For many DIYers, doing your own plumbing or getting a friend to help may seem like a great way to save the time, money and hassle of hiring a licensed plumber. But as a business owner in Sydney’s Northern Beaches recently discovered, plumbing mistakes can result in even more damage to your property and end up costing more in the long term to fix.
But it wasn’t only the business owner who was directly affected by the less than reputable plumbing fix at his business.
Residents of Manly were subjected to a foul smell coming from a stormwater drain on Sydney Road for months. So bad was the smell that customers at a nearby cafe refused to sit at outdoor tables.
As the problem continued to get worse, Manly Council investigated the cause of the smell using dye tests and a drain camera. After four months of the smell emanating from the drain it was discovered that a sink from a local business had been incorrectly plumbed into the storm water drain.
It was suspected that food waste from the sink had been resting in the drain and not washed away when there had not been rain for several weeks.
Ordered to remedy the situation, the business owner was not only forced to pay the initial plumber who completed the work, but also a second plumber to fix the problem.
The costs and embarrassment of the situation were, of course, very easily avoidable. Not only that, the situation highlights just how much damage can be caused to a wide range of people through a simple plumbing mistake.
In New South Wales qualifications are required for anyone undertaking plumbing work. Whether it is in a home, commercial, or industrial building all plumbing must be completed by a trades person who has completed the relevant qualifications. For most plumbing jobs this is a Certificate III in Plumbing, or an apprenticeship in plumbing which includes a Certificate III in Plumbing.
To ensure that any plumbing work for your home or business is performed to the highest standards, and according to all relevant legislation, only qualified plumbers should ever be engaged for plumbing jobs. All reputable plumbers will be more than happy to provide details of their licensing and qualifications on request.
Not only that, they will also be able to provide a list of references for work previously completed for other customers. Reputable and trustworthy plumbers are proud of their work and happy to share and show their previous work.
The case of the smelly Manly drain also serves as a warning to all those home owners who wish to complete plumbing work themselves. For many, the idea of completing their own plumbing jobs around the home may seem like an easy, cheap, and even fun solution. There are also many instructional resources available online which make jobs look even easier.
But regardless of your skill level, a licensed plumber must do the work – whether it is plumbing a rain water tank, septic tank, or any flow into storm water or sewage systems. This helps to ensure that all plumbing work is completed correctly and legally, and avoid a smelly, even dangerous, situation like in Manly.
If you are in need of plumbing services on Sydney’s North Shore and Northern Beaches we invite you to call us at JEDI Plumbing on 0411 774 381. We are licensed and qualified plumbers who complete all work to the highest possible standards and to all relevant legislation so you can be sure that you won’t have smelly situations in your home.