What to check first
Shut the stop valve before you do anything else. Locate the stop valve serving the affected pipe (usually near the water meter or under a sink) and close it fully — every minute the water runs is more water damage, and a plumber cannot repair a pipe that is still under pressure.
While waiting for the plumber, mop up standing water, move anything electrical or valuable away from the wet area, and photograph the damage for any insurance claim before cleanup starts.
If you cannot find or close the stop valve for the affected fitting, shut the main stop valve for the flat instead. Losing water to the whole flat briefly is a smaller problem than an uncontrolled leak.
The likely causes, in order
A visible, exposed failure (easier to diagnose). A visible, exposed pipe failure is the easiest to diagnose: a split or corroded section of the water pipe, tank, tap or fitting that PUB's plumbing definition covers, which you can see and point to directly. This is the more straightforward repair, since the plumber does not need to trace the failure first.
A concealed failure (harder to diagnose). A concealed failure, inside a wall or under a floor, is harder to diagnose and usually shows up as a wet patch, a sound of running water with no visible source, or an unexpectedly high water reading rather than a visible burst. It is still the same regulated category of water pipe repair, and tracing it takes longer, which the quote should reflect.
When to call, and who
Call a plumber immediately once the water is shut off — a burst pipe is not a job to leave overnight, both because of ongoing water damage risk from any water that has not been fully isolated and because a longer wait usually means a bigger cleanup bill on top of the repair.
Water service plumbing works — laying, installation, alteration, repair or replacement of water pipes, tanks, taps and fittings — must be carried out by a PUB Licensed Plumber, and PUB states plainly that it is an offence for anyone to engage a plumber who is not licensed by PUB to carry out regulated water service and sanitary plumbing works.
Verify the plumber's licence before work starts, not after. PUB runs a Find a Licensed Plumber e-Service specifically so homeowners can confirm a plumber's registration before engaging them, and it is a public, free check. Do this even for an urgent, after-hours call — an unlicensed repair to a burst pipe can fail again quickly.
What it costs
A concealed or after-hours job typically costs more.
Ask upfront whether the quoted figure includes an after-hours surcharge, since a burst pipe often happens outside normal hours and that surcharge can be substantial. Ask separately whether wall or floor opening (to reach a concealed pipe) and making good afterwards are included, or billed as extras.
Get the call-out fee stated before the plumber arrives, and ask whether it is credited against the repair if you proceed.
Who to call, and how to judge them
An ACRA registration confirms the business exists, not that the individual plumber attending is PUB-licensed, so check both, even under time pressure.
Prefer a plumber who can state a rough figure and an after-hours surcharge over the phone before arriving, over one who refuses to discuss price until they are on-site.
Frequently asked questions
Why does a burst pipe behind a wall cost more to fix than a visible one?
A concealed failure, inside a wall or under a floor, is harder to diagnose and usually shows up as a wet patch, a sound of running water with no visible source, or an unexpectedly high water reading rather than a visible burst. Tracing this kind of failure takes longer and the quote should reflect that.
Sources
- PUB, "Plumbing Works" (fetched 15 Sep 2026)
- PUB, "Licensed Plumbers" (fetched 15 Sep 2026)
- PUB, "Application for Plumber Licence" (fetched 15 Sep 2026)
Compare plumbers and give each the same three answers: whether the failure is visible or concealed, whether the water is fully shut off, and whether after-hours rates apply.
