Emergencies

No-one wants a burst pipe. As emergencies go, they can be a real nuisance so it’s a good idea to put some thought into what you would do if you had a burst pipe in your home.

Burst Pipe Emergency

1. Turn off the water supply

Turn off the main stop tap – it should be in the cupboard under the kitchen sink or where the service pipe comes into your home. Drain the cold water system by turning on all your cold taps. And keep an eye on your ceilings. If water has been leaking for a while, there may be some damaged plaster waiting to fall. Make a hole in the ceiling to let water out if it starts to bulge.

2. Turn off water heating systems

Switch off your central heating, immersion heater and any other water heating systems. If the central heating uses solid fuel, let this die out. Once your water heating has shut down, turn on the hot taps to help drain the system.

3. Turn off the electrics

If water leaks near anything electrical – lights, sockets or appliances – don’t touch them. Switch off the electricity supply straight away.

4. Call a professional to repair the damage

Electrical wiring damaged by water can be very dangerous - you will need to call in a professional if this happens. Our Approved Plumbers Scheme called Aplus, can help you to find a reliable plumber.

Frozen Pipe Emergency

Be gentle with a frozen pipe in case it becomes a burst pipe. You may not realise straight away that the pipe has burst until the ice inside it melts.

1. Turn off the water supply

Turn off the main stop tap – it should be in the cupboard under the kitchen sink or where the service pipe comes into your home. A frozen pipe will stop you being able to drain your cold water system but what you can do is turn off the stopcock in your cold water tank, if you have one. You’ll usually find the tank in your loft or attic.

2. Be prepared

While the pipe is still frozen you have time to protect everything around it from water damage in case the pipe leaks when it is thawed out.

3. Thawing out

Open the tap nearest to the part of the pipe you think is frozen so the water can flow out when the ice has melted. Thaw the pipe with a hot water bottle or hairdryer (taking care to keep the dryer well away from any water), beginning from the tap end and working back toward the cold water tank. Never use a heat gun or blow torch.