Common Plumbing Emergencies and What to Do First
Plumbing emergencies feel chaotic, but most of them have a calm, repeatable first response. Knowing where your main shutoff is, and what to do in the first few minutes, is the single best protection a homeowner has.
Know your shutoffs in advance
Find your main water shutoff before you need it. It is typically near where the water line enters the home, often in the basement, a utility closet, or a ground-level box outside in warmer climates. Test it once a year by closing and reopening it.
Each toilet has its own shutoff behind or below the tank. Most sinks have shutoffs under the basin. Knowing they exist saves the panic of running for the main valve when a single fixture is the problem.
Burst or leaking pipe
Shut off the main water valve immediately. If the leak is near electrical, turn off power to that area at the breaker before approaching it. Open a low faucet in the house, usually a basement sink or outdoor spigot, to drain pressure from the lines. Then call a plumber.
Overflowing toilet
Close the shutoff valve behind the toilet. If you cannot reach it or it will not turn, lift the tank lid and push the flapper down to stop water from entering the bowl. Most overflows are caused by a clog and resolve with a plunger once the water stops rising.
Leaking water heater
Shut off the cold water supply to the heater (the valve on the cold inlet at the top of the tank). For a gas unit, turn the gas control to 'off' or 'pilot.' For an electric unit, turn off the breaker. Then call a plumber. Do not attempt to drain the tank yourself unless you have done it before. The drain valves on older units commonly fail to reseat.
Key takeaways
- Locate and test your main shutoff before you ever need it.
- For a burst pipe: main off, power off if needed, drain a low faucet.
- For an overflowing toilet: close the shutoff or hold down the flapper.
- For a leaking water heater: cold inlet off, gas or breaker off, then call.