13 PLUMBER

2010 Gov. Hot Water Rebate

2010-02-22T14:24:00.001+10:00

An update on the Federal Rebate announcement made last week. For all solar or heat pump hot water systems purchased or installed prior 20 February 2010 may be eligible for a $1,600 rebate for solar hot water or $1,000 for heat pumps. Proof of purchase or installation prior 20 February 2010 must be included with the application. You may still use the old form for applications. The new rebate amounts will be paid for post 20 Feb installs even if they are on the old form. It will not be sent back on a new form asking them to reapply, provided that all information is included in the application.

If your customers have ordered or made partial payment for a new solar or heat pump but have not had it installed prior to 20 February 2010, written evidence of the order must be sent with the rebate application. (Note: a receipt for a deposit or a copy of the actual order form is required. A quote is not sufficient evidence of an order.)

All applications received after 20 March 2010 will be assessed for $1,000 for solar hot water and $600 for heat pump hot water systems, regardless of installation date.

Any applicant will NOT be eligible to receive either the old or new Solar Hot Water or heat pump rebate should they have already received or be applying for the old ‘Insulating Australian Households Rebate’, or the new rebate for ceiling insulation under the new Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme (when available)

www.hotwaterrebate.com.au

Braided water hoses - new technology 2009

2010-01-16T13:52:00.003+10:00

It is the early part of 2010 and I am noticing more water leaks from older style braided hoses (easyhookers).

There are a few different brands, yet the important point is in 2009 then better wall lining technology was introduced to minimise leak risks in your home.

Here is a photo of an emergency leak I visited this morning. Last night a small leak in an upstairs basin vanity became a wall of water in the entertainment room below.

Consider replacing all braided water hoses installed prior to 2008. Average cost is $15 per braided pipe (retail) and 2 - 3 hours labour.

Reduce leak damage, stress & lost time.

Phone 13 PLUMBER - 13 7586

Thank you.

William
M:0402866892

Gas Compliance

2009-10-06T13:46:00.002+10:00

Have a good look at your gas system.

If you have a gas system for your cook top or hot water service...you may notice there are required distances from windows, drains and other openings to your home.

Make sure you receive a 'gas compliance' certificate when the installation is completed to cover you.

This certificate is also important for your home insurance. If you need to claim damage to your home and you have an illegal gas installation you may have some issues with your insurance company.

Contact your local gas fitter or ask One Plumber (Dial 13 7586) to visit and check if your system is compliant for your piece of mind.

Toilet Blockages

2009-06-05T20:37:00.002+10:00

If you enjoy a clean toilet, do not use certain products to keep it germ free.

The little disinfectant holders on the side of the bowl (pan) are a regular problem for my clients needing drain blockages cleared.

The blue tablets you place in the cistern (water tank on top of toilet) can be aggressive toward the rubber seals within the suite.

Do not over clean your toilet or the ceramic will be worn off and you will get the dark patch at the bottom of the water trap.

If you require an installation of a new toilet give me a call today (Gold Coast ONLY) and tell me you read this article and you will get the best deal for June 2009.

Thank you - Will Price

Customer Water Rebate Information

2009-05-19T21:49:00.001+10:00

Rainwater, Greywater and Solar Hot Water.

MPMSAA have listed all the State and Federal Government Rebates available for householders when installing new, solar hot water systems, rainwater tanks or greywater systems. The table gives a short description and value of the available rebate and a link to the government website for further information and application forms etc

* Rebates available for installation of Rainwater Tanks and connection to residential properties in states and territories of Australia
* Rebates available for Greywater Systems in states and territories of Australia
* Rebates available for Solar Hot Water Systems in states and territories of Australia

Please check the various government website(s) for terms and conditions

Hot Water System - REC Rebates

2009-05-07T13:03:00.002+10:00

What is an REC?

An REC or Renewable Energy Certificate representes 1 MWh(Mega Watt Hour) of renewable electricity displace by a solar hot water system.

RECs are electronic certificates that are publicly available on an internet database (www.rec-registry.gov.au) Solar hot water systems are rated for their electric displacement over a ten year period.

An average solar hot water system will be assigned 33 RECs = 33 MWh saving over ten years = 3300kWh (kilo watt hour) saving per year.

Every solar hot water model is listed individually within Federal Government Legislation.

Eligibility for RECs are only available to;

- Installations where they replace an existing electric system
- Any new installation
- Reduced RECs are available when an electric-boosted solar replaces an electric-boosted solar.

The more environmentally friendly - the more RECs assigned to a solar water heater.

The value of the REC is determined by the market demand sort of like stocks.

Whomever owns the house when the water heater is installed has the rights to the RECs.

For further information please visit www.orer.gov.au.

Gas Bottles in the Home

2009-05-06T08:06:00.002+10:00

Many homes have Gas services installed to look good and be out of site.

