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How to Prevent a Sink Choke in Your Home

As the saying goes: Prevention is better than cure. The same rule applies to your household maintenance. The home drain also falls under such maintenance requirement, especially so if you do cook frequently. This is because there will be oil that are poured down your sink into your drain after yo are done with your cooking. So with this in mind here are some tips on how you can do some weekly maintenance on your sink drainage line.

  1. Filter: Yes it is that simple. Ensure there is a filter (which you can buy easily at any hardware store for less than $2) in place before washing your dishes. 
  2. Pour hot water down your drain every week or alternate week. One of the main reason for a sink choke is because of oil residues that has harden over time. To increase the effectiveness, consider pouring baking soda and vinegar in prior to pouring the hot water.
  3. Clear your bottle trap every 6 month. To do this, all you have to do is unscrew the bottle trap below your sink. Once unscrewed, pour the residual away and hand tighten back the bottle trap.
  4. Pour small amount of chemical declogger that you can purchase of the shelves at NTUC every now and than as part of the maintenance of your sink.

As seen above, taking care of your sink is not really hard. All it takes is just some effort to prevent residuals from flowing down into the pipe and occasional work to prevent the oil from clogging up your pipe. We hope with this your family will have less chances of being bogged down by a sink choke in the future.

Should a choke still occur, you can always call for a plumber to visit your place. Clearing of chokes tend to be in the range of $70-200. 

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Plumbing 101: The Home Owner Guide to Good Plumbing Practice

Did you just get your keys to your flat? If so, the next step is probably your renovation. With regards to plumbing work, it is possible to break down the plumbing industry into 2 different type (this is not officially recognise but those in the industry will be able to relate)

  1. Renovation work plumber: plumber’s in such category works with renovation firm to provide plumbing work during the renovation process.
  2. Repair work plumber: we can call such plumber’s post renovation plumber too as they specialise in solving plumbing problems that occur after the renovation work is done and is more likely due to wear and tear.

We at plumbersg.com specialises in plumbing repair work. Whilst we do not do much renovation plumbing work, this articles is written so as to inform you what to note during your renovation phase with regards to plumbing so as to ensure that future maintenance of your home plumbing would be easier and hopefully less costly for you.

There will be 3 topics of focus in this article and each would be written in 2 parts. For HDB owners and Private property owners:

  1. concealed pipes
  2. stop valves
  3. storage water heaters

1. Concealed Pipes:

Condo –  In most condo, there are pipes that are running in your wall as well as above your false ceiling. While there is nothing much you can do should your pipes be in your wall, but for those above false ceiling, it is a good practice should you be buying a resale flat, to replace the pipes above your false ceiling during your renovation phase. When such work is done it is proper to check with your contractor that all the pipes are replaced not those which are easily accessible only.

We have encountered clients whom claim that the pipes have been replaced during their renovation just a year or 2 back. However upon further checking we realise that the pipes replaced are only those which are easier to do / access. This resulted in the false ceiling being cut open again (which causes a lot of mess).

HDB –  For HDB resale flats, the conceal pipe we are talking about would usually only involve the pipes which are running behind your kitchen cabinet. This is crucial for any would be home owner as if any such pipes leaks would probably mean cutting up or dismantling of cabinet in order to access the pipe (such work are usually considered major). A small tip we can advice here is to have a portion of pipe exposed before going into the cabinet. See picture below:

As you can see certain portion of the pipe is exposed before going into the cabinet. By having such pipes exposed, should the internal hidden pipes start to leak, you can bypass them in the future by tapping onto the exposed pipe.

For BTO or newer flats, most pipes are in the walls and as such there is not much work you can do with them during your renovation phase.

2. Stop Valves

Also known as stop cock, valves, mini ball valves etc. This is a crucial component in your pipe work. What they do is help stop the water supply to certain portion of you homes. As such if you have them properly installed in your home, should a pipe or tap burst, you can isolate the problem without switching off your main water supply and thus cutting water supplies to your home. The image below shows how a stop valve should look like in your home.

Where they should be placed: ideal places to be placed depends on how the pipes are running in your home but typically they should be near your water outlets (Tap) point so as to help you in the case of tap burst. Using this theory you can formulate where the valve should be. For example:

case study 1 –  the pipes of both toilet shares 1 water inlet point. You can have a valve before the pipe runs to the 2nd toilet so that should any issue occur in your 2nd toilet, your 1st toilet would still have water supply.

case study 2 – the main water inlet pipe splits into 2 by using a T-joint. 1 pipe line leads to the toilet and 1 to the kitchen. As such you should have your valve for both point to isolate them in the event of a pipe burst in either.

Also do remember your toilet bowl (they are considered a water outlet point too). There must be a stop valve next to the toilet bowl water supply.

