Pipes most commonly burst during cold snaps, when water in an uninsulated pipe freezes, expands and splits the pipe wall. When it thaws, the water pours out. This can happen quickly and cause a lot of damage in a short time, so the first few minutes matter.
Step one: turn off the water immediately
Go straight to your internal stopcock and turn it off. If you don’t know where it is, find it now before you need it. The stopcock is usually under the kitchen sink, but can be in a utility room, under the stairs or in a ground-floor cupboard. Turn it clockwise to close it.
Step two: turn off the water heater
If you have a combi boiler, this will happen automatically when the water is off. If you have a hot water cylinder or immersion heater, switch it off to avoid heating an empty tank.
Step three: drain the system
Open all the cold taps in the house to drain the pipework. This reduces the amount of water that can continue to flow from the burst section.
Step four: deal with any electrical risk
If water is near any light fittings, plug sockets or electrical appliances, switch off the electricity at the fuse board for those circuits. If water is actively pouring near the fuse board, do not touch it. Leave the property and call an electrician.
Step five: contain and document
Use towels and buckets to contain water. Take photos of the damage for your insurance claim before you start cleaning up.
Step six: call a plumber
Once the immediate situation is under control, call a plumber to locate and repair the burst section. Our team covers emergency plumbing across Birmingham and Solihull. Give us a call and we’ll get someone to you as quickly as possible.
