Plumbers Made in Canberra
To Serve Our Beloved
Canberrans

When hiring a local plumber in Canberra, here are the three things you need to know:

Check Registration: Every plumber should be registered with Access Canberra. There are 3 different levels:

• Licensed Plumber: This is the top level. They can work alone.

• Journeyman: Almost a licensed plumber, but not quite there.

• Apprentices: They are learning. They shouldn’t work alone.

Ask for their Access Canberra ID and check it on the official website. Different plumbers specialize in different things like gas, water, or drains. So, make sure their registration matches the job.

Public Liability Insurance: It covers any damages they might cause to your home.

Professionalism: It's about resolving disagreements in a positive way. A good plumber will always aim for a solution that makes both parties happy.

Yes, pipes can freeze in Canberra. Canberra’s location leads to extreme weather with blistering hot days and freezing cold nights. To prevent this, we recommend using lagging. Lagging is a special insulation material wrapped around pipes to keep them warm and prevent freezing. This helps in retaining the heat and thus, prevents the pipes from freezing. It's a highly effective method to safeguard your plumbing during the colder months. Circulation water pump

Pipes don't always burst when they freeze. The risk depends on factors like the age of the pipe and how quickly the temperature changes. If a pipe gets very cold at night and then is quickly warmed up by the morning sun, it can be at risk. This is because metals like copper, which many pipes are made of, don't flex much. So, when there's a rapid change from cold to hot, the metal moves and there's a greater chance it could break, especially at joints or weak spots.

At HolyMess Repairs, we don't usually try to unfreeze pipes directly. The safest method is to patiently wait for them to melt on their own. However, in emergency repair situations, we use Mapp gas to gently heat up the pipes and melt the ice inside. But we avoid heating an entire line because the extreme temperature differences can damage the pipe due to the movement of the metal.

Yes, we use PVC for drainage, like stormwater or sewer drains. This includes the storm water drains from your gutters going under the ground and beneath the sink. When water flows away, whether it's sewer water or rainwater going from the gutter to the downpipe, it's all through PVC. PVC is the latest technology. Before, we had terracotta, but now, whether it's a commercial place or a high-rise building, PVC is the go-to material.

Emergency call-out costs in Canberra usually vary from around $110 to as much as $300, $400 or $500. The exact amount often depends on which plumbing company you're working with.

If the company operates a 24-hour call center, their operating expenses are higher because they offer round-the-clock support, a service not every company provides. As a result, these companies may charge a bit more to cover their costs and provide you the emergency service.

We're experts at fixing burst pipes, following Australia's strong guidelines. These guidelines make sure everything's uniform, so when we come to your home, we know what to work with. Our team is packed with experience and the right tools for the job, whether it's plastic, metal, or any other material. Sometimes, if your pipe is old and rusty, we face challenges fixing it. In such cases, we might need to replace a larger part of it to ensure a sturdy fix.

It's essential to ask the following questions to ensure you're getting quality work.

1. Licensing & Registration:

2. Experience & Background:

• How long have you been a plumber?

• Where did you get trained?

3. Warranty & Dispute Resolution:

• How do you handle disputes?

• What are the warranty terms?

4. Pricing & Work Quality:

• Do you provide an upfront price for the job? It is essential as some plumbers drag out a job if they're charging by the hour.

• What guarantees do you offer on your work?

• Can I expect a compliance certificate after the work? This certificate ensures that the job meets Australian standards and is a requirement by the law.

Getting clarity on these points ensures quality work without unnecessary delays.