A call like this always makes us wonder about the competence and integrity of the three plumbers who said we overcharged. For a start no professional plumber can, should or could give a price over the phone without inspecting the job on site thoroughly and undertaking a complete diagnosis of what the problem is.

Generally the plumbers who indulge in giving prices over the phone use it as a tactic to gain entry to a clients home. The final price always ends up being much more expensive because they find all these additional problems after they start the job. These “Joe Bum-Crack” plumbers seldom last in business long but in the short time they exist they cause legitimate plumbing businesses countless problems with their poor business ethics and lack of business acumen.

Every day here at Whywait Plumbing we receive phone calls or email from plumbers looking for a job. A significant number of these plumbers fit the category of Joe Bum-Crack plumbers who have been running their own plumbing business and discover it is much harder than they thought it would be.

We have in the past employed such people, always to our detriment. The last person we employed that could be described as a Joe Bum-Crack plumber was a perfect text book example. In fact lets call him Joe as he came into the interview perfectly dressed in answer to our advertisement for an experienced maintenance plumber. Joe was in his 50′s and had done it all from working in construction to being an inspector to running his own business. When asked why he was giving up running his own plumbing business he replied that his wife had told him to go and get a real job.

Joe then went onto describe what it was like running his own plumbing business which he had started with high hopes after 27 years as an employee of various large companies and a water authority. Joe described how he knew what he wanted as his own boss as he knew there was a fortune to be made running his own business plus for the first time ever he was in control of everything and best of all could work when he chose and be at home when he chose.

Reality was much different to Joe’s perception of being the boss. Joe soon discovered that being the boss is much harder than it looks. Joe had discovered that running a business was more than being a good technical plumber because it also meant now he was the boss that he was in charge of marketing, employee relations, customer relations, credit management, book keeping, answering the phone, dealing with plumbers merchants and so the list went on. All Joe wanted to be was a wealthy plumber.

Joe now knew that running a plumbing business was not a path to instant wealth in fact the opposite was the truth with every minute of his time being spent on running the business. Joe was shocked at the reaction of Reeces Plumbing Supplies when his account was late being paid. Joe as an employee had used Reeces for years and the people behind the counter he considered as mates. He was shocked when his credit was suspended because after all these were longtime mates of his and he was sure they would understand that a client had not paid him so he could not pay them.

Joe was well aware of Whywait Plumbing and he confided that he had always believed we were  ripoff merchants. Joe was aware of our sign-written utes, websites, yellow pages advertising, radio advertising, broadcast email, diagnostic charges and letter box drops which he had always regarded as a waste of money because everyone knows word of mouth gives you plenty of work or so he once thought. He was astounded when word of mouth did not provide a multitude of work and that to get his phone ringing he would need to spend what he believed was a “shitload of money” on advertising and marketing to get his name out there.

After 18 months of being the boss Joe now understood why Whywait Plumbing spends what he calls a “shitload” of money on advertising and was astounded when he was informed it was only 4% of our turnover.  Now Joe was wanting us to give him a job because his wife had told him after 18 months of struggling to make ends meet to get a real job.

Joe did work for Whywait Plumbing for 3 months but in the end was unable to adapt to a plumbing business that was up front about the cost of the work before undertaking the work. Joe just wanted to turn on the taxi meter and keep charging the client until the work was complete and then let someone else worry about who was paying. This was why Joe the boss had his credit stopped at Reeces. This was why Joe the boss had constant arguments with clients. This is why Joe the boss is just Joe the disgruntled employee who still thinks he knows more than the boss.

Very simply there is only one rule in business and that is to make a profit and to make a profit you must firstly know your costs. That is why at Whywait Plumbing we price every job in advance….no if’s, no but’s.

Gold Coast Water that may come to life on 1 July is only a water retailer. It will not lead to reductions in the cost of water simply because the Queensland Government controls the price of water that is sold to retailers. As a result the wholesale cost of water is the bulk of a water bill because someone has to pay for the reckless spending by the Beattie-Bligh governments on projects that include the $7 billion water grid that may never be used and the troubled desalination plant at Tugun plus the $500 million for Traveston Dam, which wasn’t built despite costly planning and land resumptions.

Gold Coast City Council is not responsible for the originally highly respected water utility being taken over by the Queensland Government it was simply legislated that way. The spin by Anna Bligh and Andrew Fraser into making Gold Coast ratepayers believe the soaring water bills are all the councils’ fault is bizarre at best because they control the price of the wholesale cost. The government spin campaign caused a misguided people-power revolt on the Gold Coast with Allconnex Water workers even having their cars attacked. Allconnex has to collect rates to a prescribed formula set by the State Government.

