Plumbing
Plumbing is licensed work in every Australian state and territory, and the line between what you may do yourself and what you may not is narrower than most people expect. These answers cover hot water systems, leaks and blockages, and the compliance paperwork a plumber should leave behind.
33 pages in this topic
Questions
- Does hot water have to come out of the tap below 50 degrees?Water has to be stored hot enough to control Legionella, which generally means 60°C in a storage system, but it can only be delivered to bathroom outlets at 50°C or less. A tempering valve is what bridges the two.4 sources cited
- Which type of hot water system should I get?For most Australian households replacing a system today, a heat pump or solar-boosted electric system has the lowest running cost and attracts the largest rebates, but the right answer depends on your existing connections and available space.3 sources cited
- Do I need a licensed plumber, or can I do it myself?Almost all plumbing work in Australia is licensed. The homeowner exemptions are narrow, differ by state, and generally cover only minor maintenance like changing a tap washer.5 sources cited
- What actually causes a blocked drain, and can I clear it myself?Most household blockages are fat, hair or foreign objects near the fixture and can be cleared with a plunger or hand snake. Recurring blockages across multiple fixtures usually mean tree roots in the sewer line, which needs a camera and a professional.3 sources cited
- Why is my water bill suddenly high?A sudden jump with no change in use almost always means a leak, and a running toilet is the most common cause. Your water meter will tell you in about twenty minutes whether water is moving when nothing is on.4 sources cited
- How long should a hot water system last?Ten to fifteen years for a storage unit, often longer for continuous flow because there is no tank to corrode. Rusty water, pooling underneath or running out sooner than it used to are the signs it is near the end.3 sources cited
- What plumbing work can I legally do myself in Australia?Very little. Replacing a tap washer, a showerhead or a flexible connection is generally permitted, but anything that alters pipework, drainage or a water heater is licensed plumbing work in every state and territory.5 sources cited
- How often should flexible hoses under sinks be replaced?Most manufacturers rate braided flexible hoses for around five years, and they are one of the most common causes of major internal water damage claims in Australia when left indefinitely.4 sources cited
- What is a plumbing compliance certificate and should I get one?Most notifiable plumbing work requires the licensed plumber to lodge a compliance certificate and give you a copy. Keep it, because it is the record that the work met the plumbing code.5 sources cited
- What causes water hammer and is it damaging?Water hammer is the shock wave created when fast-moving water is stopped suddenly by a quick-closing valve. It is fixable, and left alone it can loosen fittings and eventually cause leaks.4 sources cited
- Why is my water pressure low?Sudden loss of pressure across the whole house usually points to the meter, a valve or the supply. Loss at one outlet is nearly always a blocked aerator, cartridge or isolation valve at that fixture.4 sources cited
- What is a backflow prevention device and do I need one?A backflow prevention device stops contaminated water being drawn back into the drinking water supply. Water authorities require them at properties with a defined hazard, and most require annual testing by a licensed person.4 sources cited
- Can I connect a rainwater tank to my house plumbing?Yes, and it is common for toilets, laundry and outdoor taps, but connecting a tank to internal plumbing is licensed work and requires backflow protection where a mains top up is fitted.5 sources cited
- What is the difference between sewer and stormwater, and why does it matter?Sewer carries waste to treatment and stormwater carries rain to a waterway. Connecting one to the other is illegal everywhere in Australia and causes both sewage overflows and flooding.4 sources cited
- Who is responsible for a blocked sewer, me or the water authority?You are generally responsible for the pipework on your property up to the connection point, and the water authority for the main beyond it. The boundary is set by the authority, not by where the blockage happens to be.4 sources cited
- Should a damaged drain be relined or replaced?Relining suits a pipe that is structurally intact but cracked or root-infiltrated. Replacement is required where the pipe has collapsed, sagged into a belly, or lost too much of its wall to support a liner.4 sources cited
- Can I make my neighbour remove a tree whose roots block my drains?Sometimes. Several states have a statutory process for tree damage between neighbours, but you generally have to show the tree caused the damage and that you tried to resolve it first.4 sources cited
- Why does my stormwater flood in heavy rain?Most yard flooding is a capacity or fall problem rather than a blockage: undersized or blocked pipes, downpipes discharging at the surface, or ground that has been regraded so water now runs toward the house.4 sources cited
- Is my toilet leaking if the water level moves?A continuously running toilet is a leaking outlet valve or an incorrectly set inlet valve, and it can waste a very large volume of water invisibly, which is a common cause of an unexplained bill.4 sources cited
- Why is my hot water not hot enough?Running lukewarm quickly usually means the system is undersized, the element or thermostat has failed, or a tempering valve has drifted. Never hot at all points at the heat source rather than the storage.4 sources cited
- What is a tempering valve and why does it need replacing?A tempering valve blends hot and cold to limit the temperature delivered to bathroom outlets, guarding against scalding. It is a wearing part with a finite life and it is genuinely required, not an upsell.4 sources cited
- Does a dishwasher or washing machine have to be installed by a plumber?Connecting to existing tap and drain points with the supplied hoses is generally permitted. Adding or moving the tap, the drain point or the power outlet is licensed work.4 sources cited
- How do I find a hidden water leak?Isolate the property at the meter and watch the dial. If it moves with everything off, the leak is on your side, and the meter test tells you that in fifteen minutes for free.4 sources cited
- Is a heat pump hot water system worth it?A heat pump uses roughly a third of the electricity of a resistive electric storage system for the same hot water, which is why it attracts rebates, but it is noisier, more complex and performs worse in cold climates.5 sources cited
- Who is allowed to work on gas in Australia?Gasfitting is a separate licence class from general plumbing in every Australian state and territory, and there is no householder exemption for any gas work at all.6 sources cited
- What should I do if I smell gas?Do not operate any electrical switch or appliance. Turn off the supply if you can reach it safely, open the space up, get everyone outside, and call the gas emergency line from outside the building.5 sources cited
- What do I do about a burst pipe or a flooded house right now?Turn off the water at the meter, turn off electricity to affected areas at the switchboard if water is near wiring, then photograph everything before you start removing anything.5 sources cited
- How does a septic system work and what maintenance does it need?A septic system separates solids and disposes of the liquid through a land application area. Tanks generally need pumping every few years, and the land application area is what actually fails.5 sources cited
- Can I reuse greywater in the garden?Simple diversion of laundry and shower water for subsurface garden irrigation is allowed in most of Australia with conditions. Treated greywater systems and any storage require approval.5 sources cited
- Does my irrigation system need backflow protection?Yes. An irrigation system connected to the drinking water supply is a recognised backflow hazard, and water authorities require protection appropriate to the risk, with annual testing on testable devices.5 sources cited
- What is a pressure relief valve on a hot water system and why is it dripping?The valve releases pressure as water expands when heated, so some discharge is normal. Continuous or heavy discharge means the valve has failed or the incoming pressure is too high.5 sources cited