Winter plumbing checklist for Gold Coast homes

1. Gas heater service, before you turn it on

The biggest seasonal plumbing call we get is gas heaters that worked fine in September not working in May. Pilot won't light, flame is yellow instead of blue, or worst case, carbon monoxide leaking from a poorly-burning unit.

If your gas heater hasn't been used in 6+ months, get it serviced before you fire it up. Costs about $150-200. Catches:

• Pilot orifice partially blocked from dust over summer
• Spider webs in the burner assembly (real issue with stored heaters)
• Flue blockage (bird nest, leaf debris)
• Perished gas hose to LPG bottles
• Carbon monoxide producing combustion

Carbon monoxide is genuinely dangerous and you can't smell or see it. If you have a flueless gas heater (uncommon in new homes, common in older units), get a CO detector for the room.

2. Hot water system, winter is when they fail

Hot water systems fail when they're working hardest. That's winter on the Gold Coast, colder incoming water means the burner or element runs longer per shower, and the family is taking more (longer) showers anyway.

Pre-winter checks:

• Visual inspection of the tank for rust streaks, leaks or unusual sounds
• Test the TPR valve, lift the lever briefly, water should flow then stop cleanly when you release
• Check the age, gas storage 8-12 years, electric storage 8-12 years, heat pump 10-15 years. If yours is 10+ and you're heading into winter, budget for replacement
• Sacrificial anode, should be replaced every 5 years. Most people never do this. Doubles the tank's life

3. Outdoor taps and hose connections

Coastal homes (Currumbin, Burleigh, Palm Beach, Coolangatta, all of Main Beach), outdoor brass tapware corrodes through salt air faster than inland. Winter usage tends to be lower, then spring comes and you turn the garden tap on and it sprays everywhere because the body has corroded.

Quick check: turn each outdoor tap on briefly. If water comes from anywhere other than the spout, the body has gone and it needs replacement (about $80-150 per tap supply-and-install).

4. Hinterland-specific, exposed pipework and pumps

If you're at Springbrook, Natural Bridge, Tallai or anywhere with elevation in the Gold Coast hinterland, winter brings issues that don't affect the coast:

• Frost on exposed pipes. Rare to actually freeze, but cold-stress on poorly-insulated copper or PEX over time develops leaks. Check exposed pipework, lag any that runs outside walls or in unheated spaces.
• Rainwater tank pressure pumps work harder in winter (more demand, lower temperatures). If your pump is cycling on more frequently than usual, there's either a leak somewhere or the pressure tank is failing.
• LPG bottle changeovers happen more often in winter (gas hot water + gas heating + cooking). If your auto-changeover regulator hasn't been serviced, both bottles can run dry without notice.

5. Drainage, before the wet season

Gold Coast wet season starts in late November but the prep should happen now while the weather's clear:

• Clean gutters and downpipes, blocked downpipes cause overflow into the wall cavity
• Check stormwater grates, leaf litter blocks them, water can't drain
• If you've had slow drains over autumn, get them cleared before the heavy rain, a partial blockage becomes a total blockage fast when the system's at capacity

6. Bathroom and laundry, winter mould risk

Bathrooms with sluggish drainage stay damp longer in winter (less air circulation, longer hot showers). Mould grows on grout, ceiling above showers and silicone seals. Worth checking exhaust fans are venting properly, pointing into a wall cavity instead of outside is a common builder shortcut that you only notice when the ceiling starts spotting.

7. Toilets, flex hoses

The braided flex hose connecting the wall valve to the toilet cistern has a 5-10 year lifespan. They fail without warning, and they fail at full mains pressure. We replace dozens of these every winter, usually after they've already caused a flood.

If your house is 7+ years old and you've never replaced them, do it. About $20-40 per hose. Cheap insurance against a $50,000 water-damage insurance claim.

Bookings for winter servicing fill up, get in early. Ring us on 0472 657 042 or contact us via the contact page.