Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror conquered Istanbul. And its still standing! You can go there if you click here.

But despite all that classic marble design, the drainage and tiling were super modern and a credit to the tradesmen responsible.  It’s not easy to get such vast quantities of water (all that sluicing over all those marble benches) to fall so well and so discreetly over such a vast area.

We’ve come a long way since 1453.  And since the invention of the first hollow-pipe drainage by Sir Hugh Dalrymple who died some three hundred years later and yet still gets credited with inventing drainage.  Sorry Sultan Mehmet!

That innovation, the new ideas building on the foundation of great old ideas is what I love about plumbing.   I got to learn all about hammams today.  It’s a great gig.

Dave Conroy.  The Lone Drainer.

Thank you Glenys I Love Plumbing.

World Water Day 2023. Four Ways to maintain our Water Supply

March 22nd 2023 is World Water Day.

G’day, it’s Dave Conroy, the Lone Drainer here to tell you all about World Water Day. This special day is celebrated every year on March 22nd, and it’s all about raising awareness for the importance of freshwater and advocating for sustainable management of this precious resource.

You see, water is essential for all life on Earth, and yet many people around the world still don’t have access to clean and safe water. Plus, with climate change and other environmental pressures, the future of freshwater is becoming increasingly uncertain.

That’s why World Water Day is so important. It’s a chance for people all over the world to come together and take action to protect our water resources. From conserving water in our daily lives to supporting policies that promote sustainable water management, there are many things we can do to make a difference.

To do our part to protect this vital resource, and remember that every drop counts, here are four things that can help maintain our water supply:

1. Conserving water: One of the most effective ways to maintain our water supply is to use water more efficiently and avoid wasting it. This can be done by fixing leaks, taking shorter showers, using water-efficient appliances, and reducing outdoor water use (such as watering lawns and gardens only when necessary).
2. Protecting water sources: Another important step is to protect the sources of our freshwater, such as lakes, rivers, and aquifers. This can be done by preventing pollution, reducing runoff from agricultural and urban areas, and minimizing the impact of industrial activities.
3. Investing in infrastructure: To ensure that we have a reliable supply of clean water, it’s essential to invest in infrastructure that can capture, store, and treat water effectively. This can include building new dams, improving water treatment plants, and upgrading pipes and other water delivery systems.
4. Supporting sustainable policies: Finally, it’s important to support Federal, State or Local government policies that promote sustainable water management, such as regulations that limit water use in times of drought or encourage the use of water-efficient technologies. By working together to protect and manage our water resources, we can help ensure that future generations have access to the water they need.

World Plumbing Day 2023! Seven tips from your plumber

Saturday, March 11th 2023 is World Plumbing Day.

Plumbing is something we all take for granted. World Plumbing Day is the day to thank your plumber as you brush your teeth, flush your toilet and have a hot shower.

We don’t pay any attention to our plumbing unless, its not working. So spare a thought for your plumber who is on standby to help you. Why not put his name and telephone number into your mobile phone, Just in case!

Here are 7 easy plumbing tips to help around your home

1. Know where your main water shut-off valve is: In case of a plumbing emergency (like a burst pipe), it’s important to know where your main shut-off valve is so you can turn off the water supply to your home. Bonus tip: Check that it works!
2. Know where your water heater is. Check it periodically to see it’s not leaking. Learn how to turn it off and back on again. Bonus tip: Know if it’s heated by gas or electricity.
3. Don’t pour grease or cooking oil down your drains: Grease and oil can build up in your pipes and cause blocked drains, it’s important to dispose of them properly. Use a drain strainer in the sink to catch scraps of food.
4. Keep a sink plunger in your home. Know how to use it!
5. Check for leaks: Regularly check for leaks under kitchen sinks and vanity basins. If you see signs of water, have your plumber repair them as soon as possible to prevent water damage. Bonus tip: Flexible water connections have become very common in Australian homes. Some Home insurance companies insist homeowners check them regularly and have your plumber change them periodically. When they burst, they cause a lot of water damage very fast. (See Tip #1)
6. Don’t flush anything other than toilet paper: Flushing things like “flushable” wipes, sanitary products, or paper towels will block your drains.
7. Leaking toilet cisterns can waste a lot of water. Know how to turn your cistern on and off until its fixed. Bonus tip: If you’re desperate, you can flush your toilet with a bucket of water.

Make sure you get a professional for complex plumbing problems. While some plumbing repairs can be undertaken by a competent home owner, more complex tasks like installing a new water heater or fixing a concealed leak should be left to a professional plumber to ensure they’re done properly.

Super Bowl 2023 Flush with Excitement.

