What to do if you hit a pipe

Learn the safe, calm steps to take the moment a drill or fixing hits a pipe or cable in a wall.

HP-01Stop the moment something changesIf the drill (the tool spinning a metal bit into the wall) suddenly goes soft, hits a hard snag, hisses, sprays water, or you see a spark, stop immediately. Do not carry on 'just to finish the hole'. That single extra push is what turns a small nick into a real problem.

HP-02Isolate before you do anything elseIf there is any chance you hit a cable, go to the consumer unit (the grey box with switches that controls power to the house, usually under the stairs or near the meter) and switch off the relevant circuit, or the main switch if unsure. If there is any chance you hit a water pipe, turn off the stopcock (the valve where mains water enters the house, often under the kitchen sink or near the stairs) by turning it clockwise. Do this even if a cable or pipe detector said the area was clear. Detectors can miss cables that are deep, in metal conduit, behind metal-backed plasterboard, or simply routed somewhere unexpected, especially in older houses. Expect something to be there and prove otherwise, rather than trusting a clear reading alone.

HP-03Withdraw the drill bit straight outPull the drill bit back out along the exact path it went in, in reverse gear if your drill has one. Do not wiggle it side to side to free it. Wiggling widens the hole and can tear a pipe or strip a cable further, making any leak or exposed wire worse.

HP-04Work out what you actually hitWater pipe strikes usually show as dripping, a damp patch, or a hissing spray. A cable strike may show as a spark, a burning smell, or the circuit tripping off at the consumer unit. If you're not certain which it is, treat it as both and keep the power off and the water off until you know for sure.

HP-05Contain the mess and stay safePut a bucket or old towels under any leak so water doesn't spread to flooring below. Never touch a cable end, even with the power off, until you're sure the correct circuit was isolated. Mark the spot on the wall with pencil so you or a tradesperson can find it again easily.

2 each · Old towels

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HP-06Know when to call a professionalA leaking pipe usually needs a plumber to cut out and replace the damaged section. A damaged cable needs a qualified electrician, both to make it safe and to check nothing else nearby is affected. In England and Wales, some electrical work, particularly full circuit changes in kitchens or bathrooms, falls under Part P of the Building Regulations and must be done or checked by a registered electrician. Don't try to twist bare wires back together or tape over a leaking pipe as a fix.

RULES

KNOW THE RULES

Part P of the Building Regulations (England and Wales) covers certain notifiable electrical work, especially in kitchens and bathrooms.

HP-07Check you've actually made it safeYou've done this right when: the stopcock is off and no more water is appearing, the relevant circuit is off at the consumer unit with no buzzing or warmth from the wall, and the area is dry and marked for repair. If any of these aren't true, don't assume it's fine, isolate again and get a professional to check before you go near the wall a second time.

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