Points to assess your plumbing

Water Suppliers stopcock.Look at the main stopcock, located under a flap near garden gate. The tap at the bottom of the hole should be relatively easy to turn on and off. If it is very stiff and doesn’t turn, call the water supply company and asked them to repair it. Hammersmith Plumbers deal with this issue.Main interior stopcock.Check the stopcock under the sink. Will it turn on and off? This stopcock must be in first class condition so that, in an emergency, you can turn the water off immediately.Taps.Are any of these dripping? If there are stains down the side of the bath or sink, you need to fit new washers. If these items have been neglected there is a good chance that the rest of the system will be in a bad way.Pipes.Look at the copper pipes that run around the house, under the sink, in cupboards, and so on. If they are stained green with little dots of dampness it is about time they were replaced. A Hammersmith Plumber can replace pipes.Drains.Go outside and look at the drains that take the waste water from the bathroom and kitchen. If they are pottery with cast iron covers, and the Waste pipes are made from copper or steel this is a good indication that they are old and need an overhaul.Toilets.Remove the lid of the WC cistern. Operate the flush and watch as the system empties and refills. If the flush doesn’t work first time, the action is juddery or noisy, or the water rises above the level of the overflow, it needs an overhaul.Cold water storage.Take a good look at the cold water storage tank in the loft, it should have a tight fitting lid. Get someone to run off some water while you watch the tank. If all is well, the water level will go down, the float will fall, and water will gush from the feed pipe. Turn off the tap. When the level of the water rises in the tank, the float should rise and the water should cut off. The level of the water should be well below the level of the overflow pipe. If the valve is dripping, noisy or intermittent, it must be replaced.