Turn the water off at the meter first. Everything else can wait 30 seconds. Once the flow has stopped, make the area safe, limit the damage, then work out whether the pipe is yours or Central Coast Council’s.
Here is the order to do it in. If you cannot stop the water, call an emergency plumber now and read the rest while you wait.
Minute 1: turn off the water at the meter
Your water meter is usually at the front of the property, near the boundary, often in a plastic or concrete box set into the ground. The meter tap sits beside it.
- A tap handle: turn it clockwise until it stops.
- A lever (ball valve): turn it a quarter turn, so it sits across the pipe.
In units and townhouses, your isolation tap may be in a shared meter bank, a cupboard, or under the kitchen or laundry sink. If you do not know where yours is, find it this week, before you need it.
Minutes 2 and 3: make it safe
Water and electricity are the real danger in a burst pipe. If water is near power points, appliances or light fittings, switch the power off at the switchboard, but only if you can reach it without standing in water. If you can’t, stay out of the area and call an electrician.
If the burst is on the hot side, also turn off the valve on the cold inlet to your hot water system, and switch the unit off.
Minutes 4 and 5: drain what is left in the pipes
Open a cold tap at the lowest point of the house, such as a garden tap or the laundry tub. The water still sitting in the pipes will drain there, not through the break.
Minutes 6 to 8: limit the damage
- Move rugs, furniture and electronics out of the wet area.
- Use towels and buckets to stop water spreading into other rooms.
- If a ceiling is bulging with water, keep out from under it.
Minutes 9 and 10: photos, then phone
Take photos and video of the burst and the damage before you clean up. Your insurer will ask for them. Then call a licensed plumber.
Is a burst pipe my responsibility or Council’s?
Central Coast Council’s guide to maintenance, repairs and responsibilities puts the line at the water meter:
- Council: the water main, the meter tap and the water meter.
- You: everything from the meter into the property, including the hot water system and any tanks.
So if water is bubbling up in the street or the nature strip, your neighbours have the same problem, or the meter or meter tap itself is leaking, call Council on 02 4306 7900. If the leak is anywhere on your side of the meter, it is a job for your plumber.
What if it is a burst water main in the street?
Call Council on 02 4306 7900 and keep clear. Turning off your own meter will not stop it.
Water main breaks do happen here. Council has said they are typically caused by ground and weather conditions, tree roots and third party damage, and past breaks in Avoca Beach and East Gosford have damaged homes nearby.
How do I know if I have a burst pipe underground?
Not every burst is a geyser. A pipe can split under a slab or in the garden and run for weeks. The signs are:
- a water bill that has jumped for no reason
- a patch of lawn or paving that is always wet
- the sound of running water with every tap off
- sudden low water pressure through the house
To check, turn off every tap and appliance, then look at the meter. If the dial is still moving, water is escaping somewhere on your side. Our guides on finding a hidden water leak and why your water bill is so high go further.
What causes pipes to burst?
- Age. Older Central Coast homes are particularly prone, with corroded galvanised supply lines and ageing copper joints. See the signs your home needs replumbing.
- Ground movement. Shifting ground in sandy coastal soil can stress and crack underground pipes.
- Flexible hoses. The braided hoses under sinks and toilets wear out and fail without warning.
- High water pressure. Pressure that is too high stresses every joint and fitting in the house.
- Tree roots. Roots can crack and displace underground pipes.
- Accidents. A drill or a nail through a wall, or a shovel through a pipe in the garden.
What does the plumber do when they arrive?
We find the break first. If it is hidden behind a wall or under a floor, we use thermal imaging to locate it without cutting into your home. Then we repair it, or replace the section of pipe if it is corroded or failing. We can also provide documentation for your water damage insurance claim. It is all part of our leak detection and burst pipe repair service, and if the cause is age or pressure, we will tell you plainly whether this is a one off or the first of several.
Quick answers
Is a burst pipe an emergency? Yes, if you cannot stop the water or it is near electrics. If you have isolated it at the meter and the area is safe, it is urgent but under control. More in when you need emergency plumbing.
Where is my water meter? Usually at the front of the property near the boundary, in a box at ground level.
Who do I call for a burst water main on the Central Coast? Central Coast Council, on 02 4306 7900.
Can I fix a burst pipe myself? You can and should turn the water off. The repair itself is work for a licensed plumber.
Burst pipe right now? Turn the meter tap off, then call Miracle Plumbing on 0414 259 179. We are on call 24/7, and our plumbers across the Central Coast can find the break and get your water back on. Not urgent? Send us the details online.
