Category: Plumbing & Heating

  • Changing A 3-Port Valve Actuator in A Central Heating System

    Changing A 3-Port Valve Actuator in A Central Heating System

    Over time valve actuators may develop faults which are easily fixed by replacing them. I have just had to do that with the one in my central heating system. I last changed it on 12th December 2017, so, it had run for nearly five years without a fault.

  • How I Hung My Vertical Radiator In The New Lounge

    How I Hung My Vertical Radiator In The New Lounge

    Introduction I hung my vertical radiator in the new lounge while the builder of my extension and his plumber were busy doing other work. They let me do this because I explained my concerns about its weight and agreed to try fixing it by their method. I explained what I planned to do if, when…

  • Fixing A Close Coupled Toilet Leaking Fresh Water

    Fixing A Close Coupled Toilet Leaking Fresh Water

    Post Description How I renewed the coupling kit which joins my toilet cistern and pan. I did this to repair a Close Coupled Toilet leaking fresh water between the cistern and pan. Water was leaking from the coupling joint when the toilet was flushed.

  • Unblocking A Blocked Toilet

    Unblocking A Blocked Toilet

    Preface This post describes: How to clear a blocked toilet and includes how to remove the trap water so it can safely be disconnected from the sewer without spilling anything. As you can see I’ve censored the featured image for this post. I decided somethings are best left to the imagination. Imagine the water level…

  • Replacing A Toilet Fill Valve

    Replacing A Toilet Fill Valve

    Preface This post describes: Replacing a Toilet Fill Valve with a new one. I have also written another article about How A Toilet Silent Fill Valve Works which is appropriate to a specific type of fill valve.

  • Kitchen Appliance Connection Points

    Kitchen Appliance Connection Points

    Introduction Everyone has to design their kitchen or utility room to suite their circumstances but when my kitchen came up for renewal in 2003 I made specific use of the considerable space behind my pan drawers. I discarded my pan drawer carcase back panel and brought together many of my kitchen appliance connection points onto this large area…

  • Mira Shower Thermal Switch Replacement

    Mira Shower Thermal Switch Replacement

    Introduction This article advises how I have replaced a Mira Shower thermal switch in a MIRA Sport 9kW Thermostatic Shower on several occasions. Originally I installed a MIRA Sport 9kW Thermostatic Shower as part of a new bathroom and had it tested and certified by a qualified electrician on 1st May 2007. I was very pleased with it…

  • How A Toilet Cistern Silent Fill Valve Works

    How A Toilet Cistern Silent Fill Valve Works

    Introduction This article is in effect an addendum to the post Repairing A Toilet Silent Fill Valve which explains how to access and dismantle such a valve and inspect or change the diaphragm that sits in the valve. That post also explains what is, and is not, silent about a Silent Fill Valve. This is…

  • Repairing A Toilet Silent Fill Valve

    Repairing A Toilet Silent Fill Valve

    Preface This post describes: How to repair a Toilet Silent Fill Valve. Basically that’s how to replace the rubber diaphragm within the valve. Introduction I recently heard my cistern overflowing. On investigation I decided to adjust the float level to stop it by reducing the height to which the water in the cistern rose when…

  • Unblocking A Bathroom Wash Basin Drain

    Unblocking A Bathroom Wash Basin Drain

    Introduction I recently noticed the waste water leaving my bathroom wash basin was taking more time than usual to drain away. Realising this meant a total blockage may be imminent, I set to work dismantling the waste pipe and bottle trap so that I could begin unblocking my wash basin drain. Boy was there some gunge to…

  • Opening Dual-Flush Toilet Cisterns

    Opening Dual-Flush Toilet Cisterns

    Preface This post describes: Opening Dual-Flush Toilet Cisterns to maintain the inlet valve and flushing mechanism.

  • Dripping noise from a rainwater spout

    Dripping noise from a rainwater spout

    Preface This post refers specifically to downpipes with a square cross section. It shows how to modify a rainwater downpipe spout (shoe) to stop a dripping noise when the drip starts within the outlet shoe. Introduction For drips that drop off the guttering outlet and fall all the way down to the bottom of a straight downpipe and hit the…

  • How Many Parts Make A Shower Head?

    How Many Parts Make A Shower Head?

    How Many Parts? You may be surprised to learn that the shower head that came with my Mira Sport Thermostatic Shower is made from 22 separate parts. If you count them in the featured image above you will see 21 but take note that the main body of the shower head, on the right, is made…

  • Should You Worry About Your Bath Overflowing?

    Should You Worry About Your Bath Overflowing?

    Introduction Bragging bath owner, “Me, worry about my bath overflowing? It’s got an overflow pipe. I shan’t worry.” Plumber, “Oh! Has it? Well I would still worry.” Why you DO NEED to worry about your bath overflowing? I know someone who has had a bad experience with a bath overflowing, but it wasn’t their bath…