Step one: stop the water
Every fixture has a local shut-off. Toilets have an oval or round valve on the wall behind the bowl. Sinks have two under the cabinet. Water heaters have a valve on the cold inlet at the top. If the leak is at a fixture, closing that valve ends the emergency and buys you a normal-rate appointment tomorrow morning.
If the leak is in a wall, ceiling, or supply line, go to the main shut-off. In most St. Louis area homes with basements it is on the interior wall where the service line enters, usually near the front of the house and often next to the meter. In slab homes and many newer St. Charles County builds, look in a utility closet or garage. Find and label this valve today, not during the emergency.
Step two: kill power and gas if water is involved
If water is near outlets, the furnace, or the electrical panel, shut off the affected circuits at the breaker. Do not stand in standing water to reach a panel. If you cannot reach it safely, leave the house and call the utility.
On a leaking gas water heater, turn the gas control to off and close the gas shut-off valve at the appliance. If you smell gas at any point, do not operate switches; leave and call Spire from outside.
Step three: document before you clean up
Take photos and a short video of the source, the standing water, and the affected contents before moving anything. Insurers routinely ask for evidence of the sudden and accidental nature of the loss, and the difference between a covered claim and a denied one is often documentation of the cause.
Save the failed part if one comes out, such as a burst supply hose or a cracked valve. Note the time you discovered the leak and the time you shut it off.
Step four: limit damage while you wait
Move furniture and boxes off the wet floor and put foil or wood blocks under legs that must stay. Pull up soaked area rugs. Get air moving with fans and a dehumidifier. In finished basements, remove baseboards only if you are comfortable doing so; otherwise leave that for the restoration contractor.
Sewage backup is the exception. Do not attempt cleanup yourself. Keep people and pets out of the area and tell the plumber it is a sewage event when you call, because it changes the equipment they bring.
Step five: what to tell the plumber
Have this ready and the call goes faster: where the water is coming from, whether you were able to shut it off and at which valve, the age of the house, whether the home is on a public sewer or septic, whether the affected fixture was recently worked on, and whether there is standing water.
Also ask three questions before you agree to dispatch: what is the after-hours fee, is the diagnostic credited toward the repair, and is the person coming a licensed plumber. In the St. Louis metro, expect an after-hours emergency call-out of roughly $150 to $350 before any repair work.
Prevention that pays for itself here
Replace rubber washing-machine hoses with braided stainless every five to seven years; failed hoses remain one of the most common causes of residential water damage. Test your sump pump quarterly by pouring a bucket of water into the pit, and consider a battery backup, which matters in a metro where heavy rain and power outages often arrive together.
If you have a basement floor drain and an older lateral, ask a plumber about a backwater valve. Many older St. Louis city and inner-ring suburb homes have clay laterals with root intrusion, and a backwater valve is far cheaper than a finished-basement sewage cleanup.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if it is a true emergency?
Water you cannot shut off, sewage in the home, no water at all, a gas smell, or water near electrical equipment are emergencies. A dripping faucet, a single slow drain, or a running toilet can wait for regular hours and cost far less.
Will homeowners insurance cover a burst pipe?
Sudden and accidental water damage is commonly covered, while long-term seepage and sewer backup usually are not unless you carry specific endorsements. Check your policy for a sewer and drain backup endorsement before you need it.
Should I turn off the water heater if I shut off the main?
Yes if the outage will be long. On an electric heater, switch off its breaker so the elements do not run dry. On a gas heater, set the control to pilot or vacation.
Sources and further reading
Price ranges in this guide come from quotes and invoices shared with STL Home Pros by St. Louis area homeowners and contractors. Technical and climate references are listed below.
About the author
Nick Cascani is a New York native who has called St. Louis home for the last few years. He believes getting professional home service should be simple and convenient, and he writes these guides to help local homeowners make confident decisions about their HVAC, plumbing, and foundation projects.
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