A plumbing problem can often wait until the morning if you can stop the water, keep it away from electrics and still use the property safely overnight. If water keeps escaping after you have turned off the stopcock, or it is reaching electrics or a ceiling, it should not be left.
The key question is not how bad the problem looks, but whether it is under control.
Problems That Can Usually Wait
Many faults that appear late in the evening can be made safe and dealt with the next day. A dripping tap, a toilet cistern that keeps running, a slow-draining sink or a small leak under a basin that stops once the isolation valve is closed are all good examples.
If one toilet stops working but there is another in the property, that can usually wait too. The same goes for a radiator valve that weeps a little into a container, or a washing machine hose that leaks only when the machine is running and can simply be left off.
Problems That Should Not Wait
Some situations can cause serious damage in a few hours. Water that keeps flowing after the stopcock is closed, a burst pipe you cannot isolate, or water coming through a ceiling are reasons to get help straight away.
Water near sockets, light fittings or the consumer unit is a safety risk as well as a plumbing one. Keep clear of the area. Waste water backing up into a home, or losing the only toilet or all water when someone vulnerable lives there, may also be too much to leave overnight.
A ceiling that is sagging or bulging with water is another warning sign. Keep people out of the room below.
Making a Problem Safe Overnight
If you decide it can wait, take a few simple steps. Turn off the water at the stopcock or the isolation valve for the affected fitting, as long as it turns without force. Open a cold tap on the lowest floor to let water drain from the pipes.
Put towels or a bucket under any drips, move belongings away from the area and avoid using the fitting that is causing trouble. Check the area again before bed and first thing in the morning, in case anything has changed.
Arranging the Repair
A problem that settles down overnight still needs fixing. Small leaks can soak into floors and walls without much sign, and a temporary measure such as leaving the stopcock off is not a long-term answer.
When you get in touch in the morning, explain what happened, what you did and whether anything has changed since. If you are not sure whether a problem in Oxford can safely wait, our out-of-hours plumbing advice explains how to judge the situation and what to do next.