Problem with

Leaky Pipes?

Running Toilets?

Bad Sewer Odour?

Blocked Drains?

Dripping Taps?

Water Heater?

Water Pressure?

A shower, in this case, is just an example. In theory, any hot water fixture can be affected by this problem. You may have hot water quickly on one side of the house and then worry it’s broken once you reach the other end.

These issues are mainly pipe sizing and length related problems. The further your heater is away from the fixture, the greater the heat loss and time taken to reach the furthermost tap. Even climate can affect the heat loss in lines.

Only when Hot water services have a lack of pressure preventing optimal flow is when these issues are insanely prevalent. Most of the time, we are able to provide solutions to improve or completely remedy your hot water problem.

At The Pied Plumber, we understand that knowing how to lower your water bills in Sydney will go a long way to helping families manage their budgets within challenging climates.

Never fear! There are ways that you can reduce your water bills, whether this be installing water-efficient appliances and fixtures or by ensuring that leaks are isolated and fixed promptly. These actions will not only help you save money on your water bills but assist in conserving water, we can all help save our dams during drought seasons.

Five strategies for saving money on your water bills in Sydney

1. Check your toilet for leaks: Add a few drops of food colouring into the cistern and wait for 30 minutes. If the cistern is leaking into the pan, you will see the coloured water in the bowl.
2. Install a dual flush cistern: This can save you up to 5 litres of water every time you flush the toilet, which can add up to thousands of litres per year.
3. Check fixture flow rates: Our family plumbers will check the flow rates of your shower heads, bath, vanity, kitchen and laundry taps and install water restrictors, which reduce the flow rates to save you money.
4. Repair leaking taps: One or more dripping taps can add up to a lot of wasted water and higher than expected bills. So whether these are indoors or outdoors, the prompt repair of leaking taps is essential to conserving water and saving money on your water bills in Sydney.
5. Hidden underground leaks: Often, the first time you realise that you have an insidious underground water leak is when you receive an abnormally high water bill. However, leaks from underground mains water pipes can be challenging to locate, which is why our electronic line locating equipment comes in handy. Our family plumbers will quickly and efficiently find the source of your underground water leak and repair the pipes, helping you to save money on your water bills in Sydney.

Lower your water bills with a water leak claim form

When you have a concealed water leak underground and have promptly acted to fix the problem, you can claim credit for the additional water charges from the council. As licensed family plumbers in Sydney, we will issue you with a water leak claim form, which you submit to Sydney Water once we have repaired your water leak helping you lower your water bill in Sydney following a hidden leak.

We’re here if you need us: 1300 13 80 80

Unsatisfactorily low water pressure may be reasonably simple to diagnose in certain situations.

Below is a check-list of possible triggers, from the more popular to the uncommon supplementary causes of low water pressure:

• Your meter tap washer is broken and thus disallowing optimal flow through the meter assembly.
• You have a pressure limiting or reduction device fitted to the meter outlet, which may require replacement.
• Sydney Water has reduced the street pressure supply to prolong outdated and weakened mains pipes from breaking.
• Your fixture tap outlets have become clogged with debris—this is a common problem, particularly after a split in a street main, causing fixture tap outlets to become blocked. This is a common problem, particularly after a break in a road main.
• Your water supply lines are undersized for the number of fixtures you now have around your property. Particularly when homes have been renovated and fixture numbers have doubled without updating water supplies to accommodate the increased flow rates necessary to operate the dwelling
• You have a below ground leak on the property; depending on the severity of the leak, this may impact your working pressures to fixtures.
• You perhaps have a hidden pressure-reducing device fitted somewhere on the property. A full house inspection is often necessary to source these.

The key concern here is: Don’t wait for your next water bill to arrive. Check that your water meter isn’t ticking over constantly, and if concerned – we’re a call away.

The maximum and most ideal house pressure range is 500KPA.

This is achieved throughout most of Sydney; however, some areas have been known to exceed this immensely. Furthermore, in these particular locations, we’ll often find problem issues that rarely occur elsewhere.

High-pressure notably reduces lifespan and increases wear in pipes and valves. Water hammering concerns are prevalent in these scenarios, and generally, water use in high-pressure homes is far greater than their optimal pressure counterparts.

Unfortunately, Sydney Water does not guarantee a maximum supply pressure, leaving the sole discretion of the consumer to protect their property. As plumbers, we can easily perform a pressure test and, if necessary, install a water meter pressure-limiting device to safeguard your home.

Whatever the scenario. Whether this be servicing a tap, toilet or even in the event of a dreaded burst pipe – Try not to panic.

Firstly, what service do you wish to isolate?

If it’s your hot water, you’ll usually find a control valve with a black, green or blue handle at the lower end of the storage heater. Turn off clockwise to isolate.

If you require turning off the property at the meter or main control valve:

• House owner: Usually, these will be street facing around the front fence boundary. If obstructed and unobtainable, try and source the front hose tap and focus your efforts to track in-line towards the road. Most meter’s you’ll find a T-shaped brass handle to turn clockwise for ÓFF’.
• Unit owner: On occasion, such isolation taps can be difficult to source as there’s no absolute clear-cut standard as to where they’re required to be located. The most common areas are laundry tubs, kitchen sinks, standard corridor service doors, car parks and standalone wall valves. If unsure, call your strata and have them confirm its location.

