Tag: Plumbing Services Dubai

Knowing how to find leaks in pipes helps pinpoint the exact location of many plumbing issues. Homeowners can take timely action even before plumbers arrive and prevent further harm. However, some leaks aren’t in plain sight, and finding them without damaging certain areas of your home in the process can be challenging.

How to track down leaks in a house

Checking water bills

Since homeowners usually receive nearly identical numbers on their water bills, seeing a much higher bill can point to a water leak somewhere. Average families generally use up to 12,000 water gallons every month, except for the summer (lawns and garden irrigation needs). However, if there’s a leak in the house, over 10,000 water gallons can be wasted a year. Look for spikes in water bills to detect potential leaks.

Ask the water meter

If water bills have suddenly gone up, but your water consumption has remained the same, it’s time to examine the water meter and see if there are significant fluctuations. Here’s how to do it:

1. While outside, turn off all water sources, such as the garden hose. Also, turn off the water supply for the inside before checking the meter.
2. Look closely at the meter’s leak indicator and see if there’s any movement. The hand typically has a triangular shape, but it can also resemble a silver wheel that rotates when water flows.
3. If either dial is rotating even after turning the water supply off, the chances are that there’s a leak.
4. To check if anything’s changed, take a second reading and wait for up to two hours.

Inspect faucets

Once you’ve verified that there’s a leak by checking the water meter, it’s time to inspect potential culprits. The first stop is the faucets.

If the leak is indeed coming from a faucet, shut down the water from under the sink, or turn off the main cut-off valve. Then, reach the gasket by removing the faucet handles. Find a replacement for the gasket at a local hardware or home improvement store and get the proper tools to replace the item, or call your local plumber.

Check the toilet

The next step in detecting leaks is the toilet. It’s a common cause of leaks, and it often goes unnoticed. But given that it can waste hundreds of water gallons, addressing the toilet’s state is necessary. Here’s how to check if there are leaks in the toilet:

1. Remove the tank lid.
2. Pour several drops of food color into the tank. You can also purchase some dye tabs and use them instead of food color.
3. Allow the color to saturate the water in the toilet. Wait about half an hour without flushing.
4. If any color penetrates the tank and enters the bowl, there’s likely a leak.

Usually, all it takes to fix such leaks is to replace the flapper. It has most likely deteriorated over time or cracked, causing water to penetrate the bowl inconspicuously and steadily.

Wall or ceiling leaks

These leaks can go unnoticed until they result in severe discoloration or staining. Thankfully, most of these leaks can be spotted with a simple visual inspection. Check if some regions of the ceiling or walls contain small stains or discoloration. Moisture can lead to mold, so try to find some visible parts of mold or detect it by following its musty smell.

The moment you notice signs of wall or ceiling leaks, get professional help.  Prolonged exposure to moisture can make entire sections of walls and ceilings cave in.

Check for underground leaks

If there’s an area near your yard that’s continuously wet even when it’s not raining, this is a sign of a potential leak. Be on the lookout for sections that contain dark spots or areas that are softer than the rest.

Act fast

If you suspect that there’s a leak somewhere in the household, apply the detection methods described and reach out to professional plumbers to take care of your plumbing issues.

By Richa Khandelwal

The roof provides protection from the weather and negligence to its repair may bring big damage. It prevents the home from the harsh weather so it is imperative to keep an eye on its maintenance. The roof is the upper part that is out of the sight, therefore most of us do not think about its cleanliness or repair. Regular inspection of the roof maintains it as well as increases the life expectancy of the overall house. Roof maintenance is not a difficult task but it will be good if you call the professional for check or seek professional advice.

 

Check the ventilation:

Vents are important as they keep the proper circulation of the air inside the house. Closed vents may build up trash around which can damage the roof from inside. Moreover, the moisture caused by the blockage will give place to the plants that grow in humid places. Check the vents frequently so that you could not experience other problems.

