6 Signs You Need an Emergency Plumber in Perth

Not sure whether to wait till morning or call an emergency plumber in Perth?

It’s the middle of the night, things are smelling gassy and it’s not the dog. Or perhaps you can hear water running but can’t actually see a leak. An emergency plumber should be your next phone call, ASAP!

Although the plumber may not actually need to tend to your property immediately, it’s important to call them to determine if you do in fact have an emergency, or whether it can wait. They may advise you of what to do to get by till morning (e.g., directing you to turn the water off at the main, etc.), or there is a chance they’ll need to get out of their PJs and into their work gear, slide down their plumbing pole and get to you post-haste.

In these cases, getting the plumber around to sort your issue as quick as possible is your best bet to prevent any health and safety issues or potential damage to appliances or the rest of your home. It’s far more beneficial to fix the problem as soon as you notice it than wait for it to snowball out of control down the track, saving you time, money and plumbing heartache.

So, if you’re not sure what constitutes a plumbing emergency, we’ve compiled a list of the 6 most important reasons you may need an emergency plumber (keeping in mind not all of these reasons mean you’ll need to call your plumber at 2am – but you should do first thing in the morning).

Here’s the top 6 reasons our customers call us for an emergency plumber.

Gas leak or Gas Smell

This one actually requires immediate attention. Don’t wait till morning for this one, as leaking gas can be really dangerous and pose a serious health and safety risk.

If you can smell gas in your kitchen, the first thing you must do is turn the gas off at the meter. The next step is to go around your house opening all the doors and windows to allow the trapped gas to dissipate and flood the area with fresh oxygen.

What to do: Call your local Perth emergency plumber to come and inspect and repair the pipes immediately. Always remember that aside from being toxic to breathe in, gas is a highly combustible fuel, so you must not light matches, candles or lighters, or turn on any electrical devices like lights or fans around the leak area.

Burst pipe

Burst pipes can cause severe damage and also add major costs to your water bill if not detected early. Wooden floors, carpets, walls, cupboards and furniture are all at risk to water damage caused by a burst pipe, which could have occurred due to a number of reasons.

What to do: Turn the water off at the main to avoid a home flood. Call your local emergency Perth plumber who will be able to detect, inspect and repair the leak.

Blocked toilet

Midnight dunny run and now it’s overflowing, gurgling or backing up? When it comes to sewer waste you can never be too careful as not only is it unsanitary and can cause health implications, but it can also cause awful, smelly damage.

What to do: Call your Perth emergency plumber STAT. They’ll be able to assess your blocked toilet issue over the phone whether they should be coming around immediately or if it can wait till morning (provided no one else in the house uses the toilet in the meantime!)

Leaking Pipes

If you sense a leaking pipe somewhere in your midst, depending on the severity of the leak, you may not need to call a plumber after hours.

What to do: Turn off your water at the main, go back to bed and call the plumber in the morning.

Leaking Tap

Whether a drip drip drip or a steady gush is coming out of your tap, it will need to be serviced (if possible – not all taps are serviceable) or replaced. However, this isn’t classed as an emergency where you’d call the plumber out in the middle of the night.

What to do:  For slow drip leaks, simply place a bucket under the spout to collect any water overnight (and pop it on the plants in the morning) or turn the water off at the mains if it’s a heavier leak. Then call your emergency plumber in Perth in the morning to get it repaired or replaced.

No Hot Water

Lack of hot water, although an inconvenience, is not necessarily a big emergency. Most people can get by till the next day, though in circumstances where elderly people or those requiring a hot shower, it’s preferable to get the hot water back up and running immediately.

What to do: It’s your personal preference – wait till morning, or if you’re desperate for hot water, call your emergency hot water plumber to get it sorted ASAP.  

But before you get dialing for any of the reasons above, there are a few things you should know about your Perth emergency plumber before you get them around, to ensure you don’t get a dodgy tradie…

9 Things You Should Look for in an Emergency Plumber before calling

1.    Pluming Insurance Covered

Check their website for their ABN and plumbers license/gas fitters’ number, which will ensure they’re fully ensured.

2.    Does The Plumber Have a Good Website

Do they have a website to begin with? If not, this could be a red flag. Any reputable plumber these days should be online, and if not, they’re virtually untraceable, which can be a worry.

3.    Great Client Reviews

Check their Google and Facebook reviews – you’ll know if you want to proceed with them or not usually just by reading a couple!

4.    Social Media Presences

Are they on Facebook or Instagram? Most are on one or the other (usually Facebook) - or both. In addition to their website and reviews, their social media pages add to their level of trust and credibility in the community.

5.    Transparent Upfront Emergency Quote

For emergency and after hours plumbing, always get an upfront quote prior to work commencing. For transparency on all parts, a written quote is key – even a simple text message or email with the cost of the job and what it covers, includes and excludes for you to decline or proceed with is fine before the plumber provides an official, comprehensive quote and invoice.

6.    Price By Job Not Hour

This is a simple one, especially for after hours. To cover both the customer and the plumber, a price per job with callout is superior to an hourly rate as it is fixed and not dictated by the time taken.

7.    Plumbing Warranty

Depending on the nature of the work, check what warranties the emergency plumber pledges – and make sure it’s clear in the quote or invoice.

8.    Professional Attitude

You’ll know if they seem professional to you or not, so go with your gut here!

9.    Overall Plumbing Experience

An experienced plumber will know exactly what to do regarding your emergency, and a quick peruse through their “About Us” section of their website should tell you everything you need to know.

Now, of course, you’re probably reading this thinking “But if it’s 2am there’s NO WAY I’m going to be up for half an hour researching my emergency plumber before calling them”.

So, do your research now, and when the time comes where you may need an emergency plumber, you’ll know that we check all the boxes above and you can contact us, worry free. :)

The face of MC2 Plumbing, Lee is your friendly, nice-guy-next-door type bloke. Once a professional tap dancer, Lee went from dancing on taps around the world to fixing taps in Perth (with over 20 years in the trade).

Our Plumbing Services

Emergency Plumber in Perth

Hot Water System Installations & Repairs

Fixing Blocked Toilets

Blocked Drain and Sewers

Gas Fitter Plumber in Perth