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8 Ways To Unblock Your Shower Drain Without Using Drain Cleaners

by
Shower drain

A blocked shower drain can significantly affect your bathroom schedule. Just how many days can you last without having to take a shower? Do you know how to unblock your shower drain? You’re probably thinking. It’s simple. Just pour a bottle of drain cleaners down the pipe, give it a few minutes, and flush it out. Easy-peasy, lemon squeezy, right?

Nope. 

Why Are Commercial Drain Cleaners Bad?

While it may seem like an elegant and inconvenient solution, drain cleaners are not recommended by professional plumbers. Drain cleaners are made up of sodium hypochlorite, sodium hydroxide, and potassium hydroxide, among other harsh chemicals. These chemicals have corrosive properties that can rid your pipes of most blockages. 

When poured down a drain opening, the chemical reaction removes the block, usually made up of hair and soap. Unfortunately for your pipes, the drain cleaners also thin them out. Harsh chemicals, when used too often, takes its toll on your pipes. You may end up with micro leaks, or worse, a flood. 

Additionally, drain cleaners also let out toxic fumes that you and your family can inhale. It is also a known nose and eye irritant. 

Here, we will discuss seven alternative ways to unblock the shower drain without using drain cleaners. If it’s your toilet that is the problem, read how to unblock a toilet here.

Find the best local plumbers in the UK!

More info here!

  • Pour Boiling Water Down the Drain

You would be surprised at how many blockages can be fixed with a pot of boiling water. Shower drain blockages are, more often than not, caused by hair and soap buildup in your pipes. Hot water can melt the soap and grease that’s in your pipes.

Just boil some water and pour it down your drain. Make sure that you use a funnel, so you don’t spill on the floor and splash yourself with hot water.

If your pipe has a serious blockage, then the hot water trick will probably not work. However, it will soften or clear the blockage a little, making it easier for the rest of the methods underneath to work.

  • Use a Plunger

The toilet plunger is one of the most common solutions when it comes to blocked shower drains. It’s cheap and does not require any technical know-how. Just get in there and plunge vigorously until you can suction the blockage out. Once you have cleared the backup, make sure that you install a shower drain cover so it can stop the hair and soap bits from falling so quickly. 

Line the seal of your plunger with some petroleum jelly to create a tight vacuum seal, making it more effective.

  • Baking Soda + Vinegar

If the old plunger doesn’t work, then it’s time for a little chemistry without the harsh chemicals, of course. Baking soda is not just for baking. Everyone knows that. You can use it to create volcanic papier-mâchés, remove rust from your pans, or even take out the musty smell from your refrigerator. However, baking soda has another use.

Combining baking soda and vinegar might sound like a 4th-grade science project, but it will get your blockage out of the way. Pour a cup or two of baking soda down your clogged drain. Afterward, add the same amount of vinegar. Give it up to an hour for the reaction to work out your blocked pipe and then pour boiling water down the drain.

  • Take the drain cover off and pull out the clog by hand.

So the baking soda and vinegar didn’t work. Forget science. It’s time to go caveman and just get in there. Wear rubber gloves and stick your hand inside the pipe. Try to reach the blockage and pull it out. The first thing that you need to do is to remove your drain cover. Bring a screwdriver so you can unscrew the cover first. You might also need it to pry the cover. Use a flashlight to double-check whether you took out all of the blockage or not.

  • Use a Plumber’s Snake

Another cheap alternative to drain cleaners is by using a plumber’s snake or toilet jack or an electric eel. You can go to the hardware store and buy one as long as 25 to 100 feet. You can go for a longer length if you think that the blockage is way down.

You can easily fish out clogs by pushing the plumber’s snake down the drain. When you feel resistance, that means you have hit the block. Turn the snake’s handle, so the end gets twisted around the blockage and pull. Run water on your drain to make sure that your pipe is cleaned out.

  • Call A Plumber

When all of this still doesn’t work, then it’s time to throw the towel. Call your local plumber to deal with your blocked shower drain. Professional plumbers will know how to unblock shower drains more than you. Call Plumbingforce, and we can send local plumbers to your house on the same day of your call!

Connect with the best local plumbers and boiler engineers near you

What Do You Do When The Boiler Does Not Respond To The Thermostat?

by
Boiler thermostat

A blocked shower drain can significantly affect your bathroom schedule. Just how many days can you last without having to take a shower? Do you know how to unblock your shower drain? You’re probably thinking. It’s simple. Just pour a bottle of drain cleaners down the pipe, give it a few minutes, and flush it out. Easy-peasy, lemon squeezy, right?

Nope. 

Why Are Commercial Drain Cleaners Bad?

While it may seem like an elegant and inconvenient solution, drain cleaners are not recommended by professional plumbers. Drain cleaners are made up of sodium hypochlorite, sodium hydroxide, and potassium hydroxide, among other harsh chemicals. These chemicals have corrosive properties that can rid your pipes of most blockages. 

When poured down a drain opening, the chemical reaction removes the block, usually made up of hair and soap. Unfortunately for your pipes, the drain cleaners also thin them out. Harsh chemicals, when used too often, takes its toll on your pipes. You may end up with micro leaks, or worse, a flood. 

Additionally, drain cleaners also let out toxic fumes that you and your family can inhale. It is also a known nose and eye irritant. 

Here, we will discuss seven alternative ways to unblock the shower drain without using drain cleaners. If it’s your toilet that is the problem, read how to unblock a toilet here.

Find the best local plumbers in the UK!

More info here!

Heating mishaps may happen when you least expect it. It could be a regular day when you notice that your flat is warmer than usual. You quickly check the thermostat and everything seems to be in order, so you turn it down a notch. It might be 5 mins of toggling the thermostat setting or an hour of sweating into your shirt when you realise that something isn’t right. You either have a malfunctioning thermostat or boiler. 

There is nothing fun or exciting about realising that your system isn’t working. You can have your heating shut-off completely or end up with no hot water in the dead of winter. Considering the UK’s climate and weather, you don’t want to leave it like this for long. So take a deep breath and fix the problem. 

My Boiler And My Thermostat Do Not Match-Up

When your boiler does not respond to thermostat or vice versa, it is challenging to pinpoint the problem. Most people would shy away from dealing with it themselves and look for professional plumbers or engineers from Plumbingforce to take a look at it instead.

If you need it sorted out as soon as possible, then, by all means, call your local service providers so you can have your heating up and running. However, if you want to see what you can do, here is a basic guide to help you troubleshoot this problem. 

When you cannot control your boiler from your thermostat, it is either the two machines are not communicating with each other, or there is a faulty component. Then you also have to consider what kind of setup you have. 

Do you have a wired, wireless, or smart thermostat? Is the problem with a specific room thermostat? When things don’t add up in your central heating system, you can break it down and follow these steps: 

Inspect Your Central Heating System

While smart technology is taking the world by storm, there are still many houses with old-school thermostats installed. Take note of the brand, model, and state of the different elements of your central heating system from your boiler to your temperature control unit. If you still have a copy of the manufacturer’s instructions, now is a great time to pull it out. Remember, you can never have too much information when trying to diagnose a heating problem.

If you have a popular brand in your home, like Worcester Bosh, Ideal, Vaillant, Baxi, Viessmann for your boiler, and Hive Active Heating, Nest, Honeywell, or Drayton for your thermostat – you should be able to find additional resources online. Most common problems, along with tips and tricks, are available on their FAQs page and forums. If you are looking for specific details for your set up, you can check their website first. 

Clear The Basics

Before you look into targeted concerns, make sure you cover the obvious reasons for your heating problems. Check if your boiler and thermostat have power. If it is an oil-burning boiler or anything similar, do you have fuel? If you have an electric system, do you have a blown fuse? If you have a wireless thermostat, how are the batteries of each component? It may seem stupid to go over them, but you need to be sure.

Covering the basics can help you avoid embarrassing scenarios like hiring a heating engineer only to have them tell you that the batteries are old. Since your system works around the clock, check for common issues like:

  • Old batteries

Just like your alarm clock or phone, your thermostat will act up when it is running out of juice. Try switching out your batteries and see if it makes a difference. Make sure that you replace your batteries every six months just in case.

  • Debris build-up in your system

Some thermostats have a rechargeable battery. Since you don’t take them out, you never really know if they are in good condition or not. When it is very old, it may leak, and your dirty thermostat may lead to more problems. Brush the inside of your control panel once in a while to keep it clean. If the problem is too severe, you may need to replace the unit.

  • Poor Thermostat Location

Thermostats need to read the temperature of the room to be able to execute their commands. If your device is located near the boiler, another heat source, or a poorly insulated area, it can mess up the temperature readings. When your thermostat is already installed, you can try to feel around the area and see if you should rearrange anything to accommodate it better.

