Safe first steps
Turn it off first, then ring us
Water, gas, no heating, a blocked drain or a frozen pipe: what to do in the first few minutes, what not to do, and who to call. Anyone in danger or hurt? Call 999 first.
What is happening?
Pick the one that sounds like yours
Safe steps only. Nothing here asks you to open a boiler, take apart a gas fitting or work near wet electrics.
Water you cannot stop
A burst pipe, a leak through a ceiling or a stopcock that will not turn.
- Turn the stopcock offTurn it clockwise until it stops. It is usually under the kitchen sink, or where the pipe comes into the house.
- Open the cold tapsRun them until they stop, and flush a toilet once. Switch the heating and any immersion heater off so they do not run dry.
- Make it safe indoorsMove valuables, catch drips in a bucket and keep clear of wet sockets. Switch the electricity off at the fuse board only if you can reach it without standing in water.
Please do not
- Touch electrics with wet hands, or while standing in water
- Use the boiler or an immersion heater if water has reached it
- Wait to see if it stops by itself
Someone is in danger or hurt? Call 999 first.
Safe first steps only, for information. This is not a substitute for the emergency services or for a qualified engineer, and it is not legal or professional advice.
Know your house
Where everything turns off
Press a part of the house to see what it does and how to shut it off safely. Spend two minutes on this before you ever need it.
- Cold water
- Heating pipes
- Gas pipe
Or pick a part from the list
Where does it all turn off?
Press a number on the picture, or choose a part from the list, to see what it does and how to turn it off safely. In a flood, these three matter most:
Find yours
Walk round the house and tick each one when you have found it. Cannot find one? Ring us, or book a visit and we will show you.
Safe steps only, general information and not legal or professional advice. The picture is a sample house: yours will differ, so look at your own.
Season by season
Ready for what is coming
A short checklist for this time of year, so a cold snap or a heatwave is a non-event. It follows the calendar in the edition you are viewing.
It is 7 October 2026 in Hollinbrook, so the Now tab is autumn. Tick things off as you go: your ticks stay while you look at the other seasons.
Safe checks only, from the ground or inside the house. Never open a boiler or heater casing, touch a gas fitting, climb onto a wet roof or into a loft alone, or work near wet electrics: ring us for those. Sample content for a fictional firm. General information, not professional advice.
In an emergency
Quick answers
These are general safety notes, not a substitute for the emergency services or for a qualified engineer.
Turn the water off at the stopcock, open the cold taps to drain the pipes, switch off the heating, and ring us. Only switch off the electricity at the fuse board if you can reach it without standing in water. The steps are above on this page.
No. Leave the building, then call the free gas emergency number on 0800 111 999 (24 hours), and 999 if anyone feels unwell or there is a fire (as reported by National Gas). Do not use switches, flames or a lighter. After it is made safe, a Gas Safe registered engineer can check the appliance.
Water you cannot stop, no heating for someone vulnerable in cold weather, sewage coming up, or anything where waiting until morning would make it much worse. If you are not sure, ring: Aisha will help you decide, and the advice is free (sample policy).
Keep away from wet sockets and lights, and do not touch electrical items with wet hands. If you can reach the fuse board without standing in water, switch the circuit off. If you cannot, leave it and call us or the emergency services.
Not sure if it is an emergency?
Ring and ask. A person answers at any hour, and the advice is free. If it can wait, we will say so and book you a proper window.