What to do in a plumbing emergency

Leaks and isolation

• Water coming through a ceiling: keeping clear of damaged plaster and electrical fittings.
• Water under a sink: what the timing tells the plumber, without running another damaging test.
• Leaks between flats: contacting neighbours and arranging access to the source.
• Finding your stop tap: identify the right control and know when to leave it alone.
• Frozen pipes: prepare for leaks during a thaw and avoid unsafe heating methods.

Supply and hot-water problems

• No water from the taps: distinguish a property fault from a water-company interruption.
• Heating works but there is no hot water: describe which outlets and systems still work.
• Boiler pressure keeps dropping: useful observations without repeated topping up.
• Water leaking from a boiler: precautions before a qualified assessment.

Understand the problem without taking risks

You do not need to dismantle a fitting or diagnose the fault to ask for help. Describe what you can see safely and whether the problem is getting worse. Never open gas-appliance covers or work on wet electrical fittings.

Find the relevant repair

Our emergency plumbing services explain what to mention for each type of problem. For no hot water, read hot-water emergencies; for water coming through a ceiling, see leak repairs. For a suspected gas leak, use the National Gas Emergency Service, not a general plumbing booking.