Older home? Your pipes have a story.
Your water is safe.
But do you know what's in your pipes?
Homes built before 1980 often have galvanised iron plumbing. Over time, these pipes rust from the inside, and that rust ends up in your water.
No taste. No smell. No visible sign at the tap.
A free two-minute test is the only way to know where your home sits.
We post the kit to you. You test at home. No plumber visit needed.
4.9★
Google rating
826 reviews
826 reviews
Free
Usually $10,
yours free
yours free
2 min
At-home
test
test
What the strip reads
Nine things worth knowing about your tap water
The strip gives you a reading across nine parameters, a useful starting point for understanding what's in your water. Some results will confirm everything's in expected ranges; others might be worth a brief conversation.
Free Chlorine
Chlorine levels vary across Melbourne suburbs. Higher concentrations are common closer to treatment plants and can affect taste. Worth knowing if your water regularly tastes or smells off.
pH Level
Measures how acidic or alkaline your water is. Values outside the normal range can affect taste and, over time, may influence how water interacts with your pipes and fittings.
Lead
Can enter water through older pipes and fittings. Completely undetectable by taste or smell. A strip reading is the simplest way to get a picture of where your home sits.
Iron
Can enter water through ageing pipes and fittings. Elevated levels may show up as reddish-brown staining on fixtures, a metallic taste, or visible discolouration at the tap.
Copper
Typically leaches from copper pipes and fittings, particularly in newer homes or after periods of low use. May present as a blue-green tinge on fixtures or a slightly bitter taste.
Total Hardness
Calcium and magnesium content, relevant to scale build-up on appliances and fixtures. Melbourne is generally a soft water city, but readings vary by area and building.
Nitrate
Typically low in treated metropolitan water. Can originate from agricultural runoff or ageing infrastructure. A baseline reading for your property is useful context for any known local variation.
Nitrite
A related compound to nitrate, generally present at very low levels in treated mains water. Elevated readings can indicate bacterial activity or distribution system issues worth investigating.
Fluoride
Added to Melbourne's water supply to support dental health. Levels are regulated within a target range. The strip gives you a reading for your specific tap, which can vary slightly from the treated supply figure.
The process
Three steps. About 2 minutes.
No specialist equipment or plumbing knowledge needed. The kit comes to you. You do the test at home, in your own time.
01
We mail your kit
Fill in the form below and we'll post a test strip kit to your door. No cost, no catch, and no plumber visit involved. Just your address so we know where to send it.
02
Dip the strip
Immerse the strip in a glass of cold tap water for 2 seconds. Hold it level for 15 to 60 seconds while the colour indicators develop. That's it. The whole test is done at your kitchen tap.
03
Check your results
Scan the QR code included in your kit to open the results page online. Enter your strip readings and you'll get a clear breakdown of what each result means, no technical knowledge required.
No pressure. We'll explain what the results mean in plain language, and outline any options if something looks worth following up. Whether you call us or not is entirely up to you.
What happens next
Two outcomes. Either way, you'll know.
Whatever your results show, we'll give you a clear explanation and leave the next move entirely up to you.
Results look normal
Good to know and file away.
If your levels are within expected ranges, we'll confirm that clearly. There's nothing you need to do. You now have a baseline reading for your property, which can be useful if anything changes down the track.
Something looks elevated
We'll talk through what it means.
If any parameter reads higher than typical, we'll explain what it might mean for your plumbing, appliances, or water quality, and what options exist if you'd like to do something about it. No pushing, no upselling. Just clarity.
South East Melbourne specifically
Your suburb affects your water more than you'd think
The same mains supply reads differently depending on your service pipe, nearby maintenance history, and the age of your internal plumbing.
Infrastructure
Your street's service pipe matters
The connection between the mains and your property varies significantly across South East Melbourne. Older service pipes, regardless of when your home was built, can leach metals that your property's internal plumbing doesn't.
Chlorine
Distance from the treatment plant changes your chlorine level
Melbourne Water adds chlorine to disinfect the network. Homes closer to the treatment plant tend to have higher residual chlorine. Inner suburbs like Richmond, Fitzroy, and Collingwood often read higher than outer suburbs.
Events
Nearby maintenance work can spike your readings
Pipe repairs, pressure changes, and mains replacement works in your street can temporarily affect sediment and pH readings. The test gives you a snapshot of right now, which is exactly when it's most useful.
Order your test
Know what's in your water.
At home. Takes 2 minutes.
At home. Takes 2 minutes.
We post the kit, you run the test at home in about 2 minutes. Your results are yours to keep.
✓Free, normally valued at $10
✓At-home test that takes 2 minutes
✓Report is yours to keep and refer back to
✓Call us anytime to discuss results, no sales pressure
✓4.9★ on Google · 826 reviews · South East Melbourne based
Order your free test kit
Delivered across South East Melbourne in 1 to 2 business days
What homeowners say
Trusted across South East Melbourne
★★★★★
4.9 on Google · 826 reviews
★★★★★
"Did the water test before doing anything else. The report was genuinely useful. We had no idea our chlorine level was higher than average. Outright walked us through it clearly, no pressure at all."
Google · Richmond
★★★★★
"Really appreciated the plain English explanation. The results showed slightly elevated lead. They explained what it meant, what our options were, and let us decide. No upsell, just information."
Google · Brunswick
★★★★★
"I was sceptical a free kit would tell me anything useful. It flagged a pH reading worth looking at. They explained what it meant for our pipes. Changed how I think about our plumbing."
Google · Fitzroy
FAQ
Common questions
Do I have to book a plumber after doing the test?
Absolutely not. If your results are normal, there's nothing more to do. You have a useful baseline reading for your property. If something looks elevated, we're happy to explain what it means and what your options are. A quick conversation with our team costs nothing and gives you a clear picture.
Can I really not taste or smell most water problems?
Many common impurities give no sensory warning. Lead is completely undetectable by taste or smell at any household concentration. Chlorine levels vary across Melbourne suburbs, and many homes have elevated readings without noticing. Hardness and pH both affect your pipes and appliances without any obvious sign at the tap. A two-minute strip test is the only way to get an actual reading.
Is this a water safety test?
No. This is an at-home indicative test to give you a general picture of your tap water's mineral and chemical levels. It is not a certified laboratory analysis. Melbourne's water supply is treated and monitored by Melbourne Water and is safe to drink. If you have a specific health concern, we'd recommend contacting Melbourne Water or a certified water testing laboratory.
How long does the test take?
The test itself takes about 2 minutes. You dip the strip for 2 seconds, then hold it level for 15 to 60 seconds while the colour indicators develop. Reading the results against the chart takes another minute or two. We can also walk through the results with you over the phone if you'd prefer.
What suburbs do you service?
We currently service South East Melbourne and surrounding suburbs. If you're unsure whether we cover your area, feel free to reach out and we'll let you know straight away.
What will you do with my details?
Your address is used solely to post your test kit. Your email is used to follow up with a results guide and, occasionally, relevant information from Outright Plumbing. We don't share your information with third parties, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
What if I'm not sure how to read the strip?
The kit includes a colour chart with clear instructions. If you'd prefer a second set of eyes, just give us a call or send through a photo of your strip and we'll walk you through exactly what the colours mean, no fuss.
How accurate are at-home test strips?
Test strips provide a useful indicative reading rather than lab-grade precision. They're a reliable starting point for understanding your water's general mineral and chemical profile. If a reading looks notably high or you have a specific concern, we can point you toward more detailed testing options.