When a pipe lets go, every minute counts — water damage adds up fast. Save this page (or our number) now, so you're not searching while water's spreading. Here's exactly what to do.
1. Shut off the water — fast
Go to your main water shut-off and turn it clockwise until it stops. This kills the water to the whole house. If the leak is right at a fixture (toilet, sink, water heater), there's usually a smaller shut-off valve right there you can use instead.
Don't know where your main is? Find it before you ever need it — it's usually where the water line enters the house, in a garage, exterior wall, or a box near the street.
2. Cut the power if water is near electrical
If water is near outlets, appliances, or the panel, shut off electricity to that area at the breaker — but only if you can reach the panel without standing in water. If you can't, stay clear and call for help.
3. Drain the lines
Open cold taps (lowest in the house first) and flush toilets to drain the remaining water in the pipes away from the break.
4. Contain the damage
- Move furniture, electronics and valuables away from the water
- Soak it up with towels; use a bucket under an active drip
- Snap a few photos for your insurance
5. Call a plumber
Now call us. With the water already off, you've stopped the clock on the damage — we can focus on the fix. Tell us what happened and where, and we'll get moving.
Do this today, not during the emergency: locate your main shut-off and make sure it actually turns. A valve that's seized from hard-water scale is useless in a crisis — if yours won't budge, give K2 a call and we'll swap it.