  • Inputting improper instructions

There are a slew of issues that can come from giving the wrong instructions, so it wouldn’t be so strange to assume you might have the wrong instructions. The first is with setting the temperature. Thermostats have thresholds. When the temperature you set is too low, it might not trigger your heating at all, hence the cold room. 

The second is with scheduling your heating. While you might have a practised hand at using your thermostat, you might have mixed up the hot water schedule with the heating. Programmable thermostats may take away the bulk of the manual work, but it is far from a self-learning model like Hive and Nest. If you input the wrong commands, these older models follow them. Dealing with this problem should be fairly easy to correct, just input the right settings and you should be good to go. 

  • Old/Outdated Thermostat

The final scenario is having a thermostat on its last leg. Unlike your boilers, thermostats aren’t exactly built to last a lifetime, and there are still many improvements in the field. When it doesn’t want to turn on, you may need to replace the whole unit.

Besides covering the common thermostat problems, you also need to consider your boiler. If you are renting a flat or living in an old home, your furnace should have a couple of years on it. If it is not properly cared for, it can suddenly give way. You can check out our dedicated blog, “Boiler Maintenance Tips” for more details for common boiler maintenance and repairs. 

Did I Wire The Thermostat Incorrectly?

When you have a wired thermostat that does not properly control the boiler, the problem can either be due to a faulty wiring, a damaged component, or an outdated unit. In all 3 cases, you need to be able to access the inner components, so get ready to open your thermostat.

Materials

To rewire or replace your thermostat you will need: 

Pen and paper

Screwdriver

*Additional parts / new thermostat

Instructions

  1. Go to your circuit breaker and turn off the electricity for your furnace. If you want to make sure, you may also opt to shut down the entire house’s power just for safety’s sake.
  2. Open the control panel and take notes of the placements of the wires.
  3. Use your screwdriver and disconnect the faulty thermostat unit from the wires.
  4. Install your replacement. Make sure that the wires are partially exposed. If they aren’t, you may need to cut the wire casing a bit.
  5. Follow the instructions on the manual. If you are replacing your thermostat with the same model, you can refer to your initial notes for the wires’ placement. 
  6. Secure the rest of the device, and you are good to go!

* If you found a faulty component, you can look into replacing it. However, if there is a problem with the wiring, it is best to get a professional. Simple DIY fixes will not be a long-term solution for it.

If you need a more comprehensive guide for installing a new thermostat, you can look for tutorials online that better cater to your model. 

Connect with the best local plumbers and boiler engineers near you

Is My Wireless Thermostat Communicating With My Boiler?

When you have a wireless or smart thermostat, you have a little bit more leeway since you aren’t dealing with a bunch of wires running through your house. However, the problem is being able to figure out why it isn’t working. The wireless system uses a component that is attached to the boiler. Any relevant information about heating is sent between that component and your smart thermostat. So it looks like this:

Boiler =>component => wireless thermostat

When you have a command from your app, your wifi will connect you to your thermostat, and the relay of information happens. When this chain is broken, you end up with a wonky system. You can try to reprogram and rebind your thermostat to improve the lack of communication. The easiest way is to go back to your factory default settings. Since models may vary, you can have a better chance working off your manual.

Common issues you will find with a wireless thermostat are application bugs, signal interference, and a faulty wireless relay box. If resetting didn’t fix the communication problems, try addressing these issues first. When things don’t improve, you can narrow it down to faulty hardware. In that case, you either need to work with a professional boiler engineer or replace the component completely. 

Is It A Boiler Problem? 

While thermostats can be temperamental, you cannot discount the possibility that it can be the main elements of your central heating system like your old radiator and even older boiler. There are so many things that can go wrong and spell certain death. A faulty thermostatic radiator valve, low/ high boiler pressure and water pressure can create boiler problems. Even when you have a poorly balanced system, your home will not heat evenly. These can all lead to a complete boiler breakdown. 

There is very little you can do outside the troubleshooting methods mentioned above. If there is something wrong with your boiler, contact Plumbingforce, and have a heating engineer look at it. Be prepared to invest in a major repair or replacement. Boiler problems tend to be very expensive, so people are advised to keep up with their annual maintenance.

The Benefits Of A Boiler Thermostat And Controls

While you are figuring out how to get your boiler and thermostat to get along, it is important to remember the benefits of having one in the first place. Regardless of how simple or fancy your setup is, it can be an excellent long-term investment. When you have your central heating system in tip-top shape, then you can enjoy better energy efficiency, lower energy bills, and a more convenient process. These qualities are especially true for the new smart thermostats on the market. 

If you are thinking about investing in one for your home, you can read our comparison here at, “Best Smart Thermostat to Use: Hive vs Nest.”

When your boiler does not respond to your thermostat, you cannot wait and hope for things to improve. You have to act quickly to get your heating in order. You can block off an afternoon to follow the instructions listed above or avail Plumbingforce’s same day service! You can book our Gas Safe Registered engineer online or call us at 0333 060 4640! With our team of professional service providers, you don’t have to go without heating for too long!

I Have A Noisy Radiator. What Do I Do?

by
radiator leaks

Are you dealing with headache-inducing radiator noises that won’t go away? If so, I’m more than willing to bet that you’d do anything to make it stop. Fortunately for you, it doesn’t take much to stop the banging, hissing, hammering, whistling, gurgling, and rattling in your noisy radiator.

Before we get to getting those annoying sounds to stop, though, you should know that noisy radiators are often signals that tell you your radiator is acting up. That, however, is not always the case. So, if you find that your boiler is indeed making some noises, calmly assess the situation first.

If it seems as though your radiator is only making those noises because it is warming up or because of the natural expansion of metal, then you don’t have to worry, as everything should be fine. But, if the noises start sounding or feeling unusual to you, then it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty!

Find the best local plumbers in the UK!

More info here!

Causes of Noisy Radiators and How To Fix Them

Here are some of the most common causes of a noisy radiator, and some tips on how you can address these issues:

Limescale Buildup (Boiler Kettling)

If your boiler is making a banging noise or a lot of rattling noises, then you may be experiencing limescale buildup in the heat exchanger. This occurrence is also known as “boiler kettling.”

Limescale is the by-product of evaporated hard water, and when it builds up and settles in your central heating system, it will restrict the water flow. This, in turn, will trap moisture inside the heat exchanger, which will then boil, steam, and expand. As a result, your boiler will start producing whistling, banging, or clanking noises.

Fixing this issue is pretty straightforward. Here’s what you should do to remove existing limescale deposit in your central heating system:

  1. Add a descaler or system cleaner to your feed and expansion tank. Allow the chemical to circulate and make its way around the system.
  2. Once the descaler has travelled throughout your central heating system, flush it with clean water.
  3. Add some radiator inhibitor or anti-limescale agent to prevent corrosion and prevent the further formation of limescale.

Aside from stopping your radiator from making any loud banging noises, getting rid of the limescale buildup in your system will improve the lifespan and efficiency of your central heating system.

Air Bubbles

Air bubbles naturally occur in the radiator due to the movement of heated water through the heating pipes and often get trapped inside the piping of your central heating unit, thus causing it to expand and collapse within your radiator pipes. This is what causes a clicking or gurgling noise within your boiler.

To get rid of these bubbles and the annoying sounds in your central heating, you will want to give it a passageway in the form of an opened air vent, which should remain closed unless necessary. Air vents, however, are most effective for radiators on higher or top floors. To get rid of trapped air elsewhere in the system, put an air separator in the piping, as close to the boiler as possible. Together, opened air vents and air separators will get rid of excess air throughout your system.

If your radiator has an automatic bleed valve or air release valve, you may also do this to get rid of excess air in your system and the hissing sound that comes with it.

You may also want to consider relocating your heating pump to the supply side of your boiler, rather than leaving it on the cooler boiler return pipes. By doing this, you are allowing all the energy created by the pump to add pressure to the highest points of your heating system. The high pressure will minimise the occurrence of trapped air within your system.

Sludge

Sometimes, the loud noise in your central heating system may be caused by excessive sludge or debris somewhere within your heating system. Sludge is usually a result of the corrosion in the central heating system. It is often dark brown or black in colour.

Because it causes blockages in your pipework and radiators, it is only natural for sludge to cause a noisy boiler. To get rid of this sludge, and to get rid of the noise that comes with it, you will want to bleed or drain your radiator.

Flushing your system with clean water and adding radiator inhibitor will also help prevent your system from corrosion in the future. Draining your radiator and preventing corrosion from occurring will prevent the formation of unwanted gases in your heating system.

