General plumbing covers the pipes, valves and fittings that bring water onto your section and carry it to every tap, from the toby at the boundary to the shower upstairs. Across Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri that means fixing leaks and split pipes, lifting weak pressure, quietening noisy pipework, freeing seized valves, and looking after spouting and backflow devices for homes and businesses.
The easiest way to pick a service is to start with what you can see or hear. Water appearing where it should not points to leak detection or a burst pipe repair. A shower that dribbles points to low pressure. A bang when the washing machine fills points to water hammer. If water is spraying or a ceiling is bulging, ring the emergency line first and sort the details later.
Our Plumbing Services
Emergency Plumber
Round-the-clock help when water is coming through the ceiling, a pipe has split or the house has no supply.
View serviceLeak Detection
Finds hidden leaks inside walls, under floors or underground when your water use climbs or a damp patch keeps spreading.
View serviceBurst Pipes
Repairs pipes that have split from frost, age or a knock, then checks the rest of that run for weak spots.
View serviceRepiping
Replaces tired or leaking supply pipework through a house when patch repairs keep failing and flow keeps dropping.
View serviceLow Water Pressure
Tracks down why showers and taps run weak, whether the cause is a clogged fitting, a faulty valve or narrowed pipes.
View serviceBackflow Testing
Yearly testing of backflow prevention devices so dirty or treated water cannot be drawn back into the public supply.
View serviceGutter Repairs
Fixes leaking, sagging or overflowing spouting and downpipes so roof water is carried well away from walls and foundations.
View serviceShut-Off Valves
Repairs or replaces seized, dripping or hard to find tobies and isolation valves so the water can be turned off quickly.
View serviceWater Hammer
Quietens banging, knocking or shuddering pipes, usually caused by high pressure, loose clips or fast-closing taps and appliances.
View serviceWater Main Repairs
Fixes leaks and breaks on the private supply pipe that runs underground from your boundary to the house.
View serviceYour pipe or the council's?
In Christchurch the council looks after the main in the street, the connection box near your boundary and the meter inside it. Past the boundary the pipe is your own, which means a leak under the front lawn or the driveway is normally a private repair. If the water is coming from inside the box itself, let the council know, because that repair is theirs. Homes in Selwyn and Waimakariri deal with their own district council instead.
Households in the city pay extra for any water used beyond a daily allowance, so a slow leak on your side of the boundary can quietly add to your rates. An unexpected jump in use is often the first clue that leak detection or a water main repair is due, well before any wet patch shows up.
Getting through a Canterbury winter
Christchurch sees around 80 ground frost days in an average year, and exposed pipes are the ones that suffer. Supply lines in a cold garage, a draughty subfloor or an outside wall can freeze overnight and split, and the leak often only shows once the ice melts. A little preparation in autumn saves most of these call-outs.
- Lag pipes in the roof space, garage and under the floor
- Find your toby now and check it turns by hand
- Unhook garden hoses when a frost is forecast
- Fix dripping outside taps before the cold arrives
- Know how to shut off the cylinder supply as well as the main
What affects the price
Most general plumbing jobs have a published starting price. Repiping and water main repairs depend on length, depth and access, so they are quoted after a look.
Whatever the job, the price is fixed and agreed up front.
Plumbing Questions
How do I turn my water off in an emergency?
Find the toby, usually a small lid near the front boundary, and turn the valve clockwise. If it will not move or you cannot find it, phone us and we can guide you through it while a plumber travels to you.
What causes a sudden drop in water pressure?
A sudden drop often means a leak on the supply pipe, a partly closed or failing valve, or a problem in the street. Check with neighbours first. If only your home is affected, a pressure check will narrow it down.
Do I need my backflow device tested every year?
Testable devices in Christchurch must be checked annually by an independent qualified person, and for businesses a missed test can hold up the building warrant of fitness. We test, record and report the results for you.
Is a frozen pipe always a burst pipe?
Not always. A frozen pipe may thaw without damage, but ice can open a joint or crack a fitting. If water appears once things warm up, turn the supply off at the toby and book a repair.
Other Services
Plumbing Across Christchurch
We send plumbing specialists to every suburb. Find your area: Central Christchurch, North Christchurch, East and Coastal Christchurch, South Christchurch and Port Hills, West Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri.