The bottles are the BBQ size 9kg and look neat and tidy.

ISSUE: the Gas service in your home servicing through a regulator and running fixtures such as gas cookers & a hot water system need to have the proper larger bottles which are about 1200mm tall.

If your house Gas service is being run on 9kg bottles it is an illegal installation. Worse your insurance company may have grounds to void a claim.

Contact your local Gas fitter and ask to have your Gas service updated. It is important you receive a compliance certificate when the work is complete. One copy is for YOU. One copy to Gas supplier & One copy is kept by your Gas fitter.

Any questions...?

Will

Leaking Meter Test

2009-03-24T08:28:00.001+10:00

1. This test should be conducted for a 30 minute period, during which time no water is being used on the property.
2. Find your water meter, which is usually located in front of the house in a covered box near the street.
3. Write down the numbers indicated on the meter at the start of this test.
4. Return to check the meter reading after 30 minutes have passed.
5. If the numbers have not changed, you do not have a leak in your pressurised water system.
6. If the numbers have changed, continue with the following steps. Shut off the valves under all toilets in the house, and repeat steps 1-4.
7. If the numbers have not changed, you may have a running toilet that should be serviced.

If the numbers have changed, this indicates water consumption even though water was not being used during the test, and you may need a leak detection.

Plumbing Priority

2009-03-22T08:51:00.001+10:00

www.easybeachshower.com

I notice that well maintained properties can have more work completed then poorly maintained properties.

What do I mean?

If I have 90 minutes to work on a property I will try to locate more work for the client if the work is completed early.

A well maintained property will allow me to do more for the client or pass the saving onto the client.

There really is nothing more frustrating then a poorly maintained property.

There's no point ignoring your plumbing, because the problem never goes away. It will get worse!

How can a plumber show off if the property speaks loudly: 'my owner does not care!'

Unhappy plumbers:

May leave after only doing the requested work.
Is not enthusiastic about your property and creating more solutions.
Do not want anymore of your work.
Worse scenario: Overcharge with no service guarantee.

Locate a great plumber, look after your property and expect the best from your plumber every 2-3 years.

Thank you for your time.

William Price
propertyplumbing.com

Green Machine Plumbing

2009-02-26T20:08:00.000+10:00

From March 1 2009, all major renovations, new houses and units built in Queensland must achieve a minimum five stars energy equivalent rating under the state government's new sustainable housing regulations.

The regulations contain several measures to improve the sustainability performance of homes,
in particular, all new houses and units must install as a minimum:

• WELS 4 STAR RATED TOILETS
• WELS 3 STAR RATED TAPWARE

Easy Beach Shower by One Plumber

2009-02-16T20:48:00.002+10:00

As a valued client you may notice I have placed a new product for you online.

All it takes is a few minutes and you will have your new Easy Beach Shower packed up and sent to your home.

If you a local I will install it for FREE.

Thank you.

Will Price
One Plumber

Niche Plumber Easy!

2009-02-08T22:35:00.002+10:00

easybeachshower.com

What Plumbing service do you prefer?

Have you heard these statements before?

If the money is on offer I should get any plumber.
I do all kinds of plumbing.
When I call a plumber his business should service all plumbing work.

Have you considered locating a niche plumber?

NICHE examples:

I specialise in helping people with Solar Hot Water Systems.
I do Taps, Toilets and Hot water systems.
I service all your GAS needs.
I install and repair drainage with pipe rehabiliatation equipment.

With a niche you save time by using a plumber that understands your speciality, immediately.

Of course when he arrives at the job the niche business will more likely have a service guarantee for you to consider.

One important point is many plumbers who have a niche business have time to spare and earn good money.

WHY?

It is easier to organise, manage and plan for a specialised service.

They do not waste time chasing bits and pieces for the extra work, and having the client complain about paying for the time you used to find the extra parts.

People enjoy expert advice and work plus trust your guarantee.

If a niche plumber guarantees all of your GAS work you should be careful not to gain the same guarantee for roofing. The Plumber may have time but the job is outside the guarantee.

Smart niche plumbers will refer the work, because imagine doing a great GAS job but the roof leaks in a year. The power of the GAS job guarantee is lost.

Jack of all trades or the best in your NICHE!

Thank you for your time.

William Price

easybeachshower.com

You move to a new house - Is your plumbing okay?

2008-12-27T22:31:00.001+10:00

When you move to a new house consider some simple, affordable and effective changes for health & safety.

Check toilet bowls for cracks or ceramic damage outside and inside bowl.
Change all toilet seats as wear and tear and small areas under the fastening bolts hold visable germs if removed
Service high traffic tap wear so any expensive leaks can reduce long term water cost from day one eg: kitchen & basins.
Clear floor waste drains serviced by showers & baths.
Renew plastic traps under the kitchen sink, laundry tub and bathroom basins.
Check thermostat on your hot water system so it is producing good hot & safe water to your home.
Clear gutters of leaves and clear ground water drains
Clear floor waste service by washing machine
Check hoses and fittings servicing the dishwasher
Check cistern float valves and flush valves when you first use the toilet - does it fill quietly? Does it stop & fill properly?

