Everyone knows how vital a good washing machine is to any household, and as with any other gadget or gizmo in the house, sometimes it can have its fair share of problems. That’s when it might be time to look into washing machine repairs. One of the most common issues you’ll encounter are water leaks, and there are a number of causes that could be behind this issue.

Today, we’ll look at four of the top reasons why your washer might spring a leak.

1. The hoses

Most of the time it will be the drain and fill hoses that you’ll need to worry about, but there are other internal hoses as well. If you notice a leak when your machine is in the fill cycle, then the internal hose could be to blame. Usually a visual inspection of the hoses will let you know if one of them is the troublemaker.

2. The pump

Next up is the water pump that drains the tub once the rinse cycle is complete. If you see leaks during a wash or drain cycle, it could be the hoses or other connections attached to the pump. This requires some disassembly to get to, so it’s best to let a professional handle it.

3. The gasket

It could also be the tub cover gasket. This is designed to be a good seal between the tub cover and the outer tub. If the gasket is bad, you might experience leakage during either the wash or spin cycles. You should be able to visually check if the gasket is sealing properly or not.

4. The valve

The water inlet valve is the part of the washing machine which controls the flow of both hot and cold water into the tub of the machine. It’s usually near the back of the machine, near where the hoses are connected. If you notice the machine leaking in the rear during the filling process, it’s possible the valve could be your problem.

These are just a few of the things that can cause leaks. If you notice a substantial leak coming from your machine, contact your local repair professionals and get your machine serviced as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more water and money will be wasted.

Smoke alarms in Brisbane are cheap to purchase and easy to install. It’s worth the effort, as it could protect your family not just from a fire, but also injuries related to inhaling smoke. In the hot summer sun, we know it’s easy for a bush fire to quickly get out of control.

By law, you actually have to have smoke alarms installed in your home throughout Brisbane. The reason why is simple – a smoke alarm will warn you if there’s danger in your home, and could save your life.

The essential guide to smoke alarms

But how do you test a smoke alarm’s functionality? We’ve come up with this quick guide to ensure your smoke alarms in Brisbane are working as they should.

Where to install your smoke alarm
Your smoke alarms should be placed on each floor of your house and in every area where you sleep. A good place to add them is outside all your bedrooms and near the stairways.

Types of smoke detectors alarms
There are two types of smoke alarms – battery-operated smoke detectors and AC-powered alarms.

The cheapest type are battery units and these can be placed anywhere in your home. However, you need to check them regularly to ensure the battery isn’t flat.

AC-powered smoke alarms are more expensive, as they have to be installed by an electrician. However, there are many benefits to these alarms. They tend to be more reliable as you can plug them directly into your power system, and if the power goes out they will switch to battery backups so they won’t turn off.

Testing your smoke alarms
No matter what type of smoke alarm you’ve installed in your home, all should come with a test button which sound their alarm when pushed. A light will also flash or turn on when the alarm is in use.

Schedule a time each month to use a ladder to test your smoke alarms. All you need to do is reach up and hit the test button. If nothing happens, then your battery might need changing. If you replace the battery and your test button still isn’t transmitting a noise, you’ll need to switch the alarm for a new one. This should be done straight away to ensure safety.

Generally if the battery is going flat, the smoke alarm will sound to let you know it’s time to replace the battery.

Obviously, the bathroom is perhaps the biggest source of Brisbane plumbing issues, but the kitchen is an equally big trouble spot. The truth is that it’s not that difficult to keep your plumbing in good condition if you pay attention to a few key things. Here are three tips that will help you prevent plumbing issues in your home.

1. Look out for leaks

The first and easiest thing you can do is simply pay attention to your faucets and fixtures so that you can spot leaks early. Sometimes, a leak might be minimal and might seem like it’s not worth the money and trouble it would take to fix. However, even a small leak can result in higher water usage and consequently a higher water bill. If your tap is leaky, don’t wait. Call Fixzit and one of our plumbers will have it fixed as soon as possible.

2. Guard your garbage disposer

One of the coolest kitchen gadgets is a garbage disposer. The benefits are great, including keeping food out of your trash bins. The less food waste in the bins, the less smell you’ll have to deal with. Also, getting rid of food waste by using a disposer is environmentally friendly. The problem is that sometimes people don’t have enough discretion about what they drop into their disposers. It’s best to avoid stringy or fibrous waste as it can be difficult to grind and may cause clogs in the disposer.

3. Hurry and get help

Finally, we come to the biggest plumbing problem of all: the human factor. Many people try to take a DIY approach and fix plumbing problems themselves, but that’s not always the best idea. If you know what you’re doing, then some simple repairs could be safe enough. Just be sure you don’t get in over your head. If you try to fix an issue once and it doesn’t seem to work, get a professional involved. Don’t keep trying other things and making it worse. If the issue is a big one, don’t try to fix it on your own. Get a pro involved from the start, and you’ll save yourself a great deal of time and trouble. Call your local Fixzit franchise on 1300 726 806.