Issues With Your Heating Pipes

If you hear clanging or banging sounds, then you probably have a loose heating pipe or two. Water flowing through unclipped pipes may manifest into vibrations and hammering sounds, which will then result in a noisy radiator, a noisy boiler, and noisy pipes.

You will need to secure such pipes back into their clips to get rid of the vibrating and hammering sounds.

Meanwhile, pipe warping is when metal pipes naturally expand due to the heat. Typically, this would be no problem with such issues aside from the fact that they can be annoying, especially when you’re trying to sleep.

However, if your pipes are passing through wooden joints, these may eventually break due to the tension. Although such occurrences are rare, you will need the help of a professional to fix the issue for you.

Water Leaks

Dripping noises or any sound similar to water coming from your central heating system could mean a leak. If you suspect such leaks, turn off your heating system and water supply immediately. Even one small drip could lead to larger damage, after all.

Once you have turned your heating and water supply off, DO NOT attempt to locate and fix the leak yourself. Call for a Gas Safe heating engineer to do the job for you.

Radiators Are Imbalanced

If there is too much water flowing through a radiator, it may create a rushing or hissing sound. In cases like these, your system will need balancing. You will be able to determine that this is the issue if radiators furthest from the boiler do not get as hot as the others.

You may control the flow of water through each radiator by using a lockshield valve. By using this, you can ensure that hot water is evenly distributed throughout your heating system. This should stop any noises coming from your noisy radiator.

Malfunctioning Immersion Heater or Heating Pump

If you hear a humming noise from your radiator, then you are likely dealing with problems within your immersion heater. To fix this issue, check your output levels and make sure they are correctly set and functioning properly.

However, if the problem persists, there could be an issue with your central heating pump, and the high pump speed could likely be causing the humming in your radiator. In such cases, you will want to turn down the pressure levels and balance your radiator heat output.

The issue could also be something as simple as a loose central heating pump or heat pump fan, both of which you can easily fix by securing them.

Meanwhile, there could also be trapped airlocks in the pump, which you could easily release by bleeding your heating pump. Insert a pump heat screw into the side of the heating pump and turn in halfway to slowly let the air out;

If this still does not work, check to see if you have the filling loop still connected and that you do not have a valve loose.

Connect with the best local plumbers and boiler engineers near you

Frozen Pipes

A frozen condensate pipe due to cold weather may also cause unwanted noises in your central heating system. If this is the problem, addressing this would be easy. Here’s a quick step-by-step on how to thaw a frozen pipe:

  1. Turn off your boiler.
  2. Slowly pour warm water onto the surface of your condensate pipe. Do not use boiling water, as this could only lead to more damage.
  3. Once the blockage has been thawed out, turn on your boiler.

To make sure that this does not happen often, do consider investing in pipework insulation. This will ensure that you will not have to deal with frozen pipes regularly, especially during the cold weather. For other tips

Unable To Get Rid Of The Sound?

If you are dealing with something that is not one of the issues mentioned above, or simply unsure about dealing with the problems that could be behind your noisy central heating system yourself, do not hesitate to reach out to a local Gas Safe heating engineer. You may also reach out to one of Plumbingforce‘s heating experts to do the job for you!

How You Can Get the Best Plumbing: London and Surrounding Areas

by
Plumbing repair service

Having a functional plumbing system is an important part of your home life. When poorly maintained, you may have to deal with weak water pressure, pipe leaks, and blockages until you have the whole system gutted and redone. It is an expensive problem that can set you back thousands of pounds and ruin a lot of your furniture. A house flood can even exponentially decrease your house’s market value.

Thankfully, this isn’t a problem for most homes in the UK. The only thing you need to do to get the best plumbing system is to find a decent plumber. Regular maintenance, same day repair, new installations – your local plumber must be someone who can weather the leaks and blockages with you all-year-round. 

I Need A Plumber

As a homeowner, you need to be able to take care of small repairs around the house to keep it in tip-top shape. You cannot depend on annual visits alone for proper maintenance. If you aren’t familiar with the common repairs you can do around the house you can read more about it in Plumbingforce’s other blogs for toilet blockages, toilet repairs, shower leaks, water leaks, and water pressure problems. You can call a local plumber for all these concerns, but before you run to Google search “plumbers near me,” you can try your hand at it. 

DIY fixes have their own limitations. You cannot try to do pipework and gas work on your own for safety reasons, and even the most simple problems may require a professional plumber. You need to be able to look at an issue and decide whether you need to call a plumbing company or not. 

Find the best local plumbers in the UK!

More info here!

How You Can Get The Best Plumbing In London

If you want the best plumbing in London, residents need to find the right person for the job. Most people settle for plumbers who have been working with the family for years. However, in a city like London, where people often come and go, it can be very tricky. Just when you think you found the right plumber for the job, they may relocate, and you have to start the process all over again. 

Besides learning the ropes of caring for your plumbing system and finding the right plumber, you also have to consider how the different parts of your home interact since it may indirectly affect your system. 

Plumber vs Heating Engineer

Heating and plumbing work side by side, so when there are issues left uncheck, you can damage more than one system. If you are having trouble with hot water – is it a heating or plumbing problem? It can be hard to tell since they tend to overlap. You need to learn how to identify which problem goes to which person. Are you going to call heating engineers or plumbers in London?

Another example of why it is important to work closely with a heating company is your boiler. Your boiler heats water and distributes it for the rest of the house. Some of the hot water goes to your central heating system like your radiators, while others go to the hot water tank and your taps. 

When you have a broken boiler, the water pressure changes, and this may lead to inefficient heating and weak water flow. When left by itself, it can lead to corrosion in your pipes – both heating and plumbing. You are dealing with an expensive energy and water bill on top of pipe repairs and a boiler replacement. See? When you consider the final results, boiler repair becomes a top priority if you don’t want to ruin your plumbing system. 

You can work with a separate heating company, but why go through the trouble of keeping in contact with different people? Instead of scheduling one day for Gas Safe heating engineers and another for plumbers in London, why don’t you address both of them at the same time? Plumbingforce covers both plumbing/heating services so customers can tick off both tasks without too much trouble. 

How To Find Plumbers In London

In a densely populated city like London, customers have to navigate the different plumbing companies. Competition is fierce, and you can take your pick of freelance plumbers to nationwide services. Instead of settling on a company from a brief ad, here are steps you can take to find the best plumbers in London: 

Select A Well-Known Company

While you can find the best people in the most unlikely places, there is always a bit of trial and error before you find the right plumber. The safest route is working with a well-known company. Companies have a thorough vetting process to make sure that, at the bare minimum, your plumber knows what to do. They usually have tests and workshops to keep their employees up to date. Customers can turn to them for consistent service. 

Besides, if you are unhappy with their work, you can easily hold a company accountable while a freelance plumber would be extremely difficult. After all, the stakes are high for these businesses since they have a reputation to uphold. 

Check Their Coverage Area

A plumber near me is a major criterion when you are looking for plumbers in London. While the city has excellent transportation links, most plumbing services drive themselves over. Since it is a home service, you want to make sure they can easily get to your street. 

Navigating through London, will all its twists and turns, can be quite tricky. This, paired with London’s traffic, can end up wasting a lot of your time. It’s best to get a locally-based plumber who is already familiar with the area.

Look For Convenient Services

The best plumbing services often go the extra mile to keep customers satisfied. If you want the best plumbing system, you need to avoid plumbers who settle for the bare minimum. The extra mile may vary. They could try to have affordable rates to be accessible or expand their working hours to accommodate emergencies. Get the best value for your money and check their website:

  1. What kind of plumbing jobs do they do?
  2. Do they offer free quotes?
  3. What are their additional services?
  4. Do they have a 24-hour service?
  5. Do they have deals and discounts?

Think about it, if you have odd working hours, a 24-hour plumbing/heating service can take care of your problem without destroying your schedule. With London running on around the clock, it is always best to look for companies that have your convenience in mind. 

Plumbingforce offers a same day service so you can get an emergency plumber over as soon as possible, usually within the 3 hours from your call. And these conditions apply to both our heating and plumbing services, so you never have to go a day without decent hot water.

Connect with the best local plumbers and boiler engineers near you

Compare Their Quotes

Before you book a plumbing company, ask for a price estimate. Submit a detailed account of your plumbing issues so they can give you an accurate estimate. Do this with several companies and see which one offers the best deal.

When they finish the plumbing job, check the gap between the initial quote and the final bill. They don’t have to be exact, but the difference shouldn’t be too big either. If there is a drastic change in the cost, ask for a breakdown. With an itemised bill, you can better assess if the service is worth the rate you paid or not.

