We’re Paramount Plumbing and Gas, a locally owned plumbing and gas fitting company based in Ngauranga, Wellington. We provide 24/7 emergency plumbing across Wellington City, Porirua, Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt. If you’re dealing with a burst pipe, flooding, no hot water or a suspected gas leak right now, call us on 0800 027 272 and we’ll walk you through the immediate next steps.
Not sure if your situation counts as an emergency? Keep reading.
Is It a True Plumbing Emergency?
Not every plumbing problem needs an after-hours callout. Here’s a quick guide to help you decide.
Call immediately:
- Burst pipe with active water flow
- Flooding inside your home
- Suspected gas leak
- Sewage backup or overflow
- No water supply at all
- Water near electrical wiring or appliances
- Leaking hot water cylinder under pressure
Can wait until business hours:
- Dripping tap
- Slow-draining sink
- Running toilet
- Minor contained leak
- Low water pressure with no flooding
If you’re unsure, call us anyway. We’ll help you assess over the phone, and we’d always rather you call than wait on something that could get worse fast.
What To Do Right Now (Before the Plumber Arrives)
Acting quickly in the first few minutes can significantly reduce damage and cost. Here are the six steps Wellington homeowners should take.
1. Turn off the water at the toby
The toby valve is your main water shutoff. In most Wellington properties it sits near the front boundary, often close to the footpath, usually under a small round cover in the ground. Turning it clockwise stops the water supply to your entire property.
If you’ve never located yours, do it now before you need it. In older Wellington homes, particularly character villas in Island Bay, Petone and Lower Hutt, the toby can be overgrown or partially buried. It’s worth knowing where yours is before disaster strikes.
2. If it involves gas, shut off at the meter and get outside
If you smell gas or suspect a gas leak, do not touch any switches, appliances or flames. Turn off the gas at the meter (usually on the outside of the house), open windows and doors, and get everyone outside. Call us on 0800 027 272 once you’re clear. As a licensed gasfitter in Wellington, we handle gas emergencies regularly and will tell you exactly what to do while we’re on the way. Never attempt to locate or fix a gas leak yourself.
3. Switch off power in affected areas
If water is near electrical outlets, appliances or your switchboard, turn off the power to that area at the main switchboard. Water and electricity together are a serious hazard and this step is commonly overlooked in the panic of a flooding situation.
4. Contain what you can
Use towels, buckets and containers to catch or slow water. If you can safely isolate a specific valve closer to the source of the leak, do so. Move rugs, furniture and valuables out of the affected area.
5. Call Paramount Plumbing on 0800 027 272
Our team provides emergency plumbing across Wellington, including Wellington City, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt and Porirua. Let us know the nature of the problem, whether gas is involved, and your address. We’ll confirm next steps and get someone to you as quickly as possible.
6. Take photos for your insurance
Before any cleanup, photograph the damage. Most home insurance policies cover sudden plumbing damage and your photos will support any claim.
Wellington-Specific Risks You Should Know About
After more than 20 years working as plumbers and gas fitters across the Wellington region, we’ve seen the same risks come up time and again. Here’s what local homeowners need to know.
Many character homes across Island Bay, Newlands, Petone and Lower Hutt still have galvanised steel or clay pipes that are well past their intended lifespan. These corrode from the inside out, meaning a pipe can look fine externally and be close to failure internally. Knowing what to watch for can be the difference between catching a problem early and dealing with a flooded room. Our guide to signs of hidden plumbing leaks covers exactly what to look for.
Wellington’s elevated suburbs, including Karori, Kelburn, Brooklyn and parts of Johnsonville, run on gravity-fed systems that create higher pressure in lower lines. Pressure-related bursts are more common in these areas than most homeowners expect.
Wellington’s rainfall is also genuinely heavy and frequent. A blocked downpipe or drain that has been fine for years can overflow into your foundations within hours during a storm. We regularly get emergency calls from homeowners across Porirua, Upper Hutt and Ngauranga after bad weather events that started as a slow drain nobody treated urgently.
