A plumbing emergency can cause serious water damage within minutes if not handled correctly. Here's what to do immediately, before an engineer arrives.
Step 1: Isolate the water supply
The first priority is to stop the flow of water. Your main stopcock is usually:
Turn it clockwise until it stops. This cuts the water supply to the whole property.
If you can't find the stopcock or it won't turn (they can seize up), your water supplier can isolate at the external boundary stopcock.
Step 2: Turn off the water heater
If you have a hot water cylinder, turn off the immersion heater or boiler to prevent the system heating water it can no longer circulate.
Step 3: Open cold taps to drain the system
Once the stopcock is closed, open cold taps to drain remaining water from the pipes. This reduces pressure and minimises further spillage.
Step 4: Collect water and protect your belongings
Use towels, buckets, and containers to collect water and move valuables away from the affected area. Place plastic sheeting over furniture and flooring if water is coming through a ceiling.
Step 5: Turn off the electricity if needed
If water is coming through light fittings or near electrical sockets, switch off the electricity at the consumer unit (fuse box). Do not use electrical appliances or switches in affected areas until the system has been dried out and inspected by an electrician.
Step 6: Document the damage
Take photos and video of the damage as evidence for your insurance claim. Note the time the incident began.
Step 7: Call a plumber
Contact a qualified plumber to identify and repair the cause of the leak. In the interim, a temporary repair can sometimes be made with pipe repair tape or a push-fit repair coupler.
NBS Plumbing & Heating provides emergency plumbing services across Sutton Coldfield and Birmingham — **07507 133204**.