How Much Does a New Hot Water System Cost on the Sunshine Coast?
As a guide, the unit alone costs about $550 to $2,100 for electric storage, $850 to $1,900 for gas, $2,800 to $5,200 for a heat pump and $3,800 to $7,500 for solar (2026 supply prices). Installation, removal of the old unit, a tempering valve and any changes to plumbing or power come on top. Like-for-like […]
Heat Pump vs Solar vs Electric vs Gas Hot Water: Which Suits a Sunshine Coast Home?
For most Sunshine Coast homes, a heat pump is the best all-rounder: it costs more upfront than an electric tank but uses far less power, works day and night in our mild climate, and qualifies for rebate certificates. Solar suits homes with a clear north-facing roof. Electric storage is cheapest to buy but dearest to […]
How to Unblock a Drain Safely, and When It’s Time to Call a Plumber
For a single slow sink or shower, start with the simple fixes: clean the strainer or trap, use a plunger, then hot water or a drain snake. Skip harsh chemical cleaners. If more than one fixture is slow, the toilet gurgles, or water comes up through the gully outside, the blockage is in the main […]
Water Efficiency Certificates for Queensland Rentals: What Landlords Need to Know
In Queensland, a landlord can only pass water consumption charges to a tenant if the rental is individually metered and water efficient. That means internal cold taps and showerheads flow at no more than 9 litres a minute and toilets are dual flush (6.5 L full, 3.5 L half). A plumber’s check and certificate is […]
Tempering Valves and Queensland’s 50°C Hot Water Rule
A tempering valve mixes hot and cold water so water reaches your bathroom taps at no more than 50°C, while the tank stays at 60°C or more to control bacteria. In Queensland a temperature control device is required on new and replacement hot water systems. Most manufacturers recommend servicing every five years. What a tempering […]
Tree Roots in Drains: CCTV Inspection, Root Cutting and Pipe Relining
Tree roots find their way into drains through cracks and old joints, then grow into a mat that catches waste. A CCTV camera inspection shows exactly where and how bad the damage is. Light roots can be cut out with a jetter, but if the pipe is cracked or keeps blocking, relining or replacing that […]
What Is an Overflow Relief Gully? (ORG Explained)
An overflow relief gully (ORG) is the small grated fitting outside your home, near the bathroom or laundry. If the sewer blocks, sewage overflows there instead of backing up inside the house. QBCC says its top must sit at least 150 mm below the lowest fixture and at least 75 mm above the ground, and […]
Leaking or Dripping Tap? What You Can Fix Yourself in Queensland
Older taps usually drip because the washer or jumper valve has worn. Mixer taps drip when the internal cartridge fails. In Queensland, QBCC lets homeowners replace a tap washer or jumper valve themselves, but replacing a cartridge, the tap or any pipework is licensed plumbing work. Why taps drip How a tap fails depends on […]
Low Water Pressure and Water Hammer: Causes and Fixes
Low water pressure in one tap is usually a blocked aerator or failing tap part. Low pressure through the whole house points to a partly closed valve, a leak, a failing pressure limiting valve or old pipes. Water hammer, the bang when a tap shuts, comes from pressure that’s too high or pipes not secured. […]
Why Do My Drains Smell? Sewer Smells Explained
Most drain smells come from a dried-out trap in a little-used shower or floor waste, which lets sewer gas into the room. Run water for 30 seconds to refill it. If the smell stays, the cause may be a blocked vent, a failed toilet seal, a partly blocked drain or a broken pipe, which a […]