Key takeaways
- Burst pipe: turn off the water at the mains, drain a low tap, photograph the damage, then book a plumber.
- Gas leak: turn off the gas, open windows, touch no electrical switches, leave, and call SA Gas Networks on 1800 427 532.
- Find and label your mains water shut-off valve now, before an emergency, not during one.
- Active damage or risk is an emergency; a single dripping fixture during business hours usually is not.
Burst pipe or major leak
A burst pipe can move more than 100 litres of water through your walls and ceiling in an hour, so speed matters.
- Turn off the water at the mains isolation valve - usually near the meter at the front of the property.
- Open a low tap, such as the laundry tub, to drain the pressure out of the pipes.
- Move valuables and electronics clear of the water.
- Photograph the damage before any cleanup - insurers need evidence of cause and timing.
- Submit an emergency plumbing request so a licensed plumber is routed to you.
Gas leak
A gas leak is the most dangerous plumbing emergency. Treat any gas smell or audible hiss from a gas line seriously.
- Turn off the gas at the meter.
- Open windows and doors to ventilate.
- Do not touch any electrical switches, including light switches, and do not light anything.
- Leave the property.
- Call SA Gas Networks on 1800 427 532 (1800 GAS LEAK) - it is free, 24/7, and they make the supply safe.
Blocked or overflowing sewer
If a sewer point in the yard is overflowing or multiple fixtures are backing up at once, stop using water in the house immediately - every flush and every sink adds to the overflow.
Keep people and pets away from the affected area for hygiene, and book an emergency plumber. If the blockage turns out to be on SA Water's side of the property boundary, SA Water investigates and clears it at no cost - the attending plumber will confirm which side it is on.
No hot water
No hot water is urgent but rarely dangerous. For a gas unit, check whether the pilot light has gone out. For an electric unit, check the switchboard for a tripped circuit. If neither is the cause, it needs a plumber.
If you see water pooling under the tank, the tank itself has likely failed and will need replacing rather than repairing. Note the brand and model so the matched plumber can arrive with the right parts or a suitable replacement.
Find your shut-off valve before you need it
The single most useful thing you can do today is locate your mains water shut-off valve. In most Adelaide homes it is at the front of the property near the water meter, under a round metal cover. Turning it clockwise shuts water to the whole house.
Find it, make sure it turns, and make sure everyone in the household knows where it is. In a burst-pipe emergency, the 30 seconds it takes to shut that valve is the difference between a small repair and a ruined ceiling.
Is it actually an emergency?
An emergency is anything causing active damage or risk: a burst pipe, an active leak inside a wall or ceiling, a sewer back-up inside the house, no water at all, a gas leak, or no hot water for a vulnerable household in winter.
A single dripping tap, one slow drain, or a running toilet during business hours is not an emergency - it can be booked as a standard job and usually quoted at standard rates rather than with an after-hours surcharge.