It’s 11 pm and Something Is Wrong. Call Now or Wait?
Every emergency plumber Adelaide households call at night hears the same question: “Is this an emergency, or can it wait until morning?” It is a fair question. Nobody wants to pay for a late-night callout for something that could wait, but nobody wants to wake up to a flooded house either.
The short answer: it is an emergency if there is a risk to your safety, water or sewage is escaping and you cannot stop it, or the damage will get much worse by morning. If you can make it safe and stop it getting worse, it can usually wait.
This guide walks you through a simple test, lists which problems need a plumber now and which can wait, and answers the two questions we get most: is a gas leak an emergency, and is a blocked toilet?
Smell gas or have water you cannot stop? Do not wait. Call SOS Plumbing & Gas on 1300 307 498, 24/7.
The 4-Question Emergency Test
Ask yourself these four questions. If the answer to any of them is yes, call an emergency plumber now.
- Is anyone’s safety at risk? A gas smell, water near electrics, a sagging wet ceiling or sewage inside the house all count.
- Is water or sewage escaping, and you cannot stop it? If turning off the water at the meter or the fixture does not stop it, it will not stop by itself.
- Will the damage be much worse by morning? Water soaking into floors, walls or ceilings for 8 more hours is a far bigger repair bill.
- Have you lost an essential service you cannot do without? For example, no working toilet in the house, or no water at all, especially with young kids, elderly family or someone unwell at home.
All four answers are no? You can most likely make it safe tonight and book a plumber for the morning. The next sections show you how.
What Counts as a Genuine Plumbing Emergency?
These problems need a 24 hour plumber straight away, day or night.
| Problem | Why it cannot wait | What to do first |
|---|---|---|
| Gas leak or gas smell | Risk of fire, explosion and health effects | Get everyone outside, avoid switches and flames, call from outside |
| Burst pipe | Hundreds of litres can escape and soak floors, walls and ceilings | Turn off the water at the meter (see our burst pipe guide) |
| Sewage backing up inside | Health hazard from bacteria, and it spreads fast | Stop using all water, keep people and pets away |
| Overflowing toilet that will not stop | Contaminated water across floors | Turn off the tap behind the toilet |
| Only toilet in the house blocked | No safe way to go to the toilet overnight | Stop flushing; try a plunger once |
| Water near electrics or a bulging ceiling | Electric shock and collapse risk | Turn off power if safe, keep clear of the room |
| Hot water tank leaking heavily or pouring from the relief valve | Scalding risk and fast water damage | Turn off power or gas to the unit and its cold water inlet valve |
| No water to the whole house | Often a hidden burst or supply problem | Check with neighbours, then call SA Water (1300 729 283) if the street is affected, or a plumber if it is just you |
| Flooding from a blocked stormwater drain in heavy rain | Water can enter the house or footings | Clear outdoor grates if safe, move valuables |
If you are ever unsure, call us. A licensed plumber can usually tell you over the phone whether it needs someone tonight, and talk you through making it safe if it does not.
Which Plumbing Problems Can Wait Until Business Hours?
These are annoying, but usually safe to leave overnight once you have taken a simple step to stop them getting worse.
| Problem | Make it safe overnight |
|---|---|
| Dripping tap | Turn off the isolation valve under the sink, or just put a cloth in the basin to quiet the drip |
| Toilet running constantly | Turn off the tap behind the toilet; turn it on briefly to refill for each flush |
| One slow-draining sink or shower | Stop using that fixture and use another bathroom |
| Blocked toilet when you have a second toilet | Use the other one, put a sign on the blocked one |
| Small, contained leak under a sink | Turn off the isolation valve and put a bucket underneath |
| Low water pressure in one tap | Check the aerator for debris; book a plumber if it persists |
| Noisy or knocking pipes | Note when it happens; it is a warning sign, not usually an emergency |
| Hot water lukewarm or running out fast (no leak) | Use what you have and book a hot water repair |
| Minor damp patch that is not growing | Mark the edge with a pencil; if it spreads overnight, call |
Waiting does not mean ignoring it. Many “small” problems quietly get worse. A running toilet can waste a lot of water, and a damp patch can mean a hidden leak. Book a plumber for the next business day so it does not become a real emergency.
Is a Gas Leak a Plumbing Emergency?
Yes, always. A gas leak is the one plumbing problem you should never leave until morning. Natural gas and LPG are given a rotten-egg smell so you can detect a leak. If you notice it, act straight away.
If you smell gas:
- Do not turn lights or appliances on or off, use a lighter or matches, or start a car in the garage.
- Open doors and windows if you can do it on the way out.
- Turn off the gas at the meter if it is safe to reach. On most meters you turn the valve handle a quarter turn so it sits across the pipe.
- Get everyone outside, well away from the house.
- Call from outside, not from inside the house.
