Water leak — is it an emergency, and should I shut off the main?
Check the safety items below first — water near outlets, a bulging ceiling, or a gushing/burst pipe mean shut off the main and get help now. For a slow drip under a sink or at a fixture, you can usually shut just the local valve there. If you can't isolate it, or it's spreading, shut the main. Everyone should know where the main shutoff is before they need it.
First, a safety check — is any of this true right now?
No hazard flagged — the diagnostic steps below are appropriate. If any of the above changes, stop and follow the safety guidance.
Local valve or main?
A drip at one fixture (under a sink, behind a toilet) usually has its own shutoff valve right there — close that and you've isolated it without cutting water to the house. A leak inside a wall or ceiling, a burst pipe, or anything you can't reach means shut the main: find the main shutoff (often where the water line enters the house, near the meter, or an outside box) and turn it fully clockwise.
The hazards that change everything
Water reaching outlets, appliances, or the electrical panel is a shock risk — don't wade in; cut power only if you can reach the panel dry, otherwise call the utility. A ceiling bulging with water can collapse — stay clear. A burst or gushing pipe won't wait — shut the main first, mop up second.
When to call a professional
- • Water near electrical, a bulging ceiling, or a burst pipe — follow the safety steps and call for help.
- • You can't find or reach the leak, or the main won't shut off.
Common questions
- How do I find my main shutoff?
- Follow the main water line to where it enters the house — often in the basement, a utility closet, near the water heater, or an outdoor box near the street. Locate and label it before an emergency.
- Is a small under-sink drip an emergency?
- No, but don't ignore it — shut the local valve, dry the area, and fix it before it rots the cabinet or hides mold.