Plumbing guide

Reporting a plumbing leak: inspection and repair in Perth

Practical property information

By Ellis Services Group · Updated 15 October 2026

To report a plumbing leak in Perth, send Ellis Services Group the location, timing, water spread and safe access details. We use that information to plan the inspection, investigate the likely source and explain the repair scope before you authorise further work.

You do not need to diagnose a hidden pipe fault before calling. A damp ceiling, water under a cabinet or unexplained meter movement gives us a starting point; the inspection determines what needs attention. Our water leak detection service explains the signs we investigate and how detection and repairs can be scoped separately.

Active leaks and immediate hazards

• A stable drip or stain you can observe safely: record the affected room, when it started and whether it follows use of a fixture. Send an enquiry with photos taken from a safe position.
• Active flow or spreading water: call 0413 477 667 and describe whether the flow is continuing and which rooms are affected. If you know the water isolation point and it is safe to reach, isolate the supply. Do not delay contact to collect a full set of photos. Our burst pipe repair page covers active pipe leaks and repair arrangements.
• Water near electrical fittings, appliances or a switchboard: keep people away and do not touch wet equipment, operate switches in the affected area or enter water to reach an isolation point. Tell us about the electrical hazard when you call so the required trades can be considered. For immediate danger to people, contact emergency services.

Move belongings or contain a small visible drip only where it is safe. Do not remove fittings, open walls or climb into a ceiling to find the source. Access work is part of the scope to discuss with the attending tradesperson.

Leak location, timing and water spread

Start with the address and affected room. Describe where you see water, rather than where you think the pipe is broken: below the kitchen sink, beside the hot-water unit, at the toilet base or on the ceiling below a bathroom. Note whether it is dripping, running or pooling, and whether it appears constantly or only when a fixture is used.

Include the time first noticed, any change in the wet area, staining or swelling, and whether the supply has been isolated. Photos are optional: a wide photo can show the location and a closer photo the visible detail, without disturbing finishes or approaching electrical hazards. Water can travel before it becomes visible, so a photo records symptoms and access rather than establishing the source. Previous repairs, recent plumbing work and an unusual water bill are useful context, but none proves the cause on its own.

Water meter records and suspected leaks

You can request an inspection without meter readings. If the meter is safely accessible and the situation is stable, note the meter type, readings and times. For an ordinary meter, compare readings after actual water use has stopped for 15 minutes. An integrated smart meter uses its own model instructions and usage display; do not apply the ordinary dial-reading method to every meter.

Record any automatic use that could affect the reading, such as irrigation or an appliance. Meter movement can indicate continuing water use. Contact Ellis Services Group for an on-site inspection to locate the source and confirm the repair scope. Do not postpone help for active flooding or an electrical hazard to run a meter check.

Leak investigation and repair quotation

1. Confirm the inspection goal and access

We review the affected area, active water flow and any hazard, then arrange the on-site inspection. Our team checks the suspected supply leak, visible connections and surrounding moisture to identify the cause. We confirm the on-site contact, entry arrangements and safe access to the relevant room, meter and fixtures.

2. Inspect and explain the findings

Our team investigates the leak on site, identifies the fault and explains the required repair and access work. We select the investigation method for the affected area, explain any opening work, and confirm the work scope and quote before proceeding.

Our licensed plumbers assess hidden leaks and explain the investigation and repair options. Licence details are available on request.

3. Confirm the written scope and approval

Inspection findings lead to a proposed repair, further investigation or related work. Confirm what the quotation includes before authorising that next stage. If opening a wall or floor reveals a different condition, the additional work and cost need to be explained and approved before the scope expands. For a managed property, establish who can approve costs and how urgent findings should be reported.

4. Complete the agreed work and record the outcome

The repair and agreed checks are completed within the authorised scope. We record the identified fault, work completed and follow-up items. The handover confirms the surface restoration and any related trade work included in your agreed scope.

Separate pipe repair from access and surface restoration

The written quote identifies the agreed work. Inspection, pipe repair and restoring finishes are separate tasks; confirm which of these items are included:

• Inspection or detection: the area to investigate, access available and any agreed limit to the initial visit.
• Access or opening: whether cabinetry, a wall, floor or paving needs to be opened, and who is responsible for that work.
• Pipe or fitting repair: the identified component, proposed repair and checks included afterward.
• Surface restoration: whether plaster, paint, tiles, cabinetry or paving reinstatement is included, separately priced or left for another trade.
• Related work: electrical safety, drying or a separate drainage issue where the inspection identifies a need.

Access, concealed pipe routes, the extent of damage and restoration requirements affect the scope. A quote for finding a leak should not be compared directly with a quote that also includes opening, repair and restoring finishes. Send the property details through our Perth enquiry form so our team can arrange an on-site inspection, identify the cause and confirm the repair plan and written quote.

Leak reports for tenants and property managers

Include the tenant or on-site contact, entry permission, suitable access times and the person responsible for approving costs. Note the work-order reference, any approval limit and where photos, findings and invoices should be sent. If a room is unavailable or the meter is behind a locked gate, say so before the visit. When water is continuing to spread, follow the property’s urgent-maintenance process without waiting to complete the report.

After the work, retain the repair record and any outstanding restoration or reinspection tasks. Our property management service covers work orders, access notes and approval paths for managed Perth properties.

Arrange a leak inspection with Ellis or call 0413 477 667 with the location, water spread and access details.

For a leak centred on a fitting, see tap and mixer repairs or toilet and cistern repairs. Water returning through a drain is a different drainage request: see blocked-drain clearing and assessment. If the source is unclear, describe the observation rather than choosing a diagnosis.