Frequently asked questions

I am based in Caroline Springs and work right across Melbourne’s western suburbs — Burnside, Deer Park, Taylors Hill, Hillside, Cairnlea, St Albans, Sunshine, Melton, Truganina, Tarneit, Werribee, Point Cook, Keilor and everywhere in between. If you are not sure whether you are in range, ring me and I will tell you straight rather than waste your time.

Yes. I am a licensed and qualified plumber with over 15 years in the trade, and I carry insurance. Every job that requires one comes with a compliance certificate. Ask any plumber for their licence details before they start work — a legitimate one will hand them over without hesitation.

You get a price before I start, not a surprise on the invoice afterwards. For most jobs I can give you a solid indication over the phone once you describe what is happening. For anything larger, or where the cause is not yet clear, I will look at it first and then quote — and if the diagnosis changes the scope, you hear about it before I keep going, not after.

Yes. Burst pipes, major leaks, blocked sewers and hot water failures do not wait for business hours. Ring the mobile and you speak to me directly — not a call centre reading from a script. I will also talk you through shutting the water off while I am on my way, which is often the single most valuable thing you can do in the first five minutes.

Me. Tap Set Plumbing is my business and I do the work myself. The person who quotes the job is the person who turns up and does it, and the person you ring if something is not right afterwards. That is the main reason people stay with a local tradesperson rather than a franchise.

For an emergency in Caroline Springs and the immediate surrounds, usually the same day. For standard work, generally within a day or two depending on how the week is looking. Ring me and I will give you a real time slot rather than a vague window that has you home from work waiting all afternoon.

All of it. Blocked drains, hot water systems, burst and leaking pipes, taps and toilets, gas fitting, roof plumbing and gutters, leak detection, drain camera work and repairs, bathroom and kitchen renovations, new homes and extensions, and backflow and TMV testing. Fifteen years across residential, commercial and new construction means very little comes up that I have not already dealt with.

Yes. My workmanship is guaranteed, and materials carry their manufacturer’s warranty on top of that. If something I have installed or repaired is not right, ring me and I will come back and sort it out.

Yes, that is completely fine. The one thing worth checking before you buy is that the fitting carries a WaterMark certification — it is a legal requirement for plumbing products in Australia. Send me a link or a photo before you order and I will confirm it will work with your water pressure and setup. Note that my guarantee covers my installation rather than the product itself.

Cash, card or bank transfer. You get a proper itemised invoice for every job, which you will want for your records — and for a rental property, for your accountant.

Yes, regularly. I can liaise directly with your tenant to arrange access, and you get a clear itemised invoice and photos of the work. If you manage several properties, ring me and we will set up something that suits.

Yes — shops, offices, cafés, childcare centres and small industrial sites, along with the annual backflow prevention and thermostatic mixing valve testing those properties are required to have certified.

Because the blockage is a symptom, not the cause. Tree roots getting in through a joint, a cracked or collapsed section, or a length of pipe with a sag holding water will all re-block on a predictable cycle. That is why I put a camera down the line after clearing it — so you can see what is actually going on and decide whether to fix it properly or keep paying to clear it.

It comes down to age and what has failed. Valves, elements, thermostats and thermocouples are usually well worth repairing. A tank that has rusted through at twelve years old is not — you would be paying to postpone a replacement by a few months. I will tell you honestly which situation you are in, including when the answer costs me the bigger job.

Turn off every tap and water-using appliance in the house, then check the water meter. If it is still ticking over, water is escaping somewhere. Warm patches on the floor, bubbling paint, a musty smell or a water bill that has jumped for no reason are all worth a look. Hidden leaks under a slab get expensive quickly, so it is worth chasing early.

Replacing a tap washer or clearing a sink trap is fair game. Beyond that, most plumbing and all gas work legally requires a licensed plumber in Victoria — and doing it yourself can void your home insurance and cause real problems when you sell. If you are not sure, ring and ask. I would rather give you two minutes of free advice than come back later to a bigger job.