A checklist for the time before your plumber arrives: stop the water, stay safe, document damage and prepare access. Call 020 8050 9933.
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The minutes before a plumber arrives can make a big difference to how much damage is done. This checklist covers what to do, in order.
If you smell gas, leave and call 0800 111 999. If water is near electrics, keep away and switch off power only if you can do so safely. Keep children and pets out of the area.
Turn off the main stopcock, or the isolation valve on the fixture that is leaking. Our stopcock guide shows how to find it.
Switch off the boiler and immersion heater if the leak is on a heating or hot water pipe.
Use buckets, towels and bin bags. Move furniture and valuables away from the water.
Photograph and film the damage and make a note of when you noticed it. Your insurer will ask for these.
Clear a path to the stopcock, boiler, and the problem area. Have your postcode and any access instructions ready, and keep your phone nearby.
It depends on how far you are and which engineer is free. We tell you the expected arrival time when you book.
You pay the call-out fee online by card when you book. We then send an engineer.
Check under the kitchen sink and near the front door. If you cannot find it, tell us when you call.