Burst pipe at home: what to do first
With a burst pipe, close the main stopcock first, usually found next to the water meter. If water is near sockets, light fittings or the fuse box, switch the power off at the board, but only if you can reach it without stepping in water. Then call +351 928 286 711: Reparon24 answers at any hour, in Porto and across Greater Porto.
The first minutes: shut off the water
The sooner the water is off, the smaller the damage. Before looking for the source, calling anyone or taking photos, close the main stopcock for the flat.
Where the main stopcock is
It is usually next to the water meter, either inside the flat (kitchen, bathroom or enclosed balcony) or in the meter box on the landing or by the building entrance. Turn it all the way. If it is stuck, do not force it with tools until it snaps: call us and we will tell you what to do.
If the leak is at one appliance
If water is coming from a tap, the cistern, the water heater or the washing machine, there may be an isolating valve for that appliance alone. Closing it stops the leak and keeps water in the rest of the flat.
Find your stopcock today
If you are reading this with no leak at home, find your main stopcock now and check that it turns. On a night with water on the floor, that saves minutes.
Water and electricity: the most important precaution
If water is dripping from the ceiling near a light, running down a wall with sockets or reaching the fuse box, switch the power off at the main board. Only do it if you can reach the board with dry feet and without touching water. If the board is wet or sparking, do not touch it, get everyone away and call 112, the European emergency number.
Do not switch the power back on until the area is dry and has been checked. If the breaker tripped when water reached the wiring, you may also need an electrician in Porto. When a fault involves both, we deal with it in the same visit.
Limiting the damage while you wait
Protect the flat
Put down buckets and towels and move furniture, rugs and electrical items away from the water. If the ceiling is bulging or sagging, get out from under it and keep everyone clear.
Tell the neighbours and the landlord
If water may be getting into the flat below, warn the neighbour straight away. If the leak seems to come from a shared part of the building, such as the riser, tell the condominium administrator too. If you rent, let your landlord know as soon as the water is off.
Photos for the insurance
Take photos of the water, the source and the damage before cleaning up, and check what your home insurance says about water damage. Keep the photos and the repair invoice.
Where the water usually comes from
Flexible hoses and connections
The flexible hoses under the kitchen sink, the basin and the toilet, and the washing machine hose, wear out with time. The leak is usually easy to see and can be isolated by closing the valve for that appliance.
A burst pipe in the wall or floor
A spreading stain, bubbling paint or water seeping through the tile joints point to a pipe inside the wall. The plumber uses the meter, the sound of the pipework and the damp pattern to find the spot before opening anything, and opens only what is needed.
Drips that never stop
A dripping tap or a cistern that keeps running will not flood the flat, but they waste water every day and are worth sorting soon.
When to call a plumber and how the job goes
If the leak did not stop at the main stopcock, you cannot find the stopcock, or the water is coming from inside a wall or the ceiling, call straight away. If you are searching for a plumber near you in the middle of the night, this is what an emergency plumber is for: we work as a 24 hour plumber across Porto and Greater Porto, every day of the year.
The call
Call or WhatsApp +351 928 286 711. A person answers. Give your full address, including floor and door, and say what is happening. On the phone we tell you what to do while you wait and how long we will take, and agree how you would like to pay.
Finding the source and the quote
The plumber locates the leak and explains it in plain words before opening any wall. You get a free quote before we start: what needs doing, what it costs and how long it takes. Nothing goes ahead without your approval.
Repair and test
We repair it, turn the water back on and check with you that the leak has stopped. If a part has to be ordered, we tell you how long it will take. If the flat has to stay without water until then, we say so plainly.
The invoice
The invoice lists the work and the parts used. It is your guarantee, and it is also the document you can show your insurer.
Burst pipe questions
Should I shut the water off before calling?
Yes. If water is running, close the main stopcock and then call us. That stops the damage spreading.
Water is coming through the ceiling. Where is it from?
From above: the flat upstairs, a pipe running through the floor slab or a building riser. Tell the neighbour and the condominium administrator. The plumber confirms the source before anything is repaired.
Do you also repair the ceiling and the paintwork?
No. We repair the plumbing and leave the leak fixed. Restoring ceilings, walls, paintwork and floors damaged by water is a different kind of job.