If you’ve found yourself spending more time at home since the global pandemic – you’re not alone. Working from home has become a global trend, and so has DIY as people make their home spaces more comfortable and aesthetic. 

Caring for your home is not just an interesting past-time, it’s also a way to safeguard your property investment. Water leaks, for example, are not only a dripping annoyance, but can also cause significant damage to the physical structure of your home, furnishings and electronics. Expensive damage that might not be covered by insurance if it turns out the damages could have been avoided by regular maintenance.  

Water leaks could be an indication of something as simple as misaligned connections. Or it could mean something a bit more serious like pipe corrosion. Plumbing pipes deal with a lot of water pressure, and wear and tear should be expected. So look out for wet spots, mould, mildew and a musty odour. If you’re lucky, you might be able to spot the leak. Or it could be hidden from view inside a wall. If this is the case, best to get in touch with the Drain Surgeon right away for immediate assistance. We have various, unobtrusive methods to locate leaks. 

But the good news is that many leaks are totally preventable. You just need to be aware of them and keep an eye out. So let’s check those pipes!  

STEP 1 – FIND, AND TURN OFF YOUR WATER MAIN

Turning off your main water supply is the first step on your checklist. Look for a lever mounted against a wall or sunk into the ground. If you’re in a complex, your main water supply might not be in plain sight, so chat to the estate manager to identify it. Do this sooner rather than later – you don’t want to be scrambling around looking for it when a burst pipe is flooding your home.  prevent leaks at home

Once you’ve located it, get into the habit of turning it off when you go on holiday, together with your geyser switch located on the main switchboard. This will protect your property against water leaks happening when you are away.

STEP 2 – PERFORM SOME ROUTINE GEYSER MAINTENANCE

Geyser leaks can cause quite a bit of damage. This is more common with older models, particularly where drip trays are not installed. Nowadays most insurers insist on drip trays and will not pay out claims if an unqualified installer worked on your geyser, so be aware to only use registered plumbers when it comes to your geyser.  prevent leaks at home

Climb into your roof and familiarise yourself with your geyser. And while you’re there, check if the temperature is correctly set. It should be between 55 degrees (summer) and 65 degrees (winter). Also, check for any pooling or dripping water, and check for signs of rodents or birds that can damage wires. 

If you suspect your geyser is playing up – find out more about common geyser problems and what to do when your electrical geyser bursts. prevent leaks at home

STEP 3 – CHECK YOUR WATER PRESSURE LEVEL

Another way to prevent leaks in the long term is to check your water pressure. A chat with a neighbour will give you a good indication as to whether the water pressure in your home is on point. You can also buy a pressure gauge from your local hardware store and hook it up to a hose faucet. Turn off all your water-using appliances and get a baseline reading – in general, you’re looking for a reading of between 30 and 80 psi. prevent leaks at home

The main reason to check your water pressure is because too much pressure can put a strain on your plumbing pipes and reduce the life span of plumbing components, causing leaks.

STEP 4 – CHECK THE SILICON SEALS IN YOUR BATHROOM AND KITCHEN

Sinks, baths, basins and showers are most often sealed with silicon. Upon inspection, you might notice that some strips of silicon are starting to disintegrate. If that is the case, it might be a good time to reseal the fittings and avoid leaks and damage before they happen. And while you’re inspecting the sink and basin – check underneath and inside the cupboards for any evidence of water damage. If your pipes are leaking, call the professionals to get them sorted. 

WHY DEAL WITH DRAIN SURGEON

But with many companies offering the same service, why should you decide to deal with Drain Surgeon? Well in a nutshell, because of our service attitude! Our absolute dodged focus on client service is no idle statement. In fact:

• We are ultimate geared for the provision of first-class service, with efficiency, dependability, and customer satisfaction our utmost concerns.
• We offer corporate maintenance contracts, thus enabling you to budget for the unexpected. A state-of-the-art tracking system has been installed in our vehicles, making it possible for us to pinpoint the movement of our vehicles at any given time and respond to queries regarding time spent on the a job with accuracy.
• Each one of our highly skilled repair teams consists of one tradesman and one helper. They are in constant touch with the Control Room and their vehicles carry an extensive set of tools and materials. They also have access to our fully-stocked stores at any time of the day or night.
• Staff training is ongoing and includes, in addition to technical refresher courses, training in all aspects of customer service.
• At the Drain Surgeon, we pay more than mere lip service to affirmative action. We offer opportunities for advancement to deserving staff members and our training program helps them reach their full potential.

WE’RE HERE FOR YOU 24/7

We love plumbing. And we love making sure your plumbing stays tip-top. Drain Surgeon is the largest plumbing group in the Southern hemisphere. We will give you quick and professional service no matter what your plumbing and drainage needs may be.

Call us today and our plumbing team will take care of it – any time of the day or night. We’ve been in the business for a long time, and we’ve seen it all, so you can enjoy peace of mind in the knowledge that one of our expert plumbers will be with you soon. 

At Drain Surgeon we only contract security-screened plumbers and electricians, so your home and family are in safe hands when we perform work on your premises. 

Download the app here and save R150 on your first job. And check out our testimonials here to hear what other happy customers have to say. We hope to add your testimonial here soon! 

Why call Drain Surgeon? We offer all general and specialised plumbing services, 24/7. 

• We only contract security-screened plumbers and electricians, so you can feel at ease when we work on your premises. 
• We are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Your call will always be answered by our helpful staff – never an answering machine.
• You do not pay extra for services outside office hours.
• We will keep you informed throughout the process.
• Our technicians will always be professional, highly competent and wear our recognisable uniform.
• The Drain Surgeon vehicles carry all the equipment to complete most jobs immediately.
• We leave all work areas clean and tidy.
• We always aim to solve your problem quickly and professionally.