Plumber in Northern Sydney, NSW
Where we work in Northern Sydney
Northern Sydney for us means the North Shore line and the Hornsby side. Lindfield, Pymble and Wahroonga sit along the railway built in the 1890s, with big blocks, old trees and bush gullies behind. Further out are Hornsby, Hornsby Heights and the streets that fall away toward the bush at Berowra. The whole area sits on Hawkesbury sandstone, which comes close to the surface, so the plumbing is shaped by rock as much as by pipe.
Access depends on the slope. Many blocks fall from the street to the back of the house, so the driveway is steep and the sewer connection is at the low corner, sometimes below the floor of the house. Some homes need a sewage pump because gravity will not work. Gates, timber retaining walls and sandstone steps are common, and big established trees stand close to the front fence. Tell us whether the drive is steep, whether there is a gate, and where the bathroom sits relative to the street.
The housing is mixed. Wahroonga, Pymble and Lindfield have Federation and inter-war double brick and tile homes, many with sandstone foundations and garden walls. These often still have earthenware or cast iron drains with roots in the joints. Hornsby has later brick homes, and some of the oldest bushland edges have rainwater tanks and septic systems because there is no sewer. A drain that runs through sandstone cannot easily be dug up, so the job is planned around the rock.
What we do here most
Jobs we are called to in Northern Sydney
Rock, roots and slopes drive most of the work on the north side. These four show how.
Blocked Drains
Tree roots in an old Wahroonga earthenware line
A Federation house with a big old tree near the front fence and a toilet that gurgles after every flush. Roots have grown into the joints of the original earthenware sewer. We run a camera to find them, cut the roots out, and tell you whether the pipe can be relined or must be dug.
Bathroom Renovations
Rebuilding a Lindfield bathroom on a sloping block
A double brick house with the bathroom at the back and the sewer connection lower than the floor. A new vanity and shower are easy to fit but the waste has to fall properly to the drain. We check the levels first, and if gravity will not do it, a sewage pump is added.
Excavation & Earth Moving
Trenching through sandstone for a new Hornsby drain
A house at the edge of the bush where a new stormwater or sewer line has to cross a rock shelf. Hand tools will not cut it. We use a breaker or a saw to open a trench, lay the pipe at a fall, and backfill and tidy the garden afterwards.
Roofing
Replacing rusted gutters on a Pymble tile roof
An older tiled home with gutters full of leaves from the trees overhead. The gutters have rusted through and the downpipes spill against the wall. We take off the old lengths, hang new gutter and set the fall toward the outlets, then connect the downpipes to the stormwater line so water leaves the house.
If it is urgent
If a pipe lets go in a Northern Sydney home after dark
- 1Find the main tap near the front boundary or the water meter and turn it off clockwise. On a steep block, take care on the steps and path.
- 2Leave the switchboard alone if water has reached the lights or the ceiling, and do not dig or drill into a sandstone retaining wall.
- 3Tell us your suburb, whether the house sits above or below the street, and whether the sewer is backing up or only water is leaking.
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Which areas do you work in?
We work across the Central Coast and Newcastle, and into the Hunter Valley, Northern Sydney and the Northern Beaches. Each place we list has its own page describing the housing and ground there. If your suburb is not listed, call and ask.
Do you take emergency plumbing calls?
Yes. The phone is answered day and night, and emergency plumbing is one of the twelve services on this site. Burst pipes, urgent blockages and water with nowhere to go are the usual calls.
What should I do while I wait if a pipe has burst?
Shut the water off at the isolation valve, which is usually near the water meter or where the main pipe enters the house. Switch off power to any wet area if you can do it without standing in water. Then call and tell us where the water is coming from.
Do you work on homes and commercial properties?
Yes, both. A home job and a shop or office job share the same pipework, but access, hours and shut-offs are different, so tell us which it is when you call.
What kinds of hot water systems can you install?
We install and repair gas, electric and solar hot water systems. The choice depends on whether the house has mains gas or bottled gas, where the unit will sit and how many people use it. We talk that through on the first call.
Can you clear a drain that keeps blocking?
Yes. A drain that blocks again and again usually has a cause such as tree roots, a broken pipe or a belly in the line, and clearing it once will not fix that. We find the cause and tell you what it is before suggesting a repair.
Do you do the whole renovation or just the plumbing?
We handle the plumbing, gas fitting, strip out and demolition side of bathroom, kitchen and laundry renovations. Ask on the first call what is included in the job you have in mind, and we will tell you which parts we do.
Can you put in the water connections for a new kitchen?
Yes. That covers the sink and tap, the dishwasher connection, a water line for a fridge with an ice maker and the gas point for a cooktop. Send a photo of the existing kitchen and the plans if you have them.
What does roofing have to do with plumbing?
Gutters, downpipes, flashings and stormwater all carry water, and they are part of the plumbing trade. We look at roof leaks, gutter and downpipe repairs and storm damage. Describe where the water is getting in when you call.
What happens before you start a renovation?
The area is looked at in person or from photos, the water and gas are isolated, and the quote names what is going in and what is coming out. If the old room reveals something behind the wall, you are told straight away.
How do I get a quote?
Call, email or use the form on this site, and say what the job is and where. For a simple job a few photos may be enough, and for a renovation the room will usually be looked at in person.
Everything we do here
Services in Northern Sydney, NSW
All of our services are available on the north side, from the North Shore to the Hornsby bush edge.
Also nearby
We work in these areas too
Local, and on the phone
Plumbing job in Northern Sydney?
Tell us the suburb and whether the house sits above or below the street. That tells us how the drains fall and whether a pump or a rock cut is likely to come into the job.
0489 271 23824 hours a day, 7 days a week
Not urgent? Send us the job instead