Remember, your mains water isolation valve is the most critical tap around the property. ALL property owners should know their whereabouts.

• Take notice of high-efficiency WELS rated Australian fixture products

• Ensure you’re using water restriction devices on all tapware. (saving up to 5L per minute)

• Choose water-efficient electric appliances with a minimum of 4 WELS rating (saving up to 50L per wash)

• Pre-fill kitchen sinks for rinsing rather than leaving your tapware on. (saving up to 9L per minute)

• Ensure you wash full loads worth of clothes rather than washing the one sock that dog buried in the backyard.

• Turn the basin tap off during your two-minute teeth brushing exercise. (could save 4-6L of water before you head off to work!)

Suppose your taps are a downright mission to operate, grinding and squealing or perhaps causing irritating hammering noises around the house. We aim to rectify this!

Our first approach is tap servicing; On occasion, taps can go from polar opposites within months. The key here is attending to the issue before it worsens, as inevitably, this will occur. To service your spindle taps, we always replace ‘O’ rings, clean and lubricate spindle threads, and install high-quality copper washers, along with assessing the seats where the washers are housed.

We also carry the most common parts to attend to mixer leaks and drips.

In some circumstances, when plumbing woes have been left unattended for too long – your taps may be irretrievably damaged, constituting a consideration to replace as the most cost-effective option.

On other occasions, it may come down to aesthetic purposes. You’d be surprised how most modern tapware can transform a plumbing area without having to fork out thousands to renovate.

These are all factors we provide you to ensure that you’re across all options rather than just undertaking a bandaid solution.

• Water hammering or odd audible noise emanating from plumbing fixtures can commonly cause burst pipes and property damage if left unattended. It may seem insignificant but certainly, a worthy idea to check for peace of mind.
• Water damage outside shower screens, bubbling paint along walls and adjacent rooms, dampness or discolouration around ceilings along with off stagnant odour around plumbing areas. Avoid an insurance claim, have this checked.
• Higher than usual water bills is a relatively standard method of establishing whether you have an issue. If you’re unable to identify the cause of the billing discrepancy – It might be worth having your house inspected for leaks.
• Gurgling and varying water levels in toilets, floor wastes, and outdoor drains are a giveaway sign that you have a sewer blockage. This is the time to have your plumbing assessed to prevent overflowing drains.
• Hot water no longer producing a reasonable tempered supply; A plethora of causes may result in this scenario – All of which should be appropriately assessed by a licenced plumber.
• The sudden drop in your outside garden grassed area? This might sound like a sinkhole or something out worldly, although it is usually a result of drainage breaks underground.

Broken sewer lines are the usual culprit as there’s a regular supply of waste passing through these pipes, which can draw in the surrounding ground as waste matter passes. These issues should adequately be assessed even if your grass has never been greener!

Since our establishment in 1995 – You’ve had it, we’ve seen it.

Take it from the owner of the Pied Plumber—a pet hate of agreeing to a price and then the hidden surprise afterwards.

Since 1995 – We have never surcharged a VISA or MASTERCARD expense back to our customers. We will, however, continue to charge 1.5% on AMEX.

In this case – size does matter.

The pipe sizing of your original house before renovations and additions may be of minimum size. Suddenly you’ve doubled your required flow rates and experiencing pressure losses in either/or water and gas supplies.

This may be a result of incorrectly designed plumbing systems. Whether it’s upgrading a gas meter regulator or assessing your pipe size after your water meter through to fixtures – The Pied Plumber can evaluate your concern by providing clear options to assist.

Severe leaks can cause hundreds of litres of water per day to gurgle down your drain. Water use in Sydney averages per person at around 300L per day, factoring in all dishwasher, washing machine, toilet, shower, hosing and general tapware use. So losing a vast amount through a seemingly minor problem can add up fairly quickly. If left for months, it’ll affect your back pocket the next time you receive your water bill.

Our advice is to fix significant leaks as soon as they arise.

We’re proud to advise – NO!

The Pied Plumber is a family-owned business. Furthermore, that’s just the way we like it!

Well, if cheaper running costs, longer hot water service lifespan, greater warranty periods and fewer working valves to disrupt your hot water is of interest, then instantaneous options are for you.

It is important to keep in mind that instantaneous hot water technologies are typically more costly to install than conventional hot water systems since a weatherproof electrical PowerPoint is a factor in any outlay costs. However, once all infrastructure is in place, these installations save thousands of dollars throughout their life cycle through efficiencies and often last twice as long as electric storage units.

We suggest natural gas versions only since LPG systems are relatively energy-intensive, requiring considerably more bottle swaps throughout a year cycle.

Our regular business hours are Monday through to Friday, 7am – 3pm. This excludes Public holidays and long weekends. However, we understand that not all plumbing issues arise between these times. If urgent, we offer after-hours, same day service if necessary.

The Pied plumber is always happy to help!