Prime Plumbing & Gasfitting Ltd

09/09/2026

There comes a time in every plumbers life when they have to get their hands dirty.
We were called to a job where we’d previously installed a macerator pump box that had supposedly failed. These Zenit Blue Box units are a great tool, and generally very reliable. But unfortunately they’re not designed to macerate ten rolls of toilet paper at a time….
It’s a fact of life, we deal with the less pleasant side of the human function. And when the day arrives you just have to roll your sleeves up and get stuck in. This was the day our apprentice became a man🤣🤣

10/08/2026

We are often asked whether both gas cylinders should be turned on, or should one be left off. Our answer is always, turn both cylinders on. Here is a really good explanation why from another gas fitter.

30/07/2026

Did you know that Prime Plumbing & Gasfitting Ltd are a "Works" partner with Legasea? If you are a fisho I am sure you will know of the amazing work they do on our behalf to advocate for, protect and preserve our fish stocks for future generations. We are proud to be financial supporters of this great organisation.

Right now the future of our fishery is under threat and the more we can do to support Legasea the better the outcome we should achieve for the future.

Click the link to check out their website, and if you can afford it, consider making an annual donation.

LegaSea is a non profit organisation dedicated to restoring the abundance, biodiversity and health of New Zealand’s marine environment.

28/07/2026

On my way to repair a leaking wall hung toilet pan out on the coast. Had to share the view.

21/07/2026

It’s not often I get to work with my best mate. So when I do she rides shotgun.

21/07/2026

We recently got a call from a property manager who we do gas fitting for, who had a tenant that had a burst HWC. Her regular plumber was looking after his son who’d just had surgery. Funny thing was that I was already on my way to replace another HWC that was not so urgent in a vacant house. So, change of plans for the day! I arrived to find the leaking cylinder was a very old 430mm diameter 180ltr from the turn of last century. The new cylinders the same capacity are 490mm. The door to the cupboard measured 450mm. No way of making it bigger. See the problem? Fortunately the solution was obvious (maybe because I’ve been in the trade nearly 25 years!). Fit a new HWC under the floor, with new hot and cold feed, plus a new electrical supply. A builder was organised quickly by the property manager, a plinth was built, the new HWC was installed just in time for the sparky to connect his wiring before the end of the day. And the tenant enjoyed a hot shower that night. A great result considering initially I thought there was no way we’d get everything in a row at such short notice.
And for anyone that notices, yes, there was a third seismic restraint fitted to to base of the cylinder after I took the photo.…..

21/07/2026

Busy times call for desperate measures!! Even the boss is on the tools full time at the moment!!!
I received a last minute call from a local shed builder whose client had changed their mind away from a HWC, choosing instead to install a califont and gas hob. Off I go to Kaeo today, only to find the plumber that’s doing the job has made the decision to shift the califont about thirteen meters from where I was told it would be 😳😳.
Made it work in the end and now they can get the insulation in and a pre-line inspection done.
Great result!

Edit: To be fair to the plumber, he had a valid reason for making the call to site the califont there as it’s closer to the kitchen, it just would have good if they had remembered to tell the client so I knew to take more pipe than I thought I’d need. It worked out okay in the end though.

03/07/2026

Friday drinks…. Catching up on invoicing after 5pm on a Friday now the mayhem of the week is behind us. A couple of site visits tomorrow morning, then knock out a couple of quotes for a couple of new builds and the weekend will begin. Despite all the doom and gloom in the economy we have been very busy. If it keeps up we’ll be needing another plumber!! Go the AB’s!!

03/06/2026

Here are some photos of a recent heat pump HWC we installed at a clients property. This was part of a major renovation project so the owner could use the property as Air BnB holiday accommodation. The client trusted us to choose the right HWC for her situation, and the new Rheem AmbiPower 280E not only came in as the most efficient, but also the best priced. We believe heat pumps are the way of the future for water heating, so if you’re thinking of upgrading your hot water system give us a call for a site visit and a chat about what would suit you best. Rheem New Zealand

03/06/2026