What to Do If a Pipe Bursts?
The steps to take immediately after a burst pipe, how to limit the damage, and what to do about your insurance.
If a burst pipe has turned your home into a paddling pool, act fast. Turn off the water supply at the stopcock, switch off the electricity in affected areas, and start containing the damage. Here’s a step-by-step guide to handling a burst pipe emergency.
At a glance
- Turn off the water supply immediately at the stopcock.
- Switch off electricity in any affected rooms for safety.
- Document damage with photos before moving anything.
- Contact your insurer before arranging permanent repairs.
- Call a qualified plumber to handle the emergency repair.
Step 1: Immediate action
In the first few minutes, these steps will make the biggest difference:
Turn off the water supply. Find your stopcock and turn it clockwise to shut off the water. It’s usually under the kitchen sink, in a utility cupboard, or near where the mains enters the property.
Switch off the electricity. Water and electricity are a dangerous combination. Go to your fuse box and turn off the power to any rooms that have been affected. If the fuse box itself is in a flooded area, don’t touch it. Call an electrician.
Drain the system. Open all cold taps to drain the remaining water from the pipes and reduce pressure in the system.
Contain the water. Grab buckets, towels, and any containers available. Catch dripping water and mop up spills to limit further damage to floors, ceilings, and walls.
Move belongings out of harm’s way. Shift furniture, electronics, and anything valuable away from the affected area as quickly as possible.
Step 2: Limit the damage while you wait
Once you’ve stopped the water and made the area safe, there are a few more things you can do while you wait for a plumber:
- Keep catching water with buckets and pans under any remaining drips.
- Open windows or use a dehumidifier to start drying out the affected area.
- Don’t turn the central heating up. Rapid temperature changes can cause further issues with pipes.
- Don’t start moving furniture back or cleaning up until you’ve photographed everything for your insurance claim.
For broader advice on water leaks and what home insurance covers, it’s worth checking your policy before the plumber arrives.
Step 3: Call a qualified plumber
Some repairs can wait. A burst pipe cannot.
If you have home emergency cover, call the helpline. They’ll dispatch a qualified plumber to handle the immediate repair, usually within a few hours.
If you don’t have home emergency cover, call a qualified plumber directly. Look for someone registered with WaterSafe, the approved contractor scheme for plumbing work in the UK.
Temporary fixes like push-fit connectors or pipe repair kits can buy time in a genuine emergency, but they’re not a substitute for a proper repair. A professional job protects your home and keeps your insurance claim valid.
If you suspect a frozen pipe rather than a burst one, our guide on frozen pipe prevention covers how to thaw safely and what to do next.
Step 4: Document the damage and contact your insurer
Most home insurance policies cover escape of water damage, but only if you follow the right process. Here’s what to do:
- Document everything before you clean up. Take clear, dated photographs and videos of all affected areas, including walls, ceilings, floors, and any damaged belongings. This is your evidence for the insurance claim.
- Contact your insurer as soon as possible. With Lemonade’s home insurance, you can start a claim directly through the app at any time. Provide the photographs, a description of what happened, and any receipts or quotes you have.
- Understand what’s covered. Building insurance covers structural damage, including ceilings, walls, and floors. Contents insurance covers damaged belongings. If you have accidental damage cover, that can cover additional damage not included in a standard policy.
- Don’t carry out permanent repairs without insurer approval. Temporary emergency repairs to make the property safe are fine and expected. But permanent repairs before your insurer has assessed the damage could affect your claim. Wait for the go-ahead before instructing any major work.
For example:
A tenant comes home to find a ceiling collapsed due to a burst pipe in the flat above. She turns off the water, photographs everything, and contacts her insurer through the app before calling a contractor. Because she documented the damage before clearing up and waited for insurer approval before arranging repairs, her claim is processed smoothly. Had she cleared up immediately and called a contractor first, she’d have had a much harder time proving the extent of the damage.
Step 5: Prevention for the future
Once the immediate crisis is resolved, it’s worth taking a few steps to reduce the risk of it happening again:
- Insulate exposed pipes with foam lagging, particularly in lofts, garages, and unheated spaces.
- Know where your stopcock is and test it occasionally to make sure it turns easily when needed.
- Keep heating on a low setting in winter, even when the property is empty, to prevent pipes from freezing.
- Inspect plumbing regularly for early signs of leaks, corrosion, or wear.
- Protect outdoor taps by disconnecting and draining them before the first frost and fitting insulated covers.
Our winter home preparation checklist covers all of this in one place and is worth going through before the cold season arrives.
Before we go
A burst pipe is stressful, but handling it in the right order makes a real difference. Turn off the water, make the electrics safe, document the damage, contact your insurer before arranging permanent repairs, and get a qualified plumber in. The faster and more methodically you act, the better the outcome.
Lemonade’s home insurance covers escape of water as standard, and claims can be started through the app at any time.
Burst pipe FAQs
Where is the stopcock in my house?
The internal stopcock (or stop tap) is most commonly found under the kitchen sink, but it can also be in an airing cupboard, utility room, under the stairs, or near the front door. If you can’t locate it, there’s usually an external stop tap under a small cover in the pavement outside your home, which your water supplier or an emergency plumber can access.
Does home insurance cover a burst pipe?
Most standard buildings insurance and contents insurance policies cover escape of water, which includes damage caused by a burst or leaking pipe. Buildings insurance typically covers structural damage such as ceiling water damage and flooring, while contents insurance covers your belongings. Check your policy for trace and access cover, which pays to find the source of the leak and make good afterwards.
Can I do a temporary pipe repair myself while waiting for a plumber?
Yes, in a limited way. Self-amalgamating repair tape, a pipe patch kit, or a push fit repair fitting can slow or stop a small leak temporarily. These are short-term measures only. Don’t attempt permanent repairs such as solvent weld joints or replacing pipe sections yourself unless you’re a qualified plumber, and always get your insurer’s approval before any permanent work begins.
What is home emergency cover and do I need it?
Home emergency cover is an add-on to your home insurance that gives you access to a 24/7 helpline and a qualified plumber (or other tradesperson) in an emergency. It typically covers the callout fee and the cost of the emergency repair. It’s particularly useful for plumbing emergencies like a burst pipe, where speed matters and out-of-hours callout fees can be steep.
How do I prevent pipes from freezing in winter?
Fit pipe lagging (foam pipe insulation) around pipes in unheated areas like lofts, garages and under floors. Keep your heating set to at least 10–12°C when you’re away from home. Have your boiler serviced annually by a Gas Safe engineer, and check your frozen condensate pipe if your boiler stops working during a cold snap. Small steps taken now can prevent a costly burst pipe emergency later.
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