Plumber Penshurst

Fast Response to a Major Water Main Failure

Our emergency plumbers were called to a large apartment complex in Sutherland, consisting of 125 units. While a contractor was removing a tree, a large log rolled and damaged the water meter and copper pipework.

Since the damaged section was located before the isolation point, the water supply couldn't be shut off using the building's existing infrastructure. This resulted in an uncontrolled leak and significant water loss, needing immediate emergency attention.

The Challenge: A Live 100mm Water Main

When our team arrived on site, water was escaping from the damaged main at a high rate, placing the water supply and surrounding buildings at risk.

With 125 apartments relying on the affected water pipe, it was crucial to stabilise the situation quickly while minimising disruption to the residents. Our priority was to stop the flow of water, prevent further water loss and establish a safe environment so we could conduct repairs.

Emergency Measures to Control the Water Leak

To reduce the flow from the damaged water main, we carefully compressed the larger copper pipe to significantly restrict the flow of the water. The pipe was then folded to create a controlled kink, further reducing the amount of water escaping the damaged pipe.

This temporary solution allowed the situation to stabilise and allowed us to carry out a more permanent repair.

Using Liquid Nitrogen Pipe Freezing Technology

With the leak under control, we used our specialised pipe freezing technology with liquid nitrogen to isolate the damaged section of the pipe.

Liquid nitrogen, cooled to -160°C, was applied to the pipe to create a solid ice plug. This technique effectively stopped the water flow without shutting down the whole water supply. While the pipe was frozen, we cut into it and completed the necessary repairs safely.

Repairing the Damaged Water Pipe

Once the pipe had been successfully frozen and isolated, our team started repairing the damaged section.

The repairs involved:

• Removing damaged sections of the copper pipework
• Repairing the 100mm water service
• Modifying the affected pipework
• Restoring proper water flow
• Pressure testing the repaired section of pipe
• Safely recommissioning the water supply

All of the repairs as well as the emergency response, were completed in three and a half hours.

Maintaining Water Supply to the 125 Apartments

One of the main priorities within this job was minimising the impact on the residents. To achieve this, our team established a temporary water supply from a neighbouring building while the emergency repairs were being finished. This connection provided residents with safe and clean drinking water and also reduced the disruptions on them.

Our plumbers recently attended a property in Kurnell, on the south side of Botany Bay. 

The resident reported a burst pipe that had flooded their bathroom. Our team turned both the hot and cold water supply off so they could work onthe burst pipe safely and efficiently. The pipe was made out of old copper with soft-soldered joints and was approximately 30 to 40 years old. Unlike newer silver-soldered joints, copper joints are prone to cracking and failing suddenly, leading to frequent leaks.

Due to the copper pipework, our plumbers couldn't resolder it and call it a day. The affected parts of the pipe (both internal and external) had to be carefully cut out, removed and replaced with newer, copper press fittings. To ensure the new pipes were secure and leak-proof, our plumbers thoroughly pressure tested it.

After all the checks were completed, the plumbing system was turned back on and the client was happy.

The plumbing team at Everyday Plumbing were called out to a strata complex of villas in Kirrawee. This complex of villas had been experiencing multiple burst pipes and it was causing issues for the residents. Our testing revealed the pressure was over 1100kpa - AS3500 states a maximum pressure of 500kpa to domestic residence. The main water meter 32mm water frozen with liquid nitrogen, slightly relocated (to create additional room) modified with new isolation valve and and pressure reduction valve was installed. This resolved the complexes issues and brought the pressure within limits.

Our Assessment Of The Pipes

When dealing with repeated burst pipes, it's important to look beyond the initial damage and assess the condition of the entire system. Our plumbers carried out a detailed inspection of the affected areas and reviewed the history of recent pipe failures throughout the complex.

Recurring burst pipes can often be linked to factors like:

• Aging infrastructure 
• Corrosion
• Excessively high water pressure
• Environmental factors like ground movement
• Hidden leaks

Developing a Cost-Effective Solution

Rather than reacting to each burst pipe when they happen, our plumbers worked together to come up with a proactive plumbing strategy. Our recommendations focused on improving the reliability of the complex's water infrastructure while helping to minimise future maintenance costs and emergency call-outs.

Our plan considered:

• The age and condition of the villa's existing pipes and plumbing systems
• Long-term maintenance needs
• Minimising disruption to the residents
• Reducing future burst pipes
• Protecting the complex and the villas from water damage

Once we had assessed the plumbing, we installed a pressure-reducing valve. This valve is used to lower and stabilise incoming water pressure, protecting the complex's plumbing from dangerously high pressure.

The Result

By using our advanced tools to investigate the underlying causes of the repeated burst pipes, Everday Plumbing delivered a long-lasting and effective solution.

Complex Water Leak and Pipe Replacement on Mandible Street, Alexandria

Our plumbers were called to a major water leak beneath Mandible Street in Alexandria. There was water all over the centre of the road and Sydney Water had advised us that it was likely coming from a fire service pipe. Since these pipes are used only for firefighting and rarely inspected, they tend to corrode over time, leading to underground failures and leaks with little to no warning.

As Mandile Street is a busy road and is a mix of residential and commercial areas, the local council required us to complete all work at night to manage safety and traffic flow.

What Our Plumbers Found

Once our plumbers shut down the water supply and exposed the leaking pipe using their non-destructive digging techniques, they discovered that the pipe was severely corroded. The corrosion was so severe that repairs would be impractical, so a full replacement was needed.

Our plumbers got to work, replacing 25 metres of steel pipe from the connection point on the opposite side of the road to the building. We also upsized the copper pipe to allow for a higher rate of water flow in the future as the area grows.

How the Work Was Completed

Works were carried out over multiple nights and included:

• Saw cutting and excavation
• Removing the damaged pipe
• Installing new copper pipework
• Installing hydrants and backflow devices
• Backfilling and restoring the roadway

If you're dealing with an underground leak or can't figure out where the leak is coming from, call our professional plumbers on  (02) 9191 7309 or fill out our online enquiry form today.