I just had a video chat and was asked what I would do if suddenly there was water leaking? Not specified where the water was leaking. Curious what everyone’s response would be.
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I would certainly want to know where they are talking about…..toilet, sink, roof, window etc…….and how bad. And then my next question would be, has this happened to another sitter , is this why they are asking?
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Turn off the stopcock, and say presumably the location and details of their plumber will be in the Welcome guide
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Hopefully you started your reply with “switch off the water at the main stop tap” because that would be my priority in my own home.
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Turn off the water at the appliance (toilet or sink) or if there is no local shutoff, turn off the water to the house. Hopefully specified in the welcome guide but it’s usually where the water meter is or where the pipes enter the home (sometimes a garage).
I’m sure they were ‘testing’ you but what a weird way to put someone on the spot 
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Did you ask? I would ask as that could likely influence my answer. However, the HOs were likely looking more for problem solving skills than exact answers.
It was just a random, water is running. What would you do?
@Huronbase Surely there’s only one response … “call the plumber whose contact details you have left for exactly this reason in the WG”
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Build an ark? In all seriousness this seems like a weird way to treat a fellow adult by giving them a quick quiz.
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It’s usually me, as a sitter, who raises that concern. I always want to know:
- where the main taps are located.
- A trusted plumber or handyman contact and/or personal emergency contacts of people who would make a decision if owner not reachable.
Of course my first action would be to stop the damage from getting worse but after that, there are usually options regarding repair, budgets and so on.
It’s also important to consider that emergency repairs tend to be very expensive and it’s easier to be cheated if you are in a foreign country where you are not familiar with procedures, insurance, prices, etc.
If the owners do not think of all that by themselves I always bring it up.
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That random unspecific question seems kind of silly to me. I think most people would [ought to] ask “leaking where?”
“Water is running?” …. A drippy tap? The toilet’s running? The washing machine leaked? There’s a hole in the roof? The river flash-flooded and is pouring into the basement? There’s a tsunami and the ocean is running through the smashed picture window? I mean, come on, homeowners, a little context?? 
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Tena pads for men
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That’s odd question.
Guess a) history of water leaks at property, b) property in location that has above average risk of water damage (e.g. cold weather), c) Pet Parent trying to assess problem solving skills, d) Pet Parent is a technical rather than people person :), e) Pet Parent is an ‘employer’ (if so walk away).
Some of our housesits have included clear instructions on water stopclock/remediation, especially for Canadian properties during winter months. A few other Pet Parents identify stopclock during initial property tour. But we’ve never been asked about it during video call. Suggests either atypical property risk or atypical pet parent.
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I would say ‘I will do whatever you expext me to do. I assume all the relevant info is in your Welcome Guide’
its up to the host to provide such information so I, the sitter, do not have to stress about what to do in an emergency.
It also sounds like a bit if a Trick question, or a test. I don’t like that attitude.
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I think this is a great question. It’s open-ended enough for the home owner to be able to tell (from potential sitter’s subsequent questions) what their thought process would be for identifying the source of the water. And potential sitter’s solutions also give insight into whether their go-to fix is ‘phone the plumber’, or whether they’d have any idea what to do to at least minimise water damage whilst waiting for said plumber to arrive. It’s exactly the sort of question I’d be asking potential sitters. As a sitter myself, I am usually quizzing home owners about the location of their stopcock!
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Curious to know what was your response @Huronbase and did you get the sit ?
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That’s a great question although unexpected. Obviously you need to know what sort of a leak; through the ceiling, from a pipe, from a tap, from a non-known source?
I always ask where the stopcock is, and is it able to be turned, that is standard for me during the handover. So, my first course of action would be to turn off the stopcock, turn on all the taps to empty a water tank if there is one, and see if the leak stops. If not obviously further investigation is required. Presumably details for a plumber will be in the welcome guide and instructions as to whether to contact them first or contact the homeowner first.
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She was still interviewing, so don’t know. Well, like most, it depends. On some sits, the main water turn off was shown to me, for emergencies. But who knows where the water would be. What if it was the toilet and you need to just take the top off and fix that. I had that happen on a sit. Or turn off the water to the toilet. It was a highly competitive sit, so she is trying for her best sitter.
did get the sit.
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I used to work in Human Resources. This is the type of question you ask in a job interview (not specifically about a water leak but the “what would you do if….” part .)
This person thinks they’re hiring an employee.
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Tip: Don’t ask an American where their stopcock is.
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