What to do before we get there
None of this needs tools. If you are not sure, skip the step and stay on the phone with us.
Leak or burst pipe
Shut the main water valve
It's where the water line enters the house, usually in the garage, the crawl space, or at the meter box near the street. Turn it clockwise until it stops. Then open a faucet on the lowest floor to bleed off the pressure.
Water heater leaking
Shut off the power, then the water
Electric: flip its breaker, the double 30-amp. Gas: turn the control knob on the front to OFF. Then close the cold-supply valve on top of the tank. If the floor is wet near outlets, stay off it and wait for us.
No heat
Check the power switch and the thermostat
The furnace power switch looks like a light switch near the unit; make sure it's on. Swap the thermostat batteries. If you smell gas, don't flip anything: leave the house and call your gas utility from outside, then call us.