Glossary · Plumbing and water
What should I do if a pipe bursts?
A burst pipe is a pipe that has split or broken and is letting water escape. The most common cause in winter is a frozen pipe that cracks as it thaws. The first step is to turn off the stopcock to stop the water, then limit the damage and call an approved plumber.
Key points
- Turn off your stopcock first, by turning it clockwise. It is usually under the kitchen sink.
- Then open the cold taps to drain the system and soak up escaping water with towels.
- If water is near sockets, switches or electrical appliances, turn off your electricity at the mains.
- Pipes often burst as ice thaws, not while frozen, so check pipes in the loft and garage as the weather warms.
- Yorkshire Water says pretty much any leak inside your house is your responsibility. Check your insurance first, then call a WaterSafe approved plumber.
What causes a burst pipe
In the UK the usual cause is cold weather. Water expands as it freezes. Yorkshire Water says sub-zero temperatures can cause water pipes to freeze and burst.[3]Yorkshire Water, Get winter ready Thames Water adds that when the temperature rises there is a chance a frozen pipe may crack or burst. When the weather warms up after a cold snap, some pipes may leak or burst as they thaw.[1]Thames Water, Frozen or burst pipes
That means a burst may not show itself until the thaw. Thames Water suggests checking pipes in cold places such as the loft or garage and looking for water dripping from them as the temperature rises.[1]Thames Water, Frozen or burst pipes The frozen pipes page covers prevention and thawing.
Whatever the cause, the first response is the same.
What to do straight away
Follow these steps in order. They combine the advice from Thames Water and Yorkshire Water.[1]Thames Water, Frozen or burst pipes[2]Yorkshire Water, I've got a leak emergency - what do I do?
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Turn off the stopcock, clockwise. It is usually under the kitchen sink |
| 2 | Open a cold tap and leave it running until the water stops. Thames Water says to open all taps to drain the system quickly |
| 3 | Catch the water with buckets, bowls or towels |
| 4 | Move valuables and electrical items away from the water |
| 5 | If water is near sockets, switches or appliances, turn off the electricity at the mains |
| 6 | Turn off the heating and boiler if you are not sure whether the leak is plumbing or heating |
Do not touch electrical equipment standing in water. If you are unsure whether it is safe, leave it and call an electrician. See stopcock for where to find yours. If you have never found it, the other places it can be include a bathroom cupboard, the airing cupboard, near the boiler, under the stairs or near the front door.[2]Yorkshire Water, I've got a leak emergency - what do I do?
What happens next
Yorkshire Water says to check your insurance before you instruct a plumber, because you may be covered for the repair through home insurance or a cover plan.[2]Yorkshire Water, I've got a leak emergency - what do I do? It also says pretty much any leak in your house is your responsibility to fix, and points to WaterSafe to find an approved plumber.[2]Yorkshire Water, I've got a leak emergency - what do I do?
The water company looks after the network outside your boundary. Yorkshire Water is usually responsible for the mains, the communication pipe and the stop tap in or under the road or pavement, while internal plumbing and supply pipes on your property belong to you.[4]Yorkshire Water, Who is responsible for fixing my pipework? If the burst is on a shared supply pipe, you and your neighbour share responsibility.[4]Yorkshire Water, Who is responsible for fixing my pipework?
If the water was frozen and has thawed, double check there are no leaks before turning the water back on, by running a dry cloth along the pipe. Thames Water recommends leaving the water off until the pipe is fixed if you find a leak.[1]Thames Water, Frozen or burst pipes
Example
Aisha in Halifax wakes to a damp patch on the ceiling after a cold week turned mild. She turns off the stopcock under the sink, opens the cold tap until it stops, and puts a bucket under the drip. The light fitting is near the stain, so she switches off the electricity at the mains. She rings her insurer, then calls a WaterSafe plumber from the register.
What people get wrong
Many people try to find the leak before stopping the water. Stop the water first. Every minute with the supply on adds to the damage, and the stopcock is the one action that always helps.
The second mistake is to assume the water company will repair a burst inside the home. Yorkshire Water says that inside your boundary the repair is yours.[4]Yorkshire Water, Who is responsible for fixing my pipework? Insurance and a WaterSafe plumber are the route.
The bottom line
When a pipe bursts, turn off the stopcock, drain the pipes, catch the water, protect the electrics and turn off the heating if unsure. Then check your insurance and call an approved plumber. Cold weather is the usual cause, and bursts often show during the thaw, so check the loft and garage as the weather warms. Knowing where your stopcock is before it happens is the best protection.
Common questions
What should I do first when a pipe bursts?
Turn off the stopcock. Both Thames Water and Yorkshire Water give this as the first step. Then turn on a cold tap until the water stops, catch the water with buckets and towels, and move valuables and electrical items away.
Should I turn the heating off?
Thames Water says to turn the heating off and open all taps to drain the system quickly. Yorkshire Water says to turn off the heating and boiler if you are not sure whether the leak is plumbing or heating.
Who pays for a burst pipe inside my home?
Yorkshire Water says pretty much any leak in your house is your responsibility to fix. Check your home insurance first, as you may be covered for the repair, before you instruct a plumber.
How do I find an approved plumber?
Yorkshire Water points to the WaterSafe register of approved plumbers. Check your insurer's terms before you instruct anyone, in case the policy requires its own contractor.
Sources
We cite the original source for every figure: government, regulators, standards bodies and manufacturers' own documents. Each one shows the date we last checked it.
- Thames Water. Frozen or burst pipes. Checked 11 November 2026. ↩
- Yorkshire Water. I've got a leak emergency - what do I do?. Checked 11 November 2026. ↩
- Yorkshire Water. Get winter ready. Checked 11 November 2026. ↩
- Yorkshire Water. Who is responsible for fixing my pipework?. Checked 11 November 2026. ↩