First: stop the water
Close your stopcock straight away to cut the mains supply. Then open the cold taps to drain the remaining water in the system and take the pressure off the burst. In freezing weather the cause is often a frozen pipe that has split as it thawed.
Then: limit the damage
Turn off the heating. Move furniture, electricals and anything valuable clear of the water. A bucket and towels under the leak buy you time. If water is coming through a ceiling, a small hole to let it drain into a bucket can stop the whole ceiling coming down.
Keep clear of electrics
Water and electricity are a dangerous mix. If water is near sockets, light fittings or the consumer unit, and it’s safe to reach, switch off the power to that area — and never touch electrics with wet hands.
Call an emergency plumber
With the water off and the damage contained, call us. Tell us where the burst is and what you’ve done, and we’ll be with you as quickly as we can — 24/7, every day of the year.
Pipe burst and water everywhere? Get the stopcock off, then call us — South Manchester and Cheshire, 24 hours a day, aiming to be with you within the hour.
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