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Last Revised: 4/24/25
Could you stop the flooding if a pipe burst in your home right now? Would you know what to do in the first five minutes – or would you panic and watch the damage spread?
Water leak emergencies can cause thousands in damage in just minutes. Fast action is essential – but many homeowners don’t know where to start.
In this article, you’ll learn the six steps every homeowner should take in a plumbing emergency to prepare you for any unforeseen system failure. After reading this, you’ll have the knowledge and confidence to respond quickly – before the damage spirals out of control.
The first item on your “To-Do List” during a water leak emergency? Stop the problem from getting worse.
1. Shut Off The Water Supply Immediately
In any water leak emergency, your first priority is stopping the flow of water. This prevents further flooding and reduces the risk of structural or property damage. If the issue is isolated to a specific fixture – like a leaking toilet or dripping faucet – you can typically turn off the water using the shut-off valve located nearby.
Shut-off valves are usually small, oval or teardrop-shaped knobs or levers located near the fixture’s connection point. Shutting off this valve, local only to where a leak may occur, allows you to isolate the fixture without shutting off your entire home’s water supply. Labeling these valves ahead of time can save precious seconds during a plumbing emergency. Here’s where to look for each fixture’s shutoff valve:
- Toilet shut-off valve: Located on the wall behind the toilet, near the base of the bowl.
- Sink shut-off valves: Found inside the cabinet beneath the sink, with two valves – one for hot and one for cold.
- Washing machine shut-off valves: Found on the wall directly behind the washing machine, with one valve for hot water and one valve for cold water.
- Dishwasher shut-off valve: Located under the kitchen sink, on the hot water supply line that branches off to the dishwasher.
- Refrigerator shut-off valve: Can be found in the basement, behind the refrigerator, or inside a cabinet near the appliance – these lines are small and easy to overlook.
- Bathtub or shower shut-off valves: These don’t typically have accessible shut-off valves as they’re usually behind an access panel. If you can’t find the local valve, you’ll have to use your main water valve to shut it off.
How to Find Your Main Water Shut-Off Valve
For major water leaks, or if you can’t identify where the leak is coming from, shut off your home’s main water supply. The location of your home’s main water shut-off valve can vary, but you’ll almost always find it in one of these areas:
- Basement or crawl space: Look near the front foundational wall, close to where the water meter is. This is usually where our homes get access to water from a pipeline under the street.
- Utility area or garage: If your home doesn’t have a basement, the main water shut-off may be near the water heater or laundry area.
- Exterior of the home: In warmer climates, the valve may be found on an outside wall or in a ground box near the street.
Turning off the water is the main priority when facing a plumbing emergency, and clearly labeling each valve can save critical moments when time is of the essence.
2. Turn Off Your Water Heater – If That’s the Source of The Leak
If your water heater is leaking, it’s important to shut it down as soon as possible to prevent further damage, reduce safety risks, and avoid wasting energy. Water heater leaks can come from the tank itself, the pressure relief valve, or the connecting supply lines – and they often result in significant water accumulation on nearby floors.
To safely turn off a leaking water heater:
- Gas water heater: Turn the gas supply valve to the “off” position. IT’s typically located near the base of the tank.
- Electric water heater: Go to your home’s electrical panel and shut off the circuit breaker labeled for the water heater.
Once powered down, you can also shut off the cold water supply valve to the heater, typically found on the pipe entering the top of the tank. This stops additional water from entering the tank and fueling the leak.
If your water heater isn’t the source of the leak, you likely don’t need to turn it off during an emergency. But when it is the issue, acting quickly can prevent water damage, scalding risks, and long-term wear to your system.
3. Call a Licensed Emergency Plumber Immediately
Once you’ve stopped the damage from getting worse, call a professional before you take any other steps. By notifying an expert that you’re in an emergency right away, you’ll ensure that you get help ASAP – think of it like calling 911 for your plumbing system. If you haven’t already, get the phone number of a trusted plumbing company and keep it somewhere you’ll know where to find it when you need it.
Don’t be afraid to ask for an estimated response time when you call – and if necessary, call a few different companies. In an emergency, your plumber’s response time is more critical than with your average service or installation appointment.
Once at your home, your plumber can hunt down the cause of the crisis – whether it’s a hidden water leak, cracked pipe, failing water heater, or something else entirely. Your trusted plumbers will ensure that the problem doesn’t resurface.
4. Take Photos and Track All Damage for Insurance Claims
Before doing any major cleanup, take a few seconds to snap several clear photos or videos of the affected areas. Capture the source of the water leak, water damage to floors or walls, and any damaged belongings. This documentation can be crucial if you end up filing a homeowners insurance claim for repairs or property loss.
Also, keep records of any repairs, restoration services, and communication with your plumber or insurance company.
5. Protect Your Belongings
You’ve shut off your water, called a plumber and documented the damage, now it’s time to roll up your sleeves and do some damage control. If any furniture, rugs, or other valuables have been impacted, move them to a safe, dry area. Unfortunately, water leaks often occur in the basement where we might keep irreplaceable photos and items, so be sure to protect those first.
Next, it’s time to start the cleanup.
6. Cleanup: Contain and Remove the Water
During cleanup, your best friend will be a wet/dry vacuum (also called a shop vac). Good for both small water leaks and major flooding, a shop vac is a quick and effective water cleanup tool. Make sure you switch it to its “wet” setting and remove any dry filters before using it. It’ll likely fill up quickly, so monitor the tank and empty it into a floor drain, utility sink, or sump pump basin as needed. If you don’t already own a wet/dry vac, you can rent one at most hardware stores.
While a shop vac is the most effective tool for water removal, there are several other methods you may use, depending on your situation:
- Lay towels, blankets, or other absorbent materials along the edge of the water to stop further spread.
- Use buckets and bins to collect actively leaking water from ceilings, pipes, or appliances.
- Lay plastic sheets or tarps over valuable furniture or floors to prevent saturation.
- Push water towards a floor drain or sump pump with a mop or squeegee.
- Make sure your sump pump is functioning and actively removing water.
- After the water has been removed, use shop fans or dehumidifiers to dry out the area.
Cleaning up and removing as much water as possible might be a disruption to your life, but it’s essential to do so quickly to avoid more serious problems like mold, mildew, and structural issues. In the most serious cases of home flooding, calling a remediation company may be needed.
Trust Mattioni for Fast, Reliable Emergency Plumbing Help
Now, you know exactly what to do when facing that gut-wrenching moment when water starts to rush into places it shouldn’t. Here’s a quick recap of the steps you should take when facing a water leak – or a flood – which can minimize the damage and help you regain control quickly:
- Shut off the water supply immediately
- Turn off your water heater (if that’s the source of the leak)
- Quickly call an emergency plumber
- Document the damage
- Protect your belongings by moving them
- Contain and remove the water (quickly rent a shop vac if needed)
By following this crucial process, you’re well on your way to putting the emergency in the rearview and getting back to your life.
With over 76 years of service, Mattioni has earned a reputation for expert, dependable service – especially when it matters most.
Don’t wait – call Mattioni now at (610) 400-8510 to schedule immediate service or to speak with someone for assistance. Our team is ready to respond with the urgency, care, and skill you deserve.
