What to do if you have a Burst Pipe

• Has your water bill increased significantly?
• Can you hear any dripping or humming sounds in your walls?
• Have you noticed any dampness or mould growing on carpets?
• Is water staining your plaster walls or ceilings?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you may have a burst pipe. In this blog we share the steps to take if you have a burst pipe in your home or business.

The Steps to Take if you Have a Burst Pipe:

1. Turn Off the Water to Your Home or Business

Isolate your water supply by turning your mains water supply valve off. This is generally located at the water meter supplying your home or business.

If you are not sure, read our Step-By-Step Guide to Turn Off your Water blog to make sure you do it correctly.

2. Do a DIY Check that you have a burst water pipe

This is a quick DIY check that may help you determine if there is a burst pipe.

• Once you have turned your water off, take a reading of your meter and write it down.
• Don’t use any plumbing fixtures while carrying out the test and turn the water supply to your toilets off.
• Wait 1hour then turn the water back on to your property.
• The meter reading shouldn’t have moved and should be the same as it was when you wrote it down.
• If it’s moved, then you have a burst pipe.

*Remember to turn the water back on to your toilets.

3. Try Locate the Burst Water Pipe

• Do a visual inspection of all outdoor & indoor taps, shower heads and toilets for any leaks
• Check all pipework you can see under your house or in your ceiling
• Check the external areas where pipework is located looking for pooling of water
• Sometimes water from a burst water pipe can get into your storm water system and leave no sign of a leak, so check your storm water outlet

If you can’t locate it or for more difficult burst pipes, contact your local plumber or Essendon Plumbing Services to assist you.

4. Attempt a DIY Pipe Repair - if you have located the leak

You can purchase pipe repair clamps for various water pipes, but this should only be used in the short term. Always contact your local plumber or our expert team for a long-term solution for your burst pipe.

5. Contact a Professional Plumber

As mentioned above, for a long-term fix, you need to contact a professional plumber to ensure your burst pipe doesn’t cause damage to your home or business.

Ready to Contact a Plumbing Professional?

Call us at Essendon Plumbing Services 24/7, 365 days a year on 1300 193 298 or book online.