Nothing ruins your day quite like a plumbing emergency. One minute you are enjoying a cup of tea, and the next you are staring at a burst pipe.

It is easy to panic when water is gushing across your kitchen floor. However, taking quick action is the best way to protect your home.

Here is exactly what you need to do when disaster strikes.

What Counts as a Plumbing Emergency?

A plumbing emergency is any issue that threatens to cause immediate water damage to your property. This includes burst pipes, major leaks, and overflowing toilets.

If water is actively flooding your home and you cannot stop it, you have an emergency on your hands. In these stressful situations, every single second counts.

Minor dripping taps or slow-draining sinks are annoying, but they can usually wait for a scheduled visit. When in doubt, it is always best to call a professional for advice.

Turn Off Your Water Supply

The very first thing you must do is stop the water from flowing. You need to locate your internal stopcock as quickly as possible.

In most UK homes, you will find the stopcock under the kitchen sink. Sometimes it is hiding in an airing cupboard or under the stairs.

Once you find it, turn the valve firmly clockwise to shut off the mains water. This simple action will stop the flood and give you a chance to breathe.

Switch Off the Electricity

Water and electricity are a very dangerous mix. If your burst pipe is leaking near any electrical fittings, you need to act fast.

Head straight to your fuse box and turn off the mains power. It is always better to be safe than sorry when dealing with a flooded room.

If the fuse box is already wet, do not touch it. Step away and wait for a professional to make the area safe.

Drain Your Plumbing System

Turning off the stopcock stops new water from entering your home. However, your pipes are still full of water waiting to escape.

To fix this, you need to drain your system completely. Go around your house and turn on all the taps to let the remaining water flow down the drain.

You should also flush your toilets to empty the cisterns. Once the water stops dripping from the taps, your pipes are finally empty.

Contain the Water Damage

Now that the immediate danger has passed, it is time for some damage control. Grab your mop, buckets, and all the old towels you can find.

Soak up as much standing water as you possibly can. The longer water sits on your floors, the more damage it will cause to your property.

Move your furniture and valuables away from the affected area. If water has soaked into your carpets, you might need to lift them up to let the floorboards dry.

Document the Mess for Insurance

Before you start cleaning up too much, grab your smartphone. You will need photographic evidence if you plan to make a home insurance claim.

Take clear pictures and videos of the burst pipe and any damaged belongings. Documenting the water damage straight away makes the claims process much smoother.

It is also a good idea to keep any receipts for emergency repairs or replacement items. Your insurance provider will likely ask for these later to reimburse your costs.

Call a Local Emergency Plumber

Unless you are a trained professional, you should not try to fix a burst pipe yourself. A botched DIY job can easily lead to a much bigger plumbing disaster down the line.

You need to call an experienced emergency plumber to assess the situation. They have the right tools to repair the pipe safely and permanently.

If you live in Wiltshire, Anderson James is ready to help. Our friendly plumbing team will have your home dry and back to normal in no time.

How to Prevent Future Burst Pipes

Once the dust has settled, you should think about preventing the next plumbing headache. Burst pipes usually happen when the temperature drops and water freezes inside your plumbing.

To stop this from happening, you should insulate your exposed pipes. This process is called lagging, and you can buy the materials cheaply from any DIY store.

You should also keep your home slightly heated during the winter, even if you go away on holiday. A little bit of warmth goes a long way in protecting your plumbing system.