What to Do in a Plumbing Emergency

A plumbing emergency is stressful, but a few calm, correct first steps can significantly limit the damage before help arrives.

1. Shut off the water

Know where your main stopcock is before you ever need it. For a burst pipe or major leak, shutting off the water supply is the single most effective thing you can do to stop the situation getting worse while you wait for a plumber.

2. Cut the power if water is near electrics

If water is pooling anywhere near plug points, switchboards, or electrical appliances, switch off power to that area at the mains before doing anything else. Water and electricity are a genuine safety risk, not just a plumbing one.

3. Contain what you can

Towels, buckets, and moving furniture or valuables out of the way can reduce water damage while you wait, but don’t put yourself at risk trying to stop a burst pipe with your hands or improvised fixes.

4. Call a 24/7 emergency plumber

Genuine emergencies — burst pipes, flooding, sewage backup, no water at all — need an emergency call-out, not a booking for next week. Confirm the company actually offers 24/7 response before you need it, not during the emergency itself.

5. Document the damage

If there’s visible water damage, photos before cleanup starts are useful for any insurance claim later.

What counts as an emergency

Burst or leaking pipes, no hot water with no obvious cause, sewage smell or backup, and flooding are all situations that shouldn’t wait. A dripping tap or a slow drain can usually wait for a scheduled appointment instead.

Knowing these steps before an emergency happens means you’re acting, not panicking, when it actually does.