Burst Pipe? Turn Off Your Water First, Then Read On
A burst pipe Adelaide homeowners discover is almost never at a convenient time. Water is spraying from under the sink, pooling across the laundry floor or dripping through the ceiling, and every minute it runs means more damage. The single most important thing you can do is shut off the water at the meter. Everything else can wait 60 seconds.
This guide walks you through exactly what to do in the next 10 minutes: how to find your water meter and stop the flow, how to keep everyone safe, how to limit the damage, and how to tell if a pipe has burst somewhere you cannot see.
Need help right now? Call SOS Plumbing & Gas on 1300 307 498. We are an emergency plumber for burst pipes across Adelaide, 24/7, with a 1-hour arrival guarantee*.
What Should I Do First If I Have a Burst Pipe at Home?
Turn off the water at the main stopcock next to your water meter. Then deal with electrical safety, drain the pipes and call a burst pipe plumber. Here is the order that limits damage the most.
- Minute 0 to 1: Shut off the water at the meter. Turn the tap on the meter’s inlet pipe clockwise until it stops (see the next section if you cannot find it). If the burst is under a single sink or toilet, the small isolation valve on that fixture may stop it faster.
- Minute 1 to 2: Make it safe. If water is near power points, appliances, light fittings or the switchboard, turn off the power at the switchboard, but only if you can reach it without standing in water. If you cannot, stay out and call for help.
- Minute 2 to 3: Call a plumber. Ring an emergency plumber for burst pipes before you start cleaning up. The sooner someone is on the way, the sooner it is fixed.
- Minute 3 to 5: Drain the pipes. Open the cold taps at the lowest point in the house (such as the laundry or an outside tap) to empty the water left in the pipes. Turn off your hot water system too: switch off the power or set a gas unit to pilot or off.
- Minute 5 to 8: Contain the water. Move furniture, rugs, electronics and valuables out of the way. Soak up water with towels and mops, and put buckets under drips. If water is coming through a ceiling and it is bulging, keep people out of the room underneath.
- Minute 8 to 10: Document everything. Take photos and videos of the burst, the water and any damage before you clean up. You will need these for an insurance claim.
Do not: try to tape or clamp a high-pressure pipe while the water is still on, walk through water near live power, or use a household vacuum on standing water.
Where Is My Water Meter and How Do I Shut Off the Water?
In most Adelaide homes, the water meter is at the front of the property near the street boundary, often in the front garden, beside the driveway or close to the front fence. The stop tap (main shut-off valve) sits on the pipe right next to the meter. Turn it clockwise until it stops to cut the water to the whole property.
Andrew Clarke, CEO of the Master Plumbers Association of South Australia, recommends turning off the main supply because it stops the flow everywhere, no matter where the pipe has burst (Youi).
Can’t find it? Check these spots:
- Under a small lid or cover in the front lawn or garden bed, sometimes hidden by mulch or plants
- Beside the driveway or footpath, near the front fence
- In a meter box on the front wall of the house (more common in newer homes)
- Units and townhouses: often in a bank of meters at the front of the complex, or a utility cupboard on your floor in larger buildings. Some complexes share one meter for the whole site.
Tap won’t budge? Old stop taps can seize if they have not been used in years. Use a towel for grip and steady pressure, but do not force it with a hammer or long bar, as you can snap the valve. If it will not turn, call us and we can shut off the supply for you.
Smaller shut-offs inside the house. Toilets, basins, kitchen sinks and washing machines usually have a small isolation tap on the supply hose. If the leak is from one fixture, turning that off can stop it while the rest of the house keeps water. Your hot water system also has an isolation valve on its cold water inlet.
Water bursting from the street or the footpath? If the burst is before your meter, it is usually SA Water’s pipe. Call SA Water’s 24/7 faults line on 1300 729 283.
Do this today: find your meter and stop tap, check it turns, and show everyone in the house where it is. It is the best two minutes you will spend on your plumbing.
Staying Safe While You Wait for the Plumber
Water damage is fixable. Injuries are not. Keep these risks in mind while help is on the way.
| Risk | What to do |
|---|---|
| Water near power points, appliances or light fittings | Turn off the power at the switchboard if you can reach it from a dry spot. If not, stay out of the area and call an electrician |
| Water coming through the ceiling | Keep everyone out of the room below. A sagging, water-filled ceiling can collapse without warning |
| Hot water pipe burst | Hot water can scald. Turn off the hot water system and keep clear of the spray |
| Slippery floors | Lay towels down and keep kids and pets out of wet rooms |
| Sewage or dirty water | Avoid contact, wear gloves and wash hands well. A burst sewer pipe needs a plumber, not a mop |
| Water near the gas meter or gas appliances | If you smell gas, leave the house, avoid switches and flames, and call a licensed gas fitter |
Renting? Let your landlord or property manager know straight away. Check your lease for urgent repair contacts, and take photos of the damage either way.
