Emergency plumber in Melbourne — your suburb, in the next 60 minutes

Active flooding from a burst pipe, no water at all to a household with kids or elderly, a gas smell (call 132 771 first), or sewer overflowing inside the home. No hot water alone is usually not a true emergency — waiting until business hours can save 40–60% on the bill.

For inner and middle Melbourne suburbs (Whitehorse, Boroondara, Monash, Stonnington), expect 45–90 minutes after hours. Outer suburbs like outer Knox, Maroondah and Manningham can be 60–120 minutes. Anyone promising 15-minute arrival anywhere in Melbourne is either lucky or lying.

Expect a call-out fee of $180–$280 after hours and labour at $220–$380/hr. Public holidays usually double the standard rate. See our full pricing breakdown for line-item examples on the 12 most common emergency jobs.

Three things: turn the water main off at the meter (front of the property), switch off power at the mains if water is near electrical fittings, and open the lowest tap in the house (laundry or outside) to drain residual pressure. Take photos for insurance before you start cleaning up.

Most Australian home insurance covers the damage caused by a burst — wet carpet, ruined plaster, replaced flooring — but not the plumbing repair itself. Hidden pipe bursts inside walls are sometimes covered under 'escape of liquid'. Lodge the claim within 24 hours with your photos and the plumber's invoice.