Caroma Water Wafers – Concealed Cisterns
January 31, 2010 by yoursydneyplumber
Filed under Bathroom Plumbing, Toilet Plumbing
Concealed cisterns are back in vogue. The Caroma Water Wafer seems to be the dominant model that is being installed. Now that these cisterns have been around for a while we are coming across them a lot more for general maintenance. I won’t lie, these cisterns are real buggers to service, we find only 50% of the ones we service have been installed with adequate service access. These things can never be totally hidden, so access from the rear or top is an essential requirement.
The Caroma Water Wafer uses a pneumatic flush switch. The benefit to this being you can install the buttons up to four meters away from the actual hidden cistern.
With this sort of technology comes specialized training to provide service and repair options for these cisterns. As usual, here at Highlander Plumbing we have pulled these things apart from all angles, we know the main problems, we know where to quickly get the parts and most importantly, once we repair them our lifetime labour warranty applies.
Lucky for us not too many Plumbers know how to fix these cisterns. We have lost count of how many of these cisterns we have now repaired after customers had already had plumbers attempt to fix them.
Lastly, keep in mind: these cisterns are expensive, the parts are not cheap either, we will never use non genuine parts to repair one.
Your Sydney Plumber is brought to you by Highlander Plumbing, Sydney plumbers with the experience & know-how to handle all your plumbing needs. Whether you need help with clearing a blocked drain, hot water systems & tanks, gasfitting, rainwater tanks or many other plumbing services…Highlander are Sydney plumbers you can trust!
Beware of the illegal bum washers!
September 21, 2009 by yoursydneyplumber
Filed under Toilet Plumbing
OK, I have your attention. No, there isn’t a rogue group walking the streets and washing bottoms without a permit. There is a large amount of imported products on the market designed to retro fit to an existing toilet and give you the ability to have the function of a bidet, without installing a bidet.
Bidet Toilet Seats
We have seen many of these spray hoses over the last month. None of them comply with Australian Standards; therefore, none of them carry the Watermark approval rating mark. For a licensed Plumber in Australia, this means we are not allowed to install them.
Why make a big deal you ask? Why not fit them you ask?
“We bought them on a trip overseas – everyone has them there!”
Well let’s start with the Watermark issue. If a product fails to meet our tough Australian Standards it’s for a good reason. Generally, if the product is of poor build quality, uses inferior materials in construction, maybe it’s not rated to take the pressure that our cold water supply is delivered. What ever the reason, the Australian Standard is there to protect the Australian public. If one of these hoses bursts under the pressure and floods your house, then an insurance company would be within its rights to reject a claim for damage.
The next issue is the serious health issue of cross connection. I will be brief on describing what cross connection is. Cross connection is the risk of contaminants entering the fresh water supply. The level of risk is graded. The fitting of one of these flexible bum washing sprays is high. Why is it high you ask? Well, imagine if you did your business (a number 2), pulled out your spray and gave the downstairs a good old rinse and accidentally dropped the nozzle into the bowl and into your fresh work – we would have a major cross connection on our hands.
There are 3 levels of cross connection prevention devices that can remove the risk of a cross connection. They are a group of valves that strain the water and allow the water to only flow in one direction. If a bum washer was installed, then you would need to protect your house from cross connection, the risk is high, so a large RPZ valve would be needed between the bum washer and everything else. These valves are large and very expensive, so who knows where it will go in your bathroom. The water supply may also need to be protected from the house now too, so another valve may have to be fitted to your water meter – just so you don’t make any of your neighbors sick.
Starting to sound ludicrous and not worth the hassle? Good, that’s the idea.
Bidets are approved, always have been, so why not install one if you really want that fresh feeling!
How come the bidet isn’t a cross connection risk you ask? Simple… a bidet has a fixed spout with an air gap between the spout and the drain below – no worries!
Anyway, the moral of the story is – while on holidays, think before you buy that bum sprayer – no one will install it.
Your Sydney Plumber is brought to you by Highlander Plumbing, Sydney plumbers with the experience & know-how to handle all your plumbing needs. Whether you need help with clearing a blocked drain, hot water systems & tanks, gasfitting, rainwater tanks or many other plumbing services…Highlander are Sydney plumbers you can trust!
Cisterns…how many litres is enough?
August 18, 2009 by yoursydneyplumber
Filed under Toilet Plumbing
A Big Stink is Looming…
It’s July 09 and we see a big problem slowly rolling towards us. In fact, this problem is rolling too slow and may stop along the way. No, we are not talking in code; we are worried about a basic issue of how many litres it takes to flush number ones and number twos.
