Some plumbing problems can wait until business hours and save you money. Other problems can escalate quickly and cause costly damage to floors, walls and possessions if they are not fixed immediately. If you are unsure, call us and we will give you an honest answer.

Blocked drains result from a build up of hair, soap scum, grease, food and foreign objects. In New Zealand, tree roots can invade older underground clay pipes and cause severe blockages.

Signs this is an emergency:

• Sewage backing up into the home

• Repeated blockages in the same drain

• Strong foul odours that will not clear

What to do now:

1. Try a plunger for sinks, showers or toilets.

2. Do not use chemical drain cleaners; they can damage pipes

3. If the blockage persists and isn’t draining, call an emergency plumber for professional inspection and safe clearing.

Some ideas for Prevention:

• Use strainers in sinks and showers.

• Do not pour grease down kitchen drains.

Leaking taps and fixtures commonly occur in kitchens and bathrooms. Worn washers, seals or O‑rings usually cause drips and slow leaks.

When a leak is an emergency:

• Constant dripping that soaks cabinetry or floors

• Leaks inside walls or ceilings causing stains or sagging

• Rapidly increasing damp or mould

What to do now:

1. Shut off the water supply to the affected fixture. If you cannot isolate the fixture, turn off the main water supply.

2. Place a bowl or bucket under the leak to collect water.

3. Call us to replace washers, seals or O‑rings and check for hidden damage.

Common causes of having no hot water can come from several sources: loss of power, a tripped fuse, the cylinder isolation switch turned off, thermostat or element failure on electric cylinders, or pilot/valve issues on gas systems (including califonts).

Quick troubleshooting (safe first steps)

1. Check your fuse board to ensure the circuit for the hot water is on.

2. Check the isolation switch next to your hot water cylinder or califont; it may have been switched off or failed. A simple fuse replacement or switching the isolation back on often fixes the issue.

3. If these steps do not restore hot water, or you are unsure, call us and we will advise or dispatch a plumber.

When this becomes an emergency:

• Leaks from the cylinder base or surrounding area

• Discoloured water or odd noises from the cylinder (popping or rumbling)

• Any gas smell around a gas hot water unit (call emergency plumber)

What to do now:

1. Turn off the power supply to the cylinder (electric or gas) to avoid hazards.

2. Shut off the water supply to the unit.

3. If it is safe, drain leaking water into a container or direct it to a drain.

4. Call us to diagnose, repair or replace the cylinder or califont.

When temperatures fall, water in pipes can contract and expand. That expansion can rupture pipes, especially in cold, exposed areas such as basements, attics and exterior walls. Older materials such as galvanised steel or aged plastic pipes commonly have this issue.

Signs this is an emergency:

• Sudden water on floors or ceilings

• Rapid loss of water pressure or no water at all

• Visible cracking on pipes

• Gushing water or active flooding

What to do now:

1. Turn off the main water supply immediately to stop further flooding. The mains is usually at the front of the property in a meterbox, usually under a blue or black cover, turn off the valve. If you cannot find it, call us and we will send a plumber.

2. Open taps to drain remaining water.

3. Move valuables and furniture away and soak up standing water with towels or a mop.

4. Call us for an emergency repair or pipe replacement.