Water leakage past the spindle of a stopcock
Water leakage past the spindle of a stopcock.After operating a stopcock that has not been used for some time, you will find that when you turn back on the supply, water may leak past the packing gland nut. You could just try to tighten the gland clockwise to see if it works, however tightening this nut applies pressure onto the packing, squeezing it out to form a tight seal this can unfortunately have the effect of making the valve very stiff to operate, and sometimes just tightening the nut is definitely not enough to cure the problem, so you may need to repack the gland. Below is a basic guide for repacking a gland. Abbey Wood Plumbers can re-pack glands for all valves of this type.Repacking a gland:1). Make sure the stopcock you are going to work on is fully off.2) Completely undo the packing gland not by turning anticlockwise until it comes away from the housing and can be slid further up along the spindle. Very little water should come out because you turn the valve off and any water appears will be the result of it draining down from the system.3) With the packing gland nut removed, but a few strands of the PTFE tape around the spindle and push it into the void into which the packing gland nut screws, pressing it down using a small screwdriver.4) Now replace the packing gland nut, tightening it just sufficiently to squeeze the new packing material within the gland.5) Re-open the valve and tighten the packing gland nut until the water stops seeping past the spindle.Should you not feel confident enough to take on this particular task, you can always call the services of a professional like a Thamesmead Plumber who will carry out the work and provide a guarantee.
Boiler Problems
Boiler issues can affect your house in different ways. These can range from faults within the control system but also within the various parts such as thermostats and timing equipment, not forgetting the actual water carrying valves and pipework associated with them. Of course regular maintenance and servicing regimes can help to halt this process but eventually long time usage will tell. You could decide to do it yourself, however it should be considered very carefully and only undertaken if you are confident. It may be a good idea if you are not, to consider the services of a professional like ( Abbey Wood Plumbers with specialist boiler knowledge). Some of the problems are listed below:1). Property left empty over a long period of time, just like a lot of things, your car perhaps?2). Leaks in pipes and valves causing a pressure drop.3). Corroded pipework and sludge in the system.4). Out of date monitoring equipment such as thermostats.5). Leaking valves either radiator or system.Realistically this list of potential defects could quite easily be longer and would take an amateur precious time to find hence the knowledge and experience of a professional will save the time and effort (which could be for nothing) can be invaluable peace of mind, although at a cost , a trained plumber like a Thamesmead Plumber are able to fault find, diagnose and ultimately repair any plumbing issues that occur. They can also recommend and carry out a regular servicing plan for your system. So if you think you have a boiler problem you can actually walk around the system and visually inspect for things like corrosion, leaks and faulty dials, but strongly consider the services of the professional to do the work, as their work will carry a bone fide guaranteed.
Blocked toilet
When your toilet blocks it is a natural instinct to panic just hope the problem goes away on its own. When you flush the toilet the ball filled with foul water and it just sits there. It may slowly drain away but the blockage still remains, and after a second flush it backs and fills again. If you feel that this kind of job is just too much, you could always leave it for a professional to fix. Abbey Wood Plumbers are experienced in this field.
There really is no magic and this is a matter of using a plunger to create the pressure needed to dislodge the blockage. So what will it take?
1). Obtain a drainage rod, this should have a thread on one end onto this, screw a 150 mm (6 inch) drain plunger which is available from most plumbing merchants.
2). You must ensure that however disgusting, the water is in the WC bowl.
3). Push the plunger back and forth down inside the pan and back towards the trap.
With any luck the problem will be cured. Plunging can be very effective. Toilets that remain blocked after the plunger has been used could have a blockage further along the pipe caused by air simply getting in through the open vent pipe at the top of the drained relieving the partial vacuum you are trying to create. This type of blockage further along the drainpipe may also affect many other appliances in your home such as sinks and baths and may put them out of action causing a much more convenience than normal. This is where the expertise of a professional plumbing service will come into its own. A skilled tradesmen like a Thamesmead Plumber can find and rectify such problems.