Water leak repair: taps, pipes and hidden leaks

Close the main shut-off, stay clear of electricity, then call: in that order, these moves limit the damage while the plumber is on the way.

1. Close the main water shut-off. It is usually in the basement, on the pipe that comes through the foundation wall, often near the meter if there is one. Turn it clockwise all the way. If the leak is local, under a sink or behind a toilet, the small shut-off valve on that fixture is often enough.
2. Switch off the power to affected rooms if water is near outlets or light fixtures, and only if the panel is dry.
3. Drain the remaining pressure by opening a tap at the lowest point in the house.
4. Document and protect. Take photos before moving anything, mop up what you can and, if a ceiling is bulging with water, poke a small hole with a bucket underneath so it doesn’t give way all at once.

Find your shut-off today, before you need it. The valve outside, under the sidewalk, is not meant for homeowners: in Montréal, only people employed by the City are authorized to handle it.

Water follows joists, pipes and wires, and the stain often shows up far from the leak. To avoid opening a wall in the wrong place, our plumbers work in four steps:

1. We start from the stain. Given where it is, the plumber checks the most likely sources first: a worn tub seal, a shower fitting, a drain letting water through or a pinhole in a supply line.
2. We check what is within reach. Fixtures, fittings and valves are checked before anything gets opened.
3. We isolate sections. The piping is isolated section by section to confirm where the water comes from.
4. We explain, then repair. You see what was found before any repair starts. You pay once the leak is fixed, and we can give you a written report.