Plumbing

In this section, we cover some of the most common questions to do with plumbing. This includes everything from what a plumber does, to the basics on how the indoor plumbing works in your home. The the vast majority of cases, any tasks involving plumbing will require the help of a professional, so don’t hesitate to get in touch with a local plumber to get the project done.

What is a plumbing contractor and what do they do?

Wondering what plumbing contractors do? There are few things they don’t do! Local plumbing contractors can tackle residential and commercial plumbing tasks, such as consulting for a home’s planning stages, constructing a waste disposal system, and offering a final inspection of plumbing work. Typically, a plumbing contractor plumber works at a higher and more complex level than a general plumber, as while they have all the skills and experience of plumbers, they are also trained in construction and service, similar to the way a general contractor is. 

What is industrial plumbing?

Are you asking yourself, what is industrial plumbing? Even though there are some things in common, residential and industrial plumbing do have their differences. The biggest difference is that an industrial plumber must work with higher grade materials due to the higher demand on the plumbing systems in commercial spaces – such as a large office building – versus a single household. Industrial plumbing services deal with super heavy duty materials, more complex systems, and the chance of greater damage should something go wrong (for example, a pipe leak in a home can’t generally do nearly as much damage as a leak in a much larger building).

Industrial plumbing companies must therefore hire and train plumbers to a different standard with different tools and materials. If you’re looking to have a blocked pipe fixed in your home, you will only really need a standard plumber, but if you’re having issues with a bathroom in your office block, you will need the help of an industrial plumber.

How do you get an earring out of the sink drain?

Unfortunately, ‘how do you get a ring out of the sink drain?’, is a remarkably common question for plumbers in Australia. Whether it’s a ring, earring, necklace, or other valuable item, the question of how to get something out of a sink drain is a tricky one – but not impossible.

Firstly, if your ring went down the bathroom sink, don’t put any more water down there, as it will not ‘float’ back up. Instead, find a bucket and place it under the bend in the pipe under the sink, and surround it will towels just in case. Depending on the pipes, you might need to remove the plug, or use a wrench to unscrew the piping. As soon as you have done this, water will come pouring out – hopefully into your bucket with your ring or piece of jewellery with it. If in doubt, call a professional plumber, as they have the tools and experience that could save your precious item.

How do you plumb a toilet?

If you’re looking for how to plumb a toilet, you will need to keep in mind that it is not a recommended task for the average homeowner. It’s a job that would require licensed plumber, and a permit to complete, as well as a variety of knowledge, skills, and tools to complete the job. For example, you’ll need to know what is the difference between AP and S trap toilet systems, which is a toilet plumbing layout – the S-trap pan has a waste pipe that’s connected to the floor, while a P-trap pan pipe runs directly to the wall. This simple difference will require different techniques when it comes to how to install toilet plumbing, which is why it’s best to hire a professional plumber to ensure the job is done right the first time.

What is a plumbing system?

What is a plumbing system? A plumbing system is essentially the collection of pipes and fixtures in any building or complex that provides water for drinking and cleaning, and that carries away waste water from drains and toilets. There are some differences between commercial and residential plumbing systems, which largely boil down to the fact that home plumbing is less complex. Plumbing systems work thanks to gravity and pressure, which keeps water moving into and out of buildings from larger city-wide sewage systems. A professional plumber can work in different types of plumbing, such as a contractor, residential plumber, commercial plumber, or master plumber, and all of them are familiar with how plumbing works.

How do I find a good plumber near me?

Whether you’re looking for a plumber in Sydney, a plumber in Melbourne, or anywhere else in Australia, the process for finding plumbers is essentially the same. One way is to ask around friends and family who have recently had work done on their homes, as they may have good recommendations for who to work with (or even, who to avoid!). Another great way is to check Yellow Pages for ‘plumbers near me’. Simply enter the word ‘plumber’ and your postcode or suburb to find professionals nearby, then scroll through the options to browse their skills and experience. You’ll also be able to read reviews from past clients, and get in touch with your top picks to talk about your project and request a quote.

When do you call an emergency plumber?

Unfortunately, sooner or later many of us will need the assistance of an emergency plumber. Not sure what constitutes as an emergency worthy of immediate attention? There are a number of scenarios that are better dealt with sooner rather than later. The most obvious is for any kind of burst pipe or leak – if you have water leaking into your home, it can do a lot of water damage in a small space of time, so getting it fixed as soon as possible is important.

Similarly, an overflowing toilet is also an emergency, as not only can water cause damage, sewage can create a huge stink and mess. Another emergency scenario is when there is no hot water. While you might be able to handle a quick cold shower in mid summer, hot water should be switched back on as quickly as possible. Finally, low water pressure might seem like a minor inconvenience, but it can signal a leak somewhere you haven’t found yet. 

How do you deal with a blocked drain?

Signs of blocked drains include both slow drainage, and sinks that simply won’t drain at all. Before calling a professional, you can try a little blocked drains DIY firstly, use a plunger over the drain, moving it up and down quickly to create pressure changes that will hopefully dislodge whatever is causing the blockage.

Another blocked drains home remedy is to pick up a drain cleaner from the supermarket, and follow the instructions on the bottle for how much to use. Finally, if you’re dealing with blocked drains in Sydney or anywhere in Australia, and the DIY approach just isn’t cutting it, it’s time to call a professional plumber to deal with the blockage.

Why should I hire a licensed plumber?

A licensed plumber in Australia is a professional who has attained a higher level of training and skills, and passed the requisite testing. This is a step up from a registered plumber, which usually requires the completion of an apprenticeship or similar. If you’re looking for a plumber in Sydney or elsewhere for a simple job, a registered plumber will manage just fine.

However, if you have a more difficult task at hand, you may need to considered licensed plumbers. A licensed plumber hourly rate will usually be higher to reflect this higher level, but the certainty of having the job done right is worth the additional spend.

Why isn’t my hot water working?

Could be a power issue, in which case you should check to ensure power is working in other areas of the house first – even the best electric hot water systems in Australia are no good in a power outage! If not, it could be a temporary outage, or you need an electrician.

However, if your hot water systems are down due to a plumbing problem it could be an issue with the dip tube, a small but significant device. Moves cold water to the bottom of the tank to be heated, could be an issue with your gas if your water is gas heated. Your best bet is likely to get in touch with a plumber for a professional opinion and to get your hot water back as soon as possible.