What to Do Before a Plumber Arrives

Whether the problem is urgent or routine, the same short list of preparations makes a plumbing visit go better. Most of it takes minutes and can be done while you wait.

If water is escaping

• Close the main isolation valve to the building, or the local isolation valve serving the affected fixture if you can reach it safely.
• Open a low tap afterwards to drain pressure and reduce continued flow from the failure point.
• Move belongings out of the affected area and lift what you can off wet floors.
• Keep clear of electrical fittings anywhere water has reached, and switch off affected circuits only if it is safe to do so.

If a drain is backing up

• Stop using every fixture on the affected line, including washing machines and dishwashers mid-cycle.
• Do not add chemical drain opener before someone works on the line, because it becomes a hazard when the trap is opened.
• Note which fixtures are affected and in what order they began to back up.

Clear the access

Empty the cabinet under the sink, move stored items away from the water heater, and clear a path to the meter, cleanout or plant area. Access time is job time.

Gather the useful details

• When the problem started and whether it is constant or intermittent.
• Anything that changed shortly before, such as a new appliance, renovation, planting, or a period the property was empty.
• Previous work on the same fixture or line, and roughly when.
• Photographs of the problem, especially if it comes and goes.

Make the space workable

Secure pets away from the work area, and let anyone else in the building know the water may be off for a period. If parking or building access is restricted, mention it when you submit the request rather than on arrival.