Guides · Emergencies
If water is running where it shouldn't be in Fish Hoek right now, start with the steps below, in order. We are based in Fish Hoek, so a call to us is a local call to a local plumber.
The first ten minutes
- Close the water. Close the main valve where the water enters your property, or at the meter. If it is a geyser leaking, closing the cold water valve into the geyser is enough. Every minute the water runs does more damage, so this comes first.
- Switch off the geyser's power. Turn off the geyser circuit at the distribution board. An element left on in an empty tank burns out. If the board is wet, or water is near plugs and lights, don't touch it. Stay away from wet electrics and phone us.
- Open a tap. This drains the pipes and relieves the pressure behind the leak.
- Protect what you can. Move electronics, rugs and furniture, and put buckets under drips. If a ceiling is bulging with water, keep people out from under it.
- Take photos. Your insurer will ask for them.
Whose side of the meter is it?
Before you call anyone, find out which side of the meter the water is on. As a rule, the City of Cape Town looks after the supply up to and including the meter, and you look after the pipes after it. If the water is coming up through the pavement or the verge, or the meter itself is leaking, report it to the City. If it is inside your boundary, it is your plumber's job.
If the City has shut the water off for repairs, be careful when it comes back on. Pressure can return suddenly, and air and grit in the line can push a weak joint or an old geyser past its limit. Open a tap and let the air out before you leave the house, and check under sinks and around the geyser once the supply is back.
What is an emergency, and what can wait
Call straight away: water you can't stop, a burst geyser or pipe, water coming through a ceiling, water near the distribution board, sewage coming back up through a floor drain or toilet, or no hot or cold water at all.
Can usually wait until morning: a dripping tap, a slow drain, a running toilet, a small weep at a connection. Close the valve under the fitting, put a container under it, and WhatsApp us a photo. We reply first thing in the morning.
What happens when you call
We ask where the water is coming from, whether you can reach a valve, and whether anything electrical is wet. If you can't stop it yourself we talk you through it on the phone. We tell you how soon someone can be with you before we set off, and we stop the damage first.
A burst geyser is usually replaced in daylight, because working in a ceiling void in the dark isn't safe and a replacement done in a rush is often done badly. So at night we make the house safe, and we replace it properly the next day. You get a written quote before any replacement work starts, and a compliance certificate afterwards. Our guide to leaking geysers explains what a leak usually means.
Call your insurer
Burst pipes and geysers are often covered by home insurance, along with the damage they cause. Once the water is stopped, call your insurer's claims line for a claim number. Some insurers prefer to send their own plumber. If you would rather use us, tell them. Either way, stop the water first and keep your photos.
Homes in Fish Hoek
Fish Hoek sits in the low valley between the mountains and False Bay. Much of the housing was built over several decades, so it is common for a house to still have a geyser or pipework that is well past its best, and these tend to fail without warning. Near the beach, sea air is also hard on taps, valves and electrical fittings. We have written more about that for Simon's Town, and the same effects apply here.
If you are selling, the City requires a plumbing certificate of compliance on transfer, and an emergency repair is a good time to find out what else would fail. Our guide to the plumbing certificate in Fish Hoek, Noordhoek and Kommetjie covers what is checked.
Emergency plumbing around Fish Hoek
We cover Fish Hoek, Clovelly and Glencairn, Sun Valley, Capri and Ocean View, Kalk Bay and St James, Simon's Town, Noordhoek and Kommetjie, and the rest of the South Peninsula and Southern Suburbs. For anything that isn't an emergency, WhatsApp us on 074 490 3100 or email enquiries@lightningfast.co.za. Office hours are Monday to Friday 07:30 to 17:30 and Saturday 08:00 to 13:00.
Common questions
What should I do first if a pipe bursts in my Fish Hoek home?
Close the main water valve at the meter or where the pipe enters your property. Then switch off the geyser at the distribution board, unless the board is wet. Open a tap to drain the system, move valuables away from the water, and take photos for your insurer.
Who is responsible for a leak at the water meter?
Generally, the City of Cape Town is responsible for the supply up to and including the meter, and the property owner for the pipes after it. If water is leaking from the pavement side of your meter, report it to the City. If it is on your side, it is a plumber's job.
Does Lightning Fast do emergency call-outs in Fish Hoek at night?
Yes. Our office is at 15 10th Avenue, Fish Hoek, and we take emergency calls day and night on 074 490 3100. Emergencies carry no after-hours charge. On the phone we will tell you how soon someone can be with you.
Can an emergency wait until morning?
A slow drip, a dripping tap or a blocked basin usually can: close the valve under it and WhatsApp us with a photo, and we will reply first thing. Running water you cannot stop, water near electrics, a burst geyser or sewage coming back up should not wait.