Stay Calm and Act Quickly
In a plumbing or heating emergency, the actions you take in the first few minutes can significantly limit the damage. This guide covers the most common emergencies and how to respond.
Burst or Leaking Pipe
Immediate action: Turn off the water at the main stopcock — usually under the kitchen sink or where the supply enters the building. This stops the flow of water. Open all cold taps to drain the system. Turn off the central heating.
If water is near electrics, do not touch switches or fittings. Turn off the electricity at the consumer unit (fuse box) if safe to do so, and call an emergency electrician as well as a plumber.
Boiler Breakdown in Cold Weather
If your boiler stops working in cold weather, first check: boiler pressure (should be 1–1.5 bar), the thermostat settings, whether the pilot light or ignition is functioning, and any error codes on the display. Consult the manual for the error code meaning.
If you can't resolve it, call your heating engineer. Halo Heating provides 24/7 emergency cover across Surrey.
Frozen Condensate Pipe
In very cold weather, the plastic condensate pipe running outside from a condensing boiler can freeze and cause the boiler to shut down. You can often resolve this by applying a warm (not boiling) water bottle or warm wet cloth to the pipe to thaw it. Once thawed, reset the boiler.
Gas Leak
Do not attempt to fix a gas leak yourself. Leave the property immediately, turn off the gas at the meter if safe to do so, and call the National Gas Emergency Service: 0800 111 999 (24/7, free).
Our Emergency Line
Halo Heating operates 24/7 emergency cover for boiler breakdowns and urgent plumbing issues across Surrey. Call 01483 676108 any time.
Need Professional Help?
Our Gas Safe registered engineers cover Surrey and surrounding areas. Call for a free quote or to book an engineer.
Call 01483 676108