Gold Coast ratepayers should direct their anger at the Queensland Labor MP’s who voted to destroy Gold Coast Water not at the Gold Coast City Councillors who were forced to vote to disband Gold Coast Water in accordance with law changes enacted by the Queensland Government. The new Gold Coast Water will only be a shadow of its former self but will still have to generate income to fund more than $1 billion in new water and sewerage plants over the next decade. The Queensland Labor Government state has removed all subsidies, so Gold Coast Water revived will be looking for new revenue. It means ratepayers will pick up the tab in raised rates and water charges – or Gold Coast Water will go broke.

Current Gold Coast mayor, Ron Clark has consistently spoken against the Queensland Government takeover of water in South East Queensland. Even the Council of Mayors warned in 2007 that the proposed takeover of water was simply cost-shifting by the state. If the revived Gold Coast Water proceeds we may not have to wait too years before we really understand the negative impact of Labor’s reforms. In the meantime Gold Coast ratepayers will continue to pay and pay and pay. Even the Queensland Governments own water commissioner, Elizabeth Nosworthy, in 2007 released the pricing for water in southeast Queensland said that “by 2012-13, a typical household’s annual cost would increase from $355 to $876, an increase of 147 per cent”. This was all but ignored at the time but she was on the money.

So when Gold Coast voters receive their Allconnex water bills next week remember when you go to the polls on 24 March it was local Labor MP’s Peta-Kaye Croft, Peter Lawler, Christine Smith and Margaret Keech who destroyed Gold Coast Water and drove water prices up 147% in 4 years.

The most common plumbing tasks that cleaners who are untrained, unskilled and unlicensed appear to be being required to undertake as part of their cleaning duties are:

• unblocking of drains
• unblocking of toilets
• disconnecting and clearing of traps
• servicing of urinals

The only plumbing related tasks a cleaner or any other person can legally undertake are:

• cleaning or maintaining ground level grates to traps on sanitary drains
• replacing caps to ground level inspection openings on sanitary drains
• maintaining an above or below ground irrigation system for the disposal of effluent from an on-site sewerage facility
• installing or maintaining an irrigation or lawn watering system downstream from an isolating valve, tap or back-flow prevention device on the supply pipe for the irrigation or lawn watering system
• replacing a jumper valve or washer in a tap
• changing a shower head
• replacing, in a water closet (WC) cistern, a drop valve washer, float valve washer or suction cup rubber.

All other work must be undertaken by a licensed plumber and drainer – no ifs, no buts, no exceptions.

Cleaners who are required and frequently forced by their supervisors and employers to undertake plumbing tasks usually at the behest of building owners and managers are all breaking the following laws and regulations:

• Building Services Authority Act 1991
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Queensland Plumbing and Wastewater Code
• Plumbing and Drainage Act 2002
• Plumbing and Drainage Regulation 2003
• Standard Plumbing and Drainage Regulation 2003

Plumbers and drainers unlike cleaners are trained to undertake tasks such as clearing of drains or working on toilets or urinals. All of these tasks require specialised training, diagnostic skills and an awareness of health and safety issues. Above all plumbers are licensed to undertake the work by the Queensland Government plumbing regulator, the Plumbing Industry Council who are legally required to protect public health and safety through Queensland’s plumbing and drainage licensing system.

Tasks such as unblocking of drains, unblocking of toilets, disconnecting and clearing of traps or servicing of urinals are specifically covered by schedule 2 of Standard Plumbing & Drainage Regulation 2003 as detailed below:

• work necessary for maintaining, repairing or replacing a fitting or fixture
• work necessary for maintaining or repairing an apparatus other than a back-flow prevention device or thermostatic mixing valve
• work necessary for replacing apparatus other than a backflow prevention device, thermostatic mixing valve, tempering valve, water heater, cistern, pump or water meter
• work necessary for maintaining, repairing or replacing fire hydrants or fire hose reels
• unblocking a pipe that is sanitary plumbing or sanitary drainage
• work necessary for maintaining or repairing a solar or heat pump hot water system in a building classified under BCA as a class 1, 2, 3 or 4 building

Work undertaken under schedule 2 does not require lodgement of a form 4 with the local government plumbing & drainage inspectors but all work must be undertaken by a licensed plumber or drainer.

