Plumbing questions from Sans Souci
1000+ five-star reviews
Straight answers to the plumbing questions we hear most across the St George foreshore. If yours is not here, call (02) 9072 0502 and ask a licensed plumber directly.
Why do outdoor taps and fittings corrode so quickly near the water?
Homes right on the bay and the river cop salt-laden air that attacks copper, valves and hot water fittings, so metalwork here wears out faster than it would inland. A coastal-rated anode and swapping the worst-exposed fittings early buy back years of life.
Does the high water table affect underground drainage work?
It does, because the low ground near the bay sits over a high water table, so trenches fill quickly and below-slab drainage has to be pumped and sealed carefully to keep the joints sound. On the lowest blocks we plan for that groundwater before a shovel goes in.
My street floods in heavy rain, is that a plumbing fault at my place?
Usually not, since the low catchment behind the foreshore drains out through a set of small creeks, and a big storm can overwhelm that stormwater network faster than it clears, so water backs up into property connections.
Can sand really get into and block a drain here?
Yes, the sandy foreshore soils let sand wash into cracked or open joints and build up inside the line until the flow chokes, so we camera it and flush the sand out. Sealing or relining the open joint stops it packing up again.
How long should an older storage hot water system last?
Most storage units give around a decade and the salt exposure near the foreshore can cut that short, so if yours is well past ten years it is worth planning a replacement before it fails. A tank weeping at the base or running rusty is usually telling you the time has come.
Our Federation home still runs its original pipes, should we be worried?
The period and post-war housing here often still carries original galvanised or early copper that furs up and thins with age, so a pressure check shows whether a staged replacement makes sense. Weak flow at the kitchen tap is often the first clue.
What is the most common cause of sudden indoor flooding?
A perished flexi hose under a sink or vanity is the usual culprit in renovated and infill homes, and it can let go without warning, so we replace ageing hoses before they burst. Knowing where your meter shut-off sits saves a lot of damage in the meantime.
Do you really answer the phone through the night?
Yes, a licensed plumber answers day or night, including weekends and public holidays, so a burst pipe or overflowing toilet never sits waiting until morning.
Is the call out fee genuinely nothing?
That is right, the assessment and quote are free, and a single fixed written price is agreed with you before any spanner is lifted. Say no and you owe us nothing at all.
Why do tree roots keep getting into our sewer?
Mature street trees and established gardens chase the moisture in cracked earthenware and clay joints, and once roots take hold they snag waste, so we cut them out and reline the pipe to seal it. A camera run first shows exactly which joint is letting them in.
What should I do if I can smell gas?
Leave the property and call from outside, do not flick switches or light flames, and ring us so a licensed plumber can trace it and make the home safe.
How do I know the price will not climb once work starts?
Your plumber works right through the job and sets one fixed written price up front, and that is the amount you pay, with no overtime rates added on nights or weekends. If the job turns out simpler than expected, the written price still holds.
Is the workmanship guaranteed after the job is done?
Yes, every job is backed by our Lifetime Labour Warranty, so if the work falls short we put it right again at no charge to you. That cover sits behind the labour on every job we complete.
Do you handle both blocked drains and blocked sewers?
Yes, we clear and camera blocked drains and take on blocked sewer lines too, tracing the cause so it is fixed properly rather than just pushed along the pipe. Relining can renew a broken sewer without digging up the whole yard.
Still stuck on a question? Call (02) 9072 0502 and talk it through with a licensed plumber.
- $0 Call Out Fee
- Lifetime Labour Warranty
- Licensed & Insured
- Lic #275278CNSW plumbing licence, fully insured, water and gas
- $0 Call Out FeeIt costs nothing to get us to your door
- Lifetime Labour WarrantyIf it's not right, we come back. No questions. No cost.
- 1000+ five-star reviewsSydney homeowners have rated us five stars over a thousand times
Good questions, straight answers
Your questions, answered
Why do outdoor taps and fittings corrode so quickly near the water?
Homes right on the bay and the river cop salt-laden air that attacks copper, valves and hot water fittings, so metalwork here wears out faster than it would inland. A coastal-rated anode and swapping the worst-exposed fittings early buy back years of life.
Does the high water table affect underground drainage work?
It does, because the low ground near the bay sits over a high water table, so trenches fill quickly and below-slab drainage has to be pumped and sealed carefully to keep the joints sound. On the lowest blocks we plan for that groundwater before a shovel goes in.
My street floods in heavy rain, is that a plumbing fault at my place?
Usually not, since the low catchment behind the foreshore drains out through a set of small creeks, and a big storm can overwhelm that stormwater network faster than it clears, so water backs up into property connections.
Can sand really get into and block a drain here?
Yes, the sandy foreshore soils let sand wash into cracked or open joints and build up inside the line until the flow chokes, so we camera it and flush the sand out. Sealing or relining the open joint stops it packing up again.
How long should an older storage hot water system last?
Most storage units give around a decade and the salt exposure near the foreshore can cut that short, so if yours is well past ten years it is worth planning a replacement before it fails. A tank weeping at the base or running rusty is usually telling you the time has come.
Our Federation home still runs its original pipes, should we be worried?
The period and post-war housing here often still carries original galvanised or early copper that furs up and thins with age, so a pressure check shows whether a staged replacement makes sense. Weak flow at the kitchen tap is often the first clue.
What is the most common cause of sudden indoor flooding?
A perished flexi hose under a sink or vanity is the usual culprit in renovated and infill homes, and it can let go without warning, so we replace ageing hoses before they burst. Knowing where your meter shut-off sits saves a lot of damage in the meantime.
Do you really answer the phone through the night?
Yes, a licensed plumber answers day or night, including weekends and public holidays, so a burst pipe or overflowing toilet never sits waiting until morning.
Is the call out fee genuinely nothing?
That is right, the assessment and quote are free, and a single fixed written price is agreed with you before any spanner is lifted. Say no and you owe us nothing at all.
Why do tree roots keep getting into our sewer?
Mature street trees and established gardens chase the moisture in cracked earthenware and clay joints, and once roots take hold they snag waste, so we cut them out and reline the pipe to seal it. A camera run first shows exactly which joint is letting them in.
What should I do if I can smell gas?
Leave the property and call from outside, do not flick switches or light flames, and ring us so a licensed plumber can trace it and make the home safe.
How do I know the price will not climb once work starts?
Your plumber works right through the job and sets one fixed written price up front, and that is the amount you pay, with no overtime rates added on nights or weekends. If the job turns out simpler than expected, the written price still holds.
Is the workmanship guaranteed after the job is done?
Yes, every job is backed by our Lifetime Labour Warranty, so if the work falls short we put it right again at no charge to you. That cover sits behind the labour on every job we complete.
Do you handle both blocked drains and blocked sewers?
Yes, we clear and camera blocked drains and take on blocked sewer lines too, tracing the cause so it is fixed properly rather than just pushed along the pipe. Relining can renew a broken sewer without digging up the whole yard.