Tag: plumbing

5 quirky bathroom sink ideas

To make your nightly cleansing routine a little more exciting.

5 quirky bathroom sink ideas

Want to spruce up your bathroom with a stylish statement piece?

Sure, you can invest in some interesting tiles and a cool shower curtain (if there is such a thing). But if you want an Instagram-worthy bathroom, a truly unique bathroom sink will do it.

A quirky bathroom sink not only makes a statement and transforms your bathroom with one change, it can also make a great conversation piece.

And let’s face it, gaining that extra motivation to keep it fresh and clean doesn’t hurt.

All that aside, installing a cool new washbasin isn’t a simple DIY task. Turn to professional plumbing services that can help bring your creative bathroom design ideas to life.

Check out 5 quirky statement sink ideas below:

1. Vintage bike stand

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Source: Pinterest – cdn.homesthetics.net

Whether you’re a cycling fan or not, this is an idea that can bring the cool factor to your loo at a super low cost if you have an old bike lying around.

The bike is used as a stand, so you don’t need to worry too much about the sink itself. A regular white washbasin with a wooden countertop would work well.

Use an old bicycle for a vintage look. And hey, it’s functional too. The bike’s basket can be used to store all your bathroom essentials, and the countertop gives you more space for storage.

2. Aquarium

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Source: Pinterest – thechive.com

This is a statement sink that can bring a stylishly serene vibe to any bathroom. And if you have kids in the house, there’s probably no better way to motivate them to brush their teeth.

Aquarium sinks come with openings so you can feed your fish without having to lift the entire glass top off, a water pump, and oxygenation. All you need is the actual fish and sand you want in there, and of course, some skilled plumbing services to pull the whole thing together.

3. Moroccan Bowl

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Source: Pinterest – bloglovin.com

Add a splash of colour and culture to your bathroom with a pretty Moroccan ceramic washbasin. You don’t have to fly to the Grand Bazaar to get yourself one of these. They’re widely available online, on sites like Etsy.

You can get these installed either as an over-top or drop-in sink. And don’t be afraid that their hand-painted loveliness will get tarnished by regular usage – they’re pretty durable too.

4. Maze

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Source: Pinterest – ippinka.com

Taking the flat sink concept to another level, this style of maze sink will keep you (and any guest) entertained as you wash your hands and watch the water flow through the laminated wood.

It’s not a widely available concept so get one specially designed by a skilled handyman and installed by professional plumbing help in London.

5. Whiskey barrel

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Source: Pinterest – etsy.com

If you’re going for a rustic bathroom look, consider upcycling an old whiskey barrel.

This can either be used as a sink stand or designed with a copper sink inbuilt.

Either way, you’re sure to get a ton of comments on this one.

Need a helping hand with installing your sink? Find rated and trusted plumbers on Airtasker.

 

How to bleed a radiator

The secret to a toasty home? Learning how to bleed your radiators.

How to bleed a radiator

If you’re one of the 85% of UK households with gas central heating, you may already have heard of ‘bleeding radiators’ before.

And if you haven’t, don’t worry, it’s not exactly as gory a process as it sounds.

What does it even mean?

Bleeding a radiator means letting out any air bubbles trapped within it.

Why? Trapped air leads to inefficiency and cold spots in a radiator by preventing heat from circulating within.

The good news? There’s no need to recruit professional plumbing services for this task. You can learn how to bleed a radiator yourself.

Not only will your home be deliciously toasty, but you can also save money on energy bills as your efficient radiator won’t need to be on for as long.

Let’s get to the how…

What you’ll need

  • Radiator key
  • Cloth
  • Bowl

So far, so simple.

1. Start by turning on your heating to assess which of your radiators need bleeding

First, turn on your central heating and wait till all your radiators are fully heated. Once all radiators are completely hot, take a stroll around your home and check them all individually. You want to assess whether all parts are warming up equally.

If you hit upon any cool spots, especially at the top of the radiator, you’ll know it’s time to let the bleeding commence.

2. But first, make sure you turn off your central heating

Switch off your heating so your skin isn’t in contact with radiators for too long  – they can get hot enough to burn.

3. Release the air

Next, attach your radiator key (which should come with your unit) to the valve at the top of the radiator.  If you’ve misplaced this, you can easily find one at your local DIY store or use a screwdriver with a flat blade.

Use a dry cloth to hold your key, and turn it anti-clockwise (slowly). Keep another cloth handy for any dripping from the radiator.

Hear a little hiss? That’s the sound of gas leaving your radiator.

