Plumbing
How to stop a burst pipe safely
Turn the water off at the stopcock straight away, keep clear of any electrics the water has reached, then open the cold taps to drain the pipes while you get a plumber.
What to do straight away
- Find your stopcock and turn it clockwise until it stops. It's usually under the kitchen sink, but can be in a downstairs toilet, under the stairs, in a cupboard or near the front door.
- If water is dripping near lights, sockets or the consumer unit, don't touch them. If you can reach the consumer unit without touching water, switch the main switch off.
- Open the cold taps in the kitchen and bathroom to drain the water left in the pipes. Flush toilets a couple of times.
- If you have a hot-water cylinder or immersion heater, switch the immersion off and turn off the boiler.
- Catch drips with buckets and towels, and move furniture and valuables out of the way.
Safety: Never touch a light switch, socket or fitting that's wet, and don't turn the electrics back on until they've dried out and been checked.
If the stopcock won't turn
Old stopcocks can seize. Don't force it with a tool, as it can snap. Look for an outside stop tap, usually under a small cover near the boundary of your property, which needs a long key. If you share a supply with neighbours, let them know.
A temporary fix
Once the water is off, wrapping the split tightly with a rubber pipe repair tape or a pipe repair clamp can slow a leak until a plumber arrives. It's a stopgap, not a repair.
Why pipes burst
- Freezing: water expands as it freezes and splits the pipe, often in lofts, garages and outside walls.
- Corrosion or wear on older pipes and joints.
- High water pressure or a sudden pressure surge.
- Damage from drilling, nails or building work.
Stopping it happening again
- Insulate pipes in lofts, garages and outside walls.
- Keep the heating on low if you're away in cold weather.
- Make sure everyone at home knows where the stopcock is, and check it turns once a year.