Shut off water at the main valve NOW. Then document with photos. Then call a plumber. Don't wait — water damage compounds by the hour.
Step-by-step response
- 1Shut off the water
Find the main shutoff (basement, near where line enters house). Turn ball valve perpendicular or rotate wheel clockwise until tight. If you can't find it: call your water utility — Toledo Public Utilities 419-936-2020, or City of Findlay Water 419-424-7113.
- 2Identify the source
Fixture (faucet, toilet, washer)? Most fixtures have local shutoffs — check under the sink, behind the toilet, behind the washer. If it's a hidden pipe (wall, ceiling, slab), the main shutoff is the only fix until a plumber arrives.
- 3Document for insurance
Photos + video of the leak source, the water damage, the shutoff state. Insurance carriers pay faster with timestamped evidence. Note when you noticed, what you did, what you saw.
- 4Mitigate while you wait
Towels, buckets, mop. Move soft items (cardboard boxes, books, electronics) off the floor. Run fans if power is safe. Don't enter standing water if the leak might be near electrical.
- 5Call a plumber — 24/7 if active
Service call $79-150. Slab-leak diagnosis $385-650. Pipe section repair $385-1,200. Whole repipe $4,500-12,000. NW Ohio's older brass/galvanized pipes from 1950-1970 are common pinhole-leak sources.
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Frequently asked
Is this covered by homeowners insurance?
Sudden + accidental damage usually yes. Slow long-term leaks usually no (they argue it was 'maintenance' not 'damage'). Flood-zone leaks specifically aren't covered without separate NFIP policy. Document immediately to support sudden-and-accidental.
Should I shut off the water heater too?
Yes. After the main is off, kill power to electric water heaters at the breaker, or turn the gas valve off on gas heaters. Tank pressure builds without flow and can rupture.
What if the leak is sewer water (smelly)?
Don't enter the area. Call a plumber for emergency sewer service. Sewer water carries bacterial hazards. After repair, pro-grade cleaning + drying matters more than the plumbing repair itself.
Local context — Bexley Main St (Bexley, OH)
Bexley's pre-1940 brick housing. Capital University. High-end restoration trade.