Plumbing problems rarely pick a good time. When water is pouring through the ceiling or a pipe has split in the wall, what you do in the first few minutes can save your floors, your furniture and your insurance claim. Here is a plain checklist.

Turn off the water at the main

Every home has a main water stopcock. It is usually near the water meter at the front of the property, or just inside the garage or laundry wall. Turn it clockwise until it stops. Show everyone in the house where it is before you ever need it.

If the tap is stiff or rusted, do not force it with a wrench until it breaks. Tell the plumber when you call so they bring the right gear.

Turn off the power if water is near electrics

If water is coming through a ceiling light, near power points or around the switchboard, switch off the power at the board only if you can reach it without standing in water. If you cannot do that safely, leave the house and call 000 for help, then call a plumber.

Never touch electrical items with wet hands. Water and power are a serious risk.

Smell gas? Leave and call

If you smell gas, do not turn lights on or off, do not use your phone inside, and do not light anything. Open doors and windows, keep people away, and call the gas emergency number on your gas bill. Call 000 if there is a fire or emergency. Once the area is safe, a licensed gas fitter needs to check the system before it is used again.

Hot water and burst pipes

If a hot water system is leaking, turn off the cold water supply to the unit, and switch off the power or gas supply to it. Do not drain a hot tank on a hot day without care. The water can scald.

For a burst pipe, turn off the main, then open the cold taps to drain the pipes and relieve pressure. Use towels and buckets to control the water, and move valuables away.

Overflowing toilet or sewer backup

Stop using water in the house. A flush or a shower will only add more to the problem. Lift the toilet cistern lid and push the float arm down to stop it refilling if it is still running. Open a window and keep children and pets away from contaminated water.

Do not try to clear a full sewer line with chemicals. Wait for a plumber with the right equipment.

Take photos and call us

Before you start mopping, take photos of the damage. They help if you need to claim on home insurance. Then call the plumber and tell them what has happened, where the main is, and what you have already done.

GSA Plumbing Services takes emergency calls 24 hours a day across Geelong and Melbourne. We will tell you straight what is safe to do while we are on the way.

Keep it from happening again

Check your hoses and pipe connections now and then for rust, bulges or drips. Replace washing machine hoses every few years. Know where your main, your gas shutoff and your hot water isolation valve are. A quick look once a year costs nothing, and an emergency visit costs a lot more than a planned repair.

Keep the three hazards separate

In a flood or a leak it is easy to blur water, electricity and gas together. They are different risks and need different actions. For water, the action is to stop the supply at the mains stop valve. For electricity, the rule from Energy Safe Victoria is that water and electricity do not mix, so keep clear of wet power points, appliances and the switchboard. For gas, Energy Safe Victoria says to put out flames, avoid switches, open doors and windows, keep people away and call the emergency number on your gas bill.

You can find the official wording on the Energy Safe Victoria gas emergencies page and its electricity safety guide. RACV also publishes a burst pipe guide that starts with knowing where your mains are.

Prepare before the emergency, not during it

Most of the panic in a plumbing emergency comes from not knowing where things are. Spend ten minutes this week finding the water mains stop valve and checking it turns. Find the switchboard. Find the gas meter and your gas distributor emergency number, which is printed on your gas bill. Put those details on the fridge or in your phone.

Then take a photo of each so a family member, a tenant or a housesitter can find them. Check your insurance too, so you know what it covers and who to call for a claim. If a burst pipe hits at midnight, you want the answers before you need them.

What to tell the plumber when you ring

You will give better information if you stay calm and use a short list. What is happening, is water or gas still escaping, have you turned the water off, where is the problem, and is anyone at risk. Give your address and a phone number you will answer.

Ask about any call-out or inspection charge and any after hours rate before you agree, and ask for the expected arrival window. If you are in a rental, tell your landlord or agent straight away and keep a record of the call.

Make a simple emergency plan today

Stick a card inside a cupboard with the location of the main water tap, the gas shutoff, the switchboard and your plumber's number. Tell housemates and anyone minding the home. Five minutes of planning gives you a calm head when something goes wrong.

What counts as an emergency

Uncontrolled water, a burst pipe, a gas smell, a sewage overflow, no water at all, or a hot water leak are emergencies. A dripping tap or a slow drain can wait for a booked visit, and that costs less.

Need a plumber?

GSA Plumbing Services works across Geelong and Melbourne, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 0401 041 103 or send us a message through the contact page and we will talk you through your options.

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Where we work: Geelong, Melbourne CBD, Werribee and the full list of service areas.

Talk to GSA Plumbing Services

We work across Geelong and Melbourne, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 0401 041 103 or use the contact page. Quotes are free and there is no call-out fee.