London Drainage Facilities (LDF) details exactly who is responsible for repairing our drains and sewers. Who is responsible for repairing drains? Generally, as a rule of thumb a homeowner is responsible for the drains that fall within the boundaries of their property and in the event of something going wrong, they will be required to...Continue reading→
How to Handle Burst Pipes and Water Leaks
Water leaks and other plumbing problems are unfortunately a common issue in homes across the UK, with as many as 1 in 8 households likely to experience a water leak or burst pipe.
Burst pipes and backed up drains are not only an inconvenience in themselves, but can cause significant damage to the property in terms of structure, fixtures and furnishings which can become expensive to fix or replace. It can be very stressful when you discover a drainage problem as it becomes a race against time to get to the stopcock before too much damage is caused.
What to do if your get a Burst Pipe
Follow these steps when you discover a burst pipe in your home:
- Turn off the water supply – When you move to a new home, it is important to locate the stopcock so that you are aware of its whereabouts in such emergencies. Usually, you will find it under the kitchen sink.
- Drain the water system – You can do this by turning all of the cold taps on in the house and flushing the toilets.
- Switch the water heating systems off – Turn off any water heating system like immersion heaters and central heating. Once all of these are switched off, turn all of the hot taps on the rain the system further.
- Turn off all electrics – It is vital to switch the mains immediately if the burst pipe is leaking water onto electrics or electrical appliances. If the fuse board has been covered in water, it is very important that you do not touch it. Call for a qualified electrician as soon as possible.
- Fixing the problem – If you happened to be partial to some DIY plumbing and feel that you are able to fix the problem then you can attempt to correct any faults yourself. If you have no idea where to start, this is the moment you call an emergency plumber.
What to do if your drains back up
Follow these steps when you discover that the drains in your home are backing up:
- Check toilets, sinks and waste pipes – Ensure that any blockages are not an internal plumbing problem.
- Call for help – If you cannot figure out the problem, the next step is to call your area water company or a local drainage company. In London, the area water company is Thames Water who will respond quickly.
- Do not use sinks and toilets – Avoid using anything that requires draining, this will only make the problem worse as the water waste has nowhere to go.
- Waiting game – Unfortunately, when it comes to backed up sewers, the repair process is out of your hands. This needs to be corrected by professionals who will fix the problem in the public draining systems.
The friendly team at London Drainage Facilities are always more than happy to offer advice and provide a quick response emergency call out service that runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.