Locating and fixing leaking plastic water pipes in Canberra is made easy

Locating and fixing leaking plastic water pipes

Call Canberra Water Leak Detection and Locating Services now on 0448 844 911

Our new and modern plastic pipe-locating equipment makes locating and fixing leaking plastic water pipes in Canberra easy.

We can find plastic pipes as small as 12mm.

Plastic Water Pipes Will Be Found In Almost Every Canberra Residential Building Built After 1995 – Most Plumbers Cannot Find Them.

Avoid unnecessary costs of water leaks.

The cost of repairing the damage caused by most water leaks is many times more than the cost of finding and fixing the leak. We can help today.

Avoid unnecessary damage during the leak-locating process

Without the most modern leak-locating equipment and experiencing leaks in plastic water, pipes can be very expensive to locate and typically result in numerous exploratory holes and unnecessary costly damage to buildings.

Leaking plastic water pipes cannot be ignored.

Leaking plastic water pipes results in high water bills. Water leaks also cause termite infestations, structural damage, mould and mildew, and damage to floor coverings, cabinetry, skirting boards, and walls.

All of these are very expensive to repair.

Avoid litigation as a result of water leaks.

In detached dwellings and apartment buildings water leaks that spread from one apartment or dwelling to another and have caused damage always results in conflict between owners. When strata managers and Lawyers become involved, the conflict can be amplified and the cost of reaching a settlement can be enormous.

How we can help with Locating & fixing plastic water pipes in Canberra

Leaking plastic pipe locating services in Canberra and Queanbeyan

Since 1991, we have provided plastic pipe locating services in Canberra and Queanbeyan.

There is not a single water leak or plastic pipe that we have not found. With our modern plastic pipe locating equipment and procedures, we can precisely locate plastic pipes with an inside diameter as small as 8mm and larger.

Leaking plastic pipe repair services in Canberra

Regardless of the leak’s location, the brand or the size of the plastic pipe, we have the right fittings and specialist tools to provide low-cost plastic pipe repair services in Canberra.

Leaking plastic pipe rerouting services in Canberra

Since 1991, we have provided plastic pipe rerouting services in Canberra to reduce the cost and destructive work that would be involved in accessing hard-to-get-to leaking pipes.

Fixed-priced quotes for water leak repairs and plastic pipe reroutes

We are so experienced with plastic water pipe leaks that we can confidently give fixed-priced quotes for water leak repairs and plastic pipe reroutes.

Finding plastic water pipes in apartments and strata complexes in Canberra.

The complexity of these large plumbing systems makes cost-effective leak-locating and repairs impossible for most Canberra plumbers and leak-locating experts.

We have never failed when it comes to finding plastic water pipes in apartments and strata complexes in Canberra. This is because we have the experience and the best and latest leak-locating equipment and technology in Canberra.

We can find and fix all brands of Plastic pipes used in Canberra and Queanbeyan

Brands and types of plastic pipes

Because there are so many brands of plastic pipes, methods to join them and uses for them, water leak experts in Canberra, Queanbeyan and other parts of Australia need to have numerous pipe joining tools, pipe locating tools and years of experience to be able to find leaks in them and repair them without resulting in unwarranted costs. Below is a list of the types of plastic pipes commonly in use in Canberra, Queanbeyan and the rest of Australia.

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Blue line Poly Pipe

Blueline poly pipe is commonly used for potable water mains in detached multi-unit developments in Canberra and Queanbeyan and other parts of Australia. It is also used for potable water supplies in rural housing between rainwater tanks and houses.

Blue line poly pipes can also be used for irrigation systems, stock troughs, pumped sewerage systems and utility water mains.

When buried in sand it will last thousands of years. However, if it is buried surrounded by rocks or other rough or sharp objects holes will ware through the wall of the pipe, resulting in leaks.

Most water leaks in blue line pipes occur at fittings that break or at threaded joints.

Blueline poly pipe can be joined by electrofusion welding, but joint welding, Philmac and plasson poly compression fittings and Plasson push fit fittings. Gibault joints can also be used for repairs in pipes 50mm or larger.

Blue line pipe is available in PN12 for pressures up to 1200 kPa (171 psi ) and PN1600 for pressures up to 1600 kPa (228 psi). Pipe sizes range from 16mm up to 900mm in diameter.

