Water leak: what to do in the first 10 minutes

Breathe. Ten minutes is enough to get this under control.

The answer in 2 lines. Keep everyone away from water that touches outlets, cords or appliances. Then shut off the water: first the small valve under the sink, toilet or washer if the leak is there, otherwise the main shut-off valve for your home. If water is coming from a neighbor or the building, tell them and your landlord or building manager right away. Only then mop up, take photos and videos, and call your insurer as soon as you can. If water reaches the electrical panel or you smell gas, get out and call 911.

The first 3 steps

Shut off the water: the small fixture valve under the sink, behind the toilet or behind the washer if the leak is there; otherwise the main shut-off valve for your home. Don't walk through water near an outlet or appliance to get there.
If the water comes from upstairs or from a shared pipe, knock on the neighbor's door and call your landlord, super or building manager right away.
Move valuables and electronics out of the water's path, then take photos and video of everything before you clean up.

Stop: danger

Water and electricity: don't touch a wet appliance, outlet, switch or cord, and don't stand in water near one. Turn off power at the breaker panel only if the panel is dry and you can reach it without stepping in water. If not, stay out of the room and call your power company or 911.
Gas smell: leave right away without touching switches, and call 911 or your gas company from outside.
Sagging ceiling: a ceiling bulging with water can fall. Keep everyone out of the room.

Minute by minute

Minutes 0 to 2: safety first. Keep people and pets away from water near electricity.
Minutes 2 to 5: shut off the water (fixture valve, then main valve if needed). Open a faucet on the lowest floor to drain pressure from the pipes.
Minutes 5 to 8: warn the neighbor, landlord or building manager if the leak isn't yours. Lift furniture legs onto foil or wood blocks.
Minutes 8 to 10: photos and video of the source and the damage. Then mop, open windows, and run fans only if outlets and cords are dry.

What not to do

Forcing a stuck valve with pliers or a hammer: it can snap and turn a leak into a flood.
Throwing away damaged items before your insurer has seen photos or agreed.
Waiting to dry things out: mold can start within a day or two, so start drying as soon as it is safe.
Using a regular household vacuum on standing water.

Who pays, and who to tell

Most standard homeowners and renters policies cover water damage that is sudden and accidental, like a burst pipe or a broken supply hose. They usually don't cover slow leaks that went on for months, or flooding from outside (rising water from a storm or river), which needs separate flood insurance. Your exact policy decides.

Your insurer: report the damage as soon as you can. Policies require prompt notice and ask you to take reasonable steps to prevent more damage. Keep receipts for emergency repairs.
Renters: tell your landlord in writing (text or email) right away. The landlord's insurance covers the building, not your belongings: that's what renters insurance is for.
Condo or apartment building: tell the building manager or HOA, since the source may be in a shared pipe.

In your city

New York City: for a water main break, or water you can't stop that comes from the street, call 311. DEP can shut off service at the street in an emergency (NYC DEP).
Chicago: for water coming into your basement from the city's system, call 311 (Department of Water Management).
Philadelphia: the Philadelphia Water Department takes water emergencies 24/7 (how to report water issues).
Los Angeles: LADWP takes water trouble reports (LADWP Power Outage / Water Trouble).

Good to know

Find your main shut-off valve today, before you need it: see our guide on shutting off the water.
Washer hoses, toilet supply lines and water heaters cause many indoor leaks. Replace cracked or bulging hoses.
If the leak continues behind a wall or under the floor, a licensed plumber needs to find it.

On a Sunday night in Houston, Maria hears hissing under her kitchen sink: the supply hose has split. She turns the small valve under the sink clockwise, checks that the dishwasher outlet is dry, takes photos, and texts her landlord. Twenty minutes later the floor is mopped and the repair is booked for Monday.

A made-up story, for illustration.

Bobby

Sources, verification, confidence

Verified on October 18, 2026, for the United States. Confidence: high for the safety steps and how standard home insurance treats sudden water damage; medium for city contacts, which can change. This guide describes common cases, not a diagnosis.