A cleaner despite what they are told cannot undertake any of the above tasks. They and those that instruct them to do the work are breaking the law and all are liable for fines plus leave themselves exposed to common law claims under the due diligence provisions of the new WHS Act 2011.

It is very simple if there is general cleaning of a plumbing fixture then there is no issue but where a component part is replaced or disconnected from the plumbing or drainage system, fixture or fitting for maintenance or servicing it can only be legally undertaken by a licensed plumber.

In South East Queensland the next two months of January and February are traditionally the hottest months of the year. With the hot weather comes the concerns of dehydration. Very simply more than 70% of the human body is water, so when the temperatures increase the body cools itself by sweating. If water intake is not adequate then dehydration can become a real danger. This is frequently worse with children if their fluid intake of water is inadequate.

It is all of our personal responsibility to ensure our intake of water is frequent and adequate. It is important to realise that you can become dehydrated long before the symptom’s appear, so prevention is critical and prevention is simply drinking water. Prevention does not include drinking fruit juices or sugary soft drinks.

Dehydration will not only impair your normal daily performance but dramatically increases the risk of heat related illnesses such as cramps, headaches, exhaustion or even heat stroke. Possible signs of dehydration may include:

• extreme thirst
• extreme fatigue
• muscle and joint weakness
• headache and or dizziness
• dry or sticky mouth
• cramping of muscles
• irritability
• decreased performance

If you notice yourself or anyone else with the above symptom’s it is important to find a cool place and cool the body with water. The water should be sipped not gulped and the rest should continue until the body returns to normal. By recognising the signs of dehydration and taking measures to prevent it will increase everyone’s overall health.

The carrying of water bottles should be standard before leaving home. There is no need to buy expensive bottles of water at the supermarket or service station when you literally have it on tap at home. Even if you do not like the taste of water from Allconnex it is a comparatively simple job for Whywait Plumbing Services to install a good quality filtration system to remove the chemicals such as chlorine that create the poor taste many people associate with tap water. Once you have good quality filtered drinking water the purchase of reusable personal drinking bottles will ensure the entire family can be active, healthy and always hydrated in our hottest months by simply drinking regularly.

Root infiltration in sewer pipe leading into toilet pan

Often the warning signs were there that there was a looming problem with the drains. Foul odours or gurgling sounds are common warning signs. If you are not sure how to identify a potential blocked drain click here to read up on the likely signs on our website page “Identify a Blocked Drain.”

In South-East Queensland as we all learnt last Christmas the summer storms and associated heavy rainfall can quickly create localised flooding in and around your home. With long range weather forecasts still telling us that rain will be above average it is wise to check your stormwater drains. If we get the predicted heavy rains it is the stormwater drains that will protect your home.

root infiltration inside a stormwater pit & up all the inter-connecting pipes

Stormwater drains are frequently an issue especially if you have yard pits connected to them. A simple check is to put the garden hose into the pipes and check there is a strong flow at the outlet. If there is no flow or it just a trickle then we strongly recommend you have it investigated.

Blocked stormwater drains allow water to back up very quickly in heavy rain causing gutters to overflow into the house and creating a flood scenario with water unable to escape. If you have the slightest doubt call us now to have your stormwater drains checked before the heavy rain events eventuate.

As we learnt last summer, disasters can happen very quickly so it pays to prepare for an emergency and prepare your home just in case. Above all just always remember to ensure your insurance coverage is adequate and that you have undertaken preventative maintenance to ensure your home can cope with heavy and continuous rainfall events.

At Whywait Plumbing we are available with our normal services right through the Christmas and New Year holiday period. Everyone at Whywait Plumbing wishes you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year in 2012.

Remember the best of all gifts around your Christmas tree is the presence of a happy family. In conclusion may the spirit of Christmas bring you peace, the gladness of Christmas give you hope, the warmth of Christmas grant you love.

No it is not the Numi toilet suite costing $6390 but an incredibly priced Italian design toilet suite from the Faroe Collection. Faroe is an exclusive PlumberDirect range of bathroom products designed to inspire your bathroom.

At Whywait Plumbing we are well aware that clients demand the very highest service and quality for the very lowest price. This is why we opened our own PlumberDirect showroom as quality also includes the way that it is sold, delivered, and maintained. The Faroe Collection of bathroom products is the pure definition of the very highest quality at a very affordable price. For any Whywait client the definition of quality includes all of the activities associated with the purchase, ownership, and use of the products and services we provide.

As every designer magazine features and every television renovation show highlights the latest fashion in toilet suites is the flush to the wall style.

