Multi storey buildings in Melbourne require regular commercial maintenance. Header tanks in particular can be the source of water supply problems to various parts of the building.

Water supply to a building may be from one or two sources. The reason for this is to ensure that, in case one main is shut down, the building will still have a water. Most supply pipes are between 50mm and 100mm`s and provide water to fire services as well as domestic fixtures.

Once the supply enters the building it is directed up to the header tank locations using mains pressure only (this means that the pressure on the top floors could be extremely low). Header tanks are large tanks holding a volume of water to ensure a constant supply to the building for long periods of time.

Even though Melbourne water is clean, any sediment present settles into the tanks. Over months and years this fine material builds up. If any of this material gets into the supply pipes to the fixtures it can affect their operation. Flushometers used on toilet installations don`t work correctly if filled with debris or sediment.

Plumbfast completes annual header tank cleaning as part of a commercial building maintenance schedule.

Plumbfast recently completed a new water connection to a development site in Albert Park.

The project required us to install a 100mm fire service supply with check meter, and a 40 mm domestic water supply. In the valve train for the domestic water supply, we installed a non testable non return valve, or dual check valve, and isolation valves.

All Melbourne sites requiring water must have some form of back flow valve installed to safe guard the quality of Melbourne`s water supply (if water becomes contaminated these valves stop water flowing back into the system and affecting other sites).

Plumbfast arranged Council permits to excavate the mains water supply, and coordinated with South East Water to arrange the water tapping contractor to install the valve onto the pipe.

Traffic management plans were written and employed to ensure safety to everyone associated with the work, and pedestrians and vehicles travelling nearby.

Once the tapping was completed Plumbfast`s Melbourne commercial plumbers ran the new pipe work into the building and installed the meters as per South East Water requirements. The pipe work was tested and the trench back filled /compacted with class 2 road base.

This site is considered`low risk’ for backflow purposes, as it only has residential dwellings being built.

Plumbfast is capable of annual backflow testing on medium and high risk rated valves, including double check valves and RPZD valves.

Plumbfast was called to an emergency sewer blockage at a house in Fitzroy recently. The tenants noticed raw sewerage spilling onto the footpath alongside the building from a gully trap.

Initially, our plumber discovered large wads of paper towel and sanitary items causing the blocked drain. After clearing the drain of this foreign matter and water testing our work, we cleaned up the mess and reported our findings.

Several days later the owner called to say the drain was blocked again. We attended the Fitzroy residence and unblocked the drain, but this time at the boundary trap. It was apparent that the problem may be more severe than first thought, so we used a cctv drain camera to inspect the pipe work from the boundary trap back towards the house.

The cctv footage exposed a badly broken boundary trap (the air seal/trap found at the boundary of a private house drain and the water authority sewer main pipe). This trap was over 3 metres deep and behind a fence and gate.

Plumbfast plumbers removed the barriers and then excavated down to the base of the boundary trap. We used safe trench shoring methods to ensure the property and yard wasn`t damaged, and that our plumbers were safe. After replacing the old earthenware sewer pipe with Upvc plastic, we then back filled the hole with crushed rock to help stabilize the ground. A tamping rammer was used to help compact the fill.

We then replaced the old fence with a new paling one, at the owners request. The paving around the yard was also reinstated by our plumbers and the house looked better than when we first found it.

Plumbfast is known in Fitzroy as a boundary trap repair specialist.

Plumbfast provides fast emergency plumber North Melbourne services. Sewer blockages, faulty hot water services and burst water pipes are some of the plumbing problems we attend.

Plumbfast is a reliable emergency plumber, with 8 plumbers on the road. We can attend to any plumbing emergency quickly and provide the best advice to rectify your problem.

We recently identified a badly broken sewer drain North Melbourne using CCTV equipment, then rectified the problem by removing the faulty earthenware sewer pipe and replacing it with Upvc sewer pipe. Temporary toilet facilities were supplied whilst emergency plumbing works were undertaken.

Based in North Melbourne, Plumbfast is the best option for your emergency plumber North Melbourne needs. We also locate and repair roof leaks North Melbourne.

“Cm3 addresses the need for both contractors; and the organisations they conduct work for to demonstrate contractor health and safety management capabilities, along with providing assistance for organisations to better manage their contractors around health and safety requirements.”

Plumbfast is CM3 certified, and a preferred contractor for many commercial clients. We recently started to work for one of the worlds largest industrial property management companies, providing quality Melbourne commercial plumbing services. With CM3 qualification, our clients know they will receive commercial plumbing services from a professional team of Melbourne plumbers.

Building managers and facilities managers can trust their assets with a CM3 certified company like Plumbfast.

Having a trusted tradesman to complete your work at home is invaluable.

As your local plumber based in North Melbourne ,Plumbfast attend to many of the residential and commercial properties in the CBD and suburbs such as; Brunswick, Fitzroy, West Melbourne, Kensington, Parkville and Carlton .

We have been providing  plumbing services in North Melbourne and these suburbs for over 10 years, with the capability to redesign or change over hot water service systems, unblock sewer systems or fix a leaking tap on both domestic and commercial properties. Our general plumbing services extend to locating gas or water leaks and completing North Melbourne gas installations. 

Roof repairs in the North Melbourne and surrounding suburbs are our specialty and we have located and repaired many poorly designed Melbourne roofing structures.

Several local businesses in Errol St use our North Melbourne plumbing services and have done so for years.

Whilst dealing with many of the Melbourne roofing issues found on residential and commercial properties around  Melbourne, Plumbfast has developed many systems to prevent leaks and minimize roof repair costs.

Often, a leak may in fact be due to a poorly designed or located down pipe spreader. By extending a down pipe to the rain head or box gutter sump, pressure is reduced on a leaking roof.

Most of Melbourne roofing consists of metal deck type and corrugated roofing, as well as more specialized architectural roofing systems like zinc roofing and aluminium roofing profiles. Slate and tile roof repairs are also managed by Plumbfast, the Melbourne roofing experts.

Most air conditioners cause moist air to condensate, which is then caught and channeled away via drains.

Due to the increased number of Melbourne plumbers now installing these units with minimal experience, many drains are being incorrectly installed.

On more than one occasion Plumbfast has attended a commercial plumbing request and found the condensate drain sealed to a downpipe or drain without an air gap. The downpipe becomes blocked and the water from the unit then fills back up into the catchment tray and spills over customers and the wall.

On roof tops it is also common to see drains terminating onto metal roofing. This causes rapid corrosion and often ends in expensive roof repairs.

Ensure you employ a reputable commercial plumber when installing these units and avoid any unforeseen roof repairs.

Asbestos roof repairs can be difficult. Most commercial roof plumbers avoid this type of work.

This week we attended a site where an old cooling duct penetration in an asbestos roof was causing a leak onto some printing equipment.

By following strict safety procedures we were able to remove the penetration and cover the asbestos roof with fibreglass sheets of the same profile.

Although dangerous if handled incorrectly, asbestos roof sheets are a good building product if left alone and should only be handled by qualified roof repairers.

For all commercial roof repairs in Melbourne call Plumbfast.

Many plumbing businesses claim to have an emergency response system in place, however fail to deliver in the event of a plumbing emergency.