Burst Pipe Repair Wollongong

Burst water pipe: what to do first

Work through these in order. The aim is to stop the water, keep everyone safe and limit the damage until we arrive.

• Turn off the water at the meter. Sydney Water says your meter is usually at the front of the property. Close the tap on the meter; if the flow stops, the leak is in your pipes. If there is an isolation valve closer to the burst, closing that may keep water running to the rest of the house.
• Stay clear of wet electrics. Electricity conducts through water. Endeavour Energy's flood safety advice is not to handle wet electrical equipment, and not to switch power back on to anything that has been in contact with water until a licensed electrician has looked at it.
• Move what you can and take photos. Lift rugs, furniture and electrical items out of the water, and photograph the damage and the burst before anything is cleaned up.
• Ring us on 0411 251 759. Let us know what has burst and where, whether you've managed to turn the water off, and whether it has reached ceilings, walls or power points.

More step-by-step help

Our guides on how to shut off a burst pipe and what to do fast when a water pipe bursts go through each step in detail. If you've never found your meter tap, read how to shut off the water main before you need it.

Signs of a hidden burst pipe

Not every burst sprays across the kitchen floor. Pipes under slabs, inside walls and beneath the lawn can leak for weeks before anyone notices. Watch for:

• A water bill that jumps even though your water use hasn't changed
• Wet patches in the lawn, or a strip of grass greener than the rest
• Damp walls, bubbling paint or a musty smell with no obvious source
• The sound of running water when every tap is off
• Water seeping out across the driveway or footpath

The meter test

Sydney Water's leak test takes an hour and no tools. With all taps and water-using appliances off, write down the meter reading, then leave everything off for at least an hour. A different reading at the end means water is getting out somewhere. For what to check after that, see our guide to underground water leak signs.

Burst pipe repair: how we find and fix the break

We find the break first. Sometimes that's obvious; behind a wall or under the ground it means tracing the line and narrowing it down so we open up as little as possible.

Then we isolate that section, cut out the damaged pipe, join in new pipe of a compatible type, and check the repair holds with the water back on before anything is closed up. If the pipe has failed because it is old or corroded along its length, we'll tell you, because patching one spot on a failing line can simply move the next burst further along.

We're fully licensed and carry comprehensive insurance, and every job includes our free plumbing safety report. If water has reached ceilings, walls or wiring, we'll let you know what we saw so you know which other trades to call.

Is it your pipe or Sydney Water's?

Where the leak sits decides who fixes it. Sydney Water's advice is that a leak between your water meter and your building needs a licensed plumber. If the meter itself is leaking, or the leak is in the pipe between the meter and the street, Sydney Water may fix it, and you can report it on 13 20 90, 24/7.

Burst pipes and home insurance

Insurance is between you and your insurer, and policies differ. As a general guide, consumer group CHOICE explains that escape of liquid cover pays for the damage the water caused, not for fixing or replacing the item that leaked, and that some policies exclude gradual leaks. Read the escape of liquid section of your policy's PDS and call your insurer early.

A clear record helps any claim: photos taken before the clean-up, the damaged piece of pipe if you can keep it, and our invoice describing what failed and what we did.