The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 in Super Bowl 57 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale Arizona on Monday morning Sydney time. It was the team’s second title in four seasons. Now Aussies Jordan Mailata an AFL player and punter Arryn Siposs a Rugy league man, made Australian sporting history when they played for Philadelphia. 🙁

Personally, apart from my son going to a game at the stadium when he was studying at NAU Northern Arizona University in 2019, I know little about the contest other than to say the Chiefs star Quarterback Patrick Mahomes apparently won the game after his team was behind 24-14 at half time.

And its the half time break that gets my interest! Specifically, toilet flushing at half time.

In a post from Super Bowl 2016, I wrote that the amount of water used in toilet flushing during the Super Bowl half time break is the same volume that would flow over Niagara Falls in seven minutes.

In doing some research on the topic, anecdotally, it is often joked that there is a Super Bowl flush that occurs during the halftime break, as many viewers may use the bathroom at the same time. However, there is no reliable data to support the claim.

In fact, some experts have suggested that the idea of a simultaneous flush causing water system issues is a myth, as modern water systems are designed to handle large surges in demand. While it is possible that water demand may increase during the halftime break or the Super Bowl flush, the impact on water infrastructure is likely to be minimal.

Our local Sydney news reporting on the Super Bowl reckon there are now more Australians watching that game than the Melbourne Cup.

Given Super Bowl lasts three and a half hours and, The Melbourne Cup lasts three and a half minutes, the halftime Super Bowl flush might be a thing.

What do you reckon?

Five ways street trees affect your home!

If you’re considering buying a home in a tree lined street like this, you need to know how trees can affect houses on the street. Here’s just a few,

Wash your hands. World Toilet Day

Hands are a major part of any plumbers tool kit.

Without them, it would be difficult to carryout other parts of our job.  Cutting pipes with a saw, cleaning and glueing pipes together, disconnecting the water and gas at your meter, changing tap washers in your hand basin or even clearing a blocked drain with a sink plunger.

And washing hands is part of our job!
I could wash my hands at least 10 times a day, even if we are wearing gloves to protect them and especially after clearing a blocked drain.

In fact, being a NSW Master Plumber in Sydney we are reminded Hygieia is the goddess of health, cleanliness and hygiene.

Her name is the source of the word Hygiene.

3.6 billion people don’t have a flushing toilet!

Whaaaat? Astounding but true!

World Toilet Day is Friday, November 19th 2021.

The day has been sanctioned by the United Nations aimed at bringing awareness to the plight of more than 3.6 billion people worldwide who don’t have a place to go to the toilet in private and then wash their hands. That means that women and men and young girls and boys have to go to the toilet outdoors. A major concern is that women and young girls without a toilet do their business under cover of the night which leads to personal safety threats over and above the concerns of simple hygiene and sanitation that we all take for granted.

Imagine everyone really knowing your business?

Many of us have more than one toilet in our home to choose from and go there with complete privacy. So in a year when we’ve had time to contemplate the simple things, contemplate that!

Or if you are inclined to use toilet paper, Consider Who Gives a Crap. They donate half of their profits to improve sanitation in third world countries. And that’s a good thing!

Don’t flush our drinking water?

As the summer of 2021 approaches, our water consumption is back on the menu.

Even though our borders have been closed to tourists and immigration and Australians returning home to sit out the pandemic have had their numbers slashed, our water consumption continues to rise.

During our current building boom, its not unusual for every new home to have at least two bathrooms with his and hers showers and hand basins’. And even the most modest Sydney home has at least two toilets.

Australians have been world leaders in water conservation with water saving taps and showers now the norm. If you didn’t know the dual-flush toilet cistern is an Australian invention.

Don’t be surprised but the dual flush toilet is still a big water user. Here in Sydney, with a few exceptions like urban domestic rainwater harvesting that uses rainwater to flush our household toilets and fill the washing machine, most of the water flushing our toilets is from our potable water supply. That’s our drinking water!

I grew up as one of six kids in a NSW country town of 13,000 people and our home in town had a metered water supply. But our family had a weekend shack on acres out of town where every drop of water we used was caught in rainwater tanks. The toilet was flushed with water piped from a dam over 300 metres from the house. It was a simple gravity system that piped muddy dam water across a paddock to the toilet cistern and flushing the toilet with the dam water left a brown stain on the toilet bowl.

There was a time when we didn’t go to the shack for a few weeks and what started as a simple toilet cistern leak that went unchecked, drained the farm dam down to a muddy sludge by our next visit. That weekend, as we flushed the toilet with our drinking water from the tank, I learned that our drinking water was way to precious to waste on flushing a toilet.

So, what does that mean here in Sydney?

Simply put, if you have even a slight toilet leak DO NOT IGNORE IT otherwise it will drain our dam.

