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Have you ever gone to have a shower and realised you have no hot water? 
Has the temperature suddenly dropped without warning?  If this has happened you might have found yourself asking do I need to contact a Plumber or an Electrician?
As we all know Plumbers are responsible for installing a hot water system and electrician's deal with thermostat's and elements, but how do you know who to call you suddenly have no hot water?

There are a few handy tricks you can do to determine who you should call.
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1.- Check how old your hot water system is - the usual life span of a unit is 10-15 years.  If the unit is older than this you may to consider changing the hot water unit as often the system could be nearing the end of useful life and any repairs may only be short term

5 things to consider when engaging a Plumber for your bathroom renovation in Queensland.
 

1. 1. QBCC Licence

When looking for a plumber to assist in your renovation it is important that they hold the appropriate licences.  Plumbers are regulated by the Queensland Building and Construction Committee and they must hold a QBCC licence with the correct licence class.  Ask your Plumber to provide you with their QBCC number and confirm their details by using the licence check link on the QBCC website.  This link will detail the licences held and if there are any limitations placed on the licence holder.
 

  
Quite often we get contacted and asked to do a quote for an installation of a hot water system, we are regularly told that a company that sells hot water systems is advertising the cost of an installation of a hot water system in Cairns at a price from $, leading people to believe that everything is included for a small fee.  
When you see these advertisements you need to check the  terms and conditions  that are attached, as is often the case, the devil is in the detail.

When a Hot Water System is changed over your plumber has requirements that must be followed to meet Australian Standards.  The QBCC has found that 40% of hot water system installations have failed to meet Australian Standards.  This brings me back to the original question: 

How do you compare apples if you aren't sure what an apple should be?


The QBCC requirements of a hot water system changeover to consider when comparing quotes are as below:
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Are you changing your electric hot water system and considering a heat pump?
Have you been put off by the outright cost of the system?
If you haven't considered a heat pump, it is definitely worth having a look at the benefits that they offer which can offset the initial outlay of the system.

Benefits of a Heat Pump:

1. Installation of a heat pump makes the home owner eligible for a Small Scale Technology Certificate (STC) incentive payment (Eligibility criteria applies)
2. Heat Pumps can reduce energy use and green house emissions  similar to Solar Hot Water Systems
3. No need for solar panels to be installed on the roof, so no additional load on your roof 


4. STC can be claimed as a reduction on your invoice (dependant upon your installer)
5. Heat Pumps can use the same plumbing and electrical connections (Australian Standards do apply, and upgrades may be required if the system does not comply)

To enquire about installing your Heat Pump call Plumbnorth today on 07 4032 3891, our qualified Cairns Plumbers and Gas Fitters are happy to help!

1 second, that's all it takes, 1 second with a water temperature at 60°C to cause third degree burns.
At 55°C third degree burns take 10 seconds to occur
At 50°C  third degree burns take five minutes to occur
According to 2013 statistics 200,000 people in Australia suffer burns on an annual basis, costing over $150 million per annum!
Prevention is always better than a cure, the safest and simplest solution to minimise burns & scalds is to ensure that you have the correct safety measure in place.

You's be forgiven for thinking that all water that comes from your taps is the same. 
In fact there are two distinct types of water, hard & soft.
Soft water is water that has low concentrations of IONS and is low in calcium and magnesium. 
Hard water on the other hand is water that has a high mineral content. 
Indications of hard water are :

1. ​Mineral build up around your fixtures
2. Soap scum on baths and shower screens
3. Spots on dishes after being cleaned

 ​Hard water can cause many issues in your household and can shorten the life of some of your fixtures.

What is a backflow prevention device?
A backflow prevention device is used to protect potable water supplies from contamination or pollution from backflow on commercial properties such as Hotels, Office buildings, commercial premises and shopping centresIn water supply systems, water is normally maintained at a significant pressure to enable water to flow from the tap, shower, or other fixture. Water pressure may fail or be reduced when a water main bursts or there is unexpectedly high demand on the water system (for example, when several fire hydrants are opened). Reduced pressure in the pipe may allow contaminated water from storage, or from other sources to be drawn up into the system. 
You may have device fitted at your property if you have any of the following:
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1. An irrigation system
2. Fire hose reels or hydrants
3. A commercial or industrial activity or machinery connected to the mains
4. Water outlets close to pollutants such as grease traps


Are you aware of your Backflow Prevention Device maintenance requirements?
If your property has a testable backflow prevention device in Cairns then you are required to have the device tested on an annual basis by a licensed QLD Plumber & Drainer who holds a Backflow accreditation on their licence.  
After the device has been tested a Form 9 is required to be lodged with the local council.

How do I know when my device is due to be tested?
The local council will issue you a notice to advise when the backflow prevention device is due to be tested, you will also be advised the date that the testing must be completed by.  Failure to comply with the testing by the due date could result in penalty charges.

How do I know if my Plumber has the accreditation to test a backflow prevention device?
Not all Plumbers hold a Backflow Prevention Accreditation on their plumbing licence so you cannot assume that any Plumber can perform the testing or installation.
Plumbnorth Cairns Plumbers have licensed Plumbers who hold Backflow Prevention accreditation to complete installation and maintenance of your device.

If you are looking for a Cairns Plumber to perform your Backflow Prevention Device installation or maintenance?  then give the friendly team here at Plumbnorth a call on 07 4032 3891.

Today is World Water Day - an annual event to celebrate one our greatest resources, but more importantly to raise awareness of water based issues around the globe.

Each year is dedicated a different theme and this year the theme is nature from water.

What nature based challenges do we face today?

What are some solutions to these issues?

This is one of the questions that gets asked a lot.  

Why do you charge a call out fee? Unlike most businesses plumbers have to come to you, this means that there is the cost of maintenance of a vehicle, registration and insurance and also the travel time of the plumber, a call out fee is a necessary part of business.

Whilst some businesses say they do not charge a call out fee in most instances you may find that in fact, that is not the case.  Some plumbers may charge a higher first hourly fee or a minimum charge, some may charge you for the time to travel to the premises.

One question you may ask is why would a mobile business not charge a travel or call out fee?
If they don't, are they meeting their business expenses?
Are the insurances for the business paid?
You may not think that this would affect you, but imagine if damage is caused to your premises and you find that the Plumber did not have sufficient insurances or correct licencing to cover the damage that was caused.

At Plumbnorth Pty Ltd we have a 1st hour charge for areas between Edmonton & Kewarra Beach, our first hour charge includes the call out fee and the first hour of labour.  Materials are in addition to the labour.  Our labour fees are clearly outlined on our website for transparency to our clients.

Quality outlasts inferiority.

When the rain starts to pour is when you realise that you may have a blockage in your drain.
There are indications that your drain may be becoming blocked such as water pooling in your backyard, but a sudden downpour can make it obvious what is going on.
After a recent downpour we got called to house where the backyard was flooding and starting to come towards the back door, our plumber attended with the Drain Jetter and cleared a back log of leaves, debris and dirt from the drain.  The blockage was cleared and the water flowed away quickly.
Not all blockages are created equal, some blockages can be caused by tree roots entering the drainage pipes, causing dirt and debris to get caught and continuing to grow at the same time.  The drain jetter is a perfect tool to clear these blockages, using the high pressure water blaster the roots will be broken down allowing water to flow freely through the pipes.
Here  at Plumbnorth our friendly plumbers are qualified to complete drain jetting and drain camera inspections.  
So if you are looking for a quality Cairns Plumber that specialises in clearing blocked drains then give Plumbnorth Pty Ltd a call today on
07 40323891.