Do you know what to do in a household emergency?
A little know-how can go a long way when something goes wrong at home. Expert advice and practical steps for power cuts, leaks and gas smells.
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A little know-how can go a long way when something goes wrong at home. Expert advice and practical steps for power cuts, leaks and gas smells.
Puddles and power cuts, odours of smoke or gas… if you fear that something has suddenly gone wrong at home, do you know what to do?
This straightforward guide will help you recognise the warning signs, and outline checklists of what to do next.
With advice from industry experts, we've put together quick, practical guides to help you deal with common household emergencies safely and confidently.
“Power cuts are one of the most common electrical issues faced by households,” says Paul Collins, technical director at NICEIC (National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting).
“In the event of an outage, do not assume your electricity provider knows you have had a power cut. Alert them as soon as you become aware of the issue. This, in turn, will ensure your provider can send an engineer to investigate the cause and fix the issue.”
Check if it’s a wider power cut by looking at neighbouring properties or street lighting.
Call 105 for free to report or get updates on a power outage in your area.
If it feels safe to do so, switch off the electricity supply at the consumer unit (fuse box).
“This will depend on what has caused the power outage,” explains Paul.
“For example, if it is due to flooding and there is the potential for the home to be flooded, it would be a sensible option to turn the power off. It is recommended to minimise any risk from the electrical installation.”
Your fuse box can turn up in a few fairly predictable spots. It’s usually tucked out of the way, but still accessible, essentially hiding in plain sight.
The most common places to find it are:
If you’re not sure what you’re looking for, it’s typically a grey or white box with a hinged cover. Inside, you’ll find switches (rather than old-style fuses in most modern homes) that can be flipped if a circuit trips.
“If an individual circuit’s trip switch is in the off position (normally down) it could indicate there is an overload issue with that one circuit – in other words, too many high-powered appliances are plugged in at once,” says Paul. “It could also indicate a blown lightbulb, or a blown fuse in an appliance, which won’t be as obvious.”
Alternatively, if multiple switches or the larger main safety switch are off, it’s likely that there’s a live-to-earth fault or a defect that poses a risk of electric shock. This commonly occurs when water gets into an outdoor socket, a faulty appliance spills current to the ground wire, or there is damaged wiring.
“It’s also important to look for signs of overheating, for example discoloured plastic and unusual smells at the consumer unit/fuseboard location,” Paul adds.
If you can’t spot your fuse box, it’s worth checking your home’s paperwork or asking a landlord or previous owner.
Extreme weather advice from the experts at Saga Insurance.
Ok, so you’ve ascertained there’s no power cut. But the electricity is still off and you suspect there’s an issue with a particular appliance. If so:
If you see or smell smoke call the fire brigade immediately by dialling 999, and evacuate the property.
Many fires at home are caused by electrical hazards. According to fire and rescue incident statistics on Gov.uk, cooking appliances are consistently the leading cause of accidental house fires in the UK, accounting for just under half of all incidents.
There are things to look out for. For example, buzzing noises from plugs, burning smells, sockets getting hot or exhibiting scorch marks, or a circuit breaker tripping.
In no circumstances should you touch hot plugs or try to pull them out. Instead, call an electrician and shut off your electricity supply.
To avoid any “blue lights” call outs, Vishal Narbheram, an electrician with 15 years’ experience, recommends you:
Use our month-by-month checklist to keep on top of home repairs and avoid costly repairs.
Discovering a water leak can feel stressful, but acting quickly and methodically can prevent serious damage.
“If you find a water leak in your home, quick action is essential to reduce any damage to your property and significantly reduce any repair costs,” says Jamie Heath, plumbing expert at Build & Plumb. “The very first thing you should do is locate and turn off your main water supply using the stopcock.”
Then locate where the leak is coming from, advises Ross Bliben, sales director at Bathroom Spare Parts: “Common areas include under sinks, behind toilets, around appliances like washing machines, and particularly within showers.
