Direct answer
Keep people away from water that may be energized, contaminated, or undermining a ceiling or floor. Call 911 for collapse, fire, shock, gas, or another immediate hazard. If the water is clean, the shutoff is familiar, and reaching it does not require entering standing water or approaching electrical equipment, close the appropriate fixture or main valve. Photograph the source and affected areas, then request a written diagnosis that separates the failed component from resulting damage.
Call emergency services first when
- Water contacts a panel, outlet, light, appliance, or exposed wiring.
- A ceiling is bulging or the floor, wall, or structure is deforming.
- The water may contain sewage, chemicals, or flood contamination.
- There is a gas odor, fire, shock, or uncontrolled release that cannot be safely isolated.
Safe first steps
- Keep people and pets out of the affected area, especially children and anyone with open wounds.
- Call emergency services for immediate electrical, fire, gas, collapse, or life-safety risk.
- Use a fixture shutoff or main valve only if you know it, can reach it safely, and it operates without force.
- Do not touch electrical equipment or enter water to reach a shutoff.
- Take photos and note the start time, water source, rooms affected, and whether the meter continues moving.
- Move undamaged items only when the structure and electrical conditions appear safe.
Decision path
Could the water be electrically energized?
If yes: Do not enter or touch it. Contact emergency services or the utility as appropriate before plumbing cleanup.
If no: Continue evaluating contamination, structural risk, and a safely reachable shutoff.
Is the water from sewage, flooding, or an unknown source?
If yes: Avoid contact and request qualified contamination/restoration guidance in addition to plumbing repair.
If no: Limit clean-water damage safely and arrange repair.
Did closing the fixture shutoff stop the flow?
If yes: Leave it closed, document the condition, and arrange diagnosis.
If no: Use the main shutoff only if familiar and safe; otherwise request emergency assistance.
What to photograph and collect
- Source fixture or pipe location, first observed time, and whether water is hot, cold, or contaminated.
- Photos before moving items or opening walls.
- Water-meter reading and whether it changes with all fixtures off, if safely observable.
- Recent repairs, freezing is unlikely but pressure events, construction, or appliance changes may matter.
- Damage to cabinets, drywall, flooring, ceilings, electrical equipment, and adjacent rooms.
Questions to ask before authorizing work
- What failed, and what test supports that diagnosis?
- Does the scope include access, pipe repair, wall closure, drying, cleanup, and permit responsibility—or which are excluded?
- Could the visible leak be secondary to pressure, corrosion, a drain problem, or another hidden failure?
- What workmanship and material warranties are written into the proposal?
- What must be approved before additional demolition or a change order?
South Florida considerations
- High humidity can slow drying and increase secondary moisture risk; a stopped leak is not proof that materials are dry.
- Condominiums and managed communities may require immediate notice to an association, building manager, or neighboring unit.
- Permit requirements depend on the repair scope and jurisdiction. Confirm rather than relying on a blanket statement.
Do not
- Entering standing water near electricity.
- Forcing a seized valve until it breaks.
- Using household fans where contamination or electrical risk has not been ruled out.
- Authorizing open-ended demolition without a written stopping point and approval process.
Frequently asked questions
Should I turn off the whole house?
Use the least disruptive shutoff that safely stops the flow. Use the main only if you know its location and operation and can reach it without entering water or approaching electrical hazards.
Is the job finished when the pipe stops leaking?
Not necessarily. Wet materials, contamination, hidden cavities, and the cause of the failure may still require assessment.
Do I need both a plumber and restoration company?
The plumber addresses the water or drain failure. Drying, contamination, and rebuilding may require separate qualified work depending on the damage.
Sources
- Floods — Ready.gov; checked 2026-07-28.
- A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; checked 2026-07-28.
- Florida professional-license lookup — Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation; checked 2026-07-28.
- Building permits and inspections — City of Sunrise; checked 2026-07-28.
- Broward County Building Code — Broward County; checked 2026-07-28.
Last reviewed: 2026-07-28. Source review: THP editorial review against the official pages linked above. No independent medical, engineering, legal, or trade-expert review is claimed.