The vessel that is used for the storage of the domestic cold water that many homes use is called a cylinder. These cylinders are made from very strong and durable plastic that is also very flexible for installing in a loft or high roof space. they are temperature and bacteria resistant. A Brixton Plumber is a qualified professional By using an insulating material it will stop the water from freezing. These modern types of vessels need to have a sound base for support. They cannot be placed across joists without putting a solid platform between the vessel and the joists. This is because the high volume of water is very heavy and can distort the cylinder. Also, the cylinders outlets need to be higher than any of the draw off points for fittings and appliances. the inlet water is controlled by a valve called a ballcock or ball valve. It is a diaphragm valve rather than an older style valve. The diaphragm valves discharges water from the top and this allows a sufficient air gap to prevent backflow. This allows the cylinder to be filled and shut off automatically according to its water level. The valve can be adjusted to maintain a specific level. The outlet from the cylinder should be near the base or even below so that debris cannot accumulate. Brixton Plumbers always carry the correct tools for any plumbing jobs. The inlet and the outlet need local valves for isolation. The inlet has a plug valve type. The outlet is a regular gate valve. The cylinder has an overflow that is positioned over the maximum water level but under the inlet enough to keep the required air gap. The overflow runs down so that water flows out through an outside wall. The pipe should be insulated and protected with a mesh screen to stop insects and dirt from entering the system. The pipe is usually 19mm.

Below is a fitting guide for the valve and rail of a thermostatic mixer shower:?Tools:Adjustable spanner, pencil, cable detector, electric drill and masonry bits, spirit level.This rail needs be set high enough so that it can be used by the tallest user in the home comfortably, but not that low that the showerhead dangles less than 25mm from the spillover level of the shower tray or bath, or nearby basin. This will cause a risk of something called back-siphonage of used water into your domestic supply. Brixton Plumbers know about water supplies. Seal the hole around each inlet pipe with sanitary silicon sealant. Flush out the pipework by briefly turning on the hot and cold water supply. Then, before attaching the pipework trims, fit a coupler on each pipe and fit the thermostatic mixer valve using an adjustable spanner. Turn on the hot and cold water to check for leaks. If ok, turn off the water again and remove the mixer, fit the chrome pipework trims and refit the mixer valve. Fit the lever and holder to the slide rail. Hold the brackets on the ends of the rail and mark the position of the fixing hole for the lowest one. Make sure that there are no hidden pipes cables with a detector, then drill where you have marked the position of the lower bracket. Insert a wall plug and squeeze onto it a spot of sanitary silicon sealant. Remove the slider rail from the brackets and fix the bottom bracket to the bottom hole using the screw supplied. A Brixton Plumber can fit rails. To find the position of the top fixing hole place the rail back onto the bottom bracket. Put the other mounting bracket onto the top of the rail. Use a spirit level to check it is vertical and mark the top fixing hole on the wall. Remove the rail and drill and plug the wall as before. Screw the top bracket in with the rail in place. Finally, fit the bracket covers onto the top and bottom brackets.

The results of a?survey carried out by plumbing assurance scheme show that more than half of the nations plumbers are working a lot more than the stated maximum hours of work as stipulated by the Eus Working Time Directive. This survey reveals that 54% of plumbers work longer than 48 hours in a week, and 26% work between 40-48 hours, with only 13% working between 35-40 hours. A Brixton Plumber works within the rules. Around 94% of plumbing professionals say their long hours have had a negative affect on their home and social life. As a result, 61% of plumbers said they have needed to increase the hours they work over the past ten years. They were asked if they thought the recession had impacted their business, and 77% said yes. Another 41% said customers now say that the cost is the most important issue, rather than who is the best tradesman for the job. The plumbing community also claim that their increase in working hours is down to social media. Almost?73% of plumbers surveyed said they thought technology and social media had made them feel like they were constantly working and they were not able to stop. But, 27% said this was a positive thing as it has provided more opportunities for work. Brixton Plumbers work realistic hours. Mr Kevin Wellman, who is the CEO of the CIPHE, says he is in no doubt that this recession has had an affect affect on all of us in one way or another. but he is concerned to see the amount of plumbers who work more hours than the working time directive states to remain competitive. Mr Wellman felt that it is important that the industry addresses the issue, as the long hours could have an affect on installations as on their home life. He stated that if they are to attract young people to the industry, that the hours are sensible and safe and the industry is better regulated, and safe place for tradesmen to work.

