Why a Plumbing Compliance Certificate Matters

What You Think Is the Problem… Might Not Be

A common issue we see across Melbourne is customers calling in because they have no hot water. Sometimes they’ve had another plumber come out who’s misdiagnosed the problem and replaced the entire hot water system-only for the issue to continue. We had one recently in Moonee Ponds where the customer had a new unit installed just four weeks prior. The water was fluctuating and inconsistent. They tried chasing down the plumber who did it, but he never returned their calls. We got called in, and it was obvious pretty quickly the install didn’t meet code or have a certificate of compliance. The unit was only 300mm from the corner of the house when it needed to be 500mm. It was also missing a proper plumbing compliance certificate. Turns out, the real issue was a faulty tempering valve-a part that regulates the water temperature delivered to fixtures. The old plumber hadn’t even replaced it. We moved the unit, brought it up to spec, and replaced the valve. Cost the customer $5,000. The frustrating part? They had already spent $2,500 on an unnecessary replacement. All they really needed was the valve fixed.

Why a Certificate of Compliance Matters in Hot Water Service

If a hot water unit doesn’t meet Victoria’s strict plumbing compliance codes, it’s not just unsafe-it could invalidate your insurance and any manufacturer warranties. Any job over $750 requires a certificate of compliance. This plumbing compliance certificate proves the work was completed by a licensed plumber, to code, and ensures your warranty is honoured if anything goes wrong.

A lot of the cheaper operators out there will say, “I’ll do it for half the price, but you won’t get a certificate.” It’s a huge risk. If something fails and floods your house, your insurance might walk away.

The Real Cost of Going Cheap

We see this time and again-people trying to save money upfront by hiring a budget plumber, only to end up paying double or triple when things go wrong. They don’t know what codes have changed. They use old standards. In this industry, that can be dangerous. We’ve seen hot water units installed too close to windows or gas leaks that the original plumber didn’t notice.

If we come across a dangerous setup, we’re legally obligated to shut it down-even if the customer doesn’t want us to. That’s our duty of care. It’s not always an easy conversation, especially if there are kids in the house and it’s the middle of winter, but safety has to come first.

Training and Expertise Make the Difference

Every plumber on our team is fully certified and undergoes regular training to stay up to date with evolving standards. The codes change yearly. What was legal last year might not be now. That’s why we invest heavily in training and in our team-because knowing what to look for and how to explain it to a customer makes all the difference.

We’re fast, efficient, and we get the job done right the first time. That means no call-backs, no surprises, and peace of mind that your hot water system is compliant and safe.