Plumbing Tips and Advice
Practical advice from our plumbers to help you avoid problems and know when to call.
Best Hot Water System in Christchurch: Heat Pump, LPG or Electric?
There is no single best system. A heat pump water heater uses the least electricity, but works harder on frosty...
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Bore Water on Selwyn and Waimakariri Blocks: Testing, UV and Tanks
Do not assume bore water is safe to drink just because it comes from underground. Environment Canterbury says private...
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Buying a Quake-Repaired House in Christchurch: Plumbing Checks
Repaired houses are common in Christchurch: more than 67,000 homes went through the Canterbury Home Repair Programme...
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How Long Does a 45kg LPG Bottle Last in a Christchurch Home?
For a family of four using LPG for cooking and hot water, one LPG supplier's New Zealand guide estimates a 45kg bottle...
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Christchurch Excess Water Charge: Find the Leak Before the Bill Does
Christchurch households pay an extra charge only when their average daily water use goes over the council's allowance,...
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Toby, Meter and Boundary: Who Fixes Which Water Pipe in Christchurch?
In Christchurch the dividing line is your property boundary, not the toby. Christchurch City Council owns the pipe from...
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Wetbacks in Christchurch: Clean Air Rules and What Comes Next
A wetback is a water jacket inside a wood burner that heats your hot water cylinder while the fire is lit. In the...
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Is Christchurch Water Chlorinated? Filters for the Chlorine Taste
Yes. Christchurch City Council now adds chlorine in every water supply zone, and Selwyn and Waimakariri councils...
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Vacuum Sewers in Shirley, Aranui and Prestons: What Not to Flush
A vacuum sewer uses suction, not gravity, to move wastewater. Your house drains run by gravity into a shared collection...
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Pipe Lagging and Hot Water Cylinder Wraps for Canterbury Winters
A hot water cylinder wrap is worth it on an electric cylinder installed before 2002, or on any cylinder that feels warm...
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Pressure Sewer Pump Alarm Going Off? What to Do in Christchurch
A pressure sewer alarm means the wastewater level in your on-site tank has risen higher than it should, usually because...
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Frozen Pipes in Christchurch: How to Thaw Them and Stop Them Bursting
If a tap gives nothing on a frosty Christchurch morning, a pipe has probably frozen somewhere exposed: outside, under...
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