 

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Compression Jointed plastic pipe fittings

Compression joints are common in Canberra and Queanbeyan and other parts of Australia.

Compression fittings are suitable for joining, changing direction or putting a T in all types of pressurized plastic pipes.

Slip type compression joints such as Gibault and UPVC compression joints make pipe repairs easier. However, apart from Plumbquick joints, compression joints are not suitable for UPVC drainage pipes or subsoil drainage pipes.

The size of compression fittings is virtually unlimited.

Leaks usually occur at the threaded joint between fittings, when either the fitting or pipe is dirty or scratched or where damaged pipes have been inserted into the compression fitting when the joint is made.

 

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Crimped jointed plastic pipe fittings

Crimped joints in plastic pipes are common in Canberra and Queanbeyan and other parts of Australia. They will be found on gas and hot and cold water pipes and recycled water pipes.

There are so many different brands of joints and sizes of fittings that make it necessary for leak locating and repair experts to have a thorough knowledge of plastic pipes.

For example, brand A fittings cannot be used with brand B pipes as fitting and pipe manufacturers will walk away from any warranty claims as a result of likely leaks.

Crimping tools are very expensive, and each crimping jaw is only suitable to one brand and pipe size.

Water leaks in crimped joints are usually the result of corroded crimp rings, installers using the wrong crimping tool, pipes not pushed all of the way into the joint before the crimp ring is crimped, dirty pipes and fittings, a mismatch of pipe and fittings, crooked pipe cuts and when plumbers forget to crimp a joint.

Crimped pipe repairs can also be difficult because most tools do not fit into the tight spaces where water leaks are usually found.

Crimped plastic pipe fittings range between 16mm and 40mm in diameter.

Auspex has made crimped fittings that can be used to transition between Auspex and other brands of pipe.

 

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Push fit plastic pipe fittings

Push fit joints are common in Canberra and Queanbeyan and other parts of Australia. They are found on water and sewerage mains, and in domestic and commercial water services.

Some push fit fittings and pipes like the Blue MPVC (Blue Brute) will push apart if they are not held together by the material they are back filled in, anchors and heavy concrete thrust blocks.

Large diameter push fit joints require lubrication on the sealing ring to push the pipe into the joint.

All push fit fittings require an O- ring to seal.

Smaller diameter push fit fittings will have jaws to catch and lock the pipe once it is pushed all of the way into the fitting. In most brands these jaws can be released by pushing a release ring or undoing a threaded nut such as on the old-style polybutylene push fit fittings.

Leaks in push fit fittings are the result of age, pipes that are not entering straight into joints, marks on the outside of the pipe where it is in the O-ring joint, debris in joints and pipe cuts that are not straight.

 

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Electrofusion and but welded jointed plastic pipes

Electrofusion and but welded plastic pipes are common in Canberra and Queanbeyan and other parts of Australia. They are used for water supplies, sewerage mains and gas lines for small, medium and large diameter pipes

They are mainly used for commercial and utility plumbing and gas services and are not common in domestic plumbing installations.

The benefit of electrofusion welding and but joints is that they are virtually leak proof. There are no O-rings or sealants that can deteriorate, and they do not require any jaws or compressive forces to hold them together.

The downside is that the joints are slow to make, cannot be undone and the fittings are expensive as are the joining tools.

 

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Auspex Pipes

Auspex pipes and fittings are sold at all Reece plumbing outlets. Auspex pipes and fittings will be found in domestic water supplies. Pipes and fittings will typically be 16mm up to 25mm.
Auspex fittings have a copper crimp ring that requires a special crimping tool for each pipe size.

The downside of Auspex pipes is that the internal diameter of the fittings is small compared to the pipe size. This restricts the flow of water through the pipes.

Black Auspex pipe is suitable for potable hot and cold-water supplies. Red Auspex is suitable for potable hot water supplies and in floor heating systems. Lilac Auspex is suitable for recycled water that is used in toilets, irrigation systems and washing machines. Green Auspex is suitable for rainwater used in toilets, irrigation systems and washing machines.

Leaks in Auspex pipes are mainly due to corroded crimp rings, badly made joints, dirt in joints and uncrimped joints.