Who to call:
| Where the leak is | Who to call |
|---|---|
| In the street, at the footpath or at the meter | Australian Gas Networks, 24/7, on 1800 GAS LEAK (1800 427 532) |
| Between your meter and your appliances (house pipework, cooktop, heater, hot water system) | A licensed emergency gas plumber, such as SOS Plumbing & Gas on 1300 307 498 |
| Anyone feeling unwell, or a fire | 000 |
Australian Gas Networks, which runs the gas network across greater Adelaide, advises that leaks between the meter and your appliances need a licensed gas fitter to repair (AGIG).
Other gas warning signs: a hissing sound near a gas line or appliance, a yellow or flickering flame on a cooktop that should be blue, soot marks around a heater or hot water flue, or dead plants along the line of a buried gas pipe. Headaches, dizziness or nausea that ease when you leave the house can also point to a gas or carbon monoxide problem.
Is a Blocked Toilet a Plumbing Emergency?
Sometimes. It depends on whether it is overflowing, whether you have another toilet, and whether other drains are affected too.
| Situation | Emergency? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Toilet is overflowing and will not stop | Yes | Contaminated water spreads fast. Turn off the tap behind the toilet first |
| It is the only toilet in the house | Yes, usually | Going all night without a toilet is not realistic, especially with kids or older family members |
| Toilet blocked and the shower or floor waste is backing up too | Yes | That points to a main sewer blockage, often tree roots, which will only get worse |
| Sewage coming out of the gully trap outside | Yes | The main line is blocked |
| Toilet slow to flush, but you have a second toilet | No | Use the other toilet and book a plumber for the morning |
| Blocked after a known cause (too much paper, a kid’s toy) and not overflowing | Not usually | One or two careful tries with a flange plunger may clear it |
Try this first (once): use a flange plunger, which has a rubber sleeve that seals in the toilet outlet, with firm, steady pushes. If it does not clear in a few tries, stop. Do not keep flushing, as each flush can overflow the bowl. And do not pour chemical drain cleaner into a toilet, as it rarely works on toilet blockages and makes the job hazardous for your plumber.
For more on main sewer blockages, see our blocked drains Adelaide service, or our toilet repairs page.
The Grey Areas: Can These Wait?
Some problems sit in between. Here is how we would think about them.
No hot water. On its own, usually not an emergency. Most households can manage one night. It becomes urgent if you have a newborn, an elderly or unwell person at home, or it is the middle of an Adelaide winter cold snap. If the system is also leaking, sparking or smells of gas, treat it as an emergency.
Water around the hot water system. A small drip from the relief valve while the tank is heating can be normal. A steady stream, or water coming from the base of the tank, is not. Turn off the power or gas to the unit and close the cold water inlet valve. If that stops the flow and the water is contained, it can usually wait until morning.
A slow leak or damp patch. If you can turn off an isolation valve and it stops, it can wait. If you cannot tell where it is coming from and it is spreading, or water is getting near electrics, call.
A blocked kitchen sink before a big event. Not a safety emergency, but if you have 20 people arriving tomorrow, an early-morning booking is a sensible middle ground.
Renting? Report urgent repairs, such as a burst pipe or gas leak, to your landlord or agent straight away. Under South Australian rules, if the landlord cannot be reached or will not act, tenants can organise urgent problems to be fixed and give the landlord an invoice from an authorised repairer (SA.GOV.AU). Keep the invoice and photos, and check your lease for the nominated emergency contact.
Still not sure? Call us. We would rather talk you through a quick fix over the phone than have you sit up all night worrying.
Your Local Emergency Plumber in Adelaide, Day or Night
When it is a real emergency, you need someone who actually picks up. SOS Plumbing & Gas is a small, local Adelaide team founded by Lawrence, and we answer the phone after hours, on weekends and on public holidays.
- 1-hour arrival guarantee* across Adelaide suburbs
- 24 hour plumber, 7 days a week, including public holidays
- Same rates all day, with no callout fees*
- Licensed emergency gas plumbers for gas leaks and gas appliance faults
- Fully stocked vans, so most emergencies are fixed on the first visit
- Honest advice on what needs fixing tonight and what can wait
Plumbing emergency right now? Call 1300 307 498. Learn more about our emergency plumber Adelaide service, or what to expect when you call in our guide to calling a 24 hour plumber in Adelaide.
Plumbing Emergencies: Frequently Asked Questions
Is a leaking tap an emergency?
No. Turn off the isolation valve under the sink and book a plumber for the next business day.
Is no water at all an emergency?
Check with your neighbours first. If the whole street is off, it is likely SA Water’s supply, so call them on 1300 729 283. If it is just your house, there may be a hidden burst or a problem at your meter, and a plumber should check it.
Should I call 000 for a gas leak?
Call 000 if anyone feels unwell, there is a fire, or you believe there is an immediate danger to life. Otherwise, call Australian Gas Networks on 1800 427 532 for leaks at the meter or in the street, and a licensed gas fitter for leaks inside your property.
Can I turn my water off and wait until morning for a burst pipe?
Yes, if turning off the water at the meter fully stops the leak and nothing is near electrics. You will be without water overnight, so many people still prefer a same-night repair.
My toilet is running all night. Is that urgent?
Not usually. Turn off the tap behind the toilet and refill it by turning the tap on briefly before each flush. Book a repair for the next day.