Read Customers Reviews

Once you have a list of companies, you can narrow them down further by reading the customer reviews and the company response time. Ultimately, hiring a plumber is an act of trust. You need to trust that they will get the job done as quickly as possible, without sacrificing quality.

You need to trust that they have fair rates. You need to be able to trust a stranger with entering your home. This is why word of mouth is powerful. When your family and friends recommend a service, you magically have the answer to all these questions. 

While it is best to work off the recommendation of family and friends, it isn’t always possible. If you live in a new city alone or have unique circumstances, other customer reviews might be more helpful. Besides reading the glowing 5-star reviews, pay close attention to the poor ones as well they can provide valuable insight. 

Here is a short guide for weeding out the relevant information from these reviews. First set your expectations. Plumbers have different approaches to their work. You need to know what you want before committing to a service. The second is identifying whether they are an excellent service or not. Avoid the short one-liners and go straight to the long reviews so you can make an informed decision:

  1. How was their plumbing/heating service?
  2. Did they conduct themselves in a professional manner?
  3. Were there issues with the fee?
  4. Did you experience things that might overshadow their service?

There are so many kinds of plumbers within one company. So every time you need something fixed, you can slowly narrow them down until you find the one that best suits you.

Find Plumbers In London

Having excellent plumbing in London may not seem like a big deal now but wait when you realise how troublesome a bad plumbing system can be. Imagine using a clogged toilet that may flood at any moment or getting ice-cold water from the taps in the middle of winter – it isn’t a pleasant experience. A well-maintained system ensures that this does not happen to you. With these 5 steps, you are sure to find the best plumbers in London. When you find a plumber you like, make sure you get their name and develop a long-term working relationship.

If you are looking for honest and reliable plumbing service in London, contact Plumbingforce at 0330 173 4952 or book us online! We can handle any kind of plumbing and heating problem for you with our professional plumbers and Gas Safe engineers!

How To Remove A Toilet

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how to remove a toilet

The bathroom is one of, if not the, most essential parts of a house. In fact, it is the most irreplaceable section. Think about it. Many households can live without a kitchen. Living in a studio flat means no living room. Backyard? Only the rich could afford that. A house can even be considered a home even with just a pseudo-bedroom (aka sleeping on the couch). 

But a house with no bathroom? Definitely a deal-breaker. In reality, it is a non-negotiable part of the house. The bathroom, in a way, is the most intimate part of the house. So what exactly happens when your toilet malfunctions? 

Pandemonium, of course! (Read: 4 Common Toilet Problems here!)

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If your toilet is continuously malfunctioning, then it may be high time for you to invest in a replacement that will work correctly. Remove the old and welcome the new and all that. Of course, the best way is to call professional plumbers with an emergency same-day response like Plumbingforce. However, if you want to experience fitting a toilet from the very beginning, read ahead. We have listed down the steps on how to remove an old toilet.

You Will Need:

  • Sponges
  • Buckets
  • Soap
  • Toilet Brush
  • Wire Brush
  • Slip-Joint Pliers
  • Flathead screwdriver
  • Utility Knife
  • Gloves
  • Replacement toilet valve and bolts (optional)

How To Remove A Toilet: 8 Easy Steps

Shut Off Water

Before you remove the toilet, the first thing that you do is to shut off the water supply. After all, you don’t want to flood not only your bathroom but your entire house unnecessarily, do you? The supply pipe of your toilet is located below the toilet tank. Turn it off before you do anything.

Have you replaced your toilet valve recently? If it’s the same age as your toilet, it’s ideal that it also joins the old toilet in the disposal bin. As something connecting a toilet to the main water supply, you wouldn’t want that to be corroded or rusty. Even if it may seem like in good condition right now, but it is only a matter of time when you need to remove it as well. Get ahead of the curve and replace it before you start fitting a new toilet.

Clean Your Toilet

Give your old toilet the proper send-off that it deserves after it served you for countless years. Bust out the gloves, soap, toilet brush, and sponges one more time. Show your toilet some love and scrub it clean for old times’ sakes. Do one pass with a toilet cleaner and leave it in the bowl for a while before you flush the toilet. This would also make disposing of your toilet bowl much easier and, of course, more sanitary.

Empty The Toilet

Once your toilet is clean, drain all of the water from your toilet bowl and tank. Flush the toilet several times until all the water is out. With your supply valve disconnected, the water won’t be refilled. Even if you’ve cleaned it out, it’s always best to use rubber gloves for this step.

Remove The Water Supply Tube

Once your toilet is empty, disconnect the water supply tube from your toilet tank. Take a slip-joint plier or an adjustable wrench and unscrew the mounting nuts and bolts. You can find the tailpiece on the water inlet valve which is on the bottom left side of the tank. Remove the pipe from the water tank. There will be some water left, so be prepared with a towel to catch any remaining drops if you don’t want your bathroom floor to get wet.

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Disconnect All The Nuts and Bolts

Disconnect the plastic bolts that cover the base of the toilet bowl. You can use your hand or a flathead screwdriver to take out these floor bolts. Afterwards, use your slip-joint pliers to disconnect all the nuts and washers from the toilet floor.

Disconnect The Water Tank From The Bowl

This is an optional task, but we recommend you do it because when you remove your water tank, it makes it easier for you to pull out the plumbing of a toilet. It also lessens the bulk of what you have to carry out of your bathroom afterwards.

Using your slip-joint pliers or adjustable wrench, start unfastening the nuts under your water tank. Once all the nuts have been removed carefully pull your tank up and off of the bowl to remove it. Again, be prepared for any water that may have been left.

Cut Through the Caulking

Exercise caution when using a knife!

Take out your utility or putty knife and cut through the caulking connecting the base of the toilet bowl to the floor. Make sure that you are cutting caulking and not just scratching your flooring. Once you’ve cut the caulk, wiggle your toilet from side to side to set it free. 

Pull The Toilet Up

You might want to have a helper with this next step. 

Have the toilet bowl between you and your helper and slowly lift it. Don’t do it abruptly as you might crack the porcelain. Now you know how to remove a toilet. The next step is just to clean up and prepare your bathroom to fit a new toilet.

Take a wire brush and start cleaning the toilet flange. It is responsible for connecting your toilet to the sewage system. Your toilet flange is usually surrounded by an old wax ring to seal your toilet. When you are going to fit a toilet, you need this out of the way. You can use a putty knife or an old paint scraper to take it out. After you get the main chunks of wax, you can use a wire brush for the stubborn pieces stuck to your toilet flange.

When everything is cleaned, you are finished! You are officially ready for a new toilet!

So, do you think you are up to the job? You know how to remove a toilet theoretically. Of course, the actual process can present many more problems. Countless factors will affect the amount of time you spend removing your toilet by yourself. Usually, this entire process would take a professional plumber less than half an hour to finish. However, it might take you an hour to even half the day!

If you think it is difficult to remove an old toilet, it is also difficult to fit a new one as well. If you get one step wrong like having loose floor bolts or a weak seal, it isn’t a pretty picture. Ease the burden off your back and just call Plumbingforce. We have locally based plumbers all over the UK, allowing us to send you a Gas Safe registered plumber on the same day that you call. Call us now at 0330 162 2549 to know more about our services or send your queries on our website and leave an email address!

Most Common Types of Taps

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plumbing taps

The tap is definitely one of those things we take for granted around the house. I mean it’s just a regular fixture. What kind of impact can your taps create? But can you imagine just how difficult your life would be if your home had no taps? Or if your home had tap types that are difficult to use? Also, consider what it would be like if your valves are malfunctioning. While it may seem like such a small feature in your home, how long can you live with broken faucets? 

Homeowners only understand the importance of taps in their lives when it’s already broken. When poorly selected, you might end up needing assistance for the smallest of tasks. And when left unmaintained, your tap will rust, crack, corrode, and get blocked. You must be able to distinguish the different types of tap and maintain them along with your pipes and other plumbing fixtures.

The type of taps that you choose will also affect two aspects of your home life: your water bill and your house’s overall aesthetic. Unbeknownst to many, there are different types of taps, each with their pros and cons. These types of taps will also affect the water pressure and amount of water it lets out. An improperly fitted tap will inflate your water bill.

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Another reason why you should be well-informed of the many different types of taps is because of the aesthetics. A bath filler tap, for example, will look entirely out of place if you fit it in your kitchen sink. On the other hand, a sleek Ball Tap will round out your kitchen sink and improve its overall look. There are certain styles and models that suit taps in different kinds of rooms.

