Blocked Basin
Read More »
If your bathroom or kitchen sink drains slower than usual, the problem might be more than just a few tufts of hair and food particles.
Broken Water Pipe
G★★★★★
4.6 · 2,000+ Google reviews
4.6 · 2,000+ Google reviews
A broken water pipe wastes water and causes damage, often hidden behind a wall or underground. Our licensed plumbers use leak detection to pinpoint the break with minimal digging, then repair it properly.
Turn off your water at the mains and call us, we answer around the clock and can usually attend the same day across Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.
Why choose Same Day Trades for a broken water pipe?
We are local, licensed and insured plumbers who do this work every day, so we get it right the first time, with no mess and no surprises on the invoice.
- Fully licensed and insured plumbers
- Upfront fixed pricing before we start
- Same-day service where we can, with 24/7 phones
- Workmanship guaranteed and the job left clean
- Servicing Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide
Whatever the job, you get honest advice and a tidy, professional result.
Take a tour of the Same Day Trades website and find out more about our packages and prices. Besides, don’t forget to take a look at our 500+ 5-star reviews left by happy customers who continue to put their faith in us.
Signs of a broken water pipe
A broken water pipe is under pressure, so it leaks continuously whether or not you are using water, and the signs include:
- A drop in water pressure throughout the home
- The sound of running water when all taps are off
- Damp patches or stains on walls, ceilings or floors
- An unexplained spike in your water bill
- Soggy, boggy patches or lush green spots in the yard
- Discoloured water or air spluttering from taps
- Reduced flow to fixtures
A broken water pipe wastes water constantly and can cause serious damage, so it is best found and fixed promptly before the damage and the bill grow.
What to do if a water pipe breaks
If a water pipe breaks, especially a major one, act fast to limit the damage:
- Turn off the water at the mains, usually at the meter or a stop tap, to stop the flow
- Turn off the hot water system if the break is on a hot line
- Switch off power to the affected area at the switchboard if water is near electrical fittings
- Move belongings away from the water and mop up what you can
- Call a plumber straight away, and photograph the damage for insurance
Knowing where your mains stop tap is before an emergency happens can save you a lot of water damage.
Common causes of broken water pipes
Water pipes break for several common reasons: corrosion and age, as older metal pipes rust and weaken from the inside; high water pressure stressing the pipe and its joints; ground movement and tree roots, particularly on buried supply lines; physical damage, such as a nail or screw driven into a pipe during renovations, or excavation hitting a line; and failed or poorly made joints. Corrosion is the leading cause in older homes, because it builds slowly and invisibly until the pipe finally fails. A pipe that broke from corrosion or high pressure may have more failures coming, so identifying the cause matters as much as fixing the break.
Where water pipes break
Water pipes can break almost anywhere, and where the break is affects how it shows and how we fix it. A break in a pipe inside a wall or ceiling shows as damp patches, stains and bubbling paint, and needs locating before access. A break under the floor or slab can show as warm patches (on a hot line), damp flooring or a mysterious water sound. A break in a buried supply line in the yard shows as soggy ground, lush green patches and pressure loss, with no visible leak at all. Wherever the break is, we use leak detection to pinpoint it precisely before opening or digging.
Finding a hidden broken pipe
Many broken water pipes are hidden inside walls, under floors or buried in the yard, where you only see the effects, not the leak itself. Finding them without tearing everything open takes specialised equipment, and we use non-invasive leak detection for exactly this. Acoustic listening devices hear water escaping under pressure, thermal imaging reveals wet areas and hot water leaks, and pressure testing and moisture meters confirm and locate the problem. Because a broken water pipe is under constant pressure, acoustic detection is particularly effective. This lets us pinpoint the exact spot before opening anything, so we make the smallest possible access to reach and repair the pipe.
