A drain emergency means water or sewage is entering your home, or a pipe has failed. Act on safety first. Keep people and pets away from the water, and keep electrics clear of it. Do this before anything else, because water and electrics are a risky mix.
Next, try to see where the water comes from. A flooded gully, a backed-up toilet and a burst pipe each need a different fix. Write down what you see. Take photos too, since the engineer and your insurer may ask for them.
You can send a request through the form at any time. Mark it urgent and say what is happening. However, the arrival time depends on who takes the job. Ask about timing and charges before you agree to anything.
Flooding and sewage problems call for different steps. Pick the guide that fits your case. Read about flooding emergency and sewage emergency.
Looking for local details? Try the pages for emergency drain services in Plymouth, emergency drain services in Plymstock or emergency drain services in Saltash, since each one covers its own town. Pages for all nine towns sit at the foot of this page.
Waiting for help? This guide covers what to do in the meantime. Read Drain Emergency: What to Do While You Wait for Help for more, since it goes into more detail. It uses plain words.
Keep everyone away from the water and keep electrics clear of it. Turn off the water supply if a pipe has burst. Then send an urgent request and describe the problem. Ask about timing, since it varies.
Yes, you can send a request through the form at any time. Mark it urgent and say what is happening. However, the time an engineer can attend depends on who takes the job. Ask about it before you agree.
Cover differs between policies, so check yours. Take photos and keep a note of what happened and when. Your insurer can tell you what it needs. Do this early, because claims often need proof.