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What do I do about a burst pipe or a flooded house right now?

The short answer

Turn off the water at the meter, turn off electricity to affected areas at the switchboard if water is near wiring, then photograph everything before you start removing anything.

TradieAnswers editorial · written in-house and sourced to the authorities listed below

Checked against 5 published sources, listed in full at the end of this page. How we source this

The order matters, and the third step is the one people skip and later regret.

In the first ten minutes

  1. Turn off the water at the main tap, usually at the meter near the front boundary. Every adult in the house should already know where this is.
  2. If water is near power points, wiring or an appliance, switch off the affected circuits at the switchboard. Do not stand in water to reach it.
  3. Photograph and film everything before moving anything. This is what an insurance claim is assessed on and it cannot be recreated later.
  4. Stop the spread: towels, buckets, lift what you can, and get water away from timber and plasterboard.
  5. Call a plumber, and call your insurer. Many insurers have a preferred restoration process and calling first can affect what is covered.

In the first day

  • Get air moving and remove standing water. Wet plasterboard and carpet underlay start growing mould within a couple of days.
  • Keep every receipt, including for a fan, a dehumidifier or emergency accommodation.
  • Do not throw out damaged items until the insurer has seen them or told you not to.
  • Have the electrical installation checked before restoring power to any circuit that got wet.

Who does this work

You need a licensed plumber

Because repairs to pipework connected to the water supply are licensed plumbing work in every state and territory.

This is licensed work in every Australian state and territory. Check a licence in your state

Where are you?

Who regulates plumbing and gas in your state

Trade regulation in Australia is state law, so the body that answers this depends on where the work is. Pick yours.

New South Wales — NSW Fair Trading
Plumbing, draining and gasfitting are separate licence classes. Work must be notified and is subject to inspection. How to check a licence in NSW
Victoria — Building and Plumbing Commission
Licenses and registers plumbers across separate classes of work. Licensed plumbing work generates a compliance certificate you should be given. How to check a licence in VIC
Queensland — Queensland Building and Construction Commission
Licenses plumbers and drainers. Notifiable work must be submitted to the QBCC after completion. How to check a licence in QLD
Western Australia — Building and Energy
Plumbing contractor and tradesperson licensing, and gasfitting authorisation, sit with the same body. How to check a licence in WA
South Australia — Consumer and Business Services
Plumbing and gas fitting are treated as building work but need specific plumbing, gas fitting and electrical licence classes, known as PGE. How to check a licence in SA
Tasmania — Consumer, Building and Occupational Services
Plumbers, gasfitters and auto gasfitters are licensed occupations, all searchable in one place. How to check a licence in TAS
Australian Capital Territory — Access Canberra
Plumbers, drainers and gasfitters are licensed construction occupations in the ACT. How to check a licence in ACT
Northern Territory — Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Board
Holds the list of currently licensed plumbers and drainers. The board can also confirm a licence by phone if a name is not appearing. How to check a licence in NT

What to do now

  1. Turn the water off at the meter, usually near the front boundary. Everyone in the house should know where this is before they need it.
  2. Keep water away from switchboards, power points and anything electrical. If water has reached them, turn the main switch off too.
  3. Photograph the damage before you move or dry anything, because an insurer will ask.
  4. Call a licensed plumber and say it is a burst, not a leak. It changes how quickly you are attended.

Sources

Every source below was fetched and its response recorded on the date shown. Where a government site blocks automated clients, that is noted rather than reported as a successful check.

  1. NCC 2022 Volume Three: Plumbing Code of Australia · Australian Building Codes BoardChecked 2026-08-11 · responded 200 OK
  2. Backflow prevention · Sydney WaterChecked 2026-08-10 · responded 200 OK
  3. Electricians · NSW GovernmentChecked 2026-08-10 · responded 200 OK
  4. Consumer rights and guarantees · Australian Competition and Consumer CommissionChecked 2026-08-10 · responded 200 OK
  5. Search a public register · Energy Safe VictoriaChecked 2026-08-10 · responded 200 OK

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