4 min read
Burst Pipe in Dublin? Do These 5 Things First
A burst or badly leaking pipe can flood a home fast. Here is exactly what to do in the first few minutes to limit the damage before a plumber arrives.
1. Turn off the water at the stopcock
The single most important thing is to stop the flow. Find your internal stopcock — usually under the kitchen sink, in a utility room or near the front door — and turn it clockwise to shut it off. If you cannot find it or it is seized, the outside water meter often has a stop valve too.
Knowing where your stopcock is BEFORE an emergency saves the most damage. If you are not sure, locate it today and make sure it turns.
2. Drain the cold taps
Once the water is off, open all your cold taps to drain the remaining water in the pipes and reduce pressure at the leak. Flush toilets to empty the cisterns as well.
3. Turn off the heating and immersion
If the leak is on the heating or hot-water side, switch off the boiler and the immersion heater. This prevents the system heating an empty tank, which can cause further damage.
4. Deal with water near electrics
If water is anywhere near sockets, the fuse board or light fittings, switch off the electricity at the consumer unit and do not touch anything wet. Safety first — water and electricity are a serious hazard.
5. Call a 24/7 emergency plumber
Once the situation is made safe, call a local emergency plumber. Describe what happened and what you have already done — it helps us arrive prepared. Move valuables and soak up standing water with towels while you wait.
