Frequently Asked Questions

Doherty Plumbing Solutions provides emergency assistance to clients across Melbourne. After-hours assistance is more costly to the customer as it puts a huge demand on our busy plumbers but if you find yourself in a position where your plumbing needs cannot wait, give us a call and we will try to assist.

We service many Melbourne and surrounding suburbs. To see if we provide plumbing services in your area, see our full list of service locations.

Leaking gas is dangerous and should be dealt with immediately. Signs of a gas leak may include any of the following:

• Smells like sulfur or rotten eggs
• You can see the flame turn yellow or orange from blue (discoloured flame)
• You hear a hissing sound from the gas pipes
• Water pipes have less warmth than usual when touched.
• You receive an unusually high gas bill
• You notice dry patches near your gas main
• You develop a headache with nausea
• Indoor plants begin to wilt

Natural gas is highly combustible and even the slightest spark can ignite a fire or worse. This is a matter to be taken seriously as outlined below:

• Turn off the gas at the meter.
• Evacuate immediately!
• DO NOT smoke or light a match or flame source near the leak.
• DO NOT turn on electrical appliances, switch lights or operate any device or engine that could emit a spark.
• Call Doherty Plumbing Solutions right away at 03 9877 5775.

A leaky roof may not always be obvious at first but some of the signs you can look for include the following:

• Dripping noises in ceiling during rain
• Brown stains on ceiling or down the walls
• Moisture or mould on floors & carpet
• Wet patches on ceiling
• Water dripping from ceiling

You might have turned on your tap and noticed your water is not heating up as you expected or heating up at all. Let’s face it, nobody likes a cold shower! Some of the reasons your water heater has left you in the cold include these:

• Gas Leak – If your heater runs on natural gas, this indicates a serious problem & can be quite dangerous. If you suspect the cause might be a gas leak, call Doherty Plumbing Solutions right away.
  
  
• Leaky Tank – Sometimes tanks develop leaks which prevent it from doing its job, which leads to an empty tank and a decline in energy efficiency. A leak means it’s probably time to replace your unit.
  
  
• Inadequate Tank Size – Families often grow and with more members in the house using the hot water resources, this means your unit is having to work harder and may not be able to keep up with the pace. A larger tank might be what you need.
  
  
• Gas Valve Failure – Sometimes the supply line gives out or is not fitting securely in place. If everything checks out with this, check to be sure your pilot light is lit. Sometimes it’s as simple as relighting the pilot light. If the pilot light won’t stay lit, the gas line supplying the gas could be the issue.
  
  
• Weather-Related – Blame it on the rain! No, not really but sometimes outdoor temperatures can affect your water heater’s ability to heat and maintain heat. If you live in an area that is prone to frequent cold snaps, you might want to consider insulating your unit to protect it from the elements.
  
  
• Faulty Thermostat – Your water heater depends on the thermostat being set correctly to heat properly. It should be set somewhere between 50 and 60 degrees celsius. Check to ensure it hasn’t busted and if it shows signs of damage, it might be time to replace it.

There are many potential causes for blocked drains. One of the most common reasons for drain blockages is due to tree roots searching for water sources. Roots grow into the pipes and cause cracks that allow debri and other underground elements to enter. Other causes include grease and fat build-up from the kitchen sink, hair deposits from shower and bath, foreign objects being flushed down toilets and any other debris that sometimes ends up down the pipes from your household.

• Offensive smells or gurgling sounds from your toilet when flushing
• Your toilet is slow to drain
• Your water level in the bowl changes
• Water is draining slowly
• Your floors or walls feel damp

As with anything, as your unit ages, it will become less efficient which increases energy usage. An older system may take longer to heat which will increase the amount of energy required to run it. All units will use energy. That is a given but your unit’s ability to perform is the overall deciding factor.

Some plumbing tasks are simply too dangerous to perform on your own. DIY methods might work for smaller jobs but sometimes even the smallest plumbing issue can quickly escalate into a bigger one so you’re always better off asking a professional to take a look and offer advice. Plumbing gone wrong can very quickly lead to damages to your home and health if not addressed correctly.

Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs when a substantial amount builds up in your bloodstream, replacing oxygen in your red blood cells with carbon monoxide. This deprevies your organs and tissues of oxygen. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Symptoms include:

• Flu-like symptoms
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Weakness
• Upset Stomach
• Vomiting
• Chest Pain
• Confusion

Several things can result in low water pressure. It could be as simple as a shut off valve being partially closed or something more complex such as a blocked faucet or water pipe. Sometimes the problem could be further down the water mains supply and be an issue for your local water company to assess. If you’ve noticed a sudden increase in your water bill, you’ll definitely want to investigate and find out what the cause is.

Give Doherty Plumbing Solutions a call today!