"Shower leaks are one of the most frequent issues we see, often caused by worn seals, faulty cartridges, or internal components rather than the whole unit failing.”
“For most leaks on cold taps, toilets, and pipework, the quickest way to stop the flow is to turn off the mains water using the internal stopcock,” says Matthew.
“In many homes it’s under the kitchen sink, in a utility room, under the stairs, in a downstairs loo, in a garage, or close to where the mains pipe enters the property. It may be a round wheel-type valve or a lever valve, and the aim is the same, close it fully so no fresh water is coming in.”
“If you have an older property, there is a chance your stopcock may be located under the floorboards, usually by the front door,” adds Jamie.
“If you cannot find the stopcock, cannot move it, or it appears seized, use the external stop tap, usually in a small chamber near the boundary and often marked ‘Water’ on the cover,” explains Matthew. “After shutting off the mains, open a cold tap at the lowest point in the home to relieve pressure and drain remaining water from pipework.”
“If the leak is near a fitted kitchen, stop using appliances that are plumbed in, like the washing machine and dishwasher, until the supply is isolated,” says Matthew.
“After things are under control, take clear photos and a short video of the source and any damage. That record can be useful if drying and repairs become significant, and acting quickly can make a noticeable difference to the overall bill, which matters in a cost-of-living squeeze.”
“If water is anywhere near electrics, don’t touch wet surfaces and switch the power off at the consumer unit if it is safe to reach without stepping in water,” says Matthew. “If a ceiling is bulging, bowing, or dripping heavily, keep people out of the room as plasterboard can give way without warning.”
Not all leaks require an emergency plumber, advises Matthew.
“For example, a dripping shower head or valve is often due to a worn cartridge, and a leaking toilet can usually be resolved by replacing a flush valve or seal,” adds Ross, who advises that you should contact a plumber if:
What can you do when you’ve got sudden problems at home and need them fixing quickly?
Emergency home cover insurance can help make it easier to deal with the unexpected, such as blocked drains, burst pipes or complete power failure.
“Don’t try to diagnose the problem yourself,” warns Adam Knight, a lead engineer at heating and cooling experts, BOXT.
“Strange smells can point to underlying issues in the system, whether that’s bacteria in the water or a fault developing inside the boiler,” says Adam. “It’s not something you should ignore or try to fix yourself. The safest approach is to get a qualified engineer to inspect it and identify the cause before continuing to use the system.”
Chris Houghton, home emergency expert at HomeServe agrees and adds these tips: “If you smell gas, act fast. Open all doors and windows to ventilate the room, switch off the appliance, and turn off the gas supply at the meter using the Emergency Control Valve. This is usually found outside in a meter box but can also be under the stairs or beneath the kitchen sink or in the garage.
“Turn it to a right angle to the pipe and it’s off. Do not operate any electrical switches, smoke, or use a mobile phone indoors as any spark could be dangerous. Then call the National Gas Emergency line from outside the property. Once they’ve made the property safe, contact a Gas Safe Registered engineer to check and fix the appliance.”
“A noisy boiler is one that too many homeowners ignore,” says Chris. “Our research found that over a third of boiler owners have experienced strange sounds like humming, gurgling, or vibrating, all of which can be warning signs of age and inefficiency. Yet 28% of UK households plan to wait until their boiler completely breaks down before replacing it.”
Chris recommends that, if your boiler is more than a decade old, don’t wait for a breakdown and get it checked by a Gas Safe Registered engineer as soon as you can.
“Older boilers quietly cost you money long before they fail,” he says. “Running a boiler that’s more than 10 years old can add an estimated £202 per year in lost efficiency.”
“In the case of any potential home emergency, preparation is key,” says Paul. “For example, taking some time to understand your home’s electrical system will help you to respond more confidently if faced with warning signs or in an emergency.
“If in doubt, the advice is simple: contact an expert, such as an NICEIC-registered electrician. It provides peace of mind that any issues will be handled safely, competently and in compliance with the latest regulations.”
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