What to Do in a Plumbing Emergency: 7 Steps
If water is actively running into your home right now, skip to Step 1 and call us at 425-331-2011. We answer 24/7.
A burst pipe puts water into your home faster than most people expect. So does a failed water heater or a sewer line that backs up through a floor drain. What you do in the first ten minutes usually determines whether you are paying for a plumbing repair or a plumbing repair plus a restoration crew.
By Ramin Shahbaziasl, Owner, Eastside Repipe & Plumbing · Last updated June 22, 2025
Bellevue sees a particular version of this. Older neighborhoods still run galvanized and polybutylene supply lines, wet winters keep crawl spaces damp, and the handful of hard freezes we get each year split pipes in uninsulated spaces. Emergencies here cluster in predictable places.
These are the seven steps we walk homeowners through on the phone while a truck is on the way.
The short version:
Shut off the water
Turn off the water heater
Open drains and spigots
Contain small leaks if it is safe
Remove standing water
Photograph the damage
Call a licensed emergency plumber
Is This Actually an Emergency?
Not every plumbing problem needs a 2 am call, and not every emergency looks dramatic. Discolored water, a sudden pressure drop, or a smell of sewage can all signal something serious happening out of sight.
Treat these as emergencies:
A burst or actively leaking pipe
Sewage backing up through drains, or a persistent sewage smell
A toilet overflowing that will not stop
Frozen pipes, whether or not they have split yet
Water pooling around the base of a water heater
No running water at all
A sudden drop in pressure across the whole house
Any of these means stop reading and start with Step 1. Our guide to when to call an emergency plumber in Bellevue covers the borderline cases in more detail.
Step 1: Shut Off the Water
Stopping the flow is always first. Everything else buys time. This stops the damage.
Shutting Off a Single Fixture
If the problem is confined to one sink or toilet, find the small valve on the supply line beneath it and turn it clockwise until it stops.
Shutting Off the Whole House
For a burst pipe or anything you cannot isolate, go to the main shutoff valve. In most Bellevue homes, it sits near the water meter, or where the main line enters the house, which usually means a crawl space, garage, or basement wall.
Turn it clockwise until it stops. If it is a lever-style valve, turn it a quarter turn so the handle sits across the pipe.
Find this valve today, not during the emergency. Go look now, confirm it turns, and make sure everyone in the household knows where it is. A stiff valve that has not moved in fifteen years is a problem worth discovering on a dry afternoon.
Step 2: Turn Off the Water Heater
Once the supply is off, shut down the water heater. A tank that keeps heating with no water coming in can overheat and, in the worst case, fail badly.
Gas heaters: turn the dial to the pilot setting
Electric heaters: switch off the dedicated breaker
If there is standing water near the unit or near the electrical panel, do not wade in to reach a switch. See the safety note in Step 5.
Step 3: Open Drains and Spigots
There is still water sitting in the pipes after the main is closed, and it will keep finding the leak until it is drained.
Open cold water taps throughout the house, starting at the lowest floor
Open a tap on the top floor as well, so air can enter behind the draining water
Flush each toilet once to clear the tank and bowl
Open outdoor hose bibs to empty the exterior lines
This step matters most in freezing weather, when water left sitting in an exposed line is what causes the next break.
Step 4: Contain Small Leaks If It Is Safe
With the main off, you can slow whatever is still dripping. These are holding measures, not repairs.
What actually works:
A pipe repair clamp or sleeve sized to the pipe, which is the closest thing to a real temporary fix
Self fusing silicone repair tape, which bonds to itself and handles some pressure
Plumbing rated epoxy putty pressed over a pinhole
A bucket or pan under an active drip, with towels to catch the spread
What does not work, despite what you may read: duct tape and PTFE thread seal tape. Duct tape adhesive fails on a wet pipe within minutes. Thread tape is designed to seal threads while a joint is being assembled and does nothing wrapped around a joint that is already together. Reaching for either costs you time while water keeps moving.
Keep a pipe repair clamp and a roll of silicone tape in the house. Both are inexpensive, and neither is available at 1 am.
Step 5: Remove Standing Water
Water sitting on floors starts damaging them within hours, and mold follows within a day or two.
Read this first. The CDC advises that you should never operate an electrical switch or a powered tool while standing in water. If reaching your breaker panel means walking through standing water, do not do it. Call an electrician, and treat the area as live until someone confirms otherwise. The same guidance applies to running a shop vacuum: only use one once you know the power situation is safe.
Once that is settled:
Use a wet-dry shop vacuum, mops, or towels
Prioritize hardwood, which cups and warps fastest
Pull up soaked rugs and move furniture off wet flooring
Run fans and a dehumidifier, and open windows if the weather allows
Clean water from a supply line is one situation. Sewage is another, and it is covered separately below.
