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How to Find a Water Leak in Your HDB Flat (And What You Can Do About It)
Ceiling leaks happen when water starts to drip through the ceiling or floor. This is usually because the waterproof membrane does eventually wear and tear over time, and many older buildings in Singapore are prone to this problem.
Often, these problems happen in areas that handle a lot of water on a regular basis, such as bathrooms, toilets, and kitchen sinks.
So, when you’re suspecting a water leak in your home’s plumbing works that would require the assistance of a 24 hours plumbing service, contact a super fast pipe technician from Singapore and take the following advices:
1. Look for out-of-place water damage
Signs of water stains in your ceilings or water trails on your walls are obvious signs that there is a leak in the pipes in your ceiling. While these are easy to spot, you won’t always see them for what danger they could pose, and can be easily dismissed.
Other signs that aren’t immediately obvious include moisture in the areas near your pipes, as well as rust or signs of wear and tear on the pipes themselves if they happen to be made of metal.
2. Take a close look at your home’s water bill
A sudden increase in your water bill despite the regular use of your water is a serious indication that something is wrong with your water pipes. If left unchecked, you might eventually see signs of water damage and mold growth in your home.
To know this, especially if you don’t seem to see an obvious leak inside your own home, you will need to compare your most recent water bill with the one before.
If you notice a sudden increase compared to your previous bill, it might be time to call a plumbing services to assess the problem.
3. Have it checked by the pros
You won’t always know how accurately how bad the leaks are, so it’s best to call for a plumber services as soon as possible.
Leaks are best fixed by a PUB licensed plumber, since they are the ones that can best diagnose and assess the damage in your home accurately using different techniques and make the repairs needed in order to stop the leak.
How to Handle a Ceiling Water Leak
No homeowners wants to have to deal with a leak for a long time, but when it’s not immediately obvious, it’s easily ignored and could cause a lot of water waste and property damage.
It’s easy to spot any signs that your home is suffering from a ceiling leak, and much easier to respond by switching off your main water supply and calling for an emergency repair as soon as possible.
But if the problem isn’t with your pipes but with your neighbor’s, the first thing you need to do is inform them of this problem.
The best way to handle a suspected water leak from your ceiling is to call a professional plumber in order to assess the suspected damage. If there is indeed a water leak, you will then be given an estimated quote to fix it.
Why a Plumber Service?
When you are just clueless on how to remove choke on kitchen sink, call the help of a licensed plumber in Singapore. You want to make sure that only a certified plumbing contractor will handle your choked sink to ensure it gets fixed properly.
Here are more reasons why you should hire a certified and experienced HDB plumbing contractor for any emergency plumbing issue you may encounter at home:
• Quick, lasting fixes – When you need a reliable plumber to help you fix broken pipes or even assess and fix toilet bowl hairline cracks, you want to make sure that your problem is fixed quickly and the repair lasts a long time
• 24/7 service – Need to hire an emergency plumber to take care of a toilet bowl choke in the middle of the night? Because many plumbers now offer their services any time, you’ll be glad to know that you can call a 24 hours plumber service to help you out
• Affordable service – No need to break the bank for the best plumbing workmen to take care for emergency when many contractors now have cheap plumbers that won’t break your bank
8 Alternatives to Traditional Diamond Engagement Ring
Every woman is unique, and her style and personality should reflect in the proposal ring you bought for her. While a non-traditional ring is more challenging to look for, a well-thought out option can mean a more thoughtful gift and a tearfully blissful fiancé.
Searching for the perfect alternative for a diamond ring is going to be a challenge, but that’s okay because she is worth every effort and we are here to help. Here, we’ll provide you with several options to help narrow down your choices and find a unique ring—or gift—that will be perfect for the one-of-a-kind person in your life.
1. Lab-Made Diamonds
Diamonds grown in laboratories usually cost 15 to 20 percent less than natural diamonds, though discounts could be lower or higher depending on the size and the vendor. While natural-diamond vendors advertise that ‘real’ diamond come from the earth, lab-made diamonds possess the same chemical and physical elements of mined diamonds. The higher price tags on these stones have more to do with the sentimental value and marketing strategy than their intrinsic value.
If you opt for cultured diamonds, not only will you save huge amount of cash, but also cause lesser negative impact on the environment. Replacing an annual production of a diamond mine with lab-made stones would get rid of the toxic effect of 480-million miles’ worth of car emission.
