FAQ's about repair, regrouting and grout sealing and fixing your leaking shower

DiaOseal SERVICE MANUAL – Tap Service Guide

by Trent Moreland

Water tap washers can fail at any time and the result is a constant dripping and loss of water

Many leaking showers attended to by DiaOseal technicians are a direct result of an incessant dripping showerhead caused by worn or inferior tap washers. Incessant dripping saturates the shower base and penetrates below the tile surface to the screed, made of a mix of sand and cement.

If you picture the screed as a sponge and place it under a dripping tap, it would absorb water until it reached a point of saturation, and start dripping.

If your membrane has failed or is there isn’t one at all, then there is no containment of the water. A failed or leaking body washer, is another common cause of leaks, resulting in water penetrating the wall space or material.

Tap Service Guide.

DiaOseal performs a pressure test and full tap service on every shower as part of our Standard Seal Service.

1.TURN OFF THE MAIN WATER SUPPLY, usually located at the front of the premises. (See below for helpful hints.)

2. SPINDLE REMOVAL and REFACING

Make sure the spindle penetration is free of grout, glue cement etc.
If required chip away any tile encroaching or restricting the removal of the spindle.
Turn the spindles on before unscrewing from the body.
Use your tube spanner to remove the spindle.
With the back of your knife blade, clean the body washer seat making sure it is flat and the channel is clean.
Using the tap reseater (refacing tool), to reface the seats within the recessed bodies using a smooth even pressure. Use your torch and make sure the seat is perfectly flat evenly around and clean.
With the vacuum and your little finger, clean out the body making sure it is free of brass shavings.

3. CLEAN and LUBRICATE

Remove the spindle completely from the bonnet by unscrewing.
Clean the body washer seat of the bonnet with your knife.
Clean the outer thread and washer seat of the bonnet with your wire brush.
Screw the thread cleaner into the bonnet to remove foreign matter from the bonnet.
Clean spindle thread using your wire brush and finish by wiping clean with your towel or rag.

Replace ‘O’ ring on spindle.
Lubricate the threads on the bonnet and spindle using Hydroseal tap lubricant.
Fully screw the spindle into the bonnet.

4. WASHER REPLACEMENT

Choose the right size fibre washer for the seat, do not use a narrow washer on a wide seat or vice versa
Place new valve in spindle.
Screw spindle into recess body and tighten being careful not to over tighten as it is possible to damage the fibre washer.
Place a tap handle on the spindle and screw the valve closed.
Turn off any another taps you have turned on within the bathroom.

Turn on main water supply.
Check the spindle penetrations for leaks and drips from the fibre washer.
Fully screw the spindle into the bonnet.

Helpful Hints

Isolation Valves

Unit location could be:

Next to toilet Under the sink.
Under the laundry tub
Outside bathroom window on wall.
Behind panel inside kitchen cupboard.
If unable to locate it, ask neighbours.

House location could be:

Along the front boundary/fence line.
Look at the neighbours, usually they’re in the same location for each property.
Recycled water suburbs have two meters; make sure you have the right one turned off.
In the vicinity of the front tap.

General Information.

If the house is very old the hot water service can be in the roof.

Before you unscrew the spindle turn on another set of taps in the bathroom, e.g. basin set or bath set to release any pressure and drain excess water from the lines.

DiaOseal SERVICE MANUAL – Pressure Test Guide

by Trent Moreland

The Pressure Gauge will test the shower assembly for leaks in the breeching piece, and recesses bodies. ( Shower taps and Shower Rose (head)).

Many leaking showers attended to by DiaOseal technicians are a direct result of a leaking joint within the breaching piece or body washer.

A pressure drop is easy to observe when using water due to the fact that water does not compress, so any loss in volume will show itself quickly as a loss in pressure. Since the pressure gauge will show an inaccurate reading when water is flowing, turn the valve handle to the off position, and check pressure. If the line holds pressure there is not a problem leak in the section you are testing. If pressure does drop, check all connections are secure, and test again to confirm leak. Turn valve off and release any pressure after this test is complete.

Pressure Test Guide.

DiaOseal performs a pressure test and full tap service on every shower as part of our Standard Seal Service.

