VLOGS

Jetter + CCTV = Clean Drain, Clean Win

In this video, Rich is called out to a property with a completely blocked kitchen sink. The customer had already tried using drain crystals — and as we often see, they didn’t work. In fact, they made things worse.

Luckily, this job got off to a good start when Rich found the D.G (disconnector gully) conveniently located near the front door and driveway — ideal access for the van-mounted high-pressure water jetter.

🧰 Step 1: Set Up & Jet

Rich quickly gets to work:

• Pulls the jetter hose straight from the van
• Starts jetting through the D.G gully
• Hits heavy gunk, fat buildup, and…
• Pulls out a big handful of undissolved drain crystals 🤦‍♂️

💬 “Drain crystals might seem like a quick fix, but most of the time they just clump up, harden, and block the pipe even more. Then we’ve got to clean it all out properly.”

🎥 Step 2: CCTV Inspection

Once the jetting is complete:

• Rich drops the CCTV camera down the line
• Tracks it all the way back to the kitchen sink
• Result? A squeaky clean pipe, flowing freely with no debris left behind

✅ Step 3: Final Test

To wrap it up:

• Rich runs the kitchen sink inside
• Watches the water flow perfectly through the inspection shaft
• Confirms the job is done, done properly, and done once

💬 “Forget the crystals — this is the way to fix a drain properly.”

🐾 Real plumbers. Real jetters. Real clean drains. 
📞 No callout fee. Fast response. Blocked drains fixed the right way — the first time. 

Darius Sorts Out a Drainage Disaster Hidden Beneath a Renovation

When it comes to old Perth homes, you never know what you’ll find under the surface — and this job in Bayswater delivered a real mixed bag:
• A sunk drain running the wrong way
• A dodgy IO cut-in with tree root intrusion
• A decommissioned septic tank… that the new pipe runs through
• And a whole lot of DIY plumber nightmares 😅

🔍 What Went Wrong?
The customer’s extended property had been built right over the top of the original drainage line — and unfortunately,
💬 “Gravity only works if you give it the right slope.”
Darius found:
• A collapsed, out-of-grade drain
• Old section with the top cut off for access (not ideal)
• Tree roots infiltrating where it had been left open
• A new pipe laid on top of the old one 🤦

🔧 How Darius Fixed It
• Located the faulty drain section and exposed it carefully
• Removed the old, sunken pipe and dodgy IO job
• Pulled out the unused pipe laid over the top
• Re-ran the new pipe to correct grade and fall
• Ensured the new line bypassed the old septic and tree root zones
• Completed thorough flow testing to confirm all is well

✅ Now the system drains as it should — and Darius left the site neat, tidy, and root-free.

🎥 Watch the Video to See It All Unfold
If you love watching pros clean up old plumbing disasters, this one’s got:
• Digging, cutting, inspecting and replacing
• A look into Perth’s heritage plumbing horrors
• Clear explanations of what went wrong — and how to make it right  

📞 Think your old home has dodgy drainage?
Call the Plumbdog pack — we’ve seen it all, and we know how to fix it right the first time. 

Fault-Finding a Continuous Flow Unit That’s Not Firing in Ardross

In this job, Rich is called out to an Ardross property with a frustrating problem:
Hot water is working on one side of the house, but completely dead on the other.

The homeowner has:

• A gas continuous flow unit (not firing) on one side
• A gas storage unit (low pressure, but still heating) on the other

Let’s run through the full on-site diagnostic process — and show why checking the basics first always pays off.

🔍 Step 1: Test the Closest Tap

Rich starts by turning on the nearest hot water tap to the continuous flow unit — the laundry tap.

• The unit doesn’t fire
• That confirms there’s no activation happening when hot water is called

🔌 Step 2: Confirm Power Supply

• Rich checks the powerpoint and power cable with a tester
• ✅ Power is live at the socket and flowing through the lead
• Next, he removes the front cover of the unit to check for any signs of startup
• Still nothing — no electrical activation, even though power is confirmed

🔧 Step 3: Suspected Internal Fault

With the system receiving power but failing to respond, the likely issues could be:

• A faulty flow sensor
• A failed PCB (printed circuit board)
• Or another internal component not allowing startup

💬 “At this point, we’ve ruled out external factors. No point throwing a new unit on the wall without knowing what’s wrong with the current one.”

💡 Final Recommendation: Replace — But With Purpose

Due to the unit’s age and the lack of electrical response, Rich recommends a replacement system.

But not just a like-for-like swap — because:

• It’s better to troubleshoot first, so you don’t repeat the problem
• You get the chance to size the new unit correctly
• And ensure you’re not replacing a working system due to a simple oversight

🐾 Plumbdog — Perth’s real plumbers with all the gear, every idea, and a methodical approach to hot water troubleshooting. 

📞 No callout fee | ✅ Gas & electric hot water specialists | 🔎 Fault diagnosis done right 

Plumbdog leak detection specialist James is back on the tools in Ballajura, WA — this time called out for a suspected underground water leak.

🧪 Diagnosing the Leak

James starts with the water meter, confirming it’s spinning despite no taps running. This indicates a leak and lets us calculate the water loss per minute — useful not just for our detection process but also for the Water Corporation lost water claim after the repair.

🔎 Acoustic Leak Detection in Action

Armed with his Fuji acoustic detection gear, James checks around the front yard and gets a clear signal near the front hose tap. He uses his ground spike/listening stick, which comes out wet — confirmation that we’re right on top of the burst pipe.

🔧 Repair & Confirmation

After carefully digging down, James finds a split in the pipe. He provides a cost estimate on the spot, which the customer approves. The repair is done using Auspex pipe, which connects easily to most pipe types.

Final tests show the water meter is no longer spinning, and everything is watertight. James backfills, cleans up, and heads off to the next job.

🐾 Real Leak Detection by Real Plumbers

Forget guesswork — Plumbdog uses specialised acoustic equipment to accurately locate leaks without unnecessary digging. All repairs are completed by fully licensed plumbers, and we even help customers apply for lost water rebates.

✅ Fully licensed & insured
✅ Acoustic leak detection gear
✅ Same-day emergency service available
✅ Friendly, dog-loving team 🐶

📍 Need leak detection in Ballajura or nearby suburbs?
Contact us today and one of our leak detection specialists will be on their way — ears up and tools ready!