Where is the water shut-off in a Gold Coast home?

There are two shut-offs on almost every Gold Coast property. The main house isolation valve is usually on the wall of the house near the front garden tap or where the water line enters the building — a chrome or brass quarter-turn lever or a tap-style handle. The street-side water meter is at the front boundary, typically in a green in-ground box near the footpath, and the meter tap turns off the whole property. Learn where both are before you need them.

Where is the gas meter shut-off?

Natural-gas meters on Gold Coast homes are almost always on the front wall, side wall, or in a meter box near the street boundary. There's a quarter-turn lever valve on the incoming side of the meter — perpendicular to the pipe means OFF, in-line with the pipe means ON. LPG bottle installations shut off at the bottle regulator (turn clockwise until closed). If you can smell gas, don't switch anything electrical on or off, and don't use a phone inside the building.

What counts as a plumbing emergency?

Anything that involves active flooding, sewage overflow, gas smell, or complete loss of water or hot water in the middle of winter is an emergency. Burst pipes, ceiling leaks, hot water tank failures, blocked mains dumping sewage into the yard, and any suspected gas leak — all emergencies. A dripping tap or slow toilet is not — that can wait for a normal-hours visit and save you the after-hours premium.

How fast can you get to a Gold Coast plumbing emergency?

We aim to be on-site within 60–90 minutes for genuine emergencies across the Gold Coast — Coomera, Helensvale, Nerang, Southport, Robina, Burleigh, Ormeau, Pimpama and everywhere in between. Storm nights are busier — we triage based on active flooding, sewage, and gas smell first. Call 0405 356 912 anytime, day or night.

What should I NOT do in a plumbing emergency?

Don't try to patch a burst pipe with tape and hope — turn the water off at the meter. Don't stand in water where power outlets or ceiling lights are involved — kill the circuit at the switchboard first. Don't flush chemicals or drain cleaners into an already-overflowing toilet or drain — you make it worse and make it dangerous for the plumber. And with any gas smell, don't turn any electrical switch on or off inside the building — get everyone outside first.

Will my insurance cover emergency plumber callouts?

Sudden and accidental damage (burst pipes, tank failures, storm-related leaks) is typically covered under Gold Coast home and contents policies, including reasonable emergency make-safe callout costs. Wear-and-tear failures and slow leaks that were ignored typically aren't. Document everything with photos before, during, and after, and keep every invoice. Most reputable insurers have a 24/7 claims line — call them right after you've made the property safe.

Where is the water shut-off in a Gold Coast home?

There are two shut-offs on almost every Gold Coast property. The main house isolation valve is usually on the wall of the house near the front garden tap or where the water line enters the building — a chrome or brass quarter-turn lever or a tap-style handle. The street-side water meter is at the front boundary, typically in a green in-ground box near the footpath, and the meter tap turns off the whole property. Learn where both are before you need them.

Where is the gas meter shut-off?

Natural-gas meters on Gold Coast homes are almost always on the front wall, side wall, or in a meter box near the street boundary. There's a quarter-turn lever valve on the incoming side of the meter — perpendicular to the pipe means OFF, in-line with the pipe means ON. LPG bottle installations shut off at the bottle regulator (turn clockwise until closed). If you can smell gas, don't switch anything electrical on or off, and don't use a phone inside the building.

What counts as a plumbing emergency?

Anything that involves active flooding, sewage overflow, gas smell, or complete loss of water or hot water in the middle of winter is an emergency. Burst pipes, ceiling leaks, hot water tank failures, blocked mains dumping sewage into the yard, and any suspected gas leak — all emergencies. A dripping tap or slow toilet is not — that can wait for a normal-hours visit and save you the after-hours premium.

How fast can you get to a Gold Coast plumbing emergency?

We aim to be on-site within 60–90 minutes for genuine emergencies across the Gold Coast — Coomera, Helensvale, Nerang, Southport, Robina, Burleigh, Ormeau, Pimpama and everywhere in between. Storm nights are busier — we triage based on active flooding, sewage, and gas smell first. Call 0405 356 912 anytime, day or night.

What should I NOT do in a plumbing emergency?

Don't try to patch a burst pipe with tape and hope — turn the water off at the meter. Don't stand in water where power outlets or ceiling lights are involved — kill the circuit at the switchboard first. Don't flush chemicals or drain cleaners into an already-overflowing toilet or drain — you make it worse and make it dangerous for the plumber. And with any gas smell, don't turn any electrical switch on or off inside the building — get everyone outside first.

