Lead Free Plumbing Products Fact Sheet
Flexi Hose Inspection Checklist
What are flexi hoses? A flexible hose, commonly known as a flexi hose, is a stainless-steel braided hose that encases a rubber pipe. They are extremely common and found in almost all suburban homes across West Melbourne. Flexi hoses will be installed beneath your kitchen...
What DIY Plumbing Can I do Myself?
We’ve spoken at length about who can legally complete plumbing tasks in Victoria; including the difference between licensed and registered plumbers, and what tasks handymen can complete. What we haven’t talked about is what DIY plumbing tasks can be completed without the use of a...
What is a Frost Protection Valve and Why is it Leaking?
Frost protection valves in West Melbourne In most homes in West Melbourne that have solar hot water services, frost protection valves have been installed. If they don’t have these, we always suggest that frost protection valves be installed. Frost protection valves are designed to protect...
RPZ Devices and Backflow Prevention
Backflow Prevention Plumbers Melbourne - Reduced Pressure Zone Device When it comes to maintaining a safe and clean water supply, backflow prevention is of utmost importance. Backflow occurs when water flows in the opposite direction, causing contaminants to enter the water system. To prevent this, the installation...
Why Does my Toilet Keep Blocking?
What are the main causes of a blocked toilet? A toilet blockage can disrupt your daily routine and cause unnecessary stress; it usually occurs when you are heading out for the day, or on a weekend just to test your patience. My intention of writing...
Planning a Bathroom Renovation e-book
Bathroom Renovations in Melbourne Does your bathroom need a makeover and you don’t know where to start? Click on this link for a read of our bathroom renovation e-book which is full of handy hints on the first stages of a renovation, budgeting, styling, planning and fixture and fitting...
How do I Turn my Gas Off at the Mains?
Save this Postcard for Later How do I turn my gas off at the mains? Follow these steps: Find your gas meter. In suburban homes, it will almost always be near your front boundary line. For apartments, it may be in a bank of meters at...
How do I Turn my Water Off at the Mains?
Save this postcard for future use. How do you turn your mains water supply off? Follow these steps: Find your water meter. For detached suburban homes, it will be in your front garden near the boundary line. For units, the water meter may be out the...
Installing Bidets and Hand Sprayers in Melbourne
What are bidets and hand sprayers? Bidets and hand sprayers are becoming increasingly popular in Victoria, particularly in municipalities high in residents from diverse cultures and backgrounds such as ours in Wyndham. Bidets are a French invention, dating back to the 1700’s and throughout history...
Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV) Fact Sheet
Save Fact Sheet for later use What is a Pressure Reducing Valve? Pressure Reducing Valves, also known as PRV’s, are engineered to lower the incoming water or steam pressure to a safer, consistent level downstream. The downstream pressure is determined either by an adjustment setting on...
How Do I Isolate my Leaking Plumbing Fixture?
Save this Postcard for Later Instructions for How to Isolate a Leaky Tap Step 1: Locate the Isolation Valve (Mini Stop Valve) Each major plumbing fixture in your home—such as sinks, toilets, and washing machines—should have its own isolation valve. This valve, also known as a mini...
Tempering Valves and Thermostatic Mixing Valves (TMVs)
Hot water is an essential part of any home, especially during a Melbourne winter, but did you know that without temperature control, it can pose serious safety risks? In Victoria, tempering valves and thermostatic mixing valves (TMVs) are required by law for specific installations,...
What do I do if my Roof is Leaking?
Save this Postcard for Later What do I do if my roof is leaking? Don't panic Clear the area (move children, pets and important belongings) Contain the water (protect floor damage with buckets, towels, bowls) Relieve water pressure (if required, poke a hole in any small sagging ceiling bulge...
Tips to Reduce your Water Bill
When you get your water bill, it looks like a complicated matrix of numbers, fees and charges. Your bill (if you live in West Melbourne, its from Greater Western Water) is made up of both water usage charges and other fees. You can’t do...
