What to Keep on Hand Before a Plumbing Emergency
The difference between a small mess and a large one is usually whether someone could stop the water in the first two minutes.
September 2, 2026 · 4 min read
Most water damage is a function of time. The same failure produces a very different outcome depending on how quickly the water stopped.
Know these three things
- **Where the main water shutoff is**, and that it actually turns. Old valves seize — turn it once a year. Our guide covers where to look.
- **Where the fixture shutoffs are** — under each sink, behind each toilet, at the water heater and the washing machine.
- **Where the gas shutoff is**, if you have gas.
Everyone in the household old enough to act should know these, not just one person. The emergency will not schedule itself around who is home.
What to keep
- **A water meter key or a suitable wrench** for the street shutoff, if that is your main.
- **An adjustable wrench** and channel-lock pliers.
- **A bucket** — obvious, and people spend the first minute looking for one.
- **Old towels** kept somewhere you can grab them.
- **A wet/dry vacuum**, if you have one. It removes far more water than towels.
- **Pipe repair clamps** in a couple of common sizes. They will not fix a burst permanently and they buy time.
- **Plumber's tape and a roll of self-fusing silicone tape.**
- **A flashlight** with working batteries, because failures happen at night and sometimes with the power off.
- **A plunger** — a flange plunger for toilets, a cup plunger for sinks. Different tools.
- **A drain auger** for the small stuff.
What to do in the first two minutes
- Stop the water. Fixture valve if you can reach it, main if not.
- If it is near electrical, shut power to that area at the breaker before standing in water.
- Get water off the floor and away from anything that will absorb it.
- Photograph everything before you clean up, for insurance.
- Then call.
For a gas smell
Different response entirely. Do not switch anything on or off, do not use a phone inside, leave the house, and call from outside. Our gas leak guide covers it.
Freeze preparation
Our hard freezes are short and occasional, which is why people are unprepared for them. Disconnect hoses, insulate exposed pipe, know your shutoff and let a tap drip on the coldest nights. Our freeze preparation guide has the full list.
We answer at any hour
If something has gone wrong and you have stopped the water, call (469) 338-5533. If you cannot stop the water, call anyway and we will talk you to the valve.
Frequently asked
What should I do first in a plumbing emergency?
Stop the water — fixture shutoff if you can reach it, main shutoff if not. If it is near electrical, kill power to that area at the breaker before standing in water. Then photograph everything and call.
What should be in a home plumbing emergency kit?
A wrench for the main, an adjustable wrench and pliers, a bucket, towels, a wet vacuum, pipe repair clamps, self-fusing tape, a working flashlight, both types of plunger and a small drain auger.
Should I test my main shutoff valve?
Yes, once a year. Old valves seize, and finding that out during an emergency is the worst possible moment. Turning it periodically keeps it operable.
What if I smell gas?
Do not switch anything on or off and do not use a phone inside. Leave the house and call from outside. That is a different response from a water emergency.