Burst Pipe Repair in Wollongong

CS Plumbing & Drainage Services repairs burst and leaking water pipes in homes, rental properties and businesses across Wollongong and the Illawarra, day or night. We fix burst pipes inside walls, under floors and in the yard, and split flexi hoses under sinks and behind toilets, whether the pipe is concealed or exposed. If water is pouring out now, turn off the water at the meter and call 0416 101 022. We answer 24 hours a day and there is no call out fee.

What to Do When a Water Pipe Bursts

Stop the water first, then call a plumber. These steps keep the damage down while you wait:

• Turn off the water at the meter: the meter is usually at the front of the property. Sydney Water says to turn the meter tap in the direction of the arrow until you feel resistance, and to use a spanner if you need to without forcing it (Sydney Water report a fault).
• Turn off the power if water has reached it: if water is near power points or appliances, switch off the electricity at the switchboard and stay off wet surfaces.
• Open a tap inside: running a tap releases the pressure left in the pipes and slows the water still coming out of the burst.
• Move what you can: shift rugs, furniture and electronics away from the water and soak up what you can with towels.
• Take photos: photograph the burst pipe and the water damage in case you need them for an insurance claim.

Then call us on 0416 101 022. Our article on what to do when a pipe or flexi hose bursts goes through each step in more detail.

Who Fixes a Burst Pipe: You, Sydney Water or a Plumber?

It depends on where the pipe has burst. Sydney Water supplies water to the Illawarra, and it says that if water is flowing on your property, you should turn off the tap on your water meter. If the flow stops, the leak is in your pipes (Sydney Water).

• Between the water meter and your house: this is your pipe, and Sydney Water says you will need to call a licensed plumber.
• At the meter, the meter tap or between the meter and the street: Sydney Water may fix it. Call Sydney Water on 13 20 90, 24 hours a day.
• Inside the house: the pipes, fittings and flexi hoses inside your home are yours, and they are repaired by a licensed plumber.

Property owners are responsible for maintaining the pipes and fittings on their property up to where they connect to the Sydney Water network (Sydney Water).

Where Burst Pipes Happen in Wollongong Homes

Flexi hoses: the braided hoses under sinks and basins and behind toilets connect the taps to the water supply. Over time the rubber lining inside breaks down and the steel braid corrodes, and the salt air along the Illawarra coast speeds that up. When a flexi hose fails, it usually splits open and sends water at full pressure into the cabinet, the floor and the walls. Our flexi hose replacement page covers replacing them.

Pipes inside walls and under floors: a burst pipe you cannot see often shows up as a damp patch on a wall, a stain on a ceiling, a warped floorboard or a water bill that suddenly jumps.

The water service in the yard: the pipe between the water meter and the house runs underground, and a leak there can show up as a wet or soggy patch in the lawn. Sydney Water says green patches of grass that look different from the surrounding grass can mean an underground pipe leak (Sydney Water leak detection).

Hot water pipes: the pipes and fittings at the hot water system can leak or burst as well. Our hot water page covers hot water system repairs and replacements.

How We Repair a Burst Water Pipe

When we arrive, we find the damaged section of pipe or the failed fitting and check how far the damage goes. We carry common fittings on the van, so in many cases we can repair or replace the damaged section of pipe on the first visit and get your water back on.

If the burst was a flexi hose, we check the other flexi hoses in the house as well. If one hose has split, the others in your home are likely to be the same age and just as likely to fail, so we can replace them at the same visit. An isolation valve at each hose connection means that if a hose fails later, you can turn the water off under the sink or behind the toilet without cutting the supply to the whole house.

High water pressure is one of the main causes of flexi hose blowouts. We can test your home’s water pressure and, if it is too high, install a pressure reducing valve to protect the hoses and fittings.

Before any repair starts, we explain what we found and give you a price.

How to Check for a Hidden Burst Pipe

Not every burst pipe gushes. A slow leak in a wall, under the floor or in the yard can run for weeks before anyone notices. Sydney Water’s meter test is a simple way to check (Sydney Water leak detection):

• Turn everything off: turn off all taps and appliances that use water, including irrigation, the dishwasher and the washing machine.
• Read the meter: note the numbers on the water meter dial, leaving the meter tap turned on.
• Wait an hour: do not use any water for at least one hour.
• Read it again: if the last numbers on the dial have changed, you have a leak.

If the meter moves, call us to find the leak. Our article on how to detect hidden leaks in your home has more signs to look for.

Burst Pipe Repairs for Tenants and Landlords

If you rent your home, the NSW Government lists a burst water service as an urgent repair. Turn the water off at the meter and tell your landlord or agent straight away.

We repair burst pipes for tenants, landlords and property managers across the Illawarra, and we can send an itemised invoice for property managers.

Burst Pipe Repairs Must Be Done by a Licensed Plumber in NSW

Turning the water off at the meter is something you can do yourself, but repairing the pipe is plumbing work. The NSW Government says you need a licence or certificate for any plumbing, draining or gasfitting work, whatever the cost of the work. It defines water plumbing to include the repair, renewal and maintenance of pipes, fittings and appliances that carry water, including hot water (Building Commission NSW). You can check a licence with Building Commission NSW on 13 27 00. Our NSW contractor licence number is 39901C.

How to Book Burst Pipe Repair in Wollongong

Call us on 0416 101 022 at any hour, or send an enquiry through our contact page if the leak is small and the water is off. Tell us where the water is coming from and whether you have been able to turn it off at the meter.

There is no call out fee, and we give you a price before any repair starts. Owner Sandro Contarin has been a licensed plumber since 1992, and we repair burst pipes across Wollongong, Dapto, Shellharbour, Albion Park, Kiama and the wider Illawarra. For gas leaks, overflowing drains and other urgent plumbing, see our emergency plumber page.

$0 Call Out Fee | Contractor Licence 39901C | Available 24/7