PanicStation.org
UK USA
us Home & property emergencies

What to do if…
a flexible supply line under a sink starts spraying or dripping rapidly

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy USA guide

Short answer

Stop the water flow. Close the shutoff valve or valves under the sink if you can reach them safely; if that does not stop the leak, close the home’s main water shutoff or contact building maintenance.

Do not do these things

  • Do not reach into pooled water near outlets, plugs, a garbage disposal, dishwasher connections, or other electrical equipment.
  • Do not turn electrical power on or off while standing in water.
  • Do not touch an electrical panel if it is wet.
  • Do not force a stuck shutoff valve or tighten fittings while water is spraying.
  • Do not rely on towels, tape, or a bucket as the only response while leaving the area unattended.
  • Do not handle a bulging, kinked, or damaged hose while it is still pressurized.
  • Do not reach through hot spray. Keep clear of water that may cause scalding.
  • Do not operate a valve in a water-meter box unless your local water utility says customers may use it.

What to do now

  1. Create a safer pause. Keep people away from the wet cabinet and the spreading water. If water is near electrical equipment, do not reach into the cabinet.

  2. Make the area electrically safer if you can do so without entering water. If electrical equipment has gotten wet or is in or near water, switch off the home’s main breaker only if the electrical panel is dry, safely reachable, and you do not have to stand in water. If the panel is wet or reaching it would require stepping into water, keep away and call a qualified electrician. If anyone may have received an electric shock, call 911.

  3. Close the fixture shutoff valve or valves under the sink if they are safely reachable. Close both the hot and cold valves if you are not sure which line is leaking. A wheel or knob valve usually closes by turning clockwise. A quarter-turn valve closes by moving the handle to its off position. Stop if a valve is stuck or starts leaking.

  4. Close the home’s main water shutoff if the fixture valves do not stop the flow. Its location varies. Check near where the water service enters the home, outside the home, or in the garage. Ask building maintenance, a plumber, or your water utility if you cannot locate it. A wheel-type valve usually closes by turning clockwise. A lever-type ball valve usually closes with a quarter-turn until the handle is perpendicular to the pipe.

  5. Use the meter-box route only if your local utility permits it. Some utilities allow customers to operate a designated shutoff valve near the meter. Others restrict access or require utility staff. Call your water utility for instructions if the home shutoff is missing, stuck, or inaccessible.

  6. Check whether the flow has stopped. Open a working faucet briefly to release residual pressure and confirm that the water supply is off. Stop when the flow slows or stops.

  7. Contain the remaining water. Put a bucket under the leak if it is safe to reach the area. Use towels at cabinet edges to slow water spreading to floors or walls. Move cleaning products and other items out of the cabinet if you can do so safely.

  8. Contact the appropriate help. In an apartment, rental, or shared building, contact emergency maintenance or building management. Do not operate a shared-building valve unless authorized. In a single-family home, contact a qualified plumber if the hose, connection, or shutoff valve needs repair.

  9. Record the immediate damage after the flow has stopped. Take a few photos of the hose, connection, cabinet, and any water spread for your records.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide whether the hose, valve, or faucet must be replaced until the water is off.
  • You do not need to identify the exact failure point while water is still spreading.
  • You do not need to dry the entire area immediately. Stop the flow first and keep water away from electrical equipment.
  • You do not need to make insurance, landlord, or repair-cost decisions during the first few minutes.

Important reassurance

A spraying supply line can look alarming, but the immediate task is limited: keep clear of electrical hazards and stop the water flow. Repair choices can wait until the area is stable.

Scope note

These are first steps only. Later repair decisions may need help from building maintenance, a qualified plumber, a qualified electrician, or your local water utility.

Important note

This guide provides general information for immediate harm prevention and damage limitation. It is not legal, medical, financial, therapeutic, or other professional advice.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

Support us