What to Do When a Flexi Hose or Pipe Bursts

If a flexi hose or pipe bursts in your home, first turn off the main water supply at the meter to stop the flow. If water has reached electrical points, shut off power at the switchboard and avoid any contact with wet surfaces. Open nearby taps to relieve pressure in the pipes, then use towels or buckets to contain the water. Remove furniture and rugs to prevent further damage, and take photos of the affected areas for insurance. Finally, contact a licensed emergency plumber with experience in burst hoses for fast repair and system checks.

In the time it takes to make a cup of tea, a burst pipe or failed flexi hose can flood a kitchen, ruin floorboards, and soak internal walls.

These plumbing emergencies often happen without warning and fast action can be the difference between a quick fix and a full renovation.
For Wollongong homeowners, particularly those living in older homes or near the coast, burst flexi hoses have become one of the most common causes of unexpected water damage.

What to Do the Moment a Flexi Hose or Pipe Bursts

1. Turn Off Your Main Water Supply

Find the water meter—usually located at the front of your property. Turn the valve clockwise to shut off water to the house. In units or apartments, check under the kitchen sink or laundry area for an isolation valve.

2. If Water Has Reached Electrical Points, Turn Off Power

Do this from the main switchboard. Do not touch wet surfaces or switches if water is near live electrical outlets. Safety comes first.

3. Turn On Nearby Sinks Or Showers

Run taps in the house to drain remaining pressure from the plumbing system. Focus on the closest tap to the leak, which will reduce ongoing water release.

4. Contain the Water

Use buckets, towels, or even outdoor bins to capture flowing water. Remove rugs, paper, electronics, and furniture from the area. Dry the floor as fast as possible to minimise permanent damage.

5. Take Photos for Insurance

Photograph the leak source, the water spread, and any visibly damaged items or surfaces. These records will help if you lodge a claim later.

6. Contact a Licensed Emergency Plumber

Call a local, licensed plumber who offers after-hours service and has experience with flexi hose failures. Fast action is critical—especially in Wollongong homes with older materials and salt-prone environments.

You can call CS Plumbing’s Emergency Service for fast, local response and same-day repair.

Why Flexi Hoses Burst in Wollongong Homes

Flexible braided hoses commonly known as flexi hoses are used under sinks, basins, and behind toilets to connect taps to water supply lines. Over time, their inner rubber lining breaks down and the steel braid corrodes, especially in coastal environments like Wollongong.

In many homes across the Illawarra, these hoses have not been inspected since installation. Some are over 10 years old, long past their service life. When they fail, they usually split wide open, releasing high-pressure water into cabinetry, floor cavities or wall spaces.

Contributing factors include:

• Salt air and high humidity weakening fittings
• Poor-quality or unbranded hoses
• Pressure spikes in old pipework
• Lack of fixture-level isolation valves

Why Every Flexi Hose Should Be Upgraded and Isolated

Replacing one failed hose is not enough. If one flexi hose has split, others in your home are likely the same age and at the same risk.

To protect your home long-term, your plumber should:

• Replace all old or unbranded hoses
• Only use WaterMark-certified, pressure-rated flexi hoses
• Install mini stop taps (isolation valves) at every flexi hose connection

These isolation taps allow you to shut off water at the source—under the sink, behind the toilet or laundry—without cutting supply to the whole home. It means you can stop a burst hose instantly, even before a plumber arrives.

This is now considered best practice for all new installations, and essential for older homes in areas like Figtree, Shellharbour and Woonona where legacy fittings are still common.

Aftercare: What to Do Once the Emergency is Handled

Once your plumber has resolved the issue:

• Run fans and dehumidifiers to prevent mould
• Remove toe kicks or panels from flooded cabinetry
• Book a whole-home plumbing inspection to check other risk points
• Add future hose checks to your seasonal home maintenance checklist

If the burst caused structural damage, contact your insurer immediately with all documented evidence.

Local Insight for Wollongong Homeowners

The reality is this: most burst pipe emergencies we respond to in Wollongong start with a $10 hose.

A failed flexi hose can cause $10,000 in water damage in 15 minutes.

Most of these events are preventable. The upgrade is simple. The valves are small. But the difference they make when something goes wrong is massive.

If your home was built or renovated more than five years ago and your hoses have never been checked, it’s time. Replace them. Isolate them. And avoid the shock of an emergency you could have stopped in seconds.