Enjoy.

Will

Water Hammer

2008-11-29T09:10:00.001+10:00

You need to eliminate the shock waves from water hammer to reduce damage to your home plumbing.

The noise is usually the first sign a home owner is aware of a problem.

Ideas:
Install a hammer suppression device near quick closing valves.
Use a fabricated air chamber as a cheaper alternative.
Install a 500 Kpa pressure limiting valve after your water metre & before your home.
Clip pipes as per AS/NZS 3500.
Extra clips is pipe runs along wall studs.
Use ball valves to replace some loose jumper valves at the meter when the meter is fitted with a non return valve.
Try spring loadedwasher if you choose to use a loose jumper valve.
Use silicon around the pipes when it passes through wall studs.
If you place a pressure limiting valve on your dishwasher, place it as far away as possible.

Always use a Licensed Plumber

Will

Hot Water System REBATE

2008-11-24T08:29:00.000+10:00

If you want to know how much money you can save when you install your next GREEN hot water system just visit this great website: www.hotwaterrebate.com.au

Thanks Will.

Referral reward

2008-11-22T11:16:00.000+10:00

What reward should you receive for helping a Plumber promote his business?

If you refer a friend should the friend get something?

If you are a great customer should you get a further benefit?

Ideas:

no callout fee...
free advice...
movie tickets...
work cost discount...

Your ideas will help us better promote our business through YOU!

Thanks Will.

Hot Water Safety

2008-11-11T17:30:00.000+10:00

Recently I have noticed flexible hoses & easy hookers being used to connect hot water systems to residential properties.

This is incorrect, dangerous and against the law.

Check your hot water service for proper pipework for your health & safety.

Easy to find on the web

2008-11-06T20:26:00.000+10:00

I had a client locate me on Google by placing 'plumber in Burleigh Heads' for a search.

After seeing 5 directories for plumbers it showed off my phone number 13 PLUMBER...EASY!

Renovations are on the rise, so remember when you change the fixtures to the bathroom (add or take away) make sure you use a licensed plumber and you get a Council inspection.

If you change 'new for old' then you can lodge a form with the council for their service records.

Will Price

Plumbing Charges

2008-09-24T07:51:00.001+10:00

When getting work done on your plumbing consider a price based on a piece rate.

WHY?

A valuable plumber is effective, efficient and understands a successful sale involves the 'numbers game'.

Whether it is the amount of clients a plumber sees in one day or better ways to earn a predetermined income for a days work.

eg: A client has leaky taps.

should you the client, pay for time overall? (hourly rate)
should you organise for a piece rate?

Imagine the repair cost involves the plumber driving to the property, using his product, applying his service and asking for your immediate payment.

PLUS supplying a service guarantee!

Imagine your plumber is keen for work, keen to satisfy you and keen to promote himself through word of mouth and create a WIN, WIN with you!

I notice you have 20 taps in the house.
I would change the immediate single leak into an proposal to repair all of your taps at a piece rate. ie: $16 per tap.
You win for affordable plumbing.
I win by gaining immediate income.
Together we create work to satisfy immediate and future needs.
This idea is based on Payment on the day or within 48 hours.
Successful SALE leads to 'Word of Mouth' advertising ($$$$$)

Money today is better then Money tomorrow! (QUOTE: Salesman in Marakesh, Morrocco.)

Thank you for your time.

William.

Plumber pipe noises

2008-09-21T08:26:00.000+10:00

Water hammer, whistling and chattering of pipes is annoying and can be costly.

Water hammer is the thump in the piping heard when faucets or valves are turned off abruptly.

It can usually be eliminated by the installation of an air chamber or short length of pipe in the wall where each supply pipe enters a plumbing fixture.

Proper clipping of the pipes during installation is another preventative method.

Shock arrestors should be installed on the main line near the meter or as close as possible to the cause of the noise.

How is the condition outside of the house, either along the water main or in a neighbouring house.

Skillful detective work by an experienced master plumber is necessary to ferret out the source of the trouble and to plan corrective methods.

Water hammer should be fixed immediately.

The noise is only an audible symptom of what is going on in the piping.

The piping is being worn and damaged by the multitude of shock waves.

The result will be leaks in piping, tanks or fixtures unless the condition is corrected.

Chattering in the piping may be caused by loose pipes, by pipes rubbing against a metal projection, by worn faucet washers or looseness of other inside parts. Poor clipping of pipes and fixtures.

Whistling is caused by the speed of water flowing through piping which is usually too small or has not been deburred properly by the plumber.

