When a pipe bursts, the damage is measured in minutes, and the single most useful thing any homeowner can know is where their shut-off valves are.
Start with the fixture. Most toilets, sinks and washing machines have their own isolation valve: a small tap on the wall or under the bench where the water pipe connects. If the leak is coming from one fixture, turning this off stops the problem without cutting water to the whole house.
If you can't isolate the fixture, go to the main. In most Melbourne homes the main shut-off valve is at the water meter, near the front boundary of the property: look for a plastic or concrete lid in the ground, or a tap on a riser near the front fence. Turn the valve clockwise until it stops. If the valve is stiff or seized (common on older properties), don't force it with tools. You can crack it and make everything worse. This is worth checking today, calmly, rather than at 2am in a flood.
For hot water leaks, there's a dedicated cold-water isolation valve on the inlet of your hot water unit. Shutting it stops the tank feeding the leak.
Once the water is off: open a garden tap to drain pressure, move valuables clear, get towels down on hard floors, and lift what you can off wet carpet. Take photos as you go: your insurer will want them.
Then call us on 0423 345 575, any hour. A burst pipe is exactly what our 24/7 emergency service exists for, and if you've already got the water off, you've done the hard part.
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