First Moves When a Pipe Gives Way

The basics

A burst pipe releases water under full pressure until something stops it. Your goal is to stop the flow, protect people and electrical systems, and limit damage. Everything else, including the repair itself, can wait a few minutes.

• Learn the main valve's location on a calm day
• Keep a flashlight near it
• Make sure everyone in the house knows the location

Step by step

1. Shut the main valve. Look in the basement by the meter, on the wall facing the road. Turn right until it stops moving. See our shut-off guide if you cannot find it.
2. Cut electricity near the water. Where water reaches plugs or light fixtures, flip those circuits off, only if you can reach the panel without standing in water.
3. Open low taps. Open a basement tap and the outdoor faucets to drain the remaining water out of the pipes.
4. Protect the water heater. If the main will be off for a while, set a gas heater to pilot or turn off power to an electric unit.
5. Move belongings. Lift what you can off wet floors and push water toward a floor drain.
6. Document. Photograph the break and the damage before cleanup.
7. Call for repair and your insurer. Our burst pipe repair team can make the fix; your insurer can arrange drying.

Time to bring in the shop

Right away, once the water is off. Even a small split needs a proper cut-back and joint, and the cause, often frost, needs fixing too. If you cannot close the main valve, call us immediately and say so, because that is the first thing we will address. In deep cold, pipes often burst in more than one spot, so check other exterior walls and the garage once the first leak is under control.

After the repair

Ask about insulation or rerouting for the pipe that failed, and read preventing frozen pipes before next winter.

Questions about this job? Call (365) 413-9125 and talk to a plumber.