We also do bathroom fitting around Newcastle Upon Tyne

Bathroom Fitters in Newcastle

Greetings from Croftside Plumbing - We've been extra busy at the moment and havent had a chance to keep up with the blog - but we're working on some great new plumbing and home improvement tips for you very shortly. Something that has seen a big increase (and usually does this time of year) is bathroom installations.

We've fitted quite a few bathrooms over the course of the last month but to be fair - there are some fantastic deals out there at the moment, so I dont blame people. We offer a great service and excellent rates for installation - much better than the supplier prices.

So if you need a quality bathroom installer we can help we have bathroom fitters in newcastle and across the north east. So if you'd like a free quote from us please get in touch!

Croftside Plumbing

Plumbing Tips Newcastle - Keeping your drains and pipes clear..

At last we have a slight break in the weather, albeit not the biggest break but at least the snow has disappeared! (but for how long?)

We're doing some great offers on central heating systems and general plumbing at the moment and remember we DON'T charge any VAT. So if you need a plumber Newcastle or anywhere else across the north east including tynemouth, whitley bay, gosforth or Gateshead. Just give us a quick call and we'll be happy to help you.

After the holiday season I always see a big increase in blocked drains and pipes. It's amazing how many people can easily overlook the simplest of tips to avoid these problems, so I thought I'd throw a few quick tips out there. These are pretty straight forward so you likely know them already - but there's no harm in a friendly reminder.

Keeping your pipes clear

The main thing to avoid is putting any food down the sink as this can cause a blockage, same runs true for pouring thick liquids such as grease or fat.

Have you ever left a pan for a few hours after making a fry up then had a nightmare trying to clean it afterwards? Well this is the number one reason for internal pipe blockages in the kitchen. If your pan can look that clogged up after only a few hours imagine what piles upon piles of it will be doing to your plumbing work!

Regular use of cleaning agents

Kitchen sinks, bathroom and washbasins should be regularly cleared with some kind of cleaning solution which you can source from your local supermarket.

Remember the winter is still here so please have a look at our other tips on keeping your pipes frost free and saving yourself a fortune on central heating repairs!

Need a plumber fast? What a fantastic opportunity as croftside plumbing has plumbers all across the north east. To name a few we have plumbers in Newcastle, plumbers in Gateshead and plumbers wherever you can think you. Free estimates and no vat!

How to bleed a radiator

Do you radiators feel cold?

With all the fantastic weather we have been receiving as of late, I'm betting that the majority of us folk have had the heating turned. Besides the cost of energy, are you actually getting the full potential from your radiator? If your radiator feels like its lacking a bit in the heat department the most likely solution is the radiator simply needs a good old bleeding! And these fine plumbers in Newcastle are going to show you how.

Cold at the top and warm at the bottom? 

If your radiator feels cold at the top and warmer at the bottom this is a tell tale sign of trapped air within the radiator cavity which prevents a normal flow of water and causes the dampening of heat. but don't worry this doesn't usually mean calling a plumber out! (But if you are looking for a plumber in newcastle or a plumber in Gateshead and the rest of the the north Tyneside area be sure to give us a call) you can fix this little issue yourself with a simple little tool you may already have lying about in your toolbox. A radiator key! 

If you don't have one at lying around you can easily pick up a radiator key for under £1 from any hardware store. The good thing is radiator keys are universal so you don't need a special type or size as one size will fit all. The key fits snugly into the radiator value located at the top side of your radiator and a few turns of the key will result in releasing that trapped air and getting some heat back into that radiator. So lets get to it? First things first, there are a few safety precautions we must take before going a head with the bleeding (as always, but it's better to be safe than sorry isn't it? 

) 

Turn of your central heating

This is the most important one, as turning off the central heating will prevent any further air from entering the radiator ensuring we get all the trapped air out.

I've got the key

Depending on the types, models and makes of the radiator the bleed valve (which is where we will be inserting the key) varies in location but the most common place is on the sides usually towards the top. It may or may not have a small red handle. Place the key on the valve but don't turn it just yet!

Flooding alert 

I'm just kidding. But when you turn the key and the valve opens there will be a slight amount of water  which sprays out the valve due to the pressure, this is completely normal and there is no risk of damaging your radiator or causing a leak during this process. Simply have a paper towel, and old rag or something to catch the spray of water. Because the water inside a radiator may contain some chemicals which discolours the water and could potentially stain any wallpaper etc ensure you hold the towel or whatever you use in as close to a 360 degree fashion as possible. 