Before we dive into this problem (sorry, that image in the film “Slum Dog Millionaire” flashed in my mind) we have to let you know that we are certified enviroplumbers, we care about water wastage, so what we are about to write is in no way “green bashing”.
Around the late nineties we were told that no longer would 11 litre flushing cisterns be sold. The 11 litre single flush cistern was the most common cistern around. Very soon after that we were told that the next step down, being the 9 litre cistern was being taken from production too.
Dual Flush Toilet Cisterns
Government insisted we start installing dual flush cisterns. The new dual flush cistern used 3 litres for a half flush and 6 litres for a full flush.
What a lot of people didn’t realise was that their new dual flush cisterns wouldn’t work when they were retro fitted to an old pan that was designed to take 9 or 11 litre flushes. This would cue the customer call:
When I use the toilet I have to flush it five times for everything to get flushed away!
This really defeated the purpose of saving water. The fact was: an entire new suite was required – the pan and the cistern.
So why did we have to bang on about a very brief history of flush capacities you ask?
Well the problem is, there are still lots of old water wasting 11 litre toilet suites out there, and there are still plenty of 9 litre water wasting toilet suites out there. And even worse, there are plenty of miss matched dual flush toilets and 11 litre pans out there.
This problem is now about to get worse… a lot worse.
You see, as drain clearing, drain fault diagnosing and drain repair specialists, we are noticing our drain clearing arm is busy… very busy. We thinks it’s no fluke that sewer blockages are on the way up as these new water saving toilets appear in more locations.
Caroma Smart Flush Toilet Suites
In about 2007 Caroma introduced its “Smart flush” range. This new range of toilet suites were only going to use, wait for it, 4.5 litres for a full flush and 3 for a half flush.
We could be cynics and declare the Smart flush toilets the greatest thing to ever happen to drain clearers, but that wouldn’t do the customer any good.
The Facts
What is needed are some facts right between the eyes. Caroma may bury some of these in the fine print section. We will just give you some basic tips. If you have an old house with original sewer, do not even consider installing a Smart flush toilet suite. Stick with suites that use 6 litres for full flush. We think even 6 litres for a full flush is pushing it for a house with an original sewer.
If you live in a new house or an old with a new, perfectly graded, PVC sewer system, then go for it, knock your socks off and install Smart flush gear everywhere. You will be saving bucket loads of water.
We have just learned that Caroma and Fowler are phasing out a lot of their 6/3 dual flush cisterns. In fact, at the time of writing, we have found that Caroma are only manufacturing 2 styles of 6/3 cisterns and everything else will be 4.5/3. This cuts down the customers’ choice significantly.
We had a customer accidentally break a ceramic cistern last week. It was a 6/3 Caroma. She didn’t want a plastic cistern and didn’t like the look of the new Caroma cistern that we could have retro fitted. Her house already had a dodgy sewer history, so in the end she we supplied and installed a new Kohler toilet suite that was a 6/3.
Before you buy a new toilet…
The moral of the story is before you buy something speak to us. See what will work in your house first. We think the Smart flush options from Caroma are fantastic, but we are annoyed they are not running more styles in the 6/3 range. We want you to be thinking about possible blockages. If you really want to install water saving toilet suites and you have an old sewer system, then give us a call to quote you a new sewer system. Removing drain clearing costs and potential water savings are two things to consider.
Your Sydney Plumber is brought to you by Highlander Plumbing, Sydney plumbers with the experience & know-how to handle all your plumbing needs. Whether you need help with clearing a blocked drain, hot water tank installations, gasfitting, rain water tanks or many other plumbing services…Highlander are Sydney plumbers you can trust!
Home Plumbing
May 19, 2009 by yoursydneyplumber
Filed under Home Plumbing
When it comes to home plumbing, you always have two options: call a professional plumber or do it yourself. Small home plumbing repairs do not usually need the services of a professional plumber. With a little effort, you can learn to fix the small repairs required in your house without spending money on a professional plumber.
When you start out to do your home plumbing yourself, start with small and easy projects. Try fixing a leaky tap or changing a valve before you take on more complicated DIY projects. Ensure that you are equipped with the basic knowledge required to fix the problem and only venture to solve the problem if you are sure of the correct procedures. If in doubt, you should consult a professional Sydney plumbing company before starting your project.
Before you start handling the small plumbing problems yourself, you need to be equipped with a toolkit. Start out with some basic tools like wrenches, spanners, nuts, bolts, tape, etc. Ensure that your toolkit always has torchlight and a spare set of batteries.
