What counts as a genuine plumbing emergency, and what should I do before the plumber arrives?
A burst pipe, uncontrolled leak, total loss of heating with vulnerable occupants, or a leak near electrics justify an emergency call - and turning off the water at the stopcock is the fastest way to limit the damage while you wait.
Genuine emergencies are the ones where waiting causes real damage or risk: water that won't stop, or a heating failure affecting someone vulnerable in cold weather. A suspected gas smell is a different category entirely - that should always go to the National Grid gas emergency line first, never to general plumbing, with any follow-up work carried out only by a Gas Safe registered engineer. A dripping tap or a slow-running drain, while annoying, can usually wait for a scheduled visit. If water is escaping, the stopcock - usually under the kitchen sink, in a utility room, or near where the mains enters the property - is the fastest way to stop it getting worse. If water is anywhere near sockets, switches or a fuse board, switching off the relevant circuit at the consumer unit is a sensible precaution. Photographing the damage as it happens is also useful, both for insurance purposes and to help whoever attends understand the situation before they arrive.