Archive for the ‘Bathroom Disasters’ Category

Plumbing Problems

December 9th, 2011 by steph

Ensuring your home has a steady and well maintained plumbing system is vital when keeping you and your family in a comfortable living environment. As the family’s bathroom needs rely solely on a constant water supply it is sure that any plumbing problems are identified and fixed as soon as possible. There are many common problems that can cause serious damage to your home if left unattended, so take a little time to think about how you can identify a problem and have it repaired before it gets out of hand.

Hiring plumbers is certainly expensive and there are far too many tales floating around of the typical cowboy plumber who charges three hour’s work for simply taking his time to change a rubber tap washer. Being able to have a basic understanding of plumbing is certainly advisable to anyone looking to hire a plumber, directing them to the problem and showing that you have a basic understanding lowers the risk of suffering any extra charges. Here are a few thoughts that could help you identify common plumbing problems and know what could help.

Leaking Taps

A leaking tap is a common and frustrating problem, the consistent sound of a dripping tap is a sure fire way to lose sleep and spoil the feeling of a stylish and modern room. This could be cause by a number of things, and a DIY job is only recommended if you are competent with standard tools and are confident in your ability to disassemble and reassemble the tap housing to replace a washer. The most common cause of a leaking tap is the gradual erosion of the rubber washer contained inside the tap; all that this requires is a replacement washed and the careful reassembling of the tap housing. Be careful not to force the tap whilst unscrewing, if you split or damage the metal you could make the problem far worse and have no choice but to hire a plumber.

Frozen Pipes

During the winter, common plumbing problems are caused by frozen pipes. This can potentially cause a lot of damage if left untreated. Frozen pipes can be identified easily if the frozen area of pipe is in plain sight; look for areas of the pipe which have heavy amounts of water droplets or condensation on the outside of the pipe. This can show where the pipes are frozen and require treatment. If you wish to tack this yourself do so with great care, rupturing the pipe can leave to massive water damage. Gradually heat the area, turn up central heating in your home to warm the walls and pipes behind the walls, if you have a mobile heater then place it close to the affected area to gradually warm and melt frozen water.

Blockage

The most common of all plumbing problems is the pipe blockage; when drains and pipes are blocked with waste or other material, water fails to drain and can cause many household problems. The simplest solution to this problem is the age old method of plunging the drain, this can help to suck up or loosen any debris that may be blocking up the pipe.

Tags: DIY, home repairs, pipes, plumbing

Posted in Bathroom Disasters, DIY Hints & Tips, General Articles | Comments Off

Bathroom Mould – How to prevent it

June 7th, 2011 by steph

What is mould?

Mould is a very common and unsightly household problem that can not only cause unpleasant sights and smells; it can also be dangerous to a person’s health. A common area for mould growth is the bathroom due to the moist and humid conditions a bathroom often possesses after a shower or bath has been taken.

Mould only breeds where moisture is present. Condensation is a major trigger for mould growth. Condensation is caused when a shower or bath is taken; the steam that is produced hits a cold surface like a window pane or ceramic floor tiles and turns back into water – this water is the perfect breeding ground for mould to grow.

How can mould affect my health?

There are 3 different types of mould that generally occur within the home: green, grey and black. Black mould is toxic and can be particularly harmful to children, the elderly and those with a history of respiratory illness and asthma. Continued exposure and inhalation of black mould spores can lead to respiratory problems, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, fungal skin infections and allergic asthma.

How do I remove it?

Preventing and ridding your home of mould can prove to be difficult, due to the fact that mould exists in small quantities everywhere and is vital to the cycle of life. If your bathroom has discoloured patches or smells musky then it’s time to break the mould.

In many cases mould can be removed with everyday household products such as soap and water. For worse cases a bleach solution can be used to tackle the problem. The solution should be a maximum of one cup of bleach per gallon of water. Avoid mixing bleach with any other household chemicals as this can create a toxic solution. When removing the mould ensure the bathroom is well ventilated and that all doors and windows are open.

