The Importance Of Servicing and Maintaining Your Heaters!

The Importance Of Servicing and Maintaining Your Heaters!

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Truth is neglecting to service and maintain your heater can be a life or death situation.
Don’t be another statistic and ensure the safety of your family today.

As winter is soon approaching is it so important to remember to check that our heaters and fires are working correctly before we turn them back on for the cooler months ahead. Regardless of the type of heating system you use it is imperative that you check them before, after and even during the months in which they are regularly used. Our heaters can produce carbon monoxide, a very harmful poison which can lead to unconsciousness and even cause death.

There are ways of maintaining the upkeep of our heating systems on our own such as clearing them of dust and dirt and using your vacuum to eliminate any obstructions, however remember never to use any flammable liquid and to leave the filters and fans to fulled licensed professionals who will provide you with a certificate once it is satisfactory.

If you have a electic heating system you must have a fully qualified professional install it and maintaining it throughout its lifespan. Checking faulty wiring yourself can led to electrocution or even death, so please leave it to the professionals. This will also avoid the risk of electrical fires.

Signs that your heating system may not be functioning correctly
– Headaches
– Weakness
– Dizziness
– Shortness of breath
– Pain to the chest
– Sleepy
– Nauseous

If you are experiencing any of the following issues with your gas heater, turn it off immediately and call a professional (qualified gas fitter) and have it tested before putting it back on:
– the pilot light goes out unexpectedly, or ‘pops’ or ‘bangs’ when lighting
– Sparks coming from the plug or on off button
– there is a yellow or sooty flame (unless it is a decorative gas log fire)
– signs of heat damage such as discoloration of the walls or heater panels
– the walls become too hot to touch while the heater is on
– there are soot stains around the heater.

Lastly just remember that it is your family and loved ones lives at stake. If your heating system is old have it replaced and always have a qualified fitter install and maintain your services. When is doubt always turn the system off, open all doors and windows and call a call a professional.

What Do You Know About Smoke Alarms?

What Do You Know About Smoke Alarms?

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Did you know that if you don’t have a working smoke alarm installed in your home, and a fire occurs:
– You are 57 per cent more likely to suffer property loss and damage
– You are 26 per cent more likely to suffer serious injuries
– You are four times more likely to die

Did you also know that smoke alarms are compulsory in all homes and have been since August 1997?
Victorian law states that smoke alarms (complying with Australian standards AS 3786) must be installed in all homes, units, flats and townhouses. It is the legal responsibility of all owners and landlords to install working smoke alarms.
Residential homes constructed before 1st August 1997 need only 9 volt battery powered smoke alarms installed. Residential homes constructed after 1st August 1997 must have smoke alarms connected to 240 volt mains power. In addition a backup battery must be installed in the smoke alarm.

Are you aware that all smoke alarms:
– Must contain a battery
– Need to be tested regularly
– Need to be replaced after 10 years

Do you know where to locate smoke alarms in your home?
– Smoke alarms must be located between each bedroom area and the rest of the house.
– In addition inside any bedroom where someone sleeps with the door shut
– In a two storey home a smoke alarm is required on every storey, located in the path that people will use to evacuate

Do you know how to test and maintain your smoke alarms?
– Monthly: Test by pressing the test button with a broom handle
– Yearly: Vacuum around your smoke alarm vents
– Yearly: Replace your 9 volt battery each year at the end of daylight saving

Did you know that it is the tenant’s responsibility t
– Test the smoke alarm every month to make sure it is working
– Contact their agent/Landlord if the smoke alarm is not working
– Contact their agent/landlord if the smoke alarm omits an occasional chirping noise as the battery or smoke alarm is faulty

Lastly it is extremely important to remember that when you’re asleep you lose your sense of smell. A smoke alarm is your electronic nose. It will alert you if there is smoke from a fire. A small fire can grow to involve an entire room in two to three minutes. A smoke alarm provides early warning and time to escape.

Wet Wipes Costing Sydney Water $8m In Clean-Up Annually!

Wet Wipes Costing Sydney Water $8m In Clean-Up Annually!

