Home Design Guides: Plumbing

Water-producing bathroom fittings in Australia need to comply with basic water-efficiency standards. As a part of the WELS scheme, they are rated and given a label that shows how efficient they are.

The WaterMark certification label signifies that a plumbing product complies with certain quality and performance standards.

Regulations in Australia restrict where you're able to position power points in relation to sinks and taps. Find out what the rules say, and how far your power points will need to be from your kitchen sink.

It's important to ensure that water is properly and effectively drained off the roof. Find out more about how this is achieved, and why.

Learn what differentiates different kinds of basins and sinks in bathrooms, kitchens and laundries, as well as what types are available, and how they're attached to your plumbing systems.

Find out what sorts of restrictions apply to the temperature of water coming out of any given tap in an Australian household, and how that can be controlled.

In some remote locations, it's easier and more economical to pump water out of a ground bore than it is to connect to a water supply network. Find out what's involved, and what sorts of issues need to be considered.

See how lagging (insulation) and the distance that hot water has to travel through your pipes can affect energy efficiency in your hot water system.

Pipes are connected and directed using many different types of fittings. Find out what some of the more common joints and couplings are called, and what they're designed to do.

What do government regulations state about water quality, and how is the quality of our water supply managed and regulated?

Find out what the difference is between pipes and tubes, what kinds are used for what purposes, and what sorts of pipes and tubes will be used in your home.

Different types of pipes need to be connected in different ways - and how they're installed in your home can affect not only your warranties, but also the amount of noise they make.

There are special laws and regulations in place in Australia that control to how gas appliances should be chosen, who can install them and who can maintain them. Here's what you need to know.

There are few things that will ruin a barbecue as quickly as an exploding gas tank... Find out how to ensure that your barbecue is safe and properly maintained.

Gas itself is a volatile fuel - but carbon monoxide, a byproduct of gas, is in some senses far more dangerous and can easily poison you. Find out how to ensure your gas appliances are safely installed and vented.

If you're planning on installing a gas cooktop or other gas kitchen appliance, it's important that it's installed properly, and serviced regularly by a qualified gasfitter. Here's what to look for.

These days, hot running water's an indispensible luxury (some would say a necessity). Find out more about how water is heated and delivered to where it's needed in your home.

While it normally takes a licensed plumber to fix more serious issues with your pipes and plumbing, there are a few things you can do to fix minor issues and keep things running the way they should. Maintaining your plumbing system means looking a

While you're not expected to know all of the regulations inside and out, understanding the basics can definitely help you ensure that your plumbing's what it's meant to be.

Learn about hot water systems, fuel gas systems, bore water systems, rainwater supply, septic systems drainage and other plumbing systems around your home.