We will respond 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year.
Most emergency situations can be promptly isolated and managed to protect your home or business from any damage, while our plumbers are on the way.
For your information we have listed typical after-hour emergency problems and we have provided general advice on how to manage and control these situations.
TasWater is responsible for the maintenance and repair of the water meter and any pipes or fittings that lead away from the water meter to the water main. If you have identified a water leak that you believe to be the responsibility of TasWater, please phone their 24-hour Service Team on 13 69 92. They will send a crew member to attend to the problem for you or advise you on how to proceed.
You are responsible for the installation, repair, maintenance and replacement of all the private water pipes and fittings that run from your property up to the water meter.
If you have a water leak and you need to turn the stop tap off at the water meter, but you do not know where the water meter is located you can call TasWater, and they will provide you with the approximate location and measurements for the properties water meter. Water meters are typically located in the front yard, approximately within 2 meters inside the front property boundary.
Burst water pipes in or around the home or business can be isolated from the properties water meter or stop tap.
If you have a water leak and you need to turn the stop tap off at the water meter, but you do not know where the water meter is located you can call TasWater, and they will provide you with the approximate location and measurements for the properties water meter. Water meters are typically located in the front yard, approximately within 2 meters inside the front property boundary.
Water meters can be located above ground or below ground. Below ground water meters may require a screwdriver to assist in opening of the lid to gain access to the water meter. Turn the stop tap clockwise to isolate the water supply.
If the leak is coming from a hot tap or pipe, you can isolate the hot water only at the hot water system by turning the stop tap/valve clockwise. The stop tap/valve is typically located at the point of connection to the hot water system.
If the leak is coming from within your boundary and you are responsible for the repair, you might be entitled to reimbursement of water usage by TasWater. Use this form to seek a reimbursement for a concealed water Leak.
Blocked drains are usually only evident once the drain becomes entirely blocked and either begins to overflow outside or if the toilet bowl doesn’t drain properly.
Gurgling and smelly drains is typically the best indicator that your drains are starting to block, and this should be acted upon immediately to prevent an emergency from occurring
If you have multiple toilets identify which toilet or fixture (if not all) is contributing to the blockage and avoid using it.
Every property has an Overflow Relief Gully (ORG) which is the lowest point of your drain and should be where the sewerage overflows first for a blockage, depending on the exact location of the blockage.
Each property has a boundary Inspection Opening (I.O) but some are not at ground level and may be buried. If you have an I.O at the boundary and if it is blocked at this point, then this would indicate the blockage is a TasWater issue and you can contact TasWater.
TasWater will consider reimbursement for plumbing work when it is determined the blockage is in the TasWater system and TasWater authorise a plumber to carry out work to unblock it, in accordance with the policy. Please complete and return the Reimbursement for Plumbing Work form and send your invoice to TasWater.
Leaking hot water systems can be isolated by turning the water meter off. However, a more practical option is to turn the hot water system off which allows cold water to still be used throughout the property and allows toilets and cold water taps to still function.
Isolating the water: There will be a copper pipe at the bottom of the HWS leading into the side of the tank. Follow the pipe back to a round knob or a ball valve handle and turn it off. Turn clockwise for the knob or turn handle 90deg to the pipe.
This will isolate the incoming water into the hot water heater. The storage hot water heater may still leak as the remainder of the water in the tank is draining but will eventually stop.
Isolating the power supply: At your electrical switchboard, there should be a switch marked ‘Hot Water’ or ‘HWS’. Flick the switch ‘Off’ and this will isolate the power to the hot water heater. If you’re not comfortable isolating the power supply, leave it to us.
Continually running or water gushing from taps or fixtures generally need to be isolated from the front boundary water meter, however there are some circumstances where the individual tap or fixture can be isolated independently.
Certain types of fixtures and mixer taps have isolation valves connected to them which allows the individual isolation of that fixture.
If you locate the isolation valve(s) for the fixture or tap, turn the handle clockwise or for ¼ turn taps, set the handle to 90deg.
Individual isolation of fixtures allows for the use of water throughout the rest of the property and reduces the emergency.
Blocked gutters, downpipes and general roof leaks can create major problems during heavy storms and rain. During severe weather conditions it is not advised to attempt to repair any problems, but to manage and control the situation instead.
Protect your property contents and locate the approximate area where the water is entering from so it can be investigated during normal conditions. Take a photo or video of the leak so that it can be referred to when it is not raining, and the roof is being repaired.
Mops, buckets, blankets can all help control the situation.
In severe weather conditions and if you’re experiencing flooding, please call the Tasmanian State Emergency Service SES.
If you smell gas in your home or business and suspect that you have a gas leak, immediately locate your gas meter, and isolate the entire gas service.
If you have Natural Gas then the Gas meter is generally located in the front yard of a property, near the property boundary beneath a plastic cover, or are mounted at the building or fence.
If you have bottled gas (LPG) then the isolation valve is located at the regulator above the bottles.
If you can smell gas in the street or nearby, please notify TasGas.