Guides and the journal
Two kinds of writing live here. The guides are reference: living documents, one per territory, revised as the facts move. The journal is dated: one question answered well per entry, left standing with its original date.
The seven guides
Sustainable plumbing
The whole-house view: where household water goes, what wastes it, and the order to fix things in.
Read the guide Guide No. IIBlocked drains
What is actually happening under your yard, what is safe to try, and when to stop plunging.
Read the guide Guide No. IIIBroken & burst pipes
Why pipes fail at joints and in cold snaps, and the first five minutes after a burst.
Read the guide Guide No. IVLeaking taps
The 12,000-litre drip: washers, seats and ceramic discs, and the repair that lasts.
Read the guide Guide No. VInstallation
WELS stars, the standards behind "compliant", and what to ask before anything is plumbed in.
Read the guide Guide No. VICommercial plumbing
Grease traps, backflow prevention and trade waste: what commercial sites answer for.
Read the guide Guide No. VIIIndustrial plumbing
Process water, corrosion and treatment at the scale where plumbing becomes infrastructure.
Read the guideThe journal
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Drains
Tree roots in pipes: who is responsible, what to plant and what a plumber does
Whose pipe the roots are in, the trees to keep away from it, and why clearing them is a licensed job.
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Pipes
Cracked pipes: what breaks them, the warning signs, and what to do when one bursts
Five causes, the warnings that come first, and the valve that is yours to shut.
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Drains
Blocked drains: what causes them, what not to flush, and whose pipe it is
Three causes, one do-not-flush list, and where your pipe stops being yours.
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Solar hot water
Solar Hot Water Systems: Are They Worth the Investment?
Sun-heated water: when the sums work, and when they do not.
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Water conservation
Tips for Reducing Water Usage at Home
Where a household's water actually goes, and the order to fix it in.
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Plumbing
Addressing Common Plumbing Leaks for Water Conservation
Finding the leaks you cannot hear: meter tests and damp maps.
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Installation
Smart Home Integration in Plumbing Installations
Leak sensors, smart meters and automatic shut-off valves, explained.
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Commercial
Planning and Designing Plumbing Systems for Office Buildings
What office plumbing has to solve that houses never do.
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Leaking taps
The Environmental Consequences of Neglected Leaking Taps
Twelve thousand litres a year, one drip at a time.
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Pipes
The Impact of Temperature Fluctuations on Pipe Integrity
Pipes move more than houses do: what expansion works on, joint by joint.
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Leaking taps
Water Quality Concerns Related to Leaking Taps
A dripping tap is a water-quality question before it is a bill question.
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Maintenance
Preventive Maintenance for Prolonging Tap Lifespan
The five-minute habits that double a tap's working life.
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Drains
Routine Drain Inspection for Early Problem Detection
Small problems are cheap; inspection is how they stay small.
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Drains
Intelligent Drainage Systems for Smart Homes
Sensors in the stormwater: what smart drainage actually monitors.
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Plumbing
The Importance of Sustainable Plumbing Practices in Australia
What "sustainable plumbing" means once the marketing is stripped off.
Tell us what your plumbing is doing
Describe the symptom, the fixture and how long it has been going on. We read every enquiry and reply with guidance and a sensible next step. Anything that needs tools is a licensed plumber's job, and we will say so plainly.