Will my insurance cover emergency plumber callouts?

Sudden and accidental damage (burst pipes, tank failures, storm-related leaks) is typically covered under Gold Coast home and contents policies, including reasonable emergency make-safe callout costs. Wear-and-tear failures and slow leaks that were ignored typically aren't. Document everything with photos before, during, and after, and keep every invoice. Most reputable insurers have a 24/7 claims line — call them right after you've made the property safe.

What to Do in a Plumbing Emergency (Gold Coast) 2026

The First 60 Seconds

Shut off the water at the main house valve or the street meter.

Kill power to any circuit where water is meeting electricity — ceiling lights, downlights, wet outlets.

If you smell gas — get everyone outside, don't touch any electrical switches, don't use a phone inside.

Call 0405 356 912. We answer 24/7 and can talk you through make-safe steps while we're on the way.

Know Your Shut-Offs (Before You Need Them)

Main House Water Valve

Usually on the wall of the house near the front garden tap, or where the water line enters the building. Chrome or brass, either a quarter-turn lever or a tap-style handle. Turning it OFF isolates the whole house instantly. Test it once a year so you know it moves — old valves seize.

Street-Side Water Meter

Green in-ground box at the front boundary near the footpath, containing your Gold Coast City Council water meter. There's a tap on the property side of the meter — turn it clockwise to shut off the whole property. Use this if you can't find or can't operate the main house valve.

Gas Meter / LPG Bottle

Natural gas: the meter is on the front or side wall near the boundary, with a quarter-turn lever valve. Perpendicular to the pipe = OFF. LPG: shut off at the bottle regulator — turn the handwheel clockwise until it stops.

Electrical Switchboard

The main switch trips the whole house; individual circuit breakers trip specific circuits. In a water emergency, kill individual affected circuits (lights, wet-area powerpoints) or the mains switch if unsure.

Common Emergencies — Step by Step

Burst Pipe or Major Leak

Shut off water at the main valve or street meter.
Kill power to any affected circuits at the switchboard.
Move furniture, rugs, electronics clear of the water.
Open the lowest tap in the house briefly to drain residual pressure.
Photograph the damage before you clean up — insurance needs this.
Call for plumbing leak repair or our 24/7 emergency plumber.

Blocked or Overflowing Toilet

Stop flushing. If water is rising, take the cistern lid off and lift the flapper valve/close the fill valve to stop more water entering.
Isolate the toilet at the small tap behind or beside it (turn clockwise).
Do not pour chemical drain cleaners in — they don't work on sewer blockages and are dangerous for the plumber.
If sewage is backing up into other fixtures (shower, bath, laundry tub) it's a mains blockage — call immediately. See blocked drains.

Gas Smell

Get everyone outside immediately.
Do NOT switch any electrical switch on or off inside the building. Do NOT use a phone or ignition source inside.
Shut off the gas at the meter (or LPG bottle) if you can do it without re-entering the building.
Open doors and windows on your way out if it's safe.
From outside, call your gas supplier's emergency line AND a licensed gasfitter. See gasfitter services.
Do not re-enter the property until the leak is confirmed fixed.

No Hot Water (Winter Emergency)

Check the obvious first — is the tempering valve leaking? Has the switch/gas isolation been knocked off? Has a safety cut-out on an electric unit tripped?
Look at the base of the tank for water pooling — if yes, shut off the water and power/gas to the unit; the tank has failed.
For gas continuous flow: check the pilot on older units, or the error code on newer models.
Call for a same-day service or replacement — see our hot water systems hub.

Ceiling Leak (Storm or Plumbing)

Turn off power to any circuits in the affected area at the switchboard.
Put buckets under active drips; move contents clear.
If the ceiling is bulging with water, pierce the lowest point with a screwdriver to drain controllably — otherwise the whole plaster sheet will collapse.
Photograph everything for insurance.
Storm-related — call our emergency roof team. Plumbing-related — call for leak detection and repair.

Minimising Damage While You Wait

Get standing water off timber floors within 30 minutes — mop, wet-vac, towels.

Lift rugs and move furniture to a dry room.

Open windows to reduce humidity if it's safe and not raining.

Photograph everything — wide shots and close-ups, with timestamps.

Keep receipts for towels, buckets, fans — insurers reimburse reasonable make-safe costs.

Don't lift damaged carpet until we've documented it — assessors may want it in place.

What to Do in a Plumbing Emergency (Gold Coast)