Upwey
Blocked, burst or leaking in Upwey?
Blocked drains, burst pipes and leaks in Upwey, from the shops opposite the station to former weekend houses, passed to a licensed plumber day and night.
Plumbing in Upwey
Weekenders that became homes
Upwey grew quickly when wartime evacuees from the city decided to stay, and weekenders were superseded by permanent residents, Victorian Places says. Plumbing in a weekender turned family home was often added in stages, so expect mixed pipe materials and older drain sections hidden behind later extensions.
Consultation for the town centre masterplan found that flooding and stormwater management around the centre are foundational issues that must be addressed, and council has set funding aside for flood mitigation. A flooded shop or yard there may be council drain capacity rather than a private blockage, so both are checked.
Jobs in Upwey
Mixed pipes and town centre stormwater
Blocked drains
Old sections behind later extensions, from the years when weekenders were superseded by permanent residents.
CCTV drain inspection
A camera to find where an older drain joins a newer one.
Gutters and downpipes
Shop roof plumbing in the town centre, with the overlay checked first.
What it costs: hot water replacement cost, gutter replacement cost, toilet installation cost
Upwey questions
Heritage shopfronts and drains reached from behind
How are drains reached under the old shops opposite the station?
Usually from the rear. The former Magpie Cafe, in the Heritage Overlay, is built to the street with minimum separation between shops, so there is almost no side access, and visible pipework on its front may need a permit to change.
Is a flooded shop floor always a blocked drain?
No. Around the town centre the council drains can run out of room in a storm, so the private line is tested and an overflowing council pit is passed on to council.
Why do weekender drains mix materials?
Each extension tended to be plumbed when it went up, joined onto whatever was already there. A camera shows where an older pipe meets a newer one, and that join is often the weak point.
