Emergency Tips for Burst Pipes and Leaks

We class all burst pipes and leaks as emergencies, but if you find yourself in trouble, you can use these tips to help minimise the problem.

Frozen pipes are a winter hazard and the frequent cause of a burst, so make sure you read our winter care do's and don'ts to prevent them and our hints on how to thaw them if they do freeze. 

Burst pipe emergency - stage 1 - turn off the water supply

• Turn off the main stop tap - you should find this under the kitchen sink or where the service pipe enters your home
• Now you will need to quickly drain the system - turn on all your cold taps
• If water has been leaking through for some time and the ceilings are bulging - be careful, rooms may not be safe to enter
• If you notice the leak quickly you can catch dripping water in buckets or bowls and punch a hole in the ceiling to let water out if it starts to bulge

Burst pipe emergency - stage 2 - turn off water heating systems

• Switch off the central heating, immersion heater and any other water heating systems
• If the central heating uses solid fuel, let this die out
• Once water heating has shut down, turn on the hot taps to help drain the system

Burst pipe emergency - stage 3 - turn off the electrics

• If water leaks near your electrics or electrical appliances - switch off the mains immediately and don't touch them.  If the they are wet, do not touch them.  Call for an Electrician immediately.
• Call out an electrician - Policy holders should make a claim by calling 0800 783 0951 but if you don't have a policy, it's not a problem - we can get a qualified electrician quickly, just call 0800 073 3311 or get a free quote online first.

In an emergency - stage 4 - get help!

• Being left without water is unacceptable, you need a plumber - and quickly.
• Policy holders should make a claim by calling 0800 783 0951 but if you're not covered we can get an emergency qualified plumber to you quickly, just call 0800 073 3311 or get a free quote online first.

Print out and keep this information handy, or bookmark this page in favourites for when you need some useful guidance or tips.

Preventing Burst Pipes - Winter Do's and Don'ts

If a burst pipe leaks and water comes gushing through the ceiling, it can wreak real damage on your carpets, your lovely furniture, on you!

Even worse, burst pipes and leaks can be complicated to fix and repair work can involve digging up your lawn, tarmac or paving. That means it's not cheap, and it may be difficult to find a reliable plumber.

But, you can avoid it happening to you by preventing burst pipes and leaks in the first place. As a frozen pipe often bursts, winter care is crucial. If you're reading this too late, then check our thawing hints below. 

Winter care don'ts

• Don't be a drip: Re-washer dripping taps because if they freeze they'll block the pipe. Plus it will save up to a litre of water a day and your money if it's a hot tap.
• Don't forget: Make sure you know where your stop tap is and check regularly that you can turn it off easily in an emergency. It's handy to label it so you remember where it is in a panic.
• Don't be a turn off: In very cold weather the heating will need to be on low, or set to come on a couple of times a day, especially if you're going away
• Don't risk it: Protect yourself with emergency cover, or keep the Homeserve hotline number 0800 073 3311 to hand, we guarantee a qualified plumber or electrician to repair the work.

Winter care do's

• Do keep it covered - insulate your loft and the sides of your water tanks
• Do lag - insulate all your pipes, even those that are hard to get to and pipes that run between joists
• Open the trap - Open the loft trap door on cold days to let heat in
• Do be friendly - if you're away for a while, spending winter somewhere warmer perhaps, then get a friend or relative to check on your home and make sure pipes haven't burst or frozen

Print out and keep this information handy, or bookmark this page in favourites for when you need some useful guidance or tips.

Handy hints for thawing frozen pipes

When pipes freeze, they can burst which causes real havoc when thawing water comes pouring from the break. If you suspect your pipes are frozen:

In a freeze - stage 1 - turn off the water supply

• Turn off the main stop tap - you should find this under the kitchen sink or where the service pipe enters your home
• Turn off the stopcock in your cold water tank if you have one, it's usually found in the attic or loft

In a freeze - stage 2 - beat the burst

• Protect everything around a pipe that appears to be burst to avoid damage when the ice melts

In a freeze - stage 3 - thawing out

• Open the tap nearest to the part of the pipe you think is frozen so the water can flow through when it has melted
• Thaw the ice in the pipe with a hot water bottle or hairdryer (taking care to keep it well away from any water), beginning from the tap end and working back toward the cold water tank. Never use a heat gun or blow torch.

Important Notice: Please Read

The purpose of this section of the website is to provide homeowners with only general guidance and useful tips on 18/08/06. It does not necessarily deal with every important topic or cover every aspect of the topics with which it deals.  It is not designed to provide professional advice and should not be relied on as such. 

You should always consult an appropriately qualified expert for specific advice before acting on any of the information contained in this section of the website.  You should never attempt to carry out any activity which may put you or others at risk or which may cause damage to your or anyone else's property.

Nothing on this website is intended to constitute a guarantee or form part of any agreement with Homeserve Plc or any of its group companies.  To the fullest extent permissible by law and except for any duty or liability to customers under the Financial Services Authority's regulatory system Homeserve Plc (a) disclaims all implied terms, conditions, representations and warranties with respect to the information contained in this section of the website and (b) excludes all liability or responsibility for such information or the use made of it insofar as it is reasonable for us to do so. 

Homeserve Plc has no responsibility for, or control over, the contents of any information appearing on any third party website (including the websites referred to on this website) and any reliance placed on such information is entirely at the users' own risk.