Most modern WCs are washed down by means of direct action cisterns. Water enters the system through a valve, which is opened and closed by the action of a hollow float attached to one end of a rigid arm. As the water rises in the cistern, it lifts the float until the other end of the arm closes the valve and shuts off the supply. Flushing is carried out by depressing a lever, which is linked by wire to a rod attached to a perforated plastic or metal plate at the bottom of an inverted U-bend tube (siphon). As the plate rises, the perforations are sealed by a flexible plastic diaphragm (flap valve), so the plate can displace a body of water over the U-bend to promote a siphoning action. The water pressure behind the diaphragm lifts it, so that the contents of the cistern flow up through the perforations in the plate, over the U-bend and down the flush pipe. As the water level in the cistern drops, so does the float, thus opening the float valve to refill the cistern. A Brixton Plumber can fix cistern problemsServicing Cisterns.The few problems associated with this type of cistern are easy to solve. A faulty float valve or poorly adjusted float arm will allow water to leak into the cistern until it drips from the overflow pipe that runs to the outside of the house. Slow or noisy filling can often be rectified by replacing the float valve. If the cistern will not flush unless the lever is used several times, the flap valve probably needs to be replaced. If the flushing lever feels slack, make sure that the wire link at the end of the flushing arm is still in one piece. If water is running continuously into the WC pan, check the condition of the washer at the base of the siphon. Brixton Plumbers are trained professionals.

Earth Bonding:?The system where metal pipework is connected either together by a continuous cable to the homes main earth terminal in order to stop the risk of electric shock arising from stray currents due a faulty electrical installation. Brixton Plumbers can work on all domestic appliances.Compression Joints:These fittings are used to join pieces of pipework to each other. They have an integral compression ring that clamps onto the pipe and is forced up against the body of a fitting.Combi-Boiler:?A (combination) boiler that is used in a domestic central heating as appliance that will instantly heat water that supplies the homes hot water outlets. Its installation means that you do not have the need for a hot water storage cylinder to be fitted.Hard Water:Water that contains a large percentage of dissolved minerals, which are deposited as lime scale inside kettle, hot water cylinders and heating systems. A Brixton Plumber can fit identify hard water.Appliances:Machine or device powered by electricity. Or a functional piece of equipment fitted in a plumbing system, such as a hand basin or bath.Balanced Flue:?This a term for a ducting system in which a heating appliance like a boiler is allowed, to draw through natural convection, fresh air from the outside for its combustion and then discharge to the outside through a separate compartment in the flue. Air Separator:Can be known as a de-aerator, the device can be found in a fully pumped central heating system to keep the neutral point, where the cold feed and vent pipes join the system.Bleed valve:Small screw situated at one of the top corners of a radiator. Turning the screw allows trapped air to escape, so that the radiator can fill with hot water and reach optimum temperature. Cistern:A vessel that can store cold water, which is then drawn as required, this is usually found on a WC.

A process called soldering is used in plumbing out to connect pipes and joints together. It works by melting soft metal solder over a joint with a direct heat source like a blowlamp. When completed, these joints are waterproof and permanent. They are very common joints. Brixton Plumbers can use both types of soldering.NOTE: Wipe any residual flux away from the pipe after soldering is completed, or the pipe will turn a green colour, denoting corrosion. Make sure there are no leaks. Hot and Cold water supplies must be Lead Free soldered.Two Types:A). Solder Ring Fittings (contains ring of solder).B). End feed fittings (on a reel).Soldering:1). Make sure the pipe to solder contains no water as this gives a cooling affect that slows down or stops the soldering, therefore the solder does not melt and flow. A professional plumber like a Brixton Plumber is qualified in all types of pipe jointing. Next, apply the direct heat to the joint to melt the solder. Solder should be used the moment that it has melted so as not to burn the flux. If soldered fittings are used, you will see the solder as it runs from the fitting. Allow the joint to cool down after it has been soldered as this will guarantee a good fit.Care and caution needs to be taken so that there are no combustible materials in the vicinity of the heat source because of the fire risk.Footnote:The mating surfaces of the items to be soldered should be cleaned inside and outside with wire wool or nylon cleaning pad. Now, put a suitable flux onto the clean surfaces. The (flux) is a specific type of paste, available in plumbers merchants and is used to keep the areas clean when the soldering, it also allows the hot molten solder to stick to the copper and flow a lot easier.

When choosing a shower system for your home, you need to find the best and most compatible one for you, and will fit your plumbing. If your system is fed by gravity there will be a hot water cylinder and a cold water storage cistern in your loft space your options are: a mixer shower with or without a pump, power shower or an electric shower. Brixton Plumbers can fit showers. If your system uses a combination boiler or the cold water is fed straight from the mains you may only fit a mixer shower or an electric shower, you can’t attach a pump to a combination boiler or mains supply.Shower Selection:Power Shower:The power shower operates the same as a thermostatic mixer shower, with one big difference, it comes with a built-in electrical pump so it can boost at the ware flow rate. It is an good choice if your water pressure is low in your home but this pump is will only work with a gravity fed system.Electric Shower:The electric showers operation is like a kettle, it only needs a cold water supply. This is heated by elements in the shower unit. If the kilowatt rating is high, then, the power developed by the shower is high also, though the strength of its spray might wane in winter as the incoming cold mains water takes longer to heat. A Brixton Plumber is qualified to fit all showers and their plumbing.Basic Mixer:The basic mixer shower is cheap and easy to fit with no new plumbing or electrical connections. The hot and cold water is controlled simply by turning on the bath taps. It is hard to achieve the temperature you want, and the temperature changes if another appliance uses water at the same time.Thermostatic Mixer:With this, you program the temperature with a manual controller and the thermostat cycles the temperature within 2C even if water is drawn from somewhere else in the home. It can be fitted over a bath or in its own separate cubicle. If you have a gravity-fed water system you can fit a booster pump.

