Everyday leaks we fix
- Dripping taps and mixers: washers, cartridges and seats
- Running or leaking toilets: cisterns, valves, seals and pans
- Leaking showers, shower screens and hand showers
- Leaking pipes under sinks and basins
- Flexible hoses and tap connections
- Outside taps, garden taps and hose connections
Most of these are quick jobs. We carry common parts and fix the problem as quickly as the job allows.
The toilet that will not stop running
A toilet that trickles into the pan, or refills every few minutes, is losing water all day. A simple test: put a few drops of food colouring in the cistern and wait 15 minutes without flushing. If colour appears in the bowl, the seal is leaking.
The fix is usually a new inlet valve, flush valve or washer. It is usually a small repair.
Need a plumber in the Blue Mountains?
Call 0495 053 644Is there a hidden leak?
Clues to watch for: a water bill that has jumped without a change in use, damp patches on walls or ceilings, floor boards that feel soft, the sound of running water when everything is off, or green lawn patches in an otherwise dry yard.
A simple check: turn off every tap and appliance, then look at your water meter. If the dial still moves, water is going somewhere. Tell us what you see when you call.
Older cottages, older pipes
Many Mountains homes were plumbed decades ago in galvanised steel, early copper or lead-jointed fittings. Galvanised pipe corrodes from the inside, and leaks often show up at joints and bends. Rust-coloured water and low pressure often come with it.
If one section fails, others usually follow. We show you the state of the pipework and give you the choice of a spot repair or replacing the worst runs.
Your water bill
Sydney Water bills most Mountains homes by usage. A leak shows up as higher usage. If you find and fix a hidden leak, ask Sydney Water about its leak allowance process. We provide an invoice describing the repair to support your claim.
If you are on tank water, a leak means you are draining your own supply, which matters in a dry spell.
Small fixes worth doing early
Replace a tap washer or cartridge the first time you notice a drip. Worn seats get worse, and the repair gets dearer.
Check under sinks and behind the toilet every few months. A damp cabinet floor is an early warning.
Look at your water meter when nobody is home. A moving dial is the cheapest leak detector you own.
If a toilet cistern fills slowly or hisses, the inlet valve is on the way out.
Shower leaks into walls are slow and expensive. Cracked grout or a failed seal is worth fixing before it reaches the framing.
In older cottages with timber floors, a small pipe leak can rot bearers and joists for years before you see it.
Related jobs
Frozen or split pipes: see burst and frozen pipes. Water running everywhere: see emergency plumber. Planning a bathroom? See renovation plumbing.
Common questions
How much water does a dripping tap waste?
A tap dripping once a second can waste thousands of litres a year. The washer or cartridge is usually a small fix.
Can you find a leak inside a wall?
Often, yes, by listening, pressure testing and checking meters. We avoid opening walls until we are sure where the leak is.
Will Sydney Water refund my high bill?
It depends on their rules. Ask them about their leak allowance. We can provide a written description of the repair.
Do you replace tap sets as well as repair them?
Yes. If your tap is worn out or parts are no longer made, we can replace it.