Burst pipes and water leaks, North Shore
Burst pipe or a leak you can't find?
Water running where it shouldn't, a bill that has jumped, or a damp patch that keeps growing. We find the exact spot before we dig or cut, fix it, and put the surface back. Same day in most cases.
- Same day in most cases
- Leak located before we dig or cut
- Upfront pricing, agreed before we start
- Surface made good when we finish
Water running right now?
Turn the water off at the meter. It is usually at the front boundary, near the footpath. If the burst is on a hot pipe, turn off the hot water unit too. If water is near a power point or a light, switch that circuit off at the switchboard. Then ring us on 9904 3074.
For a burst pipe we come out the same day in most cases. Outside office hours we can still come, for an after-hours fee.
Sound familiar?
- "There's water pouring out under the sink." Usually a flexible hose that has let go. They fail without warning, so we check the others while we are there.
- "The water bill has jumped and nothing's changed." Water is going somewhere. Often a pipe under the house, in a wall or under the driveway.
- "The meter is still turning with every tap off." That is a leak, full stop. Turn the taps off, watch the meter for a few minutes, and ring us if it moves.
- "There's a damp patch on the wall that keeps spreading." Or a wet patch on the lawn in dry weather, or paint bubbling. The pipe behind it is leaking.
What happens if you leave it
A leak does not fix itself. Under the house it washes out the soil and the footings. In a wall it rots the timber and lifts the floor. And you pay for every litre on the water bill.
Old copper and galvanised pipe corrodes from the inside, so one leak in an old line is often followed by the next.
How it goes
Found, fixed, made good
- Ring us. Tell us what you can see. We will tell you how to stop the water while you wait.
- We come out. For a burst pipe that is the same day in most cases.
- We find it. Listening gear and a pressure test on the line tell us where the leak is, so we open the smallest hole we can.
- You get the price, then it is fixed. Repair the section or replace the run, with the reasons for each. Then the trench is backfilled, the concrete or paving reinstated, and the wall patched where we opened it.
Repair or replace the pipe? A straight answer
If the pipe is sound and the leak is at one joint or one spot, we repair that section. That is the quickest and cheapest fix.
If the whole run is old copper or galvanised and corroding, patching one leak usually means another one soon. We will tell you that straight, show you what we found, and price both so you can decide.
What causes them
- Old copper or galvanised pipe corroded through
- Tree roots squeezing and cracking a line
- A drill or a spade through a pipe
- Flexible hoses under sinks and toilets past their life
- Poor original work, or the wrong materials joined together
Before you book
What people ask us
What will it cost?
Once we have found the leak, you get the price before any repair starts, and you decide. Upfront pricing, agreed before we start.
Will you dig up the whole yard?
No. We find the exact spot first, so we open one small area rather than chase the pipe along the garden.
Will you fix the mess as well?
Yes. Trenches are backfilled, concrete and paving reinstated, and walls patched where we opened them.
Will my insurance cover it?
Many policies cover the water damage but not the pipe that failed. We give you the photos, the cause in writing and an invoice that sets out what was found, which is what an insurer will ask for.
Leaks on the North Shore since 2007
Our job records run from 2016. Since then we have completed more than 800 burst pipe and water leak jobs. Licenced plumbers, contractor licence 227192C.
What customers say
STS Plumbing was quick to respond when I had a burst pipe in my Cammeray home. The plumber was professional, explained everything clearly, and fixed the issue promptly. Highly recommend.
Josie M., CammerayAppreciated the plumber calling whilst on site to provide a full assessment of what needed to be done. Job was done quickly after my initial contact.
Lisa M., Google reviewHe always has the solutions to plumbing issues and leaks.
Bridget Knox, Google reviewBurst pipe or a leak? Ring us.
Tell us what you can see. We find the leak before we dig or cut, fix it and make good. Same day in most cases.
Common questions about burst pipes and hidden leaks
A pipe has burst. What do I do right now?
Turn the water off at the meter, which is usually at the front boundary, and turn the hot water unit off if the burst is on a hot line. Then ring us. Getting the water off in the first minute is worth more than anything else you can do, and it stops the damage while you wait.
How do I know I have a leak I cannot see?
A water bill that has jumped without the household changing, a damp patch on a wall or ceiling, paint or plaster bubbling, or water pressure that has quietly dropped. The simplest test is to shut every tap and appliance and go and look at the meter. If the dial is still turning, water is going somewhere.
How do you find a leak without pulling the house apart?
Acoustic gear, thermal imaging and a pressure test on the line, which between them narrow it to a small area. Then we open one spot rather than chase it along a wall. On an older house that is the difference between a few hours of work and a fortnight of repairs.
Can you fix the damage as well as the pipe?
We repair the pipe, dry the area out properly and make good the lining or the paving we opened. For a bathroom that has to be retiled or a room that needs replastering we will tell you straight what is in our scope and what is not, rather than promise the lot and subcontract it badly.
Will my insurance cover it?
Many home policies cover the damage the water causes but not the pipe that failed, and the detail varies a lot between insurers. We can give you the photos, the cause in writing and an invoice that sets out what was found, which is what an insurer will ask for. The cover itself is a question for them.
Do you do call outs after hours?
Our office is open Monday to Friday, 7am to 5pm, and we do call outs outside those hours for a fee. Ring us rather than fill in the form if water is running, and we will tell you what to do while we are on the way.
Are you licenced and insured?
Yes. NSW licence 227192C, and our own plumbers on every job.
Word gets around
Neighbours telling neighbours. Give us a call and spread the word.
Water going somewhere it should not?
Ring us if it is running now. If it is a slow leak or a bill you cannot explain, send the details and we will book a look.
Office hours: Monday to Friday, 7am to 5pm.
A photo of the damp patch or the leak helps us see it before we arrive.