What to do if a pipe bursts
The ten-minute action plan: stop tap, drain-down, electrics, and damage control while help travels.
4 min readRead guide
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Helpful Plumbing Advice
Plain-English guides from PFA Plumbing — what to do, when to worry, and when a five-minute fix will save you a callout fee. If something's urgent, skip the reading and call us.
Featured guide · Emergencies
What to Do If You Have a Burst Pipe
The first ten minutes decide how bad a burst pipe gets. This guide covers the stop tap, draining the system, protecting electrics, and what to tell your plumber — in the order that matters.
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Meter movement, musty smells, warm patches, and the other quiet clues most people miss for months.
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Fill valves, flush valves, and the £6 part that's probably wasting hundreds of litres a day.
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How to prevent blocked drains
What should never go down a sink, why "flushable" wipes aren't, and simple monthly habits that work.
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When to call a plumber
DIY-able vs. definitely-not: an honest guide to which jobs are safe to try and which cost more when attempted.
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Access, parts, urgency, and time — how quotes are actually built, so you can compare them fairly.
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Landlord plumbing maintenance checklist
The annual checks that prevent 2am tenant calls — stop taps, silicone, drains, and water heaters.
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How to prepare for a bathroom plumbing job
What to decide before we arrive, what to clear out, and how to keep a refit on schedule.
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Boiler losing pressure? Start here
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Urgent plumbing advice
Got a plumbing emergency? Take these five steps
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Turn off the water supply
Locate your internal stop tap and turn it clockwise to stop the flow of water. It is often found beneath the kitchen sink, under the stairs or near the front door.
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Keep clear of electrics
If water is near sockets, appliances or electrical fittings, do not touch them. Keep everyone away from the affected area and only isolate the electricity if it is completely safe to do so.
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Reduce the remaining water
Open the cold-water taps to help drain water remaining in the pipes. Use towels, buckets or containers to limit further damage where it is safe to do so.
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Check where the water is coming from
Look for the visible source of the leak without dismantling pipes or attempting a risky repair. Photos and a brief description can help us assess the problem quickly.
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Call PFA Plumbing
Tell us what has happened, whether the water has been turned off and if electrics or heating systems may be affected. We will advise you on the safest next steps.
Water escaping right now?
Turn off your internal stop tap and call us for urgent plumbing assistance in Peterborough and the surrounding area.
Call 07738 375544