2. Other Gemstones
Here’s a proof that there is little reasoning to the pricing of diamonds: Although tanzanite is much rarer than diamonds—almost a thousand times rarer—tanzanite cost nearly 10 times lesser than diamond.
Other rarer gemstones, including emeralds, sapphires and rubies, are still less expensive than diamonds. If you see in most jewelers here in Singapore, even a well-cut one-carat blue sapphire is more than ten times cheaper than a low-grade natural diamond, yet still makes a beautiful ring for the bride. If you want a colourless stone for a more traditional look, a white sapphire is a more affordable choice, despite being much rarer.
3. Romantic Travel
Investing on experiences is said to generate more happiness than investing on material things. In other words, why not consider purchasing an inexpensive wedding ring, so you can spend most of your savings on a one-year Asian travel? Schedule it right after the wedding and make this an unforgettable pre-wedding vacation for the both of you.
If you think an expensive engagement ring is romantic, how about a luxurious Asian cruise for two?
4. A House
A more practical alternative is to swap a ring for a house. What’s more romantic than securing a good future together by spending your hard-earned money as down payment for a house?
Before commenting negatively, know that the purpose of engagement rings in the ancient times is to serve as ‘tags,’ so men can label women as their property. So, instead of spending a fortune on a, somewhat, sexist symbol, let your engagement be a good start for making smart and practical commitments toward your marital life.
5. Something Old
Family is part of the foundation of your relationship, and if there’s an heirloom piece from any of your families, incorporate that into the marriage bands as an alternative to diamond.
Whatever the piece is, you can have the materials of the jewellery re-used and handcrafted into a new piece for your soon-to-be-bride. This makes sure that the tradition and memories of the family remains; and the engagement ring would be much more special and meaningful not just for the both of you, but for your families as well.
6. Non-Gold Ring
Gold is a traditional choice by bridal couples in Singapore for engagement and wedding rings. It is expensive and will surely give an impression that you spent a good amount of money on it.
However, if you’re buying a 14k to 24k gold ring, you are buying a ring that’s surprisingly soft. Pure gold bends and scratches easily, making it not necessarily the best option for wedding rings. Instead, consider other metals, like platinum and tungsten which are denser and more durable than gold.
7. Claddagh Ring
If you want a ring with real history and cultural value, swap the diamond ring with a Claddagh ring, an Irish betrothal symbol in the 17th century. The ring features two hands holding a heart with a crown on it, symbolizing love, friendship and loyalty.
In tradition, the ring is worn on the right hand with the heart pointing away from the body if the wearer is single and toward the body when the wearer already has a love interest. If already engaged, the ring is worn on the left hand with the heart pointing away and toward the body once the wearer is married.
8. Gem-Less Engagement Ring
If your fiance is a no-frills kind of person, a gemstone may not be necessary to impress her. Check out various jewellery stores in Singapore for a wide variety of ring options that do not have gemstones on them. Whether it’s a simple band or a two-toned ring that’s twisted to form a beautiful shape, each one is unique and possesses a different beauty that’s simply hard to resist.
To make the proposal ring extra special, engrave the inside of the band with your names or a special passage for the both of you.
Diamonds may have always been the first choice for engagement rings, but it isn’t the only gift you can propose with. Explore your options and find the right one that’s as unique as your sweetheart. No matter what you choose, she will appreciate and cherish the thought and effort you have put into it.
Avoid Being Ripped Off! Points to Check to Spot Locksmith Scam
In the modern days, corrupt businessmen are taking advantage of people during their most vulnerable times. A locksmith scam that charges desperate auto owners and homeowners with overpriced emergency services has been one of the fastest growing crimes in Singapore. Unlicensed, bogus locksmiths charge more than five times the actual rate of a locksmith service for rescuing locked-out victims.
However, their modus is easy to spot. By keeping a strong presence of mind when faced with a locked out situation, you can avoid being ripped off and protect your properties from the risk of any malicious act.
1. Absence of Physical Office Address
If a locksmith company doesn’t provide a physical address in their advertisement, make sure to ask where their office is located when you call. Make sure that they supply invoices with the company’s name, contact number, and license number printed out on them.
2. Unclear Company Name
Fraud individuals often hide in many aliases or business names. Thus, they tend to answer calls with generic phrases like “locksmith service.” If they answer you this way, insist on asking the name of the business and their office address.
