What Active Plumbing Service does

Active Plumbing Service Pty Ltd is a family-owned Australian plumbing company founded in 1980 by Les McIntosh, operating as a Pty Ltd (proprietary limited) private company headquartered in Sydney, New South Wales, with a secondary service area in Melbourne, Victoria. The company specializes exclusively in plumbing repairs and maintenance — distinguishing itself from construction-focused plumbers — and serves both residential and commercial customers via a direct-to-consumer field service model where customers book through a 24/7 phone line (1300 462 284) and technicians are dispatched on-site. Service offerings span emergency plumbing (1-hour response commitment), blocked drain clearing, burst pipe repair, gas fitting, hot water system installation and repair, leak detection, backflow prevention testing, thermostatic mixing valve certification, pipe relining, and pre-purchase plumbing inspections, supported by proprietary diagnostic equipment including CCTV drain cameras, high-pressure water jet cleaning rigs, and multi-method leak detection tools (thermal imaging, hydrogen tracer gas, acoustic listening, radio pipe location).

The business is run by founder Les McIntosh and his wife Debbie, supported by a team of licensed plumbers, gasfitters, and drainers, with employee count in the 11-50 range. Revenue is generated through professional services billing on a pay-as-you-go basis, with free estimates, upfront quotes, no hidden charges, and payment due upon job completion; the company also accepts major credit cards, checks, and cash, and offers financing options. Active Plumbing is an authorized representative of major water heater manufacturers (Rinnai, Rheem, Vulcan, Bosch, Dux, Zip, etc.), enabling manufacturer-backed warranties. Customer segments include residential homeowners, commercial premises (shopping centers, offices, schools, hospitals, apartments), and property management companies. Marketing relies on Google Reviews, customer testimonials, community sponsorship (Hope 103.2 radio), and a comprehensive service-area website. Pricing is not publicly disclosed.

The company holds no external funding, operates with no parent or subsidiaries, and is geographically constrained to two Australian states. There is no proprietary software platform, no app, no API, and no AI/ML capability documented — the competitive differentiation rests on the founder's 40+ years of experience, the team's licensed-trade expertise, rapid emergency response, workmanship guarantees (18-month quality guarantee, 100% satisfaction guarantee), and local brand trust accumulated over four decades.

Name

Active Plumbing Service

Legal name

Active Plumbing Service Pty Ltd

Website

https://activeplumbing.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Active Plumbing Service Pty Ltd is a family-owned Australian plumbing company founded in 1980, operating in Sydney and Melbourne. It specializes in residential and commercial plumbing repairs, emergency response, gas fitting, hot water systems, drain clearing, and leak detection for homeowners, businesses, and property managers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Plumbing Repair and Maintenance Services

NAICS

Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (23822)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Repair Services (7600), Wholesale-Hardware & Plumbing & Heating Equipment & Supplies (5070)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Plumbing Fixture Installation & Repair (HSAOAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pipe Installation, Repair & Repiping (HSAOAAAB), Underground Gas Line Trenching & Sleeving (HSAOAKAI), Plumbing Parts & Supplies Retail (Pipes, Valves, Fittings) (CRAIADAD)

Keywords

• Plumbing repair services
• Emergency plumbing
• Blocked drain cleaning
• Gas fitting services
• Hot water system installation

Headquarters

HQ city

Perth

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Emergency Plumbing Services: 24/7 emergency plumbing response for burst pipes, water leaks, and urgent repairs. Available around the clock for residential and commercial clients.
2. General Plumbing Repairs and Maintenance: Routine repair and maintenance services including tap repairs, toilet repairs, leaking fixtures, and general plumbing upkeep for residential and commercial properties.
3. Gas Fitting Services: Installation, servicing, and repair of gas appliances, gas hot water systems, gas cooktops, stoves, ovens, and gas leak detection. Covers natural gas and LPG.
4. Drain Services: Blocked drain clearing using CCTV inspection, high-pressure water jetting, and electric eel equipment. Includes sewer and stormwater drain services.
5. Hot Water System Services: Installation, repair, and replacement of electric and gas hot water systems including storage tanks and instantaneous units.
6. Commercial Plumbing: Plumbing services for commercial premises including shopping centers, offices, schools, hospitals, and apartments. Covers maintenance, repairs, and installations.
7. Property Management Services: On-call plumbing services for property management companies with insurance requirements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Active Plumbing Service is a family-owned plumbing company that provides residential and commercial plumbing repair, maintenance, and installation services across Sydney and Melbourne. Core offerings include 24/7 emergency plumbing, blocked drain clearing, gas fitting, hot water system installation and repair, leak detection, CCTV drain inspection, backflow prevention, pipe relining, and pre-purchase plumbing inspections. The company also retails complementary products such as water tanks, tapware, and septic tanks.

Product overview

Active Plumbing Service Pty Ltd is a family-owned plumbing company operating in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia, with over 40 years of industry experience since its founding in 1980. The company operates as a unified service business rather than a platform-based product, offering residential and commercial plumbing services including emergency repairs, blocked drains, gas fitting, hot water systems, leak detection, and CCTV drain inspection. The core offering centers on plumbing repair and maintenance services with specialty capabilities in backflow prevention, thermostatic mixing valve certification, pipe relining, and pre-purchase plumbing inspections. The company also retails related products including water tanks, tapware, septic tanks, and toilets through its products division.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emergency Plumbing Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Service response within 1 hour for emergency calls
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Water Heater Manufacturers (Rinnai, Rheem, Vulcan, etc.)minorOthersActive Plumbing is an authorized representative of leading water heater manufacturers including Rinnai, Rheem, Vulcan, Beasley, Stiebel Eltron, Dux, Aqua Max, Bosch, Zip, Edson, Hocking, Solahart, and Edwards. This enables them to source quality products and provide manufacturer-backed warranties for installations and repairs.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Jim's Plumbing: Part of the Jim's Group franchise network, providing residential and commercial plumbing services across Australia. Same customer base and service portfolio, with a franchise-based operating model that contrasts with Active Plumbing's independent family-owned structure.
• Service Today: Australian home services provider offering plumbing, electrical, and HVAC repair and maintenance with 24/7 emergency response. Same target customers (residential and commercial), same direct-to-consumer dispatch motion, and overlapping service lines.
• Laser Plumbing: Australia/NZ plumbing franchise offering residential and commercial plumbing, gas fitting, and drain services. Comparable service portfolio and customer segments, operating as a franchise network with national reach.
• Plumbing Bros: Australian plumbing service provider focused on residential repairs, maintenance, and installations with same-day service. Comparable service offering and target customer base in the same Australian market.
• Metropolitan Plumbing: One of Australia's largest residential plumbing service brands, offering emergency plumbing, blocked drains, hot water, and gas fitting across multiple metros. Directly competes with Active Plumbing on the same core service lines, customer segments, and direct-to-consumer dispatch model.

Others

• Rinnai Australia: Manufacturer of hot water systems, gas appliances, and heating products, of which Active Plumbing is an authorized dealer/representative. Adjacent participant in the same value chain rather than a direct competitor.
• Reece Limited: Australia's largest plumbing and bathroom supplies distributor, supplying pipes, valves, fittings, and fixtures to plumbers and contractors. Not a direct competitor but a key supplier/ecosystem participant to plumbing service providers like Active Plumbing.

Regional players

• PlumbFirst: Australian plumbing services provider with similar emergency and maintenance plumbing offerings. Smaller regional operator with comparable service mix but limited geographic footprint relative to national chains.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Active Plumbing Service