Water leak: the right moves before the plumber arrives

Start with the isolating valve closest to the leak: under the sink, behind the toilet pan, or on the inlet of the water heater. It is the move that limits the damage fastest, and it avoids cutting the water off from the whole home.

If that valve does not exist, spins freely or is seized, move on to the water meter. It is usually in the cellar, in a service cupboard in the hall, or near the front door. A quarter turn is sometimes enough: do not force an old valve, because it can break.

Once the water is off, open a tap lower down in the home. The pipework drains, the pressure drops, and the leak slows noticeably while the plumber is on his way.

If water is running near a socket, a fuse box or a light fitting, switch off the circuit concerned at the board, or the main breaker if you are not sure which one it is. Do not touch anything electrical with wet hands or while standing in water.

Warn the neighbour below as soon as you notice water coming through. The sooner water is spotted, the less it spreads through ceilings, and the conversation with the insurer is far simpler when the facts are shared from day one.

Photograph what you see before mopping up: the pool of water, the mark on the ceiling, the pipe concerned. Those photos help both the plumber, who understands the situation better before arriving, and your insurance claim.

Clear the access: empty the cupboard under the sink, move furniture aside, open the way to the meter. Time spent shifting boxes is time charged, and you save it simply by thinking ahead.

On FixNow24 you pay a €35.00 call-out fee when you send the request: it covers the journey and the on-site diagnosis. The indicative range for the work, taken from our reference price list, is shown before that payment, at both Belgian VAT rates.

The plumber then gives a firm price after the diagnosis. You accept or refuse it in the app, and no work starts without that acceptance. The work itself is paid at the end, together with the professional’s invoice.

Finally, note down what you have already done: water off, circuit switched off, tap opened to drain the pipework. That information saves the plumber long minutes, because he does not have to repeat your checks. If the leak comes from an appliance still under warranty, a recent water heater or dishwasher, keep the purchase invoice at hand: the repair may be covered elsewhere. Keep the report and the invoice he gives you as well: they are the evidence your insurer will need.