Before setting out to solve any home plumbing problems, first ensure that you have assessed the situation correctly. Identify the fault and the solution to the problem. Identify all the materials you will need to fix the problem and ensure that all of them are handy. Disconnect the faulty part of the plumbing before trying to fix it. Ensure that the water and power supply are switched off while you fix your plumbing problem.
It is also important to be able to recognise when you do need the services of a professional plumber. If and when you do decide to call in a professional plumber, ensure that you are getting the most energy efficient and long term solution. If you are going to incur the cost of a professional plumber, ensure that you get a highly skilled, qualified, licensed and insured plumber.
Your Sydney Plumber is brought to you by Highlander Plumbing…Sydney Plumbers with the experience & know-how to handle all your plumbing needs. Whether you need help with clearing a blocked drain, hot water tank installations, gasfitting or rainwater tanks…Highlander are Sydney plumbers you can trust!
Kitchen Plumbing
March 17, 2009 by yoursydneyplumber
Filed under Kitchen Plumbing
Kitchen plumbing is one of the most important parts of the kitchen layout to your home. Most modern kitchens use a simple plumbing system that includes cold and hot water pipes, a waste disposal line adjoining to the sink, and a gas supply for cookers and other gas appliances.
Some more advanced kitchens include waste disposal units, water treatment and filter systems, ice and juice makers, dishwashers, and instant hot water. These are all usually connected to the sink’s plumbing system.
Generally the visible DIY part of the plumbing system is located under the sink in a cupboard or base unit for easy access. The majority of blockages can be fixed here without further help. Gas is usually served nearby, although gas systems can vary a great deal. Its control usually occurs through the gas valve, placed at floor level, behind tiles, at the back of a cupboard or in a protected unit.
Below the sink in the easy access area are two small valves that control the on and off mechanism to the hot and cold water supply; this helps for repair, so you don’t get flooded. These shut off valves control the supply of hot and cold water to the taps, although some old buildings don’t have these installed. Flexible supply tubes aid the linkage between valves and the tap, as well as other kitchen appliances like dishwashers and washing machines that use extended springy plastic tubing to deliver water. Almost all connecting piping and bolts can be purchased from a DIY store.
Kitchen plumbing is rather straightforward at the visible level, and the installation of water based appliances and sink units can be done without professional help, although if severe blockages occur it is best to contact a professional Sydney plumber, who has all the necessary tools and know-how to go deeper in to the system to locate the problem. Old homes often face maintenance issues due to general wear and tear, and the erosion and ceasing up of pipes.
Your Sydney Plumber is brought to you by Highlander Plumbing…Sydney Plumbers with the experience & know-how to handle all your plumbing needs. Whether you need help with clearing a blocked drain, hot water tank installations, gasfitting or rainwater tanks…Highlander are Sydney plumbers you can trust!
Bathroom Plumbing
March 15, 2009 by yoursydneyplumber
Filed under Bathroom Plumbing
Bathroom plumbing is one of the most of important aspects of maintaining your home. If it is done wrong it can cause all sorts problems, from damp patches to complete structural degradation. If it is done correctly your home, no matter how busy, can run smoothly for many years.
When considering your bathroom plumbing solutions, price is a huge factor. If you live alone or with a partner then you may be able to get away with the cheaper materials, because you’re unlikely to use the facilities as often as a large family. On the flip side, a large family will need a high quality advanced solution to maintain the needs of constant use. Cheaper materials will work, but after a few years you may end up in a never ending cycle of repairs, which will end up costing far more than installing a sturdy system to begin with. You must also consider your plumbing as a selling point when putting your house on the market at a later date.
It is highly recommended that you hire a professional plumber to install or repair your bathroom plumbing, but it is something you can do yourself with great caution. Before starting, you’ll need to ensure you measure your facilities accurately and purchase all of the correct size pipes and fittings. You will also need to consider the hot water system, and that your tank is big enough to meet your family’s requirements. A small tank will cause the larger family to end up having cold showers if several people use it during the day.
You also need to remember that plumbing is not like putting up a flat pack table. Every bolt and fitting must be sealed with plumber’s tape and wound as tight as possible to prevent leakage. You don’t want your bathtub caving in through the ceiling.
If bathroom plumbing is beyond your DIY capabilities there are many qualified plumbers in Sydney that can remodel, install, repair and evaluate your plumbing for you. If money is an issue, be sure to agree on a fixed price, rather than a quote or per hour rate.
Your Sydney Plumber is brought to you by Highlander Plumbing…Sydney Plumbers with the experience & know-how to handle all your plumbing needs. Whether you need help with clearing a blocked drain, hot water tank installations, gasfitting or rainwater tanks…Highlander are Sydney plumbers you can trust!