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uk Home & property emergencies

What to do if…
a pipe bursts and water is rapidly flooding your home

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Move everyone away from the water, wet electrics and any sagging ceiling. If you can reach the internal stop tap by a dry, safe route, turn it clockwise to shut off the water, then contact an emergency plumber.

Do not do these things

  • Do not enter standing water to reach a stop tap, consumer unit, socket, appliance or cable.
  • Do not touch electrical equipment, switches or controls that are wet or may have been reached by water.
  • Do not force a stop tap that is stuck or difficult to turn.
  • Do not stand beneath a bulging, sagging or waterlogged ceiling.
  • Do not pierce or break a bulging ceiling.
  • Do not spend time saving belongings before people are away from immediate danger.
  • Do not carry out DIY electrical work or permanent plumbing repairs during the emergency.
  • Do not switch water-damaged electrical equipment back on until a registered electrician has assessed it.
  • Do not throw damaged belongings away before asking your insurer, unless they present an immediate health or safety hazard.

What to do now

  1. Move people and pets out of affected rooms. Keep everyone away from standing water, wet electrical fittings and sagging or bulging ceilings. Leave the property and call 999 if there is fire, smoke, sparking, a serious injury or an immediate risk of collapse.
  2. Locate the internal stop tap if it is safely accessible. It is commonly under the kitchen sink, in a kitchen cupboard, downstairs bathroom, utility room, garage, cellar or beneath the stairs.
  3. Turn the stop tap clockwise slowly until it closes. Do not force or overtighten it. It may take a few minutes for the water flow to stop fully.
  4. If water has reached or is approaching electrical fittings, switch off the electricity at the consumer unit only when both the unit and your route to it are dry and safe. Stay away if the consumer unit, nearby surfaces or access route are wet.
  5. If the controls are dry and safely accessible, switch off the boiler or central heating to stop further water circulation.
  6. Once the incoming water and heating are off, open the hot and cold taps to drain the remaining water from the pipes. Close them again when the flow stops.
  7. Contact an emergency plumber. Explain where the pipe has burst, how quickly the water is spreading, whether the stop tap worked and whether water has reached electrics.
  8. If you rent your home, report the burst pipe and flooding to your landlord, letting agent or housing provider through its emergency repairs route.
  9. Use buckets, bowls and towels to contain water only in areas that are dry and electrically safe. Move portable belongings away from the water where this can be done without approaching a wet ceiling or electrical hazard.
  10. Warn neighbours if water may be entering another property. In a block of flats, also contact the building manager or the person responsible for communal repairs.
  11. When the flow has stopped and the area is safe, photograph the damage and contact your home insurer promptly. Follow its instructions and keep receipts for necessary emergency work.

What can wait

You do not need to identify the exact cause, choose permanent repairs, calculate the full loss or decide what can be saved right now. Detailed drying, cleaning, redecorating and claim paperwork can wait until the water has stopped and electrical or structural risks have been assessed.

Important reassurance

Rapid flooding can feel unmanageable, but the immediate priorities are limited: keep people away from danger, stop the incoming water if it is safe, and get professional help. You do not need to solve all the damage at once.

Scope note

This guide covers the first actions during a rapidly flooding burst pipe. Plumbing repairs, electrical testing, structural checks, drying, insurance claims and responsibility for damage may require qualified tradespeople, your landlord, your insurer or other specialist support.

Important note

This is general information, not plumbing, electrical, insurance, legal or other professional advice. Follow instructions from the emergency services and relevant qualified professionals, and do not enter or remain in an area that appears unsafe.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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