Plain-English plumbing help for Sydney homes
Burst pipes, slow drains, cold showers and the awkward question of who to call. This guide explains what is going on, what is safe to do yourself, and when the job belongs to a licensed plumber.
Everything else, from a burst pipe to a flooded laundry, starts with the emergency guide.
Start with the problem in front of you
Most plumbing trouble announces itself in a handful of ways. This table gives the safest first move for each, then points to the guide that goes deeper.
| What is happening | Safest first move | Read next |
|---|---|---|
| Water escaping from a pipe | Shut off the mains isolation valve. If hot water is involved, switch off power or gas to the hot water unit. | Emergency guide |
| Smell of gas | Do not touch switches or flames. Leave the building, then call 000 from outside. | Emergency guide |
| Slow or blocked drain | Stop adding water, try a plunger, and never mix drain chemicals. | Blocked drains |
| No hot water, or a leaking unit | Check the power or gas supply. If the tank is leaking, close its cold water isolation valve. | Hot water systems |
| Toilet will not clear | Stop flushing, then use a flange plunger with a good seal. | Eight toilet methods |
| Sewage in the yard or shower | Stop using water, keep people and pets away, and wear gloves if you must touch anything. | Emergency guide |
Find your part of Sydney
Sydney is a patchwork of housing eras. A Federation cottage in the inner west, a beachside apartment block in the east and a recent estate in the north-west all fail in different ways, and the guides here are written with that in mind.
Pick a region on the map for a general picture of its housing and common plumbing considerations, then follow the links to individual suburb guides. The full list sits on the Sydney areas page.
What this site is, and is not
Graham & Sons Plumbing is an information resource. It is a guide to residential plumbing in Sydney: the services people ask about, the suburbs they live in, and the practical decisions in between.
It is not a plumbing business. We do not take bookings, give quotes or dispatch anyone to your home, and there is no way to contact a tradesperson through these pages. Read the full explanation on the about page.
When a job needs a licensed plumber, the guides say so plainly and explain how to check a licence through the NSW Fair Trading licence check. They do not recommend any particular company.
Where to read next
- Plumbing in SydneyThe hub: what residential plumbing covers and how the pieces fit together.
- Blocked drainsCauses, safe first steps, and what camera inspection and jetting actually involve.
- Blocked drain checkerA short checklist that suggests whether a blockage is local or likely deeper.
- Hot water systemsStorage, instantaneous, heat pump and solar boost compared in plain terms.
- Blog and guidesCosts, choosing a tradesperson, burst pipes, toilets and more.