If a pipe bursts, turn the water off at the inside stop tap first, turning it clockwise. It is usually under the kitchen sink, but can be in a downstairs toilet, a garage, a cellar or under the stairs. Turn it slowly and never force it, as too much force can damage it. If it will not turn, call a plumber. Know where yours is before you need it, and check it works every six months.
With the stop tap off, flush the toilets and open the cold taps over sinks and baths. That drains the water left in the pipes. Then turn off the central heating and any immersion heater, so nothing heats the system while it is empty.
If water may have reached the electrics, switch the power off at the fuse box. Do not touch sockets or wiring that may have got wet. Look up at the ceilings too, and keep clear of any that bulge, as water pooling above can bring them down. Then soak up what you can with towels or buckets, and move furniture away from the wet.
The sooner the water is off, the less of it ends up in your ceilings, wiring and belongings. Call a plumber as soon as possible to repair the pipe. I do plumbing repairs across Halesworth at Always Plumbing Services, so give me a ring and keep the water off until I arrive.
