Burst Pipe? Shut Off the Water, Then Do This

Do this now

Shut the main water valve. It's usually where the water line enters the house: near the water meter, in the garage, basement or crawlspace, or outside near a front hose bib in warmer climates. Turn the handle clockwise, or a lever a quarter turn so it sits across the pipe.
Keep away from wet electrical. If water is near outlets, the panel or fixtures, switch off those circuits only if you can reach the breaker without standing in water.
Drain the lines. Open the lowest faucet in the house (and an upstairs one) to let water left in the pipes run out where you can control it.
Turn off the water heater (breaker for electric, OFF or PILOT for gas) if the main will be off for a while.
Move belongings and start removing water. Wet/dry vacuum, mops, towels. Pull up soaked rugs.
Photograph everything, including the broken pipe, before it's repaired.

If a pipe is frozen but hasn't burst yet

Open the faucet it feeds so water can move as it thaws.
Warm the pipe gently with a hair dryer, a space heater kept well away from anything flammable, or warm towels, starting near the faucet and working back.
Never use an open flame or torch.
If you can't find the frozen section or can't reach it, call a plumber, and know where your main shutoff is in case it splits.

Do you need a water damage company?

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Call promptly

A pipe burst inside a wall or ceiling, water ran for more than a short time, it reached finished rooms, carpet or a floor below, or areas are still damp after two days.

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Plumber, then reassess

A burst you caught quickly in an unfinished area. Fix the pipe, dry with fans and a dehumidifier, and check the nearby walls stay dry.

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Plumber only

A split pipe under a sink or in a crawlspace, caught within minutes, with only a little water on hard surfaces.

Insurance

A sudden burst is commonly treated as covered water damage, while the repair of the pipe itself may not be. For frozen pipes, many policies expect that the heat was kept on or the water was shut off and drained while a home was empty, so be ready to explain what happened. Photograph the damage and the broken pipe, keep receipts, and call your insurer early. They make the coverage decision.

Not sure how bad it is? Ask the advisor and describe where the water went.

Frequently asked

What do I do first when a pipe bursts?

Shut the main water valve, keep away from wet electrical, open a low faucet to drain the lines, then move belongings and start removing water. Photograph everything before the repair.

Where is my main water shutoff?

Usually where the water line enters the house: near the water meter, in a garage, basement or crawlspace, or outside near a front hose bib in warmer climates. Finding it before you need it is worth five minutes.

Does insurance cover a burst pipe?

Sudden bursts are commonly treated as covered water damage, though the pipe repair itself may not be. Frozen-pipe claims often depend on whether heat was maintained or the water was shut off in an empty home. Your insurer decides.

Burst pipe? Shut off the water, then do this