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Despite convenience, wet wipes are costing Sydney Water $8 million a year in clean-up costs.

Although some products being marketed as flushable, Sydney Water’s Peter Hadfield said they were “anything but”.

“They get past the s-bend [of the toilet], but they don’t break down and we’re taking out 500 tonnes of wipes from the system a year,” he said.

“It seems to be a growing trend.”

The wipes can combine with fats, oils and other debris to create giant blockages, or ‘fatbergs’ in the sewer.

Every year, 500 tonnes of wet wipes are removed from the Sydney Water network.

Nick Fogarty from the Cronulla waste water treatment plant has the task of clearing thousands of wipes from the sewerage system every day.

He said some people had little regard for the problems the wipes were creating for his team.

“People think we’re pretty much invisible. They flush the toilet and [the wipes are] gone. We’re not invisible, we have to deal with it so … stop it!” he said.

Sydney Water said the wipes were also affecting household pipes, with one customer recently forking out $16,000 to repair damage caused by a major blockage.

Mr Hadfield said customers should ignore the claims on packaging and dispose of all wipes in the bin.

“We have a saying … the only things that should go down the toilet are the three Ps; pee, paper and poo,” he said.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is currently investigating the use of the term flushable in the marketing of certain products.

The Food and Grocery Council, which represents manufacturers, said it supported measures to educate consumers.

“A number of member companies are already providing a range of information including on-pack labeling and online communications to inform consumers as to the correct use of their products,” a spokesman said.

Melbourne too are experiencing very similar problems creating unnecessary jobs for plumbers and costing home owners a lot of money.

For more advice and in the event that you may experience a blockage or other plumbing issues in Melbourne please call the beOnd Plumbing team on 1300 599 529.

Top 10 Suburbs with Blocked Drains in Melbourne

Top 10 Suburbs With Blocked Drains In Melbourne!

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According to the RACV the top 10 suburbs that require a plumber due to blockages in Melbourne are:
St Kilda East
Reservoir
Box Hill
Burwood
Balwyn North
Heathmont
Caulfield North
Carrum Downs
Tarneit
Blackburn

RACV has got to the bottom of why some suburbs have the most blocked drains, toilets and pipes.
St Kilda East is RACV’s busiest suburb for blockages, and Reservoir second, based on the number of members using Emergency Home Assist and the number of incidents.
In St Kilda and Reservoir, RACV Emergency Home Assist plumber Zachary Arthur says the sewers are older than newer suburbs they serve, so blockages can be common.
Older sewers that are prone to blockages are also common in Box Hill, Burwood, Balwyn, Caulfield and older suburbs in general.
Some of the main preventable causes of blockages include oils and fats, wet wipes and sanitary products that end up in the drains.
“The more careful you are the less likely it is to block up,” Zachary says.

World Plumbing Day is observed on March 11 each year.

World Plumbing Day 2016

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WORLD PLUMBING DAY | 11 MARCH

The United Nations declared 2005-2015 the International Decade for Action “Water for Life”, setting a world agenda that focuses increased attention on water-related issues. This initiative is of extraordinary importance in a world where preventable diseases related to water and sanitation claim the lives of about 3.1 million people per year, most of them children less than 5 years old. Of these, about 1.6 million people die each year of diarrheal diseases associated with lack of safe drinking water and adequate sanitation.

By including access to a safe drinking water supply and sanitation in these international goals, the world community proposes 97 million additional people annually will have access to drinking-water services and 138 million additional people access to sanitation services through 2015. Working within the spirit of these initiatives the World Health Organization and the World Plumbing Council developed the “Health Aspects of Plumbing” publication noting that sustainable health, especially for children, is not possible without access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation facilities.

CLEAN WATER IS NOT A LUXURY

“Health Aspects of Plumbing” is a comprehensive and substantive examination of the design, installation and maintenance of effective plumbing systems. It recommends a number of plumbing system design and installation specifications that have demonstrated their validity over years of existence and discusses the microbiological, chemical, physical and financial risks associated with plumbing.