The fun bit

Once you've located the bleed valve insert the key and turn in an anti clockwise fashion fe really about a quarter to half a turn of the valve. At this point you should hear a hissing sound of the air escaping and there will be a mist of water (ensure you have your paper towel, or rag at hand) wait until the hissing sound stops and the water begins to dribble then turn the key back to its original position. That's it all done! Simply turn back on your central heating and providing you have followed these steps the radiator should be working now to its full capacity!

Do you need a qualified plumber around the north east? Croftside plumbing and heating has a Plumber Newcastle and the entire north east. Just call us today for a free no obligation quotation.

Fitting new basin taps

Guide to replacing a basin tap

So we had a call out for a plumber in gosforth early last week - the customer had bought some new taps for the wash basin in the bathroom and decided to try and fit them himself. To cut a long story short he had some flooding and I was called out to fix the problem.

Turns out they forgot to turn the water off! Even though this is the most obvious thing to do - you would be surprised how many people forget! Anyway, this prompted me to put up a quick guide to replacing some taps if you ever feel brave enough to do it! It's actually incredibly easy to do so just follow what I say step by step! and if in doubt please give us a call or post on the blog.

The golden rule

Turn the main water supply water off - you can do this by finding the stop cock and turning it in a clockwise direction to close the valve. There are various types of stop cocks and the locations vary, this is something you should be aware of at all times so its best to find out where it is for future reference even if you don’t plan on any DIY plumbing. But don’t worry, if you have any problems you can always find a plumber in newcastle who'll be able to help.

Remove the old taps

This bit can be tricky as the taps are held in with a large nut. Depending on space constrictions this may or may not be easily assessable and it may require a special plumbing wrench, never try and lodge spanners or other tools behind areas concentrated with pipes - you don’t know what kind of damage you could cause! If you have enough room to access the nut then a standard adjustable wrench should be ample to complete the job - if you find it difficult to loosen the nut just apply a small ammount of WD40 or similar and they taps should loosen off with ease, there may or may not be a extra bolt holding the taps to the basin itself - if so simply loosen and remove this.

Inserting the new taps

Depending on the type of taps you are trying to fit there is a slight difference in the method. For standard single taps simply attach the new taps and reconnect up to the pipes. The taps will almost always come with anti-slip washers that should be inserted under the screw pipes in contact with the bare surface of the basin. Tighten up but don’t over tighten the bolts. If the taps do not come with anti-slip washers you can apply a small amount of silicone to the area to form a watertight seal.

If you are fitting a mixer tap ensure that the holes located on the basin match up with the holes of the mixer unit as sizes can vary. The process for fitting is the same as above just ensure that when putting on the new tap unit that you fit the pipe tails to the tap first before attaching it to the wash basin - as it can proove a nuisance trying to tighten them up the other way round.

 

Bish Bash Bosh

 

All done! Before turning on the water supply ensure the tap unit is securely fixed, the anti-slip washers or attached, or you have applied some silicone to the area. Its also a good idea to pour a small amount of water around the area to make sure you have a watertight seal if you have used silicone as sometimes if the area is not clean or free from debris it can leave some small gaps and allow water to get percolate through.

You can now go back to the stop cock and turn it in a anti-clockwise direction until it is fully turned on. Open the taps on and leave running for a few minutes to ensure there are no leaks.

Job done

So if alls well you have just successfully inserted some new taps in your washbasin. If you need any assistance just give us a call, or post on the blog we’ll be happy to help. And please remember if you are at in any point in doubt contact a competent plumber to complete the job for you. We cover the whole of the north east and have plumbers in gateshead, plumbers in tynemouth, plumbers in whitley bay, plumbers in cramlington and even plumbers in ponteland. So you can be sure there is always a fully qualified and professional plumber available within your area.

 

Happy new year everyone!

Croftside Plumbing and Heating

Plumbing Winter Tips 2012

Croftside Plumbing Winter Guide

With Christmas close approaching so does the realisation of a cold and frosty winter. Whilst you may be preoccupied with Christmas day preparations, buying your loved ones gifts and taking some time out to relax after a hard years work - there might just be a few things to check before you can sit down and truly indulge in the festivity!