Compared to traditional toilet suites the flush to the wall style were a plumbing nightmare to install with their concealed water supply, unless it was a new house or a complete bathroom renovation. A retrofit to replace an existing toilet suite was almost impossible and a great disappointment to many who wanted the flush to the wall style.

Roma toilet suite

This all changed for the plumbing technicians at Whywait Plumbing last month with the release of the Roma toilet suite as the latest product addition to the Faroe Collection.

The Roma flush to the wall toilet suite is in the true Italian style with the fashionable square look. Not only does the Roma toilet suite look good but it has features that are in keeping with a toilet suite of its quality with the full vitreous china porcelain close coupled cistern and toilet pan. The full cover toilet seat is a soft closing seat with a single button removal to enable easy cleaning and maintenance.

From a plumbing perspective the Roma toilet suite is simply revolutionary because it can be retrofitted in any bathroom to replace the existing toilet suite. It does not matter where your existing cistern tap is located or whether the drainage outlet goes through the floor or through the wall because the Roma toilet suite has been designed to fit any existing installation.

Even more revolutionary is the price of the Roma toilet suite. Until PlumberDirect released the Faroe Collection the flush to the wall toilet suites from traditional manufacturers cost at least $890 plus installation.

The Roma toilet suite in keeping with the Whywait Plumbing policy of the very highest quality at a very affordable price is supplied and installed for $876.74 inclusive of GST and if you are a Whywait Service Partner then the price becomes an incredible $782.36 inclusive of GST.

Shane Sadler

The latest Whywait Plumbing apprentice to complete his licensing course at Gold Coast TAFE and become a fully licensed plumber, drainer and gasfitter is Shane Sadler.

Shane commenced his apprenticeship at Whywait in July 2007. Shane’s introduction to plumbing began in November 2006 when Shane’s mother, Annette Sadler asked Gary Mays if he could have a talk to Shane as he had completed year 12 and had been accepted for university but had expressed a desire to know more about plumbing. As a consequence Gary met with Shane whilst undertaking work at The Oasis Shopping Centre and got him to assist in replacing the cartridges on a Falcon waterless urinal which as anyone who has had to do so will vouch is not a pleasant job. Gary’s theory was if Shane could deal with that then he had a chance to become a plumber. Shane did cope with it and followed Gary’s advice, undertaking and completing the pre-vocational plumbing course at Gold Coast TAFE.

With the 6 month pre-vocational course under his belt Shane was able to begin assisting the plumbing technicians immediately and to really begin learning the skills required to be a licensed plumber. Shane completed his apprenticeship in August 2010 as a fully qualified plumber, drainer and gasfitter.

Shane is a keen all round sportsman and a personable young man being a true multi skilled plumber able to diagnose and provide solutions to any problem. Whywait Plumbing receive frequent praise from clients on the service provided by Shane. Like any employer Whywait are happy and proud to get this positive feedback as it reinforces the contribution that Shane in all aspects, makes to Whywait from his customer service to assisting in the ongoing training of 1st year apprentices.

The last ten years have seen pipe-in-pipe systems commonly used to circulate water in most newly constructed homes. The inner pipe for drinking water is made of a plastic called cross-linked polyethylene (PEX).

Since the advent of plastic plumbing systems there has always been questions regarding the effects on health and do they affect the taste and odour of drinking water. International studies have shown that plastic pipes can release substances that give an unwanted taste and odour to drinking water. It has also been suggested that some of these substances may be carcinogenic.

There have been a number of investigations all over the world on the health issues and most are non conclusive or positive. A new study has just been released by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health on whether leaching or leakage products from these pipes are harmful to health and if they affect the taste and odour of drinking water. The potential leakage products consist of residues of additives used during manufacture to give plastic pipes their desired properties, as well as any susbsequent breakdown products.

The Norwegian study results indicated:

• There are no health risks associated with drinking water from PEX pipes
• A few types of PEX-pipe may cause prolonged undesirable taste and odour if the water remains in pipes over time
• Although the taste and odour usually dissipate with use, water from two of the PEX types still had an unpleasant smell and taste after a year
• The level of volatile organic compounds that leaked from new PEX pipes was generally low
• The level was further reduced with use
• No correlation was found between manufacturing methods and leaking products

This study was undertaken on a far more scientific basis than many tests or studies in Australia. It is not uncommon in Australia for international products that have undergone extensive testing to fail AS4020 based on an extremely subjective taste test from a panel of 5 – 7 people. In the Norwegian study 10 different types of PEX pipes were tested for leaching products in a standardised laboratory test. The water was in contact with the tubes for 72 hours.

