You’ve got a leak. Water is spreading. The plumber is 45 minutes away. What you do right now determines whether you’re looking at a $500 repair or a $5,000 remediation job.
Step 1: Shut Off the Water (Do This First)
Every second you delay, damage spreads. Find and close the nearest shutoff valve.
Fixture shutoff
- Toilet: oval valve on wall behind the toilet
- Sink: two valves under the sink
- Washing machine: valves behind the machine
- Water heater: valve on cold water inlet at top
Main water shutoff
If you can’t find a fixture valve, or the leak is inside a wall or ceiling, shut off the main. It’s usually in the basement, crawlspace, utility room, or garage where the water line enters the foundation. Outside option: the meter shutoff at the street (requires a wrench or meter key).
Step 2: Turn Off the Water Heater
With no water supply, a running water heater can burn out its element or create pressure problems.
- Electric: flip the circuit breaker
- Gas: turn the dial to “Pilot” or “Off”
Step 3: Open a Faucet to Drain Pressure
Open the lowest faucet in the house (basement tap or outdoor spigot) to drain remaining pressure from the pipes and slow residual seepage.
Step 4: Contain the Water
- Buckets and towels under active drips
- Move furniture, electronics, and rugs out of the wet area
- If water is bulging a ceiling, poke a small hole at the lowest point to direct flow into a bucket—better a controlled drip than a ceiling collapse
Step 5: Apply a Temporary Patch (Exposed Pipes Only)
For an accessible pipe with a visible break:
- Pipe repair clamp: $10–$30, wraps around pipe and seals with rubber gaskets. Most effective option.
- Self-fusing silicone tape: wrap tightly over the crack, stretching as you apply. Temporary but works for small breaks.
- Epoxy putty: pinholes on dry pipe only—won’t seal under pressure or on wet surfaces.
Tell your plumber what you applied.
Step 6: Document Everything
Before mopping up: photograph and video the leak source and all affected areas. Note when it started. This documentation is critical for your insurance claim.
Step 7: Call Your Insurer
Sudden accidental water damage is covered by most homeowners policies. Call before repairs start—they may send an adjuster first and direct you to approved remediation contractors.
What NOT to Do
- Don’t operate electrical switches in rooms with water on the floor
- Don’t run a shop vac near wet outlets
- Don’t try to permanently solder or repair pipes yourself
- Don’t assume the temporary patch is a permanent fix
Call an Emergency Plumber Immediately If:
- You can’t locate or operate the shutoff valves
- The main shutoff itself is leaking or seized
- Water source is unknown (inside walls)
- You smell sewage with the leak
- Water is near your electrical panel
Find a plumber now: 24-hour emergency plumber near you.
Cost Context
- Burst pipe repair: $400–$1,500+. See full burst pipe cost guide.
- After-hours emergency premium: +$150–$400. See after-hours plumber cost.
- Water damage remediation: $1,000–$10,000+ for significant flooding.
Acting fast on the shutoff is the single biggest lever you have on that final number.
