Plumbing Emergencies: What to Do Before the Plumber Arrives

Stuff breaks. Pipes leak. Toilets overflow. And let’s be real — plumbing emergencies  never happen at a good time. But if something goes sideways at home, there are a few things you can do right away to stop the mess from getting worse.

Plumbing emergencies

Here’s what we at Jensen Plumbing LLC usually tell folks when they call us mid-chaos:

1. Shut Off the Water

Find your main water valve and turn it off. It’s usually near the water meter or where the water line comes into your house. Turn it to the right (clockwise) until it stops. That’ll stop more water from flooding in. If it’s just one sink or toilet, you might be able to shut off the small valve right under it instead.

2. Grab a Bucket or Some Towels

If water’s dripping or leaking, catch what you can. Buckets, bowls, trash cans — whatever you’ve got. Throw down some old towels to soak up the rest. You’re just buying time until help arrives.

3. Pipe Burst? Open a Faucet Nearby

Once the water’s off, open a faucet in a nearby sink. That’ll relieve pressure in the lines and slow the leak. If it’s bad, put a bucket under the busted part if you can reach it safely.

4. Toilet Overflowing?

Pop the lid off the tank and close the flapper — that rubber flap at the bottom of the tank. That’ll stop more water from rushing into the bowl. And no more flushing! Trust us on this one.

5. Shut Off Any Appliances

If the leak’s near your dishwasher, washing machine, or water heater, go ahead and cut the power to it from the breaker box. It’s just a safety thing — better safe than sorry.

6. Snap a Quick Photo

If there’s a mess, take a few pictures. Could be useful for insurance, or just to show your plumber exactly what’s going on.

7. Give Us a Call

Once you’ve done what you can, call a plumber. Tell us what happened, what you shut off, and what you see. We’ll take it from there.

We ain’t fancy. But we’re local, we’re real, and we do the job right.Give us a shout at 214-287-0445 or holler at us through the site.

Jensen Plumbing LLC

Plumbing Done Right. Every Time.