Going back to the old school

By Tanya Olckers

Have you ever wondered how things were done before technology became available? We cast an eye back on the past and bring some old tips and tricks for your plumbing toolbox.

All images by Freepik

The plumbing industry has come a long way from the ancient Roman aqueducts and Queen Elizabeth I’s very first ever flushing toilet. The clay Mesopotamian sewage pipes have been left far behind by leak detection that can be done via satellite from space. The long drop is a memory compared to the smart systems that are available today.

However, there is one thing to remember, and that is sometimes it pays to know how things were done in the ‘old ways’ in the plumbing industry.

Make sure all material and equipment is compliant and installations are done by a qualified plumber.

We asked some plumbers for their views, tricks and tips when it comes to old school fixes.

Old school fixes that are still relevant: 

Arthur Claassen from AJC Plumbers in Johannesburg has a wealth of advice at the ready.

He says, “If you get to a leaking pipe and need an emergency repair but the cascade clamp you have is too big, cut up the rubber mat from your bakkie and wrap that around the pipe first. Remember that this is just a temporary fix until the shops open.”

Claassen also has some advice for those manhole covers that are a mission to open. Don’t use the pick handle to lift it. Bang on the lid, all the way around the edge. This will loosen all the sand and grit, and the lid will be ready to remove.

“Tools get worn,” warns Claassen. “Spirit levels are no exception. To ensure that the level is reading true, always check then turn the level 180° and check again. If the readings are inconsistent, replace the spirit level.”

Tips for geysers

“Geysers are not magic!” says Claassen. Here are his tips and tales regarding geysers:

• The new class B rated geyser is much bigger than its predecessor and often doesn’t fit so it needs to be relocated
• When installing or replacing a geyser in the roof, what plank size do we need for support? 
• We replaced the geyser but now the client says the PRV (Pressure Reducing Valve) is leaking. New geyser 600kpa old PRV 400kpa.
• The geyser is tripping the power. We replace the element. All is good but after 20 to 30 minutes the power trips again. This is a circuit breaker issue. If the element has gone, it will trip the power instantly.
• Clients like turning off the geyser at the DB board but a circuit breaker is not a switch so with time, it’ll wear out. 
• After changing the thermostat twice and the element, everything is pulling power but the water is only warm. “Must be a faulty geyser.” No. There’s a leak on the hot water line. 

It pays to know the ‘old ways’ of the plumbing industry.

Old school leak detection

According to Duncan Keil of UPP, water would need to be shut off at the council meter before leak detection could take place. If the water meter was still ticking over after being shut, this would indicate a leak on the property. This would then mean that the plumber would have to go through the house and check where the leak might be located.

“If you see paint bulging or bubbling, that could potentially indicate a leak behind that section of wall,” Keil says. “In a galvanised system, leaks most often happen at the gulleys or where there’s a change in direction of the pipes. Also, leaks are often found at the elbow of the galvanised tap in the garden.”

Keil explains that plumbers put their ears to a tap to check if they are able to hear the familiar rush sound of a leak.

“When it comes to an old residence with a galvanised system,” he says, “It helps to put yourself in the shoes of the plumber who may have designed the system and figure out how he would have piped the house.”

Leak repair for copper pipes back in the day could be tricky when there is water still in the pipe. “The old plumbers used to take some of their sandwich bread and push that into the pipe before soldering,” Keil says. “The bread would soak up the water, the plumber could solder the pipe and the bread would get flushed out once the tap was turned on. It was a great way to get the soldering done back then when the plumber couldn’t wait all day for the pipes to dry.”