A burst pipe can cause serious damage to your home's structure and electrical wiring. Taking a few simple steps as you discover a burst pipe can minimize damage;

• Turn off the water supply at the main stop tap.
  This is usually under the kitchen sink or where the service pipe enters your home. Drain the system by turning on all your cold taps.
  Be especially careful if water has been leaking through for some time and the ceilings are bulging as rooms may not be safe to enter as the ceiling may collapse. If you notice the leak quickly you can catch dripping water in buckets by punching a hole in the ceiling to let water out if it starts to bulge.
• Turn off water heating systems
  Switch off the central heating, immersion heater and any other water heating systems.  If the central heating uses solid fuel, let this die out.  Once water heating has shut down, turn on the hot taps to help drain the system.
• Turn off the electrics
  If water leaks near your electrics or electrical appliances, switch off the mains immediately. If it is wet, don't touch them!
• Call a professional to repair the damage
  Electrical wiring damaged by water can be very dangerous - you will need to call in a professional is this happens. For a fast, affordable fix, find an electrician and/or Plumber in the Trade directory.