Woodford is quiet, green and spread out. Houses sit on larger blocks than in the towns further up, and many are well back from the street. That shapes the plumbing. Long runs of pipe between the water meter and the house mean more places for a leak to start, and one that starts underground can run for weeks before anyone sees it. A wet patch on a dry day, a meter that keeps turning with everything off or a bill that jumps is the clue. See leaking taps, toilets and pipes for how to check.
Plenty of properties here have rainwater tanks, as a backup supply or for the garden. A tank is only as good as its pump, inlet screens and first-flush diverter. Leaf litter from the tall trees gets in quickly, and sludge at the bottom does damage over time. If the pump cycles on and off or the water smells flat, have the system checked. Our page on rainwater tanks and stormwater covers common faults and maintenance.
Woodford is on the cooler side of the lower-to-middle Mountains. It is not the coldest part of the range, but frost does turn up. Exposed pipes and outdoor taps should be wrapped before winter, and that matters even more where there is a long run along the outside of the house.
If you are not sure whether your property is on a sewer or an on-site system, ask the plumber what you have before any renovation or drain work. Works near on-site systems have their own rules, and it is cheaper to find out early.
Getting help from a distance
With a spread-out suburb, it helps to be ready before you call. Know where the main water shut-off is, and note any signs that point to the problem: a noise, a smell, a wet spot, a drop in pressure. If water is escaping and you cannot stop it, tell us when you call, and read our page on emergency plumber while you wait.
Service area
Woodford is inside our area from Glenbrook to Mount Victoria. Hazelbrook is the next town up the line, and Faulconbridge is further back toward Springwood. Give your address when you call and the plumber will talk through timing.
Need a plumber in the Blue Mountains?
Call 0495 053 644Woodford plumbing questions
How can I tell if I have a leak between the meter and the house?
Turn everything off and watch the meter. If it still moves, water is escaping somewhere. A plumber can trace the pipe and find the leak without digging up the whole yard.
My tank pump keeps running. What is wrong?
Common causes are an air leak on the suction side, a failing pressure switch, a blocked filter or a leak downstream. The plumber can test each and tell you whether it is a repair or a replacement.
Does a Woodford property have to connect to a certain system for drainage?
It depends on the property. Ask the plumber to confirm your setup before any work, because the rules differ for sewer connections and on-site systems.