Tamworth by the numbers
Frost is routine
Tamworth Airport averages 51.3 days a year at or below 2°C and 27.4 days at or below 0°C, from records kept between 1992 and 2026. July's mean minimum there is 2.3°C, and the lowest reading is -6.6°C.
Big storms do happen
The same station averages 658.8 mm of rain a year, but its wettest day on record brought 164.2 mm. Gutters, downpipes and yard drains have to cope with that.
Nearly all houses
At the 2021 Census, 88.1% of occupied homes in Tamworth Regional Council's area were separate houses, and just 1.8% were flats or apartments. 31.1% were rented.
Getting pipes through a Tamworth winter
- Lag copper and plastic pipe that runs along outside walls, especially on the shady side.
- Know where your main stop tap is, so you can shut the water off fast if a pipe splits.
- Protect the outdoor hot water unit's pipework as well as the cold supply.
- A tap that won't run on a freezing morning may be frozen, not broken: let it thaw slowly and look for splits before you use it.
- Leaving for a cold week? Ask a plumber what to drain or turn off.
When a pipe bursts
Turn off the water at the stop tap, then switch off the hot water unit if water is near power. Our burst pipes page walks through the next steps. If water is coming up through the ground near your meter or in the street, rather than inside your fence, ring the water supplier on your bill: it may be their pipe, not yours.
Sewer blockages
Who owns which section of sewer pipe depends on the water authority, and we haven't confirmed the rule for Tamworth. Before paying for a blockage that might sit past your boundary, call the authority on your bill and ask where its pipe ends. Our guide to who owns the sewer pipe shows how much the rule varies.
Checking the plumber and the paperwork
In NSW a contractor licence is needed for plumbing, drainage and gasfitting of any value. The Public Register lists each licence's categories and expiry, plus any suspension, public warning or penalty notice, so check the name on your quote against it.
Most jobs start with a Notice of Work. Emergency work and minor jobs, such as swapping an existing hot water system, don't need one. At the end, a Certificate of Compliance confirms the work meets the Plumbing Code of Australia, and you're entitled to a copy. Read more in our NSW guide.
Heat pumps in a cold climate
A heat pump pulls heat from the outside air, so ask how the model you're quoted performs on a frosty morning. Switching from an electric or gas water heater can attract an Energy Savings Scheme discount through an installer partnered with an Accredited Certificate Provider. NSW calls its published amounts indicative only, and you pay a minimum amount yourself. Details: NSW hot water discounts, heat pump hot water.
What we would do
Spend an afternoon before June finding your stop tap and lagging exposed pipe. It costs far less than a split pipe in July. When something does go wrong, check the plumber's licence category on the Public Register, and for a sewer blockage, ask your water authority where its responsibility starts before anyone digs.