Three different manufacturing methods produce pipes known as PEX-a, PEX-b or PEX-c. These methods use slightly different additives, but this study found no correlation between production method and leakage products. Two of the most commonly occurring substances detected in the water in the experiments were 2.4-di-tert-butyl-phenol and methyl-tert-butyl ether (MTBE). For three types of new pipe, MTBE was detected in higher concentrations than the US government’s recommended limits for taste and odour of drinking water (USEPA), but the values were reduced to below this limit after the tubes had been in use for a while.

This study confirms what the plumbing technicians at Whywait Plumbing frequently observe that no matter what the type of pipe there can be a taste or odour in new piping systems or where a house has been unoccuppied for a period of time. The taste and odour soon disappear once the water is in use in the house and is in constant circulation.

Although unavailable in Australia and legally unable to be installed as it does not have an Australian compliant WaterMark it is still state of the art luxury. Kohler a US company has launched the new $6,390 Numi toilet suite.

The Numi toilet suite is Kohler’s most advanced, combining unmatched design,
technology and engineering in personal comfort and cleansing. Its striking design and features mark a standard of excellence that truly is in a parallel universe.
So what do you get from a toilet suite that costs $6390 without tax and without the cost of installation. The features are amazing as you can see below:et

1. A 4.85 litre flush for big jobs and a 2.27 litre flush for number-ones, an industry low that uses 25 percent less water than standard dual-flush toilets. (Think of how much money you’ll save!)
2. A motion-detector automatically opens the lid and can tell when you’re standing, which triggers a low-water flush.
3. The retractable self-cleaning bidet wand is fully controllable. Use the toilet’s remote to aim the stream, adjust water pressure and temperature, and switch on the air dryer.
4. The heated seat can be adjusted to your preferred temp, and you can direct ground-level vents to blow warm air at your bare tootsies if you forget slippers.
5. The 380mm x 660mm toilet bowl automatically cleans itself and has a charcoal air filter to eliminate offensive odours. Ambient lighting through translucent side panels helps set the mood.
6. Plug in your MP3 player or switch on the FM radio using the touchscreen wireless remote. Then rock out (or drown out, um, sounds) with the 15-watt speakers built into the toilet’s behind.

So if you are in love with the latest and greatest gadgets standby because the luxury toilet market is coming your way.

It is now 4 years since the water management crisis in South-East Queensland was at its peak. Rainwater tanks were flavour of the month and were being sold and installed by every man and his dog. Unfortunately the panic by the Queensland Government at the time and  the relaxation of standards with countless shoddy installations is now beginning to bite. Poorly maintained or completely failed rain water tanks are everywhere. Pumps that no longer work are commonplace. Leaking rainwater tanks are common place.

rainwater tank connected to existing downpipe

Rainwater tank systems are generally low maintenance but they are most definitely not maintenance free. Regular routine maintenance of a rainwater tank is required to maintain the life expectancy of the infrastructure and to ensure compliance under the Public Health Act.

Maintaining your rainwater tank is your responsibility as the property owner. The biggest threat posed is the potential to create a health risk in the tank becoming a breeding site for mosquito’s.

All tanks must be fitted at all times with inlet strainers that are 1mm or less to prevent mosquito’s entering the tank. All overflows must be installed with a high flow flap valve which automatically close and seal when not in use to prevent mosquito’s entering the tank.

The recommended maintenance required plus the routine regularity is listed below:

3 months: remove debris from gutters, downpipes & first flush devices. Check insect screens on rainwater heads & overflow outlets are debris free, intact & in good condition.

6 months: check roof & flashing’s, remove overhanging branches & repair any defects. Check for signs of mosquito’s & larvae plus any evidence of animal, bird or insect access. Check for algal growth & if detected locate & seal light entry point. Check tank, fittings & pump for any leaks or defects & repair.

12 months: check integrity of tank support base, check pumps & solenoid valves along with all plumbing bypass or backup systems & repair as necessary.

24 months: check level of sediment in tank along with water quality. Generally accumulated sediment should be removed from the tank at intervals not exceeding 3 years.

If you are no longer using your rainwater tank then you are required to cut it up and remove it from site. It cannot be allowed to become a mosquito breeding site or a home for vermin such as rats or mice.

Finally a word of warning. Many property owners are unaware that in Queensland that if you fail to maintain your rainwater tank in a constant status of it being mosquito proof you can receive an on the spot fine of $225.