4. Close the valve

Once all the gas has left the radiator, you’ll need to close the valve quickly to stop trickles of liquid from coming out.

5. Check the pressure gauge

Almost there…

Take a peek at the pressure gauge on your boiler next. If the pressure is looking low, you can return it to a normal level by using the ‘filling loop’ tap or lever on the boiler.

6. Run a test to finish

Finish off by running a quick test to check that all your bleeding efforts haven’t been in vain. Turn your heating back on and check for any cool spots when the radiators should be fully heated.

Aaaand… you’re done.

When to call a plumber

So, as proud as you should be for your foray into the world of plumbing, there are times when only expert plumbing services will do the trick. Hire a plumber in the below instances:

If your bleeding process hasn’t solved the problem

Radiator still not heating up efficiently after going through all the steps above? Find professional plumbing help to investigate.

Keep an eye out for any signs of more serious problems with your radiator as well, such as rust or leakage.

If your boiler itself is leaking

Avoid trickier issues by having your boiler serviced, at least annually.

Need to find a plumber in London? Connect with trusted and rated local plumbers with Airtasker

How to: Fix a leaky tap

Drip, drip, drip. Learn how to make it stop.

How to: Fix a leaky tap

Not only is a leaky tap incredibly annoying, it can also damage your home and impact your water bill. You’d be surprised to learn how much water is being wasted with those incessant drips. Research has shown that a leaking tap could waste up to 20,000 litres of water a year. Yep, you read that right.

Check out this drip calculator to see just how much water your leaky tap is wasting. Not to make you feel bad or anything.

Fixing a leaky tap is a lot simpler than you may think. Though there are plenty of plumbers in London who can help, it’s worth every homeowner learning this basic plumbing skill.

Read on for our easy guide to help you fix your broken tap.

What you’ll need:

  • A spanner
  • Scissors
  • Screwdriver
  • Replacement cartridge/washer/O-rings

Start by turning off the water

Simple enough. Turn the water off at the stopcock or isolation valve, located underneath the sink. Check it’s off by running the tap until no more water comes out.

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Locate the tap screw

The screw that holds your tap together needs to be loosened. You’ll usually find this underneath the ‘hot’ or ‘cold’ caps or indicators. It’s possible to unscrew these by hand, or you could use a screwdriver to pop them off.

Plug the sink before you unscrew so no important parts accidentally fall down the drain.

Dismantle the tap

The next step is to take the tap’s head off (that’s the bit you turn). You may find a metal casing around the valve, so take this off too. Assemble all the pieces you’ve taken apart next to the sink carefully. It helps to lay them in the order you took them off, so it’s easier to put it all back together.

Replace water/cartridge/o-ring

So this is where you take a slightly different approach depending on the type of tap you have. Some use washers and some have ceramic discs. If you’re not sure which one yours is, a quick test to check is by turning your tap. Those that only rotate up to a half are usually ceramic. If it turns further than that, you probably have a traditional or ‘washer’ tap.

Ceramic taps:

To replace a ceramic disc, grip the valve with your spanner and loosen. You’ll then easily be able to pop your new ceramic cartridge in. Tighten valve and put your tap back together.

Washer taps:

Washer types may be leaking because of two reasons: a worn O-ring, or a broken washer. To replace a rubber washer, loosen the valve with your spanner. Slide off the rubber washer and replace. Tighten the valve back on and re-assemble your tap.

Finding it hard to fit the new washer in? Apply some petroleum jelly to ease it down.

If you’ve replaced the washer and find there’s still a leak, check the O-ring for any signs of damage. If this needs replacing, unscrew the spout and use your screwdriver to loosen and replace the O-ring at the base.

When to call a plumber

Not to doubt your plumbing skills or anything, but there are times when you may just need a little professional help. Hire a plumber if you encounter any of the following issues:

  • If the washer in your tap is in good condition, but the valve inside is worn down. Special tools may be required to regrind the surface. Reach out to plumbers in London for help.
  • If you have a new ceramic disc tap and it’s your first time trying to fix a broken tap, it would be helpful to hire a plumber. Find someone nice enough and they’ll teach you how to do it firsthand.
  • If you’ve gone through all the above steps and the incessant leaking continues, it’s time to seek out the pros.
  • If you’re not sure how to turn the water supply off, get help. It’s important to know this as pipe leaks can lead to major property damage.
  • For any extensive plumbing work, it’s worth calling a professional in to avoid damage to your home. Your local council may also require you to use a licensed plumber for any major work.

Need to hire a plumber? Find trusted and local plumbers in London with Airtasker