How to Stop a Blocked drain in Coogee

Vaporooter Stops Tree roots in Drains

Hi, It’s Dave Conroy here from The Lone Drainer and Pronto.

I am in Coogee today and we are applying Vaporooter to a house in this tree- lined street. The people who own this house have had problems with their sewer.

Tree roots from this Hills weeping fig (ficus microcarpa) have been growing in their clay sewer pipes for over 10 years and we had been clearing blockages regularly.

We have been applying Vaporooter in those same pipes now for about four years and they haven’t had a blocked drain since. Those are great results!

If you live in a street similar to this, where there is a beautiful canopy above but underground, the tree roots are getting into your sewer pipes, then you should consider Vaporooter to Stop tree roots in your drains.

If you would like to find out about Vaporooter, call me on Sydney 02 9664 4990.

Don’t do this in the bathroom!

During our Coronavirus work schedule, I’ve found some fun hints and tips about plumbing and health that are worth sharing.

How germs spread:

• on your toothbrush,
• your toilet seat,
• and the toilet flush button, are just a few examples.

How is water connected to my toilet cistern?

Many modern toilets have a concealed cistern. That’s the tank that holds the water that flushes the loo. Now, they do look fantastic and they do save water.

The small dual flush buttons are the access panel for the internal workings of the cistern. When they need maintenance, the only way to repair them is through that access panel.

The water tap is usually built into the wall and this one couldn’t be replaced without cutting into the wall behind.

Know your water heater #2

The hot water tempering valve
Knowledge about your water heater will save you money!

Second in the series, this 44-sec clip will show you a typical tempering valve on a gas water heater. That’s the blue valve on the side of the heater.

It should be checked by your plumber annually and replaced every five years.

The tempering valve is fitted to prevent scalding of the aged, the infirmed and young kids. It should be on every storage(and continuous) water heater like this.

If you are changing or upgrading your water heater, you should have a Tempering valve fitted.

Get into hot water this Winter!

With the winter season underway, its time to think about hot water.

Take 10 minutes to check on your water heater.
Is it gas or electric?

Check it’s location. Ensure that it’s not leaking on any of the pipes or connections.

Check the cold water control feed tap, usually on the bottom left of the heater. Make sure it turns off and back on.

If you have a storage tank, make sure you check the pressure relief valve is working correctly. And that it’s not leaking.

An efficient water heater will supply all the hot water your family will need this winter.

If you’re not sure, call me on 02 9664 4990!

The Lone Drainer and Pronto. Coronavirus Diaries Madrigal Communications

The Lone Drainer Coronavirus Diaries has been a chance to check in with small businesses to find out how they have been getting on during the Coronavirus lockdown of 2020.

In this clip, I speak with Tim Entwisle from Madrigal Communications.
Tim writes up tender documents for Aussie companies that are applying for large government contracts in the construction, energy and telecom sectors.

I’ve known Tim for about eight years. He’s a Rugby fanatic, an ocean swimmer, a wordsmith. Tim loves language, and he blogs about our language. He has written several blogs about Coronavirus.

Check them out on his website. https://madrigal.com.au/word-of-the-week-blog/

Know your water heater #1

Hi, its Dave Conroy here from The Lone Drainer and Pronto.

As we approach the winter of 2020, my message for today is about hot water.

You need to know how to turn off the water supply to your water heater.
And most importantly, I want you to know what a temperature and pressure relief valve is.

This 1min 48 sec YouTube clip will show you how it’s done on a 50-litre heater. Yours may be different. If you would like to know more……Call me!

Plumbers bathroom cleaning tip #1

Some bathrooms are a little neglected; especially if there are boys in the house.

Like many among us, during Coronavirus isolation, I’ve taken the opportunity to catch up on a few old recipes, a stack of books and some cleaning. And, I feel sharing the following cleaning tip would save everyone some time.

You will need:
1. A can of the cheapest shaving cream you can find in Woolies or Coles.
2. 2 Old bath towels

Spray the shaving cream on and around your toilet, including the floor.
Taking the toilet seat off would earn extra points.

Leave it to sit for 10-15 minutes.

Then, wipe off the excess with an old bath towel and some hot water and wipe over with the other towel.

I know you’ll be pleasantly surprised!

The Lone Drainer And Pronto Coronavirus Diaries D’Ettorre Real Estate #3 SME Advice

In this episode of The Lone Drainer And Pronto Coronavirus Diaries, I speak with Dom D’Ettorre, principal of D’Ettorre Real Estate in Woollahra Sydney.

Subsidies are available for commercial tenants. SME’s – Small to medium entrepreneurs. Beautician, dentists, yoga studios and gymnasiums have lost 100% of their business income.

