Plumbing Issues

Plumbing Issues

What do I do if the overflow is leaking?

How do I avoid a blocked toilet?

  • Air fresheners and toilet cleaners that attach to the rim of the toilet pan should be fastened securely to make sure they don’t fall off
  • Only flush away things designed to go down the toilet
  • Put things like disposable nappies and sanitary towels in a bin
  • If you’ve got young children in the house, put the lid down on the toilet when it’s not being used
  • If we have to send someone out to unblock the toilet and it’s blocked because of things like nappies, toys and air fresheners, you may be charged for the work

How do I clear a blocked toilet?

  • If the toilet pan is already full, remove most of the water with a jug or an old mug into a bucket or bowl
  • Push the toilet brush or plunger to the bottom of the pan and pump up and down hard about 10 times
  • This creates a vacuum and pressure, which may shift the blockage
  • Check by flushing the toilet to see whether the blockage has gone
  • You may need to repeat the plunging and then flushing several times before the toilet flushes normally
  • Do not use plungers with a metal disk. These can chip or crack the toilet bowl

What do I do if plunging doesn't work?

  • Make sure you’ve got rid of as much water as you can
  • Place a bowl underneath the pipe that goes from the plug hole (this is called the waste trap) and unscrew the joints to remove the trap
  • Clean thoroughly and replace the trap, checking that the seals are in place and that all joints are screwed tightly

How do I clear a blocked bath or sink?

  • Bail out most of the water using a cup, or something similar, and throw the water away down another drain
  • Hold a cloth or rag firmly over the overflow opening (towards the top of the sink) and place a plunger over the drain hole
  • Pump the plunger up and down rapidly until the blockage has moved and the water drains away. If this doesn’t work, see the next bit of advice here to suggest what to do next
  • You can buy plungers from most DIY shops (like Homebase or Wickes) and some local shops and supermarkets
  • Before you finish, clean out the waste trap
  • And we recommend you clean the area with a special drain cleaning product, which can be bought from most supermarkets or DIY stores

What do I do if I have a blocked sink, bath or toilet?

  • If your bath, sink or toilet is blocked, you’ll need to follow the instructions here to clear it.Blockages are normally caused by a build-up of things like fat, tea leaves and hair or because things have been put down the toilet that don’t belong, such as the plastic toilet cleaners, disposable nappies or toys. But if more than one of your rooms has a blockage (say your bathroom and your kitchen) you might have a problem further down in the sewage pipes or drainage system. If this is the case you’ll need to call us. The numbers are here.

How do I shut off the water supply?

  • You should know where your main stopcock is and check that it turns easily so you can shut off the water supply if you need to
  • It’s usually where the water pipe enters the house or near the kitchen sink
  • Also find out where the gate valves for the hot and cold water tanks are
  • Turning them off should stop the water flow

What do I do when a pipe bursts or there is a major leak?

  • Turn off the water at the main stopcock, and any gate valves from the water tank, and switch off any water heaters, if you have any
  • Report it to us immediately. Click here for the numbers.

What do I do if I have a small leak in a pipe?

  • If you have a small leak in a pipe, put a bowl or bucket underneath the leak
  • And, if possible lay down newspapers or towels to soak up any water or dampness
  • And then call and report the repair
  • If you do not report the problem or try to limit the damaged caused by the leak, you may be charged for any damage caused

Report a Repair

As your landlord, by law, we have to carry out certain repairs. But tenants are responsible for other repairs. To make sure the house stays in good condition we have to work together.

Pay Rent

Before you move into your new home we will talk to you about how you are going to make your rent payments, talk to you about your income and help you to plan a budget.

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