General plumbing covers the pipes, valves and fittings that carry clean water through an Auckland home, from the toby at the boundary to every tap, plus the roof plumbing that sheds rain off the house. Most calls start with a symptom: a damp patch, a hiss in the wall, a weak shower or pipes that bang when a tap shuts.
Picking the right service is mostly about what you can see. Water coming out now is an emergency. Water going somewhere you cannot find is a leak detection job. Old pipe that keeps failing points to repiping. If you are unsure, describe it to us and we will tell you which visit it needs and what it should cost before anyone arrives.
Our Plumbing Services
Emergency Plumber
For water pouring through a ceiling, a pipe that has let go or no water at all, any hour of the night.
View serviceLeak Detection
When the water bill jumps or a wall feels damp but nothing is visibly dripping, we trace the hidden source.
View serviceBurst Pipes
Fixing a pipe that has split or pulled apart, then checking the surrounding run so the repair is not the weak point.
View serviceRepiping
Replacing tired, brittle or leak-prone supply pipe throughout a house rather than patching the same section again and again.
View serviceLow Water Pressure
Working out why showers dribble and taps run weak, whether the cause is the supply, a valve or clogged pipework.
View serviceBackflow Testing
Yearly testing of backflow devices so dirty water cannot be drawn back into the public supply and paperwork stays current.
View serviceGutter Repairs
Repairs to gutters, downpipes and flashings that overflow, leak at joints or send rainwater against the house cladding.
View serviceShut-Off Valves
Fixing a toby or isolation valve that is seized, leaking or missing, so you can turn the water off fast.
View serviceWater Hammer
Quietening pipes that thud, knock or shudder when taps close, before the shock loosens joints and fittings.
View serviceWater Main Repairs
Repairing or renewing the private supply line between the meter and the house when it leaks underground.
View serviceWhich service do you need?
Start with the most urgent sign. If water is running somewhere it should not and you cannot stop it, shut the toby and book an emergency plumber. If the toby will not turn, that is a job for our shut-off valves service as soon as the leak is sorted, because a valve you cannot close is no use on the night you need it.
Slower problems sort themselves into a few groups. A meter that keeps ticking with every tap off, or a soft patch of lawn near the front boundary, usually means a leak in the line from the meter, and leak detection finds it before anyone digs. Weak flow at one tap is often a blocked aerator or a valve, while weak flow everywhere points to the supply or the pipe itself, which is what our low water pressure visit checks.
- Pipe has split and water is spraying: burst pipe repairs
- Second or third leak in the same type of pipe: repiping
- Banging after the washing machine fills: water hammer
- Gutters overflowing in heavy rain: spouting and roof plumbing
- Business, school or rental with a testable device: backflow testing
Who owns which pipe in Auckland
Watercare looks after the public supply and the meter. From the meter outlet to the house, the pipe is yours, so a leak on that stretch is the owner's cost and is fixed by a plumber like us, not by the council. Knowing where that line sits matters when you are deciding whether to call Watercare or book a private repair.
If a hidden leak has pushed up your bill, Watercare can consider a leak allowance once the fault is repaired. Hold on to our invoice, which notes the leak location and the parts renewed, because that is the evidence they look for.
What affects the price
Small repairs start low: burst pipe, water pressure and water hammer visits, toby and valve work, and leak detection or spouting. Backflow testing is priced per device. Repiping and main repairs depend on the length of pipe and how hard it is to reach, so they are quoted after a look.
Plumbing Questions
A pipe has burst. What is the first step?
Turn off the water at the toby, usually near the front boundary under a small lid, then switch off the hot water cylinder. Move valuables away from the water and call us. Photos of the damage help with any insurance claim later.
How do I know if I have a hidden leak?
Turn every tap and appliance off and watch the water meter for a few minutes. If the dials keep moving, water is escaping somewhere. Damp walls, a musty smell or a lawn that stays wet in dry weather are other common clues.
Is it worth repiping instead of fixing one leak?
If the pipe is old, brittle or has failed more than once, replacing the run usually costs less than repeated callouts and water damage. We look at the material, the age and the leak history, then give you both options with prices.
Other Services
Plumbing Across Auckland
We send plumbing specialists to every suburb. Find your area: Central Auckland, the North Shore, West Auckland, East Auckland, South Auckland, the Hibiscus Coast.