You don’t need to be an interior designer to know just how important it is that the entire room works well together. Here we have listed down some of the most common types of taps and other facts that you should know about them. 

What Are The Common Types of Tap?

Pillar Tap

The most traditional style of tap is the Pillar Tap. Pillar taps are often called the “hot and cold” style simply because it is composed of two separate valves. It is one of the most versatile and standard taps with one tap giving out cold water while the other pouring in hot.

Pillar taps offer a classic look that suits traditional homes. Besides being a mainstay in old houses, pillar taps also work well in homes that have low water pressure. If your pressure problems come from the main water line, pillar taps are definitely the way to go.

Mixer Tap

The next on the list is the mixer tap. Mixer taps are gaining popularity and can be seen in most modern or newly-renovated homes all across the UK. The mixer tap is precisely what the name says. It mixes, in a sense. Mixer taps have two pipes and handles, one is for hot water while the other is for cold. The difference, however, between the pillar tap and the mixer tap is that there is only one nozzle for the water. The best thing about the mixer taps is that your sink won’t have two faucets sticking out of it, creating a sleek, minimalist look.

Monobloc Tap

The monobloc tap can be classified as a subtype of the mixer tap. The hot and cold water is mixed inside the pipes. However, unlike the mixer tap with two protruding flutes, for cold and hot water respectively, the monobloc tap only has one tube and one handle. You can then toggle the handle to adjust the temperature. You pull up to release water, left to increase the heat, and slide to the right to lower the heat.

Like the mixer tap, you can find the monobloc tap in most modern homes. If a tap with two handles is considered sleek, imagine what they would call taps with only one handle. These types of taps are not only popular for their look and function, but also their compactness as well. You can find monobloc taps in most small flats and apartments.

Ball Tap

The ball tap is essentially a subclassification of the monobloc tap. A ball tap is a monobloc tap but with a round shape. A hollow ball connects to the handle. This ball is what controls the temperature of the water. 

A ball tap is well-known for its ease of use. Just slide to the left, and you’ve got hot water, slide to the right, and you have cold water. However, one common complaint that we receive is that after extended use, ball taps leak due to some parts loosening.

Bath Filler Tap

Bath filler taps are another subtype of mixer taps. It’s the same mechanics: having two pipes and handles which controls the flow and temperature of your water. The handles make it easy for the user to adjust the heat and find the ideal temperature for baths. As the name implies, bath filler taps are for bathtubs. They either come out of the tap holes on the bath itself, or they can be wall-mounted if you have a freestanding tub. Since their primary use is to fill up the bath with as much water as possible, they tend to be pretty strong.

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Floor Mounted Tap

Derived from the bath filler tap, floor-mounted taps do not hide any pipes or plumbing. Instead, they are exposed and can be seen protruding from the floor. Floor-mounted taps are often associated with vintage bathrooms with cast iron tubs coated in porcelain and copper pipes. With floor-mounted taps, homeowners have the option to place their freestanding tub anywhere they like in the bathroom. Most homes that have this type of tap are either creating a vintage bath or industrial look with exposed bricks, unpainted concrete, and exposed pipework.

Wall Mounted Tap

A wall-mounted tap is essentially the same as a floor-mounted one with the only difference being its location. Wall-mounted taps stick out from the wall. This design is not limited to any one room. You can find wall-mounted taps in the kitchen, bathroom, and even outdoors. They can either be like the pillar tap with separate handles for cold and hot water or be a mixer tap where you toggle to change the heat.

Compression Washer Tap

A compression washer tap is essentially like a pillar tap but is operated with a twisting handle. The washer inside controls the amount of water that comes out. It is also a very common design that is found in traditional homes. While it has a classic look, compression washer taps, one, are not very accessible, and two, can be tricky to use if you have no grip. It can also be difficult to fix and may need the washer replaced often.

Cartridge Tap

The cartridge tap is perhaps the most advanced type of tap. Its main selling point is an internal cartridge which controls not only the release of water but also its temperature. Moving the handle left and right allows the user to control the heat. At the same time, the motion of up and down adjusts the strength of water for the cartridge tap. It uses a single lever which also makes it very accessible and easy to use.

Are All Taps Standard Size?

Yes. All new taps now follow the standard dimensions for the tap holes, making it easier for consumers to choose. However, before buying, it’s still best to check, especially if you live in an old house. If you live in a house with original fixtures, you may either have to change the plumbing system to accommodate new tap types or go to a speciality store for custom orders.

Which Water Tap Is Best For My House?

It entirely depends on your use. Talking to a professional plumber is your best course of action as they can quickly identify your plumbing needs. Take the time also to envision how your house would look like with the type of tap that you choose as it would all boil down to aesthetics. 

If you are building a new home, deciding your taps and fixtures can be very overwhelming an Even considering the different types of kitchen taps can lead you down a rabbit hole. You can go to websites like Pinterest to get a bit of inspiration. To simplify things, decide on a look and consult your plumber before making any major decisions.

How To Install Tap Myself?

If you’re unsure of how to fit your taps, it’s best to call a professional plumber. Plumbingforce can attend to your plumbing needs and concerns on the same day that you call! We also do repairs, installations, and maintenance of your boiler, plumbing, and central heating systems. 

How to Fit a Kitchen Sink In Your New Home

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kitchen sink

How to Fit a Kitchen Sink In Your New Home

Who doesn’t want to clean up after a big dinner with a spacious sink? It is one of the most practical remodel/ investments you can commit to in your new home, right next to getting plenty of worktop space. It can speed up your meal preps by washing fruit and veg all at once and help with cleanups by being able to place all your plates and utensils in it. With decent water pressure, your kitchen sink can play an integral role in a seamless cooking experience. Read more about how to deal with low water pressure here. 

There are several things you have to pay attention to when fitting a new kitchen sink: the size, depth, shape, material, and colour. If you want to keep the project on a tight budget, it is best to work with what you already have like getting something in a similar size or shape with the cut-out on your worktop. Before you replace the kitchen sink, it is best to learn about the process. Plumbingforce has a step-by-step guide and FAQs below: 

Can You Install A Sink Yourself?

Installing your kitchen sink–taps and all – is one of the few things you can do yourself in a kitchen remodel. As long as you are using the existing pipework done by a professional plumber, it’s fairly simple. All you need to do is get the right tools and materials and get to work! 

Before you try to DIY fitting a kitchen sink, take note that there is a lot of manual labour involved. If you are new to home improvement projects, it is definitely not a one-person job, get a partner to help you. 

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If you are unsure about the quality of your instalment, you can contact Plumbingforce and have a local plumber come in and take over. With our extensive years of experience, we can guarantee you’ll have a well-fitted kitchen sink in no time. 

How Much Does It Cost To Fit A Kitchen Sink In The UK?

The final cost of replacing your kitchen sink may vary. It can depend on the model of your sink, the hourly rate of your plumber, and extra tasks like cutting the worktop for a larger sink. 

For DIY fittings, you only have to consider the material costs. There are so many different types of sinks, so this can be the most expensive part. You can take your pick from stainless steel, ceramic, porcelain, composite, stone, and many others. A rough estimate for a small, affordable, stainless steel sink is around £60, and a large, stylish, ceramic sink is around £1,500. It really depends on your personal preferences. Some tiny houses opt to use a £2 salad bowl to create their sink, while other homeowners might commission a custom design that can go beyond £1,500.

Besides a sink replacement, you will also need some plumber’s putty that retails around £7.50-£10 and caulk that retails at £7-£10. Without counting your labour, the minimum amount for DIY-ing your replacement is around £74.50.

For fitting a kitchen sink with professionals like Plumbingforce, you have to get your own sink and include the labour cost. The final bill is usually 60% towards materials and 40% towards labour. With a regular sink model, it can cost around £375 to £500. If you don’t know how to fit a kitchen sink, working with Plumbingforce can take away the stress and hassle of learning on the job. 

Weigh the pros and cons of each before selecting your process. While hiring a professional plumber cost more than DIY, it takes away the inconvenience of doing the work yourself. You can also rest assured that your kitchen sink will be installed properly on the first try. 

Step-By-Step Guide For Fitting A New Sink

If you are up to doing the task on your own, here is a step-by-step guide for how to fit a kitchen sink: 

Prepare Your Materials

Regardless of what kind of sink you have, top-mount, under-mount, or flush-mount, you’ll need the same materials to replace a kitchen sink:

  • Bucket
  • Towel and rags
  • Eye protection
  • Adjustable spanner/wrench
  • Screwdriver
  • Utility knife/ box cutter
  • Plumber’s putty
  • Caulk/ Silicone sealant
  • Sink
  • Sink fixtures 

If you have an under-mount, you’ll need to add a long piece of wood that spans the entire sink, a couple of clamps, and a level. You’ll need these items to help support your sink while you work below it. 

