A burst pipe can soak a ceiling in minutes. The first hour matters more than anything that follows. This plan helps you limit the damage and protect your insurance claim.

First, stop the water

Go straight to your stop tap, also called the stopcock. Essex & Suffolk Water says it is usually found near where the supply enters your home. Most commonly it sits under the kitchen sink or in a utility room.

Turn it clockwise to close it. The water should slow and stop within a few seconds. Essex & Suffolk Water also owns the meter or stop tap outside your property. That one sits on the company’s side of the boundary.

Please check yours works before you ever need it. Essex & Suffolk Water says to make sure you know where it is and that it works. Test it now, so you do not lose minutes in an emergency.

Next, deal with the electrics

Water and electricity are a dangerous mix. If water is near sockets, light fittings or wiring, switch the electrics off at the mains. Essex & Suffolk Water gives this advice for a burst pipe.

However, do not touch the fuse box if it stands in a flooded area. Do not touch wet sockets or wiring either. In that case, call an electrician and keep everyone clear.

Watch the ceilings as well. Pooled water can make a ceiling bulge, so stay out from under it. NFU Mutual warns that bulging ceilings can collapse.

Drain the system down

With the stop tap off, turn off the boiler. Essex & Suffolk Water advises switching off the boiler, then opening all the taps to drain the system. NFU Mutual adds that you should switch off the immersion heater and central heating so they do not run on an empty system.

Open the cold taps first to clear the stored water. Then open the hot taps. As a result, less water is left in the pipes to escape.

This is also the right time to put buckets and towels under the leak. Move rugs and small items out of the way. Do not try to patch the pipe yourself, because DIY fixes can make the problem worse.

Call a plumber

Because the water is off, you now have time to ring. Once the water is off, call a plumber. A burst pipe will not heal, and a temporary fix only buys time. Our local plumbers cover Great Yarmouth and nearby Norfolk, and our 24/7 emergency plumber service is there for this kind of job. You can also use the online quote form for a quieter follow-up visit.

Choose someone registered with WaterSafe, the approved plumber scheme. Essex & Suffolk Water points customers to WaterSafe for approved local plumbers. Ask the plumber to tell you what caused the burst and where the weak point lies.

Afterwards, the repair itself may be a short job. A split section can often be cut out and replaced through our leak repair work. If pipes keep failing, you may need to talk about longer-term options.

Photograph the damage for your insurer

Next, record everything before you tidy up. Lemonade advises dated photographs and videos of all the affected areas. Hold off on moving furniture back until it is all documented.

Check your policy for escape of water cover, and contact your insurer or home emergency provider. NFU Mutual suggests calling them for advice on limits and on how to arrange a professional. Essex & Suffolk Water also tells customers to check their home insurance for cover.

In addition, keep any receipts and ask the plumber for a written note of what they did. Insurers may want that detail. Therefore, a few minutes of paperwork now can speed up the claim later.

What if a frozen pipe caused it?

Frozen pipes are a common cause in winter. Essex & Suffolk Water says to turn off the water at the stop tap first. Then check whether the pipe has burst.

If it has not, open the affected taps and warm the pipe gently. The company suggests a hair dryer, a hot water bottle or towels soaked in hot water. However, never use a blowtorch or anything with a naked flame. As a result, you avoid starting a fire or damaging the pipe further.

Is the leak on your side or the company’s?

Pipe ownership decides who fixes the leak. Essex & Suffolk Water owns the pipes under the street up to where the supply meets your property, plus the meter or stop tap outside. Beyond that point, the property owner is responsible, including pipes under a private driveway.

Some older properties share a supply pipe, so repair costs may be split between neighbours. If the leak is in the street or on the company’s side, report it to the water company. Meanwhile, if the leak is on your side, it is a job for your plumber.

After the first hour

The immediate danger has passed, but the work is not finished. Keep the water off to the affected pipe until it is repaired. Get a plumber and an electrician to check the home before power and water are fully restored, as NFU Mutual advises.

Then keep an eye on walls and ceilings as the rooms dry. Finally, find your stop tap now if you have not, and make sure every adult in the house knows where it is.

More plumbing guides

These guides cover related ground. However, each one answers a different question, so read the ones that match your problem: 5 Signs You Need Drain Cleaning, Prevent Frozen Pipes This Winter and Guide to Choosing a Water Heater. Because they share the same simple advice, you can move between them easily.

These guides cover related ground. However, each one answers a different question, so read the ones that match your problem: Who Fixes a Blocked Drain or Sewer in Norfolk? A Guide, Hard Water in Great Yarmouth: Boilers and Heaters Guide and Annual Boiler Service and Gas Safe: What You Need to Know. Because they share the same simple advice, you can move between them easily.

These guides cover related ground. However, each one answers a different question, so read the ones that match your problem: What Not to Flush: Wipes, Fat and Blocked Drains and How to Spot a Hidden Water Leak at Home Early. Because they share the same simple advice, you can move between them easily.

Plumbing help near you

We cover Great Yarmouth and nearby Norfolk, so help is close by. For example, we can help with emergency plumber in Great Yarmouth, emergency plumber in Gorleston-on-Sea, emergency plumber in Caister-on-Sea and emergency plumber in Bradwell. Each page explains how the service works in that town.

However, the same advice applies across the area. If you live nearby, see leak repair in Hemsby, leak repair in Belton, leak repair in Acle or leak repair in Lowestoft. Because we quote before any work starts, you can compare the options with no pressure.