Plumber The Basin, VIC 3154

Bush, slopes and creeks

The Basin is a small, leafy suburb tucked against the western face of the Dandenong Ranges, north of Ferntree Gully and east of Boronia. Homes sit on sloping blocks among tall gums and tree ferns, many along winding streets that climb towards the national park. Dandenong Creek and its tributaries run through the area, and the hills behind send a lot of water downhill whenever it rains.

The housing is varied. There are original weatherboard and mud brick homes from the 1950s to the 1970s, brick veneer houses from later decades, architect-designed homes that work with the slope, and newer builds on subdivided blocks. Many homes are on stumps or poles rather than slabs, and plenty have rainwater tanks, long driveways and steep paths. All of that shapes the plumbing work we do here.

Stormwater on a sloping block

If you live in The Basin, you know how fast water can come down the hill. Stormwater that is not captured and carried away properly ends up under the house, against retaining walls, through garages or across a neighbour's yard. Leaves and bark clog pits and grates, downpipes overflow when gutters fill, and old agricultural drains silt up or collapse.

We clear and camera-inspect stormwater lines, repair or replace broken sections, add new pits and grated drains across driveways and paths, and install slotted drains behind retaining walls. Everything connects to a legal point of discharge. On some properties, a stormwater pump or a larger tank is needed to manage the water, and we can design and install that too.

Gutters full of gum leaves

The trees that make The Basin beautiful also fill gutters quickly. A blocked gutter overflows into the eaves and can push water back under roof sheets and into the ceiling. In a bushfire overlay, dry leaves in gutters are also a fire risk. We clear gutters and downpipes, flush them through, fix leaks and rusted sections, replace gutters at the end of their life and fit gutter guard that suits the roof and meets local requirements.

Rainwater tanks and pumps

Rainwater tanks are common in The Basin, whether for the garden, for firefighting or for use in the toilet and laundry. Tanks need proper connections, overflow to the stormwater, first-flush diverters to keep leaves out, and backflow protection where the tank and mains supplies meet. Pumps wear out, pressure switches fail and automatic mains switching devices stop working. We install, maintain and repair the whole system so you have water when you need it.

Septic and older sewer connections

Most of The Basin is connected to sewer, but a small number of properties on the higher slopes still rely on septic tanks or have older connections that were added after the house was built. Septic systems need regular pumping out and the outlet drains need to work properly, or waste backs up into the house. We can inspect the system, clear blockages in the lines, and advise on maintenance or connection to the sewer where it is available.

On sewered properties, the usual problem is roots in older clay pipes. With so many trees around, root intrusion is common. We clear the line, camera-inspect it and recommend a lasting repair, which is often relining rather than digging through a garden or bush.

Hot water in a cold valley

The Basin can be cold in winter, especially in the gullies where the sun disappears early. Hot water systems work harder, gas pilots blow out in the wind and older electric tanks struggle. We repair gas storage, continuous-flow, electric and heat pump systems and replace them when they are finished. For homes moving away from gas or wanting to make more of their solar panels, we recommend heat pumps rated for cooler weather and position them carefully.

Gas, LPG and heaters

Some Basin homes run on natural gas, while others use bottled LPG for cooking and hot water. Our licensed gasfitters work on both: connecting cooktops and heaters, servicing gas wall furnaces and space heaters, testing for carbon monoxide, checking regulators and bottle connections, and finding leaks. Heaters should be serviced every two years. If you smell gas, turn it off at the meter or bottle, open the doors and windows, and call us from outside.

Homes on stumps and poles

Plumbing under a raised house is exposed to cold, possums and the occasional curious dog. Pipes that are not lagged or clipped properly can freeze on very cold mornings, sag, or break where they pass through bearers. Leaks under the floor may go unnoticed until the ground is boggy or the water bill jumps. We crawl the subfloor, repair and reclip pipes, add insulation where pipes are exposed and fix leaking wastes.

Leaks and water pressure

Long water services up steep driveways, old galvanised pipes and high or low mains pressure are all common in The Basin. A leaking underground service can be hard to find, so we use acoustic equipment and isolate sections before we dig. Where pressure is too low at the top of a steep block, we look for a restriction in the pipe and advise on the fix. Where pressure is too high at the bottom, a pressure limiting valve protects your taps and hot water system.

Bushfire areas

Large parts of The Basin are inside bushfire management overlays. New plumbing work outside the house may need to use metal rather than plastic for gutters and downpipes, and some homes keep a dedicated firefighting water supply with a fire brigade fitting. We can advise on the plumbing side of bushfire preparation, including tank fittings, sprinkler supply lines and making sure stormwater and gutters are clear before summer.

Mud brick and owner-built homes

The Basin has more than its share of mud brick, owner-built and one-off homes, some dating back to the 1970s when the area attracted people who wanted to build their own place in the bush. These houses are full of character, but the plumbing was not always done to the standard you would expect today. We regularly find wastes with too little fall, pipes run through places that are hard to reach, mixed materials joined together, and hot water units installed without proper relief drains or tempering valves.

We do not judge; we just work out what is there and fix it properly. Where a section of plumbing has been a constant source of trouble, we explain the options for bringing it up to standard one step at a time, so you are not faced with a huge job all at once.

After a big storm

Storms that roll in over the ranges can drop a lot of rain on The Basin in a short time and bring down branches and trees. That can mean overflowing gutters, flooded subfloors, crushed stormwater pipes and broken downpipes. If water is getting into the house, call 03 7036 4101. We clear what is blocked, fix what is broken, and check that the drainage is ready for the next downpour.

Renovations on tricky sites

Renovating a bathroom or kitchen in a home on a slope can mean long drain runs, limited fall and plumbing in awkward places under the floor. We plan the plumbing before the walls come out, rough in to suit the new layout and connect and test at fit-off. If the drain fall is not enough for the layout you want, we tell you early and help find an alternative.

Why The Basin calls us

We are next door in Ferntree Gully and know the roads, the slopes and the weather. We turn up when we say we will, explain what is wrong in plain language and give you a fixed price before starting. Call 03 7036 4101 or send the form for a free quote.

Ferntree Gully ground and pipes

Ferntree Gully's ground changes as you climb towards the ranges: clay and silty loam on the lower streets, rockier, steeper ground near Upper Ferntree Gully and The Basin. Most homes built before the 1980s were connected with earthenware sewer pipe, and on a slope every joint moves a little over the years and lets roots in. Water service lines from the meter are often long and run through rocky ground or under established gardens. Stormwater has to be carried down the block and away from the house. We use cameras, locators and pressure tests to see what is happening before we dig.

How a job runs

Services in The Basin

Nearby areas

• Ferntree Gully
• Upper Ferntree Gully
• Boronia
• Rowville
• Knoxfield
• Scoresby
• Lysterfield
• Wantirna South

Guides

• Emergency or wait?
• Find your stopcock
• Tree roots in drains
• Overflow gully
• Hot water temperatures
• Hot water warning signs
• Heat pumps in the cold
• Gas heater safety
• Cistern faults
• Gutters and gum leaves
• Sloping block drainage
• Tanks and backflow