A pressure reducing valve will help as will a general checkup and straightening out of the plumbing system.

Whistling is most common at bends and tees in the pipe. This is where the fitting is connected to the unburred pipe or where the incorrect join may cause friction.

Thank you.

William.

Hot Water Systems -GREEN!

2008-09-19T11:42:00.003+10:00

After a bit of feedback this year about new GREEN hot water systems I would like to share the info.

HEAT PUMPS Vs Solar Hot Water Systems.

Both give the client the Gov. & factory Rebates.

Both are expensive without rebates.

After rebates both cost only $500-$750 more then standard installation.

Heat Pumps use under 4 amps on a Continuous Electrical cycle (Less than TV on standby)

Solar save a little bit more but run the heat element in poor weather at the full 14 + amps to heat the water.

Heat Pumps save 60%+ on your electricity.

Solar can be FREE on a good weather summer, but winter can run to the top of the cost scale.

CONSIDER: Heat Pumps have a warranty of 4-5 years on the tank which is normal & around 12 months warranty on the compressor on top. Some older models need maintenance on electronics but the newer systems have improved and are more efficient.

Solar Systems need to have FROST FREE panels on your roof. It will cost more, but reduce future possible costs from damage claims being rejected by your insurance company. All clients I am aware of who have had frost damage have been unable to receive compensation from insurance companies.

In one recent example my relative installed a solar and in the first few months was hit by frost and their insurance would not cover frost damage and they have now spent more on renewing one of the solar panels.

Both are good systems but I do prefer the Heat Pump as the solar system can be exposed to more weather and may not have suitable insurance cover.

If you choose a solar system spend a little extra to get frost free panels for your roof and make sure possible debri from trees is not a risk.

William.

Plumbing Renovations

2008-09-18T09:10:00.002+10:00

Yesterday I visited a property and the client had renovated their property using cheaper solutions and it looked fantastic. (eg: fake tiles on the bathroom walls)

The property was clean, new and attracted a good tenant.

I was asked to fix a leaky shower. This shower was leaking every 3 months.

When I opened the taps and serviced all the parts, I looked inside the wall to see the original wall shower combination.

The owner had decided during renovations to leave a 25 year old piece of pipework in the wall.

My jaw dropped to see a newly renovated home (max 2 years old) with an original and important part of a major water fixture still in the wall.

YES - a really old and heavily used piece of plumbing.

Now the owner would have to work out how to get into the wall behind the shower to replace the wall combo.

This piece is a small and reliable cost of a few hundred dollars and would have lasted another 25 years.

When you renovate replace as many plumbing pipes and parts as possible.

Otherwise you may have to start again!

William

Plumbing O-ring size!

2008-09-13T16:29:00.001+10:00

Most o-rings in household spindle taps are one size.

Spindle taps have a body washer, jumper valve (washer) and an o-ring.

The size of the oring is 8.5mm.

Remember hot water taps are best maintained by a Licenced Plumber - It is law. Safety & insurance are also important.

Regards,

William

Plumbing Tenant Tips.

2008-09-12T07:50:00.000+10:00

If your water pipes burst or you get a home leak, what do you do?

If you rent out your property do youhave a plan for your tenants to act quickly and save you money?

Story: On a Sunday afternoon a water pipe burst in the frontyard of a tenanted property.

The new tenant from overseas called a plumber, who charged a callout fee of $200.00.

The plumber advised the leak was on the street side of the water metre and it was the Local Councils concern and promptly left.

The property owner had a $200 call out bill and the tenant had no water for a few days with a damaged front yard.

There may be many ways to argue who pays for damages, but some information for the tenant may have reduced damage to the property and the property owners pocket.

Try leaving a laminated list of do's and don'ts for the water and plumbing.

Possible leak list:

Shut off the main water out the front of the property. Look for meter box.
Reduce pipe pressure by opening the taps of the nearest fixture (basin) or at the lowest level of the home.
Identify the exact location of the problem.
If it's the hot water line, turn off the water supply into the water heater.
If a hot water leak is stopped then you can turn the water metre main line back on so cold water can be used while the pipe is being fixed.
If the water is off at the Hot water system, then turn off the water heater at the electrical box.
Call a Plumber to discuss the problem further.

You can add to this list. You get the idea. Information is key to saving your property and your wallet from damage.

Think up your own plumbing list, laminate it and fasten it to the kitchen cupboard so all your family or tenants will help you manage your plumbing.

Thank you.

William Price.

Plumbing Tip of the Day!

2008-09-11T08:55:00.000+10:00

If you have a gas or electric water heater, keep the temperature dial setting at or below the suggested Factory Energy Savings Settings listed on the water heater. Above that mark means excessive wear on the water heater and the potential for scalding.

Ask your Plumber about Temperature control valves.