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.
by Gary Mays | Feb 11, 2019 | City of Gold Coast, Consumer Issues, DIY Plumbing, Gold Coast Plumbing, Health Issues, Insurance, Leaking Pipes, Plumbers Gold Coast, Plumbing Legislation, Whywait Plumbing
Household plumbing is one of those tasks that homeowners always debate over. Should you attempt to complete the work yourself to save a bit of money or hire a plumber and absorb the added cost? Many everyday plumbing tasks seem simple at first glance, so, understandably, you might want to try the DIY route. However, several pitfalls can trap you if you don’t fully understand what you are doing.
Regulatory Issues
Recently, we were called out to a Coombabah home to address a blocked sewer drain. However, the homeowner had unknowingly built a deck over the inspection access point. Because of this, we were unable to fix their blocked drain until we had received detailed drain plans from the local council to enable us to find another access point.
While this was not specifically a DIY plumbing issue, the homeowner had likely built the deck themselves. An experienced contractor would have known that it is against the law to build over an inspection opening to the surface (IOS) for sewer pipes. You expose yourself to similar risks when attempting to do your plumbing, as you may be violating regulations and laws of which you are not even aware.
Safety Concerns
On another recent job, we discovered that a homeowner had connected both the hot and cold water pipes with flexihoses. While this is fine for cold water, hot water must be connected with copper pipe for the first metre from the water heater. This is a requirement of the Plumbing & Drainage Act, so failing to comply with the regulations could result in fines or other punishment.
In addition to the possible legal ramifications, the safety risks are of even more significant concern. Because flexihoses are not designed for use with hot water, they can burst or rupture without warning when exposed to excessive heat, allowing water upwards of 75 degrees to spray everywhere. Had someone been nearby when the hose ruptured, they would likely have been severely scalded.
Financial Risks
In many cases, we get called out to homes to fix plumbing problems that were the result of the homeowner’s attempts to fix their own plumbing. Often, their efforts have complicated matters, resulting in more costly repairs. When you attempt to do your own plumbing, you run the risk of making mistakes that could lead to even more damage to your plumbing system.
An experienced plumber will know exactly how to fix your plumbing problem quickly and accurately. Although hiring a plumber will cost you a bit more than doing the work yourself, you’ll save time and gain peace of mind that the job has been done right. The added cost of hiring a plumber is a small price to pay for the safety of your home.
Your Expert Plumbers on the Gold Coast
When you require a plumber in the Gold Coast region, Whywait Plumbing Services is here to help. We have helped countless homeowners in the area with a variety of common plumbing problems, including blocked drains, cracked or broken pipes, leaks, water damage, hot water system installation and maintenance, and gas fitting, to name a few.
Our friendly associates will be happy to assist you with whatever you need, so don’t be shy about getting in touch. We are available 24 hours a day to serve you because you never know when a plumbing issue might arise. When it happens to you, don’t expose your home to unnecessary risk by attempting DIY plumbing. Call the experts at Whywait Plumbing Services right away!
by Gary Mays | Feb 11, 2019 | lead free taps
Dissolved lead in your drinking water is a reality
In Australia, the presence of dissolved lead in our drinking water isn’t just a tale from a far-off land; it’s a stark reality we face right here. Lead, a metal we’ve long used in a myriad of plumbing products nestled within the walls of our homes and buildings, lurks unseen. The usual suspects? Brass fittings and taps are found in most kitchens and bathroom.
It’s a peculiar thing about some brass plumbing fittings; they’ve got a bit of a nefarious side. Leave your water sitting in those pipes for too long, especially in the hot water system, and lead decides it’s time to take a swim. This unwanted guest is far more likely to drop by your tap water when it’s been heated up to around 70 degrees. Why? Because heating the water isn’t just about getting it hot. It increases the levels of all dissolved metals, with lead being one of the most unwelcome.
This little factoid brings us to a golden rule for Aussie households: always, and I mean always, opt for cold water when you’re filling up for a drink or cooking. It’s a simple step that can make a big difference in keeping lead out of your diet.
And for those of you collecting rainwater in rainwater tanks, there’s another wrinkle to consider. The increased acidity in rainwater isn’t just tough on your gutters; it also plays a role in leaching more of those dissolved metals and lead from your brass plumbing fittings.
So, what’s the takeaway? It’s about being aware and taking those small but significant steps to protect your health and that of your family. Keep an eye on your water use, and let’s keep our water safe and lead-free.
Practical Steps to Minimise Lead Exposure in Your Home’s Drinking Water
In our sunburnt country, the notion of lead piping as a common conduit for our drinking water is almost a non-issue – a nod to the proactive steps taken many years ago in Australian home and building construction standards. Consequently, it’s a rare occurrence for Aussies to find themselves grappling with elevated blood lead levels due to their drinking water.
However, complacency has never been our style, especially when it comes to safeguarding our health and that of our families. Here are some straightforward, no-nonsense strategies to keep the spectre of lead in your drinking water at bay:
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Cold Tap Wisdom: Make it a steadfast rule in your household to use only water from the cold tap for drinking and cooking. It’s a simple yet effective first line of defence against lead.
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Morning Rituals: Kick off your day with a good deed for your health. Flush the cold water taps destined for drinking and cooking for about 30 seconds every morning. This practice ensures that the water you’re using is fresh, having not stagnated in the pipes overnight.
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Coming Home to Freshness: If your home has been left unoccupied for a while, a thorough welcome home for your plumbing is in order. Give all cold water taps a good three-minute flush to bid farewell to any dissolved metals that have taken up residence in your absence. This tip is particularly handy for those returning from a holiday or extended leave.
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Public Park Pro Tip: Enjoying the great outdoors and need a sip from a water bubbler or tap in a public park? Give it a quick 30-second flush, especially if it looks like it hasn’t seen much action. It’s a small step that can make a big difference in reducing exposure to lead.
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Testing? Not Necessary: Before you think about testing your water for lead, take a breath and relax. By following the above suggestions, you’re already taking proactive steps to flush out dissolved metals like lead, copper, and nickel from your drinking water.
Embracing these practices doesn’t just contribute to your peace of mind; it actively enhances the quality of water you and your loved ones consume daily. So, here’s to taking control with simple actions that make a significant impact on our well-being. Cheers to clean, safe drinking water in every Aussie home!
