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Emergency4 min
How to Stop a Burst Pipe Before the Plumber Arrives
A burst pipe can cause thousands in damage in minutes. Here's the 4-step routine every Essex homeowner should know.
When a pipe bursts, every second counts. Follow these four steps before you do anything else.
1. Turn off the internal stopcock. It's almost always under your kitchen sink. Turn it clockwise until it stops.
2. Switch off the boiler and central heating. This protects the boiler from running dry.
3. Open every cold tap in the house. This drains the system fast and reduces pressure at the leak.
4. Call us. WhatsApp a photo if you can — we'll often know exactly what's needed before we arrive.
If water has reached any electrics, switch off the power at the consumer unit. Never touch wet electrical equipment.
