Plumbing FAQ's in St Ives
Questions about plumbing work in St Ives come up regularly, especially when someone's facing an urgent issue or comparing providers. Below are answers to the most common concerns, written to give you the practical information you need before booking. If your question isn't covered here, call us directly, we'll explain the process and confirm what's involved.
What does your fixed price quote cover, and when might additional costs apply?
The fixed-price quote we provide after assessing the job covers the agreed scope of work, including labour, materials, and testing. If we discover additional issues during the repair (such as concealed pipe damage or structural faults), we stop, explain what we've found, and provide a revised quote before continuing. You decide whether to proceed with the additional work.
How quickly can a plumber reach St Ives for an emergency?
Urgent jobs are dispatched immediately from the nearest available hub. St Ives is reached via the Pacific Highway and Mona Vale Road corridors, and typical response depends on current job load and traffic conditions. We provide an ETA when you book and update you if timing changes.
Is there a call-out fee for St Ives, and what does it cover?
Call-out fee details vary by job type and urgency. When you book, confirm the call-out fee status with our team so you know what to expect before the plumber arrives. Call-out fees typically cover the cost of dispatch, initial assessment, and diagnosis.
What's the usual cause of blocked drains in older St Ives properties?
In homes built during the 1970s and 1980s, blocked drains often result from tree root intrusion into original terracotta pipes. Mature trees seeking moisture send fine roots into cracks, and over time those roots expand and trap debris. camera inspection shows the exact cause and whether the pipe is structurally sound or needs repair beyond clearing.
If you find a problem that's more involved than expected, what happens next?
We pause the work, explain what we've found (with photos or footage if helpful), and provide a revised fixed-price quote for the additional scope. You can decide whether to proceed with the extra work, defer it, or arrange it separately. We don't continue without your approval once scope changes.
Do you provide documentation for strata, landlords, or insurance claims?
Yes. We provide detailed invoices, photos of the work completed, compliance certificates where required (for gas, backflow, or regulated drainage work), and job documentation suitable for strata records, property managers, or insurance claims. If you need specific reporting for a claim or audit, let us know when booking.
What does your Lifetime Labour Warranty actually cover?
Our Lifetime Labour Warranty covers the workmanship on repairs and installations we complete. If a fault develops due to how we performed the work, we'll return and fix it at no additional labour cost. The warranty does not cover manufacturer defects in parts or appliances (those are covered by manufacturer warranties), or damage caused by external factors after we leave.
Can you work around access constraints like narrow driveways or strata rules?
Yes. We use smaller service vehicles where access is tight, and we're familiar with coordinating around strata booking windows, parking restrictions, and shared-access properties. Let us know about access constraints when booking so we can schedule appropriately and bring the right vehicle.
How do you protect floors and finishes during work in occupied homes?
We use drop sheets or protective coverings on floors and surfaces in the work area, wear boot covers when requested, and isolate the work zone to reduce mess. At the end of the job, we clean up debris, wipe down surfaces, and remove materials generated by the work. We take care around finished surfaces like timber floors, stone benchtops, and tiled bathrooms.
What should I do immediately if I smell gas or see active flooding?
For gas: turn off the gas supply at the meter if you can safely access it, open windows to ventilate, avoid ignition sources (no switches, flames, or sparks), and call for urgent dispatch. For flooding: turn off the main water supply at the meter, move belongings out of the impacted area, and contact us immediately so we can dispatch the nearest available plumber.