There are actually two ways that properties administer their water supplies. These are put into two types. Should you ever experience a plumbing problem, but do not feel confident to do it yourself, you should call a professional service like Barbican Plumbers who can identify both systems.

Below is a brief guide to these two types of water delivery systems:

Direct Cold Water.
The Mains water supply will enter house under quite a pressure through a pipe called a rising main. The direct system instantly branches off to a very specific system of pipework. This pipework feeds water directly to the cold-water storage cylinder that is usually fitted in the loft, cold water taps and outlets inside and outside the property. These outlets are at the same pressure as the mains. There are direct systems that take all water from the mains and do not have a storage cylinder. This type of system has now, realistically been replaced by the indirect cold water system. Should you have a need to repair, change or expand your plumbing pipework it is critical to know whether or not you have a direct cold water system. You should also know the advantages and disadvantages of any system.

Indirect Cold Water.
The indirect cold water system is similar to the direct as it enters the property under the same high pressure of the mains, but then the rising main pipe splits into two. The first pipe serves the cold water tap in the kitchen. The second pipe feeds the cold water storage cylinder in the loft space

The whole water system in the house is fed (by gravity at a lower pressure) from this cold water storage cylinder. Broadgate Plumbersknow this system. As above should you need to repair modify or extend your plumbing, it is important to know what system you have. You should also need to be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of all systems

You take it for granted generally as it never does you anything wrong. However at some point during the life of your outside fitted pipework, it will almost certainly suffer a blockage, of whatever type, whether it is big or small. You could try and deal with this as a DIY project, or you could do the right thing and pass it over to a professional plumbing service likeBarbican Plumbers deal with all kinds plumbing problems. Unless of course you are confident and have some experience.

Cause:
Using the gutter and down pipes as examples then. The pipework on the outside of the house is there to take the water that falls as rain away and down the drain or gully that sits under the pipework at ground level. Unfortunately they will sometimes amass unwanted dust and debris like moss, which will after time form a kind of silt or sludge. Nothing, especially water will be able to get past this mess. Broadgate Plumbers are trained to unblock guttering and it’s associated pipework.

Unblock and Clear The Gutter:
This can be done by using a 4-5ft pole fitted with a curved piece on one end and of course you will need a ladder. Pushing the pole as far as possible down the gutter, dig the end in and pull the mess towards you and ditch in a bucket. Be careful using the ladder, and try never to carry out this task on your own.

Unblock and Clear The Rainwater Pipe:
The attached rainwater pipe can become blocked as well, which is difficult. A drainage spring up and down the pipework may do it. However if the pipe is plastic it is a better idea to dismantle it all and sort each section. It also means you can get off the ladder. This is an easier way of inspecting and clearing the whole length. This blockage is nearly always at the bottom of this pipe, causing the water to leak from the joints, this is pretty much caused by a blocked gully and can be simply hand cleared.

There are various valves in a water system, the purpose of these valves is to allow easy maintenance and repair work on your plumbing system.

Stop Valve.

A common example is usually found on the incoming mains water supply into your house. Usually located near where the supply enters the property this stop valve will isolate the supply to the whole house. If you have a cold water storage cistern, this will already be full so turning off the water at the mains stop valve won’t have any effect until the water in it has been used up. It is always a good idea to identify and mark your incoming mains water stop valve in case of an emergency. Barbican Plumbersrecognise all valves as standard.

Gate Valve.

These have a small wheel on the top of the spindle and this screws a wedge shaped gate in or out to close or open the supply. The gate moves in or out of the supply line rather than over an opening. The spindle on a gate valve doesn’t move up and down. Instead, the gate itself moves up and down the screwed thread at its base. Gate valves are normally installed on low pressure supplies.

Ball Valve.

This valve has a ball with a hole through its centre mounted in the supply line. The ball can be turned using a lever, or by a small screw head which can be turned up to 90 degrees which will allow the water to flow or will stop it. With the hole in line with the pipe work the water flows but with the hole at right angles the water is off. It is easy to see whether the valve is open or closed, just look at the lever or screw head, in line for “on” and across the line for “off “. This type is commonly found on washing machines recognised by Barbican Plumbers .

Drain Valve.

This valve is opened or closed by a washer arrangement inside. When using the valve, a hose may be connected to the outlet and secured with a jubilee clip to stop leaking. A common example is the drain valve fitted on the radiator pipe work in a central heating system. If you are flushing the central heating pipe work, this is the valve you will use. Drain valves should always be fitted at the lowest point in the system.

By-laws for the control of water exist to control plumbing work. If you are unsure about them or indeed what they are, contact your local water authority. There are, for example, requirements for valves like the anti syphon valve being fitted to some showers, where the shower head reaches below the top of a bath. Some work has to be certified and/or inspected. All work carried out by Barbican Plumbers is guaranteed.

