What to do if…
a radiator or heating pipe starts leaking water onto the floor

What to do now

1. Get to a safer pause. Move people and pets away from the leak, the wet floor, and any nearby electrics. Put on shoes if the floor is slippery.

2. Turn the heating off if you can do it safely.

   • Use the programmer, thermostat, or heating control first.
   • Only switch the boiler off at its local switch or fused spur if you can reach it with dry hands and without standing in water.
   • If the switch or boiler area is wet, leave it alone and move on to keeping people away.

3. Treat water near electrics as dangerous.

   • If you can reach the consumer unit without standing in water and it is dry, switch off the affected circuit or the main switch.
   • If the consumer unit, sockets, switches, plugs, extension leads, or appliances are wet or splashed, do not touch them.
   • Keep everyone out of the affected area and get urgent help from an emergency electrician, landlord, agent, or building manager.

4. If it is a radiator leak, try to isolate the radiator.

   • Close both valves at the bottom of the radiator by turning them clockwise.
   • One side may be a thermostatic radiator valve with numbers on it; the other may be a lockshield valve under a cap.
   • Use gentle pressure only. If a valve will not move, stop trying.
   • A frost or snowflake setting on a thermostatic valve may not fully stop flow in cold conditions, so close the other valve too if you can.

5. If it is a pipe leak, use the nearest safe isolation point.

   • If you recognise a local isolation valve on the pipe near the leak, turn it to the off position without forcing it.
   • If there is no local valve, you cannot identify it, or water is still spreading, turn off the inside stop valve or stopcock if you can reach it safely.
   • The inside stop valve is usually turned clockwise. It may take a few turns and a few minutes for water flow from mains-fed pipes to reduce.
   • A central-heating pipe or radiator may still leak water already in the heating system even after the mains water is off.

6. Reduce pressure only in a simple, safe way.

   • If you turned off the mains water, open a cold tap briefly, then close it once the flow slows.
   • Do not open radiator bleed valves, drain valves, boiler parts, or pipe joints while the leak is active.

7. Catch and contain the water.

   • Put a bucket, bowl, tray, or pan under the leak.
   • Use towels to dam the edges of the puddle and slow the spread, keeping towels away from sockets, plugs, and extension leads.
   • Move rugs, papers, furniture legs, and anything that may stain, warp, or soak up water.

8. Report it if you rent or live in managed housing.

   • Contact your landlord, letting agent, housing association, council repairs line, or building manager.
   • Say where the leak is, whether water is near electrics, whether the heating is off, whether the radiator valves are closed, and whether the stopcock is off.
   • Ask for urgent repair help if water is still escaping, the heating or water is off, or electrics may be affected.

9. Arrange the right repair.

   • If you own the home, contact a plumber or heating engineer.
   • If the leak is at or inside the boiler or any gas appliance, use a Gas Safe registered engineer and check they are registered and qualified for the work.
   • If water has touched sockets, wiring, appliances, the consumer unit, or fixed electrical equipment, use a registered electrician before turning things back on.

10. Take quick photos once the immediate flow is contained.

• Photograph the leak source, wet areas, any damaged items, and any valves or switches you turned off.
• Do this quickly for records or insurance, then return to containment and safety.