A burst pipe in a London property can cause £20,000+ of damage in the first hour. Most of that damage is preventable if you know the right three things to do before help arrives.
Step 1, Stop the water.
Find your internal stopcock. In most London properties it's under the kitchen sink, in the basement, or near the front door under the floorboards. Turn it clockwise (off). If you can't find it or it won't turn, find the external stopcock in the pavement (small cast-iron lid marked "W") and turn that off using a stopcock key or large adjustable spanner.
Step 2, Drain the system.
Open every cold tap in the house and flush every toilet. This empties the rising main and reduces the volume of water that can keep escaping from the burst. Don't open the hot taps until after you've turned off your boiler / immersion heater (otherwise you'll dump boiling water into the leak).
Step 3, Protect the property and document.
Get towels, buckets, and bins under any active leak. Move electronics, rugs, and valuables out of the room. Take 10,20 photos and a video, your insurer will need them. Note the time the burst happened.
Now, call us.
Call 020 8050 5306. We'll be there in 30 to 60 minutes, with the parts to fix it. While you wait, keep checking ceilings below the leak, water travels.
What you'll be charged.
Day rate (Mon,Fri 7am,6pm): £49 on-site diagnostics fee + £150/hr labour, both + VAT. Out of hours: £75 + £200/hr. Late night: £99 + £250/hr. Materials at trade cost + 30%, fully itemised. Most burst-pipe repairs are done in the first hour. Full pricing →
Want to prevent the next one?
The most common London cause is freezing in poorly-insulated lofts and external runs. Lag every exposed pipe before winter, leave the heating on a low constant temperature when away, and book an annual plumbing survey. Book a survey →