Emergency Plumbing 101: What to Do Before the Plumber Arrives

When something goes wrong with your plumbing, it rarely gives you time to think. Water’s everywhere. The toilet won’t stop running. You’re staring at a ceiling stain that wasn’t there an hour ago.

Most of us have the same reaction: panic, then grab the phone, then sit there watching water destroy our home while waiting for help. But here’s the thing – those minutes between calling and when your plumber shows up? They matter a lot.

You don’t need to become a DIY plumber overnight, but knowing a few simple moves can save your floors, walls, and wallet. Here’s what you should do while you’re drumming your fingers, waiting for the professionals to arrive.  

1. Shut Off the Water

In any plumbing emergency, the first priority is stopping the flow. If you know where the local shutoff is, beneath the sink, behind the toilet, or next to the appliance, turn it clockwise until the water stops.
Can’t find it? No problem. Head to your home’s main shutoff valve and kill the water to the whole house. It’s typically outside by your water meter or somewhere in the garage.

Trust us, stopping water flow even five minutes sooner can be the difference between a quick fix and replacing your hardwood floors.

2. Cut the Power If There’s Water Near Outlets or Appliances

Water and electricity create a dangerous mix. If you notice water creeping toward power outlets, your water heater, or any electrical appliances, immediately shut off power to that section of your house at the breaker box.

If the floor is already wet where you’re standing, don’t risk touching anything electrical. Your safety matters more than stopping the leak.

And if your water heater is part of the issue, shut that down too. The last thing you need is your water heating system continuing to run while water is leaking everywhere.

3. Protect the Area and Make Room to Work

Once the water and power are off, shift your focus to containment.

Use towels, buckets, or anything else you have on hand to keep water from spreading. If it’s safe to do so, move furniture, boxes, or valuables out of the affected space. Don’t worry about cleaning up completely, and just slow the damage.

If the leak is under a sink, behind an appliance, or inside a utility closet, clear the path. When the plumber arrives, they’ll need access fast. Every minute spent moving stuff around is a minute the leak keeps costing you.

4. Avoid Trying to Fix It Yourself

This is where a lot of emergencies turn into bigger ones.

It’s tempting to take a look under the sink or try a quick patch, especially if the problem seems minor. But seriously – unless you really know what you’re doing, this is when small problems become bigger ones. Skip the drain chemicals (they rarely work anyway), don’t disassemble pipes, and definitely don’t try pushing random objects down drains to clear them. Just keep things steady until a professional arrives.

The Moments Before Help Arrives Matter More Than You Think

Those minutes before help arrives can save your home or destroy it.

We’ve helped hundreds of homeowners who waited too long. What starts as a small leak becomes a flooded living room. That dripping pipe you ignored turns into a hole in your ceiling.

Listen, you don’t need to know everything about plumbing. But knowing where your main water shutoff is and having our number handy? That’s just smart homeownership.

When water starts showing up where it shouldn’t, don’t hope it stops on its own. Call Rockwater Plumbing right away. We’ll stay on the phone with you and talk you through the immediate steps while our truck is already heading to your house.

Just give us a call today, and we’ll send over a properly trained professional who genuinely knows what they’re doing and won’t waste your valuable time or hard-earned money on unnecessary repairs.