Checklists to print before the pipe bursts
Fill these in on a quiet evening. When water hits the floor at 2 a.m., you'll know where every valve is, what to photograph and what to ask on the phone.
- Shutoff map worksheet Walk the house once with this worksheet and write down where every shutoff is. Tape the finished page inside a cabinet door where everyone can find it.
- Plumbing symptom log Intermittent problems are the hardest to diagnose. A simple dated log of what happened, where and when gives a plumber the pattern they need.
- Emergency plumber hiring checklist Use this checklist on the phone and at the door. It keeps you focused on the few checks that matter most when you are stressed and in a hurry.
- Home plumbing maintenance calendar Most emergencies are cheaper to prevent than to fix. This calendar spreads simple checks across the year so none of them is a big job.
- Call now or wait? A decision guide Not every plumbing problem needs a night call, and some need more than a plumber. Answer these questions in order and stop at the first one that applies.
- Water damage photo checklist for insurance Good photos taken in the first hours make an insurance claim much simpler. This list covers what to capture before cleanup and repairs erase the evidence.
- Water heater safety check A ten-minute look at your water heater can catch a failing tank, missing straps or a venting problem before it becomes an emergency.
- Emergency plumbing kit A small box of the right tools turns a panicked search into a calm five-minute response. Keep it near the main shutoff or in the garage.