What to do if a pipe bursts

Short answerIf a pipe bursts, turn off the water at your stopcock (usually under the kitchen sink), switch off electrics near the water at the consumer unit if it's safe, then open the cold taps to drain the system and call a plumber. If the leak is outside your home or in the road, or you've no water, call Severn Trent, Market Harborough's water supplier, on 0800 783 4444. A typical burst pipe repair costs around £150, more out of hours.

Knowing what to do if a pipe bursts saves a lot of damage, and the first five minutes matter most. This guide gives you the steps in order, how to find your stopcock, what to do about the electrics, who to call in Market Harborough, and how to stop pipes freezing in the first place.

If water is coming through a ceiling near light fittings, or anyone is at risk, keep everyone away from the area and call 999 if needed.

What to do if a pipe bursts: the steps in order

1. Turn off the water at the stopcock

The internal stopcock (stop tap) shuts off the mains supply to the whole house. Turn it clockwise until it stops. If it's stiff, don't force it hard enough to snap it; try a cloth for grip and gentle, steady pressure.

2. Make the electrics safe

If water is near sockets, light fittings or the consumer unit, switch off the power at the consumer unit (fuse box), but only if you can reach it without standing in water or touching anything wet. If you can't, stay away and call an electrician. Don't use electrical items that have got wet until they've been checked. For a power cut, call 105; see our emergency electrician page if water has got into the electrics.

3. Drain the system

Open all the cold taps to drain water out of the pipes and reduce the pressure on the burst. Flush toilets. If the burst is on the hot water side or the heating, turn off the boiler or immersion heater, then open the hot taps.

4. Contain the water

Put buckets and towels down and move valuables out of the way. If a ceiling is bulging with water, keep everyone out from under it, as wet plasterboard can come down without warning, and tell the plumber when you call.

5. Call a plumber

A plumber can cut out the damaged section and fit a new piece of pipe or a repair coupling. Tell them where the burst is, whether it's hot or cold, and whether the water is off. See our emergency plumber page.

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6. Record the damage for insurance

Take photos and video before you clear up, keep receipts, and call your home insurer. Many policies cover "escape of water" damage, and some cover the cost of tracing a hidden leak.

Where is my stopcock?

In most UK houses the internal stopcock is:

• under the kitchen sink (the most common place)
• in a downstairs toilet or utility room
• under the stairs, or where the water pipe comes up through the floor
• in a garage or cellar
• in flats, sometimes in an airing cupboard or a communal cupboard

There's usually an outside stop tap too, under a small cover in the pavement or front garden, often near the boundary. It needs a special key and it may serve more than one property, so it's best left to the water company or a plumber.

Do this today: find your stopcock, check it turns, and tell everyone in the house where it is. A seized stopcock is a common reason a small leak becomes a big one. A plumber can replace one that won't turn.

Who is responsible: you or Severn Trent?

In Market Harborough the drinking water is supplied by Severn Trent. (Anglian Water handles wastewater in much of the town, so you may hear from either company.)

As a general rule:

• Severn Trent is responsible for the water main and the pipe up to and including its stop tap, usually at the boundary.
• You are responsible for the supply pipe from there into your home, and for all the pipes, taps and fittings inside.

If water is leaking in the street or pavement, from the outside stop tap, or you've lost your supply completely, call Severn Trent on 0800 783 4444. For anything inside the house, you need a plumber.

Frozen pipes: prevention and what to do

Cold snaps in Leicestershire can freeze pipes in lofts, garages, outbuildings and on outside walls. Ice expands, splits the pipe, and the leak often only shows when it thaws.

How to prevent frozen pipes

• Lag pipes and tanks in the loft, garage and any unheated space. Foam lagging is cheap.
• Keep the heating on low when you're away in cold weather, rather than off.
• Turn off and drain outside taps before winter, or fit one with an internal isolating valve. See outside tap installation costs.
• Fix dripping taps, which can freeze in pipes.
• Open the loft hatch in very cold weather to let some warmth in.

If a pipe freezes

Severn Trent's advice is to turn off the stopcock and gently warm the pipe with a hairdryer or heater, starting from the tap end and working back, but not too quickly, as sudden heat can cause it to burst. Never use a blowtorch or naked flame. If it has already split, keep the water off and call a plumber.

What does a burst pipe repair cost?

Checkatrade's 2026 guide puts a straightforward burst pipe repair at around £50 to £200 plus VAT, typically about £150. Out of hours you'll usually pay an emergency call-out fee of around £100 to £120 and a higher hourly rate (roughly £75 to £150 an hour). A leak hidden under floors or behind walls costs more to find and reach. These are national ranges; the exact price comes from the plumber's quote. See our leak repair cost guide and plumber hourly rates.

Ask for the price before work starts, even in an emergency.

After the repair

• Turn the water back on slowly and check the repair and other joints.
• Let wet ceilings and walls dry properly before replastering or painting. A plasterer can advise; see how long plaster takes to dry.
• Have any electrics that got wet tested by an electrician.

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