Historic Plumbing

05/04/2026

There’s something special about working on old homes… you never know what history is hiding beneath the surface.

While carrying out work, we uncovered this incredible find — a George III penny dating back to pre-1820.

That means this coin is older than Western Australia itself.

Moments like this are why we love what we do. It’s not just plumbing — it’s preserving and uncovering pieces of the past while keeping these old buildings functioning for the future.

History runs deeper than the pipes.

25/03/2026

🌳🚫 Tree Roots vs Old Clay Drains 🚫🌳

This video shows us removing a section of old clay sewer pipe completely full of tree roots. Over time the joints in these older drains open slightly, letting roots sneak in looking for moisture. Once they’re in, they grow quickly and eventually block the pipe entirely.

We often hear people say they’ve tried drain cleaners, draino, hot water, or bicarbonate soda to fix a blocked drain like this. Unfortunately when roots are involved, those things simply can’t solve the problem.

Chemicals might temporarily clear a small path, but the root mass remains in the pipe, meaning the blockage will return again and again.

🔧 The only proper long-term repair is exactly what you see here:
• Locate the affected section
• Excavate the damaged clay pipe
• Remove the root-infested section
• Install new pipe so the problem is fixed properly

No temporary fixes. No repeat call-outs. Just a drain that works the way it should.

If you’re constantly dealing with recurring blocked drains, there’s usually an underlying cause — and we specialise in finding it and fixing it for good.

📩 Send us a message if your drains keep blocking and we’ll help make it history.

24/03/2026

Out in a diesel workshop this week setting up a clean, practical handwash station 💧

This install was all about durability and function:
✔️ Stainless steel basin for tough environments
✔️ Neat copper run with isolation for easy servicing
✔️ Simple, reliable setup that’ll handle daily grime without fuss

In workshops like this, it’s not just about having a sink — it’s about having something that actually works day in, day out without becoming a problem.

Clean hands, compliant setup, and built to last 👊

16/03/2026

🚨 Burst Flexi Hose = Instant Flood Risk 🚨

This flexible hose burst today. No warning, no slow leak — just a sudden failure.

Old braided flexi hoses like this often corrode from the inside out. The stainless braid may look fine, but the rubber lining inside deteriorates over time until it finally splits under pressure. When that happens, it can release hundreds of litres of water per hour, flooding a home in minutes. 💧💥

⚠️ What many homeowners don’t realise:
• Many insurers won’t cover water damage if flexi hoses are over 5 years old
• Claims may also be declined if water pressure exceeds 500kPa
• Most failures happen without warning under sinks, vanities, and behind toilets

This is why these small hoses are one of the most common causes of major household flooding.

🔧 The good news: it’s an easy preventative fix.

If your home’s flexi hoses are older than 5 years, it’s worth having them checked or replaced before they fail like this one did.

📩 Message us to book a quick inspection or replacement — a small job now can prevent a massive water damage claim later.

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09/03/2026

Most plumbers clear the blockage… trim the tree roots… and leave just enough behind to guarantee they’ll be back again.

At Historic Plumbing, we do things differently.

When we clear a drain, we don’t just treat the symptom — we find the cause. Using CCTV inspections and proper diagnosis, we locate exactly where the roots are getting in and why.

Then we give our customers the option for a permanent repair, so the problem doesn’t keep coming back.

Because the goal isn’t repeat call-outs…
It’s making your drain blockage History.

🎥 In this video: pulling a massive root ball from a sewer inspection opening — and tracking down where it came from.

06/03/2026

🔧 Built for the trade, designed to last.

This custom foot-activated hand wash station was designed and installed specifically for a bricklaying training workshop — giving students a completely hands-free way to wash up after a hard session on the tools.

Using foot-operated valves, users can control the water without touching taps, helping keep things cleaner in a busy training environment. We also installed a TMV (thermostatic mixing valve) to ensure a safe, perfectly tempered water temperature every time.

From the neatly run copper pipework to the purpose-built layout, this installation is all about durability, hygiene, and craftsmanship.

