When you face a plumbing emergency, it can be difficult to think straight and take the best course of action. Here are four steps that you need to take in any plumbing emergency to minimise damage and get the situation resolved as quickly as possible.

1. Shut Off the Water

Shutting off the water is a simple step that you can take to prevent a broken pipe or leaking drain from causing damage to your home. Familiarise yourself with the location of your stop tap as soon as you move into a new place. It could be outside or located inside a cupboard. Turn this tap firmly in a clockwise direction to shut off the water. If the tap is too stiff to turn, try lubricating it with oil or lubricating fluid.

2. Locate the Problem

Some plumbing problems have obvious sources. In other cases, you might know nothing except that there is a lot of water spilling over the floor. Once you have cut off the water supply, it is time to look for the source of the issue so you can give as much information as possible to your emergency plumber.

3. Find Out Who Is Responsible

If you live in a home that you own, then it is your responsibility to fix any plumbing issues that arise inside the home. However, some plumbing emergencies arise because there is a problem with the sewer line that serves your home, in which case the responsibility would lie with the company that maintains your local water and sewerage infrastructure.

If there is no obvious cause of your plumbing problem inside your home, ask your neighbours whether they are experiencing problems with their sewerage or water supply. If multiple homes are affected, it is likely that the issue lies with the municipal infrastructure.

If you are a tenant, then it is your landlord's job to maintain the plumbing inside the home. Get in touch with them right away. They might have a preferred emergency plumber that they want you to use.

4. Call an Emergency Plumber

Once you have taken these basic steps to contain and identify the plumbing issue, it is time to call an emergency plumber. When you call, be sure to ask about the cost of a call-out so you know how much you can expect to have to pay. The plumber will use their experience to quickly identify your problem and resolve it.