Vlog

When the Fence is in the Way and the Apprentice Doesn’t Know It’s a Septic Tank

This one’s a little messier than most — in every sense.
Rich was called out to follow up on an emergency job where one of our Plumbpups had been sent to assess a blocked drain sewerage issue at a commercial site.

He meant well… but quoted to bring the van and jetter around the back — completely unaware there was a giant fence in the way, and that access would involve a 5–10 minute walk around the block.

💬 “Blockages usually take a dozen trips to the van and back — this would’ve been a nightmare.”

Needless to say — Rich wasn’t particularly impressed. 😂

🔎 Step 1: Quick Site Assessment

Rich arrives and starts piecing it together:

• Above-ground pipework visible — traces what’s feeding what
• Spots a rock that seems a little out of place… sure enough, it’s covering the septic tank access lid
• Lifts the lid and sees what no one wants to see:

Backed-up sewerage in the inspection square

🪠 Step 2: Improvised Fix

Without the jetter (thanks, fence), Rich grabs a length of spare waste pipe lying nearby and gives the system a few plunges.

• The blockage clears — likely wet wipes (and a few mystery items)
• Classic moment of the day:

“Oh, there’s your lunch — a little bit of sweet corn!” 🌽

🚽 Step 3: Test & Recommendation

To finish off:

• Rich flushes the customer’s toilet to confirm the flow
• Water passes through cleanly — job temporarily sorted
• Recommends a jetter clean-out in the near future to ensure the system stays clear

💬 “Not ideal, but we made it work. And we’ll come back with the right gear to finish the job properly.”

🐶 “Can You Move Your Van?” — The Tradie Question That Haunts Us All 🚐🤣

Richard’s Rant from the Driver’s Seat… Literally.

Let’s set the scene.

It’s 40 degrees. You’ve just rolled up to the customer’s property. You haven’t even popped the bonnet on your tool bag. You’re mid-sip of your servo coffee…

And they say:

“Umm, can you move your van? I need to get my car out.”

💥 Enter: The Worst Part of the Job™ (as declared by Richard).

🤦‍♂️ What You’ll See in This Vlog:

• Richard trying to reverse a VW Crafter (a.k.a. a yacht on wheels)
• A long, narrow driveway with zero forgiveness
• A slightly emotional rant — the kind only tradies truly understand
• And a message for all customers everywhere:

“Check the text message we sent you… we did warn you!”

📱 Yes, We Actually Warn You in Advance!

At Plumbdog, we try to make life easier:

• Every job gets an automated SMS on the way
• It includes your ETA and a friendly reminder:

“If you need access to your vehicle, please move it out of the driveway prior to arrival.”

It’s polite, professional, and totally ignored 73% of the time. 😅

🎥 Watch the Chaos Unfold

🚐 A Message to Our Fellow Tradies

We see you.
We feel your gearbox grinding.
We too have stood in a stranger’s driveway whispering, “Why… like this?”

Drop a comment if this has ever happened to you — or if you’ve ever rage-Googled “how to reverse a van without breaking your soul.”

🐾 Plumbdog — Perth’s real plumbers, real vans, and real bruised egos from reversing in driveways.

Another day, another mystery for our Plumbdog pups to sniff out—and this time, the trail led us to Morley, WA, where a homeowner was left scratching their head over a sudden spike in their water bill.

Enter Darius, our seasoned water leak detection expert from Plumbdog Plumbing Perth, ready to get to the bottom of things!

Step 1: Water Meter Check 🔎

First stop? The water meter at the front of the property. A quick check confirmed there was definitely water loss happening on the property—a clear sign of a hidden leak. Time to unleash the tools of the trade.

Step 2: Listening In with Acoustic Gear 🎧

Darius grabbed his specialty acoustic leak detection equipment—gear designed to listen for the subtle sound of water escaping underground. He walked the area slowly, ears wide open…

And guess what? The sound led him right underneath his parked van in the driveway! 😅 That’s right—the leak was directly under his own wheels the whole time.

Step 3: Pinpointing the Leak & Preparing the Fix 🔨

After moving the van, Darius used compressed air and pinpointing methods to track the exact leak location under the driveway. Once identified, he provided the homeowner with a clear and honest quote to carry out the repair.

With one leak located and logged, Darius was off again—hitting the road to help another Perth local with a burst pipe. It’s all in a day’s work for the Plumbdog pack!

🎥 Watch the full video of Darius on the job!

Got a high water bill? Suspect a hidden leak?

At Plumbdog Plumbing, we use specialist acoustic leak detection equipment to track down even the trickiest underground leaks—no digging and no guesswork.

🐾 Give us a whistle today and let the Plumbdog pups sort it out!
📞 Contact Plumbdog Plumbing

When it comes to sniffing out the source of a plumbing problem, there’s no one better than a Plumbdog pup! This time, our top dog Darius was called out to a blocked drain in Greenwood, WA, and he was quick to get to the bottom of it—literally!

Finding the Hidden I.S.

Every job starts with good detective work. Darius began by locating the inspection shaft (I.S.), which was tucked away under the decking. Once he had access, he sent down our trusty CCTV drain camera to get eyes on the issue.

And sure enough… the usual suspects were back at it—tree roots had invaded the pipe, causing a major blockage! 🌿🪠

Jetter Time!

No match for this Plumbdog. Darius rolled out the high-pressure water jetter and cleared the pipe thoroughly, breaking up the root mass and flushing it all out with ease.

Once the line was cleared, he sent the CCTV camera back in to confirm everything was flowing freely and looking clean.

Clean-Up & Happy Customer

With the job done, Darius didn’t just pack up and go—he made sure to clean up the work area, dust off his boots, and even empty out the sand from his pockets. As always, he left with a big smile on his face and an even bigger one on the customer’s!

Thanks to his efforts, the homeowner can breathe easy for the next 12 to 14 months before roots might try their luck again.

🎥 Watch the full video of Darius in action here:
👉 Blocked Drain Cleared in Greenwood | Watch on YouTube

Got a blocked drain in Perth?

Don’t wait for it to get worse. At Plumbdog Plumbing, we’re the experts in CCTV drain inspections, tree root removal, and all things blocked drains across Perth.

🐾 Call in the Plumbdog pros today – we’ll sniff out the problem and get your drains flowing again in no time!
📞 Contact Us