24 hour emergency plumber in Christchurch
Burst pipe, gas leak, flooding or no hot water in the middle of winter — we're open 24 hours and we answer the phone. Ring 027 811 5916 rather than filling in a form.
If you can smell gas: turn the gas off at the bottle or meter if it's safe to reach, open windows and doors, and stay off light switches, appliances and anything else that could spark. Get everyone outside, then call us on 027 811 5916. Don't go looking for the leak yourself.
If water is pouring: find your toby — usually a small round or rectangular lid at the front boundary of the property, near the footpath — and turn it clockwise to shut the water off to the whole house. Then call. Shutting the toby stops the damage clock while we're on the way.
What counts as an emergency
Anything that's causing damage right now, anything that's unsafe, and anything that leaves the house unliveable. In practice that's what we get called out to most:
- Burst pipes and burst flexi hoses. Flexible braided hoses under vanities and kitchen sinks are the single most common cause of indoor flooding in New Zealand homes. They have a service life, they fail without warning, and they fail at mains pressure.
- Hot water cylinder failure. A cylinder that's split or leaking from the base won't get better, and it holds a lot of water. Turn the power or gas off to it and ring us.
- Gas leaks and gas appliance faults. Smell of gas, a hob that won't light properly, a fire that keeps cutting out, or an LPG supplier telling you something isn't right. This is certifying gasfitter work, not a DIY job.
- Blocked or overflowing drains and toilets. Sewage backing up into a shower or gully trap is a health issue, not an inconvenience.
- No hot water at all, particularly with young kids or elderly people in the house through a Christchurch winter.
- Leaks into ceilings and wall cavities. Often first spotted as a stain or a sagging patch of gib. The longer it runs the more you're paying a builder rather than a plumber.
What happens when you call
- You get a person, not a call centre. Tell us what's happening and where the water or gas is coming from.
- We'll talk you through making it safe. Toby off, gas off, power off at the cylinder — whatever applies, before we arrive.
- We give you a straight answer on timing. If we can't get there quickly we'll say so rather than leaving you waiting.
- We turn up with the van stocked and fix it on the spot where the job allows. Where a part has to come from a supplier, we'll make it safe and watertight and come back.
What an after-hours callout costs
No hidden emergency surcharge and no "we'll work it out later". Out-of-hours work is charged at $120 + GST an hour, with a first-hour minimum of $250 + GST that includes travel. Public holidays are $250 + GST an hour with a $350 + GST first hour. Standard weekday rates are $95 + GST an hour with a $135 + GST first hour.
You'll know which rate applies before we leave the depot. Every job, emergency or not, carries the same 2-year workmanship guarantee.
Things worth doing before winter
Most of the emergency calls we take in July are things that were visible in April. If you want to avoid the call entirely:
- Replace flexi hoses that are more than about eight years old, or any showing rust flecks or bulges in the braid. It's a cheap job on a weekday and an expensive one at 11pm.
- Make sure you know where your toby is and that it actually turns. Plenty of Christchurch tobies are seized or buried under a decade of lawn.
- Lag exposed pipework in unheated spaces — under the house, in the garage, on an outside wall.
- If your cylinder is over 20 years old, get it looked at before it decides for you.
Common questions
Do you really answer the phone at 2am?
Yes. Flush & Flow is open 24 hours for emergency and after-hours callouts across Christchurch. For anything urgent, call 027 811 5916 directly rather than using the website form — forms get checked in business hours, the phone gets answered around the clock.
How much does an emergency plumber cost in Christchurch?
Out-of-hours work is $120 + GST an hour with a first-hour minimum of $250 + GST including travel. Public holidays are $250 + GST an hour with a $350 + GST first hour. Standard weekday rates are $95 + GST an hour with a $135 + GST first hour including travel.
Where is my toby and how do I turn the water off?
The toby is the mains water shut-off for your property. It's usually a small round or rectangular lid set into the ground near the front boundary or footpath. Lift the lid and turn the valve clockwise to shut off water to the whole house. If it's seized, don't force it — call us.
What should I do if I smell gas?
Turn the gas off at the bottle or meter if it is safe to reach, open windows and doors to ventilate, and avoid light switches, appliances or anything that could create a spark. Get everyone out of the building, then call 027 811 5916. Do not try to find or fix the leak yourself — gasfitting work must be done by a registered gasfitter.
Do you cover my part of Christchurch after hours?
We're based in St Martins and cover greater Christchurch, from Sumner and Redcliffs through the central suburbs out to Halswell, Papanui and Rolleston. Call and we'll tell you honestly how long we'll be.
Where we work
We're based on Wilsons Road in St Martins and work right across greater Christchurch — including these suburbs and more.