When something goes wrong with your plumbing, it rarely happens slowly. A small leak can turn into a burst pipe in minutes. A blocked drain escalates from “annoying” to “overflowing everywhere” before you’ve had time to think. It’s a homeowner’s nightmare! The faster you respond, the more you can limit water damage, mitigate health risks, and prevent a minor issue from becoming a very expensive repair.
But how do you respond to each plumbing emergency? If a pipe burst, would you know what to do? How about that blocked drain? You don’t need to fix it entirely. Just knowing the basics can limit damage before the professional arrives.
What Counts as a Plumbing Emergency?
Almost every water issue can feel like an emergency to a homeowner. Slow leaks can rot boards and walls, severely damage your home but it’s still not an emergency.
A plumbing emergency is any issue with your home’s water or drainage system that requires immediate action to prevent major damage, health risks, or loss of essential services.
The key word here is immediate. It’s the kind of problem where waiting isn’t an option: water is leaking, backing up, overflowing, or threatening to cause structural harm.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of the top 5 most common plumbing emergencies (and what to do about them).
Top 5 Most Common Plumbing Emergencies (and Emergency Plumbing Fixes)
1. Burst Pipes
Burst pipes are one of the most destructive plumbing emergencies a homeowner can face.
One moment, your home is fine, the next, there’s water gushing from a pipe. Often, it occurs due to freezing pressures (especially freeze-thaw cycles), high pressure, or corrosion.
What to do:
Your first instinct might be to panic but don’t. To prevent further damage, turn off the main water supply, drain taps, and call an emergency plumber. Find your home’s stopcock (also called the shut-off valve). It’s usually located:
Under the kitchen sink
In a utility cupboard
Near the front door, where the water line enters
Outside, in a small, covered box near the boundary of your property
Turn it clockwise (right) until it stops. It’s just like turning off a tap. That shuts off the flow of water into your entire house.
Prevention tip: Insulate the pipes and maintain consistent heating in winter to prevent freezing.
2. Blocked Drains or Toilets
Blocked drains or toilets are a blackwater plumbing emergency. You’ll notice slow drainage, foul smells, and gurgling sounds. Somewhere down the pipe, there is a blockage preventing the water from draining.
What to do:
Whatever you do, don’t keep flushing. It’ll only add more water to the bowl, creating a secondary issue. Instead, use a plunger or drain snake to loosen the blockage.
Plungers rely on pressure differences to shift the blockage, whereas drain snakes force it down the pipe. Avoid using chemical cleaners. These can damage the pipes, leading to further problems later down the line.
Prevention tip: One of the main causes of blocked pipes is disposing of grease, wipes, and sanitary products down the drain or toilet. Always dispose of these products correctly.
3. Leaking or Overflowing Water Heater
A leaking or overflowing water heater can soon lead to a flood in the utility room. Even a small drip can damage flooring and eventually leave you without hot water. Common warning signs include pooling water around the base, strange rumbling or popping noises, or sudden changes in water temperature.
What to do:
First, turn off the power to the heater. Use the breaker for electric units (usually in the hallway or kitchen) or switch off the gas supply for gas heaters. Then shut off the cold-water intake valve at the top of the tank to stop more water from entering.
Once things are safely off, call an emergency plumber.
Prevention tip: Flushing the tank once or twice a year removes any sediment buildup. That’s one of the biggest causes of leaks and overflow issues.
4. Sewer System Backup
Sewer system backups are one of the worst plumbing emergencies. You’ll notice multiple drains clogged at once, a sewage smell, and gurgling toilets. When this happens, there’s very little a homeowner can safely do.
What to do:
The most important thing is to stop water use immediately and call an emergency plumber. If the sewage has backed up into a room, vacate that room.
Do not try to clean it up as sewage contains harmful (and potentially deadly) bacteria, and only a specialist cleanup team should handle it.
Prevention tip: Have your main sewer line inspected every few years. Like the regular pipes, the sewer line can become blocked with wipes, sanitary products, and grease. Never flush these products down the toilet or drain.
5. Leaking Faucets and Fixtures
Leaking faucets and fixtures might seem relatively minor compared to the other plumbing emergencies (and much easier to fix). The problem is that homeowners often ignore dripping taps, failing to realise just how much they can cost.
A slow drip can waste 5–15 litres per day, while a fast drip can exceed 30+ litres daily. Over a year, even a slow drip wastes 2,000 to 5,000 litres of perfectly good water. That usually comes to around £10-30 for a slow drip, or £50-100+ for faster dripping. Plus, a drip is often a precursor to a full-blown leak.
What to do:
The emergency plumbing fix is simple: shut off water to the fixture. If you know how, replace the washer or seal; otherwise, call a professional.
Calling an Emergency Plumber
Plumbing emergencies rarely give you time to think, you have to act fast. Knowing who to call when you’re dealing with a burst pipe or overflowing toilet makes all the difference.
If you’re facing a plumbing emergency right now, Premium Heating and Plumbing is ready to help with rapid-response emergency plumbing repair. Call us immediately to limit damage, reduce costs, and restore your home fast, or explore our full range of plumbing services.