Emergency Plumbing: What to Do Before the Plumber Arrives

Burst pipe or major leak

Turn off the water at the stopcock (usually under the kitchen sink or where the mains enters the house). Open all the taps to drain the system and relieve pressure. If the water is near any electrics, turn off the power at the consumer unit. Mop up what you can and move valuables out of the way.

Boiler breakdown

Switch the boiler off at the unit and at the fuse box. If you can smell gas, do not touch any switches - open windows, leave the house, and call the National Gas Emergency number (0800 111 999) from outside. For non-gas issues, check the pressure gauge - if it is below 1 bar, you can try repressurising it using the filling loop.

Blocked drain or toilet

If you have a plunger, try that first. For a blocked toilet, pour a bucket of warm (not boiling) water from height into the bowl - the force can shift minor blockages. Do not use chemical drain unblockers repeatedly as they can damage older pipes. For persistent blockages, see our full guide on blocked drains.

Radiator leak

Put a container underneath the leak. If it is coming from the valve, try tightening it gently with a spanner. If the radiator itself has sprung a leak, you will need to turn off both valves (the TRV and the lockshield) and drain it down.

When to call us

If you cannot stop the leak, if there is any risk of electrical contact with water, or if you are not confident fixing it yourself - call us on 01932 943 009. We are available 24 hours and we will get an engineer to you as quickly as we can.