Is It Really an Emergency? When to Call an After-Hours Tradie

Something goes wrong at 9pm and it's tempting to call the first after-hours number you find. Sometimes that's exactly the right move. Other times, a quick bit of triage saves you an emergency callout fee for something that could safely wait until morning.

Situations that usually justify an emergency call

• Burst pipes or flooding that's actively damaging the property
• A gas smell, or any suspicion of a gas leak — leave the property and call your gas provider's emergency line immediately
• Sparking, burning smells or exposed live wiring
• No hot water or heating in genuinely extreme weather, especially for vulnerable household members
• A security issue, such as a broken external door or window

Situations that can usually wait

A dripping tap, a tripped power point that isn't sparking, a blocked drain that isn't overflowing, or an appliance that's stopped working can typically wait for a standard weekday booking. Turning off the water or power to the affected area, where it's safe to do so, often buys you time.

Know your safety basics before the tradie arrives

Knowing where your water mains and switchboard are — and how to shut them off — is worth learning before you need it. It can limit damage in a genuine emergency and gives the tradie a safer starting point when they arrive.