Find out how that affects the tenants and the property owners. “It’s NOT 1 size fits all.”

The Lone Drainer And Pronto Coronavirus Diaries D’Ettore Real Estate #2 Negative Gearing

In this edition of The Lone Drainer And Pronto Coronavirus Diaries, I speak with Dom D’Ettorre, principal of D’Ettorre Real Estate in Woollahra Sydney about how his negatively geared owners are being affected.

Investors have bought properties as AirBnB sites and now as travel is severely restricted the owners have to adjust quickly to manage the finance on their properties.

Some properties may be vacant for 6-12 weeks

Mum and dad investors who thought “I’m going to buy an investment property” and borrowed 90% and now lost their job… it’s going to hurt.

Listen and learn from Dom’s experience.

The Lone Drainer And Pronto Coronavirus Diaries D’Ettorre Real Estate #1 What’s going on

In this edition of The Lone Drainer And Pronto Coronavirus Diaries, I speak with Dom D’Ettorre, principal of D’Ettorre Real Estate in Woollahra Sydney.
2020 was shaping up as a landmark year for Sydney real estate, then the Coronavirus came to our shores.

Dom shares how his clients, property owners and their tenants are responding to the rapid-fire changes to the Sydney real estate world during the lockdown. He shares how vendors and prospective buyers are changing their habits, their expectations, their motivations and the pressures affecting them.

Toilet paper is no longer a hot ticket. Guess what is?

The stampede on toilet paper has slowed for now. But I overheard an 18 year old chemist assistant telling her mum about the latest hot items running out the door of her pharmacy during the lockdown over the last 4 weeks that is worth sharing.

She rattled off a list of items and her thoughts on why.

With respect to brand names…
Armaforce – General health.
Panadol – Just in case they get the virus.
Thermometers – 36.3 is normal body temperature.
Lemsip – To keep colds away.
Betadine – I don’t know why.
Voltaren – Over training by the work from home crew.
Thrush cream – They’re all wearing leggings and have thrush. Bad idea.
Pregnancy test kits – There will be a baby boom early 2021.
Nail polish – They can’t go anywhere.

Why you need a sewer diagram

One of the handiest tools for a plumbing professional is a sewer service diagram. It’s a map of where the sewer pipes run within your home.

It’s easily obtainable, and you can get it from Sydney Water, reputable plumbing suppliers and, even your local plumber can get it for you.

It’s simply an A4 sheet that has an outline of your home, your property. It shows where all the pipes run within your home and how they connect to the sewer.

The sewer service diagram will make it easier for your plumber to get into your sewer pipes to clear your blocked drain. And if you are planning a preventative maintenance program, it shows points of access where we can get into your pipes with a minimum of fuss.

In the long term it will save you money.

So if you have repeat problems with your sewer pipes, get a sewer diagram and keep it handy.

Can Coronavirus be spread through wastewater pipes in a home or hospital?

Sydney April 15th 2020

“Staying connected” has become a part of our language lately.

Did you know we are all connected through the wastewater pipes in our homes?

Whether you live in a single level detached home or a multi-storey building, all our plumbing fittings drain into the same city sewer. That’s your shower, bath, basin, your WC, kitchen sink, washing machine, laundry tubs and floor drains.

A study showed the 2003 SARS virus spread through the plumbing system of a HongKong residential complex whose residents had 300 confirmed cases and 42 deaths- about 1/6th of the infections and fatalities on the entire island.

Our Australian Standards state “all plumbing fixtures must have a working trap or water seal”. That is, the S-bend at the outlet of the fixtures should have water sitting in them OR flowing through them.

Regularly we’re asked to investigate “a sewer smell” in a bathroom or laundry that is nothing more than a dry trap.
But, its allowing smells and bacteria to come from the wastewater and sewer pipes into your room.

Hypothetically, if an infected neighbour flushed their toilet and that wastewater entered a pipe you’re connected to, then bacteria could pass through a dry trap and enter your bathroom.

While person-to-person and surface-to-person is the most common means of spreading Coronavirus, I want you to be aware that any open or dry traps may allow contaminated droplets into your space.

So:
• Do not ignore unexplained foul smells in bathrooms, kitchens or washing areas.
• Ensure all your sink traps and S-bends have water in them.
• Run water into all tubs and showers for a few seconds in the morning and evening, paying particular attention to floor drains in bathrooms and laundries.
• If the wastewater pipework from a toilet, sink or other household appliance appears to be disconnected or open, seal it immediately.
• If you find any crack or leak in pipework, seal it with strong tape.
• Encourage your facilities managers to monitor the wastewater system performance of your building, looking out for things such as drainage overflows or sewer smells.

If you have any questions about this, I invite you to call me.