Plumbing jobs you don’t have to phone a plumber for!

There’s always a way for you to save a bit more. This is true for money, electricity, and water. Here are some tips, products, and DIY instructions that can help you get more out of your appliances by saving more.

Insulate your geyser

Your geyser is constantly losing heat, around 1ºC every hour. This means your geyser has to switch the element back on to reheat the water, constantly using electricity to do so. By fitting an insulation blanket on the geyser itself and insulation snap-ons on the pipes, you can keep the water a more consistent temperature. This saves electricity, keeps water hotter for longer in the event of load-shedding, and extends the life of your geyser by reducing wear and tear on the heating element.

You can fit the insulation on the geyser by yourself. You will just need a pair of scissors, duct tape, and a tape measure. Use the scissors to cut the blanket into a strip that can cover the full length and width of the geyser and tape it around the geyser. With the remaining blanket, cut it in half and stuff it into place at the ends of the geyser. Put the snap-on insulation over the pipes of the geyser.

You can get all these insulation materials at BRIGHTS like the Isover Geyser Insulation Combo Pack

Replace pipes yourself

Replacing PVC pipes is a job that anyone can do. While quick fixes like repair tape and PVC epoxy can solve small leaks or temporarily treat the problem, there are times when the pipe needs to be replaced completely.

When doing any repairs to water pipes, first make sure that the water is turned off. It is recommended that you use a hacksaw when cutting PCV pipes. Cut off the section of pipe that you wish to replace, then cut another piece of pipe to the same length as the section that you are replacing. Grab and sand down two PVC coupling joints and apply PVC weld on the inside of the joint and the surface of the pipe you will be coupling it with. Push the coupling joint on the pipe without twisting and leave this to dry for about a minute. Insert the new section of pipe with adhesive on the outside and then slip the second coupling joint, also with adhesive on it, onto the other side to link it to the pipe. Leave this for about 30 minutes to dry before allowing water to flow through it again.

Clean your drains

Over time food residue, soap, hair and other gross things will start to clog up the drains of your sinks, showers, basins and even toilet. Physically poking open these blockages work, and water will flow again, but don’t think you’re done! A noticeable amount of bacteria ridden sludge will still sit on the inside of your pipes, especially in the bends. This will have to be cleaned chemically. Using a good drain cleaner like the Revet Drain Cleaner Free Flow 1L, pour the drain cleaner directly into the clogged up drain, while following the instructions for quantity. Leave it to work for about 30 minutes, and simply flush away the dissolved matter with cold water. Now you have fresh, clean, running drains!

When working on your own plumbing, always work very carefully and never use force. Some pipes, joints and fixtures like basins and toilets may crack if being handled too rough.

With expert advice and great deals from BRIGHTS, you can always save a few Rands. Remember – if you have any questions, head over to your nearest BRIGHTS and ask one of our team members to assist.

To shop our Festive Promotion, valid until 24 December 2023, click here

HAPPY PLUMBING!

Stores are located in Boston, Blackheath, Langebaan, Mitchells Plain, Richmond Park, Plattekloof, Stonewood, Brackengate and Sunningdale. An online store shopping experience is available at www.brights.co.za which offers delivery to anywhere in South Africa. BRIGHTS offers same-day delivery in the Western Cape for products purchased online and also has a tool hire service.