Plumbing Questions from Springvale Homes and Businesses

Every business sets its own rates, and after-hours work costs more. We give a fixed price for the job once the fault is found, so the hourly figure does not matter.

That depends on the job, the parts and the time of day. We price the job rather than the hours, and you know the figure before work starts.

Check the licence on the Victorian Building Authority register, look for recent local reviews, and ask for a fixed price before work and a compliance certificate afterwards.

Some people have built very large plumbing supply and services businesses. For your home, a licensed local plumber who does what was agreed is what counts.

Most Australians say "plumbo".

It is an informal phrase, not part of the Victorian regulations. Our work follows the Plumbing Regulations and Australian Standards.

There is no set national rate. We avoid hourly surprises by quoting a fixed price for your job.

Burst pipes, sewage overflowing, gas smells, no water, water through a ceiling, and a blocked toilet when it is the only one in the house.

Call-out fees vary widely and some businesses roll them into the hourly rate. We tell you the full price of the job before we start.

There is no legal minimum charge for customers; businesses set their own. We give a fixed job price instead of billing by the hour.

It depends on the cause, the location of the blockage and how the drain can be reached. We find it first and give you a fixed price before clearing it.

A severe blockage, especially one with roots or water backing up outside, needs a plumber with an electric eel or high-pressure jetter. Plungers and chemicals rarely shift it and caustic cleaners make the job more dangerous.

Some policies cover sudden damage caused by a blockage but not the cost of clearing it or damage from gradual root growth. Check your policy, and we can provide photos and a report for a claim.

In Victoria, the property owner is generally responsible for the drain on their land up to the connection with the sewer main, and the water corporation looks after the main.

First check the pilot light or the circuit breaker. If that does not fix it, call a licensed plumber. Renters should contact their agent or landlord, as no hot water is an urgent repair.

A continuous-flow unit heats water on demand, and a recirculation system or a unit closer to the bathroom shortens the wait at the tap.

Common causes are a pilot light that has gone out, a tripped circuit breaker, a failed thermostat or element, a faulty tempering valve, or a closed valve. A plumber can test each one.

Yes, if they also hold a gasfitting licence. All our gas work is done by licensed gasfitters.

Not necessarily. Gasfitting is a separate licence in Victoria, so check that whoever works on your gas is licensed for it.

Licensed gasfitters do: leaks, heater servicing, cooktop connections, gas hot water and safety checks.

No. Only plumbers who hold a gasfitting licence can legally work on gas lines and appliances.

It depends on the tap and the part. Most fixes are a washer, seat or cartridge, and we quote a fixed price on the spot.

A fair price covers the part and the time to fit it properly. We look at the tap and tell you the price before we start.

Owners look after their own taps. In a rental, the landlord arranges repairs, so tenants should report leaks to their agent.

It depends on where the pipe is, what it is made of and how hard it is to reach. We find the break first and quote a fixed price.

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.

Pipes on the property side of the meter belong to the owner. The meter and the pipes in the street belong to the water corporation.

Burst mains in the street are fixed by the water corporation. If the burst is on your private service pipe, we find it and give you a fixed price for the repair.

There is no useful average, because a new washer and a new pan are very different jobs. We diagnose the fault and quote a fixed price.

We look at the toilet, find the faulty part and give you a fixed price that includes the part and labour.

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

Yes. Plumbers repair cisterns, pans, seals and connectors and replace whole toilet suites when they cannot be repaired.

It depends on the type, size and location of the new system and what has to change in the connections. We give a fixed price that includes removal of the old unit.

We cannot speak for retailers' pricing. Whoever installs your system must be licensed and must give you a compliance certificate.

Most storage units last roughly eight to fifteen years, depending on water quality, use and maintenance.

The price depends on whether it is gas, electric or heat pump, where it is going and the connections needed. We quote a fixed installed price after a quick look.