24/7 Emergency Plumber in Petrie, Burst Pipes, Gas Leaks, Blocked Drains
Big Blue Plumbing handles emergency plumbing in Petrie, dispatched from local service points across Moreton Bay, the Sunshine Coast, and Noosa. We're licensed for urgent repairs including ruptured pipes, gas leaks, blocked drains, and water heater failures, with 24/7 availability when the situation can't wait until business hours. The service covers onsite inspection, fixed upfront quoting once scope is finalised, and repair or temporary containment if full resolution needs a return visit; timing depends on the fault severity, access, and whether parts are already on the vehicle.
Emergency plumbing means situations where delay increases risk: active water leaks damaging property, gas leaks creating a safety hazard, sewage backups affecting health, or complete loss of hot water in occupied homes. If you can smell gas, isolate the supply at the meter if it's safe to reach, ventilate the area, and avoid operating switches or appliances. For broken pipes, turn off the water at the mains to limit flooding while the plumber is on the way.
Petrie sits within our Moreton Bay dispatch coverage, meaning urgent jobs are allocated to the nearest available properly licensed plumber once the booking is confirmed. You'll receive an ETA when scheduling, and we provide updates if traffic or a prior job affects arrival timing. Properties here range from established homes on larger blocks to newer estates near arterial routes, so access and parking arrangements are confirmed when you book to avoid delays onsite.
We're a locally owned operation with 40+ years of combined plumbing experience and over 3,000 jobs completed across South East Queensland. Our work is priced by the job, not by the hour, with no hidden fees. A senior discount applies when you show a valid senior card, and a 0% interest payment plan is available through Brighte with approval typically completed in 5 to 7 minutes.
What Counts as a Plumbing Emergency
An emergency is any plumbing fault where waiting increases damage, creates a health risk, or leaves a property unsafe or unliveable. Active water leaks, gas leaks, sewage overflows, and complete hot water loss in winter typically meet that threshold. Slow drains, dripping taps, or minor temperature fluctuations usually don't require after-hours response unless they escalate.
Burst pipes are often caused by pressure surges, corrosion in older galvanised or copper lines, or movement in reactive clay soils common across Moreton Bay properties. When a pipe fails, water can flood walls, ceilings, or subfloors within minutes. The priority is isolating the water supply at the mains, then booking a correctly licensed and insured plumber to locate the break, assess the affected pipework, and provide a fixed quote for the repair once the damage extent is confirmed.
Gas leaks present a safety risk and must be treated as urgent. If you smell gas (a distinctive rotten-egg odour added for detection), don't operate electrical switches or appliances. Open windows, isolate the gas at the meter if accessible, and move outdoors while waiting for a licensed gas fitter. All gas work in Queensland requires licensing, and any repair must be followed by a pressure loss test to confirm the system is gas-tight before reconnection.
Blocked drains become emergencies when sewage backs up into showers, toilets, or floor drains, creating health hazards and preventing normal use of facilities. In older Petrie homes, tree root intrusion into clay or terracotta pipes is a frequent cause. In kitchens, grease and food waste solidify as the water cools, gradually narrowing the pipe until it blocks completely. Assessment typically starts with a CCTV CCTV check to identify the restriction type, depth, and whether the pipe structure is intact or damaged.
Hot water system failures in winter can leave families without warm water for showers, laundry, and dishes. Storage systems often fail due to sediment buildup insulating the heating element, or a corroded sacrificial anode allowing the tank to rust through. Continuous flow gas units may lose pressure or develop burner faults. The first visit confirms the failure cause, checks for leaks or safety issues, and provides a fixed quote for replacement or repair depending on the system's condition and age.
Common Emergency Plumbing Faults We Handle
We handle burst water pipes in walls, ceilings, and underground supply lines, where sudden pressure changes or material fatigue cause the pipe to split or separate at joints. The repair approach depends on the pipe type (PVC, copper, galvanised steel) and whether the damaged section is accessible or requires wall or floor access. Once the leak is isolated and the affected area is exposed, we assess the pipe condition, cut out the damaged section, and re-join using appropriate fittings rated for mains pressure.
Burst flexi hoses under sinks and behind toilets are common in properties where the hoses have aged past their recommended replacement interval. Flexi hoses are rated for approximately 10 years, after which the internal braiding weakens and the hose can fail suddenly, often while the tap is in use. Replacement involves isolating the water, removing the failed hose, and fitting a new braided flexi hose with the correct thread size and length for the fixture.
Blocked toilets caused by excessive paper, foreign objects, or partial drainage line obstructions are cleared using mechanical augering or high-pressure water jetting depending on the blockage type. If the toilet itself is clear but the drain remains slow, the obstruction is further down the line, often in the inspection point or boundary trap. CCTV check pinpoints the location and helps determine whether the blockage can be cleared or if the pipe needs replacement or relining.
Gas leaks at appliance connections, regulators, or underground supply lines require immediate isolation and professional assessment. Detection involves pressure testing the system and using gas detectors or soapy water to identify the leak point. Once located, the faulty section is repaired or replaced, the system is re-tested for gas-tightness, and a compliance certificate is issued confirming the installation meets Australian Standards.
Sewage overflows from inspection points, gully traps, or floor drains indicate a blockage in the main sewer line. This often results from tree roots penetrating cracked pipes, or a collapsed section in older clay pipework. High-pressure water jetting clears soft blockages like roots and grease, while structural failures require drain relining or excavation and replacement of the damaged section.
How the Emergency Call-Out Works
When you contact us for an emergency, we confirm the fault type, your location in Petrie, and any immediate safety actions you've already taken. Urgent jobs are dispatched first, with the nearest licensed and insured plumber allocated from our Moreton Bay service area. You'll receive an estimated arrival time when booking, and we provide updates if road conditions or a prior emergency affects timing.
The first visit involves assessing the fault, confirming what's failed and why, and explaining the repair options. For straightforward issues like a burst flexi hose or a drain blockage with accessible cleanout points, the work can often proceed immediately once you've approved the flat-rate quote. For more complex situations involving hidden leaks, structural pipe damage, or parts that aren't carried on the vehicle, we provide a scope-confirmed quote and schedule a return visit if needed.
We explain what we're doing before we start, confirm access to the impacted area, and use drop sheets or protective coverings to protect floors and benchtops in the work zone. Our plumbers wear boot covers or remove shoes in homes when requested, and they keep the workspace tidy throughout the job. Once the repair is complete, we test the outcome (checking for leaks, confirming flow, or verifying gas-tightness) and clean up the work area, removing debris and any materials generated by the repair.
Pricing is by the job, not by the hour, meaning the quote you approve is the amount you pay once the work is finished. There are no hidden fees, and if the scope changes during the repair (for example, if opening a wall reveals additional damage), we explain the options and confirm the revised price before proceeding. Payment is due on completion, and you'll receive an invoice suitable for insurance claims, landlord records, or body corporate documentation where required.
After-Hours and Weekend Availability
Plumbing emergencies don't respect business hours. We provide 24/7 emergency plumbing across Petrie and the wider Moreton Bay region, including weekends and public holidays. After-hours work follows the same process as daytime jobs: assess, quote, repair, and verify. The main difference is that some complex diagnostics or parts procurement may need to wait until suppliers reopen, in which case we provide temporary containment and schedule a follow-up visit.
If a fault can't be fully resolved after hours (for example, if a replacement hot water unit needs to be ordered, or a structural pipe repair requires excavation during daylight), we make the property safe, restore partial function where possible, and arrange a time to return and complete the work. You're not left without water overnight; temporary bypasses or alternative supply routes are explained and implemented as part of the emergency visit.