Find A Sink Replacement

When you are looking for a new sink, you’ll need to try to get one in a similar shape and size, so you don’t have to replace or adjust your kitchen worktop to get a perfect fit. Get a tape measure and take down the rough dimensions before shopping. When you are looking for a replacement, try to get a new one that is well-designed and practical.  

Remove The Old Sink

Start your replacement by removing your old sink. For specific models, you may need to get an extra pair of hands since ceramic, porcelain, stone, and composite sinks are quite heavy, and it can be dangerous to do it on your own. If you have an under-mount sink, you need to get family or friends to help.

Disconnect The Water and Electricity

If you have a dishwasher or garbage disposal, unplug them to avoid accidents. You can then take your adjustable spanner and disconnect your water supply under the sink. To make sure that there is no more water, turn on your taps, both hot and cold, and wait for the water to drain completely. 

Remove The Drain Pipe 

Use your adjustable spanner or vice grip to remove the drain pipe. Keep a bucket underneath the pipe and lay down a couple of towels to collect excess water. 

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Cut Through The Caulk

Use your utility knife or a box cutter and cut through the caulk that seals your sink. If you have a top-mount sink, run your knife around the edges and make sure you don’t damage your worktop. If you have an under-mount sink, put on your protective eye gear and a mask and work on removing the caulk on the underside. Be careful as you might scratch your sink.

Detach The Screws Under The Sink

To completely detach your sink from your worktop, use your screwdriver and take out the remaining screws or clips. If you have a top-mount sink, you can do this alone. However, with under-mount sinks, the unit might fall on you while you take out the screws. It’s best to have an assistant for this type of work.

When you take out the sink, place it in a safe area. If you have a stainless steel model, you can place them on your worktop, but for heavy units, it might be best to settle them on the floor.

Clean Up Any Excess From Your Worktop

After you carefully take out your old sink and set it aside, it is time to clean your worktop. You may have bits of caulk sticking out here and there. You can take them out with a paint scraper or a utility knife. Then wipe it down with a damp scouring pad to make sure you get all the bits and pieces.

Test The Fit Of Your New Sink

Before you commit to your new sink, test it out first and see if it fits. If you want to install a larger sink, hire trade workers to come and cut your worktop down to size so your new sink can snugly fit on your kitchen worktop.

Install Your Taps and Sink Fixtures

Follow the sink’s manufacturer’s instructions and install your taps and sink drainer. Add a little bit of plumber’s putty with your drain strainer to ensure that it is a tight fit. You don’t want that to leak in the long run. Even a microleak can transform into a huge problem like a house flood.

Seal It With Caulk

After you have your kitchen sink in order, add a bit of caulk/silicone sealant and leave it to dry. Sealing your sink with caulk may vary depending on your model. For top-mount and flush-mount sinks, turn your sink upside down and apply your sealant on the underside then lower it to your kitchen worktop. 

For under-mount sinks, add caulk on the top perimeter, and push it from under the worktop. To get the best seal, you can use your clamps and use it to secure your sink as the caulk dries. 

Attach The Clips

Attach or screw on the additional clips to keep your sink in place. Make sure they are nice and tight to keep it secure. If your old screws and clips are rusty, replace them to ensure the best results.

Reinstall The Rest 

When your new sink is in place, it is time to get the other features in order. Connect your taps to your water supply line, your hot and cold water lines correctly correspond with their taps. Add your garbage disposal and dishwasher lines if you have them and work with your manufacturer’s instructions for proper installation.

Use your adjustable spanner to secure your drain pipe. Make sure everything is nice and tight before testing your new sink. Learn how to avoid leaky taps here.

When Should You Call A Professional Plumber?

When you carefully follow the step-by-step guide, you successfully know how to fit a kitchen sink by yourself. However, when it comes to plumbing, the kitchen sink can be tricky. You don’t want to mess with the water supply and make mistakes that might warrant a new system.

When you are experiencing leaks, there are too many possible sources, so it is best to call Plumbingforce and hire a professional plumber. A drip here and there may seem like a small thing when compared to the small win of completing your first DIY kitchen project, but leaks are no joke. It can lead to water damage down the line and become a costly problem to fix. 

If you want to guarantee the best fit for your kitchen sink, call Plumbingforce at 0330 173 5321 or book us online to get a local plumber!

No Hot Water: What Do I Do?

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Plumber while repairing an hot-water heater

You are getting ready to go to work early in the morning, and you want to wash your face. You turn on the tap and wait for a minute or two for it to heat up, but all you get is cold water. It isn’t exactly the best way to start your day. No hot water problems can continue throughout the day, and you have to deal with it when you come home. 

Not using hot water can be a lifestyle choice, and yes, there are people in the UK who don’t mind the cold. However, when you want it and it isn’t there, it can be one of the worst things. The lack of consistent hot water can significantly affect how you go about your day. Let’s take away the helpless feeling you get from these types of plumbing and heating problems. Here are common questions for your no hot water problems and things you can do about it: 

Why Don’t I Have Hot Water?

Your central heating and plumbing system is a complicated network. Any of the pieces could be faulty, and the domino-effect follows. One after the other, different parts of the system will follow. The best way to detect the source of your no hot water issues is to break down your system and inspect them yourself. You could have a boiler, pipe, diverter, or water problems.

How Do You Get Your Hot Water?

Before you can inspect your set up, know your setup better. You get your cold water from the main supply pipe just outside your house. It enters your home through the main house shut off valve. From there, it goes to your boiler for heating hot water. Some of the heated water goes through your pipes and into the radiators around your house. That hot water cycles through your home, creating your heating system. 

The rest of the heated water enters your hot water cylinder. It stays there until you need to use it. From this cylinder in the basement or attic, it goes to the hot water taps around the house. 

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This process is how most people in the UK get their hot water supply. There is only one exception to that, and it is for those who use a combination (combi) boiler instead of a system boiler. Combi boilers use electricity instead of gas or fuel. This means that they do not have a hot water cylinder. Its compact body makes it a popular choice for smaller flats. You get your hot water with your combi just by turning on your tap. It heats as you go. 

Is It A Central Heating Problem?

Now that you know the process of how you get your hot water, where did it all go wrong? If it is a central heating problem, pay close attention to your boiler and hot water pressure. See if your boiler is turned on, for gas and oil boilers there should be a steady pilot light. To check if your boiler is working go to your radiators and see if they are warm. If you haven’t balanced your radiators in a while, your radiators might not heat evenly. It is best to check all the radiators around your home. 

My Boiler Is Not Working

Broken boilers are not the only things you should fix. A weak boiler’s hot water isn’t ideal either. It takes too much and might not cool faster. The boiler for hot water must be able to handle different jobs around your home. Don’t wait for no hot water problems to come before you make the changes. If it doesn’t work for you, try to replace or replace it. There are three obvious problems for a faulty boiler: 

  1. It isn’t on
  2. It’s emergency lockout activates
  3. There are faulty parts

While many things can go wrong, the problem might be a simple one. Did you turn on your heating? Did the power cut off recently? Repairs and renovations might require turning off your heat. Check if they did anything to your thermostat or boiler. 

When the issue is with the boiler, it has an emergency lockout feature. The boiler turns itself off to inform you that there is something wrong. The reason for the shut-down varies. The common causes are in your manufacturer’s handbook. If you don’t want to go through the list, call a professional heating engineer to take a look. 

For faulty parts, it could be the diaphragm, airlock, valves, or thermostat connection. Poor maintenance leads to these issues, and there is no DIY friendly way to go about it. The worst-case scenario means you need a new boiler. Please find a professional for all your major boiler repairs and new boiler installations. They must be Gas Safe engineers. You can check their ID numbers through the Gas Safe Register website. 

There Is No Pilot Light

A significant gas /oil burning boiler problem that leads to no hot water is the pilot light. It should be an intense blue flame. No pilot light equals no hot water from the boiler. If it is out, try to restart your system boiler. It might come back, but rebooting is not a permanent solution. It might last long enough to get your house in order before you call a heating engineer to take a look. Again, do not do gas-related work. It is dangerous and illegal to attempt on your own. 

The Pressure Is Wrong

Now, even with your boiler working, you can still struggle to get hot water. Your boiler pressure might be too high or too low. Anything too extreme means your boiler will shut down as a safety measure. 

Fixing your boiler pressure isn’t hard. You can do this yourself by bleeding your radiators if the pressure is too high. When the pressure is too low, you add more water in the system with the filling loop. The pressure gauge varies from boiler model. Whether it uses dials or levels, you can always check the manual for more details.  

