Plumbing

Plumbing plays a huge role in the functionality and liveability of all of our homes. Whether filling a bath, flushing a toilet or heating your radiators, the pipes, fixings and fittings of your property’s plumbing systems are what allow the smooth running of all your essential home appliances. 

There is a wide range of plumbing applications you may be faced with within the home so understanding the basics will not only help to maximise the comfort and safety of your household but can even lead to improved savings when it comes to utility bills. 

Plumbing projects can seem daunting, especially if you are a first-time DIYer with little experience in the field. However, with the practical fitting systems of modern plumbing products now available, fixing, installing or upgrading your home’s plumbing set-up needn’t be an impossible challenge. 

The plumbing setup of a sink utilises a variety of components including pipework, washers, waste traps, waste pipes and a multitude of different fittings and fixings. Sinks and basins can be a challenging fit, so it's important to first research and understand each of the different elements. 

For example, the P-trap is a fundamental part of the system, installed to prevent water from spilling out of the pipes. A waste pipe or waste arm extends from the P-trap and carries out wastewater from the sink’s drain into the sewer system. You will then also find hot and cold water pipes which usually sit hidden underneath the cabinet or counter. Both pipes incorporate shutoff valves which can be turned on or off when repairing or replacing a tap connection. 

When working in a space-restricted area such as below the kitchen sink, it can be tricky to create water-tight connections between pipes, especially in blind spots. Practical plumbing solutions such as flexible hoses and push-fit fittings allow fast, easy and safe installations without the need for soldering in such tight spaces.

Plumbing in your own washing machine is actually easier than you may think and is a task that many DIYers can tackle with the correct technique and plumbing supplies.  

You will find that the cold water supply from your mains system is connected to your machine through cold water in the pipe which is usually attached at the back towards the top. The setup also incorporates a waste water hose which feeds into the wastewater pipe.

Before replacing or fixing your washing machine, the isolating valve on the cold water supply must be switched off in order to safely limit the water supply whilst carrying out the job. 

Your toilet is made up of a variety of different plumbing fittings which work in conjunction with each other every time you flush. Over the years, toilets have developed far above the more outdated systems found in older homes. By installing or swapping out with the more up-to-date fittings found within our range, you can not only tackle leakages and avoid water damage but also greatly improve the efficiency of your system too.  

Many older cisterns, for example, utilise a single flush button. By upgrading to a dual-flush system you can experience improved flush performance with lesser water wastage. If you’ve noticed your toilet doesn’t drain effectively or overflows consistently, there may be an issue with the internal valves or a faulty pan connector allowing inadequate drainage. These are often straightforward fixes which can be amended with the easy DIY installation of matching spares.  

Whether you are replacing a singular component or installing the entire setup, bathroom basins feature several basic parts that if incorrectly fitted, can leak, break or become blocked. These elements include the supply tubes, drain tailpiece, P-trap, and drain pipe.  

Shutoff valves (also known as stop valves) are a practical piece of plumbing equipment which allows you to shut off the water supply at the sink for repairs and maintenance without restricting the entire household.  

The standard plumbing setup for your bathtub involves two water supply lines (hot and cold) and a drainage system. Bathtubs can run into many common issues when this setup is compromised including low water pressure, slow draining and faucet leakages. That’s why it's so important to ensure every element is correctly fitted and balanced.  

In order to fill the bathtub, water flows from the main supply through to two supply lines which meet at the faucet. The supply lines are typically laid beneath the tub itself and incorporate shutoff valves to accommodate emergency maintenance and repairs. 

A bath waste is installed so that water can drain from the tub to the external drainage system. There are a variety of different bath waste styles available, however, most are comprised of the same basic components including a waste plug, trap, plug and overflow.  

The plumbing of your shower incorporates two separate functions: water drainage and water supply.  

A shower waste connects to the trap piping on the underside of your shower tray. This connects to the drain line which allows dirty shower water to drain out into the external sewage system. A shower trap always retains a certain level of water in order to prevent any gases emitted by the sewer from entering the bathroom environment. 

A shower’s water supply is connected via two pipes: hot and cold. These pipes connect to the shower valve which controls the temperature and flow of water through the shower head. In many modern shower systems, thermostatic valves are installed to safely limit temperature and prevent scalding.