Burst pipe in Perth? What to do right now

The first five minutes

1. Turn off the main stop tap. On most Perth houses it’s on the pipe at the water meter, just inside the front boundary. Turn it clockwise until it stops. For units and apartments it can be in a meter cupboard or a bank of meters out the front.
2. Turn off the hot water system. For gas, turn the control knob to off or pilot. For electric, switch off the hot water circuit at the switchboard. That stops it heating an empty tank.
3. Open a cold tap low in the house, like the laundry trough or an outside tap, to let the pressure out of the pipes.
4. If water is near power points or light fittings, or a ceiling is sagging, stay out of that room. Switch the power off at the switchboard only if you can reach it without standing in water.
5. Move what you can, put towels and buckets down, and take photos and video before you clean up. Your insurer will want them.
6. Call (08) 6187 3999 or text 0406 882 648 with your suburb and a photo if you can.

Your pipe or Water Corporation’s?

The meter is the dividing line. Water Corporation looks after the main in the street and the connection up to your meter. Everything on the house side is the owner’s, and in WA it has to be repaired by a licensed plumber.

If water is bubbling up from the verge, the footpath, the road or the street side of the meter, ring Water Corporation’s faults line on 13 13 75. It’s open 24/7. If it’s in the yard between the meter and the house, under the house, or inside a wall or ceiling, that’s a plumber’s job.

In units and strata complexes with sub-meters, responsibility can be split differently. Let your strata manager know as well as calling us.

Why pipes burst in Perth homes

Frozen pipes aren’t really a Perth problem. The bursts we see come from wear, pressure and damage:

• Braided flexible hoses under sinks, basins, toilets and washing machines. When the braid rusts or frays they can let go all at once. They cause a lot of the indoor floods.
• High water pressure and water hammer. Australian Standards cap water pressure inside a home at 500 kPa. Without a working pressure limiting valve, pipes and fittings take a pounding.
• Old copper with pinholes, especially in homes from the 1970s to the 1990s.
• Buried poly and copper lines between the meter and the house, shifted by tree roots or ground movement in sandy soil.
• Screws and nails through pipes during renos, new kitchens or someone hanging a TV.
• Reticulation and garden taps that have had one too many knocks.

What we do when we get there

First we make it safe and stop the water. Then we find the actual failure, not just the wet patch. Depending on where it is, we cut in a new section, replace the failed fitting or hose, or run a new line around a pipe that’s buried in a slab or wall and not worth chasing.

Before we leave we get the water back on, check for other leaks, and look at the pressure. If high pressure is what’s cracking your fittings, we’ll tell you. Otherwise the next burst is only a matter of time.

We’ll talk you through the price before we start. You’ll get an invoice that says what failed and why, which helps with insurance or a Water Corporation leak allowance claim.

Insurance and your water bill

Home and contents policies differ. Many cover water damage from a sudden burst but not the cost of replacing a worn-out pipe. Check yours and keep the photos and our invoice.

If a hidden leak, such as a pipe in a wall or underground, pushed your water bill up, you may be able to claim part of it back from Water Corporation. See our leak detection page for the conditions.

Common questions

Who do I call for a burst water pipe in Perth?

If the burst is on your side of the water meter, call a licensed plumber. McDermott Plumbing answers 24/7 on (08) 6187 3999, or text 0406 882 648. If water is coming up from the street, verge or the street side of the meter, call Water Corporation on 13 13 75.

Where is the main stop tap on a Perth house?

Usually on the pipe at the water meter, just inside the front boundary, often in a garden bed or under a small cover. Turn it clockwise to shut it off. Units and apartments may have a shared meter bank or a stop tap in a service cupboard.

Can I fix a burst pipe myself?

You can make it safe by turning the water off, and a temporary clamp or tape can slow a small leak. The actual repair to a water supply pipe in WA has to be done by a licensed plumber, and insurers and Water Corporation will want to see a plumber’s invoice.

Is a burst pipe covered by insurance in WA?

It depends on your policy. Many home policies cover sudden water damage but not replacing the failed pipe itself. Take photos before cleaning up and keep the plumber’s invoice showing the cause.

Do you fix burst pipes at night and on weekends?

Yes. McDermott Plumbing takes emergency calls 24/7. Call (08) 6187 3999 and we’ll tell you honestly how soon we can be there.

Related pages

• Emergency plumber Perth
• Leak detection Perth
• Water pressure problems
• No hot water? Hot water repairs
• Plumber Joondalup