Coastal suburbs including Island Bay, Lyall Bay and Eastbourne see accelerated corrosion on hot water systems and copper pipework due to salt air. If your hot water cylinder is more than 10 to 12 years old and you’re within a few kilometres of the coast, it’s worth having it checked before it fails rather than waiting for an emergency callout.
What to Expect From the Callout
We’re based in Ngauranga, which puts us close to Wellington City, the Hutt Valley and the Porirua corridor. We aim to get to you as quickly as traffic and availability allow.
A few things to be aware of:
After-hours pricing: Emergency callouts outside standard hours carry an additional fee. We will always give you a clear quote before any work begins, so there are no surprises.
Parts availability: For common repairs like tap washers, valve replacements and drain blockages, we carry stock on the van. For hot water cylinder replacements, sourcing the right model for your home can take 24 to 48 hours. We’ll be upfront about timing when we attend.
Workmanship guarantee: All Paramount Plumbing work is backed by a 24-month extended maintenance guarantee. Every member of our team is registered with the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board, police vetted and GPS tracked.
How to Reduce the Risk of Future Emergencies
The most common plumbing emergencies we attend are preventable with basic maintenance. Many of the issues we see, from hidden drips to failing cylinders, show warning signs well before they become urgent. Our guide to common plumbing problems and how to sort them is a good starting point for knowing what to look for around your home.
A few habits that make a real difference:
- Know where your toby is and test that it turns freely once a year
- Check under sinks and around your hot water cylinder for moisture or rust every six months
- Clear your downpipes and roof gutters before winter
- Watch for unexplained increases in your water bill, which often signals a hidden leak
- If your hot water cylinder is over 10 years old, book an inspection rather than waiting for it to fail
If you’re considering an upgrade, a Rinnai Infinity gas hot water system is worth looking at. They provide endless hot water on demand, run at high efficiency and are one of the most reliable systems we install across Wellington.
Our plumbers are happy to flag potential issues during any routine visit. A quick check at the end of a normal job has saved many of our clients from a far more expensive emergency down the track.
Why Wellington Homeowners Trust Paramount Plumbing
“I started Paramount Plumbing and Gas to provide a level of service that Wellington homeowners could genuinely rely on,” says Shannon, Director, Paramount Plumbing and Gas. “I know how stressful it is to deal with a plumbing failure, especially outside business hours, and our job is to make that experience as straightforward as possible.”
We’re proud members of Master Plumbers New Zealand. We service Wellington City, Karori, Johnsonville, Newlands, Island Bay, Ngauranga, Porirua, Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt, and you’ll get the same honest, tidy service wherever you are.
Call 0800 027 272 or email info@paramountplumbing.nz
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Paramount Plumbing offer 24/7 emergency plumbing in Wellington?
Yes. Our team is on call for emergencies across Wellington City, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt and Porirua. Call 0800 027 272 at any time and we will help you assess the situation and book the earliest available callout.
What counts as a plumbing emergency in New Zealand?
A plumbing emergency is any situation that poses immediate risk of property damage, health hazard or loss of essential services. Burst pipes, sewage overflow, active flooding, suspected gas leaks and water near electrical wiring all qualify. A dripping tap or slow drain generally does not.
How do I find the toby valve on my Wellington property?
The toby valve is usually located near the front boundary of your property, close to the footpath. Look for a small round or rectangular cover in the ground. In older Wellington homes it can be overgrown or partially buried. If you cannot find it, call Wellington Water on 0800 492 929.
What is the toby valve and why does it matter?
The toby is the main shutoff valve for your property’s water supply. Turning it off stops water flowing into your home entirely. In any burst pipe or major leak situation, this is the single most important thing you can do in the first 60 seconds to limit damage.
Will my home insurance cover emergency plumbing?
Most New Zealand home insurance policies cover sudden and accidental damage from plumbing failures, but policies vary. Document the damage with photos before cleanup and contact your insurer as soon as possible. We can provide a written report if your insurer requires one.
Can I DIY a plumbing repair in an emergency?
New Zealand law requires licensed plumbers to carry out most plumbing work. You are permitted to turn off water and contain a leak, but repairs to pipes, fixtures and fittings must be completed by a registered plumber. Unlicensed work can also void your insurance.