The Timer Is Not Working

Every boiler has a timer or program to help manage your heating schedule. Modern models no longer run 24/7. There are different settings you can customise to create your ideal heating and hot water set up. 

A recent power cut could affect your timer. It can reset to default settings. So check the timer and see if that is the case. Your timer could also change time automatically. Check your timer and set it to the right time. When the schedule is off, you get no hot water. If the timer is not working after that, the problem might be more serious. It needs professional help.

Is It A Pipe Problem? 

When your boiler is in the clear, and there are no apparent problems, move to the pipes. While you do not see your pipes, they play a vital part in ensuring the water and heat distributes evenly throughout the house. Two common pipe problems lead to no hot water: frozen pipes and pipes with leaks. 

Frozen Pipes

Frozen pipes are a common problem as you approach winter. If you lose your hot water and heating during this season, this is your prime suspect. Besides the main pipe entering your house, your condensate pipe can also freeze. The condensate pipe is to properly ventilate your home. The water vapour from your heating travels through these flues. It can collect and block off your pipe. 

Frozen pipes are easy to spot. Your taps might give weak, uneven, or no water at all. If the pipes are visible, you can see a bit of frost around it. When the problem is severe, your walls can be a bit damp from the condensation. 

Try to clear the blockage the best way you can and slowly thaw your pipe. You can heat water on your hob or electric kettle to pour over your pipe. You can also try purchasing defrosting kits from the hardware store. 

Water Leaks 

Leaks in your pipes or other facilities could reduce the pressure in your system. When that happens, you get pressure problems. Follow the steps in the previous section to get hot water again. You can read more about dealing with leaks here. 

While you can adjust the pressure, it is not a long-term solution for your pipe. Tying it off with rubber or tape is not an ideal solution either. For every kind of pipe repair, even leaks, contact a professional. You can get your hot water back and save money in water bills. No matter how big or small your leaks are, they are too expensive to leave on their own. 

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Is It Neither?

Hot water supply will always boil down to your heating or water system. When the methods above do not work, it is probably a mechanism that we don’t always notice. It could also be a response to changes in your environment. Here are common scenarios where it may seem like it is not the boiler or pipes: 

No Central Heating, But I Have Hot Water

When you lose heating in your home, but still have water, there are two possibilities. The first is that your boiler went out, but you still have a full hot water cylinder. When you still have hot water running through your pipes, it means the breakdown is pretty recent. Go through the common boiler problems and the steps you can take to repair them here. 

No central heating, but you have hot water could be a radiator or flue problem. When your radiators are not bleed and balanced, there are cold spots in your house. You can read more about radiator problems here. 

No Hot Water, But I Have Heating

If it is the opposite scenario and you have no hot water, but have proper heating check your timer. Maybe the boiler did not heat the water because of the faulty schedule. Another issue could lie with the diverter valve. The diverter valve controls the hot water flow in your home. You can get a plumber to replace it and have it good as new. 

When you replace the diverter valve, but the replacement doesn’t work, don’t be quick to judge! Issues persist when it is stuck on the central heating system. It could be minor issues with installation. A plumber can tweak it, no need for a replacement.  

The Hot Water Only Works When There Is Heating

This scenario is common among combi boiler users. However, for those with a hot water cylinder, it might be a bit odd. In this case, you may need to get a bigger hot water cylinder. Ask the other members of your family about their hot water habits. Your experience might not be the same as the others. If no one else has a problem, then you mostly get the tail end of your hot water supply. 

If the size is good enough for your family, but only get hot water with heating, your cylinder might not be insulated. Hot water tanks stay in cold parts of your home with inadequate heating and insulation. You can get an insulated jacket from the hardware store. 

Hot Water In Some Parts of The House

When you get hot water, but it limits to different parts of your house it could be the mixing or anti-scalding valve. It might be stuck in one setting or destroyed. You may need a plumber to repair this. 

How Do I Prevent This From Happening Again?

The winter can be cruel, and no hot water makes it even more unbearable. You can actively combat this by maintaining your plumbing and heating system. Preventive measures you can do on your own is to lag your pipes before winter comes. You can buy DIY kits in stores near you. Don’tDon’t forget the insulated jacket for your hot water tank. 

You can try to maintain your system the best you can by keeping the pressure within the best range possible and taking away clutter surrounding your boiler. You can also clear out the things blocking your flues. 

Annual check-ups can make a significant difference for your boiler, radiators, and pipes. Besides dealing with your no water problem, it can also keep your system working efficiently. So no more high gas or fuel bills! Plumbingforce provides regular service for all your plumbing and heating needs. You can check our other gas and plumbing-related services like our same-day service. If you need a quick fix, we try to respond within the day.

Everything You Need To Know About A Megaflow Cylinder

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megaflow cylinder

More and more people in the UK are installing Megaflow heating systems in their homes. This, in turn, begets the question, “What exactly are Megaflow heating systems and what’s so special about them?” 

If you, too, are wondering why exactly what a Megaflow heating system is, then you’ve come to the right place! 

In order to help you understand further why many households are going with the trend and installing their own Megaflow heating systems, we’ve come up with a comprehensive guide which lists everything you would want or need to know about Megaflow.

What Is A Megaflow Unvented Cylinder and How Does It Work?

Megaflow (or Megaflo if you want to be completely accurate) is a hot water storage cylinder made of stainless steel. The Megaflow system was produced by Hetarae Sadia, an expert in the manufacturing of reliable hot water cylinders and storage water heaters among other products. 

As part of a home’s central heating system, the Megaflow efficiently stores hot water and provides its users with an abundance of the said hot water, whenever and wherever they need it.

Moreover, being an unvented system, the Megaflow mimics the pressure of the water mains, thus helping households get a steady stream of hot water, anywhere within your home. This means you wouldn’t have to worry about poor water pressure even when there is more than one outlet (shower or tap) running!

Such unvented cylinders are further classified into two. The direct unvented cylinder and the indirect unvented cylinder.

A direct unvented cylinder takes its supply of cold water from the household’s water mains. True to its name, it makes use of direct heating or an immersion heater inside the cylinder to make hot water. Naturally, once the water in the cylinder has been used up, the direct unvented cylinder tops up on cold water straight from the water mains before heating it up. 

Meanwhile, an indirect unvented cylinder makes use of hot water supplied by an external source such as a traditional home boiler. In such cases, a coil within the cylinder maintains the temperature of the hot water so that it stays at the temperature set by the cylinder’s thermostat. As the hot water from the unvented indirect Megaflo is used, the boiler will start refilling the cylinder with hot water.  

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What Are The Pros and Cons of A Megaflow Cylinder?

If you are considering investing in a Megaflo cylinder for your home, it would be ideal for you to weigh the pros and cons of owning one. Here are some factors you may want to consider in your decision making

The Pros of A Megaflow Cylinder

Because you are using an unvented system, you won’t be using a cold water tank. The lack of a cold water tank, in turn, is beneficial for the following reasons:

You don’t need to make room for a sizable tank in addition to a cylinder.

Because water won’t be sitting in a cold water storage tank, the risk of contamination and the collection of sludge and dirt can be minimized.

You can install your Megaflow cylinder almost anywhere within your home.

The water pressure in your system will remain consistent, even when it is being used in multiple places within the house.

A Megaflow cylinder is easy to install, replace and maintain.

Such cylinders have 60mm of insulation.

A Megaflow comes with several safety features such as powering off upon reaching the desired temperature, and the Temperature/Pressure Relief Valve (TPRV) which would drain water out of the cylinder to reduce the pressure inside it. 

The Cons of A Megaflow Cylinder

Because you’ll be using the main water supply for your system, you wouldn’t have backup storage of cold water. 

The system needs water pressure from your main water supply pushing through it to ensure it delivers hot water. If your main water supply is low in pressure, the flow rate of the water reaching your showers and taps will also be weak.

Not all homes have pipework that can withstand the high pressure from the Megaflow. In such cases, replacing the pipework could cost a lot of money.

The high velocity of water flowing within the pipes can be noisy.

How Do You Power Up A Megaflow Cylinder?

Megaflow cylinders use electricity as its power source. As for the heat source, most also use electricity. However, as most Megaflow hot water tanks are also compatible with solar thermal energy, you could easily use solar panels as a power or heat source for your Megaflow direct unvented cylinder as well.

Alternatively, because Megaflow cylinders work with renewable energy, you may easily be able to provide a backup heat source in the event that something goes wrong with your boiler.

