How Long Do Hot Water Systems Last? Signs Yours Is Failing
Most hot water systems last about 8 to 15 years. Electric and gas storage tanks usually sit at the lower end, while solar and heat pump systems can run longer with servicing. Rusty water, leaks around the tank, rumbling noises and running out of hot water sooner are the signs a system is near the […]
Leaking or Running Toilet? Causes, Fixes and When to Call a Plumber
A running toilet is usually a worn washer or seal inside the cistern letting water trickle into the bowl, or a float valve set too high. Put a few drops of food colouring in the cistern and wait 15 minutes: colour in the bowl means a leak. Water pooling at the base points to a […]
How to Unblock a Toilet Safely (Plunger, Auger and When to Call a Plumber)
Most blocked toilets clear with a flange plunger: cover the outlet, push down gently, then pump firmly 15 to 20 times. If that fails, a toilet auger can reach further. Don’t keep flushing, and skip caustic chemicals. If several fixtures gurgle or back up at once, the blockage is in the drain, not the toilet. […]
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 […]
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 […]
Hot Water System Leaking? What to Do Right Now
A small drip from the relief valve drain line while the system heats is normal. A steady flow, water from the tank body or a pool around the base is not. If the tank itself is leaking, turn off the power or gas, close the cold water valve on the inlet and call a plumber: […]
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. […]
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 […]