Published by the World Health Organization and the World Plumbing Council, the book is dedicated to the achievement of the best possible plumbing practices to ensure the highest health benefits from the use of sound plumbing practices. It is a tremendous resource for administrators and plumbers, especially those in countries or areas in the early stages of introducing effective plumbing systems.

ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF PLUMBING

Among the objectives upon which the World Plumbing Council was founded is promoting awareness of the plumbing industry’s role in protecting the environment by providing safe fresh water and sanitation through proper management, care, reuse and conservation of natural resources. The industry also plays a major role in the installation of technologies that address concerns about the depletion of fossil fuels and work toward reducing harmful emissions.

Fresh water is in finite supply on Earth and as the key to life is without question our planet’s most precious natural resource. The plumbing industry recognizes the tenuous balance mankind must maintain to guarantee its very existence and embraces efforts to ensure we are preserving every drop possible. In many countries, the plumbing industry also contributes significantly to the development and installation of heating systems and recognizes that man’s still increasing reliance upon of fossil fuels cannot continue without challenge.

These efforts range from simple household changes to wide scale government sponsored endeavors. Highlights include:

WATER REUSE

The plumbing industry finds itself at the middle of three methods of water reuse that are rapidly increasing in popularity all over the world: rainwater harvesting, grey water systems and sewage water recycling.

Rainwater harvesting is pretty simple at its core — the capture and storage of rainwater that would otherwise return to the water table through natural means — but the plumbing industry is hard at work developing equipment and methods to increase its efficiency and usage.

Grey water systems can range from something as simple as redirecting sink drain water to a toilet tank for flushing to city wide systems used to water greenbelts and water tolerant landscaping.

Sewage water recycling is the filtration, treatment and natural return to the water table of water used to remove sewage from our homes and businesses. Municipalities are investing heavily in these systems that literally and figuratively remove the waste from our water.

LIMITING WATER USE

A host of water efficient products, from low-flow showerheads to waterless urinals are flooding the consumer market as plumbing manufacturers have embraced the conservation movement as a result of government rebate programs and mandatory efficiency standards.

Code development organizations have developed new “Green” standards for plumbing systems and various industry associations have introduced new training and education programs to increase conservation efforts among contractors and installers.

DESALINATION

Researchers continue to discover and develop newer, even more efficient means for converting salt water to drinkable fresh water, a process that has previously been cost prohibitive and detrimental to the environment. Methods such as sub-sand intake, reverse osmosis filtration and renewable energy generation to power the pumps have all contributed to the increased viability of desalination today.

SOLAR WATER HEATING

New technologies for solar collectors, storage and delivery of hot water offer a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional electrical and gas powered systems.

GEOTHERMAL AND AIR-SOURCE HEAT PUMPS

A geothermal heat pump (or ground source heat pump) is a central heating and/or cooling system that pumps heat to or from the ground. It uses the earth as a heat source (in the winter) or a heat sink (in the summer). This design takes advantage of the moderate temperatures in the ground to boost efficiency and reduce the operational costs of heating and cooling systems

An air-source heat pump uses outside air as a heat source or heat sink. A compressor, condenser and refrigerant system are used to absorb heat at one place and release it at another. When properly installed, an air-source heat pump can deliver one-and-a-half to three times more heat energy to a home than the electrical energy it consumes. This is possible because a heat pump moves heat rather than converting it from a fuel, like in combustion heating systems.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Manufacturers are developing water heaters and appliances that not only use less water, but also require less power to operate them. From high efficiency water heaters to Energy Star-rated dishwashers, washing machines, boilers and room air conditioners, these products are much greener than models produced even as recently as five years earlier.

THE FUTURE

By embracing these new technologies and methods, the plumbing industry has made and will continue to make historic inroads toward increased sustainability by striking a harmonic balance between cost, energy consumption and conservation. The industry takes water efficiency and preservation seriously and promotes it to consumers within their homes and businesses and among their elected leaders. Long entrenched habits of misuse of our clean and inexpensive water supply have threatened its sustainability and the plumbing industry recognizes the leadership role it must play in changing those habits for the betterment of mankind.