When we use plastic pipes in Canberra or Queanbeyan our preference is to use Auspex pipes and fittings. Auspex have made adaptor fittings to adapt from other brands of plastic pipes to and from Auspex. This is beneficial if a reroute is required or we cannot get fittings for another brand of pipe.

 

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UPVC, HDPE and poly drainage pipes

UPVC is the most commonly used drainage pipe and fittings used in Canberra and Queanbeyan. Sewerage grade UPVC drainage pipes will have a thicker wall than stormwater UPVC drainage pipes.

UPVC drainage pipes range in size from 40mm up to 600mm

UPVC drainage pipes are solvent welded together using pink primer and blue glue. Pink primer and green glue is only used for UPVC pressure pipes like those found on pools and irrigation systems.

Repair joints in UPVC drainage systems can be made using Plumbquick slip type compression fittings.

In mine subsidence areas of Australia UPVC drainage pipe may be joined using flexible O-ring jointed fittings.

HDPE is used for high temperature drainage pipes. These pipes are found in restaurants and other commercial food preparation facilities. HDPE is fusion welded or but welded.

Poly drainage pipes are used for sub soil drains. AKA as ag drain, they have slots in the pipe wall to let water enter the pipe to be carried away from buildings, retaining walls and under roads. This pipe is available with a white sock. The sock helps to filter the water of fine debris before it enters the pipe. Ag drain can be found in 50mm 60mm and 100mm diameters and in roles from 20m to 50m in length.

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Polybutylene

Polybutylene pipes can be found in many Canberra, Queanbeyan and other Australian homes that were built after 1990.

Polybutylene is a blue grey pipe that is joined using push fit fittings that can be taken apart. It can also be joined using metallic crimp rings. crimped joints are less likely to leak than the push fit joints.

This pipe is very likely to leak at the O-rings in the push fit fittings. The pipe may split open for no reason and without warning or the crimp rings will corrode if buried in damp soil.
If you have this blue grey pipe, it can only be polybutylene, and you should consider having it removed from your building.

Polybutylene pipes and fittings will typically be found in 16mm, 20mm and 25mm sizes.

 

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Sharkbite

Sharkbite plastic water pipes are common in Canberra, Queanbeyan and other parts of Australia.

It is favoured by DIYers because its push fit fittings do not require any specialist tools to make joints. Sharkbite fittings can be taken apart and can be used over and over again.

We have found that Sharkbite fittings will leak at the O-ring that seals the joint between the pipe and fitting. Good or bad, when the joint or pipe is bumped or shaken any leaks can quickly stop. Therefore, when pipes are hidden in walls and under floors finding the right leaking fitting can be difficult.

We only use sharkbite for very temporary water pipe repairs because we have experienced more leaks in this pipe than most other pipe systems.

Black and gold Sharkbite pipe is suitable for potable hot and cold-water supplies. Red Sharkbite pipe is suitable for potable hot water supplies and in floor heating systems. Lilac Sharkbite is used for recycled water used in toilets, irrigation systems and washing machines. Green Sharkbite pipe is for rainwater for toilets, irrigation systems and washing machines.

Sharkbite is used for household piping systems and pipes and fittings will typically be found in 16mm, 20mm and 25mm sizes.

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Rehau

Platinum Rehau pipe is used for potable hot and cold-water supplies. Red Rehau pipe is used for potable hot water supplies and in floor heating systems. Lilac Rehau pipe is used for recycled water used in toilets, irrigation systems and washing machines. Green Rehau pipe is for rainwater for toilets, irrigation systems and washing machines.

From the outside Rehau pipe looks similar to other brands of pipe. However, unlike other brands of pipe, when Rehau is cut open the pipe will have a white or light grey core.

We believe Rehau has the most difficult to use joining systems. The pull over ring system requires more room than almost every other pipe joining system, and the pipe end needs to be expanded before the joint can be pushed together.

We have found that Rehau plastic water pipes are common in Canberra, Queanbeyan and other parts of Australia.

Like other plastic pipes, Rehau will leak at the joints if the joint is not made properly. Rodents will also chew on the pipe causing it to leak.

Rehau pipes and fittings are used mostly for domestic plumbing systems and will be found in 16mm, 20mm and 25mm sizes.

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We can find and fix all brands of plastic water pipes used in Canberra

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