01 / 07 Plumbing services
Emergency Plumber
A burst pipe or a serious leak can do a lot of damage quickly: soaked floors, collapsed ceilings and ruined electrics. When you need an urgent plumber, the first job is to stop the water; the second is to repair the cause properly, so it does not happen again. Our emergency plumbing services cover burst pipes, serious leaks, overflowing cisterns and tanks, and leaking valves and stopcocks.
Emergency plumbing is part of our plumbing services.
First, turn off your water. The steps are below.
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- On this page9 topics covered
- Answered here6 common questions
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01Turn off the water
How Do I Turn Off My Water Supply?
The Internal Stopcock
Most homes have an internal stopcock, also called a stop tap, where the mains water pipe enters the house. Look:
- under the kitchen sink
- in a downstairs toilet, utility room or airing cupboard
- under the stairs, or under a floor hatch near the front door
- in a flat, sometimes in a cupboard in the hallway or near the front door
Turn it clockwise until it stops. If it is stiff, use steady pressure with a cloth for grip; do not force it with tools, as an old stopcock can snap. Then open the cold taps to drain the water left in the pipes.
The Outside Stop Valve
If you cannot find or turn the internal stopcock, there is usually an outside stop valve under a small cover in the pavement or front garden. It normally needs a stop tap key. In some older terraces and blocks of flats, one outside valve may serve several homes, so check before turning it off.
Isolation Valves
Toilets, basins, washing machines and dishwashers often have their own small isolation valve on the pipe. Turn the slot a quarter turn with a flat screwdriver, so that it sits across the pipe, to stop the water to that fitting only.
02Burst pipe
What to Do If a Pipe Bursts
- 1
Turn off the water at the stopcock, then open the cold taps.
- 2
Turn off the boiler and heating, and open the hot taps as well.
- 3
Keep away from electrics. If water is near sockets, lights or the consumer unit, switch off at the consumer unit only if it is dry and safe to reach. If not, keep clear and see our emergency electrical services.
- 4
Contain the water with towels and buckets, and move valuables away.
- 5
Take photos of the damage for your insurer.
- 6
Call us and send photos on WhatsApp, so the plumber knows what to bring.
A temporary pipe repair clamp can slow a small split, but it is not a permanent repair.
03Ceiling
Water Coming Through the Ceiling
If water is coming through a ceiling, turn the water off first. Do not switch on the lights in that room, and keep people out from underneath. A ceiling that is sagging or bulging can collapse with the weight of water. Once the leak is fixed, the ceiling needs to dry out before it is repaired through our plaster patch repair or fixing ceiling cracks services.
04Frozen pipes
Frozen Pipes
If a tap gives no water in freezing weather, a pipe may be frozen. Turn off the water at the stopcock in case the pipe has split, then thaw it slowly from the tap end with warm cloths, a hot water bottle or a hairdryer on a low setting. Never use a blowtorch or naked flame. When the pipe thaws, check it carefully for leaks. Lagging pipes in lofts, garages and outside walls helps prevent it happening again.
05What counts
What Counts as a Plumbing Emergency?
| Emergency: call now | Urgent, but not an emergency | Different service |
|---|---|---|
| Burst pipe or a leak you cannot stop | Dripping tap or slow leak under a sink | Blocked or overflowing drain: emergency drainage services |
| Water coming through a ceiling | A toilet that runs constantly | Boiler breakdown: emergency boiler services |
| Overflowing cistern or tank that will not stop | Low water pressure | Whole heating system failure: emergency heating services |
| A leaking stopcock or valve that will not turn off |
If you have no water at all, check with your water supplier first, as there may be a problem in the street.
If you smell gas, do not use switches or flames. Leave the building and call the National Gas Emergency number on 0800 111 999.
06After
What We Do When We Arrive
- 1
Make safe: isolate the water and check for any risk from electrics.
- 2
Find the cause: the burst, the failed joint, valve or fitting. If the leak is hidden, our leak detection and pipe repairs service traces it with minimal damage.
- 3
Repair: we replace the damaged section of pipe, joint or valve. If the pipework is old or corroded, we explain the options, such as our pipework installation and repair service.
- 4
Restore: we turn the water back on, check the system for leaks and refill the heating if it was drained.
- 5
Report: we give you a written note of the cause and the repair for your insurer.
Because we are also builders and decorators, we can repair the damage afterwards: ceilings, walls, floors and decoration.
07Cost
How Much Does an Emergency Plumber Cost?
It depends on the time of day, the cause, the parts needed and how easy the leak is to reach. We tell you how the visit will be charged, including any call-out charge, before we set off, and we explain the cost of the repair before we carry it out.
Every factor is priced line by line after your free survey — no guesswork, staged payments.
Call 020 0000 0000- 01
Many home insurance policies cover damage from an escape of water, and some also cover the cost of finding a hidden leak. Check your policy, take photos, and keep our written report and invoice.
08Areas
Emergency Plumbing Across London
We cover emergency plumbing across London, with a focus on east and south-east London. Find out more on our pages for emergency plumbing in London, emergency plumbing in Ilford, emergency plumbing in Barking, emergency plumbing in Dagenham, emergency plumbing in East Ham and emergency plumbing in Orpington.
09FAQs
Emergency Plumbing FAQs
What counts as a plumbing emergency?
A burst pipe, a leak you cannot stop, water coming through a ceiling, an overflowing cistern or tank that will not stop, or a leaking stopcock. A dripping tap or slow leak is urgent but can usually wait for a booked visit.
How much does an emergency plumber cost?
It depends on the time of day, the cause, the parts and access. We tell you how the visit will be charged, including any call-out charge, before we set off.
How do I turn off my water supply?
Turn the internal stopcock clockwise. It is usually under the kitchen sink or where the water pipe enters the house. If you cannot find it, use the outside stop valve with a stop tap key, or the isolation valve on the leaking fitting.
What should I do if a pipe bursts?
Turn off the water and open the taps, turn off the boiler, keep away from wet electrics, contain the water, take photos and call a plumber.
What if my stopcock will not turn?
Do not force it with tools, as it may snap. Use the outside stop valve instead, or the isolation valve on the fitting, and ask us to replace the stopcock once the leak is fixed.
Will my insurance pay for a burst pipe?
Many home insurance policies cover escape of water damage, and some cover finding a hidden leak. Check your policy, take photos and keep the plumber's report and invoice.
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Next step
Call Us About Your Leak
Turn off the water, then call us or send photos on WhatsApp. We will tell you what happens next and how the visit will be charged.
For non-urgent work, use our contact form.
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