Act immediately — every minute costs money
A 15mm burst pipe can discharge over 1,000 litres per hour. Water damage to ceilings, floors, and walls can cost R10,000–R80,000 to repair — and your insurer may reduce your payout if they believe you didn't act promptly to limit damage.
Step 1: Find and close the main stop valve (30 seconds)
Your main stop valve controls all water into your property. Common locations:
- Under the kitchen sink
- In a wall cavity near the front door
- At the boundary wall (outside, usually a round lid in the ground)
- In the garage or utility room
Turn clockwise to close. If it's stiff, use a cloth for grip — don't use pliers as this can damage the valve.
Step 2: Switch off your geyser at the DB (1 minute)
If your geyser continues to heat with no water in it, the element will burn out — adding R800–R1,800 to your repair bill. Find your distribution board (DB), locate the geyser breaker (usually labelled "geyser" or "water heater"), and switch it off.
Step 3: Open all taps to drain the system (2 minutes)
Opening taps on the ground floor (lowest point) helps drain remaining water in the pipes, relieving pressure and reducing further leakage from the burst section.
Step 4: Mop, contain, and document (while calling a plumber)
Use towels and buckets to limit water spread. Take photos and video of all visible damage before anything is moved or dried — this is essential for your insurance claim. Note the time the burst occurred.
Step 5: Call a plumber immediately
Don't wait. Even if it's 2am. Emergency plumbers are available 24/7 across South Africa. An emergency call-out will cost R800–R1,200 but preventing 6 hours of water damage saves far more.
After the repair: insurance claim
- Call your insurer's claims line (number on your policy schedule) same day
- Get a plumbing COC from the repairing plumber — insurers require this
- Keep the burst pipe section — the assessor may want to inspect it
- Get a repair invoice with itemised parts and labour
Need an emergency plumber right now? Get connected to a PIRB-registered plumber in your area.