Monday, December 20, 2010
Emergency drain cleaning in Canberra
Monday, November 8, 2010
What to do with blocked stormwater drains.
The first sign of a problem is likely to be your roof gutters overflowing. These will need to be checked for the build up of leafs, sticks and bird’s nests. You can clean them yourself with a dust broom and garden hose. However, given that most domestic injuries are ladder falls, it may be prudent to employ professionals to do it for you. We use and recommend a company called Gutter Vac
Once your gutters are clean check to see that water is draining down the downpipes. If they are not draining, tap the down-pipe with a rubber hammer handle along its length until you hear a hollow metal sound. This will tell you how much of the down-pipe is holding water. If all of the down-pipe is holding water you will need to cut a hole about 50mm in diameter at the very base of the down-pipe.
This will allow the water to drain out. You can than push a hose up into the down-pipe flushing any rubbish out as you go.
Once your downpipes are clear check that the stormwater drains are clear also. You can do this by running a garden hose down into the drain. Do this for about 5 minutes for each downpipe. If water begins to overflow out of the hole you have cut in the base of the downpipe it means that you have blocked stormwater drains.
You can attempt to push the hose into the drain until you cannot go any further. When you hit something hard, push the hose backwards and forwards a number of times as this may clear the blockage. You will know when your blocked stormwater drains are cleared as water will stop overflowing out of the base of the downpipes.
If the stormwater drain remains blocked you will need a licensed plumber or drainer with an electric eel or jetter to clear the blockage for you.
If you need help with blocked stormwater drains in Canberra or Queanbeyan you can obtain a list of licensed drainers and plumbers from The Master Plumbers Website, ACTPLA or you can call 6 Star Hot water and Plumbing on 61619417 for immediate help and advice for Blocked Drains Canberra.
www.hotwatersystems-plumbing.com.au/blocked-drains/
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Solar Hot water collector panels.
If you live in a rural area with severe frost should you choose a solar hot water system with water filled flat panels or evacuated tubes?
This is a commonly asked question by nearly every person looking to purchase a solar hot water system regardless of whether they live in town or out of town.
At 6 Star Hot Water and Plumbing Canberra our experience has shown that there is no real difference between the water filled flat panels and the evacuated tube solar hot water systems.
Both types of hot water systems have an electronic frost protection function. This function is set to automatically turn on the small solar pump which normally circulates water from the solar collectors into the solar storage tank. This is based on the principal that flowing water will freeze at a significantly lower temperature than static water.
This circulating water protects the collectors and the solar circulating pipes between the collectors and the solar storage tank from freezing.
The electronic frost protection system also allows the warmer water from the base of the solar hot water storage tank to circulate through the pipes and collectors.
Because evacuated tube systems only have electronic frost protection the solar circulating pipes between the collectors and the solar storage tank are more susceptible to freezing. Freezing in the solar circulating pipes will occur if any one of the circulating pump, solar control pad or sensors malfunction. In particular, cockatoos like chewing through the sensor wire connected to the collector sensor.
However, this does not mean that evacuated tubes are less suited to rural areas than water filled flat panel collectors.
Water filled flat panel connectors require a secondary frost protection system as a backup for the electronic frost protection system. Though, this is does not always help.
The secondary frost protection system on a water filled flat panelled system relies on water pressure to prevent the panels from freezing and cracking.
The secondary system required for a flat panelled system in frost prone areas is called an anti frost valve. The anti frost valve opens to let water, which is pressurised by your domestic pressure pump, to flow through the panels and onto the roof surface when the water in the panels drops below 2 degrees Celsius. This is likely to occur if the circulating pump, solar control pad or sensors malfunction. The anti frost valve’s purpose is the based on the same principles as the electronic frost protection function.
However, if you live in a rural location and you rely on an electric pump for your domestic pressurised water, you could find yourself in big trouble. Especially if you get a heavy frost and a blackout at the same time.
While the anti frost valve may open during a blackout, your electronic frost protection will not work and your domestic pressure pump will not supply pressurised water to the panels. Therefore the water in the panels will be static. Not only can your panels freeze and crack so can your solar circulating pipes.
If you would like more information to help you choose a solar hot water system you can contact 6 Star Hot Water and Plumbing.
Just follow the links for installing solar hot water systems within Canberra rural regions.
Ask us for a quote on line or speak to a qualified tradesman now by calling 61619417
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Solar Hot Water system, what to look for
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Electric hot water systems
Friday, July 30, 2010
Continuous Flow Hot Water
Thursday, July 22, 2010
About 6 Star Hot Water & plumbing, Canberra
Saturday, July 17, 2010
How to deal with blocked drains in your sewerage system
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
How To Fix Leaking toilets
Friday, June 11, 2010
Plumbers Canberra
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Dripping taps and Leaking taps - how to fix them in Canberra?
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Electric Hot Water Heaters Tips
- same day electric hot water heater
- system repairs to Dux, Radiant, Aquamax, Vulcan, Everhot, Rheem , electric hot water systems and heaters
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Tips for solar hot water and Heat pumps, Canberra
Tips for Blocked Drains in Canberra
Don’t use root pellets, tablets or chemicals to unblock or un-choke your sewer or stormwater drain. They only remove the fine tree roots. The larger tree roots continue to grow and eventually become too big for an electric eel and jet roding machine. The end result is a very expensive dig up of your drains.
Always use a licensed plumber, preferably a member of the Master Plumber’s Drainer’s, and Gas Fitter’s Association of the ACT, to unblock your drains. This is the least expensive way to maintain your sewer or stormwater drains.
If you are interested to comment or find out more about Blocked Drains in Canberra go to
hotwatersystems-plumbing.com.au/blocked-drains