Summer Is Coming. Is Your Plumbing Ready?
When most people think of plumbing emergencies, they picture a freezing winter night. But summer brings its own wave of callouts for blocked drains Adelaide homes suffer when thirsty tree roots go hunting for water, burst pipe Adelaide emergencies as dry clay soil shrinks and shifts, and blocked kitchens and toilets as the house fills up with Christmas guests. Add summer storms and long holidays away from home, and December and January can be some of the busiest months of the year for plumbers.
The good news is that most summer plumbing problems are predictable, which means most are preventable. This guide explains what summer does to Adelaide plumbing, and gives you simple checklists for the heat, the storms, the holidays and the Christmas crowd.
Already have a problem? SOS Plumbing & Gas is a 24 hour plumber covering all of Adelaide, including over Christmas and public holidays. Call 1300 307 498.
Why Summer Is Tough on Adelaide Plumbing
Adelaide’s hot, dry summers put pressure on almost every part of a home’s plumbing at once.
| Summer factor | What it does | Most likely problem |
|---|---|---|
| Long dry spells | Tree roots go searching for moisture, and sewer pipes are an easy target | Blocked drains and sewer backups |
| Shrinking clay soil | Adelaide’s reactive clay dries out and contracts, moving pipes and joints | Cracked or burst underground pipes |
| Heatwaves | Solar and storage tanks run hotter, and higher demand strains the system | Relief valve discharge, hot water faults |
| Summer storms | Sudden heavy rain after dry weeks washes leaves and silt into drains | Blocked stormwater and flooding |
| Holidays away | Nobody is home to notice a leak | A small burst becomes a big insurance claim |
| Christmas guests | More showers, more flushes, more greasy cooking | Blocked toilets and kitchen sinks |
| Public holidays | Many plumbers are closed or charge holiday rates | Longer waits and higher bills in an emergency |
The rest of this guide takes each of these in turn, with simple steps to stay ahead of them.
Thirsty Tree Roots and Blocked Drains
Tree roots are already the biggest cause of blocked drains in Adelaide. SA Water recorded more than 30,000 root intrusions across its network in 2020, close to 60% of all sewer failures that year (Inside Local Government). When the ground dries out in summer, roots work even harder to find water, and the moisture inside your sewer pipe is hard for them to resist.
Signs roots are getting into your drains:
- Toilets and showers draining slower than usual
- Gurgling from drains when another fixture is used
- A sewage smell near the outside gully trap
- The gully trap filling up or overflowing
What to do before summer:
- Book a CCTV drain check if you have large trees near your sewer line, or you have had root blockages before. A camera shows whether roots are already inside.
- Have existing roots cleared with high-pressure jetting before they turn into a full blockage over Christmas.
- Ask about pipe relining if the camera shows cracked or root-damaged clay pipes. It seals the pipe so roots cannot get back in.
- Water deeply but less often. Deep watering encourages roots to grow down into the soil rather than sideways towards pipes.
Read more: Blocked Drains in Adelaide: What’s Actually Causing Them, Blocked Drain Plumber Adelaide: What to Expect and our CCTV drain inspection service.
Dry, Shrinking Clay and Burst Pipes
Much of Adelaide sits on reactive clay that swells when wet and shrinks when dry. Over a long, hot summer, that movement can bend, stretch and crack underground water pipes and stress the joints under slabs. Older copper and galvanised pipes, already weakened by Adelaide’s hard water, are the most likely to give way.
Watch for these summer warning signs:
- A sudden drop in water pressure
- A soggy or unusually green patch in a dry, brown lawn
- Water pooling near paths, driveways or the house slab
- New cracks in walls, tiles or paving
- Your water meter moving when every tap is off
Do the 30-minute meter test: turn off every tap and the irrigation, note the meter reading, wait 30 minutes without using water, then check again. If it has moved, water is escaping somewhere.
Garden irrigation is a common culprit too. Summer is when sprinklers and drip lines work hardest, and a split irrigation pipe can waste a lot of water before anyone notices. Check your system at the start of the season.
Read more: Burst Pipe in Adelaide? Here’s Exactly What to Do in the Next 10 Minutes and Burst Pipe Damage in Adelaide: Causes, Repair Costs and What Insurance Covers.
Hot Water Systems in Summer
You might expect hot water problems to be a winter thing, but Adelaide summers bring their own.
Relief valves working overtime. On hot days, and especially with solar hot water, tank temperatures and pressure climb. The relief valve may release a little water to keep the tank safe, which is normal. A valve that runs constantly, or a puddle that keeps growing, is not, and usually means the valve or the system needs attention.
Tempering valves matter more. With tanks running hotter, a working tempering valve is what stops scalding water reaching bathroom taps. If your hot water suddenly feels much hotter at the tap than usual, have it checked, especially with young children in the house.
Solar systems need a pre-summer check. Look for leaking collector panels or pipework on the roof, and make sure the booster is set correctly so you are not paying to heat water the sun could heat for free.
Summer is the best time to replace an ageing system. If your tank is 10 years or older, or showing signs like rust or rumbling, replacing it in summer means:
- No cold-shower panic, so you have time to compare options
- Time to choose an efficient heat pump or solar system and claim rebates. Federal STC discounts on heat pumps shrink each year until 2030 (What’s The Damage), so waiting does not save money
- A reliable system in place before the first winter cold snap
Read more: Hot Water System Not Working? Repair or Replace and Choosing a New Hot Water System in Adelaide.
Summer Storms and Blocked Stormwater
After weeks of dry weather, a sudden summer storm can dump a lot of rain in a short time. If gutters, downpipes and stormwater drains are clogged with leaves, silt and dust, that water has nowhere to go but over the gutters, across paving and sometimes into the house.
