Pipe burst, water flowing somewhere it shouldn't, the meter spinning fast — first thing is isolate the main at the meter. Once water's off, we handle the diagnosis and repair: galvanised steel, copper, PVC, PEX, lead-jointed cast iron — all the materials common in Melbourne south-east stock. BPC-licensed (#103414), Compliance Certificate on completion.
The simple repair is replacing the burst section. The right repair is replacing the burst section AND identifying whether the rest of the run is on the same clock. On galvanised water main, the answer is almost always "the rest is going too" — the failure mechanism is run-wide, not localised. On copper at a soldered joint, sometimes the rest of the run is fine; sometimes not. Prime Plumbing & Gasfitting gives you the assessment in writing so you can choose: patch now and watch, or staged sectional replacement.
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Before any work, the water main is isolated at the meter and the property side is drained. We document the isolation point and any damage to the meter assembly itself (sometimes the meter is the failure point, not a downstream pipe). If the meter assembly needs work, that's coordinated with your water authority — we can't cut into network-side pipework.
Modern repair on a galvanised steel run uses a galvanised-to-copper transition fitting and replaces the failed section in copper. Modern repair on copper uses press fittings or solder per the existing run. Modern repair on PVC uses PVC of the matching pressure rating. Mismatched repairs (galv directly to copper without a dielectric union) corrode at the join — we don't do that.
Water-pressure pipework repair is licensed plumbing — BPC Compliance Certificate is issued (#103414). Useful for insurance claims (proving the repair was done by a licensed plumber), at sale, and for strata committee approvals.
If you haven't already isolated the meter, that's our first step. Some Melbourne meter assemblies have older isolation cocks that have seized — we have a backup procedure for that, but it's a longer step. If isolation is sorted before we arrive, the repair starts on minute zero of the call-out.
Visible bursts are obvious. Concealed bursts (in-wall, under-floor, in-ceiling) sometimes need acoustic detection to locate before opening anything. Once located, we open access carefully — keeping the opening as small as practical so the cosmetic repair afterwards is straightforward.
While the pipe is exposed, we look at the rest of the run. On galvanised steel, the visible inside of the cut pipe tells us the corrosion stage. On copper, fitting condition near the burst tells us if the same corrosion is mid-progress. We document what we find for the repair recommendation.
Sectional replacement using the right material and fittings for the existing pipe. Pressure test on completion — we don't leave the property until the repair holds the network pressure. If the wider run is also at risk, we quote that separately so you can decide.
BPC Compliance Certificate, photos of the burst (before-and-after), repair materials list, and pressure test record — all emailed as a single PDF. Useful for insurance claims, particularly where the burst caused water damage to the property.
Making sure your kitchen is prepared and ready for a gas cooktop installation saves everyone time. We've put together an in depth guide that details all the steps you can take for a seamless install: Gas Cooktop Installation Guide: Preparing Your Kitchen
Below are 4 points that we look for:
We help you select the right size and configuration for your space and cooking style.
We confirm whether your bench requires modification before installation begins.
Most gas cooktops need a power outlet for ignition. We check access and setup before installation.
Clear access to the workspace and gas meter allows us to complete your installation smoothly.
Prime Plumbing & Gasfitting is a small team operating during business hours, so same-day depends on first-call availability. For an active burst RIGHT NOW, isolating the meter is the priority — that stops the water flow regardless of when a plumber arrives. Then we book the earliest available appointment, usually same-day or next-morning.
The mains isolation cock is at your water meter — usually a quarter-turn handle on the property side of the meter. Turn it 90 degrees so it's perpendicular to the pipe. If it's seized (older meters often are), don't force it — call your water authority or call Prime Plumbing & Gasfitting and we'll isolate at an alternative point.
Most home insurance policies cover sudden-and-accidental burst pipe damage — water damage to walls, floors, contents — provided the repair is by a licensed plumber. The Compliance Certificate is the licence trail your insurer asks for. Insurance usually doesn't cover 'wear and tear' (a slowly degrading pipe that everyone knew about but ignored) — so reporting a burst as a sudden event matters.
Depends on the excess vs the repair cost. A $400+ GST single-point copper repair is usually below most policy excesses. A $4,000+ GST burst-with-water-damage event is well above. Prime Plumbing & Gasfitting quotes in writing before any work — you can decide whether to claim based on the number.
Galvanised steel water main installed before about 1980 is now well past expected service life. The corrosion is from inside the pipe out, the visible failure point is just where the wall got thinnest first, and the rest of the run is on the same clock. If you've had two galv burst repairs in a year, the third one is coming — sectional copper replacement is usually the right call.
We open the wall to access the burst, repair the pipe, and pressure test before closing back up. The cosmetic repair (plaster, paint) is normally outside Prime Plumbing & Gasfitting's scope but we keep the access opening as small as practical to minimise the rebuild. Insurance often covers the wall repair as part of the water damage claim.
For internal pipe repair, ideally yes — to confirm the affected area and approve the access opening. For external water-main work where access doesn't require the house, we can sometimes proceed with phone confirmation. Tell us at quote stage.