1. Steps

Unscrew the shower rose off the wall and clean any teflon tape or similar from the thread.
Screw pressure gauge hose onto the thread that comes out of wall.
Turn on the cold tap, pressurizing the gauge.
Check with your torch through the spindle penetrations for leaks from body washers and any leakage dripping down from the shower rose behind the wall.
Watching the gauge turn the cold water off. The needle should remain in the same position. If a leak is present the needle will drop due to pressure loss within the gauge as a result of this leak.
With the cold water off, turn the hot water spindle on and check the body washer for leaks.
Should your test reveal a leaking pipe, STOP and call the office.
Should your test reveal a leaking body washer, don't worry as you will be performing a tap service anyway. (As per tap service guide.)

General Information.

You will not be able to carry out a pressure test on a gravity feed hot water system. If you find a leaking body washer on the hot water side, inform the client that a plumber is required to change the washers as soon as possible.

WHAT TO DO IN THE CASE OF A BROKEN PIPE OR LEAK

by Trent Moreland

DiaOseal - Stop Leaks, Fixing leaks or Suspect a Leak in Pipes.

Many leaking showers attended to by DiaOseal technicians are a direct result of a leaking joint within the breaching piece or body washer.

A burst water pipe can cause serious damage to your home and your property. Even just a leaking pipe can cause your water usage to increase dramatically and with the water restrictions that are currently in place you could even receive a fine.

Apart from the obvious damage that water can cause in your home. Slow leaks in your yard can damage footings and attract termites.

If you do notice a leak:

1. Make sure all the fixtures (baths,sinks etc) in and outside your house are turned off. Pay attention to each fixture (toilets) too see if it there are any leaks or drips.

2. Locate your water meter. - Your council water meter/stop tap is located generally just outside the front boundary inline with your front hose tap.

3. Open the water meter box. Check to see if the meter dials are turning. If they are, it's most probably a leak within your property. - If it is your supply, check any irrigation valves which may have turned on accidentally. Check for damp areas or pooling water. - If the leak is severe, turn the water off at the main and contact a professional plumber immediately.

4. If your meter is not showing any water use, contact your neighbours regarding their water and advise them to check their water meters as well.

5. If no leaks are located, contact your local council or a qualified plumber to perform a water audit.

DIAOSEAL SERVICE MANUAL – WHAT IS WATER HAMMER

by Trent Moreland

Water hammer is a specific plumbing noise, not a generic name for pipe clatter.

Water hammer is a specific plumbing noise, not a generic name for pipe clatter. It occurs when you shut off the water suddenly and the fast-moving water rushing through the pipe is brought to a quick halt, creating a sort of shock wave and a hammering noise.

What is: Water Hammer.

Hydraulic shock in pipelines is commonly referred to as water hammer. However, water hammer is only one result of the harmful effects created by hydraulic shock. Hydraulic shock occurs when fluid flowing through a pipe is subjected to a sudden, rapid change in velocity. The pressure wave generated travels back and forth within the piping until the energy is dissipated.

Water hammer How To

When the tubes are not adequately secured or supported, or the tube runs are particularly long, these rebounding pressure waves cause the tubes to vibrate and hit against the supporting structure causing the noise referred to as water hammer. The noise is objectionable but not, in itself, inherently dangerous. Noise may not be as noticeable in plastic pipes but damaging shock stresses are still imposed on pipes and fittings. Hydraulic shock can cause damage to joints, taps, valves, meters and even to the pipeline itself. Water hammer effects can be generated by foot action taps, solenoid valves
in clothes and dishwashing machines, quick acting quarter-turn taps and pumps. Tube should be fixed in position securely at the spacings shown in the table on page 44 to minimise noise associated with hydraulic shock. Water hammer effects may be minimised by reducing the velocity of the water flow in the tubes, reducing the inlet pressure of the water in the system,
closing manually operated taps slowly and by fitting slow acting solenoid valves.

In certain cases it may be necessary to fit a water hammer arrestor as close as possible to the source of the problem. These devices are available from plumbing merchants.

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Helpful Guides from the DiaOseal service manual.