Why accurate leak detection saves money
The old way to fix a hidden broken pipe was to open up walls or dig until the leak was found, which meant far more repair and reinstatement afterwards. Accurate leak detection changes that: by pinpointing the exact location first, we cut a small, precise access hole or dig only where needed, fix the pipe, and leave you with a much smaller repair. This saves money on wall, tile and surface restoration, and causes far less disruption. It also ensures we fix the actual source, not just the first damp spot, which matters because water under pressure can track a long way from the break before it surfaces.
How we repair a broken water pipe
Once we have located the break, we isolate the water, make a neat access point, and repair or replace the damaged section of pipe with new pipe and proper fittings. For a clean break we replace that section; where a pipe is corroded or failing along its length, we may recommend replacing a longer run so you are not back with another break nearby soon after. We test the repair under pressure before closing up, to confirm it is watertight and the fix will last. Our aim is a lasting repair, not a temporary patch, so we address the condition of the pipe, not just the hole.
Burst pipes vs slow leaks
A broken water pipe can fail two ways. A burst fails suddenly, releasing a lot of water quickly, which is an emergency, the priority is turning off the mains and calling a plumber urgently before the water floods a room or soaks a wall cavity. A slow leak weeps quietly over weeks or months, often hidden, causing gradual but serious damage, rot, mould and a creeping water bill, before you notice. Both waste water and need fixing, but they are found and handled differently, a burst needs immediate action, while a slow leak needs careful detection. We handle both, from emergency burst repairs to tracking down an elusive slow leak.
Water damage and your insurance
Sudden water damage from a burst or broken water pipe is often covered by home insurance, though gradual damage from a long-ignored slow leak may not be, which is another reason to act on the signs early. We can provide a clear report of the cause and the repair, plus photos, to support your claim. Take your own photos of the damage before and during the repair, and keep records. While we are not your insurer, stopping the water and fixing the pipe promptly, and documenting it properly, puts you in the best position. We focus on finding and repairing the break; your insurer can then handle restoring the affected walls, floors and contents.
Ageing pipes and repiping
If your home has old galvanised or ageing metal pipes that are corroding, a single break is often a sign more will follow, as the whole system reaches the end of its life around the same time. Rather than repair one leak after another, it can be more cost-effective to replace the affected pipework, or in older homes, to plan a staged repipe. We will tell you honestly whether your broken pipe is a one-off or part of a wider ageing-pipe problem, and lay out your options. Replacing failing pipes before they break saves you the repeated cost and water damage of dealing with them one at a time.
Preventing broken water pipes
Some pipe failures are unavoidable, but you can reduce the risk. Have high water pressure checked and, if needed, fit a pressure-limiting valve, since excessive pressure stresses pipes and joints and is a common cause of breaks. Address small leaks and drips promptly before they worsen. In older homes with ageing metal pipes, consider a plan to replace them before they fail. Be careful drilling or nailing into walls, and locating pipes before digging. And act on early warning signs, a pressure drop, a damp patch, a creeping water bill or a soggy lawn, while the repair is small. A little attention prevents a lot of expensive water damage.
How much does repair cost?
The cost of repairing a broken water pipe depends on where it is, how easy it is to locate and access, and how much pipe needs replacing. Accurate leak detection keeps access and repair costs down by avoiding unnecessary wall or ground damage. A break in an accessible spot is a quicker, cheaper fix than one deep in a wall or buried under concrete. Emergency and after-hours call-outs cost more than a standard appointment. We give you an upfront fixed price once we have located the break and assessed the repair, so you know the cost before we start, and we will flag if ageing pipes mean a larger job is better value.
24/7 emergency water pipe repair
A burst or broken water pipe is a genuine emergency, because it is under pressure and every minute adds to the water loss and damage. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, and we can usually get a licensed plumber to you the same day, including after hours, across Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. If you have a broken water pipe, turn off the water at the mains and call us, we will get to you as fast as possible, find the break, stop the water and repair the pipe, with an upfront price before we start the repair. Fast action limits the damage, and we are set up to respond quickly.
