HOUSEHOLD EMERGENCIES
BURST PIPE OR TANK
We all hope it will never happen to us, but obviously
it regularly happens to someone. Would you know what to do in an emergency?
Burst Pipe or Tank
When water comes through a bedroom
ceiling it is usually from a burst pipe or leaking cold water tank in the loft.
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Step 1
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Turn off the main stopcock (clockwise). The stopcock can usually be
found under the sink, or in the airing cupboard. This will stop any more water
entering the cold water tank. |
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Tip -
It is always a good idea to find out where
the stopcock is situated before an emergency arises.
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Step 2 |
In order to drain the cold water tank as
quickly as possible and, thereby, reducing the amount of water available to cause damage,
turn on all the taps in the house and flush all toilets. When the taps stop running
the leak should stop.
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| Step 3
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If the water is anywhere near a light
fitting or switch, remove the appropriate fuse from the main fuse box.
Tip
- DO NOT replace the fuse until everything
has completely dried out.
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| Step 4
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If the water is causing the ceiling
plaster to bulge, hold a container under the bulge and make a hole in the bulge with a
screwdriver or scissors, thus releasing the water. This should confine the damage to
a smaller area.
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| Step 5 |
Switch off the water heater or damp down a
solid fuel boiler (the fire does not need to be completely extinguished as the hot-water
cylinder will not have been emptied) - unless someone takes a bath of course!
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| Step 6 |
Find the source of the leak. If it
comes from the tank itself or a pipe which is fed by the cold water tank, fix the
ball cock in the tank in order to close the valve (i.e. raise it to a high position) thus
preventing the tank from refilling once the water is turned back on.
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| Step 7 |
As long as you are sure the ball cock
valve is closed, turn the stop cock back on. This will give you cold water in the
kitchen tap (as this comes direct from the mains), toilets cisterns can be filled with a
bucket.
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| Step 8 |
Contact a plumber
Good Luck!
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