A burst pipe can cause serious damage in minutes. If you're dealing with one right now: shut the water off, protect yourself from any electrical risk, and call an emergency plumber. Here's exactly what to do.
After the emergency
Once the leak is stopped, take photos for your insurance and don't turn the water back on until the pipe has been repaired by a professional.
Frozen pipes are a common cause of bursts in winter — lagging exposed pipes and keeping the heating on low during cold spells helps prevent them.
What to do in a burst pipe emergency
- 1
Turn off the water at the stopcock
Find your internal stopcock (usually under the kitchen sink, in a utility area, or near where the mains enters the house) and turn it clockwise to shut off the water.
- 2
Turn off the heating and water heating
Switch off your boiler or central heating to stop more water being heated and pumped around the system.
- 3
Drain the system
Open all your cold taps to drain the remaining water from the pipes, and flush the toilets. This reduces how much water can leak out.
- 4
Stay clear of electrics
Water and electricity are dangerous together. If water is near electrical fittings or your consumer unit, do not touch them — turn off the electricity at the consumer unit only if it is safe to do so, and keep clear.
- 5
Catch and contain the water
Use buckets, bowls and towels to catch drips and protect floors and furniture while you wait.
- 6
Call an emergency plumber
Call a 24/7 emergency plumber straight away. The faster a leak is stopped and repaired, the less damage to your home.