Sometimes the radiators in your heating system will be plagued by trapped air inside, that can find its way into a system after maintenance or even a new radiator fit. This causes the radiator or radiators to remain cold in various parts as the hot water cannot pass the air inside. To get rid of the air you need to bleed it away. A Brixton Plumber is always a call away and can carry out such work if you are unsure, and will ensure the work is done correctly.Process:1). Isolate the central heating pump. This can be done by shutting the spindle operated isolating valves on each side of the pump. You can isolate the boiler, however it is not really required. 2). Identify the bleed valve on the radiator. You should find it on one of its top corners, it a square nut in the centre of the round blanking plug. You need the right bleed key to fit the shank. Professional installers such as Brixton Plumbers have these. 3). Using the key turn the nut anticlockwise for a 1/4 turn. You should not need any more, but, do have a vessel handy to catch any water, in case you open it too far. Note: There is no need to open this valve completely. 4). The air will give a hissing sound as it is released. Keeping the key bleed on the shank, wait until the hissing stops and water appears, then, close the valve tightly.5). Should no water or air be seen or heard when you bleed the radiator, you need to check the feed and expansion tank in the loft. If full of water, then the radiator valve itself could have a blockage. 6). Close the inlet and outlet valve on both ends of the radiator. Remove the screw from the middle of the bleed valve. Use some thin wire to clear the hole, now, re-open one of the radiator valves slowly and eject some water. Close the radiator valve and relocate the screw back in the bleed valve. Open both radiator valves and retry.

Below is a fitting guide for the valve and rail of a thermostatic mixer shower:Tools:Adjustable spanner, pencil, cable detector, electric drill and masonry bits, spirit level.This rail needs be set high enough so that it can be used by the tallest user in the home comfortably, but not that low that the showerhead dangles less than 25mm from the spillover level of the shower tray or bath, or nearby basin. This will cause a risk of something called back-siphonage of used water into your domestic supply. Brixton Plumbers know about water supplies. Seal the hole around each inlet pipe with sanitary silicon sealant. Flush out the pipework by briefly turning on the hot and cold water supply. Then, before attaching the pipework trims, fit a coupler on each pipe and fit the thermostatic mixer valve using an adjustable spanner. Turn on the hot and cold water to check for leaks. If ok, turn off the water again and remove the mixer, fit the chrome pipework trims and refit the mixer valve. Fit the lever and holder to the slide rail. Hold the brackets on the ends of the rail and mark the position of the fixing hole for the lowest one. Make sure that there are no hidden pipes cables with a detector, then drill where you have marked the position of the lower bracket. Insert a wall plug and squeeze onto it a spot of sanitary silicon sealant. Remove the slider rail from the brackets and fix the bottom bracket to the bottom hole using the screw supplied. A Brixton Plumber can fit rails. To find the position of the top fixing hole place the rail back onto the bottom bracket. Put the other mounting bracket onto the top of the rail. Use a spirit level to check it is vertical and mark the top fixing hole on the wall. Remove the rail and drill and plug the wall as before. Screw the top bracket in with the rail in place. Finally, fit the bracket covers onto the top and bottom brackets.

Boiler control systems will cause many problems if they fail or develop faults. A visual check of your thermostats, programmers and timers switches and radiator valves is a sometime good idea, but dont try to do any technical service or repairs on the heating system on your own as there are skilled professionals such as Brixton Plumbers who will make sure your boiler and heating system is maintained and serviced properly as part of their comprehensive service. Thermostats:After being fitted for a long period the boilers thermostat may lose its accuracy and not read temperature settings accurately and then switch the heat on/off at the wrong times. A Programmable thermostat can cut a heating bill by 10-20%. A gas boiler engineer such a Brixton Plumber will clean and recalibrate your old thermostat, it may be an idea for him fit a new one. Hot Water and Heating:Hot water and heating are controlled by the timed /off/ constant switches fitted to your boiler. Check that the LCD display is reading accurately.Radiator No Heat Problem:If on your radiators you have thermostatic valves, try turning up the thermostat. If you have a conventional lock-shield valve, take off the plastic cover and adjust the setting. Should nothing happen after you’ve adjusted the settings, you have a fault with your radiator valve and will need to call a Gas Safe registered professional to drain the system and replace it. Boiler Condensate:A pipe is fitted to a boiler that takes any condensation from the boiler to the outside drain. If the weather is very cold, this condensation freezes and causes a block or a backing up that stops the boiler. The indication that this pipe is probably frozen is on your boiler’s display with a ‘fault code’ or warning light, even, gurgling or bubbling sounds from the boiler.