 

The growth of moss:

Mosses mostly nest in the shady areas of the roofs that are covered with tiles. These are small plants with no flowers. If you notice this sort of growth on the roof, clean it immediately. It may seem like they are harmless but in fact, mosses are the chief source of moisture that is absorbed by the tiles and eventually damage them. You can brush off the mosses easily with a broom on any nice weather day.

 

Drainage pipes:

These pipes run down the water especially in the season of rainfall. If there is any barrier to proper drainage, chances of the roof and inner wall damage will rise. Persistent leakage or complete blockage both lead to the moisture absorbance by the roof and walls that will make them frail and susceptible to bigger damage. Different materials for pipes are available as steel, iron, zinc, PVC, and others. It is recommended to use the material of the pipes as required.

 

Roof tiles:

With time or depending on the weather, roof tiles become cracked or broken. You can go up the roof and check for the damaged tiles for a full view. But be careful and prepared before going on the roof. Wear shoes of good gripping and take a ladder and ropes for safety. If you are not feeling comfortable in doing the inspection by yourself, call the professionals. They will do their job with proficiency and give useful advice for maintenance.

 

General inspection of any damage:

Now it’s time to finally check the roof from each aspect. Spot any water patch or circle, any stain of rot or growth and tiles if they move from the actual place. There are many protective methods to keep the loft insulated and away from damage. These methods keep the roof safe and your bills cost low.

 

To find any advice related to the residential and commercial property maintenance, contact Alotechnical – handyman Services Company in Dubai-UAE. It also provides expert handyman services, capable to diagnose the problem and repair with expertise.

Drain clogging or leaked pipes? We often think of ourselves as a professional for solving these small plumbing problems. But in reality, we do not have any sort of training in setting wrong faults to right. With little or no knowledge of plumbing we only make the problem worst and devastating for ourselves. In this blog, you can read about common mistakes in plumbing.

 

1- Using Wrong Tools:

There are different types of plumbing work and each requires a separate set of working tools. At home, we generally do not have right tools to work or fix a problem. Plumbing jobs require specific tools and techniques to restore any problem. Call the professional as they have knowledge and expertise in doing tasks.

 

2- Poor Drain Slope:

Perfectly angled drain slope causes the drain pipe to take away water and solid waste properly. If the pipe is over sloped (i.e greater than ½ inch per feet) the solid will remain behind causing the clog of waste and liquid will flow as liquid flows faster than solid. The ideal slope is ¼ in per feet.

 

3- No Traps and Vents:

Traps and vents are there for keeping a barrier between living space and sewage system. The trap is also important to keep the vermin and toxic gases away. A-P shape vent is most appropriate for sink drains.

 

4- No Proper Vent for Combustion Air: 

Especially in the basement, heating installations and other appliances do not get sufficient space for venting out harmful combustion gases. An open space should be left according to the requirement for the exhaustion of bad air.

 

5- Out of Reach Clean-Outs: 

Clean-outs are usually needed at the base of each sanitary stack. Inaccessible clean-outs make it difficult for cleaners to fully do the cleaning jobs. Adequate space must be maintained for ease in cleaning.

 

6- Flat Venting:

An improperly installed dry vent can lead to the trapping of dirt or the sediment in the pipe. Dry and wet vent are related to air system and clogging of pipe creates a barrier for fresh air to flow in and dirty air to vent out.

 

7- Temperature and Pressure Relief Vales: 

The water heater has the installation of pressure and temperature devices. Without these protective devices, the failed thermostat will show rise in pressure leading the tank to burst and hot water to flow out.

 

8- Connection of Unrelated Pipes:

Metal pipes should be used that do not interact with each other in an appropriate manner or otherwise they will cause early corrosion, breaking and other faults.

 

9- Improper Air Gaps:

To prevent a mixing of clean and wastewater, a suitable distance should be maintained between flood lines and water spouts.

 

10- Spaces Around Toilets: 

An ideal placement of toilet is 18 inches away from the front wall and 15 inches from the side walls.

 

Alotechnical is a leading plumbing company in Dubai proffers a range of technician services including expert plumbing services at affordable prices. Professional and trained plumbers Dubai done the job either small or big efficiently in time.