Sometimes the best plumbing is the work you don’t think about — it just works exactly how it should. 👌

17/02/2026

Today’s completely normal finds on a historic building site 🏚️

While doing plumbing… we apparently uncovered:

🚪 An old solid doorknob
🥄 Two very seasoned spoons
🍴 A fork that’s definitely eaten tougher meals than I have
⚾ A random marble
💥 And a handful of old bullet casings

Because nothing says “heritage renovation” like discovering someone’s dinner cutlery and target practice leftovers in the same patch of dirt.

The only real danger now?

Forgetting all of this is in my pockets and sending:
• A doorknob
• Antique cutlery
• Actual bullet casings

Through the washing machine tonight.

That spin cycle is about to sound like a saloon in 1895 🤠💀

16/02/2026

⭐️ A Small Favour From Our Historic Plumbing Community ⭐️

Over the years we’ve had the privilege of working on some incredible homes and with incredible people across Perth and beyond — and we’re so grateful to every client who has trusted us with their property.

As a small, locally owned business, Google reviews make a huge difference to us. They help other owners of historic homes feel confident choosing a plumber who understands the care and craftsmanship these properties deserve.

If we’ve completed work for you and you were happy with the result, we’d truly appreciate you taking a minute to leave us a review.

You can do so here:
👉 https://g.page/r/CUyTdWmGoYgvEBE/review

Your support keeps small businesses like ours growing — and allows us to continue preserving and modernising beautiful historic homes all over WA.

Thank you again for being part of our journey 🤝

Post a review to our profile on Google

12/02/2026

This beautiful 1916 home in Beverley, WA is right up our alley 👌

Working on historic homes isn’t just about upgrading plumbing — it’s about understanding the era, respecting the structure, and making sure any modern improvements blend in without stripping away the character.

We love the challenge of bringing these homes up to today’s standards while keeping the heritage feel intact. Careful planning, thoughtful fixture choices, and neat concealed pipework all play a part.

Projects like this are why we specialise in historic properties — and yes, we travel all over WA for the right heritage job.

If it’s worth preserving, it’s worth doing properly.

12/02/2026

There’s a lot that goes into this before you ever see the finished product.

We carefully chased into solid brick to recess the pipework and mixer body, ensuring everything sits perfectly flush and secure behind the wall. No shortcuts, no surface-mounted fittings — just precise measurements, clean lines, and proper installation from the ground up.

Once the rough-in is complete and tested, the magic happens… the trim goes on and it looks like it was always meant to be there.

It might look simple in a 10-second reel, but this is the difference between a quick job and quality workmanship.

Built properly. Installed precisely. Finished clean.

11/02/2026

When a simple plug & waste turns into a not-so-simple job… 👀🛁

We were called out to investigate a failed bath plug & waste that had been leaking for some time. Unfortunately, the ongoing leak had caused the substrate beneath the bath to deteriorate — allowing the bath to drop and sink.

Once we opened it up, we were met with another challenge…
Tree roots had found their way in and completely wrapped themselves around the waste line 🌳➰

With extremely tight access through just one tile opening, this was precision work. We carefully:

✔️ Removed the damaged plug & waste
✔️ Cut back and cleared invasive tree roots
✔️ Repaired the waste line
✔️ Re-secured and supported the bath
✔️ Installed a new plug & waste assembly

All completed without unnecessary tile removal.

These are the kinds of jobs that highlight the importance of early leak detection — what starts as a minor drip can quickly turn into structural movement and much bigger repairs.

If your bath feels like it’s shifting, draining slowly, or showing signs of leakage underneath, it’s best to get it checked sooner rather than later.

📞 Historic Plumbing – solving the tricky ones properly.

10/02/2026

🔍 Today’s Plumbing Find – A Hidden Cause of Leaks

During today’s job, we uncovered an interesting issue

The hot and cold copper pipes had been installed too close together. Over time, normal expansion, contraction, and vibration caused the pipes to rub against each other. This friction eventually wore a hole through the hot water pipe. Once that happened, the hot pipe effectively acted like a drill, creating holes in the cold water pipe as well.

The result? Leaks on both the hot and cold lines.

This is a great example of why correct pipe spacing and proper installation methods are critical — small shortcuts can lead to major damage years later.

📸 See the photo for a close-up of the wear and damage.

If you’re experiencing unexplained water loss, pressure issues, or damp areas, it’s often what you can’t see that’s causing the problem.

But one call to Historic Plumbing and your plumbing problems will be history!