Plumbing Questions from Ferntree Gully Homes

It varies by business, region and time of day, and the hourly figure is only part of the cost. We give a fixed job price once we have seen the problem.

There is no single rate. Businesses set their own, and after-hours work costs more. We avoid hourly billing and quote a fixed price instead.

It depends on the business and when the work is done. Rather than run the clock, we price the whole job up front.

That depends on the work and the parts. We quote the job, not the hours.

Many plumbers have a call-out or minimum charge, and it varies. We explain our pricing on the phone and give a fixed price for the repair on site.

In Victoria, the owner is responsible for the private sewer drain on their property up to the connection with the water corporation's main. Yarra Valley Water or South East Water, depending on your street, looks after the main.

The overflow relief gully on your property is part of your private drain, so the owner is responsible for keeping it clear and for the blockage downstream that makes it overflow, unless the blockage is in the main.

Lift the grate and remove leaves and debris by hand with gloves. If water still sits in the gully or it overflows, the blockage is further down the drain and needs a plumber with an eel or jetter.

Occasionally a soft blockage shifts, but roots, wipes and grease build up again and usually get worse. A slow drain is a warning to act before it overflows.

Storage water heaters must store water at 60°C or more to control bacteria. For new installations, hot water to bathrooms must be delivered at no more than 50°C, usually through a tempering valve.

Heat pumps and solar systems generally use the least energy, especially with rooftop solar. The best choice depends on your household, roof, climate and budget.

Yes, for bathrooms. Delivering water at 50°C reduces scald risk while the tank stores water hotter to control bacteria.

Only those with a gasfitting licence. All our gas work is done by licensed gasfitters.

The owner is responsible for taps in their home. In rentals, the landlord pays for repairs unless the tenant caused the damage.

Minimum grades are set in the plumbing standards and depend on pipe size. For common house drains the fall is typically around 1 in 60 for 100 mm pipe, and steeper for smaller pipe. A licensed drainer checks grades on every job.

Usually the isolation valve is partly closed, the inlet valve is blocked or faulty, or the float is stuck. A plumber can clean or replace the valve.

A well-made, WaterMark-certified close-coupled or wall-faced suite with good parts availability. We recommend models that suit your existing waste position.

It depends on the type, size, location and connections. We give you a fixed price that includes removal and installation.

Some retailers arrange installation through contractors. Whoever installs it must be licensed and provide a compliance certificate.

Roughly ten to twelve years for gas storage and twelve to fifteen for electric, with heat pumps and continuous-flow lasting longer when serviced.

There is no standard figure, because rates and what can be done in three hours vary so much. We price the job, not the clock, and you know the price before we start.

Melbourne businesses set their own rates, with higher charges after hours. Rather than an hourly rate, we give a fixed price once the fault is found.

Check the licence on the Victorian Building Authority register, read recent local reviews, and ask whether you will get a fixed price before work starts and a compliance certificate afterwards.

It is an informal phrase rather than part of the Victorian regulations, and people use it to mean different things. Our work follows the Plumbing Regulations and Australian Standards.

"Plumbo" is the common one. In Ferntree Gully you can just call us on 03 7036 4101.

Burst pipes, sewage coming up inside or at the overflow gully, gas smells, no water, water through a ceiling and a blocked toilet when it is the only one.

It depends on the cause, where the blockage is and how the drain is reached. We find the blockage first and give you a fixed price before clearing it.

Many do, but only if they also hold a gasfitting licence. All gas work on our jobs is done by licensed gasfitters.

Not always. Gasfitting is a separate licence class in Victoria, so check that whoever does your gas work is licensed for it.

Licensed gasfitters do. We repair leaks, service heaters, connect appliances and test gas systems.

It depends on the tap and the part needed. A washer is a small job; a worn mixer may need a new cartridge. We quote a fixed price on the spot.

We look at the tap first and then give you a fixed price, which usually covers a washer, seat or cartridge and the labour to fit it.

Pipes on your side of the water meter are generally the owner's responsibility. Pipes and the meter on the street side belong to the water corporation. In rentals, the landlord arranges repairs.

It depends on where the pipe is, what it is made of and how easy it is to reach. We find the break and give you a fixed price before repairing it.

Turn off the water at the meter and call a licensed plumber. If the leak is at the meter or in the street, call your water corporation.

A worn or blocked inlet valve, a leaking flush valve seal and a sticking or broken button mechanism.

In Victoria, connecting a hot water system to water and gas must be done by a licensed plumber or gasfitter, and electric connections by a licensed electrician.

Colder incoming water, a failing element or thermostat, a worn burner or a faulty tempering valve are common causes. We test each to find which.

For many households, a heat pump powered partly by rooftop solar has the lowest running costs, but it depends on usage and tariffs.

Yes. Modern units work in Melbourne winters, though recovery is slower when it is very cold. Timer settings help.

They hum like an air conditioner's outdoor unit. Placing them thoughtfully avoids most issues.

Turn off every tap and appliance, note the meter reading, wait an hour without using water and check again. Any movement means a leak.

Usually only a small area once the leak is pinpointed, and sometimes not at all if the line can be rerouted.

Some offer a leak allowance on your bill once the leak is fixed. Ask them and keep our invoice.

It suits lines under hard surfaces or gardens. In open ground with one break, digging can be simpler.

Quality liners are designed to last for decades.

No. The liner has no joints for roots to enter.

No. In Victoria stormwater must be kept out of the sewer and taken to the legal point of discharge.

Usually there is no drain behind it, or the drain is blocked. An agricultural drain with gravel relieves the pressure.

Yes, stormwater drainage is licensed plumbing work.

At least twice a year, before winter and before summer, and more often under heavy tree cover.

Under gums it cuts cleaning and overflow, but it still needs an occasional check.

We can usually make it safe and complete the repair once the roof is dry.

Yes. Water and drainage work is licensed, and a compliance certificate is required.

Yes, we coordinate rough-in and fit-off with your trades.

Rough-in usually takes one to two days and fit-off about a day.

Yes, including the water supply, waste and isolation valve, tested for leaks.

Every five years or so, sooner if they bulge or crack.

Yes, under-sink and whole-of-house systems.

Homes with tanks connected to mains, irrigation systems or pools often do. We can check.

Testable devices usually need testing once a year.

Old galvanised pipe, a faulty stopcock or pressure valve, a leak or your position on the hill. We test to find out.