TIPS

TURN ON THE TAPS

Water pressure can vary greatly, especially in a bathroom on a second storey. This is often due to a low capacity pump; a higher capacity one is expensive to buy and install.

What does the water look and taste like?

Listen too. An old pump, close to the house, or not properly installed, can be very noisy. READ MORE: thisnzlife.co.nz/ bore-water | thisnzlife.co.nz/7tips-protecting-bore/

CHECK THE WASTEWATER

The failure rate of NZ wastewater (or ‘septic tank’) systems is estimated to range from 15-50 percent. Find out where the system and its drainge fields are, and when the tank was last emptied.

If it’s a pre-2000 property, invest in a wastewater report. If a wastewater system needs replacing, a new one can cost $10,000+. There may be council restrictions on the type of system you can install, depending on the terrain, soil and land area. READ MORE: thisnzlife.co.nz/7-commonreasons-septic-tank-fails/