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Every second counts when you have water gushing from a burst pipe but it’s important not to panic and make rash decisions otherwise you could risk making it worse.

Instead, take a deep breath, stay calm and follow these steps from Watermains & Drains:

1. Switch off the water

When a pipe bursts in your home, the first thing you need to do is switch off your water immediately. Splits can happen anywhere in your pipes, so trying to find the source of the leak while water is still flowing from the split will take time, and do more damage to your property.

To do this, you will need to locate one of two stop taps on your property; the internal stop tap or the external stop tap. Stop taps look like spoutless taps and sit between two lengths of pipe.

How to find an internal stop tap:

An internal stop tap is usually located in any of the following places:

• Kitchen cupboard
• Downstairs bathroom or toilet
• Under the stairs
• Garage or utility room
• Cellar

If you’re unable to find an internal stop tap, you’ll need to locate the external stop tap.

How to find an external stop tap:

An external stop tap can usually be found under a cover on the path or road outside your house. You may also find it:

• Located near your property’s water meter
• At the end of your road. This is common if you live in an old property, or if you share a water supply with your neighbours, like a strip of terraces

Once you’ve found the stop tap, turn the valve clockwise slowly to close it. It may take a few minutes for the flow of water to cease altogether. This will stop the leak from getting worse while you contact a contractor for repairs.

2. Switch off electrical appliances

You need to turn off the electrical system before you clean up the damage to avoid the situation becoming dangerous. The electrical panel in your property will usually be located in the basement, cupboard, garage or utility room.

If the leak is blocking your access to the electrical panel, call an electrician immediately.

You should also consider removing any electrical appliances from the area until the burst pipe has been fixed.

3. Drain the taps

Turn on a sink faucet to drain the remaining water as quickly as possible. This can also relieve pressure caused by water build up that could have caused your leak.

4. Phone a contractor as soon as possible

As soon as your property is out of immediate danger from the leak, contact a contractor. The sooner you contact them, the sooner you’ll be able to book a slot for your pipe to be fixed.

Your plumber may be able to recommend ways to temporarily prevent your pipe from leaking until they arrive to permanently fix the damage.

While you may be tempted to fix the leak yourself, it is always best to bring in a professional as they’ll be able to fully assess the extent of the damage. It is also worth noting that a burst pipe can be an indication that your pipes need a full replacement.

Watermains & Drains have highly skilled leak detection engineers on hand to respond to emergencies in the North West, Midlands, West Yorkshire and North Wales.

5. Document and photograph the damage

Before you clean up the leak, you should photograph the damage to gain evidence for your insurance claim. Even if your insurance provider doesn’t require photographic evidence, it is always worth having just in case.

6. Clean excess water

Mould and rotting furniture caused by damp can be even worse to manage permanently than the leak itself so you need to clean static water to ensure minimal damage.

Check the full vicinity of the leak and other areas that may have been affected by the pipe bursting and clean the water thoroughly.

7. Warm up the area

Use heaters or a hairdryer to heat up the area and help the room dry faster. You should also consider opening cupboards and doors to allow circulation through the affected area. This will minimise water damage further.

8. Temporarily fix the leak

It can take a few days for a plumber or contractor to arrive, so it is possible to temporarily stall the leak until they are able to fix it. However, you should only do this if the leak is small, easily accessible and if you feel confident enough.

You could:

• Secure the hole with electrical or duct tape once the water has fully dried. Secure the tape with a hose or sleeve clamp.
• Plug the hole using epoxy putty. Wait for the putty to harden before switching the water mains back on

We recommend explaining the extent of the leak to your plumber and asking if they would advise putting a temporary fix in place.

9. Take steps to prevent further leaks in future

At Watermains & Drains, we know that experiencing a burst pipe in your home is a vastly unpleasant experience, and you won’t want to repeat it in future.

Try following these steps to prevent further leaks from occurring in the future:

• Insulate pipes to prevent water freezing
• Seal leaks that allow cold air into your home
• Fix dripping taps
• Keep a look out for smaller leaks before they escalate into burst pipes
• Replace old or weak pipes in your home that are susceptible to leaks

If a pipe has burst in your property, contact our leak detection engineers in Manchester and Cheshire as soon as your property is out of immediate danger. Alternatively, our water supply pipe installers can update your waterworks to prevent leaks from occurring in the future.

Call us today: 0800 024 8494