Water leak or Smell Gas?

What to do 1st in a emergency

Burst pipes. Leaks. Flooding. Smell of GAS. We all dread these things happening in our homes. Here’s how to handle a plumbing emergency if it happens to you.

WATER

What's considered a plumbing emergency? A burst pipe, A severe leak, A clogged toilet that's causing a backup or overflow, and A complete loss of water supply.

Turn off the water supply: Locate the main water shut-off valve and turn it off. *
Turn off the electricity: Turn off the electricity at the fuse box.
Contain the leak: If possible, try to contain the leak.
Open faucets: Run the hot and cold water taps to drain the system.
Call us as soon as possible 01626 911 201

*Water Shut-off valve could be anywhere in your home, but if you don't know where it is check these places first:

Under the kitchen sink
In an airing cupboard
In a downstairs bathroom
Under the floorboards by your front door
Under the stairs
In the basement or cellar

GAS LEAKS

Smell gas? Call the Gas Emergency Services on 0800 111 999 - THIS IS NOT US.

Turn off your gas

If you think you have a gas leak, you need to turn off your gas supply at the meter.

Find your emergency control valve. In newer houses, the emergency control valve is normally outside with the gas meter - in a meter box. If it's not there, try looking under the stairs, beneath the kitchen sink or in the garage.
Turn the handle so the lever is at 90 degrees to the upright gas pipe.

Next steps

Open all your doors and windows to let gas out and some fresh air in.
Don't switch anything electrical on or off.
Put out all naked flames. Don't smoke, strike matches or do anything which could make the gas catch fire.
If you have any electrical security entry phones or locks, don't use them. Open your doors manually.

Carbon monoxide poisoning

Carbon monoxide is an odourless, colourless gas - you won't see or smell it coming. But it can kill you.

It's made when things that contain carbon - like fossil fuels - burn without enough oxygen. You should get your boiler and heating serviced regularly to make sure this doesn't happen. And to stay on the safe side, use a carbon monoxide detector. It's not an alternative to regular servicing, but it will give you an early warning if something's wrong.