1. Don’t want to call your plumber? The best money saving tip is maintenance. The most common call outs for plumbers are usually blocked wastes, leaking taps or problems with your hot water cylinder. If you maintain these things yourself then there would be no need to call a plumber. How? Keep your wastes clean, remove any hair, soap scum from traps and easy clean wastes, run boiling water down your wastes occasionally.
Leaking taps are easy to repair, simply go to your hardware store or plumbing merchant and buy replacement washers, or if fitted with a cartridge, purchase the ceramic cartridge yourself and fit it. It is not difficult at all.

2. If you do have to call a plumber to do renovation work, purchase the plumbing materials and fixtures yourself. Always consult your plumber first, making sure the tapware and fixtures are suitable for use on your plumbing system, your plumber should be able to recommend some good choices as well. Most major hardware and plumbing stores will give you a huge discount if you purchase say a whole set of bathroom fixtures from them – always ask – you may be surprised. You should never have to pay retail for anything! Check with your plumber, most professional plumbers do not mind if the customer purchases materials and fixtures for their own job and most will even give you a list of fittings that they require to do the job.

3. Before you hire a plumber to do a job, always check first if they are registered and licensed to carry out the work. Also, check their hourly rate, although an hourly rate is not always a guarantee of a good job. I know some plumbers whose hourly rate is expensive and their work is shocking! Ask friends and colleagues who they can recommend. When doing large alterations, always ask for a quote, supply plans and ask your plumber to price off the plans.

4. When your plumber is on the job, help reduce his chargeable time by doing simple things like, clearing out the cupboard below the sink if he is to work on your sink, give him a list of things that you need fixed. Often if you call out a plumber to fix a small leak, he will charge you a minimum of half an hour or an hour and may fix the problem within ten minutes, make sure you give him some extra work like changing some washers so you get the full benefit of the hour!

5. Install water saving devices is another money saving tip, use flow restrictors on shower roses to reduce your water consumption. If your toilet is fairly old consider changing it to a dual-flush system which saves a lot of water. Repair dripping taps and also check your outside hose taps.

6. If planning major plumbing work or renovations, put a lot of thought into the design and feasibility of your alteration. Check with your local council as there will more than likely be permits and inspections required. Please do not carry out any work such as alterations without the necessary consents from your council as if they find out, they can get particularly nasty to the extent of taking you to court.

7. For major plumbing work, always get three written quotes and compare the price. Also ask the plumber for referees. If your plumber is a professional he will be more than happy to supply you with details of happy customers.

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Filed under: Hot Water • Tips

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