First Steps in a Plumbing Emergency

Water pouring from a line

1. Close the main shut-off where the water enters the house.
2. Open a basement tap to drain pressure.
3. Turn the water heater to off or pilot.
4. Move valuables and lay towels.

Toilet overflowing

1. Close the stop valve behind the toilet.
2. If that stop is seized, lift the tank lid and raise the float.
3. Do not flush again.

Sewage from a floor drain

1. Hold off on every flush, shower and load of laundry.
2. Keep children and pets away.
3. Call a plumber to clear the main.

Gas smell

1. Leave the house immediately.
2. Do not touch switches or use phones inside.
3. Call your gas utility from outside.

Kit to keep in the basement

• A flashlight with working batteries
• A bucket and old towels
• An adjustable wrench
• A curb-stop key, where your service has one
• Our phone number on the furnace room wall

Having these within reach turns panic into a plan.

Once the flow is stopped, open cabinet doors and lift soaked rugs so air reaches wet surfaces. Snap photos of the pipe, the puddle and anything ruined before it is moved; adjusters lean on those pictures. Leave the main off until a plumber has looked at the failure, even if the drip seems to have quit on its own.

Know your shut-offs

Read finding your main shut-off, and see emergency plumbing and burst pipe repair.