Water Tight Blog

Emergency Burst Mains Repair in Hackett – 5-Star Review for Water Tight Canberra

Problem

When a Hackett homeowner returned home, she was met with a flooded downstairs bathroom. Water had spread across the vanity, tiled floor, and even into the carpeted room next door. The situation was urgent, and she needed immediate help to prevent further damage.

On inspection, Liam identified two separate issues:

A wall-mounted spout in the bathroom that allowed water to track back into the cabinetry if the mixer handle wasn’t shut off properly.
A cracked brass union on the property side of the water meter, which was spraying water into the meter box lid.

Not only was this wasting water, but it also meant the home’s mains supply couldn’t be properly tested.

Assessment

Given the urgency and the homeowner’s limited mobility, Liam needed to deliver both a temporary patch and a lasting solution. The crack in the brass union meant the mains supply couldn’t be safely isolated without cutting off water entirely — a situation the homeowner couldn’t manage until parts could be sourced.

That’s where Liam’s ingenuity shone through. Instead of leaving the customer without water over the weekend, he carried out a “first aid patch” by hose clamping a rubber washer around the crack. This stabilised the supply and kept water running to the home.

What We Did

The job was completed in two stages:

Emergency call-out:
- Stabilised the burst brass union with a temporary clamp repair.
- Ensured the customer had running water throughout the weekend.
Follow-up repair:
- Returned during business hours to replace the damaged water meter nut and tail.
- Completed a full pressure drop test on the house supply.
- Verified no further leaks or drops were present.

This two-stage approach gave the homeowner immediate relief and a permanent fix with minimal disruption.

Materials & Standards

The replacement components were sourced to Australian standards and installed in line with AS/NZS 3500 plumbing compliance requirements. Liam’s temporary repair was an excellent demonstration of best-practice ingenuity — a safe, short-term measure while ensuring the final fix met full compliance standards.

Results

The client was left with a watertight system, peace of mind, and no further leaks. Most importantly, she wasn’t left without water during the waiting period.

Her glowing 5-star review says it all:

“Liam of Water Tight Canberra was excellent both in responding to my initial emergency call out and at the follow-up appointment to fix the mains leak. What most impressed me was that Liam communicated clearly and took into account not just the plumbing issues but also his customer. He understood that I was not mobile enough to keep turning on and off my mains supply… He applied ingenuity to do a first aid patch… Water Tight should be proud of Liam and seek to employ more professional plumbers like him.”

Tips

Don’t ignore water meter leaks: A small crack can quickly turn into a major burst.
Temporary fixes should only be short term: They buy you time but should always be followed by a compliant permanent repair.
Know your shut-off valve location: In an emergency, knowing where your mains isolation valve is can save your home from extensive damage.
Call a professional quickly: Emergency plumbing requires more than DIY — safety and compliance are critical.

Location Notes

This emergency repair took place in Hackett, Inner North Canberra. Homes in this area often have older meter assemblies and fittings that may be prone to age-related cracking. Water Tight Canberra regularly assists Hackett residents with both emergency call-outs and preventative maintenance.