You must comply with current Building Regulations and the I.E.E (Institute of Electrical Engineers) Wiring Regulations.The I.E.E Wiring Regulations cover  of plumbing installations and it is extremely important to follow these. It is very easy for this to be overlooked but its importance can be vital. Imagine, for example, that you have a plumbing emergency and have to replace a piece of copper pipe with a plastic pipe, or you use a plastic fitting to branch off a supply to a new washing machine. The result would be that a previously continuous earth along the pipe has been broken and part of the pipework was not earthed properly. Make good the earth continuity by linking an earth wire to a metal earth clamp on each side of the break. If you fit a sink or change a piece of pipe, it is vital to ensure that all the plumbing is bonded to earth.The relevance of the I.E.E. Wiring Regulations does not stop there. There are many instances when an electrical supply is required for the operation of an appliance for example, Electric showers and waste disposal units. Always ask for Professional help if you are unsure. Barbican Plumbers have expertise in all aspects of this work.earth bonding

After Installation.

To stop any contamination and/or damage to appliances, new pipe work must be flushed through before connecting to the system. This will stop the possibility of any debris being left behind in the plumbing installation.

Plumbing follows the basic laws of pressure and water finding its own level. With this knowledge, you can understand it and make lots of changes to your plumbing system. You can save yourself time, trouble, and money but also knowing that expert professionals like Barbican Plumbers are there to help.

The plumbing in your house is made up of two systems. One delivers freshwater, and the other discharges the dirty water out and away to the drain. Water coming into your house is under pressure. It enters your home under enough pressure to allow it to travel upstairs, around corners, or wherever else it’s needed. As water comes into your home, it passes through a water meter to register the volume you use. The main water shutoff, or stop valve is typically located close to this meter. In a plumbing emergency, it’s vital that you quickly close the main shutoff valve. Otherwise, when a pipe bursts, it can flood your house in no time. If the emergency is confined to a sink, tub, or toilet, however, you may not want to turn off your entire water supply. Therefore, most fixtures should have individual stop valves.

Water supplied from the mains is ready for your cold water requirements at once. The hot supply requires another step. One pipe takes water from the cold system to your water heater. From the heater, a hot water line takes the hot water to all the fixtures and appliances that need it. A thermostat on the heater keeps the temperature selected by turning the heating elements on and off. Some dishwashers may need higher temperature water, though many of these have a water heater within them that boosts the temperature another 20 degrees F. If you are not confident then you can call professionals like Broadgate Plumbers for help.

1. Know Your Valves.
Find out where you main stopcock is so that it can be switched off in an emergency. Barbican Plumbers can advise. Take the time to find out what other valves you have in the house and label them. Valves can seize up over time if they’re not used so get into the habit of turning them off and on again a couple of times a year to keep them in working order.

2. Deal with Drips.
Don’t leave a dripping tap. A perished washer in your water cistern is only going to fail eventually. If you need to use a wrench on items like taps, cover with an old rag first to prevent scratches. Don’t forget to isolate.

3. Look After Your Boiler.
Regular servicing of your boiler will ensure that it’s working at its best and safety checks will be carried out to make sure there are no poisonous gases. If you can see the flame in the boiler it should be blue, a yellow flame would indicate a problem. Only have work on your boiler carried out by a registered Plumber. If you have a pressurised system, check the pressure regularly to ensure it is within the Manufacturers specified range.

4. Guard Against Freezing.
Make sure any pipe work exposed to freezing conditions is properly lagged. Check pipes in the attic and basement if relevant. If you have an outside tap, isolate it during the cold weather.

5. Machine Hoses.
The flexible hoses connecting appliances like washing machines should be checked annually for signs of wear. They carry lots of water. Check the connections at each end of the hoses as well to make sure there are no drips.

Waste Outlets and Drains.
Waste water pipes should be checked at regular intervals. Bath and shower drains can block with hair. Many drains have a removable filter which can be cleaned easily. If you need to clear a drain use a plunger rather than chemicals. Outside drains van easily block with leaves etc. Fit a leaf guard if possible and run a hose to check flow once a year.

Hard Water.
Hard water areas develop lime scale deposits around taps and showerheads. Vinegar is a great solution for cleaning a lime scale build up. There are plenty of other areas where lime scale can build up, pipes, washing machines, dishwashers, boilers and heating systems. If your budget allows consider fitting a water softener.

Emergency Plumbing.
Be prepared is an old saying but it certainly applies here. If you know how to deal with a plumbing emergency you could save a lot of stress and expense. There’s a product called LLFA tape that can seal a split pipe – it might be worth keeping some in your toolbox. Broadgate Plumbers have a full emergency call out service.