Now is the most important time of year to keep a close eye on your central heating system and the general plumbing throughout your home. When temperatures drop below freezing point a whole host of unwanted things can crop up such as blown pipes, cracks and worst of all leaks and water damage. Christmas is expense enough already isn’t it?


So have a read of our Christmas Plumbing and Central Heating ‘Wish List’ to keep your central heating system and plumbing, frost free (of course).

Ensure you know where your stop valve is located

If you’ve just moved house or maybe you just don’t know – First things are always first, ensure you know where your stop valve is located and make sure it is working! In the event of a leak or suspected frozen pipe it’s always important to turn the stop valve to the ‘off’ position this will help to prevent any further damage until a plumber can get to your home.

Keep an eye on those hidden pipes!

Make sure all exposed pipes (particularly ones found in the loft or attic) are well insulated to prevent any likelihood of freezing. If you have a storage heating system make sure this is also sufficiently protected. You should also check any pipes that run behind kitchen cabinets, bathroom furniture or concealed cupboards to ensure these are also properly insulated.

Dont give your pipes a reason to freeze over

If temperatures outside are below freezing point you should take some extra precautions to ensure your pipes don’t become frozen. If you have a lot of exposed pipes in the loft space or a storage type system it may be a good idea to allow some ventilation in through the hatch periodically throughout the day. As simple as it sounds, because heat likes to rise a bit of warm air circulation in these areas can exponentially reduce the risks of freezing pipes, and dreaded expensive plumbing bills.

Check your household appliances

Make sure all flexible piping from washing machines, dish washers and any other domestic appliances are working correctly and show no signs of leaking or near signs of freezing. Almost 50% of water damage from appliances happens during the winter, and can be the most costly thing to repair. So this is an important one!

Pipes freeze quicker than you might think!

Internal pipes start to freeze at much lower temperatures than most homeowners would generally believe. If you go out for an extended period of time, keep your heating on a low heat just to counter-act any potential freezing and to keep the system active. If you have a new combi boiler system you can set a timer to automatically start the central heating at the coldest points of the day which is usually just after the sun rises.

Staying away from home this Christmas?

If you plan on leaving your heating off indefinitely over the holidays whilst you visit friends or relatives, consider turning the water off at the main valve and keeping the faucets open. Burst pipes are caused when water freezes and begins to thaw leaving no way for the water to exit, by leaving taps open the water has some exit point and thus reduces the chance of freezing.

Thats all folks' (now you can relax and enjoy Christmas)

If you follow our dos and don’ts this Christmas you’ll safely survive the winter without any need for a call out from Croftside Plumbing and Heating. However, if you do suspect some of your pipes have frozen or there may be a leak do make sure you turn the water system off immediately and contact us or your local plumber as soon as you can to prevent any further damage. Remember prevention is always better than a cure.

Do you have any other tips you would like to share? Post them!

Have a great Christmas and a happy new year,

Croftside Plumbing
Plumbers in Newcastle

Plumbers in Newcastle Upon Tyne

Plumbing

Choosing the right kind of plumber for certain jobs is always important as some plumbers choose to specialise in certain areas such as installing new pipes into new houses while some plumbers may choose to specialise in installing new pipes into commercial buildings. Some plumbers may even choose in a very specific area such as natural gas lines or solid fuel systems.

What kinds of plumbing can we help you with?

Croftside Plumbing and Heating is a small family run business based in Wallsend, Newcastle Upon Tyne. We can help domestic and commercial customers with a variety of general plumbing services such as:

• emergency plumbing
• leaking taps
• burst taps
• blockages
• drainage problems

We can also help you with larger projects such as replacement of piping, or re-location of piping into different areas of your home.

 

o job to small, our plumbers are fully qualifed

We ensure the highest level of safety at all times whilst working in your premises, and all of our plumbers are fully qualified, gas safe and insured to carry out the most complex of plumbing work on your home. Before we undertake any work we will always conduct a safety inspection and survey to ensure there is no danger to you, your home or our plumbers.

Our customers are paramount to us and we ensure your experience is a pleasant one, all of our engineers are highly experienced, proficient and well mannered when undertaking any type of work in your home. Quotations are completely free of charge and are provided on a no-obligation basis.

For more information please head over to the website at Plumbers in Newcastle.