by Gary Mays | Jul 14, 2019 | City of Gold Coast, Consumer Issues, DIY Plumbing, Gold Coast Plumbing, Health Issues, Insurance, Plumbers Gold Coast, Plumbing Legislation, Queensland Government
Unlicensed DIY plumbing work has never been legal in Queensland. Unfortunately, too many people think because they can buy plumbing products at Bunnings, then they can carry out the installation or repairs as well. In reality, the ability to undertake unlicensed plumbing work is extremely restricted in Queensland.
Technically DIY plumbing is classified as “Unregulated work” in Schedule 3 of the Plumbing and Drainage Regulation 2019 which was called into law on 1 July 2019.
So the “Unregulated work” that an unlicensed person can undertake in respect to plumbing work is not a great deal and for a good reason, as outlined below. Specifically, in Schedule 3, Unregulated work generally is defined as the following work for premises necessary for the following:
- replacing a shower head or domestic water filter cartridge
- replacing a jumper valve or washer in a tap
- repairing or replacing a drop valve washer, float valve washer or suction cup rubber in a toilet cistern
- replacing caps to ground level inspection openings on a sanitary drain
- cleaning or maintaining a ground-level grate for a trap on a sanitary drain
- installing or maintaining an irrigation or lawn watering system downstream from a tap, isolating valve or backflow prevention device on the supply pipe for the watering system
- repairing or maintaining an irrigation system for the disposal of effluent from a greywater use facility or on-site sewage facility
And those seven tasks listed above are the only legal DIY plumbing jobs that you may undertake without a plumbing licence. The only other exception to this is what is referred to as incidental unskilled tasks such as excavating or backfilling a trench
In Queensland, all plumbing work is legally required to be carried out under the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018, Plumbing and Drainage Regulation 2019, Standard Plumbing and Drainage Regulation 2003 and Queensland Plumbing and Waste Water Code 2019. These acts and regulations are comprehensive in their requirements and outcomes concerning individual plumbing licences and training.
In addition, the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018 calls into law The Plumbing Code of Australia. This is defined as the document in force from time to time called “National Construction Code volume 3 – Plumbing Code of Australia published by the Australian Building Codes Board. The Plumbing Code of Australia covers every aspect of plumbing and drainage setting out the minimum requirements for the construction, installation, replacement, repair and maintenance of all plumbing systems, specifically:
- Water services
- Sanitary plumbing and drainage systems
- Excessive noise
- Facilities
To be a plumbing contractor in Queensland, a company or individual must also hold appropriate contractors licences by the QBCC under the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991.
This is in addition to a plumbers occupational licence that allows us at Whywait Plumbing to lawfully carry out particular plumbing or drainage work. This licence ensures that all plumbing contractors have the correct technical qualifications and occupational license. No one other than a licensed plumbing contractor can undertake plumbing work no matter what the value of the work is. The threshold amount of $3000 does not apply to plumbing, drainage or gasfitting that applies to several other trades with QBCC licenses.
It is not worth the risk to undertake unlicensed DIY plumbing. It is illegal, plus it potentially voids your insurance coverage.
Plumbing laws nationwide safeguard the health of the nation. Plumbing is public health, now, and in the future.
by Gary Mays | Jul 7, 2019 | Consumer Issues, Insurance, Insurance coverage of water leaks, Leaking Pipes, Water Leaks
Here at Whywait Plumbing, we frequently get a phone call asking does insurance cover water leaks? Every week we are called upon to deal with insurance companies or assessors on behalf of clients when they have sustained water damage to their home.
With water leaks just like everything else to do with insurance, there seem to be multiple grey areas with numerous interpretations. It is our experience we find every time we deal with an insurance company where the circumstances of the water leak are similar to previous we meet with a different response.
The product disclosure statement issued with your policy is where we find all the confusion starts. This is where the insurance company hopefully discloses what is covered by your policy. If you find the product disclosure statement confusing then call the insurance company to clarify what the coverage is that you are paying for. The more questions you ask, the more you will understand. Remember there is no such thing as a stupid question. Also, remember insurance companies record all calls, so keep diary notes of when you called and who you spoke to. Better still send them an email confirming your phone call and what your understanding was of the answers you received. This creates an electronic paper trail that can be utilised at a later date.
Important Definitions & Clauses
There are three important definitions and clauses which appear to apply to the question does insurance cover water leaks:
- the “Water Damage Clauses” in the actual policy
- the definition of what is water damage
- the definition of what is gradual water damage
The Water Damage Clauses
The water damage clauses you should always read carefully and ensure you understand. Generally, it will have a section with several clauses and subclauses in the policy which will cover water damage and what you can claim for if you make a water damage claim on your home.
