Prevents Major Plumbing Emergencies

Plumbing emergencies can be a nightmare, and they can happen at any time. A blocked drain, burst pipe, or leaking tap can cause significant damage to your home and lead to costly repairs. Regular plumbing maintenance can help prevent these emergencies from occurring in the first place.

Inspecting and maintaining your plumbing system regularly allows you to identify and fix minor issues before they become major problems. This can save you from the hassle and expense of dealing with a plumbing emergency.

At O’Brien Plumbing Coffs Harbour, we offer a comprehensive plumbing maintenance service that includes inspecting your pipes, drains, taps, and fixtures to ensure they’re functioning correctly. We use the latest equipment and techniques to identify potential issues and provide you with the best possible solutions.

Saves You Money on Costly Repairs

One of the most significant benefits of regular plumbing maintenance is that it can save you money on costly repairs. Small issues that go unnoticed can lead to significant problems down the line, which can be expensive to fix. By regularly maintaining your plumbing system, you can identify and address these issues early on, preventing them from turning into major problems that require costly repairs.

Moreover, regular maintenance can extend the life of your plumbing system, saving you money in the long run. Your plumbing system is an investment, and you want to ensure it lasts as long as possible. By taking care of it and addressing issues early on, you can avoid costly repairs or even a complete replacement of your system.

Improves Water Efficiency and Lowers Bills

Regular plumbing maintenance can also improve water efficiency in your home, which can lower your bills. A leaking tap or a running toilet can waste a significant amount of water over time, leading to higher water bills. By regularly maintaining your plumbing system, you can identify and fix these issues, reducing your water usage and lowering your bills.

Moreover, upgrading to more water-efficient fixtures can also help reduce your water usage and lower your bills. At O’Brien Plumbing Coffs Harbour, we can help you identify and install water-efficient fixtures in your home. This can help you save money on your water bills and reduce your environmental impact.

Ensures Safe Drinking Water

Regular plumbing maintenance can help ensure that the water coming out of your taps is safe to drink. Over time, your pipes can accumulate debris and minerals, which can affect the quality of your water. By maintaining your plumbing system regularly, you can ensure that your pipes are clean and your water is safe to drink.

Enhances the Overall Comfort of Your Home

A well-maintained plumbing system can enhance the overall comfort of your home. For example, a well-maintained system can ensure the water pressure of your shower and taps are ideal for your preferences. Plumbing issues can be frustrating and even have a significant impact on your daily routine or lifestyle. By maintaining your plumbing system, you can ensure everything functions correctly, making your daily life more comfortable and convenient.

Helps Maintain the Value of Your Property

Regular plumbing maintenance can help maintain the value of your property. Prospective buyers are often concerned about the condition of a home’s plumbing system, and having a well-maintained system can make your property more attractive to buyers.

Promotes a Healthier Living Environment

A properly functioning plumbing system can promote a healthier living environment. Leaks and water damage can lead to mould growth, which can cause respiratory issues and other health problems. By maintaining your plumbing system, you can prevent these issues and ensure that your home is a healthy place to live for all occupants and visitors.

Extends the Life of Your Appliances

Your appliances, such as your washing machine and dishwasher, rely on your plumbing system to function correctly. Regular plumbing maintenance can ensure that your appliances are working correctly, extending their lifespan and saving you money on costly, premature replacements.

Provides Peace of Mind

Finally, knowing that your plumbing system is operative can provide peace of mind, so you don’t have to worry about unexpected plumbing emergencies or repairs. Regular plumbing maintenance can help you feel confident that your home’s plumbing system is in good condition.

I you are a homeowner in Coffs Harbour, regular plumbing maintenance is crucial to keep your home safe and functioning properly. Our team of expert plumbers can help. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and ensure your plumbing system is in top condition.

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However, as with anything that involves heat, there’s always a need to be safety conscious. Everyone can experience scalding from hot water, especially children, the elderly and people with a disability.

This is why it’s important to have a safety-first attitude about your household water and your Hot Water System.

We reached out to our professional O'Brien Plumbing members from around Australia to share their top safety tips about hot water use and your hot water tank. Here’s their list to help you enjoy your hot water while keeping you and your family safe.

1. Install a tempering valve to minimise the risk of scalding.

To adhere to the Plumbing Regulations, The Australian Government requires that all new hot water systems should feature a tempering valve or have a thermostatic mixing valve installed.

A tempering valve helps ensure your hot water’s temperature will not exceed 50°C when it comes out of your tap – which is warm enough for baths and showers, but not too hot to cause scalding.

