Water Leak? What to Do and How to Shut Off Your Water

Water Leak? What to Do and How to Shut Off Your Water

Water running across the floor is not the moment to start guessing. It can be caused by a variety of problems such as

  • Burst water pipes
  • Leaking toilets
  • Hot water system leaks
  • Tap and fixture leaks

If you have a water leak, stop the water at the mains, protect the property, and get a licensed plumber on the way.

How to Shut Off Your Water at the mains

In most homes and small commercial properties, the fastest way to stop a water leak is to turn off the main water supply. That cuts water to the whole property, which is exactly what you want in an emergency.

Start by finding the water meter. Around Penrith, Western Sydney and the Lower Blue Mountains, it is commonly near the front boundary, in a meter box close to the footpath or driveway. Lift the lid carefully. Inside, you will usually see the meter and a tap or shut-off valve beside it.

Watch Video – How to turn the water supply off to your house in Australia

Turn that valve clockwise until it is fully closed. In some properties it may be a lever rather than a round tap. If it is a lever, turn it so it sits across the pipe rather than in line with it. Once closed, head back inside and open a cold tap to check whether the water flow has stopped. If the water slows and then stops, you have shut off the supply correctly.

If the water leak is severe and water is spraying near electrical fittings, do not wade through water to investigate. Move to a safe area and call for emergency help straight away. Water and electricity are not good mates!.

If you cannot find the main shut-off valve

This happens more often than people think, especially in investment properties, older homes, or commercial sites where the meter is tucked away behind landscaping, fencing, or stored items. If you cannot locate it immediately, check along the front boundary first. Then look near the driveway, front garden bed, side path, or any small ground-level box marked for water.

If you are in a unit, townhouse, or commercial tenancy, the shut-off setup may be different. There may be an isolation valve for your individual tenancy under the kitchen or bathroom sink, or the mains may be in a shared service area. In that case, building management or the strata contact may need to assist.

If water is still pouring out and you cannot stop it quickly, call Shipways emergency plumbers immediately and let them know you have not been able to isolate the water. That helps us prepare for the job before we arrive and we can try to help you locate the isolation valve.

What to do straight after the water is off

Once the mains is off, there is still usually water sitting in the pipes. Open the lowest cold tap in the property to help drain the remaining water out. This can reduce pressure in the line and limit extra leaking from the burst section.

Then start protecting the area. Move furniture, rugs, boxes, stock, or electrical items away from the leak if it is safe to do so. Use towels, buckets, or a mop to contain as much water as possible. If water has spread under cabinetry or into carpet, do not assume it will dry without consequences. Hidden moisture can lead to swelling, odour, mould, and damage that costs more than the pipe repair itself.

Take photos as well. If the burst pipe has damaged floors, walls, ceilings, or contents, clear photos can help with insurance discussions later. It only takes a minute, and it is often useful once the immediate stress has passed.

Should you turn off the hot water system too?

Sometimes, yes. If the burst pipe is on the cold water supply only, shutting off the mains may be enough. But if the hot water system has been affected, or if you are unsure where the burst has occurred, it is a good idea to isolate the unit as well.

For an electric hot water system, switch off the power at the switchboard if the unit is no longer getting water. For a gas hot water system, turn the unit off using its isolation controls if safe to do so. Running a hot water unit without proper water supply can damage components. If you are not confident, leave it alone and tell us what happened when we arrive.

When to call an emergency plumber

If you have a water leak, call us straight away. Even if you have turned the water off successfully. You still need the damage repaired or replaced properly, pressure tested and checked for any related issues.

Call urgently if water has affected ceilings, walls, flooring, electrical areas, or commercial stock. The same applies if the leak is underground, inside a wall, under a concrete slab, or in a location you cannot access. These jobs often need leak detection.

How to be better prepared next time

The best time to find your main water shut-off valve is before anything goes wrong. If you manage a home, rental, shop, office, or strata property, take five minutes to locate it and make sure everyone who needs to know can find it too.

For reliable water leak repair expertise, trust Shipways Plumbing Penrith. Call us today on 0410 638 342 or fill out our online contact form to book a call out! Our team is ready to help.