Water Leak in Your Home — What to Do and Who to Call

Water leaks can be catastrophic for homeowners. 

According to the Association of British Insurers, around £1.8 million is paid out every day for water damage to homes.

Knowing what to do when you spot a leak can make a huge difference to the outcome.

Read on to discover what to do in the event of a leak and how you can prepare now.

Learn to spot the clues

A leak won’t always present itself as a sudden cascade of water gushing from your ceiling. 

Some leaks can be slow and far more damaging. It’s important that you learn to spot the signs of a leak, including:

• Warped floors and doorways
• A damp smell 
• Mildew on the walls 
• A dripping sound that becomes more noticeable when someone takes a shower or when it rains.

Toilets

Toilets are one of the most common sources of slow leaks. 

A faulty cistern can waste hundreds of litres before you notice any visible damage. 

If your toilet won't flush properly, it's worth investigating sooner rather than later.

1. Find your water stopcock

If you think you’ve found a leak, your first priority might be to call a plumber. 

But first, you need to turn off the water supply to your home. 

You can do this by locating the stopcock and turning it clockwise. 

Make sure everyone in your home knows where this is. Then they can act quickly in an emergency.

How to find your stopcock

Most internal stopcocks can be found on the ground floor under the kitchen sink. 

Some homes will have individual stopcocks for different sections of the home. 

However, in an emergency, you need to focus on the main stopcock. 

Once this is turned off, drain the pipes by turning on the cold water tap until the water stops running.

2. Turn off your heating

If you don’t yet know whether the leak is coming from your heating system, it makes sense to turn this off too. 

Turn off the water supply to your heating system by locating the shut-off valve next to your boiler.

Now, turn on the hot water tap to drain the system. 

You should also turn off the boiler at the mains by locating the relevant circuit breaker.

3. Turn off electricity

If the water is near electrical outlets or appliances, switch off your power at the mains.

Do this by identifying the right circuit breakers. 

Wall sockets and light fittings can also be damaged by water. Switch these off too - it’s better to be safe than sorry.

4. Call a professional

DIY plumbing is rarely a good idea unless you are confident you know what you’re doing.

If the problem is related to the water mains or the communication pipes, then you will need to contact your regional water supplier. 

Otherwise, get in touch with an emergency plumber. 

Finally, if the leak is coming from your roof, you will need to contact a roofing professional.

Get covered for emergencies

For complete peace of mind, why not take out a home emergency cover plan from YourRepair? 

From the roof to the drains, we can help you to create a home and boiler cover plan that works for you.