Tips to Reduce your Gas Bill
How to Read Your Gas Bill in Victoria In Victoria, your gas bill will come from a chosen retailer, such as Tango, GloBird, Lumo, AGL, Origin, Red Energy or Dodo for example. Here’s how your gas bill is typically structured: Site/Account Details – This shows where the energy is supplied (i.e. your home address). It has a...
What is the Difference Between Licensed and Registered Plumbers?
What is a Qualified Plumber? In Victoria, the plumbing industry is regulated by the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC), formerly the VBA (BPC). It does this to ensure the health and safety of Victorians is protected, and also the integrity of our water supply and...
Gas Safety Check and Inspection Fact Sheet
Gas Safety Checks Melbourne Since the Victorian Residential Tenancies Regulations came into effect in 2021, all rental providers in Victoria must conduct regular gas safety checks in Melbourne to ensure the safety of their tenants. Whether you’re a rental provider, homeowner, property manager, or real...
How Do I Read My Water Meter in Victoria?
We had a client call us up last week asking for instructions on how to read her water meter to check if she had a leak, which had us thinking how many people actually know how to read their water meter correctly? Your water meter...
Tips to Help you Find a Good Plumber
Is your Plumber Licensed and Insured? Recently we spoke about the importance of licensing and insurance in the world of plumbing, and why only qualified plumbers can perform plumbing works and not handymen, Airtaskers etc. An unlicensed plumber or amateur tradesperson has no public liability...
How to Get Rid of Drain Flies
What Are Drain Flies? Before we get into environmentally friendly drain fly eradication strategies, let’s understand what we’re up against. Drain flies are small insects, about 1-3 mm in size, with a moth-like appearance. They are often mistaken for fruit flies due to their size and flying...
Can you Flush Flushable Wipes?
Flushed Away…The Flushable Wipes Conspiracy No-one would really argue that we now live in a throwaway society, where convenience items rule our purchase list. Think disposable nappies rather than terry towelling cloths, coffee pods over instant coffee, or yoghurt pouches instead of needing a bowl...
Plumbing Terms Glossary
Plumbing Terms Glossary TMV (Thermostatic Mixing Valve): A device that blends hot and cold water to maintain a safe and consistent outlet temperature, preventing scalding. Thermostatic Mixing Valves are found in hospitals, child care centres and in care compliant bathrooms. Tempering Valve: Similar to a TMV, this valve...
Winter Plumbing Checklist
Save Postcard for Later 1 – Make Sure Your Hot Water System has a Frost Protection Valve In West Melbourne, most homes with solar hot water services have frost protection valves installed to safeguard the system’s solar panels from freezing temperatures. These valves activate when the outside air...
Spring Plumbing Checklist
Save Postcard for Later Spring Plumbing Checklist Inspect Outdoor Taps and Hoses Winter’s freezing temperatures can cause outdoor taps and hoses to crack or leak. Now that spring has arrived, reconnect any hoses that were stored and inspect for leaks or drips. Tip: Run water through your outdoor taps...
Autumn Plumbing Checklist
Save Postcard for Later Check Your Flexi Hoses. Flexi hoses are flexible, stainless steel braided hoses that reduce stress on pipes and are commonly used to connect plumbing fixtures such as sinks, dishwashers, and toilets. They are affordable and easy to install, but should be...
Summer Plumbing Checklist
Save Postcard for Later Summer Plumbing Checklist Cool Sips and Icy Dips: Fridge Plumbing Installation for Icemaker Fridges. As the mercury climbs, the desire for a cold beer or icey G&T grows stronger. If you’ve upgraded to an icemaker fridge, you’ll need to ensure it’s properly...
Environmentally Friendly Alternatives to Chemical Drain Cleaners
Environmentally Friendly Alternatives to Drano It’s mid-2025, and after surviving the pandemic, then the post-pandemic we are now deep into the don’t-call-it-a-recession economic crisis, or as we like to say in Melbourne, cozzie livs. We are all tightening our purse strings, changing internet providers and using...