Burst pipe: what to do in the first ten minutes
If a pipe bursts: turn off the internal stop tap, open all cold taps to drain the system, switch off electrics in any affected area at the consumer unit, contain the water with buckets and towels, then call a plumber. Turning the water off first matters more than anything else you do.
Key facts
- First action
- Turn off the main stop tap
- Usual stop tap location
- Under the kitchen sink, or near the front door in flats
- Electrics
- Isolate at the consumer unit if water is near fittings
- Night call-out
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- Call answered
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What the signs usually mean
| Symptom | Most likely cause |
|---|---|
| Water dripping through a ceiling | A leak in pipework or a fitting above, often a flexi tail, waste seal or heating pipe. |
| Sudden loss of pressure at every tap | A significant burst upstream, or the supply has been shut off. |
| Hissing behind a wall with no visible water | A concealed pipe leaking into the structure — needs tracing. |
| Damp patch that grows when heating runs | A leak on a heating circuit rather than the cold supply. |
What to do in the first ten minutes
- 1Turn off the waterClose the internal stop tap. If you cannot find or turn it, use the external stop tap in the covered box near the boundary.
- 2Drain the systemOpen cold taps and flush toilets to empty the pipework and reduce what escapes.
- 3Isolate electricsIf water is near lights, sockets or a consumer unit, switch off at the consumer unit and do not touch wet fittings.
- 4Contain the waterBuckets, towels and moving furniture off wet floors. Pierce a bulging ceiling over a bucket rather than letting it collapse.
- 5Call and recordCall us on the number on this site, then photograph the damage and the source for your insurer.
1. Turn off the water
Find the internal stop tap — most often under the kitchen sink, sometimes in a downstairs cloakroom, utility room or near the front door in a flat. Turn it clockwise until it stops. If it is seized, look for the external stop tap in a small covered box near the boundary or pavement.
2. Drain the system
Open every cold tap in the property and flush the toilets. This empties the pipework quickly so less water can escape through the split, and reduces pressure on the failed section.
3. Deal with electrics
If water is anywhere near light fittings, sockets or the consumer unit, switch off the electricity at the consumer unit. Do not touch switches with wet hands, and do not stand in water to reach them. If the consumer unit itself is wet, stay away from it and call an electrician alongside the plumber.
4. Contain and protect
Buckets under the drip, towels around the spread, and move furniture, rugs and anything electrical out of the way. If water is pooling above a ceiling, a single small hole drilled at the lowest point of the bulge will release it in a controlled way rather than letting the whole ceiling come down — but only do this if it is safe and the electrics are off.
5. Call, and record
Call a plumber and tell them what you have already done — it changes how urgent the job is and what they need to bring. Then photograph the damage before you clear up. Insurers routinely ask for evidence, and photographs taken at the time are worth far more than a description written a week later.
Preventing the next one
Most winter bursts happen in unheated spaces: lofts, garages, outbuildings and external runs. Lagging is cheap. Keeping background heat on during a freeze is cheaper than a ceiling. And labelling the stop tap so anyone in the house can find it takes two minutes.
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