Meanwhile, if you are using an indirect unvented cylinder, your boiler may also be using electricity or a gas supply line as its power and heat source. 

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Just How Powerful Is A Megaflow Cylinder?

If you live in a large household where people tend to use hot water all at the same time, or if you’re simply wondering about how powerful a Megaflow cylinder is, then you’d be glad to know that the Megaflow is suitable for large households with multiple bathrooms. 

That means one unit will be able to provide for your hot water needs with no problem! And the best part? You can expect a constant and steady stream of water pressure. 

Yes, you read that right. Unlike with traditional or combi boilers alone, you will not experience an overall drop in water pressure with a Megaflow cylinder.

Will I Be Able To Use The Megaflow For A Long Time?

The truth is, it depends. There are varying levels of water hardness in the UK, which means it will depend on where you are located exactly because some regions have soft water, while some have hard water. That means depending on which of these you have in your area, you may be prone to issues like mineral or limescale deposits on your kettle and your pipes. 

However, you wouldn’t have to worry much about such issues with a Megaflow hot water cylinder, as each unit is made of high-quality stainless steel, plus it comes with a 25-year warranty!

Do I Need To Call A Professional To Install and Maintain My Megaflow Cylinder?

Without a doubt, yes. As most central heating systems are connected to a gas supply line one way or the other, it is best to employ the help of a qualified heating engineer to help you with your Megaflow cylinder. Call us now to set an appointment with one of our partner heating engineers!

Common Causes of Low Water Pressure And How To Fix Them

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low water pressure

Nothing can beat the feeling of a nice refreshing shower after a long day. The best showers have decent water pressure and a comfortable temperature along with your favourite scent. But can you imagine what it would be like to deal with a weak trickle of water for your shower? It’s sad and honestly quite frustrating.

Low water pressure does not just affect showers. It can happen to any part of your house from your kitchen tap to your flushing toilet. While you can learn about these things before moving in, there are ways you can lose strength over time. Let’s tackle the common causes of low water pressure and see how you can troubleshoot it in your home. 

Why Do I Suddenly Have Low Water Pressure?

If you don’t typically experience low water pressure, there are several possible reasons. Ask yourself the following questions: 

  1. Was there water work recently done around my neighbourhood or my city?
  2. Did I get repair work recently done? Did it affect my water? 
  3. What kind of water do I have in my area? Is there white limescale around my shower and faucet?
  4. Is there any climate-related news that might affect my water?
  5. Am I competing with other people for my water supply?

These 5 questions cover the most common reasons for water pressure suddenly decreasing. Let’s go through each one and learn how these things can affect you. Since water pressure in homes ties closely to supply, any changes in your outside environment like droughts, multiple tenants, and “peak” hours for water usage can also decrease your pressure. 

Your home maintenance can also affect your pressure. Moving the water valves, corrosion in the pipes or scale build-up can all contribute to weak pressure. The first dictates how much water enters you home and the last two are blockages that prevent the water from reaching you. 

These things happen, and fortunately for you, this problem does not have to be permanent. With a bit of effort on your or your plumber’s part, you can go back to enjoying strong showers and can fill up your pots and kettle in no time. 

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Common Causes For Low Water Pressure

The common causes of low water pressure are the lack of water supply, poor pumping facilities, plumbing problems, and small water mains. Sometimes even with proper maintenance, you have to adjust to changes in your surroundings. You may have to reroute your water system or something similar, but these changes rarely happen. 

How Do I Know If I Have Low Water Pressure?

The most obvious way to know is if you feel a shift in how you go about your home. Is the shower weak? Does it take longer to fill up your kettle? Pay attention to these small things. 

If you are new to a neighbourhood or home and the pressure is weaker than what you are used to, you need to test it. Pressure varies on location and water system in the house. You can buy a water pressure gauge from the hardware store and test the strength inside your home. 

If you do not want to use a water pressure gauge, try filling up a bucket. Turn the water on fully and time how long it takes. If it goes way beyond 30 seconds, you have low pressure. Water flow is a strong indicator of the pressure in your home. 

What if your hot water is weak, but your cold water is strong? The pressure problem is internal. It lies in your heating system. Cold water usually comes from the water main, while the hot water comes from the cylinder you have at home. You can fix this by adjusting your boiler settings or cycling the water through your system. You can read more how to check the pressure of your boiler here. 

How Do I Fix Low Water Pressure In My House?

These common causes of these problems are not impossible to handle. You can take care of them yourself with a little bit of know-how. However, whenever you are in doubt, do not hesitate to call a professional. PlumbingForce can help you with plumbing-related blockages or major pipework. Here are steps you can take to inspect the reason for your pressure problem and how you can deal with it: 

Check The News

Look for water-related incidents online and see if they affect you. Any kind of water line repair, pipe replacement, or maintenance could make the water supply weak in your area. If your problem is because of this, there is little to nothing you can do until they finish. 

If you still experience pressure issues after their repair, contact your local water company and ask if the low pressure is a long-term problem. When they tell you it is, you can invest in a better pump for your system.

Check Your Water Valves

There are two valves you should keep an eye on, the main water meter valve and the main house shutoff valve. Both of these valves should be fully open. The water meter valve is the water company’s responsibility. People rarely touch them because this is how the water from the supply pipe enters your home. The supply pipe is usually outside of your house. Go out and see if they are fully open. 

How do you know if it is fully open? Check the handle. If it is open properly, the handle should be parallel to the water pipe. When it is not in the right position, you can get a plumber to do it or use an adjustable spanner and adjust it. 

No problems with your water meter valve? Try the main house shutoff valve. It should be completely open as well. You can find this around the basement. Unlike the water meter valve, this could change more often. If you need to cut off your main water supply for repairs around the house, this is where it happens. Check to make sure it is fully open. If it isn’t, adjust it accordingly.

Check Your Pressure Regulator/ Pressure Reducing Valve

The pressure reducing valve (PRV) should solve water pressure problems, but can also be a source of them. PRV is for areas that have high pressure in water. If the force is too strong, it can damage your pipes and central heating system. When the PRV does not work, it can prevent your water flow. Contact your local plumbers at Plumbingforce and replace your PRV to go back to business as usual. 

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Check For Blockages

Now, when you only experience issues in some regions of your house, it might not be a pressure problem at all. Try to check all sources of water. Is it slower in the kitchen tap versus the faucet in the guest bedroom? If the answer is yes, you have scale build-up. 

Limescale is common in hard water. The type of water you receive depends on your location. You can ask your water company about the kind of water or test it yourself. Hard water is not necessarily bad, but they come with their challenges. Scale build-up can happen to any item or appliance that uses water regularly. You can install a scale inhibitor as it enters your home. They add small doses to reduce the limescale in your system.

Blockages are not limited to scale. If every faucet has the same problem, it could be the corrosion of your pipes. Old homes tend to have untreated pipes, and rust can develop. By the time you notice this problem, it is probably too late. You need to redo the plumbing inside your home. If you see rusty valves in your radiator, you can try to add a magnetic filter, but that cannot take back the existing damage. 

Check For Leaks And Similar Plumbing Damage

Go around your house and see if there are leaks or plumbing problems. There could be water damage behind large furniture or boxes. A pipe leak can happen anywhere. So how does a leak affect the water in your faucet? A leak means less water, therefore weaker pressure. 

Pipes are one of the things you cannot correctly repair leaks on your own. Cut off the water flow by turning the main house shutoff valves. Make sure to get a professional plumber to inspect and repair the busted pipe or pipes. If the problem comes from the water main, call your water company instead. Learn more about preventing water leaks here. 

What Can You Do To Prevent Low Pressure?

You do not have to experience low pressure to create a system that prevents it. You can avoid water pressure by adequately maintaining your system. Annual maintenance can go a long way with your pipes. You can also include the limescale remover and magnetic filter just to be sure. When your pipes are clean, and the pressure is adjusted correctly, you should have no problems with low water pressure. 

Is Low Water Pressure Dangerous?

Low water pressure is nowhere near as dangerous as high water pressure. The effects might not be as visible either. However, that does not mean low water pressure is not harmful. Both water pressure, low and high, settings are bad. However, low pressure is harder to live with. Your daily routine can take longer than necessary. It prevents you from doing other things.

If you leave it alone, you can increase the damages in your system. It could also destroy the household appliances like dishwashers, washing machines, and even your heating system. As much as possible, try to create a proper workaround for it. 

Hopefully, this list can help you tackle low water pressure problems. Since every home is different, there is a bit of trial and error before you figure out what is really wrong. When you do not have the time to go through all the possibilities, our plumbers are here to help. We have same-service for emergency problems, get rid of low pressure in your home today!

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