Quick answer
Close the main stop-cock at the property boundary immediately, switch off the geyser and the DB board if water is anywhere near electrics, photograph everything for insurance, then call a plumber. Most insurers cover sudden burst-pipe damage but not gradual leaks, so the photographs and the timeline matter. Knowing where your stop-cock is before this happens is the single most useful thing in this whole answer.
Common causes
- Old galvanised pipe corroding through from the inside
- Copper pinhole failure, common in homes over twenty years old
- Pressure surges when municipal supply is restored after an outage
- Mains pressure consistently above 600 kPa with no pressure-reducing valve fitted
- Physical damage during building, paving or landscaping work
- Freezing on an exposed outdoor line during a cold Highveld snap
What you can do now
- 1Close the main stop-cock at the boundary — locate it now, before you need it
- 2Switch off the DB board if water is anywhere near electrics or the ceiling
- 3Switch off the geyser so it cannot heat an empty cylinder
- 4Lift rugs and move furniture and electronics out of the water
- 5Photograph and video everything before you start clearing up — insurers ask for it
- 6Open the lowest tap in the house to drain the remaining pressure out of the system
When to call a professional
Call immediately — a burst under pressure floods a room in minutes and the damage bill outruns the plumbing bill almost instantly. Keep the photographs, the time you closed the mains, and the plumber's invoice together for the claim. Ask the plumber to test static mains pressure once repaired; if it is running high, a pressure-reducing valve prevents the next burst.
Typical cost in Johannesburg
Emergency callout R650–R950 · Repairs from R750
Indicative ranges only. We provide written, itemised quotes before any work.
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