3. Copied Business Name
Apart from not having a clear company name, make sure that the locksmith company you’re talking to isn’t using the name of a reputable Singapore company. Many fraud individuals copy the names of legit businesses, making just enough changes so they’re technically not using the same business name. You definitely don’t want to deal with any of these companies.
4. Lowest Prices
Unwary costumers are easily attracted to these advertisements. If you really want to know how much the rightful lowest price is, call several 24 hour locksmith operator around Singapore and ask what the quoted price entails. Call the nearest locksmith and find out whether the quoted price is just the service fee and if further charges will be incurred on site.
5. Unmarked Vehicle
When a locksmith arrives, pay attention to the vehicle. Legitimate locksmiths arrive in a service vehicle clearly marked with the name of the company. While there may be some legit companies that use their personal car when on-call, this should situation is still a sign of fraud and thus should be treated with extra caution.
6. Destroying of Locks
As your locksmith checks the problem, ask how they are supposed to solve the situation. If they recommend drilling or getting rid of the lock entirely, that’s a warning sign of a fraud service. Legitimate locksmith Singapore should know how to get through any entry without damaging the lock. In most cases, a lock will only be removed if it’s defective.
7. Refusal for Cost Estimate
When calling a locksmith company, the first thing you want to ask is cost estimation. If they refuse to provide you an estimate, that’s a warning that they may charge you an exorbitant price. If they have given you an estimate, ask if it includes the service call, their mileage, and the emergency hours. Insist on getting a clear estimation that includes all costs.
8. Bad Reviews
The easiest way to check for a locksmith’s legitimacy is to look for reviews. Take time to check the company’s website. Have they had excellent reviews from previous clients? If there are good reviews, pay attention to how the reviews are written as some fraud companies can easily make them up with dummy accounts and users.
While most locksmith Singapore companies are excellent and legitimate service providers, there are still a few scam artists out there who take advantage on desperate consumers who are badly in need of help. If inevitably you happen to fall into such situation, make sure to avoid these unscrupulous people by keeping in mind these important points.
How Does a Fire Alarm System Work?
There are various options for setting up a modern and sophisticated fire protection system for buildings in Singapore, but do you know the basic ideas behind such systems?
Let’s break down the basics of the fire alarm systems used in buildings.
Smoke or Heat Detection
A fire protection system has sensors that detect smoke or heat levels, because these are the first indicators of a fire. Most detectors used in fire alarm systems in Singapore are either ionization detectors or optical detectors. The ionization detectors look for signs of smoke before it triggers the alarm. The smoke is detected through the chamber of the ionization. An optical detector on the other hand looks for signs of smoke using infrared LED sensors to trigger the alarm.
Bell or Siren
The bell or siren system alerts the people in the building that smoke has been detected and a possible fire may be ongoing. The detectors will send the signal to trigger the alarm. The type of alarm used in a fire protection system may vary, but most buildings in Singapore use bells, sirens, and flashing or blinking lights.
Other Monitors
Modern fire protection system in Singapore also consists of other monitors or detectors besides those already mentioned, because sometimes looking for signs of smoke may not be adequate in large buildings. For example, some fire alarm systems also include carbon monoxide detectors.
Sprinkler and Suppression Systems
A fire protection system for large buildings in Singapore may also include a dry pipe sprinkler system that discharges water when smoke is detected, and the alarms are triggered. In other fire alarm systems, a clean agent is used in rooms that house electronic equipment, because water will not work in such cases. This is an advanced fire prevention method to minimize losses as much as possible while waiting for response from the fire department.
Danger Notification
Not only are sophisticated fire alarm systems used to notify people of fires, but it can also be a means to alert people of other dangers and emergencies. The fire protection system can be connected to a notification system with speakers and other alarm systems to alert people of security threats, weather disturbances, and evacuation procedures.
Control Panel
A fire protection system’s primary purpose is to alert the people in the building and the authorities of a possible fire. The control panel serves as the brain of the entire fire protection system and is housed in a specific are in the building. In some cases, fire alarm systems may be set of manually if there are threats that were not detected by the system. Triggering this will cause the notification system to send signals to alert the occupants and authorities to take action.
Your fire alarm system provider might also recommend zoning and fire alarm categories depending on the size and complexity of the building and the number of occupants or residents.
