A burst pipe releases 400 litres of water per hour. The steps you take in the first 10 minutes determine how much damage your property suffers. Read this before an emergency happens.
A burst pipe in a Liverpool home can release 400 litres of water an hour. The damage a 30-minute delay causes is significant. The steps below are in priority order. Read them now so you know exactly what to do if this happens.
A gas leak takes absolute priority over a water leak. Get everyone out of the property, do not operate any switches, and call the gas emergency line before doing anything else. Once the gas is made safe, call us on 07399 676656.
The stopcock is the first thing you need to find. In most Liverpool properties it is under the kitchen sink. In Victorian terraces it is sometimes in the cellar, under the stairs or near the front door. If you cannot find the internal stopcock, there is an external one on the footpath outside the property boundary.
Turn the stopcock clockwise to close it. This stops all water entering the property from the mains. If the stopcock is seized or will not turn, call us on 07399 676656 immediately and also contact United Utilities on 0345 672 3723 to isolate the supply at the street.
Check where your stopcock is located today while there is no emergency. If it has not been used in years, turn it a quarter-turn now to check it moves freely. A seized stopcock in an emergency is a serious problem. Add the location to your phone contacts so you do not have to search for it at 2am.
After stopping the mains supply, turn off your boiler and any immersion heater. This prevents the boiler from firing when there is no water pressure, which can damage the heat exchanger. It also prevents hot water in the cylinder from continuing to flow if the burst is on the hot water side of the system.
Open every cold tap in the property. This drains the remaining water in the system quickly, reducing the amount of water available to continue flooding through the burst. Once the stopcock is closed, this water has nowhere to go except out through the taps and into the drain.
Once the water is isolated, focus on limiting the damage that has already occurred:
Call us on 07399 676656. We are a 24/7 emergency plumber covering all Liverpool L1 to L40 postcodes with a guaranteed 30-minute response. A real person answers at any hour. We dispatch our own Gas Safe registered engineers immediately. Most burst pipe repairs in Liverpool are completed on the first visit using parts from the van.
While you wait, stay on the line with us. Our engineers can give you additional guidance over the phone if needed and will confirm the arrival time by text when dispatched.
Liverpool's housing stock includes one of the highest concentrations of Victorian and Edwardian properties in England. These properties frequently have:
Winter is peak burst pipe season in Liverpool. In a cold snap, properties that have not had pipes insulated are at high risk. If you want your Liverpool property assessed for vulnerable pipework before winter, call us to arrange an inspection.
Contact your home insurer as soon as the immediate emergency is handled. We provide full documentation for insurance claims including:
For guidance on making a home insurance claim, the Citizens Advice home insurance claims guide and the Association of British Insurers both provide clear independent advice.
In most Victorian terraces it is under the kitchen sink, in the cellar, under the stairs or near the front door. If you cannot find the internal stopcock, there is an external one on the footpath outside the property boundary. Call us on 07399 676656 and we will help you locate it over the phone.
Most burst pipe repairs in Liverpool cost between £80 and £350 depending on the pipe location, size and severity. We provide a written quote before starting any work. Call 07399 676656 and we will give you an indication of the likely cost over the phone after understanding your situation.
Most home insurance policies cover escape of water damage. The repair itself may or may not be covered depending on your policy terms. We provide full documentation for your claim. Take photos of all damage before cleanup and contact your insurer as soon as the immediate emergency is resolved.
We guarantee a 30-minute response across all Liverpool L1 to L40 postcodes. Our average arrival time is 28 minutes. A real person answers 24/7. We text you the engineer name and estimated arrival time when dispatched. Call 07399 676656 now.
Gas Safe registered. Our own engineers. Fixed prices. All Liverpool postcodes covered.