Seeing water coming out where it shouldn’t is one of the most stressful situations that can happen to you at home. The good news is that most of the damage happens in the first ten minutes, and with three or four simple actions you can reduce the problem to a minor repair.
First things first: turn off the water
Before looking for cloths or calling anyone, find the main stopcock. It is usually at the entrance to the home, inside a hall cupboard, in the bathroom or next to the meter on the landing. Turn it clockwise until the water stops running. In almost all household breakdowns, closing that valve stops the leak completely.
If you cannot find it or it is seized, at least close the isolation valve closest to the leak: there is usually one under the washbasin, behind the toilet or next to the washing machine. It is not a perfect solution, but it buys you time while the professional is on the way.
Protect what is around it
Once the water is off, the next thing is to minimise damage. Remove rugs, wooden furniture and any electrical appliance from the wet area. If water is dripping into the flat below, let your neighbour know as soon as possible; handling the insurance claim is always easier when both of you are aware.
While you wait for the plumber, it is a good idea to have to hand:
Cloths, a mop or absorbent materials to contain the water that has built up
A photo of the leak and of the state of the area (useful for the insurance)
Your home insurance policy number, in case you need to make a claim
Clear access to the stopcock and to the faulty point
What you should not do
However many YouTube videos you have watched, opening up a pipe built into the wall or trying to seal it with homemade glues almost always makes the problem worse and makes the repair more expensive. Nor is it a good idea to turn the power back on in the area if there has been contact with sockets or electrical panels: switch off the main switch and wait.
A good plumber arrives with tools, the usual materials and the judgement to decide whether the repair can be finished on the same visit or whether it is better to leave a safe temporary fix until a bigger job. What they need from you is for the problem not to have grown in the meantime.
When it really is an emergency
Not every water breakdown is a three-in-the-morning job. If you can turn off the supply and there is no risk of the flat below getting wet or of structural damage, it is perfectly reasonable to wait until the next day and pay the daytime rate. At Xerux, when you request the service we give you an estimated time and a reference price before you confirm, so that you can decide with full information.
If the leak is active, there is flooding or it affects electrical installations, that is a real emergency. Then it is worth having a professional in your home as soon as possible.
