Help! Massive water leak

[INeedCharcoalPants]

Had water tank in loft removed, two hours later we have water coming through bedroom ceilings and down via light fittings into the kitchen. Plumber has come back to sort the leak, water and electrics are switched off. Where The hell do we begin here? We only moved here two weeks ago!

who removed the water tank? perhaps they are to blame!

Get the leak fixed

Turn the water back on

Turn the electric circuits off to the parts of the house under the leak that got wet

Turn the electricity to the house back on

Turn the heating up and get blower heaters to dry out the wet bits of the house

Get an electrical inspection of the wet bits to see if its safe to turn the circuits back on

Keep drying things out and use de humidifiers (you can rent them)

Contact your insurance company and give them the details for the plumbers who removed the tank

Deep breaths, you will get through it

Dehumidifiers, ideally take meter readings before and after use. Take lots of photos for insurance and remove as little as possible, at least until they give permission to remove and dispose

Thanks everyone. Pipe is fixed, most of the water leaks have stopped, apart from one at our bedroom light which started last. Looks like we're sleeping on the couches tonight!

Got an electrician coming tomorrow to look over the electrics for us.

We have a few patches of wet carpet where the water ran down upstairs walls but we've borrowed a dehumidifier from someone local and got it running where the wet carpets have been pulled up. It's sitting underneath the loft hatch, which we've left open to help dry out up there too.

There doesn't seem to be too much damage, the water has found its way through light fittings and most of them are enclosed spotlights which have been pulled out for now

Take photos of the damage, take meter reading. When claiming from your insurance, by very very specific about your incurred losses, eg plain white wallpaper ruined or patterned wall paper - one is much more expensive than the other for replacement and insurance companies will replace to the lowest cost!

edit to add meter readings because you may have incurred higher bills for heating and electric to facilitate the drying out process and you can claim for them.