What to do in case of a leak? action plan in 6 steps
A leak almost always happens at an inconvenient moment. The faster and calmer you act, the more limited the damage remains. With this step-by-step plan you make the situation safe and know exactly when to call a plumber.
With an active leak, every minute counts. The steps below help you limit water damage while you wait for professional help. Unsure about the cause or does the water keep running? Feel free to call us — in emergencies we're available 24/7.
The action plan
Follow these steps calmly and in order.
Shut off the water supply
Turn off the mains stopcock — usually in the meter cupboard or by the water meter. If that stops the leak, the cause is in your property's water supply. If the water continues, it may be rainwater, sewage or central heating water.
Make the electricity safe
Is there water near sockets, the meter cupboard or a distribution box? Then switch off the relevant circuit or the main switch. Water and electricity are a dangerous combination — don't take any risks here.
Limit the damage
Catch leaking water with buckets and towels, place a sheet or bowl under the drip spot and remove valuable or electrical items from the wet area. A wet patch on the ceiling that bulges can be carefully drained into a bucket.
Locate (roughly) the source
Is the water coming from above (ceiling, roof, bathroom above) or from below (floor, crawl space)? Is it dripping by a tap, the toilet, the central heating boiler or a radiator? This information helps the plumber enormously and speeds up the repair.
Take photos for your insurance
Document the damage before you clear up or repair. Photos of the wet area, the cause and affected items are valuable for any claim on your contents or buildings insurance.
Call a plumber
Does the water keep running, is the cause unclear or is the leak hidden behind a wall or floor? Then call in a tradesman. We detect hidden leaks without unnecessary demolition work and resolve it in one visit where possible.
What type of leak do you have?
The approach differs per source. These are the most common types.
Pressurised water pipe
A leak in the drinking water pipe leaks continuously, even at night. Often audible as a soft hissing and visible on the water meter. Here, rapid leak detection is crucial.
Go to leak detectionSewer or drain
A blocked or broken drain causes damp and odour. The water usually only appears when in use (showering, flushing). Camera inspection pinpoints the location.
To drain unblockingCentral heating system
Does your central heating keep losing pressure and do you have to top it up? Then water is leaking somewhere from the heating system — at a radiator, coupling or the boiler itself.
Go to central heating & heatingThe hours and days after a leak
The leak has stopped. Here's how to prevent further damage.
Once the water has stopped and the initial damage has been limited, the second part begins: drying, checking and arranging things properly. It's often in this phase that additional damage occurs, such as mould or problems with the electrics.
Drying and ventilation
Open windows and ventilate the room thoroughly. Remove wet rugs, cushions and cardboard boxes. Wet plasterboard, insulation and laminate often dry poorly and can develop mould. Don't throw them away yet: take photos first and keep them until your insurer has indicated what needs to be done.
Only switch electricity back on when it's dry
Have you switched off a circuit because water got into lights or sockets? Don't switch it back on straight away. Wait until everything is dry. If the RCD has tripped or you're unsure, have the installation checked first by a qualified electrician. Never work in the meter cupboard yourself.
Emergency repair or permanent fix
In an emergency, a plumber first stops the source, so you can use water again. Sometimes that's a temporary solution, for example a clamp on a pipe or an isolated section of the installation. Always ask whether the repair is permanent or whether a follow-up appointment is still needed.
Do you live in a flat or rented property?
- Warn the upstairs or downstairs neighbours. A leak at yours can cause damage at theirs, and vice versa.
- Report it to the owners' association (VvE) or the property manager if it concerns a shared pipe, riser or the roof.
- If you rent, report the leak to your landlord immediately. They are usually responsible for pipes and the building itself.
Keep good records of everything
Write down when you discovered the leak, what you did and who you called. Keep receipts for emergency measures and the work order or report from the plumber. That makes reporting to your insurer much easier. What is reimbursed depends on your policy; check that with your insurer. Also read what we do with water damage.
Watch out in the weeks after
Does a new damp patch appear, does it smell musty or does the water meter keep running while everything is turned off? Then the cause may not be completely resolved yet. Have it checked again before a second damage occurs.
Related services
Need help? View the related service or call us directly.
Good to know
Short answers to questions we're often asked.
Usually in the meter cupboard by the water meter. Sometimes it's in the crawl space, the storage room or, in a flat, in a shared meter room. Turn it clockwise to close. If it's very stiff, don't force it with pliers but call a plumber. Find the mains stopcock now, so you'll know immediately in case of a leak.
Then the water probably isn't from the mains supply. Think of water from the central heating system (turn off the boiler), rainwater via the roof or gutter, or waste water from the neighbours above you. If you're in a flat, alert the upstairs neighbours and the owners' association (VvE) or landlord, and call a plumber.
First switch off the circuit if there's a light or socket nearby. Don't stand under the bulge. Put a bucket underneath and carefully prick a small hole at the lowest point, so the water can drain in a controlled way. Then have the cause traced.
First stop the leak and limit the damage; that's what an insurer expects from you too. Take photos before you clear up and report the damage as soon as possible afterwards. What is covered depends on your policy. Check that with your insurer.
If the water keeps flowing whilst you can't close the mains stopcock, if water reaches electrical installations, if a ceiling is bulging or if the water is leaking through to the neighbours. Then immediate help is needed. A slow drip or a small, dry patch can usually become a scheduled appointment.
Need help in The Hague or the Randstad?
Feel free to call us for advice or an appointment. In emergencies we're available 24/7.
Need immediate help? Our technicians in The Hague and surrounding area can help you via water damage — call 070 783 0224.