We know what you’re thinking: what does air have to do with plumbing? Doesn’t plumbing deal with, you know, water? And of course, you’d be correct. Talk to your Cheltenham plumber on the other hand, and they’ll tell you that air is actually an important part of your home plumbing system! In particular, they might mention two words: “air gap”. Ever wondered what this mysterious gap does and what makes it so essential to your plumbing? If so, we’ve got the answers! The role an air gap plays in protecting drinking water What is an air gap exactly? Air gap: [...]

At Watermaster Plumbing, we’ve always incredibly wary when it comes to DIY plumbing. There’s nothing wrong with attempting to unclog a drain by yourself using some tried and tested home remedies… but for plumbing jobs any more complicated than that, we urge you to call a professional plumber. “What makes a professional plumber different?” you may ask. While there are many things, here’s a brief checklist with a couple of the most important differences - and why they matter. 1) Plumbing training is more complex than you might think Plumbing is a lot more complicated than just fitting pipes and [...]

Noticed that your basin seems to be taking forever to drain? If so, you may be suffering from a partial drain blockage. With the amount of stuff that goes down our drains (hair, grease, food scraps), it’s no surprise that blocked drains are one of the most common household problems our plumbers in Melbourne encounter. Ideally, you’ll never find yourself in that position to begin with, but if you’re suffering from blocked drains, call a plumber now for immediate attention. The key to avoiding a drain blockage is regular drain cleaning. Prevention is better than cure: why you should make [...]

Do you smell gas? If so, it’s time to spring into action to protect your property and your family! Gas leaks are hard to ignore. And asides from electricity, they’re the most dangerous type of problem you can have. As such, there are certain things you must do when faced with a gas leak, as well as several things you shouldn’t do. Make no mistake, the proper response can drastically change what happens following a gas leak! Smell gas? Gas leak don’ts It might be due to panic, stress or anxiety. Whatever the cause, many people don’t respond appropriately when [...]

What do you think of when you hear the phrase “plumbing emergency?” Chances are you responded with an overflowing toilet, or a blocked drain. Renters and homeowners alike know that indoor plumbing problems that will definitely be a pain and challenge. Unfortunately, not all indoor plumbing problems are that obvious! Many indoor plumbing problems aren’t visible until it’s much, much too late for preventive measures. They can lead to costly repairs and in some cases, can even cause structural damage. So what should you look out for in order to minimise the risk of damage caused by these hidden plumbing [...]

It’s not just the inside of your home that suffers from plumbing problems - outdoor plumbing is an oft-ignored part of your plumbing that’s equally important. Sprinklers. Sewer lines. Your water supply pipe. Just like your indoor pipes, a problem with one of these outdoor plumbing systems can cause problems. Of course, outdoor pipes come with slightly different plumbing problems than indoor ones. Here are just a couple of them! 1) Is your home suffering from a slab leak? A slab leak is industry-speak for a leak within the waterline piping underneath your home’s concrete slab. A leak here can [...]

Not every plumbing emergency is something big like a burst pipe or an indoor flood. Sometimes, it can take the form of something that, when detected early enough, can be relatively minor, like a blocked drain! In many cases, you might in fact think that a blockage is easy enough to clear yourself. While we can appreciate your commitment to DIY, we must implore that you never try to do any plumbing work yourself. So put down the wire hanger, leave the boiling water, and instead pick up the phone and call an emergency plumber. What causes blocked drains? Anything [...]

Renovations are en vogue now thanks to TV programs like The Block and House Rules. In fact, it’s estimated that Australians are on track to spend $8.8 billion over the next 5 years improving their homes. And surprise surprise, kitchens are one of the most popular targets for renovation. While TV might make renovating look like something anybody can do, in the real world kitchen renovation takes a lot of work and meticulous planning. Are you planning on joining the growing number of homeowners with a kitchen renovation in the near future? If so, you’ll need to pay particularly close [...]

Imagine living without clean towels, clothes and linens. How long would you last? We’re sure it wouldn’t take you long to give in! That’s exactly the situation you might find yourself in if you don’t look after your laundry plumbing. Laundry is an important chore - therefore, a functional laundry area is a must-have in homes. Just last month we gave you four laundry plumbing tips to ensure your laundry room continues to serve you. But what about when the worse happens? If you run into any of these common laundry plumbing problems, you might need an emergency plumber! Floods [...]

When it comes to plumbing problems, few are as severe as burst pipes. You can live with a leak, at least for the short-term. Likewise with hot water problems. And while low water pressure is a problem, at least you still have water! It’s a lot harder to live with burst pipes, however. Burst pipes can cause massive damage. There’s no way around that - just think about how much water you use in a typical evening. Now imagine all of that water not coming out of your taps, but instead flooding out of a burst pipe in your ceiling [...]