Emergency Plumbing FAQs for Dulwich Hill
Common questions about emergency plumbing services in Dulwich Hill, answered with practical detail to help you make informed decisions during urgent situations.
What qualifies as a plumbing emergency?
A plumbing emergency involves active water flow that won't stop, sewage backflowing inside or outside the property, a detectable gas smell, or complete loss of hot water in cold weather. These situations justify immediate dispatch because delayed response increases property damage, health risk, or safety hazard. If you're unsure whether your situation is urgent, a quick call can confirm whether immediate dispatch or same-day service is appropriate.
How quickly can you reach Dulwich Hill for an emergency?
We dispatch the nearest available fully licensed plumbing technician from local hubs across Sydney's Inner West once urgency is confirmed. An ETA is provided when the technician is allocated, and we update you if traffic or the previous job affects arrival time. Urgent jobs are prioritised in the dispatch queue, and most emergency callouts in the 2203 postcode are reached within typical Inner West response windows.
Do you charge extra for after-hours emergency callouts?
Call-out fee arrangements depend on the service area and time of day. When you call, we'll confirm the call-out fee status for your Dulwich Hill job before dispatching a technician. Once onsite, a fixed-price quote is provided after scope is confirmed on site, and you decide whether to proceed once pricing is clear. The quote remains valid for one month.
What should I do immediately if a pipe bursts?
Turn off the water supply at the meter to stop flow, then call us immediately at 1800 349 338 for urgent dispatch. Move valuables away from the affected area if it's safe to do so. Do not attempt to repair the burst yourself, as this can worsen the damage or create unsafe conditions. Our plumber will isolate the leak, assess the damage, and provide a fixed quote for the permanent repair.
Are your plumbers licensed to work on older Federation homes?
All attending technicians are licensed NSW plumbers with experience working on Federation and Victorian-era homes common in Dulwich Hill. These properties often feature original terracotta drainage, galvanised steel supply lines, and non-standard fixture fittings. We take care to protect period finishes, confirm parts availability for older fixtures, and explain options if direct replacements aren't feasible.
What's included in your Lifetime Labour Warranty?
Our Lifetime Labour Warranty covers workmanship on all plumbing repairs and installations we complete. This means if a fault develops due to our work, we return and fix it at no additional labour cost. Manufacturer warranties apply separately to all hardware and appliances. The warranty applies to workmanship only and does not cover damage from external factors or normal wear over time.
Can you clear blocked drains caused by tree roots?
We clear root-affected drains using CCTV camera inspection to locate the intrusion, then high-pressure water jetting to break up roots and scour the pipe walls. If the camera reveals cracks or structural damage, we explain whether clearing alone is sufficient or whether trenchless drain relining or excavation is required for a permanent fix. A fixed quote is provided once scope is finalised.
Do I need to be home for the plumber to attend?
Access to the affected area is required to assess the fault and complete the repair. If you can't be present, you can arrange for a tenant, property manager, or trusted contact to provide access. We confirm identity on arrival and explain what we'll assess before entering. For security-sensitive properties, we follow entry instructions carefully and minimise movement through the home.
What if the emergency involves gas?
If you detect a gas smell, turn off the gas supply at the meter if safe to do so, open windows to ventilate, and evacuate the building. Do not operate electrical switches or create any ignition source. Call us immediately at 1800 349 338 and we'll dispatch a properly licensed gasfitter to locate the leak, isolate the system, and make it safe. All gas work is performed by licensed gasfitters and tested to AS/NZS 5601.1 standards.
How do you determine the fixed price for emergency work?
The fixed price is determined after the plumber assesses the fault onsite, confirms the scope, and explains what's involved. Factors affecting price include the type of fault, access difficulty, parts required, and time on site. The quote is provided before we begin, and you decide whether to proceed once pricing and scope are clear. No hidden costs are added after work begins.