The World Plumbing Council do an incredible job uniting the world plumbing industry and promoting the role of plumbing in improving health and safeguarding the environment.

HAPPY WORLD PLUMBING DAY EVERYONE

Hot Water Service

Your Hot Water Service On the Brink? No Hot Water? Or See Orange/Brownish Water?

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If your current hot water service doesn’t quite heat up like it used too or the unit itself is 10+ years old, it may be time to strongly consider a replacement or upgrade to avoid any potential damages… but more importantly the inconvenience of having no hot water.

At beOnd Plumbing we specialise in the service, repairs, installation and replacement of all Electric, Solar and Gas Hot Water Systems in and around the Melbourne Metropolitan area. All our work is fully guaranteed and performed by Licenced Plumbers and Gas Fitters who pose a huge array of knowledge.

Our emergency service allows beOnd Plumbing to be contactable 24 hours a day 7 days a week. The company has reliable and qualified staff strategically based in Northern, Southern, Eastern, City Regions and Western areas.

We work closely with our key suppliers to ensure you are getting the best quality products on the market at competitive prices.

We provide replacements, repairs, service and installation for all brands and models.

To be redirected to our Hot Water Service pricing and specials page please click here http://www.beondplumbing.com.au/plumbing-products-and-services/hot-water-services/ or feel free to contact our team today on 1300 599 529.

Myths Surrounding “DIY” Home Plumbing

Myths Surrounding “DIY” Home Plumbing

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You’d be surprised how many plumbing myths exist and more importantly how many people actually still believe are true. Here are some of the popular ones that still circulate, but remember when in doubt call beOnd Plumbing for expert advice.

Myth: Clean your taps and plumbing fixtures with soap
Although it is easy to use the soap available in our bathrooms to clean our plumbing fixtures its also important not to. In some instances soap can actually be harmful to the material and surfaces. Here are some simple tips for effecting cleaning:

• Toilet bowls – should be cleaned with an effective disinfectant to kill germs and prevent infection.
• Sinks – should also be cleaned with a strong disinfectant to keep them free of germs.
• Taps and brass plumbing fixtures – should be polished with a gentle solution such as lemon and baking soda.

Myth: Using Lemons when cleaning your garbage disposal –
Most people are under the impression that a drain is clean if it smells clean. Well they are mistaken. Using lemons to clean the garbage disposal will leave a fresh citrus scent however the most effective method would be the combination of soap, warm water and a brush. Also always remember to disconnect the garbage disposal from its power source prior to cleaning it.

Myth: The tighter you turn the faucet handle, the less it will leak –
There is a misconception that the harder you tighten your faucet handles whether it be sink taps, bath taps, garden taps and other tap ware, the less likely they are to leak. This is incorrect and in fact can cause damage and increase the likelihood of a leakage to occur in the future.

Myth: It is OK dispose of wet wipes down the toilet
Wet wipes are not bio-degradable like toilet paper and will cause a blockage in your toilet in the long terms as they pile up and clog the drainage system. This kind of blockage is one of the main reasons a plumber will be called out to under block a toilet.
So although a wet wipe will flush down the toilet it isn’t a good idea as it may cause damage to both your and your city’s plumbing fixtures.

Myth: Plumbing fixtures are self maintaining –
This myth can become the most costly to you so here are the facts. It is important as a home owner to routinely inspect and maintain your sinks, toilets, faucets and pipes to ensure drains are clog free and there is no viable damage as the notion that your home plumbing system is self maintaining is incorrect. Prevention is the key, don’t wait for things to be problem.

Myth: When you have a blockage – just use a plunger
The first thing to consider when you have a blockage is what may have caused it. Plumbers often find all kinds of things that have made there way down the toilet such as toys and other small objects. And one big mistake plumbers find is that someone has tried to plunge them out creating greater blockage and causing the item to be pushed further into the pipe. A good tip would be to use a wire hook and to try to hook it out first.

Myth: The drain is working perfectly if the water is being drained quickly and efficiently –
This is a myth. Blockages don’t just happen over night, they are caused from a long term build up inside the pipes over some time. Prevention being the key, it is suggested that you maintain your pipes by routinely using a anti-blockage chemical and a drain filter. This will help to ensure that non-perishable items do not go down the down and cause you a blockage.

