What counts as a plumbing emergency?
- A burst or split pipe.
- Water leaking through a ceiling or light fitting.
- A leak you cannot stop by turning off an isolation valve.
- A blocked or overflowing toilet when it is the only one in the property.
- No water at all, or a leaking hot water cylinder or loft tank.
What to do while you wait
- Turn off the water at the stopcock. The stopcock is usually under the kitchen sink, or where the water main enters the property. In flats it can be in a hallway cupboard or communal riser.
- Keep water away from electrics. If water is near light fittings, sockets or the consumer unit, switch the electricity off at the consumer unit if it is safe to reach.
- Drain the system. Open the cold taps, and flush the toilets, to empty the pipes and reduce the leak.
- Turn off the boiler or immersion heater if the leak is on the hot water side.
- Contain and record the damage. Use buckets and towels, move valuables, and take photos for your insurer.
How our emergency call-outs work
Call 020 4572 3451 and describe what is happening. We give you clear advice to limit damage over the phone, tell you what the call-out involves before anyone travels, and when we arrive we make the leak safe first, then repair it permanently or come back to finish the job at a time that suits you.
Not sure if it is an emergency? Call anyway. A two-minute conversation often tells you whether it can wait until the morning.