As a rule, it will state precisely what water damage your insurance policy covers and what is excluded. The exclusions are what you need to be aware of as often they will include an all-encompassing negligence clause coupled with a failure to maintain your home in good repair. If you have these general all-encompassing clauses, ask your insurance company what they precisely mean as we’ve seen these clauses used to deny coverage where it was in a very grey area and open to interpretation in their favour.
The Definition of Water Damage
Water damage can occur in so many ways that it’s generally not well defined in your insurance policy. In our experience, insurance companies specify water damage in two ways:
- accidental or sudden water damage
- gradual water damage
We’ve found that instances such as burst pipes, burst taps, burst valves, overflowing sewerage, overflowing stormwater and storm damage are covered by most insurance policies. This is because it was a sudden event that you could not have prevented.
In contrast, the damage caused by slow plumbing leaks in pipes, showers, toilets, gutters and roofs not damaged by a storm is not covered as they are classified as gradual water damage.
The Definition of Gradual Water Damage
Essentially gradual water damage is the insurance policy get out of jail free card. It is water damage they assess has occurred gradually over time. Frequently the water damage was visible to the trained eye but invisible to you as it covers the rotting of timber under the paint or mould in the walls, floor or ceiling. Essentially the insurance company will conclude you were negligent in not maintaining your home.
Examples of gradual water damage we frequently see are:
- seepage from leaking taps into cupboards
- leaking shower trays
- leaking shower taps
- leaking toilet cisterns
- leaking drain pipes
- rusted-out sections in gutters and roof
The water damage from many of these occurrences is often not covered by your insurance policy as it will be concluded you failed to keep your home in good repair through regular and reasonable maintenance.
Water Leak Prevention
The best way to avoid an unsuccessful water leak claim is regular maintenance by Whywait Plumbing. Now this will not prevent every possible water leak scenario happening, but it will demonstrate to the insurance company that you have been undertaking regular maintenance.
At Whywait Plumbing, we see instances every day of water damage that has occurred through the failure to maintain your home regularly. That is why we recommend all our clients to become a Service Partner and enjoy the VIP benefits of having a Service Partner Plan to maintain your most valuable asset, your home, proactively.
by Gary Mays | Jul 5, 2019 | Consumer Issues, Emergency Plumber, emergency plumber Gold Coast, Gold Coast Plumbing, plumbers call-out charge, Plumbers Gold Coast, Plumbing Emergencies, Plumbing Maintenance, the going rate for plumbers, the recommended rate for plumbers, Whywait Plumbing
Be honest – would you work for free?
More and more Gold Coast plumbing businesses are advertising that they have no call-out fee or a $0 call-out fee.
This creates a perception that you are getting something for free as it will be cheaper. Of course, perception is never reality, as no business can work for free. Let’s face it would you go to work for free?
Call Out fees help ensure all costs are transparent
Legitimate, professional plumbing businesses charge a call-out fee because it costs $50 – $150 to arrive at your door.
A call-out fee is there to cover the expense of reaching your home or business. This is because employees are still paid for driving to your home, plus there is the running cost of the vehicle and all the other costs that never stop in running a business.
Simply the call-out fee helps cover costs, it’s not a profit centre, nor could any plumber live off a call-out fee.
If a plumber is not charging you a call-out fee, they will charge you the cost of travelling to your home or business elsewhere.
A no-call out fee is purely a marketing ploy
Advertising a $0 call-out fee or no call-out fee is purely playing with words.
A no-call-out fee is a marketing tactic to get you to call them to come to your job. Plumbers that use this tactic know that you are unlikely to send them away once they are at your home because you want the plumbing work completed.
There are four separate tasks involved in undertaking a plumbing repair:
· coming to your home
· inspecting the reported plumbing problem
· diagnosing the possible multitude of possibilities for what is causing the problem
· undertaking the repair
There is no such thing as a free lunch
Splitting costs into the above cost centres is sensible and transparent because every expense must be paid.
There is no cost advantage to you if you pay no call-out fee but are then charged $155.00 to inspect the blocked toilet that you already knew was blocked and then be informed the cost to unblock the drain is $660! It’s semantics and word games to get you to call them because you saw the word FREE.
Remember, if something is FREE, it has no value to the business offering it or the consumer receiving it.
Two old sayings apply when considering using a plumbing company that advertises no call-out fee:
· there is no such thing as a free lunch
· you get what you pay for
At Whywait Plumbing, we charge a call-out or diagnostic fee and provide an upfront fixed-price guarantee for all residential and domestic clients. As a result, there is no game-playing, our clients are always informed of costs upfront, and there are no hidden costs or nasty surprises.
by Gary Mays | May 11, 2019 | ZeroFlush waterless urinals
Water is a finite resource, and as environmental consciousness grows, so does our responsibility to preserve it. With traditional urinals squandering copious amounts of water, an alternative is not just an option but an urgent necessity.
Enter ZeroFlush waterless urinals – a revolutionary solution championed by Whywait Plumbing.