Once the water is off, the clock slows down. You have stopped the worst of the damage. Now it is about getting the pipe repaired properly and drying everything out before mould sets in.
How Can I Tell If a Pipe Has Burst Inside a Wall or Under the Floor?
Not every burst pipe sprays water across the room. Pipes inside walls, under concrete slabs and beneath floorboards can leak for days before anyone notices. The Master Plumbers Association of South Australia says internal pipe failure is one of the most common leak causes plumbers deal with (Youi).
Signs of a hidden burst pipe:
- Damp, discoloured or bubbling patches on walls or ceilings
- Warped, lifting or soft floorboards, or wet carpet with no obvious source
- The sound of running water when every tap is off
- A sudden drop in water pressure
- A musty smell or new mould in one area
- Cracked tiles or grout, or water seeping from the base of a wall
- Soggy, sunken or unusually green patches in the yard along the pipe line
- A water bill that is suddenly much higher than usual
The 30-minute water meter test:
- Turn off every tap, appliance and irrigation system in and around the house.
- Note the reading on your water meter, or take a photo of it.
- Do not use any water for 30 minutes (an hour is even better).
- Check the meter again. If the numbers have moved, or the small leak indicator dial is spinning, water is escaping somewhere.
SA Water has more tips on finding leaks on your property.
Found a leak but can’t see it? A burst pipe repair plumber uses leak detection and pressure testing to pinpoint the exact spot before opening up a wall or slab, which means less damage and a smaller repair bill.
How Quickly Can a Plumber Get to Me for a Burst Pipe?
With SOS Plumbing & Gas, usually within the hour. We offer a 1-hour arrival guarantee* across Adelaide suburbs, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and we charge the same rates at 2 am as we do at 2 pm.
When you call, tell us:
- Your address and the nearest cross street
- Whether you have managed to turn the water off
- Where the burst is (wall, ceiling, under the house, in the yard)
- Whether it is hot or cold water, and if water is near anything electrical
- Photos, if you can text them, help us bring the right parts
What happens when your burst pipe plumber arrives:
- Make it safe. If the water is still running, we shut it off and isolate the damaged section.
- Find the source. We trace the burst, using leak detection and pressure testing if it is hidden in a wall, under a slab or underground.
- Give you an upfront price. You will know the cost and your options before we start.
- Repair it properly. We carry the tools and fittings for most copper, poly and PVC repairs, so most jobs are fixed on the spot without a temporary patch.
- Test and restore water. We pressure test the repair, turn the water back on and check for leaks.
- Advise you on next steps. If older pipework is likely to fail again, we will tell you, and give you photos and notes for your insurer.
For more on what causes burst pipes, typical repair costs and how insurance works, read our follow-up guide: Burst Pipe Damage in Adelaide: Causes, Repair Costs and What Insurance Covers.
Emergency Plumber for Burst Pipes in Adelaide: Call SOS Now
When a pipe bursts, you need someone who picks up the phone and turns up fast. SOS Plumbing & Gas is a small, local Adelaide team founded by Lawrence, and burst pipes are exactly the kind of emergency we are built for.
- 1-hour arrival guarantee* across Adelaide, 24/7
- No callout fees* and the same rates day or night
- Licensed and insured burst pipes plumbers
- Leak detection and pressure testing for hidden bursts
- Repairs on the spot for most copper, poly and PVC pipes
- Photos and notes to support your insurance claim
Burst pipe right now? Call 1300 307 498. Learn more about our burst pipe repairs in Adelaide and emergency plumbing services.
Burst Pipe Adelaide: Frequently Asked Questions
Should I turn off my hot water system too?
Yes. Once the mains are off, switch off the power to an electric system, or set a gas unit to pilot or off. This stops it heating an empty or draining tank.
Can I fix a burst pipe myself until the plumber arrives?
With the water off, a pipe repair clamp or self-fusing repair tape can slow a small split in an exposed pipe. It is a stopgap only. Permanent repairs to your water supply must be done by a licensed plumber.
Who do I call if water is bursting out of the footpath or street?
That is usually SA Water’s main or service pipe. Call SA Water’s 24/7 faults line on 1300 729 283.
Can I use any water while the supply is off?
Not from the taps. Keep a few bottles of drinking water aside, and avoid flushing toilets repeatedly, as the cisterns will not refill.
How can I protect my home while I am away?
Turning off the water at the meter before a holiday means a burst pipe cannot flood the house while you are gone. Just remember your irrigation will not run.