Before storm season:
- Clean gutters and downpipes, especially if you have gum trees nearby
- Clear leaves and debris from outdoor grates and pits
- Run a hose into each downpipe to check the water flows away freely
- Check that paving and garden beds slope away from the house
- Book a stormwater clean and hydrojet if water has pooled or overflowed in past storms
During a storm, call a plumber if: water is backing up from a floor waste or gully trap inside, rising towards doorways, or pooling against the house walls. For major flooding or storm damage, contact the SES on 132 500.
Going on Holiday? The Before-You-Leave Plumbing Checklist
A burst pipe is bad enough when you are home to turn the water off. When nobody is there, water can run for days. Suncorp data reported by CHOICE shows the cost of escaping-water claims climbs sharply during holiday periods, and burst flexi hoses alone caused 10% of its water damage claims in 2024, with average claims around $30,000 (CHOICE).
Before you go:
- Check every flexi hose under sinks, basins, toilets and behind the washing machine and dishwasher. Replace any that are frayed, rusty, kinked or bulging.
- Turn off the water at the meter if nobody needs it while you are away. (If your garden or a neighbour relies on irrigation, set it up on a tap you can leave on, or ask a plumber about isolating just the house.)
- Turn off the washing machine and dishwasher taps at the very least.
- Set the hot water system to holiday or vacation mode, or switch off an electric system at the switchboard. Do not turn off a solar system’s circulation without checking the manual, as some need to keep running.
- Fix any dripping taps or running toilets before you go.
- Clean gutters and grates in case a storm rolls through.
- Leave a key and our number (1300 307 498) with a neighbour, so someone can act fast if they see water or smell gas.
- Check your insurance covers you while the home is empty, as some policies have limits on unoccupied periods.
When you get home: turn the water back on slowly, check under sinks and around the hot water system for leaks, and run each tap for a minute to clear the lines.
Christmas Hosting: Keeping Kitchen Drains and Toilets Flowing
A full house means more showers, more flushes and a lot more cooking, all in a few days. The two most common Christmas callouts are a blocked kitchen sink and a blocked toilet.
In the kitchen:
- Never pour fat, oil or gravy down the sink. It sets hard in the pipe as it cools. Let it cool in a tin or jar and put it in the bin.
- Scrape plates into the bin before rinsing, and use a sink strainer.
- Do not overload the garbage disposal (if you have one) with peelings, bones or rice.
- Run the dishwasher full, but not overloaded, and clean its filter before the big day.
In the bathroom:
- Only flush the three Ps: pee, poo and toilet paper. Put a small bin with a lid in every bathroom for wipes and sanitary products, and let guests know it is there.
- Keep a plunger in each bathroom, so a small blockage does not turn into an overflow.
- Spread showers out if you have a storage hot water system, so the tank has time to recover.
If a drain does block on Christmas Day, stop using it, try a plunger once, and avoid chemical drain cleaners. If it is your only toilet, or water is backing up elsewhere, it is time to call.
Read more: What Counts as a Plumbing Emergency?
Plumbing Emergencies Over Christmas and Public Holidays
Many plumbing businesses close between Christmas and New Year, and those that stay open often charge holiday rates. Adelaide cost guide figures put typical after-hours callout fees at $150 to $300+, with labour often 50 to 100% higher than daytime rates (Sparky).
SOS Plumbing & Gas stays open right through the holidays, with the same rates all day and no callout fees*, including Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
Save these numbers before the holidays:
| Who | When to call | Number |
|---|---|---|
| SOS Plumbing & Gas | Any plumbing or gas emergency on your property | 1300 307 498 |
| SA Water (24/7 faults) | Burst main in the street, no water to the whole street | 1300 729 283 |
| Australian Gas Networks (24/7) | Gas leak at the meter or in the street | 1800 427 532 |
| SES | Storm or flood damage | 132 500 |
| Emergency services | Fire, danger to life, anyone unwell from gas | 000 |
Not sure whether something can wait until after the holidays? Our guide What Counts as a Plumbing Emergency? helps you decide, and Calling a 24 Hour Plumber in Adelaide explains what to have ready when you ring.
Get Summer-Ready With SOS Plumbing & Gas
The easiest plumbing emergency to deal with is the one that never happens. Book a pre-summer check with SOS Plumbing & Gas and we will look over the parts of your plumbing most likely to fail in the heat, the storms and the holidays.
- CCTV drain checks for tree roots before Christmas
- Flexi hose, valve and tap checks before you go away
- Hot water system service or replacement, with advice on rebates
- Stormwater and gutter outlet clearing before storm season
- 24/7 emergency help right through the holidays, with the same rates all day and no callout fees*
- Pensioner discounts and 10% off labour when you book online*
Call 1300 307 498 or book online. For anything urgent, our emergency plumber Adelaide team is on call 24/7.
Summer Plumbing Adelaide: Frequently Asked Questions
Do pipes really burst in summer?
Yes. In Adelaide, dry, shrinking clay soil can move and crack underground pipes, and heavy summer use of irrigation adds pressure. Older copper and galvanised pipes are most at risk.
Why does my hot water relief valve drip more in summer?
Hotter weather and solar heating raise tank temperature and pressure, so the valve releases a little water to stay safe. A constant flow, though, needs checking.
Should I turn off my water when I go on holiday?
If nobody needs it, turning it off at the meter is the simplest way to prevent a flood while you are away.
Is a blocked toilet on Christmas Day an emergency?
If it is your only toilet, it is overflowing, or other drains are backing up, yes. If you have a second toilet, it can usually wait.
When is the best time to replace my hot water system?
Before it fails, and ideally in the warmer months, when you have time to compare systems and claim rebates without a cold-shower deadline.