Expert Advice
Practical guides from Sydney’s trusted plumbers.
A toilet that blocks again and again is telling you something. Here is how to tell whether it is what goes down it, something stuck in the pan, or a problem in the sewer line.
Swollen skirting, bubbling paint and mould next to the bathroom often mean a leaking shower. Here are the warning signs and three tests you can do before you call.
Tank pump won't start, runs non-stop, keeps cycling, or leaves the house on mains with a full tank? Safe checks by symptom, and where to stop and call a professional.
No hot water, lukewarm water, or hot water that runs out fast? Safe checks by symptom for electric, gas, heat pump and continuous flow systems, and where to stop and call a plumber.
The braided hoses under your sinks and toilets can fail without warning and flood a home in minutes. Here are the warning signs, a 10-minute check, and what to do if one bursts.
Water around the toilet can be condensation, a dripping connection, a failed seal, or waste water from the pan connector. Here is how to tell which one you have.
A smelly drain is telling you something. Here are the five things that actually cause it, how to tell which one you have, and the 30-second fix that solves a good share of them.
Backflow devices stop contaminated water being drawn back into the drinking supply, and testable ones need checking yearly. Here's who needs one and what a test involves.
Relining rebuilds a damaged pipe from the inside with no digging. Replacement means excavation. Here's how to tell which one your drain actually needs — and what to ask before you commit.
Most storm damage inside a home starts with a blocked gutter, not a hole in the roof. Here's how to check your gutters, downpipes, and flashings before the first big downpour.
That constant hiss in the bathroom is wasting thousands of litres a month. Here are the three usual culprits inside the cistern — and how to fix them before your water bill spikes.
A hidden leak can rot timber and ruin ceilings before you ever see a drop. Here's how to catch one early using the water meter test and six warning signs.
If your yard turns into a lake every time it rains hard, your stormwater drains are blocked. Here's what causes it, the warning signs, and how to fix it before water reaches your home.
Sydney winters are mild, but they still cause burst pipes, hot water failures, and blocked drains. Here's a simple checklist to prepare your home before the cold hits.
Lukewarm showers, water that runs out fast, or no hot water at all? Here's why hot water systems struggle every Sydney winter — and what to do before yours fails.
A blocked drain is almost always caused by one of five things. Learn what's causing yours — and when to call a plumber.
If you smell gas indoors, treat it as a real leak until proven otherwise. Here's exactly what to do — and what not to do.
What a leaking or dripping tap costs to repair depends on the fault: a washer, a cartridge or a new tap. Here's what affects the price, and what leaving it costs you.
Burst pipe? Flooding? Gas leak? Here's a clear, calm plan for the most common plumbing emergencies — so you know exactly what to do before a plumber arrives.
Choosing the wrong plumber can cost you hundreds. Here's exactly what to check before you hire — licence, insurance, pricing, and the red flags to avoid.
Don't get caught with a cold shower. These 7 warning signs mean your hot water system is struggling — and what to do before it fails completely.
Most blocked drains are 100% preventable. Here's exactly what to do in each room of your home to keep your drains clear and avoid expensive callouts.
Choosing a hot water system is a 10-year decision. Compare gas, electric, and heat pump systems for Sydney homes — running costs, install costs, and reliability.
If your drain keeps blocking every few months, tree roots are almost always the culprit. Here's how they get in, and the three real fixes — from temporary to permanent.
Bad water pressure isn't just annoying — it can damage appliances or signal a hidden leak. Here's how to test your own pressure in 5 minutes and know when it's serious.
A burst pipe can dump hundreds of litres into your home in minutes. Here is exactly what to do in the first 5 minutes to stop the damage, before the plumber arrives.
Your Sydney Water bill tells a story most people miss. Here is how to read it properly and how to spot a hidden leak that could be quietly draining hundreds of litres a day.
Planning a bathroom renovation? Get the plumbing right and the project flows smoothly. Get it wrong and you will pay for it twice. Here is the checklist every Sydney homeowner needs.
More articles coming soon. Have a plumbing question? Ask us directly.
