Guide · Swords

Burst pipe: what to do in the first ten minutes

Turn the water off at the stopcock, usually under the kitchen sink. Switch off electrics near the water. Turn off the boiler and immersion, open the cold taps to drain the pipes, then ring a plumber.

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Step by step

Turn the water off at the stopcock. It's usually under the kitchen sink, sometimes where the pipe comes in by the front door.
If water is near lights or sockets, switch the electrics off at the fuse board.
Turn off the immersion and the boiler, then open the cold taps to drain what's left in the pipes.
Catch what you can with buckets and towels, and take photos for the insurance.
If water is coming through a ceiling, push a hole in the bulge with a broom handle over a bucket. It stops the whole ceiling coming down.

What the repair costs

A burst pipe repair is €150–€2,000. A pipe you can get at under a sink is the low end. Under a floor or inside a wall is the high end.
Out of hours, the call-out is €100–€250.

Stop it happening again

Lag pipes in the attic, garage and on outside walls.
Leave the heating on low when you're away in cold weather.
Know where your stopcock is, and check it turns. A seized stopcock is the most common reason a small leak becomes a flood.

Prices that go with it

Typical prices in Swords.

Job	Typical price	What moves the price
Call-out, weekday daytime	Up to €150	Some plumbers charge nothing to come out and bill from the first hour. Others charge a call-out that covers the first half hour or so.
Hourly rate, weekday daytime	€50–€130 an hour	Most bill the first hour in full, then by the half hour. Parts are extra.
Emergency or out-of-hours call-out	€100–€250	Evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays cost more. Late nights cost the most.
Burst pipe repair	€150–€2,000	A burst you can see under a sink is a short job. A pipe under the floor or inside a wall, with the floor or plaster to make good, is the top end.
Immersion element or thermostat	€120–€300	A thermostat is cheaper than an element. Hard water scales the element, so it fails sooner.
Hot water cylinder replacement	€500–€1,300	A copper cylinder like for like is the lower end. A bigger or pressurised cylinder, or moving it, is the top.

Questions

Where is my stopcock?

Usually under the kitchen sink. In some houses it's under the stairs, in a utility room or by the front door. There's another outside, under a small cover near the footpath.

Can I fix a burst pipe myself?

A repair clamp from a hardware shop holds a small split until the plumber comes. It isn't a permanent fix.

Does home insurance cover a burst pipe?

The damage usually is covered. The repair to the pipe itself often isn't. Check your policy and take photos.