It can be really irritating on your first day in a new home to turn off a tap and hear a loud banging or rattling coming from a wall or beneath the floor boards: The cause is water hammer or “hydraulic shock” and it can sometimes cause extensive damage to water pipes, hot water systems and appliances.
Sometimes water hammer is an indicator of an installation problem relating to piping, valves, taps, cisterns, hot water storage and heating, washing machines or dishwashers. The most common causes are tension in the piping, poor piping support in walls and under floors, high mains pressure and fast-closing solenoid valves in appliances.
When a tap is suddenly shut the moving mass of water in the pipe behind, which has built up velocity and pressure, suddenly stops...releasing a shock wave either in one loud bang or as a series of hammering noises. Eventually, this can cause leaks and even failure of the piping system.
Sometimes water hammer only occurs with a single device in the home, commonly a flush toilet. When you pull the chain or push the button to flush the bowl a float valve opens to refill the cistern. The closure of this valve can then produce water hammer in a susceptible system. This can be hell for light sleepers in the family home when it happens at night.
We at can assist you to locate a plumber in your area or resolve other property concerns.
If you have a question about real estate, or would like assistance in locating a property, feel free to phone me, Noel Thompson Principal Professionals Logan Lifestyles anytime on 0418 517 525.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
Insulate For Comfort and Economy
In a new home the cost of insulating walls, ceilings and floors is very reasonable because sarking (applied under roof cladding) and fibreglass or rockwool batts can be installed during the construction phase when access is optimised.
The purpose of insulation is to block the flow of heat into and out of the building. Wood, brick, stone and concrete have good insulating properties because they are poor conductors of heat but engineered insulation products are far more efficient. Modern lightweight insulating mats and batts only 150mm thick will block the flow of heat as effectively as a solid brick wall.
You can purchase packs of insulation material from hardware stores and building supplies retailers together with free do-it-yourself installation instructions but beware; this is not a task to be taken lightly. Insulation products, especially those made from fine shreds of glass or stone, can cause severe skin irritation and bronchial problems. Masks, gloves and protective clothing must be worn.
Other popular insulation products include cellulose, polystyrene, urea formaldehyde, perlite and urethane and are applied either as loose fill, mats, batts, slabs and rigid boards (urea formaldehyde and urethane are usually foamed-in-place).
Crawling around in roof spaces can be hazardous because of the risk of electrical shock, heat exhaustion and physical injury so it is recommended that you get quotes from professionals before attempting the task yourself.
If you have a question about real estate, or would like assistance in locating a property, feel free to phone me, Noel Thompson Principal Professionals Logan Lifestyles anytime on 0418 517 525.
The purpose of insulation is to block the flow of heat into and out of the building. Wood, brick, stone and concrete have good insulating properties because they are poor conductors of heat but engineered insulation products are far more efficient. Modern lightweight insulating mats and batts only 150mm thick will block the flow of heat as effectively as a solid brick wall.
You can purchase packs of insulation material from hardware stores and building supplies retailers together with free do-it-yourself installation instructions but beware; this is not a task to be taken lightly. Insulation products, especially those made from fine shreds of glass or stone, can cause severe skin irritation and bronchial problems. Masks, gloves and protective clothing must be worn.
Other popular insulation products include cellulose, polystyrene, urea formaldehyde, perlite and urethane and are applied either as loose fill, mats, batts, slabs and rigid boards (urea formaldehyde and urethane are usually foamed-in-place).
Crawling around in roof spaces can be hazardous because of the risk of electrical shock, heat exhaustion and physical injury so it is recommended that you get quotes from professionals before attempting the task yourself.
If you have a question about real estate, or would like assistance in locating a property, feel free to phone me, Noel Thompson Principal Professionals Logan Lifestyles anytime on 0418 517 525.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)