Not every plumbing problem needs a call out at 11pm on a Sunday. Knowing the difference saves you money on emergency call out fees, and knowing when it genuinely is an emergency stops a small problem becoming a much bigger, more expensive one. Here is a straight answer on which is which, and what to do in the first few minutes.
Genuine emergencies: call now
These situations justify an emergency call out, whatever time it is:
- Active flooding or a burst pipe you cannot stop by turning off the stopcock. Water damage compounds by the hour, soaking into floors, ceilings below, and electrics.
- No water at all, with no known cause (not a scheduled supply interruption from your water company). This can indicate a serious issue upstream of your property.
- Sewage backing up into a toilet, bath or drain. This is a health hazard as well as a plumbing problem and should not wait.
- A suspected gas leak. This is not actually a plumbing emergency in the traditional sense. If you smell gas, leave the property immediately, do not turn any switches on or off, and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. See the Health and Safety Executive’s gas safety guidance for the full advice. Call a Gas Safe registered engineer afterwards to fix the fault once it is safe to do so.
What to do in the first five minutes of a leak or burst pipe
- Find your stopcock now, before you need it. It is usually under the kitchen sink, near where the water main enters the house, or under the stairs. Knowing where it is before an emergency happens is the single most useful thing you can do.
- Turn it off. This stops fresh water feeding the leak while you wait for help. It will not stop water already in your pipes and tank draining out, but it limits the damage.
- Turn off the immersion heater or boiler if the leak is anywhere near electrics, at the switch, not by touching wet areas.
- Move anything valuable away from the water, and if it is coming through a ceiling, place a bucket underneath and, if you know how to do it safely, pierce a small hole to relieve pressure and direct the flow, rather than letting a ceiling collapse under the weight of trapped water.
- Call a plumber. Once the immediate danger is contained, this is no longer a race, so you can take a moment to find someone genuinely qualified rather than the first name that comes up in a panic search.
Things that feel urgent but usually are not
A blocked toilet when you have a second one in the house, a slow drain, a dripping tap, low water pressure that has been building gradually rather than appearing suddenly, and a boiler that has lost pressure but is not leaking, are all things worth booking in promptly, but they do not need an emergency call out fee. Waiting until the next working day and getting a fair, non emergency price is usually the better financial decision, since MyJobQuote’s emergency plumbing cost guide puts the average call out fee alone at around £75, on top of the cost of the actual work.
Finding a plumber before you need one
The best time to find a reliable plumber is before you have a leak on your hands, not during one. A business you have already checked, that is properly qualified (look for membership of a body such as WaterSafe or the CIPHE) and has a track record you can verify independently, is worth having saved in your phone. That is exactly what we research for every town we cover, weighing up qualifications, independent reviews and genuine local trading history rather than who shows up first in a panicked search. Browse how we choose our lists, or find your town’s page and save a number before you actually need one.
Frequently asked questions
Should I turn off my water at the mains during a leak?
Yes, if you cannot identify and stop the source of the leak within a minute or two. Every home should have its stopcock location known in advance, usually under the kitchen sink or where the mains enters the property. Turning it off stops the situation getting worse while you call a plumber.
Is a dripping tap a plumbing emergency?
No. A dripping tap is an annoyance and a waste of water, but it will not cause damage to your home overnight. It is worth fixing promptly to avoid wasting water and the washer or cartridge wearing further, but it does not need an emergency call out.
What counts as a genuine plumbing emergency?
Active flooding or a burst pipe you cannot stop at the stopcock, sewage backing up into the property, no water at all with no known cause, and a suspected gas leak (leave the property and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999, not a plumber) are the situations that justify an emergency call out.
Why do emergency call outs cost more?
You are paying for a tradesperson to drop what they are doing, sometimes outside normal hours, and come to you immediately. According to MyJobQuote, the average emergency call out fee is around £75, with a typical full job costing £135 to £255 depending on the work and time of day. It reflects the disruption to their schedule and the urgency, not that they are overcharging. A genuine emergency is usually worth paying for.
About the author
Stu Clark
Stu spent over 15 years in the trades, working as a plumber before running his own plumbing and bathroom renovation company with a team of eight. He founded Top5Trades to give homeowners the kind of shortlist and straight advice you would get from someone who has actually done the work. More about us →