Grouting is a common place for mould to grow. Remove mould from grouting with a bathroom cleaner and be prepared to scrub vigorously and persevere.

How to prevent mould growing

Ensure all windows and fans are on whilst taking a bath or shower to avoid steam developing.
Use a dehumidifier, this device absorbs excess moisture within the air and acts as an extractor.
Avoid carpets in bathrooms as they collect and harbour moisture whereas tiles and vinyl flooring can easily be wiped up. Any carpets that have experienced flooding should be removed.
Keep the bathroom clean – avoid leaving damp towels on the floor, hang them on a heated towel rail to dry quickly and avoid moisture.
Opt for a shower screen as opposed to a shower curtain. Shower curtains are renowned for becoming mouldy whereas screens can be wiped clean and dry much quicker.
Detect any plumbing problems. If you suspect a leaking bathroom tap you should source and resolve immediately to avoid leaking water causing damp.

It’s important to prevent mould developing in rooms as mould is harder to get rid of than prevent. Ensuring the humidity levels of your bathroom are kept under control can reduce the unsightly mould problems. Opening windows slightly whilst having your radiators on to ventilate excessive humidity can reduce the likelihood of mould developing. If mould reoccurs despite efforts to remove and prevent it then call a specialist as there could be an issue with damp coursing.

A severe case of black mould

Tags: bathroom mildew, bathroom mould, black mould

Posted in Bathroom Disasters, DIY Hints & Tips | Comments Off

Kitchen Sink Drama

May 11th, 2011 by steph

Kitchen sinks can be a common source of problems in your kitchen and can have irritating issues that people live with for months before fixing. Rather than putting up with problematic kitchen sinks try and source the problem, fix it and prevent it in the future. Easier said than done? By reading a few tips and solutions you can restore your kitchen’s harmony. Three Main kitchen sink problems include:

1. The Mighty Drip

This is definitely one of the most common kitchen complaints. The constant dripping that firstly drives you insane before you become accustomed to the rhythm and start walking in time to it. Well don’t jump to its tune! A dripping kitchen tap is usually due to the washer requiring replacement, this is a simple task that can be done with a bit of DIY and excess time! If the problem isn’t resolved by replacing the washer then it’s worth calling a plumber to be rid of the irritant once and for all!

2. A Stinking Situation

Bad odours in the kitchen can usually be sourced and eliminated easily. Bin bags containing an old tuna sandwich, milk that’s gradually forming a cheese solid and a family member’s attempt at cooking a chicken which ended up resembling a cremation all result in bad odours but can be easily located and eradicated. However, a kitchen sink omitting a bad smell can be left for months due to the source being hidden the waste pipe and can really turn quite foul. There are many solution theories that work for some people and are definitely worth trying. Solutions include: pouring bleach, lemon juice or vinegar and baking soda down the plug hole in a bid to destroy the smell.

If you have a food grinder within your sink then you need to take extra care when disposing of food waste. Food grinders tend to struggle digesting large chunks of bread so it may be better to dispose of bread and similar foods that may clog your grinder, in the dustbin. Should you find your food grinder is the source of your smelly sink then putting ice cubes down there is a common suggestion to unclog the lodged pieces of food. Another alternative is to simply run the tap and grinder simultaneously whilst putting bits of orange or lemon peel down the food grinder. The citric acid should eliminate the bad odour.

3. Under Pressure

Water pressure in your kitchen sink can be a serious and common problem. Many houses experience low water pressure in the kitchen with no problems elsewhere in the house. Sometimes low pressure can affect a whole area of town so check if any work is being done in your area before tampering with your sink. If it is solely your problem then check for leaks when you turn your tap on as this can affect the water pressure. Your tap fixture could also be the source of your problem. A blockage in your taps or pipes could also be the culprit.

Maintaining your kitchen sink and taps is important to prevent irritants occurring. The common phrase “everything but the kitchen sink” should definitely be ignored when it comes to maintaining the functionality of your kitchen.