This page is written to be read while something is actively leaking, so the useful part is first.
It is guidance, not a service. Stopping water and drying a house are jobs for a trade and, often, a restoration company.
The first five minutes
- Shut the water off at the main. Everything else waits until this is done.
- Kill power to the affected area at the breaker if water is near outlets, fixtures or a panel. Do not stand in water to reach a panel.
- Open the lowest tap in the house to drain pressure out of the system and slow the leak.
- Move what can be moved out of the wet area, upward and outward.
- Photograph everything before touching it. This is the step people skip and regret.
- Then start removing water. Towels, wet vacuum, mop.
Where the main shut-off is in a Calgary house
In most Calgary homes the main shut-off is in the basement, on the wall facing the street, at or immediately before the water meter. It is usually a lever or a round handle on a vertical pipe coming up through the floor or wall.
Turn it clockwise, all the way. If the valve is seized or snaps, the next stop is the City of Calgary exterior curb stop, which needs a City crew to operate. That call is worth making immediately rather than after an hour of trying.
The best thing to do on a day when nothing is leaking: find that valve, label it, and make sure everyone in the house knows where it is.
What to photograph before anything is cleaned up
An insurance claim is decided on evidence that mostly stops existing the moment cleanup starts. Ten minutes of photographs is the cheapest thing available.
- The failed pipe or fitting itself, close enough to see the crimp ring and the PB2110 stamp
- Wide shots of the room showing the extent of the water
- Every damaged item individually, including inside cabinets
- The ceiling below, if water travelled down
- The shut-off valve after it was closed
- Keep the failed section of pipe and fitting. Do not let anyone take it away
That last one matters more than it sounds. The physical fitting is the evidence of what failed and why.
When to notify the insurer, and when to think first
Where there is real water damage — soaked drywall, flooring, ceilings, contents — notifying promptly is normally right, and most policies require it.
Where the leak was caught in seconds and the damage is a wet patch on a concrete floor, it is reasonable to establish the repair cost before opening a claim, because a claim on record has consequences at renewal and Poly B is already a rating factor in this market.
That is a judgement call about a specific policy, and the broker is the right person to make it with. Ask what the deductible is and whether the claim would be recorded, before committing to anything.
What not to do
- Do not leave the water on because the leak seems small. Poly B failures open up
- Do not clamp or tape a pipe and consider it dealt with. That stops water tonight, it is not a repair
- Do not discard the failed pipe or fitting
- Do not start opening walls before the damage is photographed
- Do not assume one leak is unrelated to the rest of the system. Every fitting in the house is the same age and went in the same day
Common questions
Where is the main water shut-off in a Calgary home?
Usually in the basement on the street-facing wall, at or immediately before the water meter. Turn it clockwise. If it will not close, the City of Calgary curb stop is the next step and needs a City crew.
Should a small Poly B leak be left until later?
No. The failure mode is progressive and a pinhole under pressure does not stay a pinhole. Shut the water off and get the pipe looked at.
Does one Poly B leak mean the whole house needs replacing?
Not on its own. One leak in an accessible spot with no history is a repair candidate. A second is a pattern, and the pattern is what decides it.