A burst pipe can soak through a ceiling in minutes, and what you do in the first ten minutes makes most of the difference to the damage. This guide covers the practical steps in order, with a few tips for Burnley's older terraced houses, and the lockouts and locked cupboards that can slow you down when every minute counts.
Find your internal stopcock and turn it clockwise until it stops. In most Burnley terraces it is under the kitchen sink, but in houses with a cellar it is often low on the front wall where the supply pipe comes in from the street. Some are under the stairs or behind a panel in a downstairs cupboard.
If the stopcock is seized, don't lean on it with a big wrench, because an old brass valve can snap and make things worse. Use the outside stop tap instead. It usually sits under a small metal or plastic cover in the pavement or front path and needs a stop tap key, which costs a few pounds from a hardware shop. In some older terraces one outside tap supplies more than one house, so tell your neighbours before you turn it off.
Once the flow has stopped, move electrical items, rugs and valuables out of the wet area. Before you mop up, take photos and a short video of the leak, the wet ceilings and the damaged belongings. Insurers usually class this as an escape of water claim, and clear evidence taken on the day makes it much easier.
Ring your insurer early, as many have a 24 hour claims line and approved tradespeople. Keep receipts for anything you pay for, such as dehumidifier hire or emergency repairs, and don't throw out damaged items until the insurer says you can. A pipe repair clamp or self-amalgamating tape can hold a small split until a plumber arrives, but only as a stopgap.
For a burst inside the house, you need a plumber. Out-of-hours call-out charges vary a lot depending on the time, the day and the job, so ask for the call-out fee and hourly rate before they set off. If you rent, tell your landlord or letting agent straight away, because repairs to the water supply are normally their job.
If water is coming up from the pavement or the leak is on the street side of your stop tap, contact United Utilities, who supply water to Burnley. They are responsible for the pipe up to your property boundary.
We're locksmiths, not plumbers, so we can't repair your pipe. But a surprising number of emergency calls start with a burst pipe. Water might be coming through your ceiling from a flat above while the neighbour is away. Or the stopcock might be in a locked meter cupboard or communal plant room, or you might be locked out while water runs inside.
In those cases, getting in quickly and without damage is what matters. Most standard domestic locks can be opened without breaking anything. We'll need proof that you have the right to enter, such as a tenancy agreement, a council tax bill, or permission from the landlord, managing agent or owner. We won't open someone else's property without proper authority. If the door or frame has already been damaged getting in, we can make it secure before you leave the property empty to dry out.
Most burst pipes in east Lancashire happen during or just after a hard frost, when frozen water splits a pipe and then leaks once it thaws. Houses on higher ground around Burnley can drop well below freezing on winter nights.
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