The below graph* shows how important it is to have a hot water tempering valve to avoid excess heat and the potential of resulting burns.

If you’re unsure if your hot water system has a tempering valve, speak to a professional Plumber today.

* Reference: Chris Riedy, Geoff Milne, 2013, Your Home, Australian Government, https://www.yourhome.gov.au/energy/hot-water-service

2. Immediately repair dripping hot water taps and leaking appliances, including the relief valve from your water heater.

Inspecting all components of your hot water system and undertaking repairs when necessary are both important steps to ensuring your water heater is performing well. A relief valve is an important part of this.
A relief valve protects storage water heaters by eliminating excess pressure in the hot water system.

However, if you’ve found your tank is leaking and that a bucket placed under the valve is being filled in just a day, it’s a sign that you may need to replace your hot water tank.

3. To prevent the growth of bacteria like Legionella, hot water storage systems for residential buildings must be heated to a minimum temperature of 60°C.

Bacteria like Legionella can be a serious health concern when present at high concentrations in your water. Heating your water at a temperature of over 60°C (in the tank – not at the tap, as per point 1) will help kill any bacteria.

It’s for this reason that we don’t recommend turning your hot water system off when going away on holidays. However, if you still choose to, ensure that the water is heated and stored above 60°C for at least 35 minutes before using it again. Just be aware that it can take some time to heat to that temperature after having been turned off.

4. Maintain your hot water system and have it serviced according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Regular hot water tank maintenance by a professional Plumber will help prevent issues and problems from occurring while keeping your tank running efficiently. This will give you peace of mind, knowing that your hot water system has been properly serviced.

Why is it important to follow hot water safety measures?

While we all love our hot water, observing these safety precautions will help minimise the risk of you and your loved ones from having an accident, and help prevent running out of hot water.

If you’re in doubt or have any questions, speak to one of our experts from O'Brien Plumbing who can provide you with the peace of mind when it comes to hot water safety.

Our expert O'Brien Plumbers are here for all of your hot water needs

We understand how vital it is to have a hot water system that is fully functional and safe.

To make sure your needs are met, we’re committed to undertaking quality inspections, performing repairs and installing effective replacements for your home’s hot water system.

Visit obrien.com.au today to find a plumber near you and we can start discussing your options.

When you call O'Brien Plumbing you can be sure you’ve called the experts.

The post Hot Water Tank Safety Tips For You and Your Family appeared first on O'Brien.

• Kitchen

The sink and/or dishwasher will no doubt be working overtime if you’re hosting this year’s holiday festivities. Check your drains and clear clogs like food and grease buildup, so you can rest easy knowing that your kitchen plumbing is capable of functioning all day without any issues.

• Bathroom

Will you have guests staying at your house throughout the holiday break? If so, prepare your bathroom plumbing. Toilets and shower drains are most prone to clogging, especially when you have a lot of people using it. Saying that bathroom issues are embarrassing is an understatement. Good thing our expert plumbers can help you avoid this nightmare! Get in touch with your local O'Brien Plumber to get your bathroom holiday-ready.

• Roofing and Guttering

If you are spending the holidays out on vacation, don’t forget to maintain your roof and gutters before you leave. Summer storms bring a fair share of rain, so you might want to have your gutters cleaned and free from debris like leaves. This will help you avoid any unwanted rain-brought mess that might surprise you when you get back from your well-deserved trip.

• Pipes and Drains

Do you have a minor plumbing issue that you have been putting off for the past few months – maybe a leaking tap? Or is it taking a long time for water to go down your drains? Holidays are the right time to have it checked. You never know, what seems to be a minor problem right now may only be the tip of the iceberg. And the holidays are the worst time for a breakdown to occur.

How to get your home plumbing system inspected

Get your home inspected by a local qualified plumber to make sure your plumbing system is working efficiently. Professional plumbers at O'Brien can schedule and perform reliable maintenance and inspection of your home plumbing system. Our experts will identify potential problems and provide a solution to prevent inconvenient breakdowns. Simply book online or click here to find your closest expert!

Emergency Plumbing Services

O'Brien Plumbing is always here for you in the event of a plumbing breakdown or emergency. Call your local O'Brien Plumber or find a branch near you!

Licences

O'Brien Group Services Pty Ltd | ACN 132 161 285 | NSW Lic. No 333269C | QLD Lic. No 15117259 (issued under the Queensland Building
and Construction Commission Act 1991) | ACT Lic. No. 201935 | SA Lic. No. PGE 291631 | NT Lic. No. C 9336 | TAS Lic. No. 15606548

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