Emergency Plumber explained
A burst pipe can soak a home quickly, because water keeps flowing until someone shuts it off. The first job is to stop the water. The second is to ask for help.
This page covers water pipes, taps, toilets and cisterns. Find the stopcock first, because it shuts off the water to the whole home. Once the flow stops, you have time to think, and you can send a request through the form. The form stays open 24/7.
Some water problems are really drain problems. Sewage, an overflowing gully or a toilet that will not clear all point to the drains, since drains carry waste away. For those, read emergency drain services instead.
First steps and the stopcock
Work through these steps in order. Each one limits the damage, since less water means less to dry out later.
- Turn off the water at the stopcock
- Open the cold taps to let the pipes empty
- Keep away from sockets and lights if water is near them
- Switch off the power only if you can reach the switch without standing in water
- Move belongings out of the way and take photos for your insurer
- Send a request and mark it urgent
Never touch electrics with wet hands, since water and power are a dangerous mix. If anyone is in danger, call 999.
The stopcock is a tap on the supply pipe, and it shuts off the water to the whole home. Look under the kitchen sink first, since that is a common spot. Other places include a utility room, a cupboard or under the stairs.
Turn it clockwise to close it. It may be stiff because nobody has used it for years, so turn it slowly. Find yours before an emergency, then show everyone in the home.
Yorkshire Water says to use the stop tap inside the home, since that is the quickest and easiest way to stop the flow. Do not rely on the one outside. It says it will not attend or locate a broken outside stop tap, unless there is a leak you cannot stop yourself.
Which problem do you have?
Use this table as a rough guide. One symptom can have several causes, so an engineer may need to look. Treat the table as a starting point, since each home differs.
| What you see | What it may be | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| Water spraying or dripping from a pipe | A burst or split pipe, or a failed joint | Shut off at the stopcock, then send an urgent request |
| A toilet or cistern that keeps overflowing | A stuck valve, or a block further down | Turn off the supply to it if you can, then ask for help |
| A tap that drips | A worn washer or cartridge | Turn off the supply to the tap, then ask for a repair |
| A weak flow from every tap | A supply fault, a part-closed valve or frozen pipe | Check the stopcock is fully open, then read the water pressure advice below |
| A damp patch on a ceiling or wall | A leak above or behind the surface | Shut off the water and send a request |
| Sewage, or a gully that overflows | A drain problem, not a supply problem | Read the emergency drain page |
Low pressure is not always an emergency, since works nearby can cause it. Yorkshire Water says to check for planned works or incidents first. If only some taps are weak, the fault is in the plumbing at your home.
Frozen pipes cause some winter faults, since water expands as it freezes. Yorkshire Water says to lag pipes and fit tap covers before the cold arrives. Know where your stop tap sits before you need it.
Who owns the leaking pipe?
Your water bill names your water supplier, since the company can differ by address. Yorkshire Water says you own the plumbing inside your home. You also own the supply pipe up to your property boundary, and the stop taps on your property.
Yorkshire Water says leaks inside the property or within its boundary are the customer's job. Meanwhile, it says it is usually responsible for most pipework outside the street boundary. That includes water mains, the road or pavement stop tap and the meter.
A leak on private pipework is yours to fix. If you are not sure whose pipe is leaking, ask the water company, and ask the engineer to check, since ownership decides who pays. Yorkshire Water also warns that a home built before 1966 may use its metal water pipe as the earth, so ask an electrician before pipe work.
Typical UK costs for an emergency plumber
These are typical UK ranges from national price guides, not York quotes. Out-of-hours work usually costs more, since night and weekend rates apply.
| Item | Typical UK range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Call-out charge, average | About £75 | MyJobQuote |
| Hourly rate, average | About £60 | MyJobQuote |
| Typical emergency repair, total | £135 to £255 | MyJobQuote |
| Burst pipe, total | £150 to £270 | MyJobQuote |
| Call-out charge, range | £50 to £150 | PlumberMarket |
| Standard hourly rate | £45 to £85 | PlumberMarket |
| Emergency call-out fee | Typically 1.5 to 3 times the standard rate | PlumberMarket |
| Hourly rate, emergency work | £75 to £120 | PlumberMarket |
Ask the engineer whether there is a call-out charge, and ask for a written quote before work starts. Ask what the price includes too, because parts and labour may have separate prices. Compare two quotes if the job looks large.
Is it a drain problem instead?
Water coming in is a plumbing problem, while waste water going out is a drain problem. If a toilet, sink or gully will not clear, read about blocked drains or drain unblocking. If sewage or flood water is coming up, use emergency drain services.
This page covers water pipes, taps, toilets and cisterns. Gas and boiler faults need a Gas Safe registered engineer, so this page does not cover them. The full list of services shows every guide on this site.
Local pages for this service
Local pages cover plumbing emergencies for three towns. Start with emergency plumber help in York, which is the main page. If you are further out, see burst pipe and leak help in Malton or emergency plumber advice for Selby. Each of those pages links back here.
Ask for help
Use the request form at the top of the page. Say what the problem is, where it sits and whether it is urgent, so the engineer can plan. Then ask for a written quote before work starts.
Go to the request formEmergency Plumber questions answered
Is a burst pipe an emergency?
Usually, yes, because water keeps flowing until you shut it off. Turn off the stopcock first. Then mark your request urgent on the form.
How do I know if I have a burst pipe?
Look for water spraying or dripping, damp patches on walls or ceilings, or a sudden drop in water pressure. If you are not sure, shut off the water, since a hidden leak can soak a wall. Then ask an engineer to check.
Where is my stopcock?
Look under the kitchen sink first, since that is a common spot. It can also sit in a utility room, a cupboard or under the stairs. Turn it clockwise to close it.
How much does an emergency plumber cost in the UK?
MyJobQuote gives an average call-out of about £75 and an hourly rate of about £60. PlumberMarket says emergency call-out fees are typically 1.5 to 3 times the standard rate. These are national guides, not York quotes, so ask for the price in writing, since prices vary.
Who is responsible for a leaking water pipe outside my home?
Yorkshire Water says leaks inside your property or within your boundary are yours to fix. Meanwhile, it says it is usually responsible for most pipework outside the street boundary. Your water bill names your supplier, so check there.
What causes low water pressure?
Check for planned works or incidents with your water company first, since they are a common cause. If only some taps are weak, the fault is in the plumbing at your home. Frozen pipes and a part-closed stop tap can also cut the flow.