Burst pipe or leak: what to do before the plumber arrives
Water coming through a ceiling or out of a pipe is alarming, but the first few minutes come down to a handful of steps. They come from the water industry's own advice, linked at the bottom of the page.
Checked against its sources on 9 October 2026.
Straight away
Turn the water off at the stop tap
The stop tap is where the water supply comes into the house. It is usually under the kitchen sink or the stairs, or in a garage, utility room, cellar or downstairs toilet. South East Water
Keep clear of wet electrics
Water conducts electricity. If it has reached sockets, switches or appliances, do not touch them. If you can reach the fuse box (the consumer unit) without going through water, switch the electricity off there. South East WaterNICEIC
Switch off the boiler
Turn the boiler off at its switch. South East Water
Open the taps to drain the pipes
Open all the taps to empty the system as quickly as possible. Keep a bucket of water back first, for flushing the toilet and washing hands. When the water stops running, turn the taps off again. South East Water
Soak up what you can
Use towels to soak up the water and stop it spreading. South East Water
Call a plumber
Once the water is off, call a plumber to find the leak and repair it. South East Water
Who is responsible for the repair
Your water company owns the water main in the street and the pipe from it up to your property boundary, including the outside stop tap, which is usually in the pavement. A leak there is theirs to fix: report it to them. Their name is on your water bill. Consumer Council for Water (CCW)
Pipes on your side of the boundary, and the pipes and fittings inside the house, are yours to look after, so a leak there is yours to get repaired. A pipe shared by more than one property is the joint responsibility of everyone it serves. Consumer Council for Water (CCW)South East Water
Afterwards
If water got into sockets, switches, the fuse box or appliances, have a registered electrician check them before you use them again. Not all damage shows. NICEIC
Before it happens
Find your stop tap now, while nothing is leaking, and check every six months that it turns. South East Water
In winter, insulate the hot water pipes and protect cold pipes and taps, especially in the loft and in outbuildings, where they are most likely to freeze and burst. South East Water
The repair
Bellerose Plumbing repairs leaks and the pipework behind them across Ascot and nearby. Call 07956 100098, or see plumbing and repairs.
Dave was efficient and assessed the situation well keeping me informed the whole time. Very considerate and polite and did a great job! I would definitely use this company again.
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Sources
- South East Water, Avoid a burst water pipe nightmare this winter (opens in a new tab). Read 9 October 2026.
- Consumer Council for Water (CCW), Who is responsible for my water pipes? (opens in a new tab). Read 9 October 2026.
- NICEIC, Flooding electrical safety (opens in a new tab). Read 9 October 2026.