Licensed, guaranteed plumbers
Finding and repairing broken water pipes, especially hidden ones, takes a licensed plumber with proper leak-detection equipment and the skill to fix it with minimal disruption. Our team is fully licensed and insured, we locate the break accurately, repair or replace the damaged pipe, and test it under pressure before closing up, and we back our workmanship. You get fast emergency response, upfront fixed pricing, and honest advice on whether it is a one-off or part of a wider pipe problem. For a plumber near you for a broken water pipe, we cover Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.
Broken water pipe FAQs
What should I do if a water pipe breaks?
Turn off the water at the mains immediately, switch off power to the area if water is near electrics, and call a plumber. We answer calls 24 hours a day.
How do you find a broken water pipe?
We use leak detection and, for underground pipes, a CCTV camera to pinpoint the break with minimal digging or wall damage.
How much does it cost to fix a broken water pipe?
It depends on the location, access and how much pipe is affected. We give you an upfront fixed price before we start.
Why did my water pipe break?
Common causes are corrosion, high pressure, bad joints, ground movement, tree roots or physical damage. We find the cause so the repair lasts.
Yes. We use electronic leak detection to find leaks inside walls, under floors and underground without unnecessary digging.
Is a broken water pipe an emergency?
Yes. It wastes water and can cause damage fast. Turn off the mains and call us, we can usually attend the same day.
Will insurance cover a broken water pipe?
Sudden breaks are often covered, while gradual leaks may not be. We can provide a report of the repair for your claim.
Do you answer calls after hours?
Yes. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day for broken and burst pipes across Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.
Blocked Bath
Read More »
A hot bath is always refreshing, But sometimes when blockages occur, the situation is a lot worse than what meets the eyes, and your blocked
Blocked Downpipes
Read More »
Leaves, plants, twigs, pine needles, and roofing cement are common causes of blocked downpipes. And if not cleared in time, this will eventually lead to
Blocked Kitchen Sink
Read More »
Blocked Kitchen Sink Grease, food debris, and soap residue often build up in kitchen pipes and lead to blocked kitchen drains. Getting rid of these
Blocked Internal Drain
Read More »
Blocked drains in your house are a nuisance you are better off without. Grease, fat, oil, hair and even wipes stick to your pipe walls
Blocked Laundry
Read More »
If there is anything more taxing than doing laundry, it is dealing with a blocked laundry drain. Over time, gunk and debris build-up can lead
Blocked Stormwater
Read More »
If you are facing issues with a blocked stormwater drain, our experts at Same Day Trades are here to help you through this dilemma. We
Blocked Shower
Read More »
A blocked drain will always hinder your perfect shower experience. Well, it’s time to get rid of that problem, and you’ve come to the right
What our customers say?
Why choose us?
Trusted Tradesmen
With hundreds of 5 star reviews, we’re the local tradesmen you can trust.
Transparent Pricing
We make sure you know exactly what you are paying for ahead of time.
Licensed And Insured
You’re in safe hands as our tradesmen are fully licensed and insured to do your job.
Workmanship Guarantee
Our work will be free of defects in workmanship and workmanship will be warranted for life.
Convenient Bookings
We offer convenient booking times that can be worked around your schedule.
Available All Hours
We take calls 24 hours a day and 365 days a year so that we’re always available to be of service.
Trusted Tradesmen
With hundreds of 5 star reviews, we’re the local tradesmen you can trust.
Transparent Pricing
We make sure you know exactly what you are paying for ahead of time.
Licensed And Insured
You’re in safe hands as our tradesmen are fully licensed and insured to do your job.
Workmanship Guarantee
Our work will be free of defects in workmanship and workmanship will be warranted for life.
Convenient Bookings
We offer convenient booking times that can be worked around your schedule.
Available All Hours
We take calls 24 hours a day and 365 days a year so that we’re always available to be of service.