3. Storage Water Heater:

Condo –  most condo have their storage heater above the false ceiling. During your renovation planning it is essential to consider that your heater would have to be replaced at some point in the future (usually within the next 5-10 years). As such it is important to plan for the time when such work has to be done. In your plans do consider if there is enough space for the heater to be removed, if there are other pipes such as sewage pipe blocking the access of the heater. Do remember it is easy to install the heater before the false ceiling is done as there are loads of space but once the false ceiling is done, the space above it is extremely limited.

Beside that do note that all storage heater do have a pressure release valve which is a safety feature that is essential. The pressure release valve do release hot water from the tank in the event that the pressure in the tank is too high. We have seen renovation contractor that either plug up the release valve or link the release valve to a fake drainage point.  Here is how you can check on this issue:

  1. most release valve have a manual release lever.
  2. turn on the lever and water should flow our from the tank out of the valve.
  3. most condo unit would have pipe from such outlet leading to the drainage point.
  4. physically hear the sound of the water flowing into a pipe and down into your floortrap below.
  5. open your floor trap there should be signs of water flowing. This is crucial as we have encounter pipes that flows into a dead end and not into the floor trap.

With the 3 points mentioned above, we hope that by practising such good practice to your plumbing work, you would be able to save time and money in the future.

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When to Set Up an Appointment for Plumber Services in Singapore

If you are like most homeowners across the Singapore, you may regularly use the plumbing features in your home without much thought. For example, you may turn the faucets on in your kitchens and bathrooms or flush your toilets without a second thought. However, for many homeowners, there will be times when these features require your attention. While some homeowners may take a do-it-yourself approach to addressing some of their plumbing concerns, there are benefits associated with using the skilled, knowledgeable services of a professional plumber. In fact, you can set up an appointment for plumber services in Singapore during several key times to enjoy considerable benefits in your home.

At the First Sign of Repair Issues
There are many signs that you may notice in your home that may indicate the need for professional plumber services in Singapore. For example, you may notice signs of a water leak, a clogged toilet or drain, a broken faucet or other types of issues. When plumbing features are not repaired promptly and with skill, the fact is that they can result in a number of costly issues for the property owner. For example, depending on the repair issue, property damage, mold growth and water waste may occur, and these may result in significant expenses for the homeowner. Therefore, at the first sign of even a seemingly minor repair issue, you should set up an appointment for plumber services in Singapore.

For Stylish Upgrades
Plumbing features are primarily functional in a home. For example, faucets can be turned on and off as needed to control the flow of water in sinks, tubs and showers. However, many plumbing features are also stylish by design. The look of the faucets can have a significant impact on the style of the entire room. When these features are damaged, outdated or otherwise unstylish, you may be ready to make an upgrade. Plumber services in Singapore can be used to replace everything from toilets and sinks to faucets, tubs and more. With professional plumber services in Singapore, you can set up an appointment for the rapid installation of these features, and you can rest assured that they will be installed correctly with minimal time.

When You Want to Reduce Water Consumption
The type of water features installed in your home can play a major role in water consumption. You may be concerned about the state of the environment, the cost of your water bill or both, and reducing water consumption can have an impact on both of these areas. With plumbing technician in Singapore, you can replace older water features that may result in unnecessary water waste. For example, plumber services in Singapore may be used for installing a low-flow toilet, a low-flow water faucet or even a tankless hot water heater. A plumber may install the features that you select, or you may ask the plumber to make recommendations in your home for reducing water consumption.

Water features in your home may be found in the kitchen, the bathrooms, the laundry room and even outside the home. In addition, pipes my run through most walls in the home to deliver clean water to you and to remove waste water from the property. Singapore plumber services can be used to repair these features when they become damaged, and you should contact a plumber as soon as you notice signs of damage. In addition, you can also set up plumber services in Singapore to make upgrades to your home for aesthetic benefits, water conservation or both. You can contact a plumbing company today to request an appointment for the plumber services in Singapore that you need, and you can benefit from a rapid response to your request for service.

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Do You Really Need to Work With a Singapore Plumbing Technician?

Many homeowners today have a do-it-yourself mentality, and they want to make repairs and improvements to their property on their own. Some may get a great feeling by pouring sweat equity into their home, and others may simply have the desire to save money by doing the work themselves. When it comes to plumbing repairs and upgrades, however, there are some sound reasons why you need to contact a Singapore plumbing technician to your home.

