🚿 Fixing a leak checklist

The first job with any leak is stopping more water arriving, not fixing the actual pipe. Find the stopcock before anything else happens.

19 items

1. Stopcock location known in advanceUsually under the kitchen sink or near the front door — find it now, not while standing in an inch of water.
2. Stopcock turned off as the first stepStops more water arriving while the actual source gets worked out — always the first move, before anything else.
3. Electricity turned off at the consumer unit if water is near sockets or a light fittingWater and mains electricity together is a genuine hazard — anything past this switch is an electrician's job.
4. Towels and a bucket×2For containing what's already out while the source is dealt with.
5. Source of the leak identified
6. Pipe joint or fitting checked first — the most common failure point
7. Appliance hoses checked, especially the washing machine and dishwasher
8. Ceiling stain traced back to the room above, not assumed to be directly overhead
9. Push-fit repair coupling or repair tapeA genuine temporary fix on a small leak in copper or plastic pipe — not a permanent repair.
10. Adjustable spanner, for isolating an appliance or tightening an accessible fitting
11. PTFE tape, for a dripping compression joint that just needs re-sealing
12. Torch, for checking under sinks and behind appliances where the light doesn't reach
13. Mop and old towels for the clean-up once the water's stopped
14. Photos taken of the damageFor an insurance claim, before anything gets dried out or moved.
15. Insurer contacted if the damage is more than minorMany policies want the leak reported quickly, and some require use of their approved plumber.
16. Plumber called for anything past a temporary fixA repair coupling or tape buys a day or two, not a permanent solution — get it looked at properly rather than trusting it long-term.
17. Gas smell treated as a separate emergencyRotten eggs near a gas appliance means stop, leave the property, and call the National Gas Emergency number from outside — never investigate it yourself.
18. Affected area dried out and checked for damp days laterA leak that looked fully mopped up can still leave damp inside a wall or under flooring for weeks.
19. Water damage checked for mould over the following weeksDamp that isn't fully dried out becomes a mould problem long after the leak itself is fixed.