Burst pipes, major leaks and sewage backups do the most damage in the first minutes. The steps below limit that damage before a plumber arrives. Once the water is stopped, call (909) 572-8236 with the details listed further down this page.
If You Smell Gas
Leave the house at once and take everyone with you. Do not switch lights or appliances on or off, do not use a phone inside, and do not try to find the leak. From outside and away from the house, call 911, then Southern California Gas Company at 1-800-427-2200.
The First Five Minutes
- Find the main shutoff and close it. The steps for locating it are below.
- Turn off the water heater: set the gas control to Off or Pilot, or switch off its breaker, so it does not heat an emptying tank.
- Open the lowest faucets, such as a tub spout or an outside hose bib, to drain the water left in the pipes.
- Move belongings out of the water’s path: rugs, electronics, papers and furniture.
- Photograph the damage and the source of the water before cleanup begins.
Locating the Main and Fixture Shutoffs
- Look where the water line enters the house, most often at the front, near a hose bib or in the garage. In many Fullerton homes the main shutoff is a gate or ball valve on a pipe rising from the ground along an outside wall.
- Turn a round gate handle clockwise until it stops; turn a lever-style ball valve a quarter turn so the handle sits across the pipe.
- If the house valve will not turn, the meter box at the curb has a valve too. It usually needs a meter key; do not force it with pliers.
- For a single fixture, use its own valve: under a sink, the two small oval handles on the supply lines; behind a toilet, the valve near the floor; above a water heater, the cold supply valve.
- Test each valve now and then. A valve that has not moved in years may stick when it is needed most.
Emergencies at a Glance
More columns to the right: swipe.
| Emergency | What to do right now | What not to do | Related page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burst or split pipe | Close the main shutoff; open the lowest faucet to drain the lines | Do not stand in water near outlets or a breaker panel | Leak Repair |
| Water through a ceiling | Close the main shutoff; place a bucket and move belongings | Do not push on a sagging ceiling; water may be pooled above it | Leak Repair |
| Sewage backing up into a tub or floor drain | Stop all water use in the house; keep people and pets away | Do not run the washer or flush toilets; do not use drain chemicals | Sewer Lines |
| Toilet overflowing | Close the valve behind the toilet; lift the tank lid and raise the float | Do not flush again to test it | Drain Cleaning |
| Water heater leaking | Close the cold supply valve; turn the gas control to Off or switch off the breaker | Do not open the relief valve or drain a hot tank | Water Heaters |
| Kitchen drain backing up | Stop using the sink and the dishwasher | Do not pour chemical openers into standing water | Drain Cleaning |
Emergencies and What to Report
What counts as a plumbing emergency?
Water that cannot be stopped at a fixture valve, water coming through a ceiling or spreading across a floor, sewage backing up into the house, and a house with no water at all. A slow drain, a dripping faucet or a running toilet can wait for a scheduled appointment.
What should be said when calling?
Where the water is coming from, whether the main has been shut off, whether it is clean water or sewage, how long it has been happening, and the address. For a rental, say who owns or manages the property. Photos of the damage and the fixture help as well.
Should the insurance company be called first?
Stop the water first, then photograph the damage before anything is moved or cleaned up. Most insurers ask for prompt notice and for photos, and the cause found during the repair is useful to them.
Can the water be turned back on after the leak is found?
Only when the leaking section is isolated by its own valve. Otherwise leave the main closed until the repair is made.
Urgent Plumbing Requests
For water that is spreading now, call the office. For a problem that has been stopped and now needs a repair, the appointment form records how urgent it is.