Princes Hill
Blocked, burst or leaking in Princes Hill?
Blocked drains, burst pipes and leaks in Princes Hill, from the cemetery edge to the palm-lined boulevard, passed to a licensed plumber day and night.
Plumbing in Princes Hill
One government subdivision, filled in quickly
The Crown land beside the cemetery was subdivided by the government in 1876-79. Development moved fast, and few vacant sites were left after the First World War, so most homes are likely to share original Victorian and Edwardian earthenware runs. A camera inspection comes before any repair.
Census counts list far more of the Semi-detached, row or terrace house, townhouse etc category than separate houses, and flats are another large group. Homes joined in rows commonly share drain runs and boundary walls, so a blockage may sit in a branch serving several neighbours, and ownership and access are sorted out with them before digging.
Jobs in Princes Hill
Shared runs and lane access
Blocked drains
Branches shared along a row of attached houses, checked for whose length holds the fault.
CCTV drain inspection
A camera along original earthenware runs from the government subdivision.
Pipe relining
A lining where roots from mature plane or elm street trees have entered an old joint.
What it costs: hot water replacement cost, gutter replacement cost, toilet installation cost
Princes Hill questions
Back lanes, bluestone and boulevard trees
Can the plumber reach the drain from behind the house?
Often, yes. The government subdivision laid out streets and generous rear service lanes, and many stable lofts still face them. That gives a way to back-of-property drains without crossing the front garden, though bluestone lanes limit machine size and the paving needs protecting.
Does heritage protection affect a trench through the old paving?
Likely. The heritage overlay lists bluestone pitched lane and road paving, crossings, stone kerbs and channels as contributory, so a drain connection or stormwater repair that crosses them probably needs council consent and careful lifting and relaying of the stone.
Why do drains near the old plane and elm trees keep blocking?
Mature street trees. The precinct lists its plantings of palms, plane and elm trees as contributory, and old roots are likely to push into the joints of nearby earthenware drains. A camera confirms it, and protected trees shape how the fix is done.