The Right Tools for the Job
There are a wide range of projects and services that you can turn to a Singapore plumbing technician for. With some projects, such as service on a break in the sewer line, you may automatically turn to a Singapore plumbing technician for assistance without a second thought. For smaller projects, however, such as a leaky pipe, you may consider doing the work on your own. The fact is that a Singapore plumbing technician can arrive at your home in a timely manner with all of the tools and equipment needed to complete the work. These may be tools that can be used to diagnose a problem area quickly and easily, and some may also make repairs or other services faster and easier to complete. You may be able to purchase some of these tools at a local hardware store, but it generally is more cost-effective to turn to a plumber in Singapore for assistance with your plumbing needs.

The Skills and Expertise of a Singapore Plumbing Technician
A Singapore plumbing technician will arrive at your home with all of the tools and equipment needed to complete the work, and he will also have the skills and experience that you can rely on for superior results. Through the Internet, you may be able to read step-by-step instructions about how to complete certain projects, such as installing a water faucet or unclogging a toilet. However, these instructions are often rudimentary and difficult to understand. Furthermore, nothing compares to the benefits associated with having a skilled, professional Singapore plumbing service completing the job for you. The Singapore plumbing technician will actively employ his expertise to provide you with fast results.

Ensuring the Work is Done Right
Whether you need the services of a Singapore plumbing technician for a repair or a plumbing improvement in your home, you want to make sure that the work is done right the first time. Plumbing issues can result in costly water waste. Some issues can have a negative impact on the condition of your home when they are not addressed quickly and correctly. For example, when a leaky pipe takes too long to fix or when the leak is not repaired correctly on the first attempt, water damage, water waste and even mold growth in the home may occur. The truth is that many plumbing tasks appear to be easier than they are, and you do not want to learn the hard way that your repair or plumbing improvement project is a bigger task than you thought it would be. When you are challenged by a plumbing chore on your property, one of the best steps that you can take is to reach out to a Singapore plumbing technician to ensure that the job is done right the first time.

Regardless of the task at hand, there are clear benefits associated with turning to a trusted and reliable Singapore plumbing technician to get the job done. A Singapore plumber service technician can travel to your property in a timely manner to complete the work efficiently and effectively. Simply contact the plumbing office today to request an appointment, and a plumber will respond to your request for assistance quickly.

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What to Expect From Professional Singapore Plumbing Services

There are many types of plumbing issues that may develop in a home over the years. These may range from everything from a slowly dripping faucet to a backed up sewer line that results in sewage flowing into your home. While some needs may be non-urgent and others may require an immediate response from Singapore plumbing services, you may be wondering what to expect when you call a plumber for help in your home. There are several steps in the repair process for most plumbing issues.

A Fast Response for Singapore Plumbing Service
When you reach out to a local plumber for assistance with Singapore plumbing services for your home, it is important to work with a reliable and established plumbing company that can give you a fast response to your request for service. Even non-urgent plumbing issues, such as a dripping faucet or a toilet that runs for no apparent reason, can waste water. Some issues, such as a slow leak in a pipe in the wall, can result in property damage and mold growth. Working with a company that will respond to requests for Singapore plumbing services is imperative, and you can rest assured that you will soon receive the professional assistance that you need to remedy your current plumbing issues.

An Accurate Diagnosis for Your Plumbing Issues
Some homeowners will call a professional plumber for Singapore plumbing services to make upgrades or improvements to their home. For example, they may need assistance installing a new low-flow toilet or more stylish faucets in the bathroom. When you request Singapore plumbing services for repair work that needs to be done in your home, you can expect to receive an accurate diagnosis of the problem as a first step in the repair process. Once the diagnosis is made by the plumber, you will receive a quote for the cost of the repair work as well as an estimate for the amount of time that it will take to complete the work. Professional plumbers in Singapore generally will arrive at your home ready to complete most types of Singapore plumbing services right away, but some issues may require the plumber to leave for parts and to return to the home at a specified time to complete the work. For example, if you need a new hot water heater installed on your property, the plumber may need to pick up a water heater to install in your home.

Comprehensive Repair Work
If you agree to the cost estimate for the Singapore plumbing services that are needed on your property, the work generally may begin immediately. A professional plumber will work diligently to complete the repair work for you so that you can continue to use the water features in your home. Everything from a leaky pipe to a damaged sewer line may be repaired on-the-spot. With comprehensive Singapore plumbing services completed on your property for the repairs that are required, you can easily overcome your challenges in a fast timeframe. The plumber typically will have all of the tools, equipment and parts needed to complete quality work for you in an expedited timeframe.

When you are concerned about a plumbing issue on your property, you may be thinking about completing the repair work on your own. However, Singapore plumbing services from a professional plumber are available, and these services can help you to most easily overcome the challenges you are facing. Professional repair services can be used to ensure that the work is completed efficiently and effectively, and a plumber will also complete the work accurately the first time. This can minimize issues related to water waste and property damage that are typically associated with plumbing issues.