Melbourne plumbers you can rely on, 24/7

Stop the water first. If the leak is at a fixture with its own isolation valve (under the sink or behind the toilet), shut that valve. If not, shut off the main supply valve where water enters the house, or at the water meter near the street boundary. Once the water is off, mop up standing water quickly: especially on carpet and near plaster: to limit mould and damage, and take photos for insurance. Then call us on 0423 345 575; depending on the leak you may qualify for an insurance claim, and we're experienced working with all the major insurers.

Usually it's a dried-out P-trap. Every drain has a P-trap, a low bend that holds water and seals sewer gases out of your home. In showers and sinks that aren't used often, that water evaporates and the seal is lost. Run water down the drain for a minute to refill the trap; the smell should clear. If it comes back within days, there's likely a deeper issue: a cracked pipe, failed seal or partial blockage, and it's worth having us take a look.

For a gas unit: check the pilot light is lit, the gas valve on the unit is open, and the water isolation valve is fully open. For an electric unit: check the hot water circuit breaker in your switchboard hasn't tripped. If the pilot won't stay lit, the breaker keeps tripping, or you see water pooling around the tank, stop there and call us. Those need a licensed plumber, and a leaking tank generally means the unit needs replacing. In most cases we can do a same-day changeover.

Leave the area immediately. Don't turn any switches on or off, don't use phones in the area, and don't start vehicles nearby. From a safe distance, call your gas distributor's emergency line first. They attend gas leaks 24/7 free of charge, and warn others to stay away. Once the site is made safe, call us to diagnose and repair the fault. Gas work must only ever be done by a licensed gasfitter.