A plumbing emergency usually needs two things at once. You need to stop the damage, and you need the right engineer on the way. If water is escaping from a pipe, toilet, valve or appliance, every minute counts, so a calm plan helps.
Turn Off The Water
Find the internal stopcock and turn it clockwise. In many flats it sits under the kitchen sink, in a utility cupboard or inside a shared riser. If only one fixture leaks, a small isolation valve nearby may stop the flow without shutting off the whole property.
Once the water stops, open a cold tap to drain what is left in the pipes. This reduces the pressure behind the leak, and it gives you time to think.
Protect Electrics And Belongings
Move items away from the leak, because soaked fabric and flooring suffer quickly. If water is near sockets, light fittings or appliances, do not touch them. Switch off the affected circuit only if you can do so safely, and keep well away if the area is already wet.
Photos help too. Take a few before you mop up, since they show the engineer what happened and may help with an insurance claim.
Stop Using Connected Fixtures
If a toilet, sink, bath or shower is backing up, stop using water. This often signals a blocked toilet or a wider drain problem. More water into a blocked system can push wastewater back into the property, so wait for help before you flush again. Our advice on what not to do with a blocked toilet explains the common mistakes, and our guide on how to unblock a toilet covers the safe first steps.
A slow leak under a sink is less dramatic, yet it still needs attention. See our notes on kitchen sink and appliance leaks and bathroom leaks in flats for the usual starting points.
Get Help Online
Request a free quote online from Brighton Plumbers Direct for emergency plumber callouts or ongoing leak repair. Tell us your postcode, the fixture affected, whether water is still escaping and whether you can isolate the supply. We offer 24/7 emergency response, local engineers and no call-out fee.
We cover emergency plumbing in Brighton, plumbing help in Hove and Portslade area, so tell us where you are. Landlords and agents managing rental homes can read our advice on landlord plumbing repairs too. Because hard water can wear valves over time, our piece on hard water and plumbing may help you prevent the next call.