Myth: All plumbers are the same
One plumber is the same as the next as we are all different. Plumbers have different accreditation, years of experience and level of knowledge and it is important and beneficial to you and your future that you take the time to select the right plumber. A professional plumber who you can trust, who you can call at any time and will provide you will the best advice will leave you with few plumbing issuing in the future. I’m sure you’ve heard of saying “you get what you pay for”, well in this instance it seems to be true when comparing plumbers. At beOnd Plumbing we pride ourselves on our level of professionalism, our honesty, knowledge and commitment towards our work and our clients. We are qualified and registered professionals who continue to improve on our professional development and maintain up to date education and knowledge in the field in order to keep us ahead of the rest.

 

So there it is, a few of the main plumbing myths. As you can see it is important to have a plumber to ensure you are not paying for services you don’t need to out of neglect or ignorance. If you find yourself having plumbing issues please feel free to call us and we can arrange to have one of our professional plumbers and technicians out to evaluate your situation as quickly and as efficiently as possible.

beOnd Plumbing Supports Tony Lombardi & The Leukaemia Foundation!

beOnd Plumbing is proud to Support the Leukaemia Foundation

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beOnd Plumbing is proud to be supporting Tony Lombardi from Harcourts Real Estate on his ride around New Zealand to raise money for the Leukemia Foundation!

Ride as One New Zealand is a week-long ride through the stunning picture-postcard scenery of NZ’s South Island.  All up there will be six days of cycling for 40 riders, through some hilly terrain and in changeable mountain weather.

The going will be tough – physically and mentally – but so are the challenges that people living with leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma face everyday.

 

The money you raise will go towards providing free practical and emotional support to ease the burden on families living with blood cancer. The money will also be helping to build the Leukaemia Foundation’s new Victorian Accommodation Centre (Building of Hope). Together with their family,  the average length of stay in Melbourne is four months, but many , particularly those families with children undergoing treatment for acute leukaemia, stay for 24 months or more. Their lives are thrown into turmoil as they face the uncertainty of treatment. These often highly invasive treatments affect their immune systems and make them highly susceptible to infection. Even a common cold can become life threatening. The Leukaemia Foundation’s accommodation is specifically designed for blood cancer patients undergoing treatment and their families. The Foundation’s specialised accommodation facilities provide patients with holistic care in a support facility dedicated to their wellbeing. This hygienic environment allows many patients to live with their families whilst receiving their cancer treatment.
Today, 34 Australians will get the news they have blood cancer. That’s another 34 reasons to support the Leukaemia Foundation’s work! We wish Tony Lombardi all the very best on his ride and we thank him for his courage and commitment to such a great cause!

Click here to donate

http://my.leukaemiafoundation.org.au/antoniolombardi

melbourne storms plumbing

Melbourne Storms Bring Heavy Rain & Cause Flash Flooding

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Overnight storms put on a show in Melbourne as thunder and lightning moved across the city, but it also caused flash flooding, with up to 50 millimetres falling in some parts of the city.

The intense band of rain hit the city between 11:00pm and midnight.

The SES received 240 calls for help, including some people who had to be rescued from cars in floodwaters, while Reservoir and Werribee were among the worst affected areas.

“Most of our calls were for building damage and flooding and most of those were water leaking through ceilings, we had a few ceiling collapses,” SES Commander Mark Cattell said.

“A lot of homes with more than likely blocked gutters and broken tiles on the roof.

“We ask drivers if they do see water across the road, be very sure about how deep it is. Anything over about 30 centimetres is way too deep for a car.”

In other parts of the state, Wilson’s Promontory received 120mm of rain, while Mallacoota had 84mm.

Weather bureau senior forecaster Stephen King said the rain fell in a short period of time.

“The highest totals there were 47mm at Epping, 43mm at Sunshine and 40mm at Bundoora,” he said.

“The problem there was that, that rainfall all fell within an hour or less and did cause a bit of flash flooding around the metropolitan area.”