Step 6: Photograph the Damage
Before you clean much further, document everything. Ten minutes here can determine what your insurer covers.
Capture:
The source of the leak, if you can see it
Every affected floor, wall, and ceiling
Furniture, electronics, and belongings that got wet
Any temporary fix you put in place
A wide shot of each affected room for context
Video with narration works well. Say what you are looking at as you film. Keep receipts for anything you buy during the emergency, including the emergency service call itself, since many policies reimburse mitigation costs.
Step 7: Call a Licensed Emergency Plumber
Everything above is containment. None of it is a repair.
Call 425-331-2011. We run 24/7 emergency service across Bellevue and the Eastside, covering burst pipes, sewer backups, water heater failures, and major leaks. You can also schedule online if the situation is contained and can wait for business hours.
Whoever you call, confirm they are licensed. You can check any Washington contractor's license, bond, and insurance status for free through the state Department of Labor and Industries. If you want to know what a fair after-hours quote looks like before you pick up the phone, our guide to emergency plumber costs in Washington breaks it down.
One note on responsibility: if the leak is on the street side of your water meter, it belongs to the city rather than to you. Bellevue Utilities handles those.
Four Common Emergencies and What to Do
Burst Pipe
Shut off the main water valve
Do not touch electrical switches if you would have to stand in water to reach them. Call an electrician instead
Open faucets to drain the remaining water
Contain the leak with a repair clamp or silicone tape
Photograph everything, then call
Most winter bursts trace back to uninsulated pipe. Our winterizing guide covers prevention.
Overflowing Toilet
Close the shutoff valve behind or beneath the toilet
If the valve is stuck, lift the tank lid and push the flapper closed by hand
Plunge only if the bowl is not already at the rim
Do not flush again until the blockage clears
Leaking Water Heater
Shut off the cold water supply valve at the top of the unit
Cut power at the breaker, or turn a gas unit to pilot
Keep clear of standing water near the unit and any nearby panel
Do not attempt to drain a tank that is leaking heavily
Leaks from the tank body itself mean replacement, not repair. Our post on water heater warning signs covers what to look for beforehand.
Sewer Backup
Stop using every fixture in the house immediately, including washing machines and dishwashers
Keep people and pets out of the affected area
Do not attempt to clean sewage yourself. Raw sewage carries bacteria, viruses, and parasites, and household vacuums and fans can spread contaminated aerosols
Call for same day service and professional sanitation
Recurring backups usually mean something structural in the main line. Our guide to sewer line warning signs covers the earlier symptoms.
Preventing the Next Emergency
Most of what we get called out for was preventable and cheap to prevent.
Book an annual inspection, and camera the main line every one to two years if you have mature trees
Insulate every pipe in a crawl space, garage, or exterior wall before winter
Locate and label your main shutoff, and turn it once a year so it does not seize
Keep grease, wipes, and hygiene products out of your drains
Fix small leaks early. The EPA notes that household leaks waste more than 9,300 gallons a year on average
Keep a repair clamp, silicone tape, and our number where you can find them
Our roundup of the top 10 plumbing problems and how to prevent them goes through each of these in more depth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do first in a plumbing emergency?
Shut off the water. Use the fixture valve if the problem is isolated to one sink or toilet, and the main shutoff for anything larger. Everything else can wait until the water stops.
Where is my main water shutoff valve?
In most Bellevue homes, it is near the water meter or where the main line enters the house, which usually means a crawl space, garage, or basement wall. Find it before you need it and confirm it still turns.
Should I turn off the electricity if my floor is flooded?
Only if you can reach the panel without standing in water. The CDC advises never operating an electrical switch while in contact with water. If the panel is past the flooded area, call an electrician rather than wading to it.
Can I use duct tape to stop a leaking pipe?
No. The adhesive fails on a wet pipe almost immediately and holds no pressure. Use a pipe repair clamp, self-fusing silicone tape, or plumbing-rated epoxy putty, and treat all three as temporary.
Does homeowners insurance cover a burst pipe?
Sudden, accidental water damage is typically covered, while damage from long-term neglected leaks often is not. Photograph everything before cleaning and keep receipts for emergency work.
How fast can you get to me in Bellevue?
We run 24/7 emergency dispatch across Bellevue and the Eastside. Call 425-331-2011, and we will give you a realistic arrival window and talk you through containment while the truck is on the way.
Before the Plumber Arrives
Stopping the water, draining the lines, containing the leak, and documenting the damage are all things you can do in the first ten minutes, and together they change the size of the repair.
Everything past that needs a licensed plumber. Call 425-331-2011 any hour, or schedule service online if it can wait until morning. We are here 24/7 for Bellevue and the Eastside.