Ditching the Old Ways: How Traditional Urinals Fail Us
It might startle you, but conventional urinals can waste up to 25 litres of water with each flush. That’s the same volume as filling a typical kitchen sink to dispose of a small amount of urine.
But, ZeroFlush waterless urinals turn the tables using gravity’s power.
The Genius Behind ZeroFlush Urinals: Nature and Science Combined
ZeroFlush urinals don’t rely on water to whisk away urine. Instead, they utilise a clever one-way valve system. This odour barrier harnesses gravity, directing urine downwards while eliminating any possibility of unpleasant odours wafting back into the room.
They cut out 100% of the water from the conventional flushing mechanism.
The Big Picture: Australia’s Water Consumption
Consider this: non-residential properties have one urinal for every three toilets, accounting for a hefty slice of Australia’s water usage.
By swapping out a water-flushing urinal for a ZeroFlush waterless urinal, we’re looking at a staggering annual water saving of 152,000 litres per urinal.
With water scarcity becoming an increasing concern, such savings are paramount.
Environmental and Economic Implications: A Double Victory
The environmental benefit isn’t just about water savings. The energy used to supply water to commercial buildings, shopping centres, and educational institutions is colossal.
Introducing ZeroFlush urinals can halve a building’s greenhouse gas emissions.
As water costs continue their upward trend in Australia, and with the rise of sewerage discharge factor charges, reducing water usage is as much an economic concern as it is environmental. Commercial property managers must now account not only for the water entering but also for the water leaving the building. Hence, ZeroFlush urinals emerge as champions of both sustainability and cost efficiency.
Debunking Myths: The Hygiene of Waterless Urinals
There’s a misplaced perception that waterless urinals might be less hygienic. It’s time to lay that myth to rest.
A study by the Shanghai Environment Project Design Institute found that waterless urinals harbour five times fewer bacteria than their water-flushing counterparts.
How? The bacteria and germs in conventional urinals arise from airborne fecal matter, which creates an ideal environment for them to thrive when combined with the moisture from flushing. Since ZeroFlush urinals don’t have this water action, they greatly diminish the chances of bacterial proliferation.
Another misconception is the association of urine with strong odours. In reality, urine’s inherent odour is relatively mild. The unpleasant smells in male bathrooms are often due to the bacteria from the fecal matter-water combination.
Paving the Way for a Sustainable Future with Whywait Plumbing and ZeroFlush Urinals
ZeroFlush urinals, supplied and expertly installed by Whywait Plumbing, are more than just fixtures; they are a statement.
A declaration that we are ready to make impactful changes to secure our environment and ensure resource sustainability. By installing these urinals, businesses advocate for reduced water and energy consumption and actively diminish greenhouse gas emissions.
In today’s era, where every drop of water counts, ZeroFlush urinals are pillars of innovation, efficiency, and foresight. As stewards of our environment, let’s make informed choices that will echo positively for future generations.
Let Whywait Plumbing guide you on this sustainable journey, ensuring that every step taken is one towards a greener and more prosperous future.
by Gary Mays | Feb 19, 2019 | City of Gold Coast, Consumer Issues, Gold Coast Plumbing, Gold Coast Water, Plumbers Gold Coast, Water, Water Leaks, Water Meters, Whywait Plumbing
Most property owners on the Gold Coast have just received their City of Gold Coast Water and Sewerage Rate Notice for January. Under Queensland law, you must receive a quarterly water bill. The City of Gold Coast issues their water bills in January, April, July and October.
Whenever water bills arrive, we get clients asking us why their Gold Coast water bill is always out of date. From experience, we can guarantee the average Gold Coast Water bill is still out of date. For example, most water bills issued in January were for water that was used between July and October. This is due to the contractors who read each water meter having set routes and timelines to read your meter so yes your usage charges are always at least two months out of date. This is why we suggest you monitor your water meter weekly and read how to do it on our page “How To Read Your Water Meter”.
For most homeowners who use around the average daily water usage of 451 litres, the highest costs in the quarterly water bill are their sewerage and water services charges. If you look closely at your water bill you can see that you have the following charges:
- Sewerage service charges – sewerage access $181.03 per quarter
- Water service charges – water access $53.02 per quarter
- Gold Coast Water – water usage per kilolitre $1.09
- Queensland Government – water usage per kilolitre $2.91
In reality, even if you used no water, you would still pay for service charges of $234.05 every quarter or $936.20 every year.
Average water use of 451 litres or 0.451kL per property is not an accurate guide to your water use. In our experience, most homes with more than one occupant will use 1-2 kL every day. Remember your water usage will vary every day based on the number of occupants at home each day and their water use behaviours. That is why we recommend you read your water meter weekly as that will give you a better guide about your average consumption but will also alert you to a potential water leak.
If you suspect a water leak, call Whywait Plumbing and ask for our leak detection service.
